Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 6 March 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 6 March 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 Friday 6 March, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Friday 6 March, 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.

FRIDAY 6th MARCH

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has (a) to reduce the number of car parking spaces available for use by staff and (b) to introduce charges for staff using workplace car parking spaces.

(33021)

2
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many of the papers relating to vitamin B6 which were considered by the Committee on Toxicity he has evaluated; and on what dates he read each paper.

(33514)

3
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if his proposed regulations on the retail sale of vitamin B6 have been passed for approval to the European Commission; if he will identify the EC Directive under which such approval must be obtained; if he will indicate the procedures and timetables through which a company in another member state may raise a formal objection to the proposals under the provisions of that Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(33515)

4
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Attorney General, how many and what percentage of cases in England forwarded by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service for prosecuting were discontinued in each year from 1994 to 1997.

(33020)

5
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Attorney General, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd March, Official Report, column 539, if he will make it his policy to collect information on the numbers of barristers from the ethnic minorities on the panels he uses for common law and chancery work.

(33376)

6
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what is the range and average pay of the Church of England bishops and archbishops.

(33024)

7
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what is the range and average pay for the lowest ranking clergy of the Church of England.

(33025)

8
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the money allocated for tourism by (a) tourist boards, and (b) local authorities, per head for (i) Staffordshire and (ii) the West Midlands for each of the last 10 years.

(33043)

9
   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action he will take to redress the imbalance between the regions and nations of the United Kingdom in the awards made by the Millennium Commission, with special reference to projects in Wales.

(33388)

10
   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what are the (a) total sums awarded and (b) numbers of projects accepted by the Millennium Commission in each of the regions and nations of the United Kingdom.

(33389)

11
   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 26th February, Official Report, column 322, what proportion of the officers serving on the sports governing bodies listed are (a) under 25 years and (b) over 65 years of age; and what proportion are women.

(33542)

12
   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 26th February, Official Report, column 322, what were (a) the level of membership of each of the shooting organisations listed and (b) the level of public funding in each of the last three years; and what is the projected funding for the next three years.

(33543)

13
   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 26th February, Official Report, column 322, how much was spent on administration of each of the sports organisations listed in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will separately identify the costs relating to the governing bodies.

(33541)

14
   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 26th February, Official Report, column 322, what was the level of public funding to each of the sports organisations in the last year for which figures are available.

(33544)

15
   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many organisations and local authorities were consulted as part of the English Tourist Board's Agenda 2000 consultative exercise.

(33495)

16
   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the grant-in-aid to the English Tourist Board in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99.

(33504)

17
   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support he is giving to enable the English Tourist Board to undertake its Action 2000 programme.

(33506)

18
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the international testing of computer systems for their millennium compliance with NATO allies; and if he will make a statement.

(33383)

19
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the recent discussions on the millennium compliance of computer systems at the US Department of Defense at which his Department was represented; which other countries were invited or were represented; and what the outcome was.

(33380)

20
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions are taking place in (i) the NATO Forum (ii) NATO Partnership for Peace and (iii) the OSCE on the millennium compliance of computer systems; and if he will make a statement.

(33381)

21
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress in ensuring the millennium compliance of computer systems in the Royal Navy, and on plans to undertake the action necessary on ships on operational duty at sea.

(33382)

22
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will reply to the honourable Member for Reigate's letter of 21st January concerning Major Eric Joyce and the Labour Party.

(33134)

23
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications for export licences were circulated to his Department by the Export Control Organisation during each of the four week periods beginning (i) 3rd May 1997, (ii) 31st May 1997, (iii) 28th June 1997, (iv) 26th July 1997, (v) 23rd August 1997, (vi) 20th September 1997, (vii) 18th October 1997, (viii) 15th November 1997, (ix) 13th December 1997, (x) 10th January 1998 and (xi) 7th February 1998.

(33374)

24
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd February, Official Report column 41, in what circumstances he permits the use of rifles at night as a means of vermin control in areas of the Defence Estate that are being used for military training at that time; and how many (a) accidents and (b) other incidents arising from such activity have been notified to his Department in the last three years.

(33122)

25
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish in the Official Report the reply of the Minister of State for Defence Procurement of 12th February to the question for written answer of the Countess of Mar of 16th December 1997 in another place (Ref. D/Min/(DP)/JWG/MP 15551/97/M).

(33152)

26
   Mr Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many application forms to be considered for public appointment have been (a) requested by members of the public and (b) sent out in the last 12 months.

(33465)

27
   Mr Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking (a) to publicise the existence of public appointment forms and (b) to increase the number of applications from the general public to public appointments.

(33466)

28
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what percentage of the administration trainees who joined the Civil Service in the last available year (a) were arts graduates, (b) were graduates of Oxford or Cambridge and (c) attended public schools.

(33042)

29
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what minimum qualifications are required to allow a person to teach pupils to play musical instruments in schools.

(33364)

30
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the current number of nursery places available in (a) Stoke-on-Trent City and (b) each district and borough council in Staffordshire.

(33044)

31
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many and what proportion of (a) three year olds and (b) four year olds currently have nursery places in (i) Stoke-on-Trent City and (ii) each district and borough council in Staffordshire.

(33045)

32
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the current average cost of providing a full-time nursery place in Staffordshire.

(33046)

33
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the average amount spent per pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Staffordshire.

(33047)

34
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children are currently being taught in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Stoke-on-Trent City and (ii) each district and borough council in Staffordshire.

(33048)

35
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the average class size in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Staffordshire.

(33049)

36
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what are the amounts currently held in the accounts of Staffordshire TEC.

(33149)

37
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the combined cumulative savings in the financial years 1998-99 to 2000-2001 at 1995-96 prices from the abolition of student grants and the introduction of tuition fees under the Government's preferred approach to the future funding of higher education.

(33266)

38
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the cumulative additional loans expenditure in the financial years 1998-99 to 2000-2001 at 1995-96 prices under the Government's preferred approach to the future funding of higher education.

(33265)

39
   Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the average cost per pupil of providing home to school transport for each local education authority in the last year for which figures are available.

(33490)

40
   Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the total cost to local education authorities of providing home to school transport in the last year for which figures are available.

(33494)

41
   Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the average annual cost per pupil of providing education in maintained primary schools, with pupil numbers of (a) under 30, (b) 30 to 39, (c) 40 to 49, (d) 50 to 59, (e) 60 to 69, (f) 70 to 79, (g) 80 to 89 and (h) 90 or above.

(33491)

42
   Mr Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will give the definition of permanently unfit to work used when determining whether a teacher is eligible to retire on the grounds of ill health.

(33366)

43
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the additional cost of maintaining existing levels of maintenance grants to students and not allowing the means testing of tuition fees in the next three years.

(33462)

44
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will ensure that the Register of Masons being compiled by the Environment Agency is made available for public scrutiny.

(33023)

45
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many hectares of greenfield land, not classified as Green Belt but currently available for building, there are in England.

(33477)

46
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many hectares of greenfield land not classified as Green Belt have been built on since 1st May.

(33476)

47
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many hectares of green field land not classified as Green Belt, but available for building, there were in England on 1st May.

(33482)

48
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Chipping Barnet of 11th February, Official Report, column 234, on the Green Belt for what reasons figures are not available for Green Belt recovery before 1st May 1997.

(33484)

49
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the next figures will be published for the amount of Green Belt land in England.

(33479)

50
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the guidance in PPG2 (Revised) in respect of the circumstances in which the development of land entirely enclosed by buildings can be regarded as inappropriate in the context of its impact on the Green Belt.

(33263)

51
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many bus companies have been banned from operating buses due to concerns about the condition of the vehicles in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(33365)

52
   Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what account he takes of expenditure by local education authorities on the cost of home to school transport in determining the standard spending assessment for those authorities.

(33492)

53
   Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what account he takes of expenditure by local authorities on the additional costs of educating pupils in village schools with below average pupil numbers in determining the standard spending assessment for those authorities.

(33493)

54
   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain the current coastguard helicopter search and rescue provision at Lee-on-the-Solent and Portland.

(33378)

55
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on progress to date towards (a) millennium compliance and (b) single currency compliance, of the computer systems involved in the introduction of European Monetary Union in the central governments of each EU member state.

(33361)

56
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his Department's estimate of total surplus unrelieved ACT at the latest date for which figures are available.

(33321)

57
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 24th February, Official Report, column 132, if he will place in the Library copies of the requests for advice sent to the European Commission as to which government policy measures qualify for a lower rate of VAT because they are defined as the supply, construction, renovation and altering of housing as part of social policy under Annex H of the Sixth VAT Directive and copies of the advice which he received from the European Commission.

(33362)

58
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 25th February, Official Report, column 234, relating to VAT relief on energy saving measures, if the measures proposed include relief on materials.

(33050)

59
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list by Scottish unitary authority or other convenient area, the numbers of landowners who receive conditional exemption from inheritance tax by virtue of allowing public access.

(33472)

60
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have died from overdoses of vitamin B6 since July 1997.

(33516)

61
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to raise the issue of human rights violations in Indonesia with the Indonesian authorities.

(33022)

62
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what position the Government adopted within the EU on the draft Resolution in the UN in respect of human rights in China.

(33019)

63
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what volume of (a) magazines, (b) fact sheets, (c) booklets and (d) video cassettes, receiving funding from the European Commission, were distributed in the United Kingdom in 1997.

(33483)

64
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, from which budget head the funding for the ASSIST programme will come.

(33223)

65
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd February, Official Report, columns 543-44 on Indonesia, if he will list those honourable Members and NGOs from whom he has received representations on the question of police training in Indonesia.

(33219)

66
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, from which budget the £2.75 million for the Human Rights Project Fund not reallocated from the military training budget will come.

(33224)

67
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the ruling by the International Court of Justice in relation to the Lockerbie bombing.

(33225)

68
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Serbia concerning violence in Kosovo.

(33151)

69
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications for export licences were circulated to his Department by the Export Control Organisation during each of the four week periods beginning (i) 3rd May 1997, (ii) 31st May 1997, (iii) 28th June 1997, (iv) 26th July 1997, (v) 23rd August 1997, (vi) 20th September 1997, (vii) 18th October 1997, (viii) 15th November 1997, (ix) 13th December 1997, (x) 10th January 1998 and (xi) 7th February 1998.

(33373)

70
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the (a) governmental and (b) non-governmental projects which are to be funded under the ASSIST programme, with the level of funding in each case.

(33227)

71
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the (a) governmental and (b) non-governmental projects which are to be funded by the Human Rights Project Fund, with the level of funding in each case.

(33226)

72
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will be promoting (a) the ASSIST programme and (b) the Human Rights Project Fund during his forthcoming visits to (i) Thailand, (ii) Malaysia, (iii) Indonesia and (iv) Singapore.

(33150)

73
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support and sustain Gibraltar should unfriendly action be taken by the Spanish Government.

(33051)

74
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the White Paper on a General Social Care Council.

(33377)

75
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will include proposals for a national register of residential care workers in the White Paper on a General Social Care Council.

(33379)

76
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the trends over the last 20 years, in cancer incidence in children, with particular reference to cancers of the CNS and leukemia (a) nationally and (b) in the area covered by the East Anglian Regional Health Authority.

(33385)

77
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on research into the role of general practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of ME in the last three years.

(33345)

78
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on research into (a) the psychological treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and (b) the physical causes of chronic fatigue syndrome in each of the last three years.

(33343)

79
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much support was given by the Medical Research Council for research into ME and chronic fatigue syndrome in each of the last three years.

(33342)

80
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on research into the role of general practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome in each of the last three years.

(33339)

81
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on research into (a) the psychological treatment of ME and (b) the physical causes of ME in each of the last three years.

(33344)

82
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people with haemophilia have received financial compensation for being infected with HIV through the use of contaminated blood products given as part of NHS treatment; and how much has been paid.

(33221)

83
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has evaluated on the impact of infection with hepatitis C on people's lives.

(33220)

84
   Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent change there has been in the arrangements for the provision of accident and emergency services at Solihull Hospital.

(33461)

85
   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has evaluated into the financial savings to the NHS of healthcare advice provided by community pharmacists; and what estimate he has made of the impact on NHS costs of the closures of community pharmacies over the last three years.

(33475)

86
   Mr Mike Wood (Batley and Spen):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many district health authorities require women to pay for ante-natal or maternity care.

(33367)

87
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines his Department issues relating to (a) genetic defects and (b) physical abnormalities caused by breeding of animals in respect of (i) commercial breeding establishments and (ii) genetic engineering; and if he will make a statement.

(33018)

88
   Mr Ivor Caplin (Hove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received on the implications of the Wild Mammals (Hunting With Dogs) Bill for the UK's adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights; if he will place copies of such representations in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(33474)

89
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to make a decision on whether the exclusion of Mr Farrakhan is to to maintained or lifted.

(33123)

90
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average sentence for a person convicted of manslaughter in the last year for which figures are available.

(33496)

91
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the range of sentences available for those convicted of manslaughter.

(33473)

92
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which constituencies with majorities of (a) 0-0.6 per cent., (b) 0.6-1 per cent. and (c) 1-1.5 per cent. had recounts; and how many recounts there were in each constituency at the last general election.

(33487)

93
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will issue advice to members of search and rescue teams in (i) the Exmoor area and (ii) elsewhere regarding the (a) purchase and (b) use of flares to take account of the provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997.

(33480)

94
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what authority officers of the Metropolitan police perform the duties of immigration officers on Eurostar services between Brussels and London, Waterloo.

(33363)

95
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to appoint a human rights commissioner; and if he will make a statement.

(33341)

96
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many applications for export licences were circulated to her Department by the Export Control Organisation during each of the four week periods beginning (i) 3rd May 1997, (ii) 31st May 1997, (iii) 28th June 1997, (iv) 26th July 1997, (v) 23rd August 1997, (vi) 20th September 1997, (vii) 18th October 1997, (viii) 15th November 1997, (ix) 13th December 1997, (x) 10th January 1998 and (xi) 7th February 1998.

(33372)

97
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has received concerning the European Commission's review of the Phare and Tacis Democracy Programmes.

(33310)

98
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what notification her Department has received from the European Commission about the consultation process relating to the future of the Phare and Tacis Democracy Programmes; and if she has responded to that consultation process.

(33311)

99
N   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department will contribute to the Phare and Tacis Democracy Programmes in the current year.

(33309)

100
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what requests for assistance her Department has received following the recent floods in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan; and if she will make a statement.

(33458)

101
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proposals are under consideration to close Reigate Crown Court; and if he will make a statement.

(33384)

102
   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the grant-in-aid to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99.

(33507)

103
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answers to the honourable Member for Wentworth, 21st January, Official Report, column 568, and to the honourable Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, 9th June 1997, Official Report, column 302, when each of the Cabinet committees listed was formed.

(33121)

104
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 29th January, Official Report, column 581, on ministerial visits, if he will list the occasions since 1st May 1997 on which he has given his prior approval for personal companions, other than a spouse, to accompany a Minister travelling on official business.

(33369)

105
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, column 581, on ministerial visits, if he will list the occasions prior to 1st May 1997 when the personal companion of a Minister travelling on official business was not a spouse.

(33370)

106
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer to the honourable Member for Richmond (Yorks) of 4th March, Official Report, column 1049, on what basis he stated that Lord Dearing recommended that students should commence the repayment of loans when their incomes reached £5,000.

(33485)

107
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the council tax at Band D in each council area for each year from 1991-92 to 1997-98, adding together the totals for district and region where appropriate and giving the figures for the water and sewage council tax or charge separately.

(33137)

108
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the additional responsibilities and statutory obligations placed on Scottish councils which involved expenditure by councils in each year from 1991-92 to 1997-98; what estimate the Scottish Office has made of the additional (a) annual cost and (b) one-off cost each of these involved for Scottish councils; and what additional amounts were provided by the Scottish Office to councils through aggregate external finance specifically to meet these costs.

(33222)

109
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary state schools there are in each council area in Scotland; and how many new schools were (i) opened and (ii) closed or merged in each area in each year from 1986-87 to 1997-98.

(33138)

110
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what date his Department started looking for a temporary site for the Scottish Parliament; on what date the Strathclyde Region complex was first considered; and on what date it was decided to add it to the short list of sites.

(33153)

111
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which sites were assessed as possible temporary homes for the Scottish Parliament.

(33154)

112
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to ensure that all pupils leaving Scottish schools have studied some Scottish, British and other history.

(33386)

113
N   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to introduce measures similar to those proposed in England to protect rural schools from closure; and if he will make a statement.

(33300)

114
   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on how many occasions banks and building societies have proceeded under summary diligence in cases of sequestration against individuals in Scotland in each of the last three years broken down by institution.

(33540)

115
   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the grant-in-aid to the Scottish Tourist Board in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99.

(33505)

116
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 2nd March, Official Report, column 506, for what reason the Secretary of State for Social Security was unable to provide comparable information to that given in previous Answers to the honourable Member for West Chelmsford.

(33136)

117
   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many of the people whose entitlement to disability living allowance has been adjusted in the last year have had their entitlement adjusted (a) upwards and (b) downwards.

(33387)

118
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many requests for a review of social fund decisions have been turned down in the current financial year on the grounds that the letter of authority was a photocopy; and if she will made a statement.

(33340)

119
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 2nd March, Official Report, column 503, for what reason statistics on the age and gender of income support recipients are not available for 1989.

(33264)

120
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her Answer of 9th February, Official Report, column 90, what percentage of spent fuel imported since 1990 will be reprocessed over the next (a) five years, (b) 10 years, (c) 15 years and (d) 20 years.

(33016)

121
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many defence export licence applications have been outstanding since September 1997.

(33135)

122
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list all those departments to whom export licence applications are circulated where necessary by the Export Control Organisation.

(33371)

123
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what percentage of applications for export licences were processed by the Export Control Organisation according to their stated aims in the four week periods beginning (i) 31st May 1997, (ii) 28th June 1997, (iii) 26th July 1997, (iv) 23rd August 1997 and (v) 20th September 1997.

(33375)

124
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what are the figures for each year since 1994 for United Kingdom imports and exports of (a) antiques and (b) fine art to and from each country for which figures are available.

(33508)

125
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many sub-post offices have (a) closed and (b) been opened, in Wales, in each of the last five years.

(33486)

126
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list the subjects to be discussed when one of her junior ministers visits Mauritius in April.

(33052)

127
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what advice the Government has received concerning the legality of a moratorium on new gas-fired power stations.

(33298)

128
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what was the level of inward investment into Britain in the last quarter of (a) 1997 and (b) 1996.

(33297)

129
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, in what circumstances the Government would consider an application for a new gas-fired power station before the conclusion of her review of energy sources for power generation.

(33299)

130
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many contracts her Department has placed with PA Consulting Group since 1979; and what has been the aggregate value of these contracts.

(33488)

131
   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of the loss of resale price maintenance on over the counter medicines on the pharmacy sector.

(33489)

132
   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the comparative price of over-the-counter medicines in (a) the UK and (b) the rest of the EU.

(33464)

133
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many hectares of green field land not classified as Green Belt and available for building there were in Wales on 1st May.

(33481)

134
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when the next figures for the amount of Green Belt land in Wales will be published.

(33478)

135
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on (a) current hospital waiting lists and (b) hospital waiting lists in April 1997 in respect of hospital trusts in (a) Gwent, (b) Dyfed Powys, (c) Taff Vale, (d) North Wales and (e) Iechyd Morgannwg health authority areas.

(33338)

136
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to improve the marine environment of the Irish Sea as it affects the Welsh coast line.

(33528)

137
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how he proposes to upgrade (a) road, (b) rail and (c) air links in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(33533)

138
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the social exclusion network as it affects (a) North and (b) South Wales.

(33531)

139
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will estimate the number of jobs in the timber processing industry in Wales.

(33529)

140
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many TB cases there were in Wales in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

(33536)

141
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the future of the coal industry in Wales.

(33527)

142
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many vacant dwellings there are in each local housing authority in Wales.

(33526)

143
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the New Deal pilot schemes.

(33530)

144
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to expand (a) after school homework clubs and (b) literacy and numeracy clubs in Wales.

(33539)

145
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the working of the export credits guarantee system as it affects the industries of Wales.

(33537)

146
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many private finance initiative projects there are in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(33532)

147
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many long-term unemployed people there are in Wales, by each Parliamentary constituency.

(33535)

148
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what initiatives he has taken to assist beef farmers in Wales.

(33534)

149
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has received on the impact of current sterling levels upon the exporting industries in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(33538)

150
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the projects submitted by the Gwent Tertiary College for European funding in the past three years; which were successful; and what sums they involved.

(33457)

151
   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the grant-in-aid to the Welsh Tourist Board in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99.

(33503)

152
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions have been initiated in respect of cruelty inflicted on animals in the course of approved experiments for each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (33017)

153
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many professional association football players in British teams have been issued with work permits by the Overseas Labour Service; and if he will list the countries from which they came.

[Transferred] (33463)

154
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to monitor the end user and final destination of arms sales to countries with poor human rights records.

[Transferred] (33459)

155
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the total income to the Treasury from vehicle licence duty in each of the last three years.

[Transferred] (33346)

156
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many and what proportion of representations from (a) honourable Members and (b) others on his proposed vitamin B6 regulations were in favour of the proposals since July 1997.

[Transferred] (33517)

157
   Mr Mike Wood (Batley and Spen):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many district health authorities paid for less than 75 per cent. of abortions requested by their residents in the last year for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (33368)

158
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been detained in Scotland under Immigration Act powers in each of the past five years; what is the (i) longest, (ii) shortest and (iii) average time for which they have been detained in each year; and how many cases each year resulted in the asylum seekers being (a) deported, (b) released and (c) dealt with otherwise.

[Transferred] (33460)