Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 17 March 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 17 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 Tuesday 17 March, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 18 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.

TUESDAY 17th MARCH

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what statutory changes would be required to effect a ban on mink farming.

(35025)

2
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35123)

3
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34831)

4
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions his Department held with (a) the Engineering Council and (b) the Institution of Agricultural Engineers prior to the publication of the White Paper on the Food Standards Agency (Cm 3830); and if he will make a statement.

(35039)

5
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he announced the site for the headquarters of the British Cattle Movement Service.

(35000)

6
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 6th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35006)

7
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 10th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35014)

8
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will publish a detailed breakdown of the start up and first full year running costs of the British Cattle Movement Service.

(34999)

9
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which (a) companies and (b) other organisations made approaches to his Ministry to run the electronic cattle passport scheme.

(34997)

10
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 8th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35009)

11
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 7th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35010)

12
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions his Ministry has had in 1998 with the EU Commission and the Standing Veterinary Committee about the introduction of the data based scheme for cattle; and when he expects approval for this scheme.

(35024)

13
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 14th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35011)

14
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what were his Ministry's projected start-up costs for the British Cattle Movement Service at Workington, Guildford and Manchester.

(35002)

15
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 19th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35020)

16
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he received from non-governmental sources to provide the cattle passport systems at sums below current estimates.

(34998)

17
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 12th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35013)

18
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the cost of the new desk ordered for his use; and for what reasons no existing desks within his Department were suitable.

(34992)

19
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the West Cumbria Development Agency was asked to draw up cost estimates for the Workington site of the British Cattle Movement Service.

(35023)

20
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the computerised cattle data base system will begin operation.

(34964)

21
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 13th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35012)

22
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will publish for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000 the costs relating to his Ministry's move to Nobel House under the headings (i) rent, rates, service costs, (ii) refurbishment for 3,000 square metres, (iii) removal costs for all moves, (iv) Nobel House alterations, (v) Nobel House security guarding car ramp, (vi) Eastbury House deficit, space, rent, rates, services for two floors of 600 square metres, (vii) Eastbury House refurbishment and (viii) contingencies, giving details of items covered.

(34953)

23
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 21st May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35018)

24
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what hotel expenses were incurred by his Ministry in direct connection with the move to Nobel House.

(34952)

25
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 15th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35017)

26
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 20th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35019)

27
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 3rd May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35007)

28
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the cost benefit study to determine the site for the British Cattle Movement Service was completed.

(35001)

29
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 17th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35015)

30
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 16th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35016)

31
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 5th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35005)

32
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 23rd May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35022)

33
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 9th May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35008)

34
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what use is being made of his Ministry's former offices in Whitehall Place.

(34994)

35
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 2nd May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35004)

36
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if his Ministry's former office in Whitehall Place remains approved for office use.

(34996)

37
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what were the estimated start up and running costs for the first year in (a) August 1997 and (b) March 1998 for the British Cattle Movement Service; and if he will publish a detailed breakdown of the component costs of each figure, indicating the factors underlying each cost variant.

(35003)

38
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the Nobel House move contingency fund is now fully allocated; and on what items of expenditure this money has been spent.

(34995)

39
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for 22nd May 1997 (a) which organisations he met, (b) which organisations and companies he visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council of Ministers meetings were attended; which individuals had meetings with Ministers and officials; and if he will provide this information for each of his Ministers.

(35021)

40
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what items of expenditure on the MAFF estate have had to be reduced to help fund the move to Nobel House.

(34993)

41
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he expects to reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Totnes of 21st January regarding the withdrawal of suckler cow quota from Mr Ian Pedrick of Broadmoor Farm, Marlborough.

(34951)

42
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35114)

43
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34827)

44
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list those Government initiatives which (a) have been and (b) have been proposed to be funded by the National Lottery.

(34962)

45
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with local authorities concerning possible changes to the criteria used for listing buildings.

(34596)

46
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35115)

47
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34829)

48
N   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the new evidence he has received concerning the involvement of a second aircraft in the crash of an Aer Lingus Viscount in the Irish Sea on 24th March 1968.

(34809)

49
N   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received, and discussions he has had, concerning the Aer Lingus Viscount crash in the Irish Sea on 24th March 1968; and if he will undertake to discuss the matter with his counterparts in the Irish government.

(34812)

50
N   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total cost to the defence budget of operations undertaken by the UK in searching for remains of the Aer Lingus Viscount which crashed on 24th March 1968 in the Irish Sea; and how much of this cost was passed on to the Irish Government.

(34811)

51
N   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the exercises in the Irish Sea on the day of the Aer Lingus Viscount crash in March 1968; if RAF or other aircraft participating in those exercises are recorded as having been lost; and if United Kingdom naval vessels picked up any person, dead or alive, from the Irish Sea on the day of the crash.

(34881)

52
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35111)

53
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34822)

54
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when he expects to introduce legislation on freedom of information.

(35088)

55
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35113)

56
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34833)

57
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to establish a common framework for inspection of educational institutions catering for the over 16s.

(34601)

58
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the minimum per capita spent from local authority revenue budgets on education in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools necessary for satisfactory delivery of the national curriculum and achievement of the Government's educational attainment targets.

(34602)

59
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if local education authority returns to his Department include the numbers of portacabins used for teaching purposes in each school; and if he proposes to require such information.

(35055)

60
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list all sixth forms with a student size of over 250 in the local education authorities within the counties of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Cleveland.

(35057)

61
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students there were at each local education authority and local education authority maintained school in Newcastle upon Tyne for the most recent period and the three previous years.

(35056)

62
N   Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list incidents of fraud and payment errors in connection with the award of NVQs in each of the last three financial years.

(34818)

63
N   Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to introduce more rigorous procedures for National Curriculum tests at Key Stage 1.

(34879)

64
N   Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish figures for the average class size in the national performance tables for primary schools.

(34883)

65
N   Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what measures he is taking to (a) evaluate and (b) reduce the scale of (i) financial and (ii) academic fraud concerning vocational qualifications.

(34819)

66
N   Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish figures for the average class size, for each school, in the national performance tables for primary schools.

(34817)

67
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list applications to run education action zones where the proposed zone crosses local education authority boundaries.

(34956)

68
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list applications to run education action zones received from (a) local education authorities and (b) other organisations.

(34954)

69
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the private sector organisations which have applied to run education action zones.

(34955)

70
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proposals he has to review the work of Ofsted.

(35059)

71
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the number of rail projects that have been affected by the sale of British Rail land since 1st May.

(35029)

72
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what level of capital receipts is anticipated in 1997-98 from the sale of land held by British Rail; what was the estimated level of receipts in respect of 1997-98; and if he will make a statement.

(35030)

73
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received from (a) Railtrack, (b) English, Welsh and Scottish Railways and (c) train operating companies in respect of his decision to continue to dispose of land held by British Rail.

(35026)

74
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35121)

75
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many of those in the local government pension scheme retired before 5th April 1978 by local authority; how many contributed to provision for a widow's pension; and how many of these widow's pensions are being taken.

(35062)

76
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what responses he has received to his discussion paper on the Single Regeneration Budget; what impact they will have on regeneration policy and possible changes to the structure of the Single Regeneration Budget; and if he will make a statement.

(35091)

77
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the timescale for completion of the informal review of the Single Regeneration Budget; and if he will make a statement.

(35090)

78
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on plans for improvement of the North Wales main line.

(34317)

79
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the concession agreement between the Highways Agency and Midland Expressway contains provisions relating to the M6 and M6 widening; and if he will make a statement.

(35053)

80
N   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will ensure that when the 30 year period following the crash of the Aer Lingus Viscount in the Irish Sea on 24th March 1968 has expired, all government documents relating to this crash will be made public.

(34810)

81
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to respond to the Pre-Budget Report from the Environmental Audit Committee Session 1997-98 H C 547.

(35027)

82
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35118)

83
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34837)

84
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 743, concerning continence products, what factors led the VAT Tribunal in July 1996 to rule that such products should be zero rated.

(34889)

85
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Inland Revenue takes in circumstances where (a) a husband and wife cannot agree who should receive the working families' tax credit and (b) one spouse claims the other is receiving the tax credit but keeping it to him or herself.

(34887)

86
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of all female deaths in the Warrington North Constituency for each of the years 1992 to 1997 were as a result of ovarian cancer.

(34597)

87
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what position was taken by Her Majesty's Government during the Council of Ministers' discussion of the Court of Auditors' report on 9th March; what conclusions were reached by the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

(34821)

88
N   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will require providers of ISAs to submit sufficient information to provide a breakdown of how many people invested (a) up to £1,000, (b) £1,001 to £2,000, (c) £2,001 to £3,000, (d) £3,001 to £4,000, (e) £4,001 to £5,000 and (f) £5,001 to £6,000 in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(34961)

89
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has to permit credit unions greater control over the definition of their common bond and to permit the merger of credit unions; and if he will make a statement.

(35048)

90
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research his Department has evaluated in respect of the average gross salary of those who have taken out (a) PEPs and (b) TESSAs in each year since their introduction.

(35096)

91
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultations he has held with the Credit Union Movement regarding changes to the Credit Unions Act 1979; and if he will make a statement.

(35050)

92
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to review the independence of independent financial advisers; and if he will make a statement.

(35100)

93
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has to introduce a share protection plan for credit unions; and if he will make a statement.

(35049)

94
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the latest estimate of the numbers of cases of personal pensions misselling in the categories (a) priority and (b) other; what is the estimated cost of compensation for each group and the timescale for the completion of the review by the companies concerned; and if she will make a statement.

(35082)

95
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultations have been held with the Credit Union Movement regarding changes to the regulatory regime consequent on the creation of the Financial Services Authority; and if he will make a statement.

(35051)

96
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to reply to the question from the honourable Member for Blaby of 20th January relating to pensions (Ref. 24129).

(34882)

97
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35119)

98
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34836)

99
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what subjects were discussed when the UK High Commissioner to Sierra Leone met representatives of Sandline in 1997; and who was present.

(34315)

100
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the UK High Commissioner to Sierra Leone was authorised by Ministers to meet representatives of Sandline in 1997.

(34316)

101
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information he has sought and obtained from the Chinese government about the fate of the Panchen Lama.

(35044)

102
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice on ethical issues is available from his Department to individuals, organisations and companies considering trade or investment projects in (a) Algeria, (b) North Korea, (c) Burma, (d) Indonesia, (e) Libya, (f) Colombia, (g) Syria, (h) Iraq, (i) Saudi Arabia and (j) China.

(35043)

103
   Sir Peter Lloyd (Fareham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what products UN Resolution 986-Oil for Food and Medicine permits Iraq to buy abroad; what calculation he has made as to the value of the products the resolution permits Iraq to buy each year; and what calculation he has made as to how much Iraq actually spent on such products (a) last year and (b) so far this year.

(35084)

104
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the completion date of the accession negotiations relating to applicant countries for the EU; and if he will make a statement.

(35098)

105
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35124)

106
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34828)

107
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason he has asked officials to identify ways of overcoming the financial effects of the Value Added Tax Order which came into effect on 1st January.

(34807)

108
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the cost to public funds of purchases of Zantac in the last three complete financial years; and what savings are estimated to derive from the expiry of the patent.

(35052)

109
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has given to NHS trusts on the use of Taxol combination treatments in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

(34599)

110
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women in the Warrington North constituency were diagnosed as having ovarian cancer in each of the years 1992 to 1997.

(34600)

111
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if response times of ambulances to emergency calls are monitored from the time the call is received or from the time the call is answered.

(35097)

112
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35117)

113
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34834)

114
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the delay in establishing a date for a hearing appeal by Mr and Mrs Poole against the decision to grant an entry visa for Mrs Poole's children to the United Kingdom.

(34950)

115
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the honourable Member for West Chelmsford can expect answers to his correspondence with his Department from 6th January onwards, relating to when Mr and Mrs Poole's appeal, reference UK16593, on behalf of Mrs Poole's children to be granted an entry visa to the United Kingdom, will be heard.

(34949)

116
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 3rd February from the honourable Member for Sutton and Cheam concerning the extradition of a constituent.

(34963)

117
N   Mr Richard Page (South West Hertfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects claim ref. HER 12176 to be settled under the Firearms Compensation Scheme.

(34325)

118
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the enforcement of compensation orders; and what assessment he has made of the advantages of establishing a victim compensation fund.

(35064)

119
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35126)

120
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) she has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) she has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34823)

121
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is her policy towards the funding of police training in Indonesia.

(35046)

122
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of her overall bilateral aid budget in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000 will be delivered through local cooperative, mutual or community-owned organisations.

(35104)

123
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35120)

124
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34835)

125
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) she has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) she has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34825)

126
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of holding answers issued by his Department in response to written questions.

(35028)

127
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35112)

128
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he last met Mr Rupert Murdoch; where the meeting took place; and what was discussed.

(35063)

129
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35125)

130
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34830)

131
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will place in the Library a copy of the external legal advice, based on two opinions by Patrick Elias QC, on the subject of the Jepson case and proposals to amend sex discrimination legislation.

(34878)

132
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what external legal advice he has sought from persons with relevant expertise in Scotland on sex discrimination in relation to the Scotland Bill; and if he will list the persons consulted and make a statement on the advice received.

(34880)

133
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the present and proposed future numbers of obstetric beds at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.

(34365)

134
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will require health boards to publish their inspection reports on nursing homes.

(34366)

135
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) refurbishing and (b) adapting areas of the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, to accommodate the transfer of (i) paediatric services from the Queen Margaret Hospital and (ii) gynaecological services from Dunfermline.

(34367)

136
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 18th February, Official Report, column 709, when the figures for the cost of transferring the maternity facilities to Victoria Hospital and adapting Victoria Hospital will be available.

(34368)

137
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, under what powers the Cairngorm Partnership is able to stipulate to local authorities which member of the authority is to be appointed to the Advisory Board of the Partnership.

(34814)

138
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has undertaken regarding the appointment of members to the Advisory Board of the Cairngorm Partnership.

(34816)

139
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish the remit and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Cairngorm Partnership.

(34815)

140
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) she has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) she has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34826)

141
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what date the Contributions Agency decided not to pursue arrears of national insurance contributions on allowances paid to Crown employees serving overseas from 1975; and if this decision was approved by Ministers.

(35058)

142
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the average waiting time for appeal hearings for people applying to claim disability living allowance in (a) Portsmouth and (b) Southampton; and what were the averages in each of the last three years.

(35042)

143
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate she has made of the average waiting time for a social security appeal to be heard, from the date the appeal is lodged with the ITS.

(34598)

144
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make it her policy to abolish the habitual residence test.

(35087)

145
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what were the costs of administering appeals against refusal of benefits by applicants failing the habitual residence test for each year for which figures are available (a) in total and (b) per appellant.

(35086)

146
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, for each year for which figures are available, how many applicants for income support have been refused because they have not passed the habitual residence test; and what proportion were granted benefit (a) on appeal and (b) after a further application within four months of the original.

(35085)

147
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has for greater use of home visits to supplement the information provided on self-assessment questionnaires for disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement.

(35094)

148
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people (a) nationally and (b) in the Edmonton constituency have had their disability living allowance (i) increased, (ii) reduced and (iii) disallowed as a result of the Benefits Integrity Project; how many of those in categories (ii) and (iii) have been reviewed; of those how many appeals have been held or are pending; and what is the outcome of those appeals that have been heard.

(35054)

149
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are (a) the known costs to the social security housing benefit account of (i) established fraud, (ii) suspected fraud, (iii) claimant error and (iv) official error over the last five years and (b) the projected costs in these categories for the current year; and if she will make a statement.

(35093)

150
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what representations she has received regarding the length and complexity of the self-assessment forms for claiming disability living allowance; what consideration is being given to changing the questionnaires; and if she will make a statement.

(35095)

151
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are the costs, including review and appeals, and savings in the current year and the projected costs and savings in future years of the Benefits Integrity Project; and if she will make a statement.

(35089)

152
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what was the cost to the housing benefit account of fraud in cases where more than one person has been prosecuted; what percentage that cost was of the overall loss through fraud over the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(35092)

153
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what are the job description and terms of reference of the new Director of Action 2000.

(35101)

154
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she expects to wind up Action 2000; and if she will make a statement.

(35102)

155
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35116)

156
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she will announce the results of her current review of the Post Office.

(34813)

157
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) she has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) she has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34832)

158
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what advice on ethical issues is available from her Department to individuals, organisations and companies considering trade or investment projects in (a) Algeria, (b) North Korea, (c) Burma, (d) Indonesia, (e) Libya, (f) Colombia, (g) Syria, (h) Iraq, (i) Saudi Arabia and (j) China.

(35045)

159
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list by name and date the engineering institutions and engineering manufacturing industries she and her Ministers have visited since 1st May 1997.

(35038)

160
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will alter the title of the Chief Scientific Adviser to reflect his engineering responsibilities; and if she will make a statement.

(35041)

161
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what meetings (a) she and (b) her Ministers have held with the Engineering Council since 1st May 1997; what was the subject of the discussions; and what future meetings are planned.

(35040)

162
   Sir Peter Lloyd (Fareham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how long on average it takes to obtain an export licence to export humanitarian products to Iraq; what proportion of that time is taken waiting for a decision from the UN; what was (a) the longest and (b) the shortest time taken to grant an application for such a licence in the last 12 months; what was (i) the longest and (ii) the shortest time taken by the UN in processing an application referred to them by her Department over the same 12 months; and if there is any difference between the time taken to process applications made by recognised charities and commercial concerns.

(35083)

163
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what steps she is taking to strengthen the rules covering doorstep sales methods by companies selling gas.

(35099)

164
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Local Government Association's response to the consultation in respect of the MAI.

(35103)

165
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event.

(35122)

166
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1st May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1st May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1st May 1997.

(34824)

167
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has received as a result of the review of planning policy for opencast coal; and if he will make a statement.

(35047)

168
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the completion date of Conwy County Borough Council's proposed tram scheme for Llandudno.

(34885)

169
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to secure the refund of the Government grant to Conwy County Borough Council for the purpose of a tram scheme in Llandudno, if the tram scheme does not proceed.

(34884)

170
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if Conwy County Borough Council had planning consent for its proposed tram scheme in Llandudno before it submitted a bid for Government funding.

(34888)

171
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when Conwy County Borough Council submitted a bid for Government funding for its proposed tram scheme in Llandudno.

(34808)

172
N   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make an assessment of the impact on the health of patients needing to see a neuro-surgeon of long journeys to Walton Hospital, Liverpool.

(34820)

173
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the nature of the advice given on behalf of the United Kingdom Government by Lindsey Nicholl of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, Eleanor Sharpston Barrister and Michael Beloff QC, to the Court of Justice of the European Communities when it was considering the Marschell v Land Nordrhein Westfalen case.

[Transferred] (34886)