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 24 March 1998

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

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 25 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 24th MARCH

1
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if (a) his Department and (b) the Central Science Laboratory have taken legal advice on the possible redundancy costs of closure of the Central Science Laboratory at Norwich.

(35958)

2
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which specialists from the commercial sector were appointed to advise his Department on how best to achieve a secure future for the Central Science Laboratory; and if he will publish their advice.

(35962)

3
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimates his Department has made of the revenue savings resulting from the closure of the Central Science Laboratory facility at Colney Lane, Norwich; and to which body such planned savings would accrue.

(35952)

4
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the capital cost of closing the Central Science Laboratory facility at Colney Lane, Norwich; and where this cost would be funded from.

(35954)

5
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what redundancy costs his Department is assuming, and for how many staff, for (a) scientists and (b) non-scientists if the Central Science Laboratory site at Colney Lane, Norwich is closed; and by which body such costs would be born.

(35956)

6
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what detailed studies (a) his Department and (b) the Central Science Laboratory have made of options for setting the Sand Hutton Laboratory, York on a sound financial footing; and if he will publish them.

(35961)

7
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment his Department has made of the possibility of moving other MAFF and MAFF Agency laboratories to the Central Science Laboratory at Sand Hutton, York.

(35960)

8
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimates his Department has made of (a) the number and (b) the total value of the contracts which would be lost by the Central Science Laboratory in the event of closure of the Norwich laboratory of the CSL.

(35964)

9
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the current and projected capital charges for the Central Science Laboratory at Sand Hutton, York, for each of the years 1996-97 to 2001-02, indicating which are payable by (a) his Department, (b) the Central Science Laboratory and (c) other public bodies.

(35953)

10
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assumption his Department is making in developing its financial projections of the proportion of Norwich scientific staff of the Central Science Laboratory who will relocate to York if the Norwich site is closed.

(35955)

11
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proportion of the scientists employed by the Central Science Laboratory at Torry, Aberdeen in January 1995 were still employed by the CSL, at York, in January 1998.

(35959)

12
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans his Department has to transfer the MAFF-funded food research work programme to other scientific institutions in Norwich in the event of closure of the Norwich site of the Central Science Laboratory.

(35963)

13
N   Mr Gerald Bermingham (St. Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will instruct the Lottery Regulator to investigate the ergonomic design of lottery ticket machines issuing lottery tickets to customers of Camelot, with particular reference to the absence of a visual display that can be seen by the customer at the point of sale.

(36078)

14
N   Mr Gerald Bermingham (St. Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the means by which the numbers on lucky dip option tickets are selected; and if he will make a statement.

(36080)

15
N   Mr Gerald Bermingham (St. Helens South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will request the Lottery Regulator to investigate the method by which Camelot issues lucky dip tickets to customers, with special reference to allowing for verbal commission of tickets.

(36079)

16
   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on his funding proposals for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

(36153)

17
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the (a) location of, (b) running costs of, (c) salary costs of and (d) number of staff based at the Head Office of the Museums and Galleries Commission, the percentage of total staff based (i) at HQ, (ii) in London and (iii) in Scotland and the percentage of salary and running costs incurred in (A) Scotland and (B) London.

(36109)

18
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the British Tourist Authority in Scotland.

(36106)

19
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the (i) location of, (ii) running costs of, (iii) salary costs of and (iv) number of staff based at the head office of the British Tourist Authority, the percentage of staff are based in (a) head office, (b) London and (c) Scotland and the percentage of salary and running costs incurred in (1) London and (2) Scotland.

(36105)

20
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th March, Official Report, column 542, where the 17 missing works of art were found and what are their current locations; if he will list the locations of the 21 works of art otherwise accounted for; and how many works of art remain unaccounted for.

(36157)

21
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what was (a) the estimated average fuel consumption and (b) the total mileage of ministerial cars travelling on official business in each of the years since 1989-90 for each Government department.

(36159)

22
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is his estimate of the (a) number and (b) percentage of persons on the New Deal who will require special attention at the Gateway, the (i) number and (ii) percentage who will require mentoring and the basis on which these estimates are made; from where he expects to recruit the mentors; and what estimate he has made of the amounts individual mentors will be paid and the total cost.

(36155)

23
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will introduce measures to help students over the age of 50 years by (a) the provision of grants, (b) the waiving of tuition fees and (c) extending the upper age limit of eligibility for student loans; and if he will make a statement.

(36077)

24
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will publish his response to the New Deal Task Forces, proposals on objectives for the New Deal.

(36090)

25
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will place in the Library a copy of the KPMG study of partnerships on Pathfinder areas for the New Deal.

(36089)

26
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 16th March, Official Report, column 438, if he will request the Rail Regulator to discuss with (a) Railtrack and (b) TOCs the public provision of national time tables for future years.

(36081)

27
N   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, by what means and according to what timetable his Department is proposing to consult regional authorities regarding their views on international air service access to regional airports.

(35437)

28
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the (i) location of, (ii) running costs of, (iii) salary costs of and (iv) number of staff based at the Head Office of the (a) Planning Inspectorate and (b) Building Research Establishment; and for these bodies if he will list the percentage of (1) staff, (2) salary costs and (3) running costs which are based in (A) London and (B) Scotland.

(36108)

29
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for each year since the creation of the London Docklands Development Corporation, what was the (i) population, (ii) unemployment rate and (iii) employment rate for the area covered by the London Docklands Development Corporation.

(36095)

30
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the Audit Commission in Scotland; if he will state the (a) location of, (b) running costs of, (c) salary costs of and (d) number of staff based at the HQ of the Audit Commission; what percentage of staff are based in (i) head office, (ii) London and (iii) Scotland; and what percentage of (A) salary and (B) running costs are incurred in (1) London and (2) Scotland.

(36107)

31
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what has been the total financial assistance given to the London Docklands Development Corporation since its inception.

(36094)

32
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the number of excess votes for each of the last 10 years, indicating the amount and the Department responsible in each case.

(36168)

33
N   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd March, Official Report, column 454, on Lloyds of London, what account he took of the impact on public confidence of the legal proceedings currently underway in the United States of America in reaching his decision.

(36140)

34
N   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he intends to take to provide information to the American policyholders on the solvency of Equitas following publicity arising from legal proceedings over Lloyds of London currently in progress in the United States of America.

(36141)

35
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate how many families will face a marginal deduction rate of between 50 per cent. and 60 per cent. (a) before and (b) after the introduction of working families tax credit.

(36101)

36
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assumptions for inflation and asset growth he used in calculating the revenue effects of his Budget proposals for capital gains tax reform.

(36040)

37
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, who will receive the working families tax credit in the event that a couple cannot agree on which of them should receive it.

(36039)

38
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the forward cost of raising employees' national insurance contributions threshold to £81 per week is not included in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

(36082)

39
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the recent report on alcohol and tobacco smuggling prepared by Customs and Excise.

(36076)

40
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the earnings top up system operating in particular areas of low income will be reviewed in consequence of the introduction of the working family tax credit.

(35937)

41
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his estimate of the extra expenditure which will stem from the working family tax credit takes account of the consequential reductions in applications for housing benefit and council tax benefits; and if he will make a statement.

(35936)

42
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what will be the combined marginal withdrawal rate faced by someone who is receiving partial help with childcare costs under the proposed tax credit scheme and who is also (a) paying basic rate tax and NICs or (b) paying basic rate tax and NICs, and receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit.

(36026)

43
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, where both members of a couple request that the working family tax credit be paid directly to them, which party's wishes will take precedence.

(36093)

44
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the cost of the childcare tax credit within the Working Families Tax Credit in 1999-2000 assuming that it is fully used by families entitled to it, and also assuming take up of (a) 75 per cent. (b) 50 per cent. and (c) 25 per cent.

(36139)

45
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risk that light weapons or armoured vehicles exported to Turkey could be used for internal repression.

(36158)

46
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will urge the Turkish government at the UN Commission on Human Rights to facilitate the visits of, and co-operate with, the Working Group on Involuntary and Enforced Disappearances and the Special Rapporteur on Torture in 1998.

(36156)

47
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to encourage Turkey to improve its record on human rights abuses.

(35293)

48
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the linkage between Turkey's application for membership of the EU and its policies towards Cyprus.

(35294)

49
N   Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the number of UN Security Council Resolutions of which Israel is in breach; and what issues they cover.

(35970)

50
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will urge the UN Commission on Human Rights to press the Turkish government to facilitate the visits of, and cooperate with, the Working Group on Involuntary and Enforced Disappearances and the Special Rapporteur on Torture in 1998.

(35883)

51
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risk that (a) light weapons and (b) armoured vehicles exported to Turkey could be used for internal repression.

(35884)

52
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will, in its statement to the UN Commission on Human Rights, urge the Turkish government to prosecute all those responsible for human rights violations.

(35885)

53
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the Government intends to make at the UN Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva to deal with human rights problems in Turkey.

(35886)

54
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations the Government has made to the Turkish government on human rights.

(35887)

55
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the current human rights situation in Turkey.

(35888)

56
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money will be given to the North Essex Health Authority in 1998-99 to reduce hospital waiting lists.

(35932)

57
N   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets he has for redirecting funds from NHS bureaucracy into patient care.

(34400)

58
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what studies his Department has conducted to discover whether a link exists between under-age alcohol consumption and the (a) incidence of teenage pregnancies and (b) spread of HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases.

(35291)

59
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of introducing exemptions from prescription charges for people with chronic heart conditions requiring treatment by drugs.

(35972)

60
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of tuberculosis have been recorded in each regional health authority in each of the last 10 years.

(36169)

61
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given (a) paediatricians and (b) general practitioners on the prescription of drugs to children which are not licensed for the treatment of children; and if he will make a statement.

(36170)

62
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases have been recorded in each regional health authority in each of the last 10 years, where children have been prescribed treatments which are (a) unlicensed for use on children and (b) not used in accordance with labelled instructions.

(36171)

63
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will investigate the extent of the use of unlicensed treatments on children; and if he will make a statement.

(36172)

64
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proposals he has to regularise the extra-statutory payments position in relation to the NHS Centre for Coding and Classification following the recent National Audit Office report.

(35855)

65
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what are the names and addresses of the (a) internal and (b) external auditors to (i) the Trent Regional Health Authority between 1990-91 and 1995-96 and (ii) Leicestershire Health Authority from 1995-96 to date.

(35856)

66
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the total real term value of (a) staff car mileage claims paid and (b) staff rail fares paid; and what was the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and the percentage change year on year, for each year since 1989-90.

(36162)

67
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the Department's energy usage was from (a) renewable energy and (b) combined heating in each year since 1989-90.

(36161)

68
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the quantity of (a) oil, (b) gas and (c) electricity purchased for the heating, lighting and powering of all accommodation occupied by his Department within the United Kingdom in each year since 1989-90; and what was the total cost in real terms for (a) to (c) in each year.

(36167)

69
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total number of staff of all grades employed by his Department; and what percentage of these staff were eligible to claim a car mileage allowance on 31st March in each year since 1990.

(36160)

70
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial help has been given by his Department towards the establishment and running of women's refuges in the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

(36146)

71
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the number of women's refuges in each London borough.

(36152)

72
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what strategies his Department is following to tackle the problem of alcohol misuse amongst young people.

(35292)

73
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the recent reports he received from the Board of Visitors of Wormwood Scrubs Prison.

(36042)

74
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps his Department is planning to concentrate the legal aid budget on promoting access to the judicial system for the poorest and on cases which raise issues of wider public interest.

(35236)

75
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what assessment he has made of the impact on litigants involved in expensive, lengthy or complex cases of the introduction of contracting between the Legal Aid Board and legal service providers.

(35237)

76
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will list the contracts so far awarded in respect of the Millennium Dome, and in each case (a) the value, (b) the successful tenderer and (c) whether the successful tenderer is British-based.

(35971)

77
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what evaluation was made of the option of using an air-conditioning system for the Millennium Dome powered by hydrocarbons.

(35928)

78
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what representations he has received and what advice he sought from the Deputy Prime Minister before deciding to use HFCs to power the air-conditioning system within the Millennium Dome.

(35939)

79
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what representations he has received on Government policy towards blood sports.

(35934)

80
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what steps he has taken to ensure a full environmental assessment has been carried out in respect of (a) the land on which the Dome is to be built, (b) the construction process of the Dome and (c) the operation of the Dome.

(35930)

81
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will publish a list of persons employed (a) directly and (b) on a freelance basis by the New Millennium Experience Company, giving their function and rate of salary.

(35929)

82
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will list the occasions on which he has met His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, indicating the purpose of each meeting.

(35933)

83
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will list the sponsorship secured by contract for the Millennium Dome by 18th March giving in each case (a) the company or individual, (b) the amount and (c) details of undertakings given to sponsors in return for their sponsorship.

(35931)

84
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, when he has met (a) Mr Rupert Murdoch and (b) representatives of News International; what was the purpose of such meetings; and if he will make a statement.

(35957)

85
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what meetings he has had with BBC executives since 1st January.

(36183)

86
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what are the specific functions of (a) Mr Philip Bassett and (b) Mr David Bradshaw within the Strategic Communications Unit.

(35935)

87
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Prime Minister, if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that nuclear deterrence is an essential guarantee of peace and security.

(35661)

88
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 16th March, Official Report, columns 451-2 on Dounreay, by what means the Health and Safety Executive undertakes its regulatory role in respect of possible hazards to workers and members of the public from work carried out on the site of Dounreay, with particular reference to the accumulation and storage of radioactive waste.

(36142)

89
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to assist students over the age of fifty years by means of (a) grants and (b) the waiving of fees; and if he will make a statement.

(36110)

90
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many meetings of the committee set up to review the work of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland have taken place; whether the committee has recommended an increase in (a) staff and (b) funding; on what date the findings of the committee will be published; and if he will make a statement.

(36111)

91
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 16th December, Official Report, column 133, if has made a decision on whether to implement the Garrick recommendation to establish a Scottish forum for higher education.

(36112)

92
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what basis the proposed protection for those earning above the lower earnings limit but below the tax threshold will be provided.

(36021)

93
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the proposed childcare tax credit will be treated as income for the purposes of assessing entitlement to housing benefit.

(36025)

94
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is her estimate of the cost in 1999-2000 of his Budget changes in employer's national insurance contributions to the public sector broken down between, (i) the NHS, (ii) schools, (iii) local authorities, (iv) higher education, (v) the armed forces and (vi) others.

(36091)

95
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list the categories of equipment which are regarded as of potential use in torture whose export has been banned since 1st May 1997.

(35938)

96
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what has been the tonnage of asbestos imported into the European Union from Canada in each of the last three years.

(36147)

97
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what estimate she has made of the cost to the United Kingdom of the present proposals for reforming EU structural funds.

(35327)

98
N   Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the availability of ultra-low sulphur diesel; if she will estimate the number of retail outlets where the product is currently available; and what is the difference in retail price between ultra-low sulphur diesel and standard diesel road fuel following the Budget Statement.

(35713)

99
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the total real term value of (a) staff car mileage claims paid and (b) staff rail fares paid; and what was the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and the percentage change year on year, for each year since 1989-90.

(36164)

100
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what was the quantity of (a) oil, (b) gas and (c) electricity purchased for the heating, lighting and powering of all accommodation occupied by the Department within the United Kingdom in each year since 1989-90; and what was the total cost in real terms for (a) to (c) in each year.

(36163)

101
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proportion of her Department's energy usage was from (i) renewable energy and (ii) combined heating in each year since 1989-90.

(36166)

102
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what was the total number of staff of all grades employed by the Department ; and what percentage of these staff were eligible to claim a car mileage allowance on 31st March in each year since 1990.

(36165)

103
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the evidence presented in 1996 by Her Majesty's Government to the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons remains Government policy.

[Transferred] (36154)



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