Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 30 March 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 30 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 Monday 30 March, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Tuesday 31 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.

MONDAY 30th MARCH

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the occasions since 1st May when he, his colleagues, or officials, have (a) met and (b) received representations from (i) Monsanto and (ii) Zeneca; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of each meeting.

(36879)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what decisions were reached by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes at its meeting on 19th March in respect of (a) herbicide resistant GM cotton seed and (b) peeled and comminuted GM tomato products; and if he will make a statement.

(36878)

3
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for what reasons 1996 has been used as the basis for the 1998 suckler cow payments.

(37092)

4
   Mrs Anne McGuire (Stirling):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make available the latest report evaluated by his Department on bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

(37057)

5
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of imports of cereal feed comes from the USA; and if he will make a statement.

(37103)

6
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many tonnes of British cereal feed were consumed in the UK in each of the last five years.

(37100)

7
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what provision is made for separating organic and genetically modified cereal feed in imports; and if he will make a statement.

(37102)

8
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the use of British cereal feed in the UK.

(37101)

9
   Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many (a) live sheep and (b) live pigs were exported from the United Kingdom in 1997 for (i) slaughter, (ii) further fattening and (iii) breeding; and how many live (1) sheep and (2) pigs in each of these categories were exported to each individual country of destination.

(37196)

10
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will place in the Library an organisational chart showing how different parts of the Food Standards Agency relate to each other.

(36614)

11
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which Acts of Parliament will require amendment to accommodate the Food Standards Agency.

(36612)

12
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will publish a summary of his conclusions following the consultation exercise on the Food Standards Agency.

(36616)

13
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which areas of the proposed Food Standards Agency will be defined in new (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation.

(36613)

14
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to modify his original proposals on the Food Standards Agency before the draft legislation is published.

(36615)

15
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much of the current spending on food safety by his Department will be transferred to the proposed Food Standards Agency; and if he will list those areas of work which will be transferred to the Food Standards Agency.

(36617)

16
N   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he proposes to assist the United Kingdom dairy industry in export markets.

(37042)

17
N   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the impact on farmers in North Staffordshire of the latest Milk Marque selling round; what estimate he has made of the impact of this round on milk prices in April; and if he will make a statement.

(37044)

18
N   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's manufacturing capacity for butter powder.

(37045)

19
N   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the average price obtained by farmers in the United Kingdom for (a) lamb, (b) beef and (c) milk for each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

(37040)

20
N   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the future of the milk quota system.

(37041)

21
N   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much milk was (a) produced and (b) consumed in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available.

(37043)

22
N   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufacturing capacity for butter powder relative to other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

(37046)

23
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from (a) Mr Rupert Murdoch and (b) News International in respect of the listed sporting events.

(37018)

24
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many tickets to Scotland's matches in World Cup 1998 have been obtained by his Department; and to whom these tickets have been distributed.

(36805)

25
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will review the appropriateness of Government support for the British Amateur Rugby League Association, with particular reference to the association's rules on out of district transfers.

(36609)

26
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the average (a) numbers of pupils involved in and (b) cost of the Combined Cadet Force per school in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the percentage of a year's intake which goes on to join the regular forces.

(36695)

27
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many young people are currently involved in university cadet forces; what is the average numbers of cadet units per university OTC; what was the cost of (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) Air Force cadets in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage of last year's intake became members of the regular forces.

(36696)

28
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the private schools which educated service personnel's children at public cost and the number of such pupils and the cost per pupil at each school in the last year for which figures are available.

(36693)

29
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the (a) cost and (b) strength of each university OTC in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage of OTC members took commissions in the (i) regular and (ii) territorial forces in that year.

(36692)

30
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of the delay in procuring new ships for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron on the Squadron's operational affectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

(37208)

31
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to use the Public Private Partnership to procure new vessels for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of such procurement for front line-vessels.

(37206)

32
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the progress of the procurement of new ships for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron.

(37207)

33
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the total overpayments identified by the National Audit Office from his Department to training and enterprise councils, in each of the last five years.

(36611)

34
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the 1997 European Directive on Autistic Children; what plans he has for its implementation; what is the estimated cost of its implementation; and if he will make a statement.

(36686)

35
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received on the need for separate secondary education facilities for autistic children; and what proposals he has to ensure that local education authorities provide that provision.

(36687)

36
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of the public money allocated for training and enterprise councils and to chambers of commerce training and enterprise in England and Wales will be spent on trainee allowances for people participating in training provided by an organisation other than the TEC or CCTE from which they receive their funding in the next 12 months.

(36863)

37
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many trainees he estimates will take part in (a) national traineeships and (b) modern apprenticeship schemes in 1998.

(36862)

38
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many responses were received to the Department for Education and Employment consultation paper, Legislation Regarding Discrimination on Grounds of Transsexualism in Employment; how many responses were (a) in favour and (b) opposed to the proposals; and if he will make a statement.

(36865)

39
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much he estimates would be raised by the introduction of a training levy equivalent to 2 per cent. of companies' pay roll in a 12 month period.

(36864)

40
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what has been the cost to public funds of training and enterprise councils and chambers of commerce training and enterprise in England and Wales in each year of their existence.

(36872)

41
N   Jacqui Smith (Redditch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what discussions he has had with the voluntary sector on their involvement in the delivery of the New Deal.

(35161)

42
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received from (i) employers, (ii) trades unions, (iii) non-governmental groups and (iv) individuals in Stoke-on-Trent North in respect of the New Deal.

(37195)

43
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many non-governmental groups have expressed an interest in participating in the Environment Task Force within Stoke-on-Trent North to date.

(37191)

44
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is his estimate of the number of people in the Stoke-on-Trent constituency who are eligible for the New Deal for (i) 18-24 year olds, (ii) lone parents, (iii) people with a disability or long-term illness and (iv) adults over 25 years who have been unemployed for two years or more; and if he will make a statement.

(37192)

45
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the training available to Employment Service staff to equip them to operate the New Deal from 6th April. .

(37193)

46
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) interviews with unemployed young people have been completed, (b) jobs have been pledged and (c) employers have signed up to the new deal in Stoke-on-Trent North.

(37194)

47
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the Government's percentage target for the reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases; and over what timescale this target applies.

(36884)

48
   Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what performance targets have been set for the Ordnance Survey Department and Executive Agency in the year 1998-99.

(37059)

49
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those local authorities which have produced local Agenda 21 strategies.

(37214)

50
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the total cost of producing his Department's publication, Europe's Shared Environment: The Work of the European Union in Environment Protection; and what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of its size.

(36803)

51
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what communications his Department has had with Cheshire County Council about the future of 3C Waste.

(37080)

52
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what communications his Department has had with Cheshire County Council about local waste disposal policy.

(37082)

53
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his Department's policy towards (a) incineration, (b) landraising and (c) landfill, as a method of waste disposal.

(37083)

54
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what communications his Department has had with North West local authorities about options for future waste disposal in the Mersey Belt; and if he will make a statement.

(37084)

55
   Ms Margaret Hodge (Barking):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the cost to London Underground in each quarter of the last five years of compensation payments triggered by delays caused by defective trains on the Jubilee Line.

(37200)

56
   Ms Margaret Hodge (Barking):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many delays of over two minutes there were to Jubilee Line underground trains in each month of the last five years caused by defective trains on the Jubilee Line.

(37203)

57
   Ms Margaret Hodge (Barking):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many delays of over two minutes to Jubilee Line underground trains have been caused by defective new trains on the Jubilee Line in each week since their introduction.

(37202)

58
   Ms Margaret Hodge (Barking):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many compensation payment claims have been triggered in the last five years because of delays to the Jubilee Line underground journeys caused by defective Jubilee Line trains.

(37201)

59
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with rail companies about reducing charges for carrying bicycles on trains.

(36610)

60
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what health and safety regulations apply to landfill sites.

(37151)

61
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many visits to West Sussex have been made by (a) the Secretary of State and (b) Ministers responsible for planning matters (i) between 1st May 1997 and 8th December 1997 and (ii) since 8th December 1997.

(36786)

62
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 25th February, Official Report, column 222, to what depth (a) the area surrounding the site of the Millennium Dome and (b) the remainder of the Greenwich peninsula have been cleared of contaminants.

(37079)

63
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 25th February, Official Report, column 222, what steps have been taken (a) to prevent contaminants from leaking to the surface and (b) to draw attention to the presence of contaminants below the surface on the Greenwich peninsula.

(37076)

64
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 25th February, Official Report, column 222, what certification has been provided by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the Environment Agency concerning the removal of contaminants from the Greenwich peninsula.

(37078)

65
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 25th February, Official Report, colunn 222, if (a) cyanide and (b) arsenic were among the contaminants removed from the site of the Millennium Dome or any other area on the Greenwich peninsula.

(37077)

66
N   Mr Malcolm Savidge (Aberdeen North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement about the financial management and policy review of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive.

(36885)

67
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer of 13th February, Official Report, column 419, concerning lead in water, what steps he will take to encourage the removal of potential lead contamination stemming from the pipework within a property.

(37228)

68
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 27th October 1997, Official Report, column 726, on rented housing, what would be the gross cost to the public sector if all local authority rents were to be cut by (a) 20 per cent., (b) 30 per cent., (c) 40 per cent., and (d) 50 per cent.; and in each case what would be the cost net of savings in housing benefits.

(37197)

69
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a green book in respect of the Budget; and if he will make a statement.

(36983)

70
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings Ministers in his Department held with coal industry representatives on 22nd and 23rd March; and if DTI (a) Ministers and (b) officials took part in these meetings.

(36570)

71
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the VAT reduction on energy saving materials for use in certain schemes, announced in the Budget, applies to energy efficiency schemes for social housing provided under the Electricity Regulator's Standards of Performance Initiative.

(37205)

72
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will update table 1.2 in the Red Book allowing for the Control Total for public spending to grow at 0.75 per cent. in real terms after 1998-99.

(36449)

73
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the expenditure on the (a) working families tax credit, (b) childcare tax credit, (c) disabled persons' tax credit, and (d) other newly introduced tax credits in (i)1998-99, (ii) 1999-2000, (iii) 2000-01, (iv) 2001-02 and (v) 2002-03; and for each of these years, what is the related reduction in other social security expenditure as a consequence of the introduction of the new tax credits.

(36451)

74
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the cyclically adjusted public sector current balance in cash terms for (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01, (d) 2001-02 and (e) 2002-03.

(36453)

75
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will update Table 3.3 on page 48 of the Red Book to include the numbers of people affected by high marginal deduction rates of 50 per cent. or more.

(36444)

76
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to improve work incentives by tackling high marginal deduction rates resulting from housing support mechanisms; and if he will make a statement.

(36377)

77
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the planned social security expenditure as a percentage of GDP in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000 and (e) 2000-01, on the basis of (i) the pre-Budget estimates and (ii) the post Budget estimates, assuming that expenditure on the tax credits introduced in the Budget counts against social security spending; and if he will make a statement.

(36394)

78
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are his estimates of the additional employment which will result from (a) the working families tax credit and (b) the childcare tax credit in (i) 1998-99, (ii) 1999-2000, (iii) 2000-01 and (iv) 2001-02; and if he will make a statement.

(36396)

79
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to 1.2.1 on page 10 of the Red Book, for what reasons higher tax revenues in 1997-98 are not assumed to carry forward fully into future years.

(36450)

80
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his latest estimate of the planned size of the contingency reserve in 1997-98 and 1998-99; and if he will make a statement.

(36452)

81
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the percentage of the total revenue from the windfall tax which will be spent on the New Deal for the young unemployed over the period 1997 to 2002; and if he will make a statement.

(36454)

82
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a green book on environmental sustainability to accompany the Financial Statement and Budget Report in future budgets; and if he will make a statement.

(36372)

83
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will update Table B18, page 128, of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, to give the figures in real terms, using 1996-97 prices.

(36373)

84
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will redraft Table B18, page 128, FSBR, March 1998, to show expenditure in each year as a percentage of forecast GDP; and if he will add to Table B18 a line to cover total estimated expenditure of United Kingdom education, expressed as a percentage of GDP.

(36374)

85
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will expand Table B24, page 136, in the FSBR, March 1998, to give the relevant figures for (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03, using the assumption of 0.75 per cent. real growth in public spending after 1998-99.

(36375)

86
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the numbers (a) new recipients of social security benefits and (b) new recipients of tax credits who were not previously claiming family credit in (i) 1998-99, (ii) 1999-2000, (iii) 2000-01 and (iv) 2001-02; and if he will make a statement.

(36376)

87
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the number of people following his Budget who will have (a) increased returns from employment and (b) reduced returns from employment; and if he will make a statement.

(36378)

88
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what factors underlie the additional net costs of the working families tax credit compared to family credit for (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01; and if he will make a statement.

(36395)

89
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the additional cost to the Exchequer of introducing the individual savings account in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02, (d) 2002-03 and (e) 2003-04.

(36397)

90
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the current number of claimants of family credit in each region and nation; what proportion of this number are owner occupiers; and if he will estimate the number of beneficiaries of the working families tax credit in each region and nation on the basis of present proposals and incomes, separately identifying the proportion who would be owner occupiers.

(36393)

91
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what actions he will propose to the EU Meeting of Ministers in Birmingham in May to relieve the heavily-indebted poor countries of their debt by the year 2000.

(37090)

92
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what account has been taken of recent rulings outlawing the pre-authorisation of financial products by the EU in the Government's proposals for a voluntary benchmarking system of life insurance-based savings products within the ISA.

(36800)

93
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the change in the proposals for PEPs, TESSAs and ISA's in the Budget on the Government's target of attracting six million new savers.

(36801)

94
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many national museums he expects to retain free admission as a result of Budget proposals; and for how long.

(36778)

95
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the cost to the finance industry of new computer systems required to deal with the new ISA product from April 1999.

[R] (36776)

96
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would the RPI indexation factor be for capital assets held over the next 10 years based on a comparable rate prevailing over the last 10 years.

(36789)

97
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many countries in Europe operate a capital gains tax system which involves 18 or more different rates of capital gains tax.

(36788)

98
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if effective bed and breakfasts from a personal holding into a PEP account held by the same beneficiary will be admissible under Budget changes to the Capital Gains Tax rules.

(36802)

99
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 5th February, Official Report, column 775, when he will place the results on the consultation exercise on the ISA Green Paper in the Library.

(36873)

100
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which measures in the Budget were intended to promote the Government's policy to encourage 60 per cent. of new development to take place on brownfield land.

(36787)

101
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what forecasts he has made of the average price of crude oil in (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000.

(36777)

102
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the estimated annual tax relief saving to the Treasury from the phasing out of retirement relief from April 2003.

(36791)

103
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which of the proposed Budget changes in capital gains tax have been introduced as simplifications of the current system.

(36790)

104
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd March, Official Report, column 453, on credit controls, if he will now use the reserve requirement to restrict the expansion of credit.

(37229)

105
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd March, Official Report, column 453, on credit control, what assessment he has made of alternative monetary policy instruments.

(37240)

106
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list for each member state of the European Union (a) the current functions performed in whole or in part by their central bank, (b) for each function, those bodies or persons responsible for decisions in respect of each and (c) to whom such bodies or persons are currently accountable.

(37215)

107
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from other member states of the European Union concerning the current system of budget rebates for the United Kingdom and the date when the current period of that arrangement expires.

(37212)

108
N   Mr Richard Page (South West Hertfordshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of administering the Christian Aid Jubilee 2000 campaign.

(36379)

109
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the impact of the increase in fuel tax on motorists in rural areas.

(37073)

110
N   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Serbian government regarding the situation in Kosovo.

(36774)

111
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons he has made no representations to the Spanish Ambassador on the incident which took place on Thursday 13th March in which a Royal Gibraltar police launch was struck by a Spanish helicopter.

(36782)

112
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) projects and (b) financial aids are provided to help reunite refugee children with their families in areas of conflict.

(37054)

113
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what financial contribution the UK has made to UNICEF in each of the last five years.

(37060)

114
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to (a) establish permanent diplomatic representations in the Republic of Moldova or (b) move Moldavian accreditation from Moscow.

(37210)

115
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the criteria for the issuing of invitations to attend the People's Europe Conference in June; if he will list the (a) organisations and (b) individuals approached to contribute to the Executive Committee; if he will list those invited to speak to date; and what measures are being taken to ensure a balanced variety of viewpoints amongst those participating.

(37095)

116
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) budget of the People's Europe Project.

(37072)

117
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his Department's policy to obtain in consolidated form an annual breakdown from the European Commission of programmes operating in the United Kingdom for the promotion of (a) the European Union and (b) economic and monetary union.

(37094)

118
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what European Communities funding will be available to support the People's Europe Project.

(37096)

119
   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff of the European Commission based in London possess diplomatic immunity.

(37165)

120
   Mrs Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of the applications received for funding from Investing in Dentistry have been successful; and what has been the amount of each grant awarded.

(37157)

121
   Mrs Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the funding made available for Investing in Dentistry for 1997-98 has been allocated.

(37158)

122
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is his estimate of the percentage change in the real budget for the National Health Service in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99.

(36371)

123
N   Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will instruct the Regional Director of the Northern and Yorkshire NHS Executive to respond to the letters of 11th September and 9th January by the honourable Member for Wakefield on behalf of a constituent.

(36981)

124
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding is available from his Department for physiotherapy services for schools.

(37218)

125
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has commissioned and evaluated on the numbers of children in schools requiring physiotherapy and occupational therapy to assist with physical problems.

(37217)

126
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given to health authorities on the provision of physiotherapy services in schools.

(37216)

127
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on Professor Phillip Jones's membership of the COMA Committee.

(36982)

128
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what restrictions are placed on the prescribing of diazepam.

(37156)

129
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases have been reported during each of the last three years.

(37061)

130
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of the Minister of State, the honourable Member for Darlington, of 23rd March, Official Report, columns 49-50, on cholesterol treatment, what estimate he has made of the additional cost of general practioners following the instructions contained in the executive letter on lipid-limiting drugs and the health care bulletin.

(36792)

131
   Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria will need to be satisfied by proposals for primary care groups which span health and local authority boundaries.

(37105)

132
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of those applying for asylum in 1997 who have not complied with the terms of their temporary admission and whom the Immigration Service has been unable to trace.

(36517)

133
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by (a) nationality, (b) gender, (c) place of detention, (d) length of detention and (e) stage of application and immigration status at the time of detention.

(36518)

134
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his the Answer of 24th March, Official Report, columns 118-9, if he will list the representations received by the Minister without Portfolio on blood sports and subsequently passed to him.

(37036)

135
   Mrs Teresa Gorman (Billericay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average retirement age for a firefighter.

(37087)

136
   Mrs Teresa Gorman (Billericay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average retirement age for a police officer.

(37086)

137
   Mrs Teresa Gorman (Billericay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what has been the average cost of invalidity pensions paid to firefighters in the last three financial years.

(37085)

138
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many detainees in Campsfield House have been transferred to prison establishments in each month since January 1997.

(37106)

139
N   Mr Ivan Lewis (Bury South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he will take to ensure that support and guidance is given to the parents of young offenders.

(35167)

140
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what regulation applies to the private security industry.

(37053)

141
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the bilateral agreements with Norway and the Republic of Ireland to allow domestic courts to impose restriction orders on those convicted of football offences abroad were agreed.

(37075)

142
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the levels of punishment for crimes committed under the Football Offences Act 1991.

(37074)

143
   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evidence he has obtained as to the misuse of muzzle-loading firearms.

(37091)

144
N   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to reform the Gaming Act 1968.

(35295)

145
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish the Development Awareness Working Group Strategy document.

(37107)

146
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when her Department's Country Strategy Papers will be made publicly available.

(37081)

147
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to his Answer of 24th March, Official Report, column 119, for what reason it is not his policy to say whether he has met (a) Mr Rupert Murdoch and (b) representatives of News International since 1st January.

(37033)

148
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what open government measures he has taken.

(37034)

149
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will list his responsibilities in respect of the Strategic Communications Unit.

(37039)

150
N   Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the current level of expenditure borne by the UK Exchequer on the administration of security in the Province.

(36866)

151
N   Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the impact of the devolution proposals on the prospects for establishing an Assembly in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

(36867)

152
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what areas of the Stormont estate have been taken over for (a) building and (b) paving since 1st January 1993; for what purposes and what planning permission was sought; what buildings are temporary; and how many car parking spaces are provided on the Stormont estate.

(37160)

153
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reasons the announcement of the membership of the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights was made on 31st December.

(37163)

154
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will investigate the reasons why written terms of reference were not provided to the valuers for the privatisation valuation assignment on Belfast International Airport.

(37162)

155
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans she has for the future use of the Lawther Day Centre in College Park Avenue, Belfast.

(37159)

156
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will make a statement on her policy with respect to (a) building on green belt land and (b) the proportion of brownfield sites to be used for future housing.

(37161)

157
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which staff appointments in (a) her Private Office, (b) the Northern Ireland Office and (c) the Northern Ireland Civil Service are subject to her personal choice.

(37164)

158
   The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will restrict the number of mobile phone base stations that can be mounted on one (a) mast, (b) building and (c) other structures.

(37098)

159
   The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the maximum effective radiated power permitted from a mobile phone base station.

(37097)

160
   The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the long-term effects of exposure to radiation from mobile phones and base stations.

(37099)

161
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what studies she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the impact of radioactive discharges from Sellafield on the health of people in Northern Ireland.

(37104)

162
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of (a) the Deputy Prime Minister and (b) the Minister without Portfolio in respect of (i) advice to him, (ii) initiation of Government policy and (iii) presentation of government policy.

(37037)

163
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the newspaper proprietors who have received government hospitality since 1st May 1997.

(37038)

164
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what action he is taking under the UK presidency of the EU to promote initiatives on green procurement.

(36883)

165
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what factors he will take into account in reaching a decision on whether to seek to (a) reject and (b) amend those amendments to the Competition Bill [Lords] made in the House of Lords with regard to competition policy and media shareholdings.

(37048)

166
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many representations he has received from honourable Labour Members expressing concern about the extent of media ownership by Mr Rupert Murdoch.

(37047)

167
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) press briefings and (b) other dissemination of information in respect of the threat of Iraqi use of anthrax originated from his office; at what time and on what day this occurred; which newspapers were briefed; and if he will make a statement.

(37019)

168
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set a date by which the environmental policy and practice of firms competing for public contracts will become an essential element in the assessment of all bids for government contracts.

(36880)

169
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Prime Minister, what steps he expects (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Union to take in order to take forward the agreement, set out in the joint Japan-European Union statement of 12th January to expedite stable co-operation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

(37089)

170
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he plans to introduce emergency legislation to prevent summary criminal prosecutions being abandoned because of the holding of more than one intermediate diet in the criminal proceedings taken against the accused concerned.

(36868)

171
   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many summary criminal prosecutions have been deserted, since 12th March, between the conviction and the sentencing of the accused, on account of the fixing or holding of more than one intermediate diet in the criminal proceedings taken against the accused concerned.

(36869)

172
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many summary criminal convictions recorded in each of the five years to 31st December 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 are susceptible to legal challenge because they followed upon the fixing or holding of more than one intermediate diet in the criminal proceedings taken against the accused concerned.

(36871)

173
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many summary criminal prosecutions have been deserted, since 12th March, before the conclusion of a trial diet, on account of the fixing or holding of more than one intermediate diet in the criminal proceedings taken against the accused concerned.

(36870)

174
   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many trusts and health boards in Scotland have implemented the recommendation by the Management Executive of the Scottish Office that midwives should be placed on a minimum of Grade F of the clinical grading structure.

(37225)

175
   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to ensure that the grading of midwives in Scotland is in line with that in other parts of the United Kingdom.

(37224)

176
   Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many midwives in Scotland are currently employed on Grade D of the clinical grading structure.

(37226)

177
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many tickets to Scotland's matches in World Cup 1998 have been obtained by his Department; and to whom these tickets have been distributed.

(36804)

178
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list those councils which provide separate facilities for the secondary education of autistic children and in each case the number of (a) locations and (b) full-time teacher equivalents at each location.

(36685)

179
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the estimated cost to public funds of local enterprise companies in Scotland in 1998.

(36861)

180
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 1997, Offical Report, column 726, on rented housing, what would be the gross cost to the public sector if all local authority rents in Scotland were to be cut by 10 per cent; and what would be the cost net of savings in housing benefits.

(37199)

181
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the Green Paper on Welfare Reform was delivered to the printers.

(37021)

182
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if those lone parents currently claiming the lone parent rates of (a) family premium, (b) child benefit, (c) housing benefit and (d) council tax benefit will be paid the increases in these benefits announced in the Budget.

(37022)

183
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are the average initial (a) salary and (b) weekly earnings for those lone parents who have obtained employment through the New Deal for Lone Parents on taking up work in each of the control areas.

(37023)

184
   Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many times and on which matters the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board has been consulted by the Secretary of State since its formation in 1992.

(37209)

185
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 17th March, Official Report, column 530, on social security appeals, what is the average waiting time from the date the appeal is lodged for an appeal to be dealt with by the ITS; and how many appeals have currently been waiting for more than three months to be heard.

(36608)

186
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 17th March, Official Report, columns 536-8, what information is available about the numbers of life awards for (a) the mobility component and (b) the care component of disability living allowance, in each quarter from April 1992 to February 1993; and how many awards were made in that period.

(36099)

187
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 17th March, Official Report, columns 536-8, how many life awards of disability living allowance were made in each quarter since May 1993 at the (a) higher, (b) middle, (c) lower rates of the care component and (d) higher and (e) lower rate of the mobility component.

(36100)

188
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will review the benefit entitlements of persons who have significant savings only as a result of receiving compensation for vaccine damage as children.

(37093)

189
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will estimate the cost of increasing the earning disregard for housing benefit by £5 per child for families with children.

(37241)

190
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will estimate the cost of increasing the earning disregard threshold for housing benefit (a) from £5 to £10 for single people, and by £10 for other claimants and (b) from £5 to £20 for single people and by £20 for other claimants.

(37242)

191
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate she has made of the number of households with incomes within the income support thresholds, not in receipt of income support, broken down by tenure.

(37213)

192
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has to link the housing benefit system to (a) the family credit system and (b) a tax credit scheme.

(37227)

193
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what was the total cost of postage for her Department in each of the last 12 months.

(36781)

194
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what percentage of energy consumed in the UK came from (a) nuclear power generation, (b) fossil fuels and (c) renewable sources for the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made for the percentage breakdown for (i) 2008 and (ii) 2018.

(36881)

195
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what controls exist to prevent predatory pricing of newspapers.

(37016)

196
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what amount (i) in actual terms and (ii) in terms of the percentage of public expenditure on energy research and development will be spent in 1997-98 on research and development for (a) nuclear fission, (b) nuclear fusion, (c) fossil fuel generation and (d) renewable energy sources.

(36882)

197
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what steps she is taking to improve coordination with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and its agencies in connection with the regulation and support of the waste management industry.

(36697)

198
N   Mr John Butterfill (Bournemouth West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what statistics her Department has collated on the payment record for commercial debt of Government departments and agencies, NHS trusts and local authorities; what steps are being taken to ensure that the Government's requirements regarding payment within 30 days, as set out in the annex to the consultation paper, are being adhered to by them; and if payment performance is being monitored.

(35439)

199
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what steps she is taking to stop unsolicited e-mail being sent out across the Internet.

(37052)

200
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what representations she has received from British industry about the proposed merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand; and if she will make a statement.

(36241)

201
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the relationship between independent auditing capacity and the protection of shareholder's rights.

(36243)

202
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment she has made of the implications for competitive choice in the auditing field of the proposed merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand.

(36240)

203
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment she has made of the level of independent auditing capacity available to British financial institutions following a Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand merger.

(36242)

204
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she expects to receive the Annual Report of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

(37211)

205
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what criteria he uses to assess the suitability of sites for the development of electricity generating plants; and what arrangements exist to involve the public in the planning process.

(37088)

206
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if, on his recent visit to the Northern Ireland All-Party Talks, he discussed the criteria and ground rules for a referendum on the outcome of the talks and the lessons which could be learned from the experience of the referendum in Wales in September 1997.

(36785)

207
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if, on his recent visits to the Northern Ireland All-Party Talks, he discussed (a) cross-border powers, (b) power-sharing, (c) weighted votes to protect minority interests and (d) parity of esteem for all traditions.

(36784)

208
N   Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will repay to Swansea the costs incurred by that city in bidding to be the location of the National Assembly for Wales.

(36783)

209
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the (a) health and (b) other problems caused by the creation of landfill sites in Wales.

(37155)

210
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the average travel to school distance for children in rural Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(37152)

211
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many complaints have been registered by children in care regarding the way that they are treated, in the last three years.

(37056)

212
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he is taking to increase the involvement of children in care in decisions relating to their care.

(37153)

213
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much radioactive waste was imported to Wales in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(37154)

214
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many complaints his Department has received relating to landfill sites in the last three years, separately identifying those relating to health hazards.

(37058)

215
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, column 733, on civil servants, what is the grade of the civil servant who was involved in both the acquisition of the lease on Crickhowell House and in the siting of the National Assembly; and if he will indicate how much of that civil servant's time was spent on the siting of the National Assembly compared to the other civil servants involved in the exercise.

(36795)

216
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, if he will list the principal reasons for the discussions between his Department and the landlords at Crickhowell House to extend the defects liability period beyond 31st March.

(36798)

217
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, when the defects period was originally set to expire; and if he will make a statement on previous negotiations to extend the defects liability.

(36780)

218
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, if he has to refer prospective assignees or sub-lessees under the privity of contract provisions of the lease, for approval to the landlords before assignment or sub-letting; and, if an assignee or sub-lessee becomes insolvent or otherwise breaks the terms of the assignment or sub-lease, to whom the responsibility reverts.

(36775)

219
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, if he will make a statement on the connection between the terms of his lease at Crickhowell House and the defects liability period; and what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department, if the defects liability period had expired (i) 12 months, (ii) 24 months, (iii) 36 months or (iv) 48 months after occupation of Crickhowell House.

(36799)

220
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 32, on the National Assembly, what consultations he has had with his departmental property management consultants concerning the continuation of the Crown & Co. contract for valuation, estates and property matters and as negotiating agents.

(36793)

221
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, columns 733-4, on Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, how much of the £1.4 million has been committed to date.

(36796)

222
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, in what ways his privity of contract affects his ability to assign or sub-let the lease; if he will list the restrictions, contained in the lease, reducing his ability to sub-let to (a) other Government departments and (b) the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

(36779)

223
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, columns 733-4, on Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, if he will place a copy of the Scott Harbour rental agreement in the Library; what information he has on expenditure incurred under the Scott Harbour rental agreement; if the minimum rent guaranteed under the rental agreement includes a profit element; and what arrangements he has for policing the agreement in operation.

(36797)

224
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, columns 732-3, what the total cost to the reserves of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority of the void office space at Crickhowell House has been in each of the financial years since significant void space commenced; what steps have been taken to provide the resources to the authority to maintain reserves at an appropriate level for the authority; and if he will make a statement.

(36794)

225
N   Sir Raymond Powell (Ogmore):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans his Department has to examine the impact of out of town shopping developments on town centres.

(37035)

226
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the nature and source of the statistical information used by his Department in preparing NUTS designations for Objective 1 European structural funding for Wales.

(36875)

227
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in the European Structural Funds Review.

(36874)

228
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the GDP figures for each of the new Welsh unitary authorities.

(36877)

229
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the timetable for preparation and submission of Welsh Office proposals relating to the European Structural Funds Review.

(36876)

230
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October 1997, Official Report, column 726, on rented housing, what would be the gross cost to the public sector if all local authority rents in Wales were to be cut by 10 per cent.; and what would be the cost net of savings in housing benefits.

(37198)

231
N   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to modify extradition treaties to cover persons who commit major white collar fraud.

[Question Unstarred] (35152)

232
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what thresholds her Department uses to determine the levels of concentration of media ownership which would trigger her Department's intervention.

[Transferred] (37020)

233
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what representations she has received from (a) Mr Rupert Murdoch and (b) News International in respect of media shareholdings in the United Kingdom.

[Transferred] (37017)

234
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to remove the statutory limit on compensation for unfair dismissal.

[Transferred] (37204)

235
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what initiatives are being pursued to reduce the number of vehicles that are not legally roadworthy used on Welsh roads.

[Transferred] (37055)



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