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 27 April 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 27 April 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 27 April, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Tuesday 28 April, 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 27th MAY

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the specific issues his Department assesses to require resolution before fur farming can be made illegal.

(39778)

2
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the review of the arrangements for reporting surveys on pesticide residues in food has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

(40011)

3
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if all the proposals relating to the use of organophosphate pesticides, announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 17th Feburary 1997 have been implemented.

(39651)

4
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received following the March 1998 inquiry by the BBC Radio 4 programme, Farming Today, into retail profits on beef sales; and if he will make a statement.

(39652)

5
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he expects to publish the report of the inter-departmental committee on organophosphate pesticides.

(39653)

6
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of (a) the number of family-run hotels in the United Kingdom and (b) the percentage of the foreign earnings attributable to United Kingdom hotels arising from the family-run sector; and if he will make a statement.

(39991)

7
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former Royal Marines personnel (a) above the rank of captain and (b) at or below the rank of captain are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis.

(39936)

8
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former Royal Navy service personnel (a) above the rank of lieutenant commander and (b) at or below the rank of lieutenant commander are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis.

(39934)

9
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former RAF service personnel (a) above the rank of squadron leader and (b) at or below the rank of squadron are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis.

(39933)

10
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former army personnel (a) above the rank of major and (b) at or below the rank of major are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis.

(39935)

11
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the date for replacement of the air refuelling tanker fleet.

(39771)

12
   Sir Raymond Powell (Ogmore):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions since 1st May 1997 he has invoked exemption 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in respect of selling or disposing of land to private individuals or consortia.

(40087)

13
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many former Royal Air Force officers of the rank of air commodore or above are currently employed by government departments; and what their roles are.

(39939)

14
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many former Royal Navy officers of the rank of rear admiral or above are currently employed by government departments; and what their roles are.

(39937)

15
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many former army officers of the rank of brigadier or above are currently employed by government departments; and what their roles are.

(39938)

16
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list by grade and by Government department the percentage of employees in the Civil Service who are disabled.

(39913)

17
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance is issued by his Department to local education authorities concerning the management of children with ME/CFS.

(39864)

18
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidelines his Department issues to further education colleges in England with regard to advertising their courses in Wales.

(40013)

19
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people are eligible in Chesham and Amersham for the New Deal.

(39893)

20
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many companies in Chesham and Amersham have signed up for the New Deal.

(39904)

21
N   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has for improved childcare for school-aged children during half-term and school holiday breaks.

(38492)

22
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what checks are made to ensure that schools for 11 to 18 year olds do not reallocate resources from pupils in the 11 to 16 years age group to their sixth form students.

(39953)

23
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proposals he has to ensure that students in the age group 16 to 18 year olds attending schools with sixth forms are funded at the same level as students attending colleges in the further education sector.

(39952)

24
N   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will give guidance to local authorities on the extent to which civic amenity sites are made available in rural areas, and on the maximum travel distance required to convey material to such sites.

(39655)

25
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much of the investment to be made in London Underground in the two years from April will be allocated to each of the projects mentioned in his announcement on 20th March; and what proportion of the funding has been specifically earmarked for access projects.

(39944)

26
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what has been the total cost of new road projects authorised by him since 1st May 1997.

(39861)

27
   Mr Eric Clarke (Midlothian):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set up a public inquiry into the Southall rail accident; and if he will make a statement on the implications of criminal proceedings for such an inquiry.

(39992)

28
   Mr Eric Clarke (Midlothian):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the representations made to him by the train drivers union expressing concern that criminal proceedings are delaying and could pre-empt, public inquiries into rail safety.

(39980)

29
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he is considering as part of his review of those powers which are available to local planning authorities, to intervene in neighbour disputes caused by excessively high garden boundaries; and when he expects the review to be complete.

(39494)

30
N   Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has for curbing the cost of housing benefit by introducing rent controls; and if he will make a statement.

(38476)

31
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the amount of brownfield land available for development (a) in each region and (b) in each county.

(40098)

32
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will take into account the amount of brownfield land available for development in each region and county when setting regional and county targets for housing provision.

(40099)

33
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will reduce the levels of housing provision in emerging county structure plans in counties where he assesses development could seriously damage the environment.

(40100)

34
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will require the new policies set out in Planning for the Communities of the Future to be reflected in the current round of emerging county structure plans (up to 2011).

(40097)

35
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Government will publish the report on the outcome of the transfer of powers and responsibilities in respect of the Teeside Development Corporation.

(39957)

36
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the annual accounts for Teeside Development Corporation.

(39956)

37
   Sir Nicholas Lyell (North East Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he received the Inspector's report on the A1 Tempsford Public Inquiry; and when he expects to announce his decision.

(39983)

38
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Disability Discrimination Act Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations will be published.

(39879)

39
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures the Government are taking to reduce industrial injuries and promote safety at work.

(39878)

40
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library all reports submitted by the Government to the European Commission under Article 18 of Directive 92/3/EURATOM.

(39942)

41
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the expected change in carbon dioxide emissions as a result of estimated gross domestic product growth in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000.

(40088)

42
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason the UK delegation to the 10th session of the negotiations for a UN ECE Commission for Europe Convention concerning public participation in environmental decision-making did not support a proposal to provide for public participation in transfrontier movements of radioactive waste.

(39943)

43
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what statutory provisions govern the international shipment of radioactive waste; whether there is a requirement for a public register of applications or authorisations for such shipments; what records (a) he and (b) the Environment Agency keep of (i) applications and (ii) authorisations for such shipments; if he will place a copy of such records in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(39941)

44
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what consultations are planned between the London Development Group and environmental organisations.

(40018)

45
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research has been (a) carried out and (b) commissioned by his Department on the problems of coastal erosion, the causes, and costs of necessary repairs.

(39985)

46
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many, and which United Kingdom local authorities have (a) promoted and (b) participated in schemes under the Private Finance Initiative in the last year.

(39988)

47
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the (a) number and (b) total area in hectares of sites of special scientific interest in (i) East Sussex and (ii) the United Kingdom.

(39989)

48
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate how many employees earn between £81 and £450 a week.

(39773)

49
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the National Audit Office has approved the change in presentation in the Red Book explained at paragraph B60 in which tax credits are netted off against tax receipts.

(39772)

50
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assistance his Department provides to business in preparation for the United Kingdom joining economic and monetary union.

(39946)

51
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the methodology and structure of the model used by Oxford Economic Forecasts to study the implications of different levels of duty for the beer brewing industry.

(40086)

52
   Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral Answer of 23rd April, if there was informal discussion about the Maastricht criteria at the Ecofin Conference in York.

(40084)

53
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data he has evaluated indicating that increasing the duty on fuel results in lower car use; and if he will make the studies available in the Library.

(39780)

54
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the net annual income obtained by the Treasury from the extraction of oil and gas in the North Sea in the last year for which figures are available.

(39990)

55
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is his policy on (a) public consultation and (b) public information with regard to the importing of radioactive material into the United Kindom; when the next authorised consignment of nuclear waste is to enter the United Kingdom, and what is its destination; what discussions he has had with NATO representatives regarding the risk of (i) Chechen and (ii) Iranian acquisition of nuclear materials; what guidelines are in place for United Kingdom negotiations and agreements regarding the processing of international nuclear waste within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(39915)

56
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government during its presidency of the EU to support the United Nations peace plan for Western Sahara.

(39950)

57
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what meetings have taken place or are planned between ministers of Her Majesty's Government and (a) the Moroccan government and (b) POLISARIO to discuss the implementation of the UN Peace Plan for Western Sahara.

(39951)

58
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce national standards for clinical and administration information held on NHS databases, and to encourage their operational interactivity.

(39588)

59
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has funded into ME/CFS in the last five years.

(39863)

60
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what inter-departmental fora exist for issues relating to children with (a) ADHD and (b) ME/CFS.

(39865)

61
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultations his Department has had with the DFEE on their Green Paper on Special Education Needs.

(39862)

62
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued to health authorities concerning ME/CFS.

(39860)

63
   Mr John Cryer (Hornchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to health authorities and community healthcare trusts following the LU Bournewood Community and Mental Health Trust judgement to prevent the sudden withdrawal of respite services to adults with severe learning difficulties without alternative provision being in place; and if he will make a statement.

(40014)

64
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of recent research concerning the adverse effects of excess intake of vitamin C; and if he will make a statement on the procedures used by the Government to advise the public on such matters.

(40012)

65
N   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the Royal Commission to publish its findings on funding long-term care for elderly people; and if he will make a statement.

(38482)

66
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the meeting held on 10th March between the Chief Medical Officer and departmental officials and the BMA called to discuss the report on the therapeutic uses of cannabis.

(40008)

67
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the Government's target for the maximum period for which a patient should have to wait for a hip replacement operation.

(39955)

68
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients in the Colchester constituency are awaiting hip replacement operations; what is the average length of time a patient has to wait; and what measures are to be taken to reduce the waiting time.

(39954)

69
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made on the impact on the health of the population of the use of antibiotics by farmers to promote the growth of animals.

(39947)

70
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners completed (a) programmes accepted by his Department as being effective in reducing re-offending and (b) the sex offender treatment programme, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(40027)

71
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria the Prison Service uses to allocate resources to individual prisons.

(40019)

72
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average amount of time spent by (a) sentenced and (b) remand prisoners (i) in their cells, (ii) on education and other projects, (iii) working and (iv) on recreation; and if he will make a statement.

(40076)

73
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total sum raised by (a) court-imposed fines and (b) police-imposed fines, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what was the total value of defaulted fines in each of the last five years; and what percentage of fine defaulters were imprisoned in each of the last five years.

(40075)

74
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people under the age of 21 years have committed suicide or attempted suicide while on remand awaiting trial, in each of the last three yers; and if he will make a statement.

(40025)

75
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the use of service level agreements by the Prison Service; and if he will give details of those service level agreements currently in operation.

(40080)

76
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the percentage of young people who have been victims of crime; and if he will make a statement.

(40023)

77
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has conducted which compares re-offending rates following prison and following alternatives to prison; and if he will make a statement.

(40078)

78
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the re-conviction rates in the (a) one year and (b) two years following (i) release from custody and (ii) completion of community sentences in the most recent period for which figures are available; if he will indicate the methodology used; and if he will make a statement.

(40028)

79
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the methodology used by his Department to compare the cost of public and private prisons; if he will publish details of the latest comparison; to what factors he attributes the differences in costs; and if he will make a statement.

(40081)

80
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of the (a) male and (b) female population (i) under 30 and (ii) over 30 years of age has committed at least one (1) minor criminal offence and (2) serious criminal offence.

(40026)

81
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many inmates of young offender institutions have (a) committed suicide, (b) attempted suicide and (c) been victims of violence, in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(40024)

82
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the re-offending rates for young people leaving custody in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(40085)

83
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convictions there were for (a) violent crime, (b) car crime, (c) serious crime and (d) in total, in each year since 1988 for which figures are available.

(40021)

84
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the effect of the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] on the projected prison population statistics; and if he will make a statement.

(40022)

85
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners were released from Prison Service custody in each of the three most recent years for which figures are available.

(40082)

86
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to publish the revised Code of Practice on Intrusive Surveillance; and if he will make a statement.

(40077)

87
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what has been the average cost to public funds of the imprisonment of fine defaulters in each of the last three years.

(40020)

88
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if all the computer systems used by the emergency services in England will be millennium compliant by 31st December 1998.

(39894)

89
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to change the method of recording racial incidents in order to record more accurately (a) the nature of incident, (b) the local distribution and (c) the ethnic origin of the victim or the offender.

(39958)

90
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list budgeted expenditure on closed circuit television cameras for 1998-99 by (a) local authority and (b) police region.

(39880)

91
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when Michael Wellum, of Wrenwell Farm, Denbury, Devon, will receive compensation for the pistols he handed in in 1997; and what factors underlie the length of time taken to handle the claim.

(39779)

92
   Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in each of the last three years of 16 to 18 year old men for offences involving consenting homosexual acts.

(39987)

93
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken by the Government during its presidency of the EU to promote discussion on problems caused by the flow of asylum seekers, through the EU; and if he will make a statement.

(39984)

94
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what has been the outcome of her discussions with the Minister of Agriculture on the likely development effects of the European Chocolate Directive; and if she will make a statement.

(39961)

95
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made in discussions on aid debt cancellation programmes with potentially eligible Commonwealth countries; and if she will make a statement.

(39960)

96
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proposals she has made to the World Bank Group towards enhancing the focus and effectiveness with which it pursues the objectives of poverty reduction and sustainable development; and what have been the results.

(39964)

97
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is currently giving to Tibet.

(39963)

98
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to the multilateral development banks and the International Monetary Fund about their impact on poverty reduction, and the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations; and what has been the result.

(39962)

99
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to the EU Commission on its green paper on the successor agreement to the Lome� Convention.

(40006)

100
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what programmes of institutional reform she has proposed for the African Development Bank.

(39965)

101
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has over the next year to provide (i) aid and (ii) assistance for de-mining projects, to the people of Western Sahara with particular reference to Saharawi refugees.

(39981)

102
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what information is passed to judges and magistrates concerning the re-offending rates of those individuals they have sentenced; and if he will make a statement.

(40079)

103
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for South Derbyshire of 22nd April, Official Report, column 610, on legal aid for personal injury claims, what arrangements he proposes to introduce to enable children to enter into contracts to pursue cases involving personal injury by way of conditional fee arrangements.

(40010)

104
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if all the computer systems used by the emergency services in Northern Ireland will be millennium compliant by 31st December 1998.

(39896)

105
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the (a) number and (b) location of mixed farms in Northern Ireland; and what further planning applications for mixed farms have been made and for which locations.

(39967)

106
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the names of those persons who act as facilitators for the Parades Commission, showing when they were appointed and for what periods; and what payment is made for their services.

(39968)

107
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list (a) the names of each company operating mobile telephone networks in Northern Ireland, (b) the number of transmitting masts for which each of those companies has sought planning permission, (c) the number of masts already erected, (d) the number of masts which each of the companies intends to erect to complete their network and (e) where a full list of the masts to be erected by each company can be inspected.

(40009)

108
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons are in prison for crimes related to terrorist actions; how many belong to each proscribed organisation; how many claiming allegiance to, or accepted by, each such organisation are due for release in the normal course of events in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001, (e) 2002 and (f) in the following five year period; and how many in each category are serving life or other indeterminate sentences.

(39966)

109
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she proposes to take in response to the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee of the Northern Ireland Forum on Organophosphate Insecticides--their use by the farming community; and if she will make a statement.

(39654)

110
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Council, what is the establishment of uniformed police officers assigned to Parliament; and what was the cost of this for 1997-98.

(39728)

111
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the President of the Council, what is her most recent estimate of when the strategy of the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator will be published; and if she will make a statement.

(39375)

112
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the President of the United States of America regarding (a) nuclear waste, (b) the nuclear reprocessing plant at Dounreay and (c) nuclear fuel at Tbilisi, Georgia; what advice he has sought regarding the environmental impact of importing radioactive materials into Scotland; what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland regarding the transfer of radioactive material from Georgia to Dounreay; and if he will make a statement.

(39917)

113
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will state the number of special advisers in each Government department and the total annual cost of employing each adviser, broken down by departments.

(39914)

114
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister regarding the transfer of radioactive material from Georgia to Dounreay; what is his policy on (a) public consultation and (b) public information with regard to the importing of radioactive material into Dounreay; and if he will make a statement.

(39916)

115
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the total annual cost of employing special advisers in his Department.

(39882)

116
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the annual cost of employing Mr David Whitton as a special adviser in his Department.

(39881)

117
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many vacant NHS posts for qualified nurses there were in Scotland by health board as at 31st March.

(39657)

118
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what are the terms of reference for the Government's Scottish Business Forum announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 14th April; and what selection criteria will be used to determine who will be appointed to the Forum.

(39659)

119
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many vacant NHS posts for hospital medical staff there were in Scotland by health board as at 31st March.

(39656)

120
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many community pharmacies in Scotland have closed since 1st May 1997.

(39658)

121
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what records (a) he and (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency keep of (i) applications and (ii) authorisations for international shipments of radioactive waste; if he will place a copy of such records in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(39932)

122
N   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when Ministers last met the Chairman of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd; and what subjects were discussed.

(39493)

123
N   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list (a) the date of appointment of each member of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and (b) the expiry date of each member's appointment.

(39492)

124
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the survey of the general population, which is the basis of the predicted performance used in the lung function test was undertaken; how many males were included in the survey; what proportion of those taking part smoked; and when it was last updated.

(39920)

125
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has re-evaluated J.E. Cotes' Lung Function Assessment in Medicine used by her Department, since the European Respiratory Society recommended the use of ECSC values; and what was the outcome.

(39919)

126
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the basis of the predicted performance used in the lung function test; how it is calculated; and when it was first devised.

(39918)

127
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will commission a comparison between her Department's predicted values in the lung function test and the European Community for Steel and Coal study undertaken in 1993.

(39921)

128
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many paper appeals made against decisions following an all-work-test were processed in the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what proportion of these were decided in the appellant's favour.

(39775)

129
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many cases of error there have been to date in the payment of winter fuel payments, in which (a) the cheques have been dated incorrectly and (b) the cheques have been sent to people who were not eligible for them; and what are the administration costs are for correcting these mistakes.

(39777)

130
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the winter fuel payments were completed.

(39776)

131
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people have gone to interviews for crisis loans but have been unable to make applications due to a shortage of application forms in the last three months.

(39774)

132
N   Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has to extend joint working between government agencies and local authorities.

(38478)

133
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate she has made of the value of debts outstanding to the Child Support Agency; what resources are being devoted by the Agency to their recovery; and what is the average age of such debts.

(39219)

134
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate she has made of the value of debts outstanding to the Benefits Agency, what resources are being devoted by the Agency to their recovery; and what is the average age of such debts.

(39221)

135
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many and what percentage of outstanding debts were recovered by the Child Support Agency over the most recent period for which figures are available; what methods were employed; and in what percentage of cases litigation was pursued.

(39222)

136
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many and what percentage of outstanding debts were recovered by the Benefits Agency over the most recent period for which figures are available; what methods were employed; and in what percentage of cases litigation was pursued.

(39223)

137
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate she has made of the expenditure incurred by the Benefits Agency in the recovery of debts for the most recent period for which figures are available; and what was the total amount recovered as a result.

(39224)

138
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate she has made of the expenditure incurred by the Child Support Agency in the recovery of debts for the most recent period for which figures are available; and what was the total amount recovered as a result.

(39225)

139
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans her Department has to set target times for processing appeals under the Benefits Integrity Project.

(39912)

140
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claims of industrial injuries disablement benefit were made in 1996-97; and how many he estimates will be made in 1997-98.

(39899)

141
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people whose main disabling condition is deafness were awarded disability living allowance (a) between June 1996 and May 1997 and (b) since June 1997 (i) on their initial application, (ii) at review and (iii) at appeal.

(39897)

142
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many cases of incorrect payment of the winter fuel payment have been identified as a result of out of date or incorrect addresses on official records.

(39898)

143
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what steps she is taking to ensure that pensioners entitled to income support are made aware of their entitlement.

(40016)

144
   Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what would be the annual cost of providing an annual statement of state pension entitlement forecast to each individual.

(39986)

145
   Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion of completed national insurance annual returns are rejected; and if she will provide a breakdown of the reasons given for rejection and the number of returns rejected by size of company.

(39982)

146
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if letters written by honourable Members to the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency are seen by him initially; and what procedures are followed before a reply is sent.

(39729)

147
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to introduce a unified consent system for offshore wind generation installations.

(39587)

148
N   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has in respect of increasing the provision of parental leave.

(38511)

149
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will take steps to investigate the creation of an Academy of Invention.

(39948)

150
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how the Government intends to encourage electronic commerce; and if she will make a statement.

(40083)

151
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many licence applications for the export of goods covered by the category PL5001 have been denied since 1st May 1997 by category, and country of intended destination.

(40017)

152
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many licence applications for the export of goods covered by the category PL5001 to (a) Jamaica, (b) Jordan, (c) Malaysia, (d) Saudi Arabia, (e) Singapore, (f) South Korea, (g) Sri Lanka, (h) the United Arab Emirates and (i) Bahrain have been (i) granted, (ii) refused and (iii) revoked since 1st May 1997.

(40015)

153
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he intends to advertise publicly to fill the post of Chairman of the Dyfed Powys Health Authority when the present incumbent's term ends.

(39949)

154
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if the computer systems used by the emergency services in Wales will be millennium compliant by 31st December 1998.

(39895)

155
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to reform planning law relating to quarries and quarrying.

(39357)

156
   Sir Raymond Powell (Ogmore):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many personal advisers he has; and when they were appointed.

(40101)

157
   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the income per capita for each of the unitary authorities in Wales (a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of the United Kingdom average and (c) as a percentage of the European Community average in the last year for which figures are available.

(40089)

158
   Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the location and access arrangements of sites in Derbyshire where owners have been granted exemption from inheritance tax on condition that reasonable public access is given to the land.

[Transferred] (39959)

159
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list by local authority the number of local authority residential homes for the elderly (a) in 1992 and (b) at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (40007)

160
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which British embassies and high commissions have a military attache; what are their ranks; what staff they have; and what is the cost of the military department in those embassies and High Commissions.

[Transferred] (39940)