Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 30 April 1998

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

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Tuesday 5 May, 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.

THURSDAY 30th APRIL

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the potential allergic reaction that could be caused by the transfer of a gene from one foodstuff to another, where the original foodstuff causes such a reaction.

(40325)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what level of quantifiable risk must be reached before permission to authorise a novel food is refused.

(40324)

3
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many applications for approval of novel foods have been considered for each year from 1990 to date; for each year how many were (a) approved and (b) refused; and how many are outstanding.

(40322)

4
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what advice his Department gives to farmers on the safe disposal of cling-film silage wrap.

(40530)

5
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the remit of the BSE unit.

(39996)

6
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many persons work in the BSE unit.

(39997)

7
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the role of his Department's BSE unit in relation to the independent inquiry into BSE.

(39998)

8
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the total proposed budget for the BSE unit for each year of its operation.

(39999)

9
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many staff are allocated to his Department's BSE unit by grade.

(40000)

10
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will give the name and grade of the civil servant who is in charge of his Department's BSE unit.

(40001)

11
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the arrangements for ensuring the accountability of officials in his Department's BSE unit to Ministers.

(40002)

12
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if his Department's BSE defence unit and BSE unit are the same organisations.

(40003)

13
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will take steps to ensure that European Commission Council regulations which designate fishing waters as a common resource are repealed.

(40480)

14
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd April, Official Report, column 666, if he will make a statement on the input national governments will have into the Common Fisheries Policy after 2002.

(40482)

15
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals there are to grant concessions to France in order to secure their vote in the Council of Ministers for the proposed ban on drift nets.

(40478)

16
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions on (a) coastal zonal committees and (b) the recent proposals of the NFFO and SSF relating to the European fisheries regime after the year 2002, took place at his meeting with the NFFO on 18th February.

(40477)

17
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many fishing licences have been issued since 1976 to foreign-owned fishing vessels registered on the British Merchant Vessel Register.

(40476)

18
   Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps have been taken to monitor the implementation of the ministerial directive of March 1996 directing the Environment Agency to make flood warnings its top priority.

(40595)

19
   Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment his Department has made of the state of repair of inland flood defences.

(40593)

20
   Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many applications for capital grants for (a) new build and (b) maintenance there were in the Anglian, Thames and Severn Trent Water Company areas in each of the years 1990 to 1998.

(40596)

21
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of State of 20th April, Official Report, column 570, what was the basis for his statement that the import of beef from animals aged over 30 months is banned.

(40344)

22
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 3rd December, Official Report, column 372, if he will set out the basis for his statement that no beef from animals under 30 months old was found to have infectivity in the ganglia relevant to BSE.

(40346)

23
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many British-based (a) companies and (b) captains have been prosecuted for fishing offences relating to over-fishing in each of the last three years.

(40453)

24
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures his Department (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to ensure that fishing regulations are enforced.

(40452)

25
   Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many grants have been made from the National Lottery (a) to encourage walking and footpath development and restoration and (b) to increase access to the countryside.

(40431)

26
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications to the National Heritage Memorial Fund have been (a) made and (b) approved from organisations in the Warrington North constituency since the fund was set up.

(40224)

27
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the total value of grants awarded from the National Heritage Memorial Fund for each constituency in England and Wales.

(40225)

28
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of his Department's energy usage was from (a) renewable energy and (b) combined heating in each year of its and its predecessors' operation.

(40412)

29
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what percentage of the staff of all grades employed by his Department were eligible to claim a car mileage allowance on 31st March in each year since his Department was created.

(40434)

30
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what were (a) the total value in real terms of staff car mileage claims paid, (b) the total value in real terms of staff rail fares paid, (c) the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and (d) the percentage change from the previous year in each case, for his Department in each year since the Department was created.

(40441)

31
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what quantity of (a) oil, (b) gas and (c) electricity, was purchased for the heating, lighting and powering of all accommodation occupied by the Department in each year of its and its predecessors' occupation; and what was the total cost in real terms for (a) to (c) in each year.

(40411)

32
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he intends to hold a public debate on NATO enlargement prior to ratification.

(40391)

33
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has made to counter a germ-warfare attack on the United Kingdom.

(40422)

34
   Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when local authorities first contacted the Government asking for details of how information was to be forwarded after the year 2000 and in what format; when the Government will respond to the local authorities; and what co-ordination he is seeking between departments in the format of information.

(40432)

35
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, for what reasons the United Kingdom has not ratified Convention 111, on discrimination on grounds of race, sex, religion, social origin and political opinion, of the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organisation.

(40373)

36
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, for what reason the United Kingdom has not ratified Convention 138, on the minimum age of child labour, of the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organisation.

(40372)

37
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what were (a) the total value in real terms of staff car mileage claims paid, (b) the total value in real terms of staff rail fares paid, (c) the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and (d) the percentage change from the previous year in each case, for his Department in each year since 1989-90.

(40440)

38
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what quantity of (a) oil, (b) gas and (c) electricity, was purchased for the heating, lighting and powering of all accommodation occupied by his Department in each year since 1989-90; and what was the total cost in real terms for (a) to (c) in each year.

(40413)

39
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of the Department's energy usage was from (a) renewable energy and (b) combined heating in each year since 1989-90.

(40410)

40
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of the staff of all grades employed by his Department were eligible to claim a car mileage allowance on 31st March in each year since 1990.

(40435)

41
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many applications to release GMOs into the environment have been considered in each year since 1990; for each year how many have been (a) approved and (b) refused; and how many are outstanding.

(40321)

42
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what level of quantifiable risk must be reached before permission to release a GMO into the environment is refused.

(40323)

43
N   Sir Norman Fowler (Sutton Coldfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the financial effect of the establishment of the Greater London Authority on revenue support grant levels for other regions; and if he will make a statement.

(40365)

44
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of (a) the measures required to control urban foxes and (b) the effects of releasing urban foxes into the countryside.

(39112)

45
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions his Department conducts with the Department of Health concerning the impact on traffic levels of the closure of local hospital facilities.

(40475)

46
   Mr Ivan Henderson (Harwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received about the current planning laws relating to (a) mobile phones and (b) radio phone masts; and what plans he has to amend these laws.

(40563)

47
   Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what advice his Department has received from the Environment Agency about the building of homes on flood plains.

(40594)

48
   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of the time spent by the Heathrow Terminal Five public inquiry in the receiving and questioning of oral evidence has been devoted to evidence from (a) BAA, (b) British Airways, (c) the Highways Agency and (d) objectors to the T5 scheme.

(40481)

49
   Sir Raymond Powell (Ogmore):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 8th April, Official Report, column 294, if he will list (a) the names and locations of licensed landfill sites used in the disposal of contaminated soil from the area of the Greenwich Peninsula which is to be leased to the New Millennium Experience Company, (b) the names of contractors used for the disposal, (c) the statutory provisions under which consultations were carried out with local residents at selected licensed landfill sites, (d) the total cost of removal and (e) the cost to Government funds of the disposal.

(40599)

50
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what life-cycle analysis his Department has carried out on disposable nappies.

(40601)

51
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what life-cycle analysis has been carried out on female sanitary products.

(40602)

52
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the inter-departmental review of coastal safety, with particular reference to the use of personal water craft.

(40318)

53
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on progress made by his Department in encouraging more responsible use of personal water craft.

(40319)

54
   Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to ensure that development in sequence is made an integral part of the planning process.

(40436)

55
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what policies are applied by HM Customs when deciding which passengers to search in the green channel.

(40430)

56
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to respond to the question from the honourable Member for East Worthing and Shoreham tabled for answer on 30th March regarding placing the results of the ISA consultation exercise in the Library; and if he will ensure that the responses to the consultation paper are available to honourable Members before he makes further reference to them.

(40394)

57
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the expenditure on working families tax credit in 1999-2000 identified in the Red Book (a) will comprise payments to receipients and (b) relates to initial set-up and other costs.

(40326)

58
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the real interest rates in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the USA, (c) Germany and (d) Japan for each of the last five years and the present year to date.

(40562)

59
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the abolition of foreign earnings deduction announced in the Budget on (a) companies employing British subjects overseas and (b) the competitiveness of British consultants working overseas.

(40484)

60
   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he is taking to allow the purchase of photocopies of recent births and deaths registration records.

(40534)

61
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce exemptions in respect of VAT for students in sixth form colleges when purchasing musical instruments.

(40576)

62
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 8th January, concerning Christmas Island, what action has been taken on the costs and technical issues involved in the clean-up of Christmas Island.

(39312)

63
   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Ceredigion of 9th March, Official Report, column 56, when he expects to announce the United Kingdom's signing of the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages.

(40600)

64
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement identifying the types of derogation from the Treaty of Rome, as amended, that are without time limit.

(40479)

65
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he next plans to meet the Pakistani High Commissioner to discuss the issue of bonded child labour in Pakistan.

(40438)

66
   Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 27th and 28th April.

(40535)

67
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the minutes of the discussions between Her Majesty's Government and the governments of the USA and Georgia concerning the forthcoming shipments of radioactive material from Georgia to the United Kingdom.

(39900)

68
N   Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list those appointed to the Northumberland Health Care NHS Trust Board, stating (a) the area in which they live and (b) their political affiliation.

(40096)

69
N   Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason no member of the board of the Westmorland Hospital NHS Trust was appointed to the board of the new merged Morecambe Bay Hospital NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement.

(40320)

70
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the hospitals in England and Wales currently subject to proposals for (a) closure and (b) downgrading.

(40483)

71
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria determine the level of provision of accident and emergency units in a given area.

(40466)

72
   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given to National Health Service trusts on the provision of training for health care assistants.

(40469)

73
   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) the number of health care assistants employed by each National Health Service trust in the North West Region and (b) the percentage of the total trust workforce each figure represents.

(40470)

74
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the Warrington North constituency are provided with continence services by the local health authority; and what budget has been allocated by the authority to continence care for each year from 1990-91.

(40223)

75
   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many health care assistants in England and Wales have obtained national vocational qualifications; and what percentage of the total number of health care assistants that figure represents.

(40468)

76
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what quantity of radioactive isotopes has been used in the treatment of cancer by the NHS in each year since 1992.

(39902)

77
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate how long, at current usage rates the stocks of radioactive isotopes for the treatment of cancer in the NHS will last.

(39903)

78
   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 30th March, Official Report, column 431, if he will now announce his decision on the proposals for service changes put forward by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority.

(40421)

79
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deaths were registered in the last year for which figures are available associated with (a) class A controlled drugs and (b) benzodiazepines.

(40457)

80
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pregnant women were given benzodiazepines in (a) the community and (b) hospitals in 1996.

(40416)

81
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many benzodiazepine prescriptions have been issued for the last 10 years; and what assessment he has made of trends in prescriptions over this period.

(40414)

82
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken by his Department (a) to reduce the number of benzodiazepine prescriptions and (b) to assist involuntary addicts to come off such drugs.

(40458)

83
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions were issued in 1996 for benzodiazepine drugs to people aged over 65 years (a) in the community and (b) in hospitals.

(40459)

84
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of the prescriptions for benzodiazepines for 1996 were for periods of more than 14 days.

(40417)

85
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of long term users of prescribed benzodiazepine drugs.

(40415)

86
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information is issued to patients taking benzodiazepine drugs in respect of contra-indications for taking these drugs during pregnancy.

(40456)

87
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the regulations concerning pet boarding establishments.

(40533)

88
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards income-related fines.

(40218)

89
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate the percentage of commercial sporting events for the policing of which police forces presently charge; and if he will make a statement.

(40235)

90
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average amount of time spent by prisoners on (a) education, (b) vocational training, (c) Prison Service employment and (d) employment involving sale of products or services to the private sector in (i) 1995-96, (ii) 1996-97 and (iii) 1997-98; and if he will make a statement.

(40220)

91
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners are presently employed on work which involves payments from the private sector for services or products provided; and if he will make a statement.

(40219)

92
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the revenues raised by seizing the assets of criminals in (a) 1994-95, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98; and if he will make a statement.

(40236)

93
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the disbursement of revenues from prison work.

(40234)

94
   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors are taken into account when determining the level of government support grant for constabularies in remoter rural areas.

(40598)

95
   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers per 1,000 population there were for each police force in each of the past five years.

(40592)

96
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportation orders have been signed by Ministers since 1st October 1997; and how many removals have taken place in the same period.

(40564)

97
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportation orders have been signed by Ministers in each of the last six calendar years.

(40565)

98
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what investigations he is undertaking into the recent suicides at Norwich prison.

(40247)

99
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of those groups of prison inmates most prone to suicide attempts.

(40249)

100
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the budget allocation per prisoner in Norwich prison in each of the years 1992 to 1998.

(40250)

101
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many suicides there have been at (a) Norwich prison and (b) each other prison in each year since 1992, including 1998 to date.

(40248)

102
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to allay relatives' fears in respect of suicide attempts in Norwich prison.

(40251)

103
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisons provide halal meat for Muslim inmates.

(40439)

104
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of halal meat provided in prisons was derived from animals which had been stunned before slaughter in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(40437)

105
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the United Kingdom has not ratified Protocol 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

(40369)

106
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the United Kingdom has not ratified the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights enabling individual petition to the Human Rights Committee.

(40364)

107
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the United Kingdom has not ratified Protocol 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed in September 1963.

(40370)

108
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the United Kingdom has not ratified Protocol 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

(40368)

109
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the United Kingdom has not made a Declaration under Article 22 of the UN Convention against Torture enabling individual petition to the Committee under the terms of the Convention.

(40367)

110
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the United Kingdom has not made a Declaration under Article 21 of the UN Convention against Torture recognising the competence of the Committee to consider a complaint under the Convention against the United Kingdom from another state.

(40366)

111
   Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend the Cocoon Watch Scheme.

(40561)

112
   Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 8th April, Official Report, column 259, if his Department will assess the advantages of recording separately court proceedings relating to domestic violence.

(40577)

113
   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the funding of victim support schemes in North Wales.

(40532)

114
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what issues are on the agenda for the Development Council meeting in May.

(40347)

115
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will raise the issue of the environmental record of the Commission's funded programmes in developing countries at the Development Council meeting in May.

(40353)

116
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what estimate he has made of (a) the number of fraudulent legal aid claims, (b) the number of individuals making such claims and (c) the sums paid out for such claims in (i) 1992-93, (ii) 1993-94, (iii) 1994-95, (iv) 1995-96 and (v) 1996-97.

(40536)

117
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what sums were recovered from fraudulent legal aid claimants in (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94, (c) 1994-95, (d) 1995-96 and (e) 1996-97.

(40531)

118
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the total amount of revenue raised from all forms of fines in (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96, (d) 1996-97 and (e) 1997-98; what estimate he has made of revenue in 1998-99; and if he will make a statement.

(40222)

119
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what decision she has taken on whether to provide funds for the payment of fourth year tuition fees for eligible Northern Irish students at Scottish universities; and if she will make a statement.

(40257)

120
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the total staff costs for No. 10 Downing Street in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99 indicating separately the costs for (i) private secretaries, (ii) Policy Unit staff, (iii) Press Office staff, (iv) Strategic Communications Unit staff, (v) all support staff and (vi) Political Office staff.

(40221)

121
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs on 8th to 10th June.

(39945)

122
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will place in the Library his response to the letter written to him by Helen Stevens, Negotiating Officer for Scotland of IPMS, in relation to the appointment of the Deputy Keeper of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

(39372)

123
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will set up a review of the means by which appointments are made in the National Galleries of Scotland.

(39373)

124
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met representatives of the soft fruit sector to discuss market conditions; and if he will make a statement.

(39133)

125
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proposals he has for (a) lifelong learning in Scotland and (b) the University for Industry in Scotland; and on what date he will publish the relevant papers.

(40255)

126
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if it his policy (a) to increase the number of learning support teachers in Scottish schools and (b) that all such teachers should have at least two years experience as a classroom teacher; and what proposals he has to improve the current system of training for such teachers.

(40254)

127
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to implement the recommendation of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association for a review of the continuous assessment part of standard grade and higher examinations; what advice he has given to teachers in dealing with suspected plagiarism in internal assessment reports; and if he will make a statement.

(40252)

128
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the early intervention scheme providing for extra tuition for young children with literacy and numeracy difficulties; and how additional funding for this scheme will be allocated.

(40253)

129
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people who are HIV positive are claimants of the higher rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance.

(40566)

130
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claimants of disability living allowance who are HIV positive have (a) lifetime awards and (b) renewal awards.

(40568)

131
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claimants of attendance allowance are HIV positive.

(40567)

132
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board Small Board sessions (a) were held between 1st August 1997 and 31st March 1998 and (b) have been held since 1st April 1998.

(39884)

133
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has to consult with (a) pensioners' organisations and (b) other interested groups and charities in advance of the publication of the Government's Pensions Review.

(40392)

134
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when homebuyers receiving income support will receive an increase in their assistance with mortgage interest to reflect the reduction in MIRAS implemented in April.

(40226)

135
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 31st March, Official Report, columns 485-6 on lone parents, if he will list the common characteristics of the lone parents who will be worse off overall.

(40256)

136
   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what additional emoluments were given to the Chief Constable of the Atomic Energy Authority consequent on his resignation.

(40420)

137
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when Euratom was informed of the proposed shipment of radioactive material from Georgia to the United Kingdom.

(39901)

138
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how much (a) EU and (b) other public funds were given to the Cable and Wireless cable modem trial in Greater Manchester; what consultation Cable and Wireless had with the Government about the termination of the trial; and what assessment she has made of the future of the cable modem trial.

(40560)

139
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the Government's policy in relation to the security and policing levels at those nuclear establishments policed by the UKAEA Constabulary; and if she will make a statement.

(40217.)

140
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what reviews of manpower of the UKAEA Constabulary have been undertaken in 1997-98 and with what outcome; and what manpower reviews of the UKAEA Constabulary are planned for the future.

(40215)

141
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what guidance Ministers have issued to the UKAEA on policing levels and security at nuclear installations; and if he will place a copy of that guidance in the Library.

(40216)

142
   Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what factors underlay each of the 18 ex-gratia payments made by her Department under the Employment Rights Act 1996.

(40419)

143
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list those grants and bursaries to educational establishments which have been in existence for three years or more which it is his policy to withdraw.

(40374)

144
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list those grants and bursaries for training which have been in existence for three years or more which it is his policy to withdraw.

(40375)

145
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what guidance his Department issues in respect of the criteria to determine those suitable for appointment as school governors; and if he will make a statement.

(40472)

146
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much has been spent in the last five years cleaning up the Welsh beaches.

(40467)

147
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what initiatives are being pursued to ensure that Welsh beaches comply with the European Union mandatory standard.

(40473)

148
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many school governors who have criminal convictions for assault have been appointed in Wales in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(40471)

149
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what regulations are enforced to govern the amount of sewage that is discharged into the sea.

(40474)

150
   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 20th April, Official Report, column 444-5, if he will list those holding more than one public appointment who receive payment other than expenses for any of the offices held.

(40451)

151
   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 20th April, Official Report, columns 444-5, how many of the (a) women and (b) men he has appointed to Welsh quangos since 1st May 1997 receive payments for their appointments other than expenses.

(40450)

152
   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the names of the chairs and vice-chairs of quangos, including health authorities and trusts, who have been appointed or reappointed since 1st May 1997, indicating what payment they receive.

(40433)

153
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the European Commission's proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

[Question Unstarred] (39120)

154
N   Mr David Hanson (Delyn):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what evaluation he is undertaking of the beef labelling scheme.

[Question Unstarred] (39135)

155
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask Mr Attorney General, if he will make a statement on the operation of the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

[Question Unstarred] (39137)

156
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, for what reason the United Kingdom has not ratified the European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights.

[Transferred] (40371)

157
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to allow the introduction of genetically-manipulated potatoes into the United Kingdom; and which modifications will be permitted.

[Transferred] (40418)

158
   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the uses of the Echelon system.

[Transferred] (40454)

159
   Audrey Wise (Preston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prescriptions for benzodiazepine drugs were issued by the Prison Medical Service in 1996.

[Transferred] (40455)

160
   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people (a) emigrated from and (b) immigrated into the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years.

[Transferred] (40597)