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 21 May 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 21 May 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 21 May, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Monday 1 June, 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 21st MAY

1
N   Mr Charles Clarke (Norwich South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the decision on the building of the Central Science Laboratory at Sand Hutton, York, relied upon the closure of the CSC Laboratories at Torry or at Norwich.

(42998)

2
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many pig farmers he has met in the last four months to discuss the present state of the sector and its future prospects.

(42999)

3
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the most common factor underlying delays in his responses to letters from honourable Members of more than four months.

(43007)

4
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many letters sent to him before 31st January from honourable Members have not been answered to date; and if he will make a statement.

(43006)

5
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the system used in his Department to monitor correspondence from honourable Members; and what plans he has to improve it.

(43004)

6
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his policy on writing and contributing articles for sectoral periodicals.

(43005)

7
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his target period for replying to letters from honourable Members; and what is the percentage of occasions when the target is met.

(43003)

8
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what requests he has received to contribute an article for the magazine Pig World on the state of the sector and its prospects; and what response he has made.

(43002)

9
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will visit Beverley to meet the editor of Pig World to discuss the future of the pig industry.

(43000)

10
N   Mr James Cran (Beverley and Holderness):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many magazine articles relating to agriculture he has written in the last four months; and if he will list them.

(43001)

11
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to ensure that consumers are informed of salt levels in processed foods.

(42925)

12
   Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many people have suffered food poisoning in each of the last 10 years where the source of infection has been green top milk.

(43187)

13
   Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will ban the sale of green top milk.

(43186)

14
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43326)

15
   Mr Ivor Caplin (Hove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will ensure that future cable television licensing agreements require the provision of high quality local programming by franchise operators and that that provision be monitored by the ITC.

(43109)

16
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43320)

17
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel lost their lives in the past 12 months whilst in action, or as a consequence of wounds received during active service, outside Northern Ireland; and what was the country or coastal region of their deaths or wounds which consequently resulted in their deaths.

(42897)

18
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel have been (a) awarded and (b) formally recommended but not yet gazetted for the Military Cross over the past 12 months, for service outside Northern Ireland; and what was the country or coastal location in which their acts related to the award or recommendation.

(42896)

19
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) awards and (b) recommendations not yet gazetted for gallantry or bravery have been made in relation to service personnel serving in Northern Ireland over the past 12 months.

(42894)

20
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) officers and (b) soldiers are attached to the 5LI Shropshire and Herefordshire Light Infantry and the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry.

(43119)

21
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from those living in Shropshire on the future of 5LI Shropshire and Herefordshire Light Infantry and the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry.

(43120)

22
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 18th May, Official Report, column 258, to the honourable Member for Salisbury, what payment was made for the assistance provided for Sandline International's helicopter by the crew of HMS 'Cornwall'; if prior approval was sought and obtained from his Department by the Captain of HMS 'Cornwall'; if Ministers were informed; and what other assistance was given by British military personnel to Sandline, and when.

(43293)

23
N   Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Tournament.

(43041)

24
N   Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the dates and locations for the Royal Tournament in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000.

(43040)

25
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the impact on school budgets of compliance with the Government's target for reducing class sizes to 30 or less on the extra funding attracted by class sizes of 30 plus in circumstances where it is used to support specialist staff; and how schools will be compensated for the loss of this funding.

(43099)

26
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what will be the minimum population size eligible for a bid for funding under the New Deal for disabled people.

(43098)

27
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teacher ill health retirement cases have been (a) approved and (b) turned down since April 1997 in each local education authority area.

(43117)

28
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) heads and (b) deputy heads have (i) sought ill health retirement and (ii) had their applications for ill health retirement rejected since April 1997 in each local education authority.

(43118)

29
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the national aggregate of the percentages of all maintained 11 year old pupils who are to attain Level 4 or better at Key Stage 2 in English by the year 2002 according to the targets agreed with the Government by each local education authority (a) on current pupil numbers per local education authority for 1998 and (b) on projected pupil numbers per local education authority for 2002; and if he will list the numbers of pupils per local education authority in each case.

(43107)

30
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many schools have been awarded beacon status; what representations he has received on the decision to award schools beacon status; and by what means his Department will inform honourable Members of proposals to award beacon status to schools in their constituencies.

(43103)

31
   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the role of (i) monitoring systems, (ii) evaluation and (iii) performance indicators to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of TECs; and if he will make a statement.

(43110)

32
   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of TECs in (a) raising skill levels and (b) fostering enterprise.

(43111)

33
   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure TECs are accountable for their spending

(43112)

34
   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the surplus achieved by Staffordshire TEC on trading accounts in (a) 1995-96 and (b) 1996-97.

(43113)

35
   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the budget of the Staffordshire TEC in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99.

(43114)

36
   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what has been the level of public funding for each TEC in the West Midlands since they were established.

(43115)

37
   Mr Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received opposing the proposed closure of Derringham School in Hull.

(43151)

38
   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children are diagnosed as suffering from Aspergers disease in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) West Sussex.

(43284)

39
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43325)

40
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received in respect of the takeover bid by J.C. Decaux for the More Group; and how many of these were from local authorities.

(43042)

41
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received on plans for a sixth terminal at Heathrow Airport.

(43144)

42
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how the costs of the Terminal 5 inquiry incurred by BAA are being treated (a) for tax purposes and (b) under the Civil Aviation Authority's regulatory regime.

(43145)

43
N   Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if his review of the council tax system has included the issue of varying the level of council tax imposed upon the owners of second homes from the present mandatory 50 per cent; and if he will make a statement.

(42997)

44
N   Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received from (a) South Lakeland District Council, (b) South Lakeland residents and (c) others on the subject of the level of council tax imposed per owner of second homes.

(42995)

45
N   Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has to grant local authorities discretion to vary the level of council tax imposed upon the owners of second homes.

(42996)

46
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will define the terms of reference of the enquiry into the feasibility of an agrochemical levy.

(42713)

47
   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Worthing East and Shoreham of 5th May, Official Report, column 311, if he will list the petitions he has received objecting to new house building in West Sussex, indicating the number of signatures on each petition.

(43147)

48
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to issue guidelines to those authorities seeking to remove microbiological contamination from brownfield sites on which micro-organisms have been identified as contaminated.

(43139)

49
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research he has commissioned to determine the effects of low levels of (a) PCBs, (b) organic chemicals, (c) dioxins and (d) radon on the health of communities.

(43136)

50
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce universal standards for the assessment of organic chemical and gas pollution levels before building permission is granted on brownfield sites.

(43135)

51
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to inform potential home buyers of local levels of (a) radon, (b) PCBs, (c) organic chemicals and (d) dioxin levels.

(43134)

52
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has made to identify the location of areas with high levels of (a) dioxins, (b) PCBs, (c) radon and (d) organic chemicals.

(43133)

53
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to detect background levels of (a) PCBs, (b) radon, (c) organic chemicals and (d) dioxins; and if he will publish them.

(43138)

54
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to inform local authorities of various procedures and techniques available for brownfield site clean-up.

(43137)

55
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals his Department is evaluating for a high-speed direct rail link from the North West of England to Europe.

(43146)

56
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has for the future of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee.

(43176)

57
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reasons his Department has decided to terminate its financial support for Mediation UK.

(43195)

58
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the investment needs of social housing providers over the next three years for (a) repair and refurbishment and (b) new build.

(43197)

59
N   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to receive the Countryside Commission's recommendations on the future management of the South Downs; and when he expects to make a decision on those recommendations.

(42900)

60
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the relative risks of (a) cycling and walking and (b) powered two-wheel vehicle use; and if he will ensure that the latter is not excluded from the Integrated Transport Policy on the grounds of safety.

(42330)

61
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to end the requirement that provisional motorcycle licence holders who fail to pass their driving test within two years are subject to a one year ban.

(42331)

62
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of drivers randomly tested were found to be over the legal alcohol limit in the last year for which figures are available.

(42714)

63
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his Department's policy on the amount of alcohol which may be safely consumed by those intending to drive; and if he will make a statement.

(42715)

64
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make it a legal requirement for the manufacturers and retailers of bicycles to provide machines with (a) fitted rear and front lights and (b) a bell or other audible warning device.

(43312)

65
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43324)

66
N   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list (a) the average number of school children in England travelling by school transport each day and (b) the number of (i) fatalities and (ii) injuries of school children involved in road accidents associated with school transport in each of the last five years.

(42423)

67
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the environmental benefits of adopting HCs as the standard refrigerants.

(43173)

68
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimates he has made of the amount of CFCs released into the atmosphere annually as a result of the dumping of refrigerators in the United Kingdom.

(43172)

69
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to review the environmental impact of the use of HFC as substitutes for ozone-depleting gases in refrigeration equipment.

(43171)

70
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what alternative refrigerants to HFCs which produce lower greenhouse gas emissions and do not deplete the ozone layer his Department is currently evaluating.

(43168)

71
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of the United Kingdom's greenhouse gas emissions he estimates HFCs will contribute in the year 2010.

(43167)

72
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to allow local planning authorities fully to determine applications for motorway service areas.

(42924)

73
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to take direct responsibility for the location of motorway service areas; and if he will make a statement.

(42923)

74
   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions with the Home Department on the regulation of the wheel clamping industry.

(43193)

75
   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his estimate of the number of motor vehicles running on (a) leaded and (b) unleaded petrol in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 1998-99.

(43190)

76
   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the terms of reference for the Clean Vehicle Task Force.

(43191)

77
   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to give the DVLA responsibilities in respect of combating motor vehicle fraud.

(43192)

78
   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the current backlog in road maintenance on (a) trunk roads and (b) other adopted roads.

(43188)

79
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what are the projected costs to the public purse of works associated with the construction of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road.

(43285)

80
N   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Paymaster General expects to reply to the letter of 9th December 1997 from the Right honourable Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed on behalf of Mr D. N. Peck of Swallhook, 19 Mariners View, Amble, about individual savings accounts.

(42868)

81
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assistance the Government is offering to the financial services sector in respect of software problems originating from the formation of EMU.

(43140)

82
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the terms of reference of the Euro-X Committee; and what matters have been reserved to ECOFIN.

(43142)

83
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what will be the agenda for the June meeting of the Euro-X Committee.

(43141)

84
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what mechanisms will be created to co-ordinate the work of the Euro-X Committee and ECOFIN.

(43143)

85
N   Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many representations he has received about Third World debt; and how much money has been sent to him by people making such representations.

(41677)

86
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will announce the capital receipts initiative for the next three years.

(43196)

87
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the appointment of an Investment Ombudsman to consider complaints relating to the handling of investments by banks and other financial institutions.

(43311)

88
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43315)

89
   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the average annual excise duty paid by a motorist using (a) leaded and (b) unleaded petrol in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 1998-99.

(43189)

90
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the new European Code of Conduct on arms sales will ensure that signatories will open their arms sales to parliamentary scrutiny.

(43170)

91
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consultation will take place under the European Code of Conduct on arms sales before one member state accepts an arms contract that has been turned down on ethical grounds by another.

(43174)

92
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made about proposed changes to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(43128)

93
N   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on future funding for the BBC World Service.

(42899)

94
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the safety and security measures being taken to move UK nationals from their homes in Jakarta to the airport for evacuation.

(42921)

95
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will request the Argentinian government to provide compensation to fund the clearance of mines laid in the Falkland Islands.

(43044)

96
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will request compensation for the Falkland Islands from the Argentinian government for devastation caused during the Falklands conflict.

(43043)

97
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the safety of Clare Brooks, a constituent, currently in Jakarta.

(42922)

98
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the evacuation of British citizens from Jakarta.

(42920)

99
   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he has taken in the last four weeks to secure EU recognition for Gibraltar I.D. cards.

(43106)

100
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43323)

101
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards equipment in the (a) Mid-Essex Hospital Trust, (b) Mid-Essex Community and Mental Health Trust and (c) Essex Health Authority areas being millennium compliant; and when he expects the work to be completed.

(42895)

102
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will announce detailed plans for user representation on the Commission for Health Improvement.

(43156)

103
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what remit the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Commission for Health Improvement will have to encourage the spread of good practice in wheelchair services.

(43157)

104
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will announce detailed plans for user representation on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

(43155)

105
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to include women of 64 years of age in the breast screening programme; and if he will make a statement.

(43116)

106
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what are the (a) highest, average and lowest lump sum administration charges and (b) highest, average and lowest photocopying charges per sheet charged by NHS trusts administering general hospitals for access to medical records; and if he will make a statement.

(43288)

107
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if health authorities will be obliged to consult voluntary sector service providers as partner agencies in the formation of health improvement programmes; and if he will make a statement.

(42892)

108
   Mr Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the number of midwife vacancies in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust.

(43150)

109
   Mr Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the number of midwives employed in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust.

(43152)

110
   Mr Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the number of whole-time equivalent midwifery posts in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust.

(43154)

111
   Mr Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to encourage health authorities and trusts to implement the National Health Service Executive recommendation of a minimum F grade for midwives on the clinical grading scale.

(43153)

112
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had about retaining the title nurse; and if he will make a statement.

(42994)

113
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to commission research on the effect of changes in (a) staffing levels and (b) staffing mix in NHS trusts on nursing standards.

(43008)

114
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given to NHS trusts on the types of work to be carried out by health care assistants and on which of their duties should be supervised by a registered nurse.

(43011)

115
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce greater accountability into the distribution of NHS research and development funds; and if he will make a statement.

(43012)

116
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, for each NHS region, the proportion of NHS research and development funding spent on primary care research for each of the past five years.

(43009)

117
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that more research and development funding is spent on primary care research; and if he will make a statement.

(43010)

118
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 11th May, Official Report, column 41, if he will list those NHS trusts which have not yet designated a named officer responsible for checking registration before applicants take up a post.

(43013)

119
N   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letters from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 12th February, 18th March and 16th April with regard to Darren Stott of 35 Wisteria Road.

(42898)

120
   Mr Andy King (Rugby and Kenilworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which a patient may be removed from a general practitioner's list and on the healthcare arrangements which are available to patients who are not registered with a general practitioner.

(43160)

121
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of teenagers who might be at risk from cardiomyopathy leading to sudden death.

(43130)

122
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing a national screening programme for cardiomyopathy for all children starting secondary school to identify those suffering from Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.

(43129)

123
   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received and what response he has made on the issue of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

(43330)

124
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made towards the completion of the private finance initiative project to replace Loughborough's general hospital.

(43185)

125
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what factors underlie the provision of NHS resources to the North Essex Health Authority at a rate per head of population of 10 per cent. below the English average.

(43313)

126
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will increase the level of NHS funding per head of population in the North Essex Health Authority to the average for all English health authorities.

(43310)

127
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of spraying bacillus golbigii, E-Coli and serratia marcescens on (a) humans, (b) men, (c) women and (d) pregnant women.

(43290)

128
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will conduct a study of the health records of people resident in South Devon and South Dorset between 1966 and 1971 who were sprayed with bacillus golbigii, E-Coli and serratia marcescens in Ministry of Defence germ warfare tests.

(43289)

129
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the provision of wheelchairs to those who become long-term or permanently disabled.

(43159)

130
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each health authority the average waiting time for provision of a wheelchair to those who become long-term or permanently disabled.

(43158)

131
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Prison Service has to enable the recognition of the Prison Officers Association in private prisons.

(42919)

132
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 20th January, Official Report, column 518, when he expects the joint working group on the future of prison health care to report.

(43045)

133
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to conclude his review of immigration cases where domestic violence is involved; and if he will make a statement.

(43200)

134
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to complete his review of the disclosure regulations regarding deaths in custody.

(43183)

135
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action was taken as a result of the review of suicide and self-harm in prison, conducted by Judge Tumim in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

(43184)

136
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43322)

137
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what maintenance or income level is required in the assessment of entry clearance applications for settlement.

(43199)

138
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of (a) the effectiveness of existing aid programmes, (b) future aid opportunities and (c) the conditions under which aid workers are operating following the visit in April of a European Union delegation to Afghanistan; what response Taliban made to the delegation's outlining of the European Union's Common Position on Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement.

(43175)

139
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries her Department is currently funding projects to help develop a responsible and accountable police service; and at what planned cost.

(43124)

140
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is currently giving to Kosovo.

(43148)

141
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries her Department is currently funding human rights education teams; and at what planned cost.

(43123)

142
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries her Department is currently funding non-governmental organisation projects addressing the needs of street children; and at what planned cost.

(43122)

143
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for which UN agencies her Department's financial contribution will be less in 1998-99 than in 1997-98; and in each case by how much.

(43127)

144
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, by what criteria it is decided whether her Department or the FCO should fund projects in overseas countries to develop (a) alternatives to custodial sentences and (b) the rule of law.

(43125)

145
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to her EU counterparts about the need for additional assistance for Sudan; and if she will make a statement.

(43121)

146
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in her Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43321)

147
   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what initiatives her Department is taking to reduce the need for hard currency to service the international debt of countries which are major producers of illicit drugs.

(43169)

148
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many of the responses received to the Consultation on Legal Aid Reform were from (a) lawyers or lawyers' organisations, (b) members of the public or consumers' organisations and (c) honourable or Right honourable Members; and if he will make a statement.

(43291)

149
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has for pilots for the Community Legal Service; and if he will make a statement.

(43292)

150
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in her Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43319)

151
N   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list (a) the average number of school children in Northern Ireland travelling by school transport each day and (b) the number of (i) fatalities and (ii) injuries of school children involved in road accidents associated with school transport in each of the last five years.

(42420)

152
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the President of the Council, on how many occasions since the House adopted the recommendations of the Report of the Select Committee on the Sittings of the House business was concluded by 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

(43286)

153
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Prime Minister, what research the Government has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on links between poor housing and (i) educational under-achievement, (ii) ill-health and (iii) crime; and what priority will be given in future spending programmes to tackling housing disrepair and housing shortages.

(43198)

154
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Office; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43318)

155
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will arrange for the minutes of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee since 1979 to be made available to the Committee on Standards in Public Life for its inquiry into party funding.

(43294)

156
   Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Inverness West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the status of Crown Production 16 in respect of the right to collect the Skye bridge tolls on the part of the second concessionaire, Miller Civil Engineering; and if he will make a statement.

(43194)

157
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what further plans he has to extend prescribing powers to district nurses and health visitors in the two demonstration sites to the whole of Scotland; and what further expenditure has been planned in order to facilitate this process.

(42570)

158
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list (a) the number of (i) district nurses and (ii) health visitors who are currently able to prescribe from the nurse formulary in Scotland, (b) the locations in which they are currently working, (c) the total public expenditure involved to date and (d) the level of public expenditure per location.

(42571)

159
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he expects to publish the Scottish Local Government Boundary Commission proposals for the new local government boundaries in the Scottish Borders Council area.

(42572)

160
   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the responsibilities in respect of the (a) regulation of and (b) payment of subsidy to the railways to be transferred to the Scottish Parliament.

(43132)

161
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43331)

162
N   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list (a) the average number of school children in Scotland travelling by school transport each day and (b) the number of (i) fatalities and (ii) injuries of school children involved in road accidents associated with school transport in each of the last five years.

(42421)

163
N   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when she expects to reply to the letter of 7th January from the Right honourable Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed on behalf of Mr M. Gee of 38 Gloster Park, Amble, about benefits for disabled people.

(42867)

164
N   Mr James Plaskitt (Warwick and Leamington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what steps she is taking to reform employers' national insurance contributions.

(41711)

165
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in her Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43317)

166
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many applications for income support have been refused by reference to the habitual residence test in the last 12 months broken down by (a) ethnic background and (b) nationality.

(43282)

167
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when she intends to announce the conclusions of the current pension review.

(43087)

168
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she will announce her conclusions on the recent review of the coal industry contracts and the consumption of coal in power stations.

(43063)

169
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many applications for construction and operation of gas-fired power stations are currently awaiting decision; at what stage; from which applicants; for how much capacity; and if she will make a statement.

(43061)

170
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will ensure that those types of vertical agreements in the retail petroleum industry which the OFT has determined are not covered by the undertakings given by the oil companies in 1966 are subject to equivalent measures to ensure competition.

(43097)

171
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what was the actual and percentage reduction in the number of retail petroleum outlets in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of competition in the sector.

(43100)

172
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what representations she has received concerning the premature collection of mail from post boxes before the advertised time of last posting.

(43060)

173
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what studies she has commissioned into the pricing behaviour of petrol retailers on motorways relative to general purpose roads; and if she will make a statement.

(43088)

174
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, by what means she will monitor the retail petroleum industry for potential abuse of dominant market position.

(43071)

175
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she will publish the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission and announce her response to its recommendations.

(43102)

176
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list in normal order of consideration the various consents to be given before construction and operation of a gas-fired power station may be initiated.

(43062)

177
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what representations she has received concerning the investigation of local complaints about the security of Royal Mail.

(43059)

178
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what action she proposes to take in response to the recent OFT report on the retail petrol industry.

(43070)

179
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what representations she has received in respect of the takeover bid by J.C. Decaux for the More Group; and how many of these were from local authorities.

(43039)

180
   Mr Ivor Caplin (Hove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will establish a unified regulator for the electricity and gas industry with particular responsibility for monitoring cross-subsidy between the two markets.

(43108)

181
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's report on Dounreay's fuel cycle area, referred to in the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's Site Inspector's Quarterly Report for UKAEA-Dounreay for 1st January to 31st March.

(43067)

182
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when a statement will be made regarding the UKAEA application for funding for the repair of Dounreay plant D1206; and what criteria will govern her decision.

(43069)

183
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what guidelines her Department has in place to restrict the supply of weapons-usable nuclear material to foreign countries.

(43065)

184
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what steps her Department takes to prevent the use for military purposes abroad of weapons-usable nuclear material of United Kingdom origin.

(43066)

185
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list the countries which have received weapons-usable nuclear material from Dounreay since 1968, indicating (a) the quantity of material, (b) the type of material, (c) the date of the contract, (d) the date the material was shipped to the client country and (e) the proportion of weapons-usable remains and by-products from this material which have been returned to the United Kingdom.

(43064)

186
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how much her Department spent on research into solar energy in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what plans she has for future expenditure on this.

(43126)

187
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the impact of recent disturbances in Indonesia on British exports to that country.

(42918)

188
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will accept nominations for membership of the Post Office Users National Council from rural community councils.

(43329)

189
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list the members of the Post Office Users National Council and their terms of office.

(43327)

190
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what the procedures are for nomination and appointment of members to the Post Office Users National Council.

(43328)

191
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she will announce the outcome of the review into corporation tax exemption under Section 508 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

(42869)

192
N   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what action she will take during the Presidency of the EU to support the European Commission in resisting attempts to delay implementation of decisions designed to ensure fair competition in ice cream markets; and if she will make a statement.

(43101)

193
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in her Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43316)

194
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her Answer of 11th June, Official Report, column 466, what steps she proposes to take to reduce the cost of electricity charges for small consumers on low incomes.

(43149)

195
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what initiatives he is taking with regard to the introduction of professional Rugby League in Wales.

(43086)

196
   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the responsibilities in respect of the (a) regulation of and (b) payment of subsidy to the railways to be transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.

(43131)

197
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last government.

(43314)

198
N   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list (a) the average number of school children in Wales travelling by school transport each day and (b) the number of (i) fatalities and (ii) injuries of school children involved in road accidents associated with school transport in each of the last five years.

(42422)

199
N   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the impact measures contained in his March Budget Statement will have on married couples.

[Question Unstarred] (41689)

200
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the remit of the safety review currently being conducted of the fuel cycle area at Dounreay.

[Transferred] (43068)

201
   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children of school age in West Sussex are currently statemented on account of problems relating to autism.

[Transferred] (43283)

202
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what would be the total cost of making an interim payment of £100,000 to all the vaccine-damaged children who received an original payment of £10,000.

[Transferred] (43287)

203
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances a High Court judge can sit as a coroner; and on how many occasions this has happened in the last 10 years.

[Transferred] (43182)