Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 3 June 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 3 June 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 Wednesday 3 June, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Thursday 4 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.

WEDNESDAY 3rd JUNE

1
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list, by crop, the total amount of subsidy paid to farmers in Suffolk for each of the past five years.

(44292)

2
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to give United Kingdom farmers the choice of receiving EU support payments in sterling or euros; what assessment he has made of the impact of such a system; and if he will make a statement.

(44144)

3
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the impact of the euro on (a) EU support payments, (b) farm incomes and (c) United Kingdom agricultural exports.

(44143)

4
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to (a) promote training in apiculture and (b) extend the role of his Department's Bee Unit to reflect the agricultural importance of the bee and the threat of disease to the bee population.

(44158)

5
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the value of pollination activity by bees to British agriculture.

(44147)

6
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy are available to bee-keepers; and if he will make a statement.

(43394)

7
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations his Department has received concerning the funding allocated by the European Commission in 1997 to support bee-keeping in the United Kingdom.

(43395)

8
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations his Department has received concerning the use of public funds to research the varroa parasite.

(43396)

9
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much his Department plans to spend on research into the control of the varroa parasite in each of the next three years.

(43398)

10
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much money he received from the European Commission to support bee-keeping in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

(43400)

11
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the funding allocated by the European Commission in 1997 to support bee-keeping in the United Kingdom will be spent on.

(43401)

12
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what regulations cover the distribution of funds allocated by the European Commission to bee-keeping.

(43402)

13
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much of the funding allocated by the European Commission in 1997 to support bee-keeping in the United Kingdom has been distributed to bee-keepers in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland.

(43403)

14
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on Article 8 of the Novel Foods Regulations (258/97/EC), with particular reference to the substantial equivalence criteria; and what plans he has to review those criteria.

(44291)

15
   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of reasons for the decrease in milk prices over the last year; and if he will make a statement.

(44122)

16
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much the Italian government has failed to collect by way of super-levy from over-quota milk producers in each of the last five years; when the Commission initiated infraction proceedings; how much they are for and over what period; and how many Commission officials are currently employed in enforcing milk quotas.

(43166)

17
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from the villagers of Bradenstoke in Wiltshire concerning their attempt to repatriate the mediaeval barn of Bradenstoke Priory from California; and if he will make a statement.

(44331)

18
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what applications the National Lottery has received from the villagers of Bradenstoke concerning the mediaeval barn of Bradenstoke Priory.

(44330)

19
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from the government of Greece since 1st May 1997 requesting the return of the Elgin Marbles.

(44332)

20
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Challenger/Challenger II, (b) Sabre, (c) Striker, (d) Scimitar, (e) AFV432, (f) Warrior, (g) Spartan and (h) Saxon armoured vehicles were (i) in service with frontline Army units and (ii) fully serviceable on 1st June.

(44128)

21
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the average number of annual flying hours undertaken by RAF pilots in each of the last 10 years.

(44129)

22
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Sea Harrier, (b) Lynx and (c) Sea King were (i) allocated to frontline Fleet Air arm units, (ii) fully serviceable, (iii) undergoing major maintenance and (iv) held as in use reserve on 1st June.

(44126)

23
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Westland Lynx were (a) allocated to frontline army units, (b) fully serviceable, (c) undergoing major maintenance and (d) held as in use reserve on 1st June.

(44127)

24
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Tornado, (b) Tornado F3, (c) Harrier, (d) Jaguar, (e) Hawk, (f) Nimrod, (g) Sentry, (h) TriStar, (i) Puma, (j) Sea King and (k) Chinook were (i) allocated to frontline RAF units, (ii) fully serviceable, (iii) undergoing major maintenance and (iv) held as in use reserve on 1st June.

(44130)

25
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what abandoned ordnance was found at Home Farm, West Cottingworth, York, at RAF Escrit, at RAF Clifton, York and at Clifton Moor and Royde Mills, Huddersfield; if the ground has now been cleared; and at what cost.

(43927)

26
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the chemical and biological defence division of DERA was first asked to prepare a plan for the clearance of ordnance and other metal objects from fields adjacent to the Defence Nuclear Biological and Chemical Centre at Winterbourne Gunner; what was their estimate of the cost; and what were the reasons he decided not to proceed.

(43925)

27
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter dated 22nd February 1941 from the Experimental Station, Porton near Salisbury reference numbers S.B. 3288/R.D. Arm 6 and Ptn/1552 (R.2840) SS/PB.

(43928)

28
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the outcome of the major incident co-ordinating group meeting held at the chemical and biological defence division of DERA at Porton Down on 1st May, in relation to unidentified buried ordnance at the defence nuclear, biological and chemical centre at Winterbourne Gunner; who attended that meeting; and when the next meeting will be held.

(43924)

29
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) Wiltshire Constabulary, (b) Wiltshire Fire Brigade and (c) the County Emergency Planning Officer for Wiltshire were consulted as part of Operation Abbott concerning expended and unexpended mortar bombs and shells; and what assessment he has made of how many contained mustard gas and phosgene.

(43926)

30
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the letter sent to the honourable Member for Rochford and Southend East by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 18th May, if a decision has now been made on the relocation of the Defence Ordnance Disposal School; and if he will make a statement.

(44222)

31
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many applications were submitted under the Government's proposals for co-operation between maintained and private schools; and what was the success rate for proposals submitted by (a) local education authorities and (b) the independent sector.

(44139)

32
   Yvette Cooper (Pontefract and Castleford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of 18 year olds leaving further education entered (a) full-time or part-time education, (b) job-related training (government or employer-based), (c) employment without a training element and (d) unemployment in (i) England and (ii) Wakefield Local Education Authority area in each year since 1988.

(44288)

33
   Yvette Cooper (Pontefract and Castleford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of school leavers at age 16 years entered (a) full-time or part-time education, (b) job-related training (government or employer-based), (c) employment without a training element and (d) unemployment in (i) England and (ii) Wakefield Local Education Authority area in each year since 1988.

(44287)

34
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, by what mechanisms his Department is informed of proposed closures of rural schools; if local education authorities are required to inform him of proposals to close such schools; what criteria he will use to assess the viability of such schools; and if he will make a statement.

(43486)

35
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much tritium waste was released into the River Thames by Aldermaston Weapons Establishement in each of the last 10 years.

(44138)

36
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many businesses have been prosecuted successfully since 1990 for violating environmental standards in (a) the West Midlands and (b) the United Kingdom.

(43223)

37
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress his Department has made in implementing its long-term strategy for the reduction of fossil fuel emissions in terms of (a) encouraging greater energy efficiency, (b) encouraging the use of renewable energy and (c) introducing an integrated transport policy.

(43301)

38
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the main contributors, in percentage terms, to total carbon monoxide emissions in the United Kingdom.

(43302)

39
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made in devising a regulatory framework for the carbon dioxide emissions trading regime outlined in the Kyoto agreement.

(43303)

40
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the role of the reduction of speed limits as a method of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

(43304)

41
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the public bodies which it is proposed to reorganise to make their boundaries coterminous with those of the Government Offices of the Regions.

(44224)

42
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to conclude the periodic electoral review of South Gloucestershire; and if the 1999 unitary election will be conducted on the basis of the new boundaries.

(43748)

43
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list by Department the capital expenditure under the private finance initiative in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98, and estimates for 1998-99 (i) in real terms and (ii) in cash.

(43920)

44
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the fiscal and monetary responsibilities of (a) the Government and (b) the Bank of England in relation to the financial institutions and affairs of Jersey; to what extent the liabilities of the Jersey financial institutions are underwritten by each; and if he will make a statement.

(43922)

45
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 7th April, Official Report, column 151, regarding discussions between officials of the British Embassy in Washington and the United States authorities concerning Lloyds of London, who initiated those discussions; what matters were discussed; who was present on each occasion; what requests were made to the United States authorities by the British representatives present; and what requests were made to the British representatives present by the United States authorities.

(44339)

46
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in what way he proposes to amend the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 following the out-of-court settlement with Alan Veale; and if he will review the Act to consider whether other amendments should be made to enable transexuals to have their birth certificates amended.

(44299)

47
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the cost of the reprint of taxable pay tables LR+B to D marked May 1998; and what was the reason for the mistake in the originals.

(44337)

48
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date a Minister in his Department was first advised by officials that Customs and Excise had been asked to investigate the allegations against Sandline International; and who was the Minister in question.

(43929)

49
   Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many taxpayers were billed for amounts of less than £5 under self-assessment.

(44318)

50
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the estimated or projected numbers of people aged (a) 65 years or over, (b) 75 years or over and (c) 85 years or over in (i) North Staffordshire Health Authority area (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) the United Kingdom for (1) 1996, (2) 2001 and (3) 2006; and in each case what the figures are as a percentage of the total population.

(44327)

51
   Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the current United Nations Resolutions which apply to Kashmir and the date on which each was agreed; and if he will take steps to ensure that each is updated.

(44221)

52
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support is being provided to Indonesia in 1998-99 under the Assistance to Support Stability with In-Service Training scheme; and at what cost.

(44333)

53
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 21st May, Official Report, columns 520-22, on support for police and military forces, if he will provide a breakdown of the 1997-98 expenditure under the United Kingdom Military Training Assistance Scheme in support of the military in Indonesia; and if he will list the training establishments involved and the nature of the training.

(44336)

54
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Colombian government regarding the assassination of the human rights lawyer, Eduardo Umana Mendoza, on 18th April 1998.

(44149)

55
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Colombian government regarding the assassination of the former leader of the Communist Party, Maria Arrango Fonnegra, on 16th April.

(44150)

56
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the United Kingdom is taking to protect human rights workers in Colombia.

(44151)

57
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the links between sections of the Colombian Armed Forces and the paramilitary groups who are responsible for human rights violations in Colombia.

(44148)

58
   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what actions he is taking to make the Sudanese goverment more mindful of the rights of the people of Southern Sudan.

(44125)

59
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects to change the Governor of St. Helena.

(44059)

60
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, under what terms and conditions (a) the BBC and (b) the United States of America operate on Ascension.

(44060)

61
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to review his policy on arms sales to Indonesia.

(43485)

62
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the appointments by the United Nations of special representatives in the last ten years; and what contribution to date his Department has made towards the costs of each special representative.

(44227)

63
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list his Department's missions involved in human rights activity in 1997-98, indicating the nature of each project supported by each mission.

(44226)

64
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the provision of further support from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial agencies to Indonesia.

(44225)

65
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those countries which are currently party to the Lome� convention which his Department has assessed as failing in human rights terms.

(44228)

66
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 7th May, Official Report, columns 487-88, if he will place in the Library a copy of the strategy document, Bridges into the Future; what organisations and individuals were consulted in its preparation; and what databases he is using under his initiative to inform minority ethnic communities and prospective applicants about the role and activities of the Foreign Office.

(44201)

67
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of Primary Care Group proposals currently under consideration incorporate community pharmacists.

(44140)

68
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to ensure that community pharmacists are fully represented and involved in the work of the proposed primary care groups.

(44146)

69
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 20th May, Official Report, column 431, on the Ambulance Service, if he will make it his policy for response times of ambulances to be monitored from the time the emergency service is called.

(44329)

70
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what contribution he plans that (a) professional and (b) voluntary citizens advocacy will make to improving access to services by people with learning difficulties and people with acute mental health difficulties.

[R] (44338)

71
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the cost of the reorganisation of the NHS Executive regions to make their boundaries coterminous with those of the Government Offices for the Regions.

(44223)

72
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has held with dentists to encourage them to undertake work on the NHS.

(43487)

73
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library the final version of the recent report on chiropody service levels.

(44124)

74
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the law relating to killings described as joint enterprise killings in non-UK jurisdictions.

(44055)

75
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were being detained on 28th February who had sought asylum at some stage, broken down by (a) length of detention and (b) immigration status.

(44039)

76
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to revise the law relating to killings described as joint enterprise killings.

(44057)

77
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received on the law relating to killings described as joint enterprise killings.

(44056)

78
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 26th March, Official Report, column 232, if he will list the criteria on the basis of which asylum seekers detained under the Immigration Acts are classified as Category A status.

(44041)

79
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases involving the death of a child there have been since 1993 where neither parent or carer has been charged with either murder or manslaughter because both parents or carers have denied responsibility, but no third party involvement is suspected.

(44058)

80
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he proposes to take in respect of the supply of ecstasy testing kits; and if he will make a statement.

(44169)

81
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many nightclubs have (a) had their licence revoked and (b) been refused a renewal of their licence by local authorities following receipt of a report from a chief police officer concerning problems with illegal drugs on their premises under recent legislation.

(44161)

82
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average time taken for scientific analysis to be carried out by the Forensic Science Service at the request of the police in respect of material submitted for DNA testing.

(44165)

83
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average time taken for analysis of blood to be carried out by the Forensic Science Service at the request of the police.

(44163)

84
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many club licences have been (a) revoked and (b) refused a renewal as a result of conviction of the licensee for operating in breach of conditions as a result of problems with illegal drugs in each of the last five years.

(44159)

85
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the UK Drugs Tsar regarding the EZ ecstasy testing kits.

(44167)

86
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice his Department has given to the distributors of the EZ Test ecstasy testing kits.

(44170)

87
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 21st May to the honourable Member for Barnsley East, Official Report, column 454, regarding driving under the influence of drugs, what is the most recent estimate made by the Forensic Science Service regarding the prevalance of drug/driving cases; and what were estimates for each of the last 10 years.

(44200)

88
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average time taken for fingerprint analysis to be carried out by the Forensic Science Service at the request of the police.

(44166)

89
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average time taken for scientific analysis to be carried out by the Forensic Science Service at the request of the police in respect of samples believed to be (a) heroin, (b) ecstasy, (c) LSD, (d) amphetamines, (e) cocaine and (f) cannabis.

(44164)

90
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many nightclubs have been the subject of reports from chief police officers concerning problems with illegal drugs on their premises in each of the last five years.

(44160)

91
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what communications his Department has received from the United Kingdom distributor of the EZ Test ecstasy testing kits; and when they were received.

(44168)

92
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors underlie the priority which the Government has given to introducing legislation to cover the welfare of greyhounds.

(44156)

93
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide independently-funded vets to attend all greyhound tracks.

(44154)

94
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will include independent greyhound tracks within the legislation which oversees standards for dogs in competitive sport.

(44153)

95
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will implement a levy on betting on greyhound racing to provide a fund for improving tracks, veterinary support and greyhound welfare.

(44155)

96
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will establish a statutory body concerned with greyhound racing.

(44152)

97
   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to implement the recommendations contained in the Sixth Report of the Home Affairs Committee of Session 1990-91 (HC 463) on the Financing of Greyhound Racing (a) relating to the increase in the registration fee to owners (paragraph 44) and (b) a requirement on track owners and on and off course bookmakers to donate a part of their profits to the Retired Greyhound Trust (paragraph 44).

(44157)

98
   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his estimate of (a) the number of warrants issued by magistrates' courts in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available in respect of breaches of community sentence orders and (b) the number of such warrants which remained unexecuted after six months from date of issue.

(44123)

99
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to (i) promote and (ii) support the public safety radio communications project in North Yorkshire.

(44220)

100
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the procedures which will apply when vacancies for UK MEPs occur.

(44194)

101
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to increase aid from her Department to help people in the Sudan suffering from famine; and if she will make a statement.

(44335)

102
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what resources her Department provided to the Kabbah government in exile; and for what purposes.

(44199)

103
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what British Government co-funded NGO projects were cancelled or postponed as a result of the decision to suspend aid to Sierra Leone following the 1997 coup d'e�tat.

(44173)

104
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what was the level of United Kingdom bilateral aid for basic social services in Sierra Leone (a) in the year before and (b) in the period since the 1997 coup d'e�tat; and what efforts her Department made to ensure that these services were maintained for particularly vulnerable groups following the coup.

(44172)

105
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the United Kingdom Government is taking to increase access to information in Europe and recipient countries on projects funded by the European Commission's development assistance programme.

(44311)

106
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to increase the number of her Department's officials working in the external development Directorate-Generals of the EC.

(44315)

107
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will place in the Library records of decisions and approvals of government disbursements to the EDF.

(44310)

108
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is the Government's policy on the integration of environmental and social considerations into European Commission-funded infrastructure development projects.

(44306)

109
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 5th May, Official Report, column 276, on Stabex, what steps she has taken to press for the reform or abolition of the Stabex programme.

(44317)

110
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will place in the Library records of the Government's recommendations to the European Commission on Stabex funding proposals.

(44312)

111
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list with dates the amounts of the United Kingdom's disbursements to the EDF under the current Lome� Convention; and when the next disbursements are due to be called from the Commission.

(44309)

112
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations her Department has made to the European Commission regarding the implementation of an Environmental Impact Assessment of the Commission's road rehabilitation programme in Cameroon.

(44307)

113
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is Government policy in respect of environmental impact assessments of projects within the European Commission's aid programme.

(44308)

114
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what mechanisms exist to ensure that the European Commission takes account of her Department's views on environmental and social impact in Stabex funding proposals.

(44316)

115
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the names and positions of her Department's officials who are currently working in the external development Directorate-Generals of the EC.

(44314)

116
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the meeting of the European development ministers on 18th May.

(44313)

117
   Mr Ross Cranston (Dudley North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the Government will make detailed proposals for the fast-track system.

(44134)

118
   Mr Ross Cranston (Dudley North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what investigations his Department has carried out into the capacity of the Bar to do conditional fee agreement work.

(44132)

119
   Mr Ross Cranston (Dudley North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what resources the Government intends to provide to ensure adequate judicial training, management administration and technology for the effective implementation of Lord Woolf's proposals.

(44133)

120
   Mr Ross Cranston (Dudley North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what net savings in legal aid will be achieved by the implementation of the Government's proposals to remove legal aid from personal injury work and other areas to which conditional fee agreements will apply.

(44131)

121
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the President of the Council, what action has been taken during the UK Presidency of the European Union in respect of the manufacture and distribution of (a) ecstasy and (b) other drug testing kits.

(44162)

122
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the honourable Member for Walsall, of 30th October 1997, Official Report, column 861, what action is taken in circumstances where a member of the public who is subject to telephone interception makes a telephone call to an honourable Member; and if he will make a statement.

(43604)

123
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June, when the workshop and seminar were held in the United Kingdom to help President Kabbah restore the legitimate government of Sierra Leone; and what assessment he has made of the contributions of the workshop and seminar.

(44346)

124
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the value of capital expenditure (i) in real terms, (ii) in cash terms and (iii) as a percentage of total NHS expenditure in Scotland undertaken by National Health Service trusts in (a) 1991-92, (b) 1992-93, (c) 1993-94, (d) 1994-95, (e) 1995-96, (f) 1996-97 and (g) 1997-98.

(43905)

125
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent in (a) real and (b) cash terms on executive search agencies for appointments to non-departmental bodies in each year since 1991-92, broken down by non-departmental body.

(43914)

126
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many 16-year olds gained five standard grades in each year since 1993.

(43897)

127
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what were the total costs associated with administration in the NHS in Scotland (1) in real terms, (2) in cash terms and (3) as a percentage of total NHS expenditure in Scotland in (a) 1978-79, (b) 1979-80, (c) 1982-83, (d) 1983-84, (e) 1986-87, (f) 1987-88, (g) 1991-92, (h) 1992-93, (i) 1993-94, (j) 1994-95, (k) 1995-96, (l) 1996-97 and (m) 1997-98.

(43906)

128
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the total expenditure in (a) real and (b) cash terms of his Department and its agencies on publicity for (1) 1996-97 and (2) 1997-98; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1998-99; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (i) advertising and (ii) press and public relations.

(43931)

129
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many nursery places have been made available to (a) three and (b) four-year olds in (i) public, (ii) private and (iii) voluntary sectors in each local authority area in each year since 1995-96.

(43896)

130
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much money he received from the European Commission to support bee-keeping in Scotland in each of the last five years.

(43399)

131
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he willl list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour or services organisations in Scotland that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98 in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices.

(43907)

132
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much was paid (i) in real terms, (ii) in cash terms and (iii) as a percentage of total NHS expenditure in Scotland to NHS trust chairs and non-executive directors in each year since 1991-92.

(43912)

133
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) parents and (b) eligible children in each (i) pilot nursery area of the nursery voucher scheme and (ii) local authority area have not taken up the entitlement to apply for a voucher in each year since 1995-96.

(43893)

134
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has received in repaid student loans from SED grant-awarded students in each year since the inception of student loans in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms based on 1998-99 prices.

(43901)

135
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what private finance initiative schemes his Department has approved in each year since their inception; and on what date each of these schemes were approved.

(43921)

136
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many four-year olds were in (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) local authority pre-school provision in each (i) pilot area of the nursery voucher scheme and (ii) local authority area in each year since 1995-96.

(43892)

137
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was (a) the standard spending assessment and (b) actual spending per pupil in (1) primary and (2) secondary education in (i) 1978-79, (ii) 1979-80, (iii) 1986-87, (iv) 1987-88, (v) 1996-97 and (vi) 1997-98 for Scotland as a whole and each local authority.

(43900)

138
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he willl list by authority and service area the surplus achieved by local authority direct labour or services organisations in Scotland for those services covered under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98 in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices.

(43908)

139
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the 20 firms earning most from (a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98, the number of fee earners per firm and the fees per fee earner.

(43909)

140
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many outstanding medical negligence claims there are currently in each health board area; for what amount; and if he will make a statement.

(43918)

141
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many mandatory student awards were paid by his Department in each academic year since 1978-79; how many student loans were paid in each year since their inception; and what is the total value of those awards and loans in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms based on 1998-99 prices.

(43899)

142
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the average prison population of each Scottish prison in (a) 1978-79, (b) 1979-80, (c) 1986-87, (d) 1987-88, (e) 1996-97 and (f) 1997-98; and what percentages of inmates were incarcerated for (i) violent and (ii) non-violent offences.

(43910)

143
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many and what percentage of children were taught in classes of more than 31 pupils in (a) 1991-92, (b) 1992-93, (c) 1993-94, (d) 1994-95, (e) 1995-96, (f) 1996-97 and (g) 1997-98; and if he will estimate how many will be taught in such classes in 1998-99.

(43904)

144
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) three and (b) four-year olds there were in nursery schools and classes in each education authority in each year since 1991-92; what estimates he has made of the numbers in (i) 1998-99 and (ii) 1999-2000; and what percentage each of these figures represent of all children in the authority area.

(43898)

145
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department plans to spend on research into the control of the varroa parasite in each of the next three years.

(43397)

146
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list (a) the total number of pupils on school rolls and (b) the pupil-teacher ratio for (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each local authority area in Scotland for each academic year from 1978-79 to 1997-98.

(43902)

147
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many women were committed to the Scottish prison system in (a) 1978-79, (b) 1979-80, (c) 1986-87, (d) 1987-88, (e) 1996-97 and (f) 1997-98; and what percentages were incarcerated for (i) violent and (ii) non-violent offences.

(43911)

148
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the current average waiting time for each Scottish health board for (a) knee and (b) hip joint replacement operations; and if he will list the five hospitals which have the longest waiting times.

(43913)

149
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) three and (b) four-year olds were in receipt of pre-school education in each year since 1995-96; and how many have registered in each year since August 1996, broken down by (i) type of provision and (ii) unitary authority.

(43895)

150
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the full loan per SED student in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-2001, in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms based on 1998-99 prices.

(43903)

151
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many mortgage repossession orders there were to each court district in each quarter since the first quarter of 1995 to the first quarter of 1998.

(43930)

152
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of nursery vouchers have been redeemed in (a) the public, (b) the private and (c) the voluntary sector in each year since 1995-96.

(43894)

153
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many children received free school meals in each year since 1979; and what proportion of children this represents.

(44205)

154
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to promote business sponsorship of the arts.

(44203)

155
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) individual and (b) corporate insolvencies there have been in each of the last eight years.

(44202)

156
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what medical qualifications are required of medical examiners carrying out tests of eligibility for disability living allowance.

(44141)

157
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, over the last five years, and in the current year so far, how many recipients of disability living allowance have (a) had their eligibility reviewed by a medical examiner, (b) had allowance withdrawn as a result of the review, (c) taken the review to appeal and (d) won appeals.

(44142)

158
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when reviews take place of eligibility for disability living allowance; and what procedures are followed in order to ensure that consultations take place with the recipient's GP (a) before the test of eligibility and (b) after the test and before a decision is made.

(44145)

159
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will estimate the average income of an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children in (a) London, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Glasgow and (e) Edinburgh in each year between 1993-94 and 1998-99 broken down by benefit.

(43915)

160
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what changes have been made to the granting of compensation to war pensioners suffering from hearing difficulties since October 1996; and what plans she has for further changes.

(43917)

161
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what changes have been made to rent allowances for war pensioners since October 1996; and what plans she has for further changes.

(43916)

162
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people are currently dependent on means-tested benefits; and how many were in (a) 1978-79, (b) 1979-80, (c) 1981-82, (d) 1982-83, (e)1986-87, (f) 1987-88, (g) 1991-92, (h) 1992-93, (i) 1996-97 and (j) 1997-98.

(43919)

163
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people aged (a) 65 years or over, (b) 75 years or over and (c) 85 years or over are claiming disability living allowance (i) at the higher level and (ii) at the intermediate level in, (1) North Staffordshire health authority area, (2) the West Midlands health authority area and (3) nationally; and in each case what these figures are as a percentage of the total population.

(44328)

164
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many licences have been (a) granted and (b) refused since 1st May 1997 for the export of military goods to (1) Algeria, (2) Angola, (3) Bahrain, (4) Botswana, (5) Cambodia, (6) China, (7) Colombia, (8) Egypt, (9) Eritrea, (10) Ethiopia, (11) Georgia, (12) India, (13) Indonesia, (14) Jordan, (15) Kuwait, (16) Kenya, (17) Malaysia, (18) Mexico, (19) Morocco, (20) Mozambique, (21) Namibia, (22) Oman, (23) Pakistan, (24) Peru, (25) Qatar, (26) Saudi Arabia, (27) Singapore, (28) Sri Lanka, (29) Syria, (30) Turkey, (31) UAE, (32) Uganda, (33) Yemen, (34) Zambia and (35) Zimbabwe; and if she will specify the number of licences granted in each of the categories set out under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order.

(44040)

165
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what communication her Department has had with the UK distributors of the ecstasy kit, EZ Test.

(44171)

166
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, for which countries in respect of which at least one arms export licence application was rejected, no arms export licences have been granted since May 1997.

(44334)

167
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what (a) amount and (b) percentage of the United Kingdom's electricity supply was supplied by renewable sources in each year since the non-fossil fuel obligation was introduced in 1989.

(43224)

168
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what estimate she has made of how much in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms, in 1998-99 prices, each country receiving export credits will receive in (i) 1999-2000 and (ii) 2000-2001.

(43405)

169
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list the countries which have been recipients of export credits from the Exports Credits Guarantee Department since 1970-71.

(43407)

170
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what percentage of export credits to each country in each year since 1970-71 was allocated to defence contracts.

(43404)

171
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how much in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms, in 1998-99 prices, each country receiving export credits (i) paid back and (ii) had written off in each year since 1970-71.

(43406)

172
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how much in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms, in 1998-99 prices, each country receiving export credits accepted in each year since 1970-71.

(43408)

173
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to subject auxiliary engines for refrigeration systems on trucks to noise limits; what assessment she has made of emissions from these units; and if she will make a statement.

(43488)

174
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to ban the import and sale of the giant American bull frog; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (44300)

175
   Yvette Cooper (Pontefract and Castleford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the percentages of those in each occupational classification whose highest educational attainment is (a) post-graduate, (b) higher education (excluding post-graduate), (c) further education and (d) GSCE.

[Transferred] (44289)

176
   Yvette Cooper (Pontefract and Castleford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what were the rates of unemployment according to educational attainment at the most recent available date.

[Transferred] (44290)

177
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what has been the cost to public funds of the processing of insolvencies in each of the past eight years.

[Transferred] (44206)

178
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many incidents of thyroid cancer in young people under the age of 18 years there were in each health authority for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (44319)

179
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much money was spent on housing benefit in each district council in Scotland in the 1996-97 financial year.

[Transferred] (44204)