Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 5 June 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 5 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 Friday 5 June, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Monday 8 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.

FRIDAY 5th JUNE

1
   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, if he will estimate the (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure on Portcullis House (i) for 1997-98 and (ii) in total to date.

(44590)

2
   Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in respect of how many of the sheep exported in 1997 for (a) slaughter and (b) further fattening the final destination was stated in the route plan, submitted to the Minister, as (i) Artenay, (ii) Lunery, St. Florent sur Cher, (iii) Baroche, (iv) Zuilichem, (v) Morkhoven, (vi) Elst, (vii) Harmelen, (viii) Pervije and (ix) Loker.

(44648)

3
   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those hunt kennels which have been reported to his Department as having unsatisfactory SRM surveillance audits during (a) 1997 and (b) 1998; and if he will make a statement on the resultant health risk to animals.

[R] (44795)

4
   Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the policy statements which he has made during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Community on the welfare of farm animals throughout the Community; and if he will make a statement.

(44698)

5
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of United Kingdom farms is classified as organic.

(44869)

6
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of agricultural produce is grown organically within the United Kingdom.

(44868)

7
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many farms have converted to organic farming in the past year.

(44870)

8
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what flood defence works for the Cumbrian coast are planned over the next four years.

(44865)

9
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the urine test method of detecting BSE in cattle.

(44890)

10
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and accuracy of the methods advocated by Dr Narang for detecting BSE.

(44894)

11
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the incidence of BSE by cattle breed in 1997 and 1998 to date.

(44897)

12
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if Dr Narang has supplied his Ministry with the information his scientists had requested in order to validate his BSE testing method; and if he will make a statement.

(44866)

13
   Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what action he is taking in respect of developing a vaccine to protect badgers and cattle from TB.

(44796)

14
   Yvette Cooper (Pontefract and Castleford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much National Lottery funding has been distributed by (a) the National Lottery Charities Board, (b) the Millennium Commission, (c) the Heritage Lottery Fund, (d) the English Sports Council and (e) the Arts Council of England for projects in (i) Pontefract and Castleford constituency and (ii) the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

(44588)

15
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing pensions to half of spouses' pensions for widows of those in the armed services prior to 1973.

(44666)

16
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the disposal of land at RAF 14 MU.

(44893)

17
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what evaluation he has made of the role assigned to TA infantry units operating alongside regular units in the BAOR prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

(44840)

18
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th May, Official Report, column 396, what was the operational role being performed by HMS 'Cornwall', on each of the dates listed; and if any Sandline-operated helicopters landed on HMS 'Cornwall' on any of those dates.

(44892)

19
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the TA infantry units which were committed to a role in Germany prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall; and if he will state the Field Force, Brigade or Division of 1st BR Corps to which they were assigned.

(44839)

20
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what evaluation he has made of the current (i) use, (ii) deployment and (iii) role of reserve infantry forces amongst the United Kingdom's NATO allies.

(44896)

21
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria are used to select control groups in studies into Gulf War Syndrome.

(44675)

22
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research is currently being carried out on behalf of his Department into the effects of Gulf War Syndrome on servicemen.

(44673)

23
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many servicemen are currently participating in studies of Gulf War Syndrome.

(44674)

24
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June, Official Report, column 107, what recognised performance indicators are used at each site for which an energy manager has been appointed; and, for each, what practical savings have been achieved in respect of each indicator in each of the last five years.

(44899)

25
N   Mr Michael Wills (North Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the levels of skills shortages as regards his Department's technical civilian staff in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997.

(44390)

26
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many further education colleges currently use franchising arrangements to secure increased student numbers.

(44694)

27
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to end the incorporated status of further education colleges.

(44695)

28
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will publish his response to the Education and Employment Committee's Sixth Report of session 1997-98 on Further Education (HC 264).

(44794)

29
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students currently attend further education colleges (a) full-time and (b) part-time.

(44693)

30
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students currently attend sixth form colleges; and what is his Department's estimate of the cost of educating them in 1998-99.

(44802)

31
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what has been the national increase over the years 1993-94 to 1997-98 in numbers and percentage terms of further education (a) full-time students, (b) part-time students, (c) full-time lecturers, (d) fractional lecturers and (e) part-time lecturers.

(44692)

32
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students currently attend sixth forms in comprehensive schools; and what is his estimate of the annual cost to public funds of educating them in 1998-99.

(44801)

33
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is his estimate of the increase in the number of further education students by the year 2002.

(44691)

34
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the current average class size in further education colleges.

(44690)

35
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many local education authorities have discontinued discretionary awards to further education college students.

(44798)

36
   Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will graduate from United Kingdom universities and places of higher education in 1998.

(44696)

37
   Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many schools in England were placed into the special measures category following OFSTED inspections in 1997.

(44697)

38
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, which schools in Cumbria did not submit (a) papers and (b) results for the (i) Key Stage 2 tests and (ii) Key Stage 3 tests in 1997.

(44864)

39
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the average class size of schools in Cumbria on 30th April in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998.

(44898)

40
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children in Cumbria were statemented; and what was the total funding available for their needs in each of the last 10 years.

(44863)

41
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of (a) the extra number of teachers which will be required in Cumbria in order to reduce all class sizes to 30 and (b) the consequent funding required in Cumbria over the next three years.

(44862)

42
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action his Department is taking (a) to encourage the spread of gas-powered vehicles and (b) widening of access to LPG.

(44799)

43
   Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the Government's policy on the use of suburban railway routes for the movement of freight.

(44705)

44
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to allow (a) new and (b) recently diagnosed diabetic drivers to hold C1 licences for employment purposes.

(44651)

45
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to apply legislation retrospectively to allow those C1 licence holders who have recently lost their licences to drive small lorries and minibuses in the course of their employment.

(44650)

46
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to review legislation allowing C1 licence holders who drive small lorries and minibuses in the course of their employment to renew their licences subject to annual health checks.

(44682)

47
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March to the honourable Member for Blaby, Official Report, column 693, if he will include in the information to be collected centrally under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 the lengths of hedgerow for each local planning authority in England that have been the subject of (a) notification under the regulations, (b) hedgerow removal notices and (c) hedgerow retention notices.

(44808)

48
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to publish the Good Practice Guide on Managing the Use of Common Land.

(44652)

49
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he proposes to take to promote greater recycling of pvc.

(44807)

50
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received on the development of Carlisle airport.

(44838)

51
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on funding of the Pennine Bridleway route as far as Kirby Stephen.

(44854)

52
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what evaluation he has made of the accident rates on the (a) A69 and (b) A66 in each of the last 10 years.

(44895)

53
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Crewe and Nantwich of 24th March, Official Report, columns 85-86, on the Transport Council, which delegates requested a study into the employment effect of the abolition of duty free; and which Ministers expressed regret at the reasoned opinions sent to the member states by the Commission on the EC/US air transport negotiations.

(44891)

54
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish housing policy guidance for Cumbria including the Government's estimate of the additional housing required.

(44860)

55
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library a complete list of all those in Cumbria who may be owners or have an interest in the land which may be subject to one of the possible routes of the Pennine Bridleway.

(44857)

56
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish each of the possible routes for the Pennine Bridleway which has been identified by the Countryside Commission.

(44858)

57
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to assist with the renovation of housing stock in (a) Eden, (b) Carlisle and (c) Allendale districts.

(44845)

58
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list each river in England and Wales which is proposed for SSSI status.

[R] (44844)

59
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what evaluation he has made of the accident rates on the section of the M6 between junction 44 and the Scottish border in each of the last 10 years.

(44841)

60
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what information he has received from the Countryside Commission on their plans for the Pennine Bridleway in Cumbria; and if he will make a statement.

(44855)

61
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the Highways Maintenance Budget for Cumbria for each of the last 10 years.

(44859)

62
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the parish councils through which the proposed Pennine Bridleway might pass in Cumbria.

(44856)

63
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to (a) evaluate and (b) introduce the Scottish Strungbow type road signs.

(44861)

64
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received on flights of nuclear material out of Carlisle airport.

(44878)

65
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the expenditure in 1996-97 and 1997--98 on disabled facilities grants; how many such grants were awarded in each of these years; and what was the average cost of a disabled facilities grant in each year.

(44664)

66
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the Government's review of the 15-mile rule for the siting of motorway service areas, including details of the timetable for the review and for publication of its results.

(44670)

67
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the £140 million of new government money for the Channel Tunnel Link becomes due, how much of it will depend on the completion of Phase II of the line.

(44885)

68
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how long it is estimated the journey time will take from Heathrow to Paris by the proposed new service announced by the Eurostar consortium.

(44886)

69
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the proposed rail service between Heathrow and Paris by the Eurostar consortium is intended to connect with any French airport.

(44888)

70
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to make his decision on the sale of the Epping to Ongar rail line.

(44889)

71
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which rail lines the service between Heathrow and Paris by the Eurostar consortium will use; and what rail services currently use those rail lines.

(4484)

72
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how frequent the rail service between Heathrow and Paris by the Eurostar consortium will be.

(44887)

73
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the new agreement on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link makes provision for sleeper services running on the link; and if he will make a statement.

(44672)

74
   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the criteria to be used by the Environment Agency in deciding whether to approve a request to build a rocket launch-pad on Sombrero Island, Anguilla.

(44649)

75
N   Miss Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what questions were asked in the telephone survey mentioned in the planning inspector's report carried out on holidaymakers to Middleton Sands, Morecambe, relating to the proposed prison there; if he will provide a breakdown of the results; and if he will make a statement.

(44395)

76
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to permit powered two-wheel vehicles to use taxi and bus lanes.

(44804)

77
   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what were the total payments received by the Treasury from the Post Office (a) in corporation tax and (b) under the external finance limit, in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the amounts the Treasury will receive in this and the following two financial years.

(44677)

78
   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Post Office operates under the same public sector borrowing requirement rules as its EU equivalents.

(44678)

79
N   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for taxing child benefit.

(44574)

80
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the treatment for tax purposes of contributions made by private companies to educational institutions under the Partnership Initiative.

(44680)

81
   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what financial assistance is being provided in support of change of use projects in the Ukraine to convert redundant missile facilities into satellite launch pads; if this funding provides for retraining local scientists to be able to undertake this work; and if he will identify the amounts of funding (a) arising from bilateral aid, (b) arising from EU aid and (c) co-ordinated by the EBRD.

(44681)

82
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government expects to ratify the Ottawa Treaty.

(44800)

83
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the honourable Member for Manchester Central expects to reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Spelthorne dated 8th May.

(44105)

84
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which (a) Ministers and (b) parliamentary private secretaries in his Department have spoken to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee on matters relating to the Committee's First Special Report of Session 1997-98 (HC 760), Sierra Leone: Exchange of Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary.

(44320)

85
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps, following the Bournewood judgement, to allow sufferers from Alzheimer's disease to continue to be admitted voluntarily to mental hospitals for respite care.

(44585)

86
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Bournewood judgement.

(44584)

87
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about the possibility of privatising the provision of travel vaccinations.

(44701)

88
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate how many NHS patients are currently suffering from potentially fatal diseases caught while travelling overseas.

(44689)

89
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating United Kingdom citizens for potentially fatal diseases caught while travelling overseas in the last year for which figures are available.

(44699)

90
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is his Department's estimate of the number of United Kingdom citizens making overseas trips in 1997 to areas at risk to potentially fatal diseases.

(44700)

91
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the cost to the NHS of travel vaccinations in each of the last three years.

(44702)

92
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultation he is undertaking on proposals for the future provision of travel vaccinations.

(44703)

93
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the pay, conditions, training and qualifications of residential social workers working with children in care.

(44550)

94
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the fees, reimbursement of costs, training and support of foster carers.

(44551)

95
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors were employed in hospitals in Cumbria in each year since 1979.

(44842)

96
   Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS dentists practise in North Cumbria; and what is the average number of patients registered with each dental practitioner (a) in North Cumbria and (b) nationally.

(44797)

97
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what specific guidelines have been issued by his Department or the NHS Executive on the procedures to be followed by health authorities and NHS trusts for consultation with user groups of the wheelchair service; and if he will set out those guidelines.

(44663)

98
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what specific guidelines have been issued by his Department or the NHS Executive on the procedures for users chairing user groups on the wheelchair service.

(44668)

99
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will announce what input users will have into the new national service frameworks for the wheelchair service.

(44669)

100
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangments have been made to ensure that funding for the wheelchair voucher scheme which has been carried over to the financial year 1998-99 (a) remains ring-fenced and (b) is not diverted to mainstream wheelchair provision which is not ring-fenced.

(44661)

101
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements his Department has made to monitor how funding is spent in the event of an underspend of (a) the indoor/outdoor powered wheelchair funding scheme and (b) the voucher funding scheme.

(44662)

102
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultations were held with groups in advance of communication of the Health Service Circular, wheelchair voucher scheme: funding in 1997-98 and 1998-99 (HSC 1998-004); and if he will list the groups consulted.

(44660)

103
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to announce his decision on the proposed closure of the Ongar War Memorial Hospital.

(44883)

104
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government has taken to promote co-operation between social care professionals and health care professionals.

(44837)

105
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many management posts have been abolished, and how much money has been saved, as a result of his approving the merger of Ashford (Middlesex) and St. Peter's Hospital NHS Trusts.

(44106)

106
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) in-cell televisions and (b) prisoners who will have access to in-cell televisions when in-cell television has been extended more generally across the prison service.

(44612)

107
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, if he will list the prisons in which in-cell television is not to be made available.

(44605)

108
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, what plans he has for the future provision of in-cell televisions with access to (a) satellite television services, (b) sporting events broadcast on satellite television services and (c) adult channels on satellite television services.

(44610)

109
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, what limits will be placed on the times at which prisoners will be able to have access to in-cell television.

(44611)

110
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, if any prisoners who are not on drug-free wings of prisons will have in-cell television made available to them following the increased availability of in-cell television.

(44613)

111
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, how many levels of privilege are generally in operation throughout the Prison Service.

(44616)

112
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, what in-cell television services are currently available for prisoners segregated under rule 43; and what special provision is to be made in respect of such prisoners as a result of the extension of in-cell television.

(44607)

113
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, if video recorders are to be made available to prisoners as part of the increased availability of in-cell television.

(44614)

114
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, what estimate he has made of the aggregate licence fees which would be paid in respect of in-cell television when it is fully available in the event of the ending of Crown exemption.

(44609)

115
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, what criteria will be used in determining the availability of in-cell television to prisoners on the standard privilege level.

(44608)

116
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, in respect of the procurement process for in-cell television, what is the average cost per television; if the televisions will be new; and if they will contain (a) digital technology and (b) teletext.

(44615)

117
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June to the honourable Member for Newark, Official Report, columns 50-51, what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners on the standard privilege level who will have access to in-cell television when in-cell television has been extended more generally across the prison system.

(44606)

118
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cab drivers convicted of assault and rape, were (a) taxicab drivers, (b) minicab drivers who had accepted fare-paying passengers illegally and (c) minicab drivers who had accepted fare-paying passengers legally in the Greater London area in the last year for which figures are available.

(44688)

119
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many minicab drivers convicted of assault and rape (a) had and (b) did not have previous convictions for a similar offence in the Greater London area in the last year for which figures are available.

(44686)

120
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions of minicab drivers for illegally seeking or accepting fare-paying passengers there were in the Greater London area in the last year for which figures are available.

(44687)

121
   Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many juveniles have been held overnight on remand in police custody in police stations in England and Wales, broken down by (a) police authority and (b) charges, during the last six months.

(44671)

122
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the amount spent by his Department in the two years prior to 1998-99 on research into alternatives to testing cosmetic products on animals.

(44665)

123
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of allegations that police officers in Cumbria have used oleoresin capsicum in an inappropriate way; and if he will make a statement.

(44848)

124
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the programme of inspections of each county probation force by HMIP and what thematic inspections are planned.

(44846)

125
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of compensation for handguns in each police force area made under (i) option A, (ii) option B and (iii) option C are currently outstanding; and what amount has been paid out to date in each force area.

(44867)

126
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what reports he has received from the police service on the use of oleoresin capsicum to (a) make arrests that they would not otherwise have been able to make, (b) resolve peacefully potentially violent incidents and (c) enhance the effectiveness of women officers in dealing with incidents.

(44847)

127
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evidence he has collated on police officer injury rates following the introduction of incapacitating sprays; and if he will give such figures as are available on a police force basis.

(44849)

128
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average number of days sick leave taken by probation staff in each grade in each probation service in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

(44852)

129
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the staff turnover rate for each category of staff in each probation service in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

(44851)

130
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the absenteeism or unauthorised absence rates for each grade of probation staff in each probation service in England and Wales in the last three years.

(44850)

131
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average case load for each probation service in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

(44853)

132
   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the Commmission has to commission a fundamental spending review of the departments of the House.

(44583)

133
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what plans he has to include exhibits relating specifically to county characteristics in the Millennium Dome.

(44843)

134
   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask the Prime Minister, what steps the Government is taking to promote the 1999 anniversary celebrations of the Evacuees Reunion Association.

(44591)

135
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Prime Minister, which (a) Ministers in H. M. Government and (b) parliamentary private secretaries have spoken to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee on matters relating to the Committee's First Special Report of Session 1997-98 (HC 760) Sierra Leone: Exchange of Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary.

(44321)

136
N   Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the estimated total of tuition fees which will be payable in the final year of four-year honours courses at Scottish universities and colleges by United Kingdom students from outside Scotland.

(44427)

137
N   Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many United Kingdom students from outside Scotland are in the final year of four-year honours degree courses at Scottish universities or colleges.

(44428)

138
   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much funding his Department provided to the Fisheries Research Services Agency in each of the last five years; and how much is budgeted for 1998-99.

(44805)

139
   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into stocks of monkfish and megrim; and if he will make a statement about the future of fisheries research funding.

(44806)

140
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the names of those people whom he has appointed since 1st May 1997, indicating (a) the positions to which they have been appointed, (b) the dates of their tenure, (c) their professions, (d) their salaries, (e) the name of the person they replaced and (f) the profession of the person they replaced.

(44071)

141
   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to review the present threshold for means testing for residential care.

(44587)

142
   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what criteria are used in Scotland to award city status to towns; and if he will make it his policy to create a new city by 2000.

(44683)

143
   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on road accident death in Scotland.

(44684)

144
   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the European Commission's Statistical Office figures for road death rates in the Highlands and Islands region relative to the rest of Scotland.

(44685)

145
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make it her policy to make attendance at an interview compulsory for those invited to take part in the New Deal for Lone Parents.

(44572)

146
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the total cost of the advertising campaign for working benefits launched on 1st June.

(44573)

147
N   Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much of the £400 million budgeted for winter fuel payments has been spent on this year's payments.

(44575)

148
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are the levels of outstanding debt in the CSA; and what percentage of that debt is unrecoverable for each region within the United Kingdom.

(44569)

149
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what percentage of payments by absent parents are for wrong amounts; and what percentage of debt balances calculated by the CSA contain errors, for each region within the United Kingdom.

(44571)

150
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the current rate of non-compliance with payment of maintenance assessments by the CSA for each region within the United Kingdom.

(44567)

151
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the current backlog of cases at the CSA; how many of those have been outstanding for over one year; when the backlog is expected to be cleared for each region within the United Kingdom.

(44568)

152
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are the current levels of accuracy of settlements for the CSA for each region within the United Kingdom.

(44570)

153
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 21st January, Official Report, columns 565-6, how many higher-rate taxpayers have children aged (a) under five years, (b) from five to 10 years, (c) 11 to 16 years and (d) 17 years and over.

(44323)

154
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the total (a) gross and (b) net savings will be in 1998-99 from not having uprated child benefit in line with prices since 1979; and what the current rate per child would be had it been uprated in line with prices without any additional payment for the eldest child.

(44322)

155
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what progress her Department has made in compiling a directory of organisations offering solutions to the Millennium Bug; how much each organisation is charged for an entry; and if she will make a statement.

(44603)

156
   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to give the Post Office the commercial freedoms enjoyed by the (a) German Post Office and (b) Dutch Post Office.

(44676)

157
   Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, on how many occasions Ministers have met representatives of (a) small businesses and (b) the Federation of Small Businesses.

(44704)

158
   Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what advice her Department currently offers to United Kingdom investors seeking to investigate commercial opportunities in (a) Russia and (b) other countries formerly part of the USSR.

(44803)

159
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her Answer of 14th May, Official Report, columns 189-90, what percentage of applications from men, in relation to each of the research councils, was successful for (a) project grants, (b) programme grants, (c) special grants intended for new investigators, (d) studentships and (e) fellowships, in 1997 and in each of the two previous years.

(44586)

160
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans her Department has to give a defined role to the fuel regulators in achieving the United Kingdom's carbon dioxide commitments; and if she will make a statement.

(44880)

161
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what action she will take to ensure that the new gas and electricity regulators' decisions will take account of (a) Government energy-saving policy and (b) the environmental impacts of regulatory action.

(44882)

162
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what measures she will implement to ensure that the utilities regulators co-ordinate their activities to achieve the Government's pledged reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

(44879)

163
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 1st June, Official Report, column 4, what discussions the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has had with (a) ministers and (b) officials in other departments relating to the review of EU structural funds in respect of Wales; and what was the nature and scope of such discussions.

(44393)

164
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her Answer of 21st May, Official Report, columns 543-4, what has been the nature and content of her discussions with Welsh Office (a) officials and (b) ministers on the subject of (i) Objective One funding for Wales and (ii) other aspects of Agenda 2000.

(44394)

165
   Ms Claire Ward (Watford):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the provision of a Crown Post Office in Watford.

(44667)

166
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many BSE cases he has recorded in 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(44599)

167
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what was his subvention to (a) the National Orchestra of Wales, (b) the National Museum of Wales and (c) the principal theatres in Wales in 1997-98; and if he will make a statement.

(44595)

168
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what measures he proposes to tackle waiting lists in (a) Wales and (b) North East Wales for cataract operations; and if he will make a statement.

(44601)

169
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is his policy on support for regional orchestras; and if he will make a statement.

(44593)

170
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the millennium projects in North East Wales, indicating their locations and his Department's support for each; and if he will make a statement.

(44597)

171
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) female and (b) male appointments he has made; and if he will make a statement.

(44600)

172
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to assist regional theatre; and if he will make a statement.

(44592)

173
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list his initiatives for the development of tourism in (a) Wales, (b) North Wales and (c) North East Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(44596)

174
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he proposes to reduce the incidence of prostate cancer; how many prostate cancer deaths there were last year; and if he will make a statement.

(44602)

175
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to assist the principal museums of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(44594)

176
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, in what ways he has assisted cricket clubs in North Wales; what grants he has made; and if he will make a statement.

(44598)

177
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of the money spent during the past five years for financial assistance to purchase wheelchairs through Access to Work has been spent on (a) indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs and (b) manual wheelchairs.

[Transferred] (44679)

178
   Ms Claire Ward (Watford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to amend legislation relating to travellers; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (44604)

179
   Mr Cecil Walker (Belfast North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the 10 legal establishments in Northern Ireland which were awarded most in legal aid in the last two financial years and the amount awarded in each case.

[Transferred] (44589)

180
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he plans to take to impose obligations on fuel suppliers to give advice on energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (44881)