Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 8 June 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 8 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 Monday 8 June, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Tuesday 9 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.

MONDAY 8th JUNE

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many slaughterhouses there are in Great Britain; and how many of these slaughter (a) poultry, (b) pigs, (c) cattle and (d) horses.

(44236)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many slaughterhouse operators were prosecuted in 1997 for failure to observe the statutory provisions about welfare at slaughter; and how many official warnings were given in 1997 about failure to comply with those statutory provisions.

(44238)

3
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many (a) official warnings were issued to pig farmers by his Department, (b) prosecutions of pig farmers were made by his Department, (c) complaints about poor welfare on pig farms were investigated by his veterinary staff and (d) welfare inspections were made to pig farms by his Department, in respect of breaches of statutory welfare provisions in 1997, or the most recent period for which figures are available.

(44235)

4
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many of the slaughterhouses in Great Britain have full-time veterinary supervision during their hours of operation.

(44237)

5
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent assessment he has made of the animal welfare implications of the provisions within the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 which allows animal hauliers to assess themselves as competent to transport farm animals and horses over eight hours.

(44239)

6
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Broxtowe of 5th May, Official Report, columns 303-4, concerning live animal exports, if, in the case of pigs, he has received all the completed route plans certifying that the journeys took place in accordance with the statutory requirements.

(44296)

7
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if it is the policy of the Government to permit the export of slaughter pigs to Spain only where the authorities in Spain have confirmed that the slaughterhouse of destination complies fully with EU provisions relating to the welfare of animals at slaughter; and if he will make a statement.

(44297)

8
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Broxtowe of 5th May, Official Report, columns 303-4, concerning live animal exports, if all the sheep exported to Spain for slaughter in 1997 were subsequently declared on the route plans as being transported to slaughterhouses notified to him by the Spanish authorities as complying with EU provisions on welfare at slaughter; and if he will make a statement.

(44298)

9
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the plans for shooting enthusiasts to kill wild boar on private land near Tiverton, Devon; and what representations he has received on this matter.

(45103)

10
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for himself and each of his Ministers the agricultural shows and similar events which (a) they have attended in the United Kingdom so far this year and (b) they have made commitment to attend during the remainder of the year.

(44871)

11
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if it is permitted to describe brandy, rum and whisky butters offered for retail sale as butter if they contain less then 34 per cent. milk fat; and if he will make a statement.

(44712)

12
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the advantages of hemp as a source for paper; and if it is his policy to promote the growing of hemp for that purpose.

(44718)

13
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if meat from Canadian pedigree fresians of over 30 months old slaughtered in the United Kingdom is permitted to be sold in the United Kingdom.

(44717)

14
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many places are available for animals in quarantine establishments inspected by his Department.

(44940)

15
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many complaints he received about conditions in registered kennels for animals in quarantine in 1997-98.

(44941)

16
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations the EU has received from the US authorities about the subsidised sale of barley in the US; what is the total amount of barley involved; what is the sale price; what is the amount of subsidy offered per tonne; and if he will make a statement.

(44324)

17
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the total sum spent on subsidies for the sale of food, fruit and vegetables from the EU in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

(44325)

18
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the total sum spent by the EU on the destruction of food, fruit and vegetables in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

(44326)

19
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made in the allocation of the regional centres of excellence for the Institute of Sport.

(44944)

20
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the Chairman and members of the Forum Working Group into Tourism.

(44933)

21
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to abolish the English Tourist Board.

(44623)

22
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Cities of London and Westminster, Official Report, column 11, when he expects to conclude discussions about National Lottery funding for English tourism; and what representations he has received on this subject.

(44631)

23
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will require the BBC to distinguish between its public service broadcasting and its commercial ventures in its accounts.

(44214)

24
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were (a) the budget and (b) the personnel numbers available to the Defence Medical Services in each of the last 10 years.

(44216)

25
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list by nationality for each of the last five years, non-UK nationals who have been security cleared to (a) confidential, (b) secret and (c) top secret classifications.

(45092)

26
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence projects for which foreign nationals have been cleared have then been reclassified to a higher security classification in each of the last five years.

(45093)

27
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the procurement of C-17.

(44467)

28
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the British Government's commitment to the Future Large Aircraft.

(44469)

29
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many companies are involved in the production of C-17s; and what guidelines are being used for the purchase of C-17.

(44468)

30
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Government of the USA on the TRACER programme; and if he will make a statement.

(45091)

31
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the results of the noise measurement trial relating to low-flying aircraft in the Tewkesbury area; and if he will make a statement.

(44403)

32
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many posts he estimates will become restricted to United Kingdom nationals only in the Civil Service, due to retirement over the next five years, by department.

(45112)

33
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many posts are classified as restricted to United Kingdom nationals only in the Civil Service, by department.

(45114)

34
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many posts have become restricted to United Kingdom nationals only since the 1996 Civil Service rule change, due to retirement, by department.

(45113)

35
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when the former Department of the Environment building in Marsham Street will be demolished.

(44945)

36
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received regarding the administration of the vocational training tax relief scheme and the possible introduction of a composite form for use by training providers.

(44912)

37
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what definition of disability will be used when assessing people as eligible for the training provisions set out under the Welfare to Work package; and if he will make a statement.

(44979)

38
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what level of financial and other support his Department plans to provide to Mediation UK in the current financial year.

(44950)

39
   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the aggregated schools budget for (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94, (c) 1995-96, (d) 1996-97 and (e) 1996-97 for Hereford and Worcester Local Education Authority (i) in cash terms and (ii) at 1998 prices.

(44971)

40
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many eligible participants have to date registered interest in the New Deal within the Thanet travel-to-work area.

(44472)

41
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many eligible participants are currently undergoing Gateway preparation for the New Deal within the Thanet travel-to-work area to date.

(44473)

42
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) private and (b) public sector employers have expressed interest within the Thanet travel-to-work area in offering New Deal placements; and if he will list them.

(44475)

43
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many eligible participants have within the Thanet travel-to-work area currently obtained New Deal placements with (a) the private and (b) the public sector.

(44474)

44
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the Education and Social Affairs Council of Ministers meeting on 4th June.

(43020)

45
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much has been provided to Leicestershire Local Education Authority for computers in the classroom as part of the National Grid for Learning Initiative.

(44943)

46
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many referrals since 1st September 1994 have been made to his Department under section 99 of the Education Act 1993 and section 497 of the Education 1996 regarding failure of local education authorities to discharge their statutory duties towards children with special educational needs; and in how many cases action has been taken by his Department on behalf of parents which has resulted in local education authorities discharging their legal obligations.

(45014)

47
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many local authority refusals of planning permission for telecommunications masts were overturned on appeal by planning inspectors in the year 1997-98.

(44951)

48
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress is being made in planning the upgrading of the A30 to dual carriageway between Bodmin and Indian Queens.

(44963)

49
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will assess the advantages of constructing the A38 Dobwalls bypass in Cornwall.

(45089)

50
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June, Official Report, column 17, concerning disabled facility grants, if he will set out the timetable for developing policy; and what plans he has to consult on the matter.

(44618)

51
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans she has to repeal those sections of the Local Government and Housing Act 1990 which require that housing benefit is paid from the housing revenue account of local authorities.

(44946)

52
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list for 1997-98 (a) the sums of housing benefit paid by and (b) the Government subsidy for housing benefit paid to each authority, indicating for each authority the percentage of average rent, accounted for by housing benefit subsidy from the housing revenue account.

(44966)

53
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of former colliery track is owned by Railtrack; and what agreement is required from Railtrack for any re-use.

(45100)

54
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to help bring back into use former colliery railtracks and similar disused lines; and what representations he has received about such re-use utilising new technology.

(45099)

55
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate his Department has made of the increase in the costs of transporting freight on the cross-Channel ferries that will arise from the abolition of the duty-free trade and consequent increase in ticket prices.

(44810)

56
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the approach he intends to take with (a) the Environment Agency, (b) OFWAT and (c) the water companies to comply with the European Commission's year 2000 deadline for the provision of at least secondary sewage treatment for all coastal discharge.

(45119)

57
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will halt the closure of the Driver Test Centre in Stafford.

(44976)

58
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will require the Driving Standards Agency to make provision for an alternative test centre in Stafford before closing the existing test centre.

(44977)

59
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what factors determined the length of notice the Ordnance Survey gave the Driving Standards Agency of its intention to vacate its premises on Wolverhampton Road, Stafford.

(44975)

60
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance his Department has issued to the Driving Standards Agency on the minimum notice period required before closure of a driver test centre.

(44974)

61
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if, in the case of housing development, only the building regulations in force at the time of submission of a planning application apply to the construction, irrespective of the date of construction.

(44902)

62
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the Government plans to make Part M of the Building Regulations apply to all buildings constructed after the making of the regulations, irrespective of the date of the planning consent.

(44903)

63
N   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what account he will take of the findings of the Atmospheric Particles Expert Group on the extent of pollution from coal-fired and oil-fired power stations in his review of the National Air Quality Strategy.

(44639)

64
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made in establishing a regional development agency for the East Midlands; and what consideration has been given to locating its headquarters in Loughborough.

(44939)

65
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made in revising Circular 18/94 in relation to the Police and Criminal Justice Act 1994; and when he expects to make an announcement about a revised circular.

(44942)

66
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made into the impact of second homes on the supply of local housing.

(44932)

67
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 28th April, Official Report, column 85, when he expects to write to the honourable Member for Torbay on traffic congestion measures.

(44947)

68
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research has been carried out into the effects of genetically modified crops planted in England on (a) surrounding areas and (b) those who consume the food and into the risks of cross-fertilisation with non-genetically modified crops planted nearby.

(44581)

69
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many acres in England have been given over to genetically modified crops; and if he will make a statement as to the acreage of the different crops involved.

(44580)

70
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what will be done with genetically modified crops sown in Staverton and under the control of his Department once they have been harvested.

(44579)

71
   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what were the estimated numbers of cars running on (a) leaded and (b) unleaded petrol in 1997-98; and what are the projected figures for 1998-99.

(44938)

72
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the salary bill for Kent County Council for the years (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98 and (d) 1998-99 anticipated.

(44211)

73
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many staff have been made redundant by Kent County Council as a result of the creation of the new Medway Unitary Authority in the year 1997-98; and how many will be made redundant in 1998-99.

(44213)

74
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many staff were employed by Kent County Council in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98 and (d) 1998-99.

(44210)

75
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many staff left the employ of Kent County Council in 1997-98 to join the staff at the Medway Unitary Authority.

(44212)

76
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received regarding the administration of the vocational training tax relief scheme and the possible introduction of a composite form for use by training providers.

(44913)

77
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax demands have been issued under the self-assessment initiative for sums under (a) £1 and (b) £10.

(44973)

78
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions the Inland Revenue has sent out under the self assessment initiative (a) more than one demand to the same person, (b) demands where no tax was due, (c) demands containing computational error and (d) penalty notices to taxpayers who filed in time.

(44949)

79
   Mr William Cash (Stone):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Hitchen and Harpenden of 18th May, Official Report, column 291, if he will list by country the value of the outstanding debts on (a) United Kingdom aid loans and (b) loans guaranteed by the British Government through the Export Credits Guarantee Department, for each of the countries defined by the World Bank as severely or moderately indebted; and if he will give equivalent figures for (i) Afghanistan, (ii) Cuba, (iii) Gibraltar and (iv) Iraq.

(44998)

80
N   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish the draft Financial Services Reform Bill.

(44429)

81
N   Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would be the full year cost of giving two-parent families an additional working family tax credit of £48.80; and if he will publish a table which shows what, if that were done, would be the equivalised net income of a single-earner married couple with two children aged four and six years as a percentage of a single adult's net income if in each case the gross pre tax income was (i) £150, (ii) £200, (iii) £250, (iv) £300, (v) £350 and (vi) £400, respectively.

(44512)

82
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide details of the timetable for consultation on the eligibility criteria for the disabled person's tax credit.

(44900)

83
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to make an announcement about the Charity Taxation Review; and if he will make a statement.

(44969)

84
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would be the tax yield from making child benefit taxable for (a) mothers who are higher-rate tax payers and (b) fathers who are higher-rate tax payers; and what would be the administrative cost of doing so.

(44626)

85
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would be the yield for allowing income tax relief only on pension contributions up to a ceiling of (a) £4,000 per annum, (b) £6,000 per annum, (c) £8,000 per annum and (d) £10,000 per annum.

(44627)

86
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would be the cost to the Exchequer of giving tax relief on that part of employee and employer national insurance contributions which are treated as contributions to SERPS and which are not payable by those who have contracted out of SERPS.

(44628)

87
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress was made in securing the freedom of the Panchen Lama during the visit of EU ambassadors to China in May.

(44234)

88
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the advances in human rights in China which have followed his decision not to support a resolution against China at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

(44233)

89
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on United Kingdom policy on the supply of arms to Nigeria.

(44617)

90
   Mr William Cash (Stone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in supporting the visit of the Minister Without Portfolio to the Club of Three meeting of September 1997.

(44999)

91
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many visitor's visas have been granted to Algerian citizens in each of the last five years.

(44463)

92
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to sponsor a resolution against Sudan in the UN Security Council as a result of the recent evidence of genocide in the northern area of Bahr El Ghazal.

(44829)

93
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he plans to make to the government of Sudan in respect of recent evidence of genocide in the northern area of Bahr El Ghazal.

(44828)

94
   Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the British Government has given to English-speaking opposition parties in Cameroon.

(44931)

95
   Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is Her Majestey's Government's policy towards proposals for minority rights recognition for the English speaking minority in Cameroon at the Human Rights Convention in Geneva.

(44934)

96
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government in Afghanistan regarding human rights in that country; and if he will make a statement.

(44397)

97
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of the Sudan in relation to the civil war in that country; and if he will make a statement.

(44400)

98
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Yemen in respect of the kidnapping of three BBC journalists; and what action he proposes to take to secure their release.

(44995)

99
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the cases of James Miles and Paul Loseby, imprisoned in Venezuela.

(44996)

100
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what requests have been made by James Miles and Paul Loseby to the British Embassy in Caracas for dental treatment; what assessment the Embassy has made of the requests; and what steps are in place to ensure that their medical and dental requirements are met.

(44997)

101
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received on the kidnapping of three BBC journalists in Yemen; and if he will make a statement.

(44994)

102
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which suppliers of standard conference furniture were asked to submit quotations for the supply of a standard conference table for the European Summit in Cardiff; and what prices they quoted.

(44620)

103
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons the conference table ordered by his Department for the European Summit in Cardiff is not made of British materials.

(44622)

104
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many designers were invited to submit proposals for the conference table ordered by his Department for the European Summit in Cardiff; how many different designs were costed; and if the cheapest design was selected.

(44621)

105
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was (a) the originally quoted price and (b) the price paid for the conference table ordered by his Department for the European Summit in Cardiff.

(44619)

106
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the outcome of his consideration as to whether general practitioners should be allowed to prescribe insulin injection pen needles on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

(45104)

107
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the way in which social services departments interpret the regulations and guidance issued by his Department concerning eligibility for funding elderly people in private residential and nursing homes.

(44831)

108
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to issue further guidance to all local authority social services departments setting out their responsibilities to ensure a common approach to eligibility for funding of private residential and nursing homes for older people.

(44830)

109
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received concerning elderly people in private residential and nursing homes mistakenly using their own savings to pay for accommodation and treatment which should be funded by local authorities.

(44832)

110
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what, representations he has received alleging ageism in the Government's proposed targets to reduce death from heart disease, strokes and cancer among the under 65s.

(45011)

111
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list by health authority or trusts the average waiting time for paediatric nose and throat operations after referral to a consultant.

(45013)

112
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make available the research his Department has commissioned into the effects of cannabis.

(44970)

113
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the recent Swiss pilot scheme for the provision of injectable heroin to addicts; and if his Department will be represented in the conference on this subject in the USA in June.

(44215)

114
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to tackle the current increase in smoking amongst young women.

(42962)

115
   Ms Jenny Jones (Wolverhampton South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the value for money criteria used by the NHS Executive in assessing bids for the development of former hospital sites.

(44964)

116
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it is his policy to establish targets for the average number of months waited by patients; and if he will make statement.

(44716)

117
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it is his policy to limit NHS prescriptions to cover a maximum period of 28 days; and if he will make a statement.

(44714)

118
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the NHS direct pilot scheme is accessible to deaf telephone users via a minicom number.

(45010)

119
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he is giving to health authorities on setting up primary care groups in natural communities which have populations of less than 80,000 people.

(44402)

120
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors were recruited to the National Health Service in (i) 1995-96, (ii) 1996-97 and (iii) 1997-98.

(44477)

121
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS beds were occupied by people who were waiting to be transferred to either nursing homes, residential care homes or their own homes in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98.

(44396)

122
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the powers of health authorities to rule out prescribing drugs with proven clinical benefits on the grounds of cost; and if he will make a statement.

(44399)

123
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors were employed in the National Health Service in (i) 1995-96, (ii) 1996-97 and (iii) 1997-98.

(44476)

124
N   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisons have (a) cre�che facilities and (b) family rooms for use by visitors to prisons.

(44706)

125
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what level of financial and other support his Department plans to provide to Mediation UK in the current financial year.

(44948)

126
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has evaluated into staffing demands for the police during bank holiday periods.

(44179)

127
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he has taken to increase the number of police officers since 1st May 1997.

(44178)

128
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the findings of the recent inquiries into serious disorders at Her Majesty's Prison Parc; what assessment he has made of safety, security and order at that establishment; and if he will make statement.

(44713)

129
N   Sir Norman Fowler (Sutton Coldfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many current applicants for political asylum have been granted work permits pending consideration of their cases; and if he will make a statement.

(44633)

130
N   Sir Norman Fowler (Sutton Coldfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for political asylum are currently pending; what is the average length of time for consideration of an application; and if he will make a statement.

(44632)

131
N   Sir Norman Fowler (Sutton Coldfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for speeding up the process of dealing with applications for political asylum; and if he will make a statement.

(44634)

132
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims under the firearms compensation scheme currently remain outstanding under each of options A, B and C; and by what dates he expects all claims under each option to be settled.

(44470)

133
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when a decision will be made on the application by Wootton Bassett Town Council for funds to install closed circuit television.

(44708)

134
   Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the British Government's policy towards asylum seekers who have been active in opposition parties and are from the English speaking regions of Cameroon.

(44930)

135
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what initiatives he is taking to extend the prison accommodation at the HM Wymott and Garth Prison sites.

(44624)

136
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if registered firearms dealers will be permitted to act as referees for applicants for the granting or renewal of a firearm certificate under the Firearms Rules currently being prepared; and if he will make a statement.

(45009)

137
N   Mr Ian Pearson (Dudley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate the number of visitors to prisons found to be in possession of illegal substances in the last year; and how many were subsequently charged with an offence.

(44715)

138
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list for each of the last 15 years the number of extradition warrants issued by police forces in England and Wales for (a) persons sought by them for terrorist type crimes whom the police believed to be resident in the United States of America; how many of the persons sought were returned to the United Kingdom in each year; and if he will give the same information in respect of persons sought for crimes not related to terrorism.

(44916)

139
   Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to what extent the objectives laid down by the donors for IDA 11 have been realised by the World Bank.

(44929)

140
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the progress made at the recent G8 summit in Birmingham in relation to the redemption of debt of developing countries; and if she will make a statement.

(44993)

141
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial aid has been given by Her Majesty's Government to alleviate child hunger in Southern Sudan; and what estimate she has made of the annual cost of feeding one child for a year.

(44709)

142
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will review the avoidance of liability for fines levied on landlords found guilty of contraventions of health and safety provisions in private rented accommodation by means of registering their companies in Jersey.

(45090)

143
   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will permit secondary schools which have adequate accommodation and appropriate staffing to provide a grammar school stream in their intake for pupils deemed suitable for a grammar school place in the transfer procedure; and if she will make a statement.

(44972)

144
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for each of the last 25 years the number of extradition warrants issued by the RUC for persons sought for terrorist type offences whom the RUC believed to be resident in the Irish Republic, the number of such warrants executed by the authorities in the Republic and how many resulted in persons being returned for trial in Northern Ireland.

(44915)

145
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for each of the last 25 years, the number of extradition warrants issued by the RUC for persons sought for crimes, other than terrorists related offences, whom the RUC believed to be resident in the Irish Republic, the number of such warrants executed by the authorities in the Republic and how many resulted in persons being returned for trial in Northern Ireland.

(44968)

146
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Prime Minister, what sums of money were paid (a) by Her Majesty's Government and (b) by those acting on its behalf in salary and expenses to Mr Stephen Kock between 1985 and 1992.

(44809)

147
N   Ms Beverley Hughes (Stretford and Urmston):    To ask the Prime Minister, what progress has been made by the G8 countries in preventing the international production and distribution of child pornography, with particular reference to the Internet; if this matter was considered at the Birmingham Summit; and if he will make a statement.

(43951)

148
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the total cost of the investigation which he has ordered into the financial affairs of the direct labour organisations in all Scottish local authorities.

(44707)

149
N   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of his Department's funding for education has been allocated to Argyll and Bute; for what purpose; and under what headings since May 1997.

(44576)

150
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will give a breakdown by age range of the incidence of breast cancer in women in Scotland in each of the last five years.

(44935)

151
N   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting in Belfast on the EU Presidency Conclusions on Women and Employability.

(42927)

152
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many complaints the Benefits Agency has received regarding (a) over payment and (b) underpayment of Winter Fuel Payment since the scheme came into operation.

(44901)

153
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what factors are taken into account when assessing whether a claimant is entitled to receive the care component of disability living allowance.

(44407)

154
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has to reform the process of awarding the care component element of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement.

(44405)

155
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what discussions she has had with medical authorities regarding terminally-ill people who are denied the care component element of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement.

(44404)

156
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment she has made of the percentage of people who, following a review, are denied the care component payments of the disability living allowance; how many of these people are terminally ill; and if she will make a statement.

(44398)

157
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment she has made of the impact of the review system for terminally ill people receiving the care component of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement.

(44406)

158
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 27th February, Official Report, column 380, if she will provide a breakdown of the figures for non-cyclical social security expenditure between benefits for the (a) elderly and (b) non-elderly.

(44653)

159
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what would be the effect on current revenues from employee and employer national insurance contributions if all those currently accruing rights to a SERPS pension were to contract out into an approved personal pension.

(44629)

160
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimates she has made of the level of income required to support a family with children relative to a family with no children.

(44630)

161
N   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people have lost their entitlement to incapacity benefit because of the all work test since its introduction; and what percentage of those were (a) over 50 and (b) over 55 years.

(43046)

162
   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on progress towards attaining Investors in People Awards of (a) employment tribunals, (b) the Insolvency Service, (c) the Radiocommunications Agency and (d) the Patent Office; when she estimates each will achieve accreditation; and if she will make a statement on the role of Investors in People within her Department.

(44928)

163
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she expects to announce proposals resulting from a review of the workings of the MMC and OFT to improve efficiency in determining the implications of takeover bids.

(44471)

164
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans he has to revise the Eureka programme before the year 2000.

(44925)

165
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what estimate she has made of the share of the world's effort in human genome sequencing which is being undertaken in the UK.

(44980)

166
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what has been the financial contribution of the United Kingdom towards the Eureka programme.

(44927)

167
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the impact of the Eureka programme on British industry.

(44926)

168
N   Ms Beverley Hughes (Stretford and Urmston):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what firm of consultants has been appointed to undertake the review of the Internet Watch Foundation; and how they intend to seek views from interested parties.

(43932)

169
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will list the number of complaints she has received (a) from honourable Members and (b) from others in each of the last five years about the Institute of Chartered Accountants; and how many of these relate to their arbitration scheme.

(44914)

170
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make it her policy to introduce a scheme for the statutory regulation of the conduct of estate agents.

(44711)

171
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make a statement on the progress made since her Department's public statement on 3rd April, with the review which she is conducting on compensation for people whose assets were seized under the policy adopted during the Second World War towards enemy property.

(44710)

172
N   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment she has made of the impact on investment in the United Kingdom of a five year moratorium on building gas-fired power stations.

(44635)

173
N   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will publish the Government's estimates of the level of emissions of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulates from power stations over the period 1999 to 2008 on the assumption that (a) a five year moratorium on building gas-fired power stations is introduced and (b) that the current moratorium on building gas-fired power stations ends forthwith.

(44638)

174
N   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what will be the impact on the National Air Quality Strategy targets of a five year moratorium on gas-fired power stations; and what additional measures would be required to meet these targets following the introduction of such a moratorium.

(44637)

175
N   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment she has made of the economic impact of a five year moratorium on building gas-fired power stations on those generators which own coal-fired power stations.

(44636)

176
N   Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment she has made of the impact on employment, by sector, of a five year moratorium on the building of gas-fired power stations.

(44625)

177
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to introduce additional consumer protection measures in respect of imported genetically modified food.

(44978)

178
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his Answer of 6th April, Official Report, column 67, what estimate has been made of the proportion of people who have the opportunity to take their old appliances back free of charge and do so.

(45102)

179
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will list those United Kingdom shipbuilders which have been in receipt of regional selective assistance in each of the last five years; and what is the value of the grants paid in each case.

(45101)

180
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will prepare an Index of Local Deprivation, similar to the one introduced by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

(44967)

181
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many people are employed in the knacker trade in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(45002)

182
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many directors of social services there were in Wales in (a) 1988 and (b) 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(45007)

183
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is his current estimate of the cost of the local government reforms in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(45008)

184
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is his current estimate of the number of students in (a) further education and (b) higher education in Wales broken down for (i) North Wales and (ii) South Wales and by individual institution; and if he will make a statement.

(45005)

185
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, in what locations in Wales the tallow trade is practised; and if he will make a statement.

(45003)

186
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many directors of education there were in Wales in (a) 1988 and (b) 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(45006)

187
   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what psychological therapy services are available in Wales for individuals with mental health problems.

(45001)

188
   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many ECT treatments were carried out in the Bro Taf Health Authority in each of the last five years; and how many of these were carried out without the consent of the patient.

(45000)

189
N   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what support her Department gives to those fleeing domestic violence.

[Question Unstarred] (42928)

190
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give a breakdown by age range of the incidence of breast cancer in women in England in each of the last five years.

[Transferred] (44936)

191
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the care homes with education currently in operation in London and the South East; and how many have closed in the last five years.

[Transferred] (45012)

192
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will give a breakdown by (a) percentage and (b) number, of adult households in England who received home help/home care services in each year between 1994 and 1997 where the oldest member of the household was aged (i) under 65, (ii) 65 to 74, (iii) 75 to 84 and (iv) 85 years and over.

[Transferred] (44937)

193
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is his current estimate of the number employed in defence establishments in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (45004)