Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 23 June 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 23 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 Tuesday 23 June, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 24 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.

TUESDAY 23rd JUNE

1
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he expects to receive the report and advice from the Expert Group under Professor Bourne's chairmanship regarding the implementation of the report by Professor Krebs on badgers and bovine tuberculosis.

(47256)

2
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the future of the calf processing scheme.

(47255)

3
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will announce the results of his consultation following the publication of Professor Kreb's report on badgers and bovine tuberculosis.

(47257)

4
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is the national average per constituency for awards made by the Millennium Commission since 1st May 1997.

(47290)

5
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the awards made by the Millennium Commission by constituency since 1st May 1997.

(47289)

6
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the role of RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire in the investigation of sightings of unidentified flying objects.

(47318)

7
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the hydrophonic cables connected with SOSUS Network that extend from the ex-US Navy facility at RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire are currently used for underwater monitoring.

(47319)

8
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Ministry of Defence Postal and Courier Services are taking to commemorate the Berlin Airlift; and if he will make a statement.

(47076)

9
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the leasing of four Boeing C-17 transport aircraft; and what effect this will have on the Future Large Aircraft.

(47309)

10
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library the most recent environmental and radiological survey undertaken at and around the Dundrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire, test range.

(46783)

11
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on progress in the transfer of responsibilities for setting NVQ standards from his Department to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

(47287)

12
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to provide funding for the updating of facilities in universities.

(46595)

13
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what statistics his Department collects on the staff to student ratio in universities.

(46596)

14
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what statistics his Department collects on the ratio of students to faculty in universities (a) nationally and (b) in the West Midlands.

(46597)

15
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to review the curricula taught in universities (a) nationally and (b) the West Midlands.

(46598)

16
   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the education standard spending assessment adjusted for local government reorganisation and nursery vouchers for (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94, (c) 1994-95, (d) 1995-96, (e) 1996-97, (f) 1997-98 and (g) 1998-99 for Hereford and Worcester local education authorities (i) in cash terms and (ii) at 1998-99 prices.

(47316)

17
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to (a) encourage and (b) aid schools to create consortia to provide a range of A-level courses in their area.

(45855)

18
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many pupils have entered secondary school sixth forms to study A-levels (a) in the West Midlands and (b) Staffordshire in each of the last five years; and what was each figure as a percentage change on the previous year.

(45856)

19
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students entered the further education sector to study A-levels (a) in the West Midlands and (b) Staffordshire in each of the last five years; and what was each figure as a percentage change on the previous year.

(45857)

20
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on collective acts of worship in schools.

(47285)

21
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received on the role of music in the curriculum.

(47284)

22
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the quantity of carbon dioxide emitted annually by a representative sample of 1.5 million cars.

(47075)

23
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many mugging offences against passengers on London Underground services were reported in the last 12 months.

(47339)

24
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had, and with whom, on the production of less-polluting motor vehicles.

(47336)

25
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason the Environment Agency has not adopted (a) Palm Bay and (b) Kingsgate Bay in Cliftonville as designated areas for Beachwater Microbiological Assays of Pathogens.

(47248)

26
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will publish the results of the working group investigating the shipping industry.

(47320)

27
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what safety checks will be made on West Coast Mainline trains to ensure that they do not possess flaws in design similar to that recently identified in the wheels of the Great North Eastern Railway trains.

(47314)

28
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if any trains operating on the Virgin West Coast Mainline are of the same design as the Great North Eastern Railway trains recently found to have faults in their wheels.

(47313)

29
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement about the future of the Scottish and Oceanic Air Traffic Control Centre at Prestwick.

(45592)

30
N   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce his decision on the Local Government Commission's recommendations for the reorganisation of the district of Basildon; and if he will make a statement.

(47142)

31
   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the powers which a future London Assembly will have to develop a comprehensive drugs misuse strategy for the capital.

(47342)

32
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if it is his policy to keep public expenditure in balance over the economic cycle.

(47288)

33
N   Mr Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate how many (a) men and (b) women working (i) part-time and (ii) full-time in Kilmarnock and Loudoun earn less than (1) £3 per hour, (2) £3.60 per hour and (3) £2.50 per hour; and in each case if he will give the percentage of the total number employed.

(47078)

34
N   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he will take to (a) protect the position of mutual building societies and (b) ensure real competition in the financial services sector.

(47086)

35
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to reply to the Question from the honourable Member for Wells for Answer on 14th May relating to the UN arms embargo on Sierra Leone (reference 41883).

(47246)

36
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate how much Exchequer revenue will be lost as a result of the sale of the Royal Mint in each of the financial years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-2001 and (c) 2001-2002.

(47312)

37
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what funds are generated from producing coins for other countries by the Royal Mint; and how many countries the Royal Mint produces coins for.

(47310)

38
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with which Commonwealth countries the Royal Mint has contracts for production of their coins.

(47311)

39
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the basis of what research he calculated the figure of six million likely new savers who will take up the new ISAs.

(47084)

40
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research he has commissioned to determine whether the new individual savings account will achieve its objective of encouraging more people to save.

(47083)

41
   Sir Peter Lloyd (Fareham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what place is given to human rights in the programme of training supplied by the United Kingdom for foreign police and military personnel; and what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on its effectiveness in improving the human rights record of the countries concerned.

(47344)

42
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the creation of the International Criminal Court, indicating those areas of jurisdiction for such a Court which it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support.

(45780)

43
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the appointment of an international prosecutor to investigate independently crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in circumstances where (a) the UN Security Council and (b) individual members of the national government have not given their consent.

(45781)

44
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what policy conclusions he has drawn from the lecture on medical negligence presented by Lord Justice Sir Philip Otton at the Royal Society of Medicine on 20th June, with particular reference to problems facing junior doctors.

(46787)

45
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the proportion of staff who have qualified under the Residential Child Care Initiative and continue to work in local authority residential child care (a) nationally and (b) by local authority.

(47001)

46
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on progress towards the establishment of a national organisation for young people in care.

(46998)

47
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the recipients of the training support grants allocated for the training of residential social workers undertaking NVQ level 3 completed the course in each of the last two years; what was the average time taken to complete the course; and what steps are being taken to ensure that NVQ assessors are available.

(46999)

48
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was total spending on health services in Lancashire in (a) April 1996 to April 1997 and (b) April 1997 to April 1998.

(47254)

49
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 18th June, Official Report, columns 309-10, concerning health services in Worcestershire, if he will make it his policy to set a target date for deciding on service reconfiguration in the county; and if he will make a statement.

(47253)

50
   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of liaison which exists between the boroughs of London in co-ordinating an effective strategy to combat drugs misuse; and if he will make a statement.

(47341)

51
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to encourage local communities in Coventry to tackle social exclusion.

(46593)

52
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will assess the advantages of withdrawing the passports of convicted football hooligans during the period of the football tournaments involving British teams abroad.

(46553)

53
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total number of drug-related offences in each of the past 10 years in (a) London and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom.

(47123)

54
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many project licence applications have been rejected under section 5(4) of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in the last five years.

(47317)

55
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what sums have been paid out of public funds and in respect of how many cases, for out-of-court settlement of claims made by former and serving police officers against the Police Service.

(47085)

56
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the White Paper on the Future Law on Terrorism based on the Report of Lord Lloyd will be published.

(47002)

57
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans (a) she and (b) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary have to visit the Sudan.

(47338)

58
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what will be inside the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome.

(47278)

59
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what is the estimated cost of the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome.

(47277)

60
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will publish the tender document for the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome.

(47281)

61
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will make a statement on the sex of the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome.

(47282)

62
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what representations he has received on the sex of the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome.

(47280)

63
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, which firms will be responsible for creating the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome.

(47279)

64
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will make a statement on the proposals for a giant human figure in the Millennium Dome.

(47283)

65
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, how many giant human figures there will be in the Millennium Dome.

(47276)

66
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Prime Minister, on what date the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate memorandum, A Summary of the Dounreay FCA Inspection Findings, was brought to his attention; what assurances he (a) sought and (b) received from the HSE that Dounreay was a suitable destination for the waste from Georgia; what action he took in response to the document; and if he will make a statement.

(46785)

67
N   Mr Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate the amount of additional funding which will be allocated to Ayrshire and Arran Health Board in 1998-99.

(47080)

68
N   Mr Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proposals he has for the timetable to establish a uniform rate of terms and conditions for NHS workers.

(47079)

69
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what educational publicity campaign he plans to undertake, at what estimated cost, to inform electors of the new proportional voting system to be used for the election of the Scottish Parliament.

(47139)

70
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what date the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate memorandum, a Summary of the Dounreay FCA Inspection Findings, was brought to his attention; what assurances he (a) sought and (b) received from the HSE that Dounreay was a suitable destination for the waste from Georgia; what action he took in response to the document; and if he will make a statement.

(46784)

71
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 20th May, Official Report, column 380, if he will place a copy of the independent evaluation of the Small Business Loan Scheme in the Library.

(47077)

72
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations he has received from the recycling industry about SRO3 in so far as it prevents the use of reconditioned diesel engines to produce bio-oil.

(46806)

73
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when the report by the independent review panel into neonatal deaths and disabilities at the Forth Park Hospital, Kirkcaldy, was passed to the Kirkcaldy Acute NHS Trust.

(46789)

74
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the full report by the independent review panel into neonatal deaths and disabilities at the Forth Park Hospital, Kirkcaldy, will be released to the families directly concerned.

(46791)

75
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many independent review panels have investigated matters relating to the NHS in Scotland in the last five years; and what was the average length of time each took to produce its report.

(46788)

76
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when the findings of the independent review panel into neonatal deaths and disabilities at the Forth Park Hospital, Kirkcaldy, will be published.

(46790)

77
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the Further Education Funding Council, with particular reference to (a) its membership, (b) its policy remit, (c) the openness and transparency of its operation and (d) its relationship with the colleges as regards long-term funding commitments.

(47252)

78
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Association of Scottish Colleges regarding funding; what plans he has to give additional funding to the further education sector in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(47249)

79
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on (a) the future of Clydebank College and (b) the imminent redundancy of lecturing staff there.

(47251)

80
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will ensure that no staff member at a college or university in Scotland is made redundant or forced to take early retirement for purely financial reasons.

(47250)

81
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many requests have been received from a parent wishing to have a personal interview with a Child Support Agency official in England and Wales during the last 12 months.

(47340)

82
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are the current estimated arrears which are owed to the Child Support Agency.

(47343)

83
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what factors and costings are taken into account in establishing the personal allowance for council tax relief for (a) single people and (b) couples.

(47000)

84
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what guidance she has issued to the Benefits Agency on access to benefits for people with learning disabilities who are in the care of a health trust but who have been discharged from hospital beds.

(47286)

85
N   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what basis the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, having been approached for her approval for the proposals contained in the paper, Motability: MFL's Maintenance and Residual Value Proposals, indicated that she was generally content.

(47291)

86
N   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, to whom and when the paper, Motability: MFL's Maintenance and Residual Value Proposals, was released by (a) Motability Finance Ltd. and (b) her Department.

(47244)

87
N   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what consultation she or her Department have held with honourable Members who have constituents who believe their jobs are at stake if the proposals in the paper, Motability: MFL's Maintenance and Residual Value Proposals, are implemented; and when such consultations took place.

(47247)

88
N   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when copies of the paper, Motability: MFL's Maintenance and Residual Value Proposals, were sent to the motor manufacturers who supply motability cars.

(47245)

89
N   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her oral statement of 18th June, Official Report, columns 507-19, if she will list the range of estimates her Department has produced relating to the impact of a minimum wage on employment levels.

(47141)

90
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if the minimum wage legislation will allow a worker to agree to be paid (a) nothing, (b) a rate between nothing and the minimum and (c) nothing for some hours or functions and the minimum for other hours or functions.

(47322)

91
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proposals have been received from the private sector for support for the United Kingdom deep mining industry in relation to the use of coal for electricity generation; and if she will make a statement.

(47088)

92
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has for support from public funds for the United Kingdom deep coal mining industry; and what representations she has received on this matter.

(47087)

93
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to promote private investment in British manufacturing industry.

(46599)

94
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to assist manufacturers to increase the volume of British goods exported to foreign countries.

(46600)

95
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, on what date the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate memorandum, A Summary of the Dounreay FCA Inspection Findings, was brought to her attention; what assurances she (a) sought and (b) received from the HSE that Dounreay was a suitable destination for the waste from Georgia; what action she took in response to the document; and if she will make a statement.

(46786)

96
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what has been the changes in the proportion of United Kingdom gross domestic product contributed by smaller quoted companies in each of the last 10 years.

(47081)

97
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proportion of United Kingdom export sales were made by smaller quoted companies in each of the last five years.

(47082)

98
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what educational publicity campaign he plans to undertake, at what estimated cost, to inform electors of the new proportional voting system to be used for the election of the Welsh Assembly.

(47140)

99
N   Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to improve access to freshwater fishing.

[Question Unstarred] (45577)

100
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for what reasons his Department does not impose maximum journey times for non-human primates.

[Transferred] (47323)

101
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of Article 9(5) of Regulation 338/97/EC in relation to primates' journey times.

[Transferred] (47337)



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