Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 1 July 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 1 July of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 1 July, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Thursday 2 July, see Part 2 of this Paper.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

WEDNESDAY 1st JULY

1
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much milk was imported from the Irish Republic during (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96 and (d) 1996-97; and how much of the milk was (i) UHT, (ii) raw and (iii) pasteurised.

(48258)

2
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much milk was imported from France during the years (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96 and (d) 1996-97; and how much of the milk was (i) UHT, (ii) raw and (iii) pasteurised.

(48259)

3
   Mr David Curry (Skipton and Ripon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his estimate of the public expenditure in the current financial year to support activities which will fall under the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency.

(48495)

4
   Mr David Curry (Skipton and Ripon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the funding of the Food Standards Agency.

(48496)

5
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the New Zealand lamb quota will next be renegotiated.

(47850)

6
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the losses incurred by lowland suckler farmers during the period when BSE has been in the UK beef herd; and what public funds they have received in respect of the effect of BSE on their businesses.

(47851)

7
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the economic impact on the UK livestock industry of BSE, excluding the effect of public funds deployed during the BSE crisis to compensate farmers for its effects.

(47852)

8
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the implementation date is of the beef labelling scheme.

(47853)

9
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, from which countries Britain imports meat from any species in respect of which the abattoirs do not comply precisely with EU requirements.

(47854)

10
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to implement the recommendations of paragraph 31 of the Agriculture Committee's report on the UK Beef Industry (Third Report, Session 1997-98, HC 474).

(47892)

11
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the proposed EU agrimonetary system operational from 1st January 1999 will permit member states not joining the euro zone to pay their farmers EU farm subsidy payments in euros, if so requested.

(48617)

12
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those organisations which have requested him to consider allowing UK farmers to receive EU farm subsidy payments in euros.

(48618)

13
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will assess the (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages to UK farmers of receiving their EU farm subsidies in euros, from 1st January 1999, if they so request.

(48616)

14
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if it is his intention to enable farmers to receive EU subsidy payments in euros as from 1st January 1999, if they so request.

(48615)

15
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which organisations attended consultation meetings with Ministers held in connection with its production of the Rural England White Paper, Command 3016.

(48608)

16
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the preparations his Department is making to enable farmers to receive their EU farm subsidy payments in euros, if they so request, from 1st January 1999.

(48620)

17
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what factors underlie his decision to prevent UK farmers from receiving EU farm subsidy paid in euros, from 1st January 1999.

(48619)

18
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in which other EU member states farmers will be required to pay for registration in connection with entry to a beef labelling scheme; and in each case how much is to be charged.

(48610)

19
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list each of the other EU states not joining the single currency on 1st January 1999, which will be allowing their farmers to receive EC subsidy scheme payments in euros.

(48609)

20
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will investigate the recent increase in the price of fish.

(47857)

21
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what factors underlie the requirement that fishermen (a) complete a landing declaration and (b) produce a stamped sales note when landing fish.

[R] (48282)

22
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the additional costs arising from the requirement placed on Brixham fishermen regarding landing declarations when landing fish in Brixham as against landing fish in other ports.

[R] (48284)

23
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for what reasons he withdrew the concession of submitting stamped sales notes for fishermen in Brixham.

[R] (48283)

24
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what reasons underlie the requirement that fishermen in Brixham complete a landing declaration.

[R] (48285)

25
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask Mr Attorney General, in how many cases in 1997 appeals against over-lenient sentences resulted in an increase in sentence.

(48325)

26
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    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 (Scotland), (b) the Millennium Commission and (c) the Heritage Lottery fund for projects in (i) Paisley South constituency and (ii) Renfrewshire.

(48486)

27
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, at what intervals he plans to undertake future reviews of major events listed under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996.

(48442)

28
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the inventory of works of art in the Royal Collection was completed; and if he will make a statement.

(48501)

29
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many Grade I and Grade II listed buildings have been destroyed since 1992.

(48600)

30
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the Football Task Force report on ticketing will be published; and if he will make a statement.

(47893)

31
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 16th June, Official Report, columns 164-5, on nerve agent pre-treatment sets, how many of the tablets manufactured by Roche Products Ltd were used during Operation Granby.

(48332)

32
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 16th June, Official Report, columns 164-5, on nerve agent pre-treatment sets, if samples of the tablets manufactured by (a) Roche Products Ltd and (b) Duphar BV, were tested again to determine suitability for use between 1990 and 1995.

(48331)

33
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contribution (a) financially, and (b) in terms of UK armed forces personnel his Department will be making to the 1999 Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition.

(48497)

34
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what dates the Royal Air Force conducted joint exercises with the Russian Air Force during the last five years.

(48576)

35
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what dates the Army conducted joint exercises with the Russian army during the last five years.

(48575)

36
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many rugby league teams there are in each of the armed forces.

(48443)

37
   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the name and location of each job centre which has been designated for closure.

(48294)

38
   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many job centres were (a) open and (b) closed in each region in each of the last 10 years; and how many closures are currently planned.

(48297)

39
   Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the (a) first and (b) primary schools in North Tyneside which currently have classes of (i) more than and (ii) less than 30 pupils.

(48540)

40
   Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the (a) first and (b) primary schools in North Tyneside which currently have a budget (i) surplus and (ii) deficit.

(48539)

41
   Mr Lawrence Cunliffe (Leigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the terms of the education action zone to be implemented in Wigan.

(48447)

42
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, in what ways the University for Industry will complement the role of (a) training and enterprise councils and (b) other existing training agencies.

[Transferred] (48054)

43
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what research contracts his Department has awarded to Warwick University in the past three years.

(48016)

44
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what research funding was allocated in each of the last five years to (a) Warwick University, (b) Coventry University and (c) United Kingdom universities.

(48015)

45
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the current financial state of further education colleges in Hampshire.

(48569)

46
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the number of further education colleges in Hampshire incapable of fulfilling their duty to provide adequate and sufficient facilities to their students.

(48568)

47
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people have found employment under the New Deal scheme in (a) the North West and (b) Chorley.

(48449)

48
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many of the jobs created through the New Deal scheme have been full time jobs in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the North West and (c) Chorley.

(48450)

49
N   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on access courses for mature students for higher education.

(48256)

50
N   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what new initiatives he is taking to promote the delivery of post-16 education in rural areas.

(48257)

51
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what services are provided under the New Deal to (a) those over the age of 25 years and (b) those who have been unemployed for (i) under two years and (ii) over two years; and if he will make a statement.

(47856)

52
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding (a) the provision of and (b) the funding of playgroups.

(47858)

53
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish information in similar format to that in School Governors A Guide to the Law, showing for each type of school proposed by the School Standards and Framework Bill the division of responsibilities between the local education authority, the head teacher and the governing body, assuming the implementation of the proposals in the Bill.

(47859)

54
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish information showing the effect in (a) Gloucestershire, (b) Hackney, (c) the Isle of Wight and (d) Surrey, in the most recent year for which the information is available, of the implementation of the proposals in his consultation document, Fair Funding: Improving Delegation to Schools, stating per pupil (i) education standard spending assessment, (ii) education spending, (iii) the general schools budget, (iv) spending on service strategy and regulation, (v) grant maintained related expenditure, (vi) the potential schools budget, (vii) the aggregate schools budget under the current arrangements, (viii) the local schools budget and (ix) the individual schools budget under the proposed arrangements.

(47891)

55
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his Department's current estimate of the percentage of children aged (a) 0 to 4, (b) 5 to 13 and (c) 14 years and over who wear seat belts in (i) the front passenger seat and (ii) the rear seats of cars; and if he will make a statement on trends.

(48310)

56
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his Department's current estimate of the percentage of (a) drivers, (b) front seat passengers and (c) rear seat passengers who wear seat belts in cars.

(48309)

57
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the average cost of the provision of one mile of cycle lane.

(48326)

58
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the extent of air pollution resulting from road traffic and its effect on numbers of premature deaths and hospital admissions.

(48052)

59
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the forecast growth in road traffic over the next 20 years on the attainment of the Government's targets for the reduction in carbon emissions by 2010.

(48051)

60
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many affordable rented homes (a) have been provided and (b) are planned under the rules applying from PPG Note 3 and Circular 13/96 in Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth boroughs.

(48574)

61
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will amend the guidance to local authorities on designation of the River Thames from its present status as an area of special character to full conservation area status.

(48580)

62
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he proposes to ensure that the special character of the Thames is protected.

(48571)

63
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will review the (a) nature and (b) scale of development currently underway on the banks of the Thames.

(48579)

64
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the amount of on-site affordable housing units provided under Circular 13/96 and PPG 3 in the boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth and Wandsworth; and if he will make a statement.

(48577)

65
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what criteria he uses in deciding to call in development applications in the Thames-side area.

(48570)

66
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list (a) the number of units of accommodation given planning permission on the riverside stretches of Southwark, Lambeth and Wandsworth boroughs, (b) the cash in lieu payments for the same and (c) the number of on-site units of affordable housing provided for the same since 1996.

(48578)

67
   Kate Hoey (Vauxhall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on development along the banks of the River Thames.

(48573)

68
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the range of issues to be covered in the Rural White Paper; and when it will be published.

(48611)

69
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which organisations attended consultation meetings with Ministers held in conn ection with the production of the Rural England White Paper, Command 3016.

(48607)

70
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of people travel to work by car.

(48275)

71
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the Integrated Transport White Paper will include a cost benefit analysis of the proposals.

(48276)

72
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many billion tonne-kilometres of freight are moved annually within the United Kingdom.

(48273)

73
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of incidents of road congestion are related to road maintenance.

(48278)

74
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what were the average fuel consumption figures of a new car in (a) 1984 and (b) 1998.

(48271)

75
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many kilometres of (a) motorways, (b) trunk roads and (c) major local authority roads have less than four years life remaining and require urgent maintenance.

(48280)

76
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of petroleum products are carried annually in the United Kingdom (a) by water, (b) by rail and (c) by road.

(48274)

77
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many kilometres of non-motorway roads fall under central Government control.

(48279)

78
N   Miss Melanie Johnson (Welwyn Hatfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent advice has been issued to local authority environmental health officers on the risks of environmental contamination from, and the safe removal of, lead in older painted surfaces.

(48038)

79
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate how many pensioners live in (a) pre-1989 regulated tenancies in the private sector and (b) pre-1989 housing association secure tenancies.

(48554)

80
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make the floodlighting of buildings the subject of planning consent; and if he will make a statement.

(48572)

81
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    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 Paisley South earn less than (1) £3 per hour and (2) £3.60 per hour; and in each case if he will give the percentage of the total number employed.

(48489)

82
   Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to review the workings of the income tax self-assessment scheme.

(48582)

83
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the total revenue which will be raised for the alleviation of third world debt as a result of tax allowances announced in the Budget.

(48085)

84
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the consultation paper on emissions and vehicle excise duty will be published.

(48277)

85
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which countries have benefited from debt reductions under the HIPC Initiative; what level of debt relief each has received in (a) nominal and (b) NPV terms; and if he will list the other countries that are expected to benefit from the Initiative.

(48439)

86
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional resources are planned to be made available through the Mauritius Mandate in addition to those under the HIPC Initiative for each country affected in (a) nominal and (b) NPV terms; what is the timetable for securing a sustainable exit for each country; and if he will make a statement.

(48438)

87
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which HIPC countries have embarked on the process of debt relief; which will embark on the process (a) before and (b) after 2000 under the Mauritius Mandate; and if he will make a statement.

(48437)

88
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of abortions for residents in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland was funded by the NHS in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997.

(48441)

89
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which health authorities in England and Wales paid for fewer than (a) 50 per cent., (b) 70 per cent. and (c) 90 per cent. of abortions requested by their residents in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997.

(48440)

90
   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on UK-Tanzanian relations.

(48329)

91
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the United Kindom's role in the OSCE Dayton Arms Control Verification Organisation in former Yugoslavia.

(48290)

92
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what matters he intends to table for the Agenda of the next meeting of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

(48301)

93
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will assess the benefits of a pre-legislative hearing by the Defence Committee on the legislation required to meet commitments under the Anti-Personnel Land Mines Ottawa Convention.

(48308)

94
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he intends to approve the comprehensive proposals on adapting the CFE Treaty's Flank position, tabled on 31st March.

(48286)

95
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will promote the proposition of an international treaty against missile proliferation.

(48303)

96
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the range of Confidence and Security Building Measures provided for in the Vienna Document 1994.

(48292)

97
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if it is his policy that the Non-Proliferation Treaty should continue in force indefinitely.

(48333)

98
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty on exports of plutonium by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

(48330)

99
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to amend the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty to reflect the changing European security environment.

(48288)

100
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what options he is considering for revising VD94 to reflect the change in the European security environment; and if he will make a statement on discussions held with the OSCE on this matter.

(48291)

101
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what Her Majesty's Government is doing to encourage (a) Brazil, (b) Cuba, (c) Israel, (d) India and (e) Pakistan to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty; and when he expects them to do so.

(48302)

102
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what limits on manpower levels have been imposed upon the United Kingdom as a result of the concluding act of the negotiation on personnel strength of conventional armed forces in Europe.

(48287)

103
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the signatories to the Missile Technology Control Regime.

(48305)

104
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if it is his policy to accept an invitation to the United Kingdom to join the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks process and participate in START III.

(48293)

105
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British defence export orders have been blocked under the Wassenaar Arrangement.

(48304)

106
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reductions the United Kingdom has announced in their Treaty Limited Equipment entitlements.

(48289)

107
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he took during the British EU Presidency to promote the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

(48295)

108
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what financial assistance his Department has provided towards the cost of providing defence lawyers to UK nationals held in prison pending trial in each of the last three years.

(48327)

109
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when instructions were given to parliamentary counsel to commence drafting the Bill to enable the Government to ratify the Ottawa Convention.

(48281)

110
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the means by which his Department will monitor adherence to the human rights provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty.

(48318)

111
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Saudi Arabian government about the arrests of the Filipinos Ariel Ordona, Ruben Aguire, Angelito Sizon and Juanito Manalili; if he will ask where they are being held and what charges are being brought against them; if he will seek assurances about their safety; and if he will make a statement.

(48018)

112
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the average bursary given to (a) nursing students, (b) medical students and (c) dental students in the most recent year for which figures are available; what calculation is made for additional earned income within the formulae for calculating such grants; and if he will make a statement.

(48444)

113
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the sums announced for the reduction of NHS waiting lists health authorities are permitted to use to reduce waiting lists for the provision of continence supplies.

(48307)

114
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the numbers of items prescribed for the treatment of asthma in each year since 1993-94.

(48311)

115
   Mr Lawrence Cunliffe (Leigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the future of the Leigh infirmary.

(48446)

116
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment the Government has made of the benefits of including health care assistants in the frameworks governing (a) the registration and (b) the career development of nurses.

(48436)

117
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential cost to the National Health Service of trends in closures of community pharmacies.

(48233)

118
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what studies he has commissioned into the role of pharmacists in the National Health Service.

(48231)

119
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure delivery of medicines to those patients who are housebound.

(48234)

120
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the population over (a) 30, (b) 40, (c) 50 and (d) 60 years in each health authority area in England have no natural teeth.

(48601)

121
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when pen needles will be available to diabetes sufferers on prescription.

(47998)

122
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the use of pen needles as a method for diabetes sufferers to administer insulin.

(47919)

123
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the findings of the Swedish Two Counties study of breast screening in respect of take-up rates for invitations to breast-screening in those aged up to 74 years.

(48322)

124
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data from the Government's review of two-view screening for breast screening have been evaluated in respect of future policy on the introduction of the two-view screening for every screening round.

(48320)

125
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the criteria on the basis of which asylum seekers detained under the immigration acts are classified as Category C status.

(48306)

126
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will make arrangments with Dorset police to remove the air raid siren at Ashley Heath roundabout; and if he will make a statement.

(48499)

127
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost to his Department of the erection of an air raid siren at Ashley Heath roundabout in 1991.

(48498)

128
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what work has been carried out by the Ministerial Group on the Family on the institution of marriage; and what new measures have been proposed to promote and strengthen marriage.

(48543)

129
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the Ministerial Group on the Family has met during 1998; when it plans to meet again; and how many times he chaired it.

(48545)

130
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what new initiatives were proposed by Her Majesty's Government for tackling (a) illegal drugs and (b) other criminal activity during the UK presidency of the European Union.

(48546)

131
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to publish the results of (a) the comprehensive spending review of asylum, (b) the review of immigration detention, (c) the review of immigration appeals and (d) the review of the regulation of unscrupulous immigration advisers.

(48581)

132
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Ministerial Group on the Family has considered changes in the law with respect to pre-nuptial agreements.

(48548)

133
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what work has been carried out by the Ministerial Group on the Family on improvements to the quality of child care within families; and what research has been commissioned on this subject.

(48549)

134
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much damage was caused during disturbances at the Medway Secure Training Centre on 25th and 26th June; and what steps are being taken to prevent a repetition of such disturbances.

(48547)

135
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports have been (a) produced and (b) published by the Ministerial Group on the Family in 1998.

(48544)

136
   Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional support other than from neighbouring prisons has been required at Alt Course Prison, Fazakerley; and at what public expense.

(48335)

137
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research on the form of the ballot paper he has commissioned; and when he expects to publish the results.

(48598)

138
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the terms of reference for the 1988 Home Office review of fingerprint identification methods conducted by Mr I. W. Evett and Mr R. L. Williams; what progress has been made in implementing the conclusions of the review regarding (a) training, (b) certification testing, (c) performance testing, (d) file audits and (e) blind trials of fingerprint examiners and bureaux; if he will place the report in the Library; and what further studies have been commissioned by his Department.

(48317)

139
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to remove the offence of blasphemy from the statute book.

(48550)

140
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the most common crimes committed by persons under 16 in each of Lancashire Constabulary's divisions for the latest year for which figures are available.

(48502)

141
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional grant he will make to Essex Police following the closure of magistrates' courts in the county.

(48538)

142
   Mr Robert Syms (Poole):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on Phase F of the Refreshment Department modernisation programme.

(48334)

143
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has received from NGOs concerning the future of her Department's aid programme and its effectiveness relating to their own activities in the developing world.

(46893)

144
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on Know How Fund aid to Russia.

(46867)

145
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the meetings (a) he and (b) the Lord Chancellor has had with Mr Brian Rainlock of Litigation Protection to discuss legal insurance.

(48614)

146
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he last met Mr Brian Rainlock of Litigation Protection to discuss the insurance of conditional fee arrangements.

(48613)

147
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what assessment he has made of the (a) viability and (b) integrity of Litigation Protection as a provider of conditional fee arrangement insurance.

(48612)

148
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the current average time that elapses between an application to become a magistrate and (a) the interview and (b) the outcome of the interview being made known to the candidate; and if he will make a statement.

(48493)

149
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what representations he has received about the use of HFCs in the proposed air-conditioning for the Millennium Dome.

(48073)

150
   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many acts of paramilitary violence took place in (i) April, (ii) May and (iii) June; to which paramilitary organisation the RUC has attributed responsibility; and what were the equivalent figures for the same period in 1997.

(48299)

151
   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the (a) numbers and (b) percentage of the total, of those studying in integrated schools in the (i) nursery, (ii) infant, (iii) junior, (iv) secondary, (v) further education, (vi) higher education and (vii) teacher training sectors of education in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

(48298)

152
   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what records her Department maintains on those people who disappeared during the Troubles; and if she will urge paramilitary groups to release any information which they have on their whereabouts.

(48296)

153
N   Mr John Butterfill (Bournemouth West):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 18th June, Official Report, column 313, if the telegrams from Sierra Leone relating to Sandline were copied to No. 10 Downing Street.

(48017)

154
N   Mr John Butterfill (Bournemouth West):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he will answer the question from the honourable Member for Bournemouth West for answer on 9th June regarding reports to 10 Downing Street (�cp7.5�44556�rs).

(48019)

155
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Prime Minister, what is the precise number of letters he has received from National Health Service physiotherapists against the staging of the current year's pay award.

(48177)

156
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 1st July.

(47849)

157
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much National Lottery funding has been distributed by (a) the Scottish Sports Council and (b) the Scottish Arts Council for projects in (i) Paisley South constituency and (ii) Renfrewshire.

(48485)

158
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate the amount of additional funding which will be allocated to Argyll and Clyde Health Board in 1998-99.

(48488)

159
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what criteria are used in Scotland to award city status to towns; and when the last applications for such an award were made.

(48490)

160
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate how many claimants of job seekers allowance over the age of 25 in Paisley South have been unemployed for more than two years.

(48487)

161
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what percentage of 18 year olds leaving further education entered (a) full-time or part-time education, (b) job-related training, (c) employment without a training element and (d) unemployment in Scotland in each year since 1988.

(48492)

162
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the decision by Sheriff Penman at Stirling on 23rd June in the case of Graham -v- Sommerville, what plans he has to reform the law on landlord and tenant regarding the protection afforded by the Rent Acts to the Carbeth Hutters in respect of (a) security of tenure and (b) protection against uncontrolled rises in rent or other charges levied by the landlord.

(48072)

163
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate the (i) percentage and (ii) amount of the fee income paid to further education colleges in February which related to expenditure required to be met in the third term in the academic year, relating to next financial year.

(48300)

164
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will set a timescale within which schools which fall to be registered under section 61 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, as amended by section 34 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, must submit applications to the registration authority after being notified by that authority of the need to register.

(48448)

165
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the procedure by which people are appointed by her Department to social security tribunals.

(48323)

166
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on her Department's re-organisation of the Child Support Agency; and when this re-organisation will be implemented.

(48324)

167
   Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what account is taken of psychological and cognitive impairments arising from acquired brain injury in application of the all works test and the grant of incapapcity benefit.

(48319)

168
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will list the (a) mean and (b) median income of (i) single pensioners, (ii) pensioner couples and (iii) all pensioners living in (1) pre-1989 regulated tenancies in the private sector and (2) housing association tenancies (A) before and (B) after housing costs.

(48551)

169
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on the training given to officers of her Department in dealing with disabled people.

(48000)

170
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many complaints have been received about the treatment of disabled people by officers of her Department in each of the last three years.

(47999)

171
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what guidance has been issued to offices of her Department on the treatment of disabled people when double checking benefits claims through interviews.

(47996)

172
   Mr Frank Roy (Motherwell and Wishaw):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will publish for each Scottish local authority, a breakdown for 1996-97, of housing benefit overpayments, in terms of (a) numbers, (b) amounts for DSS, local authority and claimant errors and (c) (b) expressed as a percentage of total expenditure.

(48500)

173
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans her Department has to record the ethnic origin of those applicants refused income support on the habitual residency test.

(48321)

174
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the current research into non-take up of income support by pensioners will attempt to assess the impact of non-take up on the standard of living of the pensioners concerned.

(48071)

175
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what representations she has received on the export prospects in the United Kingdom carpet manufacturing industry.

(48491)

176
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proportion of small firms have made efforts to prepare for the introduction of the European Single Currency; what recent assessment she had made of the adequacy of training within small firms.

(48055)

177
N   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to respond to the policy from the Joint Links Oil and Gas Consortium which she received in May 1997; if she will meet representatives of the consortium; and if she will make a statement.

(46863)

178
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement on the effects of the East Asian economic crisis on employment in the UK manufacturing sector.

(48494)

179
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what research she has evaluated into the comparative price of over-the-counter medicines in the United Kingdom relative to other EU countries; and if she will make a statement.

(48232)

180
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many reports of investigations into insider dealing carried out under the Financial Services Act 1986 have been published.

(48603)

181
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will request Mr Edmund Lawson QC to review the information now in the public domain concerning the conduct of Lord Archer of Weston -Super-Mare in respect of share dealing with a view to ascertaining whether there are grounds for a fresh investigation.

(48605)

182
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will seek the consent of Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare to publish the report of the investigation into his conduct in respect of share dealing.

(48606)

183
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what information her Department makes available to private companies regarding public sector contract opportunities; how this information is accessed by private companies; and if she will make a statement.

(47855)

184
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many tourists visited Wales during the most recent 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(48328)

185
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much public money will be used to publicise the Welsh Assembly elections.

(48445)

186
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what were the qualifications, experience and expertise of the persons from Gwent Tertiary College who undertook the internal investigation of European funding.

(48553)

187
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if each of the applications and claims for European funding from Gwent Tertiary College was signed by a senior member of the management team.

(48552)

188
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his oral Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 1033 relating to Gwent Tertiary College, if the investigation referred to will include how budgets were managed and how money was spent after it was received.

(48584)

189
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the oral Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 1033, concerning Gwent Tertiary College, what examination his Department has made of records kept on electronic media.

(48583)

190
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses (i) registered and (ii) deregistered for VAT in (a) Pendle and (b) the North West in each year since 1990.

[Transferred] (48599)

191
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals to transfer responsibility for investigations of alleged insider dealing and decisions on prosecutions to the CPS.

[Transferred] (48604)

192
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what deficiencies he has identified in the operation of the law on insider dealing; and what further legislation he plans in this area.

[Transferred] (48602)

193
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received concerning the impact on UK shipping of different taxation regimes in EU countries; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (48542)

194
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received concerning low recruitment of cadets for the Merchant Navy; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (48541)

195
   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to increase understanding of the risk factors underlying outbreaks of TB in cattle in the light of recommendations in the Krebs Report.

[Notice originally given for Monday 6th July] (48531)