Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 3 July 1998

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

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Monday 6 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.

FRIDAY 3rd JULY

1
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in this session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49083)

2
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what resources his Department has devoted to (a) food safety and (b) food standards work in each of the last three years; and what has been the total number of civil servants employed in these areas.

(48905)

3
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the estimated level of resources to be transferred by his Department to the proposed Food Standards Agency for (a) staff research and (b) other relevant heads of account.

(48852)

4
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research his Department has evaluated into the feasibility of organic hill farming.

(48787)

5
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his estimate of the change in the number of farmers in the United Kingdom over the next 10 years.

(48785)

6
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he takes to assess the quality of foreign meat imported to the United Kingdom.

(48854)

7
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what criteria he uses to determine the standard of livestock in the United Kingdom.

(48780)

8
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proportion of the retail price of milk has gone to dairy farmers in each of the last five years.

(48783)

9
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to ensure that imported beef meets United Kingdom beef production regulations.

(48855)

10
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the implementation of his Department's proposed early retirement scheme for farmers.

(48779)

11
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what are the means by which Her Majesty's Customs and Excise determine the age of imported carcases.

(48890)

12
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to reduce the subsidy paid to rendering plants to dispose of offal.

(48788)

13
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those countries which have exported beef to the United Kingdom since December 1996 indicating the extent of their compliance with United Kingdom hygiene standards.

(48856)

14
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to compensate farmers affected by the reduction in compensation to rendering plants for the disposal of offal.

(48789)

15
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what conditions farmers will have to satisfy to be eligible for his Department's early retirement scheme.

(48778)

16
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what instructions have been issued to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise with regard to meat imports.

(48782)

17
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the additional costs associated with organic farming.

(48786)

18
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals for restructuring of the United Kingdom farming industry.

(48784)

19
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he proposes to take to improve the standard of livestock in the United Kingdom.

(48781)

20
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received about the proposed Ministry of Rural Affairs.

(48793)

21
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received about the proposed Rural White Paper.

(48794)

22
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions he has had with Labour Rural Revival on the subject of the proposed Ministry of Rural Affairs.

(48795)

23
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the species of (a) farm animals and (b) birds that routinely receive antibiotic growth promoters in their feed.

(49076)

24
   Mr John Townend (East Yorkshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the Advisory Group on Quarantine is expected to report.

(48984)

25
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49089)

26
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49088)

27
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on his Department's funding proposals for (a) ENO and (b) the Royal Opera; and if he will make a statement.

(48978)

28
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many representations he has received supporting the Gordon Committee's representations to remove live coverage of cricket test matches played in England from the events listed under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996.

(49098)

29
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many representations he has received on the subject of sporting events listed under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996, since May 1997.

(49099)

30
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the preparations which his Department is making to help the tourist industry draw people from abroad to the Millennium celebrations.

(48790)

31
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to help tourist boards in promoting London as a tourist destination for the Millennium Experience.

(48791)

32
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Eurofighters the Government is committed to purchasing.

(48626)

33
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Resort, colums 7-8, how many staff at Porton Down have received inoculations and vaccinations as part of their normal safety regime in the last 15 years; what were the inoculations and vaccinations; and for what specific purpose.

(49141)

34
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Report, colums 7-8, what health monitoring of staff has taken place at Porton Down in the last 15 years; and what are the results of the monitoring.

(49138)

35
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Report, columns 7-8, how many people have been employed at Porton Down in each of the last 15 years; and of these how many were employed on work which required such vaccination.

(49143)

36
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Report, columns 7-8, how many staff are currently signed off work for sickness at Porton Down; how many have been signed off for more than a month; and how these figures compare to the average for the last 15 years.

(49142)

37
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Report, colums 7-8, how many people have retired on health grounds from employment at Porton Down in the last 15 years.

(49139)

38
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Report, colums 7-8, how many staff have left employment at Porton Down for health reasons in the last 15 years.

(49140)

39
   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the differences between (a) military and (b) civilian specifications of ship hulls.

(48985)

40
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposals contained in his Freedom of Information White Paper on commercial confidentiality within the nuclear industry.

(48973)

41
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list for the People's Panel (a) the total value and duration of its contract with MORI, (b) the number of times it is expected to be convened in 1998, (c) the selection criteria and procedures used to pick its members, (d) which Ministers determined the terms of selection, (e) which Ministers will have access to the results of the Panel and (f) if the information made available to Ministers will be (i) placed in the Library and (ii) made publicly available.

(48692)

42
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list the focus group research which was commissioned in relation to proposals to change the Citizen's Charter programme into the Service First programme, indicating (a) the total cost of the focus groups, (b) the names of the companies used and (c) the costs and composition of the new non-departmental public bodies to be established to help implement the Service First programme.

(48694)

43
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list (a) the estimated cost of changing the Citizen's Charter programme into the Service First programme, indicating separately the costs of (i) the design of a new logo, (ii) the relabelling of buildings and stationery and (iii) promotion and publicity, and (b) the companies used and at what cost in connection with the project.

(48693)

44
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what plans he has to make Braille copies of Acts of Parliament available.

(49104)

45
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49084)

46
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance has been issued to local authorities in respect of the child care requirement arising from the implementation of the New Deal for Lone Parents.

(48980)

47
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will ensure that the new FEFC funding for childcare-inclusive learning and basic skills summer schools are available to all FEFC-funded learners.

(48974)

48
N   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the effects of the merger between High Peak College and the University of Derby on post-16 education in High Peak.

(48628)

49
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to facilitate the recruitment of United Kingdom nationals for seasonal work in horticulture.

(49190)

50
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he expects all children in South Gloucestershire schools to have ready access to the Internet; and if he will make a statement.

(48777)

51
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49086)

52
   Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will respond to the Second Report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Sewage Treatment and Disposal (HC 266-I).

(48943)

53
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answers of 18th May, Official Report, column 219, and 15th June, Official Report, column 39, if drivers of lorries engaged in international haulage are required to be in possession of a CMR, goods in transit insurance document; and what role this document will have in assisting the enforcement authorities to distinguish the origin and destination of journeys, if it is decided not to allow five axle lorries weighing 40 tonnes to operate in the domestic market.

(48944)

54
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which councils in England have adopted the use of wheeled bins for refuse collection.

(48988)

55
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the cost to London Underground of adapting ticket machines to take the new £2 coin.

(48698)

56
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will publish the Rural White Paper.

(48799)

57
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reasons he has discontinued the annual updates to The Common Inheritance.

(48798)

58
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reasons he has discontinued the annual updates to Rural England.

(48797)

59
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) injuries and (b) fatalities occurred as a result of traffic accidents on the A64 between Leeds and York in each of the last 10 years.

(49081)

60
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance his Department has given to local authorities regarding the spending of the extra funds allocated recently to rural public transport.

(49075)

61
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many overload reports have been filed at London Area Terminal Control Centre in the period 1st January to 30th June.

(48696)

62
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many overload reports have been filed in each of the last five years at London Area Terminal Control Centre.

(48695)

63
   Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has to involve (a) honourable Members and (b) members of local authorities in the process of nomination and appointment to regional development agencies.

(49189)

64
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what mechanisms are in place to measure the performance of area traffic commissioners.

(48853)

65
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list for each of the financial years since 1983-84 (a) the expenditure submitted by Brentwood Borough Council under the heading flood defences, for use in the Department's settlement SSA indicator data, (b) the increase in the SSA due to the inclusion of the flood defences estimates in these calculations, (c) the amount of additional Government grant received in that year by the Council solely as a result of the inclusion of the flood defences figures, if any, and (d) the increase in capping limits in each year solely as a result of the inclusion of the flood defence estimates in the calculations.

(49012)

66
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will calculate the effect on (a) the standard spending assessment, (b) the amount of Government grant and (c) the capping limit for Brentwood Borough Council for 1998-99 if the flood defence estimates had been nil for each year since 1983-84.

(49013)

67
N   Mrs Gillian Shephard (South West Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason different criteria are used to determine rural sparsity factors for standard spending assessments and the support for rural public transport.

(48861)

68
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to announce the outcome of the public inquiry into the reopening of the Welsh Highland Railway by the Ffestiniog Railway Company; and if he will make a statement.

(49010)

69
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49095)

70
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the advantages of introducing additional tax incentives to help the Government achieve its target under the Kyoto Protocol.

(48975)

71
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Record, column 28, on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link guarantee, what risk assessment the Government applied to the project; and what were its conclusions.

(48691)

72
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Record, column 28, on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, if he will place a copy of (a) the assessment and (b) the review of that assessment prepared by external consultants, in the Library.

(48690)

73
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer to the Right honourable Member for Wells of 29th June, Official Report, column 29, if he will publish the classification rules for the national accounts.

(48792)

74
   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on progress in respect of measures to allow the streaming of income for pension funds invested in balanced authorised unit trusts.

(49164)

75
   Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answers of 20th April, Official Report, columns 400-2, and 5th June, Official Report, columns 386-90, if he will provide comparable figures for two earner married couples where the income is split between them in the ratio of 60:40.

(49187)

76
N   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of abortions were funded by the National Health Service for residents of each constituency in (a) 1996 and (b) 1997.

(48925)

77
   Mr Bill Rammell (Harlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the Inland Revenue's fixed profit car scheme rates to take account of increases in the costs of motoring.

(48983)

78
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the staff numbers involved in forecasting in his Department; and what is the estimated cost of forecasting to his Department in the current financial year.

(48996)

79
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the extent of mis-selling of free-standing additional voluntary contributions; and if he will make a statement.

(48776)

80
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in this session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49096)

81
   Mr William Cash (Stone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what competitive tendering procedures were applied in relation to the construction work for the new British Embassy in Berlin; and if he will list those companies which tendered.

(49135)

82
   Mr William Cash (Stone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the legal status of the site of the new British Embassy in Berlin; and to whom the freehold belongs.

(49136)

83
   Mr William Cash (Stone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the arrangements to protect the security of the new British Embassy in Berlin during and after its construction.

(49137)

84
   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 4th June to the honourable Member for Hemel Hempstead, Official Report, column 350, what assessment he has made of the benefits of including Cornish within the Council of Europe Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.

(49011)

85
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the options under consideration for the national domestic regulation of private military companies.

(48904)

86
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the reasons for delay in processing the application of Fazal Ur Rehman, at Islamabad, under ref GV100/42016, whose wife lives at 6 Edgecote Court, Leicester; when this case was referred to the Home Office; and when an outcome is expected.

(48937)

87
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the case of Sukvinder Kaur, reference--IMM/ECR/0195/98/8 the wife of Rajinder Singh of 13 Woodland Road, Leicester.

(48939)

88
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49085)

89
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners hold the Diploma of the Faculty of Family Planning.

(48965)

90
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into differences in the prescription of contraceptive methods between GP-based and other family planning clinics.

(48968)

91
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the relative incidence of deaths in pregnancy according to whether women were users of the contraceptive pill before pregnancy.

(48969)

92
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, by health authority, the number of nurses waiting for a place on the ENB family planning course.

(48966)

93
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, by health authority, the number of places available for nurses to take the ENB family planning course.

(48967)

94
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what period following childbirth maternal deaths continue to be classified as due to pregnancy.

(48970)

95
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will include in the Summer guidance on Consultation on Primary Care Groups a statement on how midwives will be included in consultations and subsequent local structures of primary care groups.

(49175)

96
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure that midwives are integrated into clinical governance arrangements for primary care groups.

(49172)

97
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure that primary care groups develop effective mechanisms for providing women's choice in NHS maternity services.

(49174)

98
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure that midwives can take on lead operational roles regarding maternity services in primary care groups.

(49171)

99
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue advice to all health authorities and trusts that midwives should be included in consultations and subsequent local structures of primary care groups.

(49176)

100
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure that primary care groups develop effective mechanisms for quality assurance in NHS maternity services.

(49173)

101
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts with regard to the removal of patients from waiting lists for failure to attend; what change this represents over the policy prior to 1st May 1997; and what estimate he has made of the number of patients removed from waiting lists since 1st May 1997 as a result of such changes in guidance.

(49108)

102
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS hopsital treatments have been carried out since 1st May 1997 involving procedures which are at 30th June 1998 no longer available on the NHS.

(49107)

103
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 30th June, Official Report, columns 143-5, on hospital waiting lists, if he will publish the interim figures received by his Department which indicated that NHS waiting lists in England were falling.

(49109)

104
   Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the extra cost to the NHS of allowing general practitioners to prescribe insulin injection pen needles.

(48993)

105
   Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the current annual cost to the NHS of prescribing syringes and needles.

(48994)

106
   Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he anticipates a decision will be made on whether general practitioners should be allowed to prescribe insulin injection pen needles on the NHS.

(48992)

107
   Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the cost to the NHS of syringes and needles is spent on (a) diabetics for the injection of insulin and (b) registered drug addicts.

(48995)

108
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the proportion of people who feel ill who make the local pharmacy their first point of contact with a professional health carer.

(48238)

109
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many closures of independent pharmacies there have been in the last five years.

(48240)

110
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence he has evaluated of the development of antibiotic resistance amongst those working in hospitals and other medical estabishments.

(49077)

111
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) mechanisms and (b) legal requirements there are for (i) members of the public and (ii) representatives of organisations to speak at meetings of health trust boards.

(48946)

112
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many formal complaints were made to the Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(48950)

113
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will establish mechanisms for residents within an area covered by a health trust to seek the removal of (a) the Chairman and (b) other non-executive members of the trust.

(48949)

114
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce local democratic accountability to health trusts in the communities which they serve; and if he will make a statement.

(48948)

115
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many names were considered for the Chairmanship of the Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust when the post was filled (a) on the last occasion and (b) on the previous occasion; and when the current period of office ends.

(48945)

116
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49094)

117
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions have been launched under section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 and sections 4 and 5 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, in respect of the offences of (a) facilitating the entry to the United Kingdom of an illegal entrant, (b) obtaining leave to enter the United Kingdom by deception and (c) assisting or facilitating a person in obtaining leave to enter the United Kingdom by deception since (i) the 1996 Act came into force and (ii) 1st May 1997.

(49170)

118
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many asylum appeals the Refugee Legal Centre acted as legal representative in each year from 1993 to 1997.

(49168)

119
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the Right honourable Member for Sutton Coldfield of 8th June 1998, Official Report, column 438, what was the average time taken to reach a decision on an asylum application (a) immediately prior to the enactment of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 and (b), in the case of appllications submitted post-July 1993, immediately prior to the enactment of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.

(49198)

120
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many rejected asylum seekers, having exhausted all appeal rights, are currently awaiting removal from the United Kingdom.

(49166)

121
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total amount of charges (i) imposed, (ii) collected and (iii) waived since 1987 under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987; and what is the total amount of charges outstanding.

(49169)

122
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many (a) asylum and (b) immigration appeals the Immigration Advisory Service acted as legal representative in each year from 1995 to 1997.

(49167)

123
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the six asylum seekers acquitted on 17th June of violent disorder at the Campsfield Detention Centre being placed at additional risk of persecution if returned to their own countries as a result of their trial.

(49177)

124
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in each of the past five years in England and Wales for alleged breaches of section 161 of the Highways Act 1980.

(48674)

125
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases have been referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission to the Court of Appeal.

(49078)

126
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the procedure in relation to the destruction of a suspect's police records (a) if the victim decides not to press charges and (b) if the Crown Prosecution Service decides not to prosecute.

(49073)

127
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police constables were employed by the North Yorkshire Constabulary between 1978 and 1998; and what was the total police strength in each of those years.

(49080)

128
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if Ministers are personally informed of the details of threats made against them.

(49134)

129
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library copies of the annual accounts for each of the last five years of the Association of Chief Police Officers, for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

(49221)

130
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library copies of the invoices which he has paid, with dates, to the (a) Association of Chief Police Officers, (b) Association of Chief Police Officers Limited and (c) Chief Police Officers Staff Association in each of the last two years.

(49218)

131
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the Government of the Irish Republic about the possible release of prisoners convicted of terrorist offences repatriated to the Irish Republic following the Belfast Agreement.

(48947)

132
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total sum of public money provided to (i) Help the Aged and (ii) Age Concern over the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

(48697)

133
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he is taking in respect of the case of Nazire Javeed Abdul Gaffar Nazire (date of birth 22.09.76)--ref PO8509/98.

(48936)

134
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if she will make a statement.

(49090)

135
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations her Department received from which NGOs in each month between September 1997 and May 1998 concerning the situation in Southern Sudan.

(48902)

136
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what levels of aid have been given to Sudan in each month between September 1997 and May 1998.

(48903)

137
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49097)

138
   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of full-time and part-time special adjudicators employed by the Immigration Appellate Authority to hear and determine asylum appeals (a) currently, (b) on 1st January 1997, (c) on 1st January 1995 and (d) at the time the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 came into force.

(49165)

139
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps his Department is planning to ensure that there is an increase in the number of pupillages available at the private bar.

(49074)

140
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many women were sent to prison in each of the last three years for refusing to allow an estranged partner access to their children under a contact order.

(48941)

141
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what sanctions the courts may impose on (a) a parent with care and (b) an estranged parent who breaks the terms of a contact order.

(48940)

142
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proportion of applications for contact orders from estranged fathers were (a) turned down and (b) turned down on grounds of a history of physical or sexual abuse in the last year for which figures are available.

(48942)

143
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what training is available for judges and magistrates to assist them in their understanding of cases involving (a) domestic violence and (b) contact orders.

(48971)

144
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what will be the theme of the fourteenth zone of the Millennium Dome.

(49178)

145
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if she will make a statement.

(49093)

146
N   Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry and Armagh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the value of the contract for the development of Belfast Harbour Exchange Retail and Leisure Park.

(47894)

147
N   Mr Seamus Mallon (Newry and Armagh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which company has been awarded the contract for the development of the Belfast Harbour Exchange Retail and Leisure Park.

(47895)

148
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to create a Ministry of Rural Affairs.

(48796)

149
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49082)

150
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which councils in Scotland have adopted the use of wheeled bins for refuse collection.

(48989)

151
   Mr Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many eviction actions have been taken by (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations in each of the last eight years for (i) anti-social behaviour and (ii) rent arrears.

(48963)

152
   Mr Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list for each month for 1990 to 1997 the number of deaths in Scotland.

(49188)

153
   Mr Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many households were refused housing by local authorities last year for (a) previous housing debt including rent arrears, (b) council tax arrears, (c) suspected anti-social behaviour and (d) previous eviction for anti-social behaviour.

(48987)

154
   Mr Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many emergency admissions to hospitals where the diagnosis related to a respiratory disease other than influenza there were in each month in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994, (iii) 1995 and (iv) 1996 in respect of patients aged (a) 0 to 14, (b) 14 to 64 and (c) 64 years and over.

(48986)

155
   Mr Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many houses he estimates will be insulated through the New Deal energy efficiency funds; and what will be the expected average change in energy rating.

(48964)

156
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what guidelines are issued to those local authorities which have responsibilities for maritime matters in relation to the medical and physical wellbeing of passengers on cruise liners; and if he will make a statement.

(48560)

157
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease occurring on board (a) cruise liners and (b) other vessels whilst in (i) Scottish waters, (ii) berthed in Scottish ports and (iii) calling at Scottish ports have been reported to his officials by maritime local authority environmental health departments in the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

(48561)

158
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what guidelines or instructions are issued to the owners and masters of cruise liners operating out of, or calling at, Scottish ports in relation to (i) the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease and (ii) other health matters affecting both passengers and crews; and if he will make a statement.

(48562)

159
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assistance is being given to Inverclyde Council in relation to the inspection and assessment of the water-supply system on board the cruise liner 'Edingburgh Castle'; and if he will make a statement.

(48563)

160
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he proposes to take to protect the health of passengers of cruise liners which operate out of, or call at, Scottish ports; and if he will make a statement.

(48564)

161
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to modify the rules and regulations governing the environmental health role played by local authorities which have responsibilities anent the inspection and quarantining of cruise liners; and if he will make a statement.

(48565)

162
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when his officials were first informed of reports of the existence of Legionnaires' disease amongst passengers on board the cruise liner 'Edinburgh Castle'; and if he will make a statement.

(48566)

163
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent representations he has received anent the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease on board cruise liners; and if he will make a statement.

(48567)

164
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will place in the Library copies of the annual accounts for each of the last five years of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland).

(49220)

165
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if she will make a statement.

(49092)

166
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many lone parents are claiming income support in each local authority area in London; and in each area, how many lone parents had one or more children aged (a) 0 to four and (b) five to 11 years; and how many children of lone parents fall into each age group.

(48979)

167
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are the total arrears for (a) category A interim assessments and (b) full maintenance assessments which are owed to the Child Support Agency.

(48859)

168
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when her Department expects to pay Mr Le Feuve the jobseeker's allowance awarded to him on appeal by the Independent Tribunal Service on 22nd March; and if she will make a statement.

(48851)

169
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many men did not claim the state pension on reaching the age of 65 years in 1997-98.

(49100)

170
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many women did not claim their state pension on reaching the age of 60 in the year 1997-98.

(49079)

171
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what benefits are available to individuals and their carers during temporary periods of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments.

(48932)

172
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment she has made of the effect of the rules for disability living allowance on those people undergoing periods of chemotheraphy and other intensive treatments.

(48934)

173
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what research she has evaluated into the success rate of claims for disability living allowance from people undergoing periods of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments.

(48933)

174
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on the factors underlying delays in issuing child benefit payment books.

(49219)

175
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is his Department's average response time to correspondence from members of the public.

(48976)

176
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has to secure equality of treatment between widows and widowers in the benefits system.

(49106)

177
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how long a claimant for disablement benefit in respect of occupational deafness must have worked; if additional hours worked in overtime may be included in this requirement; and what proposals she has to change the current citeria.

(48938)

178
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what would be the rate of return on the lifetime National Insurance contributions of (a) a man aged 65 and (b) a woman aged 60 retiring in the current financial year and receiving a full basic state pension.

(48972)

179
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, in how many cases during the past three years over 12 months has elapsed between making an appeal against a decision concerning disability living allowance, and the outcome of the appeal being decided.

(49105)

180
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if she will make a statement.

(49091)

181
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, which British companies are currently involved in oil exploration in Sudan.

(48935)

182
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many claimants have pursued cases of coal mining subsidence damage through the general arbitration scheme in each year since its inception; and what was the amount of awards made to successful claimants in each year.

(49102)

183
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when her Department plans to review the number of post offices able to issue (a) vehicle excise licences, (b) passports and (c) game licences.

(49103)

184
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what were the total legal costs incurred by the coal authorities in respect of cases pursued under the general arbitration scheme in each year since its inception.

(49101)

185
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what costs have been incurred by the Office of Fair Trading in preparation for legal proceedings in the Restrictive Practices Court to end resale price maintenance on over-the-counter medicines.

(48239)

186
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how the value of accommodation will be assessed when setting the minimum wage.

(48858)

187
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how businesses will be expected to account for the value of accommodation when complying with the minimum wage.

(48857)

188
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what assessment (a) her Department and (b) the UK National Focal Point have made of the application from the Scientific Documentation Centre Ltd to INFO 2000 for a European resource of serials.

(48452)

189
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, which British companies have made applications to the European Commission DGXIII in respect of funding to create union lists of serials &c.; what advice the UK National Focal Point gave in respect of each application; which projects it supported; and if she will list the reasons for the advice and support in each case.

(48453)

190
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her Answer of 15th June, Official Report, column 103, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for International Development concerning the illegal manufacture of, and trafficking in, firearms.

(48926)

191
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proposals her Department has relating to the licensing of arms brokers' activities in the United Kingdom.

(48860)

192
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 24th June, Official Report, column 557, prior to 18th May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(49087)

193
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, which councils in Wales have adopted the use of wheeled bins for refuse collection.

(48990)

194
   Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if the contract between the University Hospital Wales Trust and Sterile Services International Limited for the provision of sterile services provides for the trust to receive a financial benefit as a consequence of any new business acquired by Sterile Services International Limited for the provision of sterile services to other health trusts.

(49186)

195
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance has been issued to local authorities in respect of the introduction of the child care tax credit.

[Transferred] (48981)

196
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what was the total amount received in debt service by the Export Credit Guarantee Department in 1997 from heavily-indebted poor countries.

[Transferred] (48991)

197
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure repayment of the £2 billion subsidy paid to Air France by the French government.

[Transferred] (49071)

198
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the decision of the European Court of Justice that Air France received a £2 billion subsidy from the French government contrary to the Treaty of Rome.

[Transferred] (49072)

199
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many childminders are registered with each local authority in England; how many children aged (a) under five and (b) five to 11 years are cared for by registered childminders in each authority; and what was the average charge for each full-time place in each local authority area.

[Transferred] (48982)

200
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if his Department's review of the safe storage of radioactive waste takes into account the full cost of (a) reprocessing and (b) dry storage options.

[Transferred] (48977)