Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 9 July 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 9 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 Thursday 9 July, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Friday 10 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.

THURSDAY 9th JULY

1
N   Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for what reasons the publication of the Kennedy Report on quarantine regulations has been delayed; and if he will make a statement.

(49633)

2
   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the organisations (a) from which he has received representations and (b) which he has consulted which have as part or all of their remit the promotion of (i) biodiversity at the level of the farm, (ii) integrated crop management schemes and (iii) organic farming.

(50041)

3
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what meetings or other contacts (i) he, (ii) his Ministers and (iii) his special advisers and officials have had with representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; and what were the dates of such meetings or contacts, the names of the people involved and the subject matter of such exchanges.

(49735)

4
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many mink were transported from the mink factory farm at Ponteland, Northumberland on 6th July; to what location they were transported; how long they spent on the lorry which transported them; and if they were given food and water during the trip.

(49985)

5
   Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will place in the Library a copy of the instructions to his staff responsible for applying sections 40 to 49 of the Animal Health Act 1981 and any subordinate legislation made under the same sections of the Act.

(50047)

6
   Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to amend the arrangements his Department has for applying sections 40 to 49 of the Animal Health Act 1981 and any subordinate legislation made under the same sections of the Act; and if he will make a statement.

(50048)

7
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49532)

8
   Mr Robert Syms (Poole):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on the UK ports industry of the rise in the cost of licence fees for sea disposal of dredged material.

(49868)

9
   Mr Robert Syms (Poole):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what reasons underlay the further rise in the cost of licence fees for sea disposal of dredged material in England and Wales.

(49867)

10
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many, and what proportion of the total, of the explanatory leaflets issued by his Department's British Cattle Movement Service to livestock farmers were wrongly addressed; what representations he has made to the EU Standing Veterinary Committee on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

(49681)

11
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support was provided to Sir Richard Eyre by his Department for the preparation of his report on lyric theatre in London.

(49528)

12
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when (i) he, (ii) his Ministers and (iii) his special advisers have met representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at these meetings.

(49661)

13
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many officials from his Department worked on Sir Richard Eyre's report on lyric theatre in London; and what assistance they gave.

(49529)

14
N   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support he will give to outstanding sportsmen and sportswomen from the Eastern Region.

(49634)

15
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49533)

16
N   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on United Kingdom heavy lift capacity.

(49636)

17
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has made of the long-term effect on human health of short-term exposure to chlorine.

(49991)

18
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a list of the titles of the reports published in the Chemical Defence Establishment Technical Paper series which were produced as unclassified papers.

(50022)

19
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of British service personnel deployed to the Gulf in 1998 refused to take anti-anthrax injections; for what reasons such injections are currently voluntary; and if he plans to make such injections compulsory.

(50001)

20
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent research has been carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment to investigate whether short-term exposure to adamsite (DM) can cause long-term illnesses; when this research was carried out; and what were the results.

(49987)

21
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many research contracts and agreements in universities are currently being funded by the Atomic Weapons Establishment; what is the total value of these research projects; how many of these research projects are classified; and if he will list the universities at which these research projects are being funded.

(49990)

22
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has carried out to investigate the long-term human health effects of short-term exposure to 1-methoxycycloheptatriene (1-MCHT); when this research was carried out; and what were the conclusions.

(49989)

23
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many research contracts and agreements in universities are currently being funded by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment; what is the total value of these research projects; how many of these research projects are classified; and if he will list the universities at which these research projects are being funded.

(49986)

24
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has made of the effects of short-term exposure to phosgene.

(50023)

25
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research has been carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment to investigate whether short-term exposure to mustard gas can cause long-term illnesses; when this research was carried out; and what were the results.

(49995)

26
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the next inspection of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment by the Health and Safety Executive is planned to take place.

(49988)

27
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the meetings held by (a) himself, (b) his ministers and (c) special advisers in his Department with people outside the Government on (i) 30th June and (ii) 2nd July.

(49548)

28
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49537)

29
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49542)

30
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what restrictions are placed on political advisers in respect of use of their official position to further private interests or receive benefits from third parties.

(49656)

31
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish the findings and conclusions of the review undertaken by his Department of the Access Committee for England.

(49556)

32
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he expects all children in Gloucestershire schools to have ready access to the Internet; and if he will make a statement.

(50068)

33
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) head teachers, (b) deputy head teachers and (c) teachers, have taken early retirement in Gloucestershire Local Education Authority in the financial year 1997-98; and if he will make a statement.

(50066)

34
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much money local education authority schools in Gloucestershire have held in reserves (a) as a total amount and (b) as a percentage of the total available to be spent on schools, for the most recent five years for which records are available.

(50067)

35
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49541)

36
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards autistic children; and what guidelines his Department issues on the placing of autistic children in schools.

(49950)

37
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Department's letter of 19th March 1997, if he will make a statement on the case of Ayaz Sheikh of 4 Thorpewell, Leicester, date of birth 11th April 1986.

(49949)

38
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, on what occasions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his special advisers have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who attended such meetings; and what was discussed at them.

(49632)

39
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the effects that the introduction of three-year public spending limits will have on the establishment of a funding regime for work-based youth training which enables TECs to enter into longer term contracts with training providers.

(49951)

40
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 696, during which period is the wider set of cross-system and cross-site year 2000 validation tests for the NATS systems expected to take place.

(49864)

41
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 696, if he will make a statement on the progress of the independent audit of the NATS year 2000 activities.

(49865)

42
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 696, how many of the 99 NATS software items found to be Year 2000 non-compliant have been fixed; and what is the expected completion date for the fixing and testing of these changes.

(49863)

43
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what are the terms of reference and timescale of his Department's review of the Orange Badge Scheme.

(49553)

44
N   Mr Roger Casale (Wimbledon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the development proposals within London which he has called in since 1st May 1997 on the grounds of possible traffic generation, including for each (a) the total number of car parking spaces proposed and (b) the decision reached.

(49366)

45
N   Mr Roger Casale (Wimbledon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the development proposals within London where more than 50 car parking spaces are planned and where a decision to grant planning permission has yet to be reached, including for each (a) the total number of parking spaces proposed and (b) the London borough in which it is proposed.

(49367)

46
N   Mr Roger Casale (Wimbledon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what records are maintained by his Department on the extent of car parking provision associated with development proposals under consideration within the planning process in London.

(49368)

47
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of journeys to schools and further and higher education colleges in Cheltenham are made by (a) bicycle, (b) motor cycle and (c) car.

(50056)

48
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of journeys to schools and further higher education colleges in Gloucestershire by district, are made by (a) bicycle, (b) motor cycle and (c) car.

(50057)

49
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of journeys to work in Cheltenham are made by bicycle.

(50054)

50
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what funding his Department will be providing for local authority Safe Routes to School initiatives in Gloucestershire.

(50058)

51
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of journeys to work in Gloucestershire, by district, are made by bicycle.

(50055)

52
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Salisbury, dated 22nd May, about delays on the A316 in Twickenham.

(49873)

53
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the replacement of leaded petrol with the special grade of unleaded petrol containing lead substitutes will require adaptations to those engines in which it is used.

(50025)

54
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received from railway operating companies on the introduction of direct services from the regions to mainland Europe.

(49955)

55
   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 Virgin Rail's proposals to run Eurostar trains on a regional basis.

(49746)

56
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49539)

57
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce legislation to make it a legal requirement for employers of lorry drivers working overseas to be fully insured for accident and loss of life including the costs of returning bodies to the United Kingdom.

(49952)

58
   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the public capital expenditure on transport by English region on a per capita basis (a) for the last five years and (b) as a forecast for the next three years.

(49862)

59
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to encourage investment in United Kingdom shipping companies; and if he will make a statement.

(49947)

60
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on what occasions (a) he, (b) ministers in his Department and (c) his special advisers have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at these meetings.

(49550)

61
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the excess winter mortality rates in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Greater London and (f) Sutton and Cheam for each of the last five years in terms of (i) numbers and (ii) percentages for (1) those aged 65 to 80 years, (2) those aged over 80 years and (3) all ages.

(49552)

62
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the impact on the capital gains tax yield of the changes to the capital gains tax system set out in the Finance (No. 2) Bill in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

(49484)

63
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who will benefit from the application of the new taper relief for capital gains tax on the sale of second homes in each of the next 10 years.

(49518)

64
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates his Department has made of the cost to public funds of applying capital gains tax taper relief to the sale of second homes in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

(49517)

65
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was recovered by way of VAT in the last tax year in respect of grave memorial stones; and if he will make a statement.

(49752)

66
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the extra revenue arising from the increase in default interest for (a) late payment of VAT, (b) air passenger duty, (c) insurance premium tax and (d) landfill tax.

(49669)

67
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what level of excise duty he plans to levy on the special grade of unleaded petrol containing lead substitutes which will replace leaded petrol from 2000.

(50024)

68
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what occasions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his special advisers have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn or (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at the meetings.

(49670)

69
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49534)

70
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 6th July, Official Report, column 342, if he will assess the advantages of placing in the Library copies of the documents on the BNFL purchase of Westinghouse Nuclear with the commercially sensitive information removed.

(49871)

71
N   Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will publish his consultation paper on the North Sea fiscal regime; and if he will make a statement.

(49369)

72
   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, at what threshold and by what criteria the £3.8 billion government-guaranteed bonds for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link will count as public expenditure.

(49861)

73
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what attempts were made by Her Majesty's Government to amend Articles of the Ottawa Convention on Anti-Personnel Mines to permit British personnel to assist members of the armed forces of a state that is not a party to that convention to lay anti-personnel mines.

(49671)

74
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the Government's policy on classifying the use of landmines as a war crime.

(49673)

75
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what occasions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his special advisers have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed.

(49672)

76
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what indications have been received from the Nigerian Government regarding the timetable for (a) the release of political prisoners and (b) the restoration of democracy and human rights.

(49698)

77
   Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the draft EU-US Understanding on Cuba of 18th May will require EU countries not to encourage investment in property nationalised from Cuban nationals who subsequently acquired US nationality.

(50050)

78
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49536)

79
   Mr Michael Trend (Windsor):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of the sums, identified by the European Commission in document COM (98) 39 as being available for the information strategy for the euro in 1998, is planned to be spent in the UK.

(49757)

80
   Mr Michael Trend (Windsor):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many lecturers from the European Commission group Groupeuro have spoken in meetings in the United Kingdom; and what has been the cost to the EU budget.

(49756)

81
   Mr Michael Trend (Windsor):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the total cost of printing and distributing the information pack InfEuro.

(49760)

82
   Mr Michael Trend (Windsor):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what sums have been paid by the European Commission to the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe.

(49759)

83
   Mr Michael Trend (Windsor):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many television advertisements have been funded by EU institutions in 1998-99 to date; what has been their nature; what has been the estimated number of viewers in each EU country; and how much they have cost.

(49758)

84
   Mr Michael Trend (Windsor):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the total cost to (a) the United Kingdom Government and (b) the European Union institutions of hosting the European Council in Cardiff, indicating separately the costs of the organisation of (i) the Youth Summit and (ii) other events associated with the Council meeting.

(49755)

85
N   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Minister of State to Nigeria.

(49663)

86
N   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to visit Nigeria.

(49664)

87
N   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received from UK companies about Nigeria.

(49665)

88
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Southend West of 11th November 1997, Official Report, column 538, concerning bed blocking, when his Department plans to issue revised guidance on hospital discharge procedures.

(49571)

89
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each relevant NHS trust (a) the number of patient contacts with the chiropody service, (b) the number of chiropody staff employed and (c) total expenditure on community chiropody services in each of the last three years.

(49551)

90
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 10th July 1997, Official Report, column 586, if he will implement the recommendations contained in the Report, No Accounting for Health, from the Alzheimer's Disease Society.

(49570)

91
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 27th November 1997, Official Report, column 651, concerning the Winter Funding Initiative, what estimate he has made of the amount transferred to social services departments.

(49572)

92
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what factors led to the decision to cease funding the Access Committee for England.

(49555)

93
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston, of 27th January, Official Report, column 197, concerning additional winter support, what is his Department's estimate of the number of initiatives funded by winter pressures money; and how many of these initiatives continued after 31st March.

(49573)

94
N   Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action his Department is taking to discover methods of treatment for people who may be infected with new-variant CJD.

(49658)

95
N   Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what reports he has received regarding chemicals which can prevent the transmission of spongiform encephalopathies, with particular reference to (a) potentially new-variant CJD from blood transfusion and (b) CJD from growth hormone; what action his Department is taking to investigate the use of these chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

(49657)

96
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into possible links between breast cancer and pesticides containing Lindane.

(50060)

97
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49545)

98
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many telephone interceptions were authorised by his Department in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99 to date; and if he will make a statement.

(49696)

99
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend the training of lay magistrates prior to their sitting on the bench.

(49875)

100
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will give the total number and percentages of prison officers working with juveniles in young offender institutions and prisons by ethnic and religious background.

(49872)

101
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of his Department's officials and at what grades are currently processing asylum applications; and what were the equivalent figures in May 1997.

(49876)

102
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been (a) determined and (b) left outstanding in each of the last 18 months.

(49956)

103
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the percentage of probationary prison officers in each young offender institution in England.

(49874)

104
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 6th July, Office Report, columns 347-9, which of the initiatives listed were (a) initiated during the United Kingdom presidency and (b) in progress at the commencement of the United Kingdom presidency.

(49993)

105
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the meetings (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have had with lobbying companies since 1st May 1997.

(49668)

106
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the PFI contract awarded to UK Detention Services to build and operate a new prison in Agecroft, Salford, will be accounted for in the Government's accounts.

(49666)

107
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 16th June, Official Report, columns 173-4, on CS spray, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report arising out of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's literature review on possible alternative solvents at the end of 1997.

(49998)

108
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 16th June, Official Report, columns 173-4, on CS spray, if he will place in the Library a copy of the specification issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers on the purchase of CS sprays; and on what date this specification was issued.

(49999)

109
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many members of the Police Complaints Authority and staff have been assigned to investigate the shooting of Diarmuid O'Neill in each month since September 1996; and how many staff hours were expended each month.

(48366)

110
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the Police Complaints Authority to complete its investigation into the shooting of Diarmuid O'Neill; and when he expects the family will be notified of the full circumstances of his death.

(48367)

111
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the impact of recommendations contained in the Department of Health White Paper Changing Childbirth, on pregnant women in prison; what timetable for implementation of proposals in the White Paper was proposed by Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons; and what is the current timetable.

(48368)

112
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the conclusions and recommendations of the review evaluated by his Department into strip searching procedures; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(48369)

113
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to receive the first annual report of the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and if he will place it in the Library.

(48370)

114
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the terms of reference of the Race Relations Forum; how many staff of what grade are attached to it; what decisions were taken at its first meeting; and what is its postal address, telephone, fax number and E-mail address.

(48371)

115
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49540)

116
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements will be made to accommodate the local Probation Service and to provide its services in South Derbyshire, and at what cost, following the proposed closure of Swadlincote Magistrates Court.

(49747)

117
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49544)

118
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, on what dates (i) she,(ii) her Ministers and (iii) her special advisers have met representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at these meetings.

(49569)

119
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the (i) ethnic and (ii) religious background of (a) lay magistrates, (b) stipendary magistrates and (c) Recorders in (1) numerical and (2) percentage terms.

(49953)

120
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the meetings (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have had with lobbying companies since 1st May 1997.

(49667)

121
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the average length of time between charge and verdict for (a) all offenders and (b) young offenders, in each of the most recent five years for which records are available.

(50065)

122
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will take steps to ensure that copies of court transcripts are made available free of charge.

(49753)

123
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will take steps to allow members of the public to view court transcripts without charge.

(49754)

124
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, when (i) he and (ii) his special advisers have met representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at these meetings.

(49660)

125
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, on what dates since 1st May 1997 he has met representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations; and if he will make a statement.

(49675)

126
N   Mr Andrew MacKay (Bracknell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when (i) she, (ii) her Ministers and (iii) her special advisers met representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at these meetings.

(49662)

127
   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures she proposes to take to improve the standards of health services for people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland.

(49978)

128
   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress is being made in assisting the further development of the Ulster-Scots language.

(49982)

129
   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if her Department will conduct an investigation into the number and thoroughness of safety checks made by Northern Ireland Railways; and if she will make a statement.

(49980)

130
   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her Answer of 15th June, Official Report, columns 4-5, what is the exact remit of the major research project on the effects of the selective system on secondary education in Northern Ireland.

(49997)

131
   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans she has to transfer responsibility for decisions regarding the future of hospitals in Northern Ireland to the new Northern Ireland Assembly.

(49983)

132
   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if students from Northern Ireland holding British-Irish dual nationality will have their fourth-year fees waived if they attend a Scottish institution of higher education.

(49984)

133
   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what actions the Department of Environment is taking to acquire additional funding for Northern Ireland Railways under the Private Finance Initiative.

(49979)

134
   Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures the Department of Health and Social Services is taking to ensure that equipment in general practitioner surgeries will be millennium compliant by 31st December.

(49981)

135
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will make it her policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49535)

136
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the President of the Council, what proposals she plans to make regarding the ability of honourable Members to ask questions of Ministers on matters that have been devolved to the National Assembly of Wales following the election of the Assembly.

(49711)

137
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Prime Minister, from which organisations Government departments seek advice on access issues.

(49554)

138
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Prime Minister, what meetings he had with the Chief of the Defence Staff between 25th June and 2nd July; and if the meetings were at the request of the Chief of the Defence Staff.

(49549)

139
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will establish a Royal Commission to consider reform of the House of Lords.

(49749)

140
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will ensure that the Council of the Isles includes representation from all the English regions.

(49750)

141
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the business relationships notified to him by Mr Roger Liddle.

(49655)

142
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) him and (ii) civil servants at No. 10 Downing Street and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49543)

143
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Prime Minister, what matters relating to radioactive releases from Sellafield were discussed with his Norwegian counterpart on 6th July; and what conclusions were reached.

(49748)

144
   Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):    To ask the Prime Minister, what proposals he has to vary the number of Welsh Office Ministers, and the remuneration of these Ministers, to reflect their reduced responsibilities when the Welsh Assembly is established.

(50000)

145
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many telephone interceptions were authorised by his Department in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99 to date; and if he will make a statement.

(49697)

146
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which languages other than English may be offered for examination in Standard Grade, Highers and Advanced Highers as proposed.

(49870)

147
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what meetings (i) he and (ii) his Ministers have held since 1st May 1997 with representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations; and if he will make a statement.

(49700)

148
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many applications for undergraduate degree courses there have been in the current year to each university in Scotland from pupils attending schools (a) in England, (b) in Wales, (c) in Northern Ireland (d) outside the UK but within the EU and (e) outside the EU.

(49710)

149
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he proposes to take in order to provide assistance for petrol stations in rural Scotland.

(49705)

150
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate the cost in terms of lost business rate revenue of granting all petrol stations in rural Scottish communities with a population of 3,000 or less 100 per cent. business rate relief.

(49702)

151
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many undergraduates are currently at each Scottish university who are ordinarily resident in England and what is this figure as a percentage of the total undergraduate population in each university.

(49706)

152
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many current undergraduates at each university in Scotland attended (a) Eton College, (b) Wellington College, (c) Charterhouse and (d) Westminster school, as part of their secondary education.

(49708)

153
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what, at each university in Scotland, is the current number of undergraduates who are ordinarily resident in England whose secondary school was (a) a public or private school, (b) a grant-maintained or grammar school, (c) a local authority comprehensive school and (d) another type of school.

(49707)

154
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many petrol stations are eligible for rates relief under the terms of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997.

(49701)

155
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many applications for undergraduate degree courses there have been in the current year to each university in Scotland from pupils at (a) Eton College, (b) Wellington College, (c) Charterhouse and (d) Westminster school.

(49709)

156
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate (a) the average rates bill paid by petrol stations in rural communities in Scotland with a population of 3,000 or less and (b) this figure as a percentage of their total operating costs.

(49704)

157
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many petrol stations have (a) applied for and (b) received rates relief under the terms of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997.

(49703)

158
   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to include environmental duties and a commitment to sustainable development in the remit of the Scottish Tourist Board.

(49743)

159
   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will ensure that the Scottish Tourist Board helps to promote sustainable development and biodiversity in Scotland.

(49742)

160
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49531)

161
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, whether the preserved right benefits of persons living in independent sector residential homes can be reduced as a result of topping up payments from a local authority; and what plans she has to change the current rules.

(49996)

162
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what representations the Government has made to the German government concerning the issue of pension rights for United Kingdom pensioners who as children were stripped of German nationality and transported to the United Kingdom prior to World War II.

(49751)

163
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what occasions (a) she, (b) her Ministers and (c) her Department's special advisers have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed.

(49674)

164
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on the timescale for the introduction of child maintenance premium.

(49992)

165
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, in which month and year the fieldwork began on each of the main reviews of benefits carried out by BA Security; and in which month and year in each case the report on the methodology and findings of the benefit review was (a) presented to Ministers and (b) published.

(48810)

166
   Mr James Plaskitt (Warwick and Leamington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proposals she has for reassessing arrears on payments when the proposed new formula for maintenance payments takes effect.

(49744)

167
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will estimate the cost of uprating to 1998 prices the £10 Christmas bonus as originally introduced on the basis of providing it (a) to all pensioners, (b) to pensioners other than higher rate taxpayers and (c) to pensioners other than standard and higher rate taxpayers.

(49954)

168
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make it her policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49546)

169
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will take steps to require listed companies to disclose their plans for the millennium compliance of their computer systems and associated contingency plans; and if she will make a statement.

(50049)

170
N   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she expects to meet representatives of the gas exploration industry to discuss proposals set out in the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation consultation document.

(49635)

171
   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many bids have been received for the third round of the Joint Research Equipment Initiative.

(49944)

172
   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how much public money has been allocated to date to the Joint Research Equipment Initiative; how much more will be allocated; and what is the planned limit for public contributions.

(49946)

173
   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she expects to announce the results of the third round of the Joint Research Equipment Initiative.

(49945)

174
N   Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many reports on the nuclear industry are currently being withheld for reasons of commercial confidentiality under section 28b of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; and if she will list their titles.

(49475)

175
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what steps she is taking to discourage car use on departmental business by her Department's employees.

(50063)

176
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the current energy consumption of her Department; what targets have been set to reduce this level to a minimum; and what plans there are for including energy efficiency performance figures in her Department's annual report.

(50062)

177
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what percentage of her Department's waste is recycled at present; and what targets there are for increasing this in the future.

(50061)

178
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what efforts she is making to raise awareness of environmental and sustainable issues within her Department; and if specific training will be made available to staff where appropriate.

(50059)

179
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what environmental activities her Green Minister has undertaken since being appointed.

(50064)

180
   Mr James Plaskitt (Warwick and Leamington):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to review the Overhead Lines (Exemptions) Regulations 1990 and their interrelationship with normal planning regulations.

(49745)

181
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will make it her policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49538)

182
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if she will seek the permission of the former President of the Board of Trade, the Right honourable Member for Henley, to consult the inspector's report into the conduct of Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare in respect of share dealing.

(49547)

183
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, on what occasions (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in her Department have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; who their representatives were; and what were the topics of discussions.

(49659)

184
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions (i) he, (ii) his special adviser and (iii) his Ministers have held with representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(49699)

185
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make it his policy to (a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) Ministers and (ii) civil servants and (b) publish details of such contacts.

(49530)

186
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd July, Official Report, column 292, for what reasons substantive replies were not given to earlier questions by the honourable Member for Blaenau Gwent on Gwent Tertiary College, prior to the establishment of the two investigations.

(49866)

187
N   Helen Southworth (Warrington South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has for providing appropriate information services as part of the National Childcare Strategy.

[Question Unstarred] (48111)

188
   Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Newport West of 22nd July 1997, Official Report, column 530, who is carrying out the research into the effects of low-level exposure to organophosphate pesticides on human health; where this research is being carried out; what is the total value of the funding; and if the Chemical Defence Establishment put in a proposal and bid for this research funding.

[Transferred] (49994)

189
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the average housing benefit paid to households in Cheltenham for (a) local authority properties, (b) housing association properties and (c) privately rented accommodation.

[Transferred] (50051)

190
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many households in Cheltenham have been affected by the restriction of council tax benefit on properties in Band F and above.

[Transferred] (50052)

191
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has to equalise the rate of housing benefit for all tenures.

[Transferred] (50053)

192
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what has been the financial contribution to date of the Knowhow Fund in developing a bakery training school at St. Petersburg, Russia; and how much further funding is currently planned.

[Transferred] (49948)

193
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when she estimates the Part-Time Workers Directive will take effect in the UK.

[Transferred] (49869)