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 23 July 1998

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

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Friday 24 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 23rd JULY

1
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which EU countries permit the use of drift nets.

(52055)

2
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his letter 114760 of 26th June, when he expects the ACMSF to report on factors which determine the presence of salmonella contamination in or on eggs.

(50645)

3
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 9th July, Official Report, column 628, if he will list where the (a) seminars and (b) other meetings on the Rural England White Paper took place; and which organisations and individuals attended on each occasion.

(51477)

4
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what safeguards exist to prevent the entry of identified TB infected cattle into the human food chain; and if he will make a statement.

(52104)

5
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the total cost to the EU of subsidies for tobacco production in the EU per individual member state for the most recent five years for which figures are available.

(52106)

6
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the potential loss of native-breed, semi-feral horse bloodlines; and what plans he has to introduce a compulsory register for all equines.

(52101)

7
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research his Department is conducting into the possible link between the use of organophosphates and the spread of BSE; and if he will make a statement.

(52108)

8
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what factors underlay the decision not to include the Forest of Dean as an area to receive part of the £11 million grant to farmers involved in tourism.

(52043)

9
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 1st June, Official Report, column 48, when he expects the survey on the profile of officers in governing bodies to be published.

(51789)

10
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much the English Sports Council has received in grant-in-aid for 1997-98; how much money was awarded to women's governing bodies of sport in 1997-98; and how much money was provided at (i) national and (ii) regional level for projects exclusively or primarily concerned with the development of women's sport.

(51779)

11
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made towards increasing the involvement of women in traditionally male-dominated sports at (a) participant, (b) competitor, (c) coach and (d) administrator levels.

(51781)

12
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures he is taking to promote the public profile of professional women athletes.

(51783)

13
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the subject of promoting the health benefits of sport to females of all ages; and what action has subsequently been taken.

(51785)

14
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Minister for Women on the subject of women and sport; and what action has subsequently been taken.

(51787)

15
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many meetings (a) he and (b) the Minister for Sport have had with women's sport groups since 1st May 1997.

(51788)

16
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what specific plans have been made to cater for the needs of women in sport within the UK Sports Institute.

(51778)

17
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of Lottery money has been apportioned to women's sport groups since 1st May 1997.

(51780)

18
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to encourage more women to take part in sport; and what funding is available to encourage women's participation in sport at each level.

(51782)

19
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures he is taking to ensure that the objectives of the 1994 Brighton Declaration on women in sport are being met.

(51784)

20
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on the subject of increasing sporting opportunities for girls in schools; and what action has subsequently been taken.

(51786)

21
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the Government's plans for the future of Kneller Hall; and what recent discussions have taken place on this subject.

(51598)

22
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Royal Military School of Music's future occupancy of Kneller Hall.

(51600)

23
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will hold an investigation into HMS 'Vanguard's' recent training exercise in the Celtic Deep; and if he will make a statement.

(52215)

24
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the (a) WE177 and (b) Chevaline warhead dismantling programme is expected to be completed.

(52250)

25
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduced warhead production programme on radioactive emissions from AWE, Aldermaston.

(52212)

26
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if each missile on board Trident submarines will carry the same number of warheads; and if he will make a statement.

(52217)

27
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on his consultations with the chiefs of staff on the treatment of homosexuals in the armed forces.

(52218)

28
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the deployment plans for Trident under the Strategic Defence Review include warheads assigned to a sub-strategic role.

(52216)

29
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the (i) minimum and (ii) maximum range of the Trident missile as deployed in accordance with the plans announced in the Strategic Defence Review.

(52213)

30
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on allegations of (a) harassment, (b) breach of contract and (c) sexual discrimination concerning staff in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.

(52046)

31
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what redundancies have (a) taken place and (b) are pending in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.

(52045)

32
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the qualifications held by senior civil servants which are relevant to their duties in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.

(52047)

33
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Report, column 7, if he will make a statement on the medical career and research background of Professor Glyn Lewis.

(52064)

34
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will announce to Parliament the results of his review of death sentences carried out in the Great War prior to the 80th anniversary of the Armistice on 11th November 1999.

(51860)

35
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions permission has been (a) granted, (b) deferred and (c) refused to lift submarines on the shiplift at Faslane; and if he will make a statement.

(52167)

36
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the compensation claim by Blue Circle International for contamination of their land adjacent to AWE, Aldermaston.

(52159)

37
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which two hunter-killer submarines are to be retired as a result of the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.

(52182)

38
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many days each of Britain's Trident submarines has spent on patrol in each of the last four years.

(52168)

39
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures are being taken to maintain a minimum capability to design and produce a successor to Trident should this prove necessary; and what the estimated annual cost of this commitment will be.

(52165)

40
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he list the facilities intended to be decommissioned at AWE Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement on progress in decommissioning each of these facilities.

(52163)

41
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of AWE running costs for 1997-98 into (a) staff costs, (b) waste management and disposal, (c) research and development, (d) production and dismantlement, (e) construction costs and (f) payments to Hunting BRAE.

(52170)

42
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many crews are assigned to each of the four Trident submarines; and if he will make a statement.

(52161)

43
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the total amount of radioactive waste to be generated as a result of decommissioning operations at AWE Aldermaston; how much of this waste is intended to be stored on-site; and what the total estimated cost of decommissioning will be.

(52164)

44
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the reasons for the payments made to the US government under the heading Trident Refit Feasibility Study; and if he will list the total amount to be paid for this item.

(52166)

45
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place the annual report on the Progress of the Trident Programme in the Library.

(52181)

46
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on Anglo-French nuclear co-operation.

(52186)

47
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Trident would be used.

(52178)

48
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the yields and total amounts in the British stockpile of the WE177 nuclear warhead.

(52188)

49
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what British involvement there is in the US SLBM Warhead Protection Programme.

(52177)

50
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when it is intended to roll-out the fourth Trident submarine.

(52183)

51
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on decommissioning operations at (a) AWE, Foulness and (b) AWE, Cardiff.

(52158)

52
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the amount paid in each year since 1993 to Hunting BRAE Ltd for managing the atomic weapons establishments.

(52171)

53
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress to date in dismantling WE177 and Chevaline warheads.

(52179)

54
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to recycle the nuclear material extracted from retired nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement.

(52169)

55
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of fitting each nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine with Tomahawk missiles.

(52172)

56
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list each incident involving (a) radioactive and (b) toxic material at (i) AWE Burghfield and (ii) AWE Aldermaston in the last five years.

(52162)

57
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what British involvement there is in the US W87 Life Extension Program.

(52187)

58
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the plutonium contamination incident at AWE, Aldermaston on 15th December 1997; and if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's reports on this incident.

(52160)

59
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the yields, amount deployed per missile and total amount in the British stockpile of the Chevaline nuclear warhead.

(52185)

60
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what duties were performed by Colonel Andrew Gale whilst on service in West Africa.

(52030)

61
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what duties were performed by Lieutenant Colonel Peter Hicks whilst on service in West Africa.

(52031)

62
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what duties were performed by the military liaison officer deployed to Sierra Leone and Conakry in 1997.

(52029)

63
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what duties were performed by the military intelligence liaison officer deployed to Conakry and Sierra Leone in 1998.

(52028)

64
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what duties were performed by the Defence Attache� in Accra and accredited also to Sierra Leone in 1997-98.

(52027)

65
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children in England he estimates are currently taught in private schools.

(52088)

66
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what funding is provided for in-post IT training and updating for education professionals in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) further and higher education; and if he will make a statement.

(52102)

67
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what measures his Department is taking to improve IT access for disabled children and those with learning difficulties in Gloucestershire.

(52100)

68
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what measures his Department is taking to support dyslexic children in Gloucestershire in respect of (a) specialist training and (b) IT projects.

(52103)

69
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on (a) progress towards the adoption by universities and other relevant institutions and agencies of the guidelines for post graduate studies published in December 1996 by the Higher Education Quality Council and (b) proposals for monitoring the application of those guidelines.

(52230)

70
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what savings have resulted from the change to 60:40 GEEST funding to the Standards Fund for Cumbria.

(52209)

71
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to increase the level of literacy and numeracy among adults in Cumbria.

(52219)

72
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many sixth form colleges there are; how many there were in 1992; when the most recent one was opened; what mechanism exists to establish further colleges; and if he will make a statement.

(52257)

73
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the co-operation between his Department and the Department for Education and Employment on the combined universities in Cornwall.

(52206)

74
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of funds raised by local authorities from proposals in the White Paper on transport will be available for reinvestment in local transport plans.

(51976)

75
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to paragraph 3.210 of the White Paper, A New Deal for Transport, if the duty given to the Strategic Rail Authority to consider rail access to major ports will encompass Newhaven.

(51947)

76
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the rail investment proposals within the White Paper, A New Deal for Transport, will provide for the reopening of disused rail lines.

(51967)

77
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will seek to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to introduce a statutory closed season on hare hunting.

(51972)

78
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to paragraph 4.107 of the White Paper, A New Deal for Transport, if Westminster City Council will be empowered to levy charges for workplace parking within the Parliamentary Estate.

(51953)

79
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what will be the dates of the consultation process relating to the implementation of proposals set out in the White Paper on transport.

(51977)

80
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to publish draft legislation relating to the creation of a strategic rail authority.

(51945)

81
N   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the water quality in the rivers Drone and Rother; and if he will make a statement.

(51847)

82
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the meetings held between Ministers in his Department and the House Builders Federation in the last six months and the dates of those meetings.

(52266)

83
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the use of economic instruments to make it more attractive to develop new housing on recycled land.

(52265)

84
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into future trends in cohabitation; and how such trends will be taken into account in the next set of household projections.

(52263)

85
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the traffic generating effects of smaller new settlements.

(52264)

86
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of the increases in education spending will be financed by (a) revenue support grant, (b) business rates, (c) council taxes and (d) reductions in other services for each of the next three years; and what estimate he has made of the average cumulative increase in council tax over each of the next three years to pay for education spending increases.

(51599)

87
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he has taken to discourage car use by his Department's employees.

(51824)

88
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what activities his Green Minister has undertaken relating to his environmental responsibilities since being appointed.

(51828)

89
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of his Department's waste is recycled at present; and what targets he has set for the future.

(51826)

90
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the current energy consumption is of his Department; what targets have been set to reduce this level; and what plans there are for including energy efficiency performance figures in his Department's annual report.

(51825)

91
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what efforts he has made to raise awareness of environmental and sustainable issues within his Department; and if specific training will be made available to staff where appropriate.

(51827)

92
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance he has issued on the protection to be provided to sewage workers at Silchester in respect of emissions from Aldermaston.

(52214)

93
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if local authorities will be able to levy the proposed new parking charge on workplace parking on employees of (a) government departments, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies, (d) NHS health authorities and trusts, (e) local authorities and (f) TECs.

(52231)

94
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the proposals for noise mitigation measures on existing trunk roads in rural areas in the White Paper, A New Deal for Transport.

(52251)

95
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much his Department has provided or will provide for local authority Transport Policies and Programme bids in each of the years from 1997-98 to 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

(51952)

96
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much his Department has spent or will spend on road construction and maintenance in each of the years from 1997-98 to 2005-06; and if he will break down the total for each year to account for (i) strategic motorway and trunk road construction, (ii) by pass schemes and (iii) motorway and trunk road maintenance.

(51948)

97
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement about the issues raised at the special consultative meeting of motorcyclists at his Department on 25th November 1997.

(52018)

98
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the role of commuter motorcycling as an aid to reducing pollution and congestion in urban areas.

(52020)

99
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to establish a Motorcycle Startegy Group to consider the role of motorcycling within an integrated transport policy.

(52038)

100
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the recent trends in accident deaths among motorcyclists aged over 25 years in rural areas.

(52019)

101
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of motorcycle accidents in urban areas are caused by other road users; and if he will assess ways of modifying the car driving test to take into account motorcycle awareness.

(52025)

102
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make representations to the Corporation of London to introduce loading bays specifically for the use of motorcycle couriers in the City of London.

(52022)

103
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to paragraph 2.36 of the Comprehensive Spending Review and to the Transport White Paper, if he will estimate what revenues will be raised from (i) charges on parking spaces and (ii) charges for road access or congestion charges, in each of the years 1998-99 to 2005-06.

(51950)

104
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the consultation document on amending the requirement for learner motorcyclists to face a one year ban if they fail to pass their motorcycle riding test within two years of receiving their provisional licence.

(52021)

105
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the North Yorkshire Police Bikesafe 2000 scheme.

(51973)

106
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much his Department will provide or has provided to local authorities for road maintenance in each of the years from 1997-98 to 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

(51949)

107
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will widen the exemption on red route loading bays to allow the delivery and collection of goods by motorcycle couriers and other light delivery vehicles.

(52023)

108
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent representations he has received about the performance of Virgin rail services on (a) the West Coast Mainline and (b) cross country routes; and if he will make a statement.

(51907)

109
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on road safety in (a) Staffordshire and (b) the West Midlands Region.

(51905)

110
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received regarding the proximity of wind turbines to bridleways and other public rights of way and their impact on equine welfare.

(52097)

111
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of amending PPG 22 to introduce a minimum required distance between windfarms and bridleways and other public rights of way.

(52098)

112
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals his Department has to improve the environmental performance of the quarrying industry.

(52051)

113
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the cover offered by the Coastguard Maritime Rescue Centre at Liverpool in the event of a major emergency occurring off the Cumbrian Coast.

(52224)

114
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the estimated cost up to 2002 of complying with water quality standards (a) which are required by United Kingdom and EU statutes and (b) which are outlined as desirable in the Environment Agency's paper, A Price Worth Paying.

(52210)

115
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the Environment Agency's paper, A Price Worth Paying.

(52211)

116
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the total compensation payments paid to construction consortia involved in Design, Build, Finance and Operate road schemes postponed as a result of the Integrated Transport Review.

(52091)

117
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 29th June, Official Report, column 77, if he will list the consortia involved in the Weald and Downland Design, Build, Finance and Operate Project indicating the nature of the compensation payments still under consideration.

(52090)

118
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the total figure for compensation payments to the consortia involved in the Weald and Downland Design, Build, Finance and Operate Project.

(52092)

119
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what contingency plans he has to finance London Underground in the event that his public/private partnership plans are not in place by 2000-01.

(52175)

120
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to reach a decision on legislation to deal with the height of leylandii trees and other high garden hedges in domestic gardens.

(52256)

121
   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, under what statutory power a highway authority can grant licences for (a) advertising structures, (b) other structures and (c) private street signs, promoting (i) commercial and (ii) sectional interest (1) in, (2) on and (3) under land having (A) public highway and (B) trunk road status.

(52233)

122
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what environmental requirements will be built into the public service agreements between the Treasury and other government departments; and if he will make a statement.

(51975)

123
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the advantages of exempting commuter motorcylces from vehicle excise duty under the forthcoming review of vehicle excise duty rates.

(52024)

124
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assumptions about Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment are incorporated in (a) the Treasury and (b) the Bank of England model of the economy; and how they have been changed in the last 10 years.

(52156)

125
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assumptions about the relative shares of GDP going to (a) wages and (b) profits are incorporated into the Treasury model of the economy; what are the shares presently allocated; and how they have changed over the last 10 years.

(52155)

126
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the planned entitlement criteria for the disabled persons tax credit.

(51983)

127
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how his Department plans to structure review and appeals procedures under the disabled persons tax credit.

(51978)

128
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how changes of circumstance affecting the claimants eligibility will be accounted for in the administration of the disabled persons tax credit.

(51985)

129
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money his Department plans to invest in information campaigns for the disabled persons tax credit; and how information campaigns will be targeted.

(51991)

130
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the capital owned by (a) the disabled claimant and (b) their partner will be taken into account for the purposes of calculating the disabled persons tax credit.

(51986)

131
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures his Department is taking to ensure the disabled persons tax credit functions as an incentive to move from out of work benefits into work.

(51984)

132
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what anti-fraud strategies are being assessed in the design of the disabled persons tax credit.

(51987)

133
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the disabled persons tax credit will be directly accessible for people moving from (a) the New Deal for Sick and Disabled people and (b) incapacity benefit.

(51982)

134
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Department plans to ensure the confidentiality of applicants for the disabled persons tax credit with respect to their employers.

(51980)

135
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultation has taken place between his Department and disability organisations regarding the disabled persons tax credit.

(51981)

136
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the passporting features of disability working allowance on to other benefits, are planned to be retained under the disabled persons tax credit.

(51979)

137
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the income of claimants' partners will be considered for the purposes of calculating the disabled persons tax credit.

(51988)

138
   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st July, Official Report, column 463, from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the loss of revenue incurred by reducing VAT on the refurbishment of 415,000 dwellings to 5 per cent.

(52157)

139
   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been the cost of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EU since British accession.

(52232)

140
N   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his announcement on the Comprehensive Spending Review, Official Report, columns 187-211, if he will publish a table listing expenditure on science, research and development for each Government department and the total for (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01 and (d) 2001-02.

(51846)

141
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the examination of the Algerian Government's report on civil and political rights which will be considered by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on 20th and 21st July in Geneva.

(51845)

142
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the mandate of the United Nations Secretary General's six person special mission to Algeria.

(51843)

143
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the findings of the United Nation's Secretary General's special mission to Algeria will be published by the United Nations.

(51844)

144
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he intends to upgrade diplomatic relations between Britain and Iran; and what plans there are for ministerial visits to Iran.

(51992)

145
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards (a) integration and (b) free association of Gibraltar with the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(51966)

146
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals he is planning to put forward for the Vienna Summit; and if these will include the idea of a second Chamber for the European Parliament.

(51993)

147
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to consult local authorities on the future location of GCHQ.

(52205)

148
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the counter-drug agreement between the US and the UK signed in Washington on 13th July.

(51881)

149
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 20th July, Official Report, column 397, if he will now make representations to the Syrian government in support of the French government's application to extradite Alo��s Brunner on war crime charges.

(51946)

150
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on changes to his Department's policy and practice on the maintenance of diplomatic representation with de facto governments, following the deposition of a democratic government.

(51876)

151
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions since 1968 a United Kingdom ambassador or high commissioner has followed a deposed democratic leader or government into exile.

(51861)

152
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who authorised, and for what purpose, Britain's High Commissioner to Sierra Leone to accompany the Kabbah government into exile following the military coup.

(51877)

153
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects to publish the report of the Legg Inquiry

(52007)

154
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on UK relations with Fiji.

(52058)

155
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the current budget for the British Consulate in Fiji; what is the proposed budget for the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(52060)

156
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the level of British Government assistance to Fiji; and what plans he has to increase the level of support.

(52057)

157
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what official representations the British Government has made to the Government of Somalia regarding that Government's non-ratification of the UN Covenant on the Rights of the Child; and on what dates.

(52032)

158
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what official representations the British Government has made to the government of the United States of America regarding that government's non-ratification of the UN Convenant on the Rights of the Child; and on what dates.

(52026)

159
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when Mr Peter Bleach first requested information of Her Majesty's Government, to clarify issues relating to his capital charge in Calcutta; and when the required information was sent.

(51879)

160
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each county the expenditure on ambulance services in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99 (i) as a percentage of total health spending and (ii) in cash terms.

(52207)

161
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representation he has received during the last 12 months on head lice; and what assessment he has made of current trends in the incidence of head lice in children of primary school age.

(50766)

162
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hysterectomies were carried out in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were carried out for fibroids alone.

(52067)

163
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deaths have occurred in (a) England and (b) Wales in the past five years caused by the use of (i) heroin and (ii) methadone.

(50502)

164
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will assess the recommendations of the Fowler Report, A Call for a More Effective Policy on Smoking Cessation and the Use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy; and if he will make a statement.

(52044)

165
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients died in hospitals, and from what causes, in the latest year for which figures are available.

(52248)

166
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many HIV positive patients have not been admitted to HIV wards in Hampshire for lack of an available bed in the last five years.

(52226)

167
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the percentage change in the number of HIV positive cases has been over the last five years.

(52225)

168
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the percentage change in the number of HIV positive cases in the next five years.

(52228)

169
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds there are in HIV wards in the Portsmouth area.

(52227)

170
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost of including staff employed by general practitioner co-operatives in the NHS pension scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(51790)

171
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultants from ethnic minorities retired from the NHS in each of the last three years; and how many of these were receiving discretionary merit awards at the time of retirement.

(51777)

172
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department is currently providing to initiatives to tackle (a) under age smoking, (b) teenage smoking and (c) passive smoking.

(52154)

173
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each of the past 10 years the amounts paid out in compensation by Shropshire Health Authority in negligence claims.

(52221)

174
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many babies were born with meningitis as a result of the mother carrying the Group B streptococcus bacteria in each of the last three years.

(52039)

175
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research has been carried out to determine the percentage of women who could be possible carriers of Group B streptococcus.

(52041)

176
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will carry out a comparative cost analysis of conducting a standard urine test for all pregnant mothers to detect Group B streptococcus and the cost of treatment for babies born with meningitis.

(52040)

177
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if a standard urine test is carried out for all pregnant women to determine if they are Group B streptococcus carriers.

(52042)

178
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will investigate the factors underlying the response time performance of Derbyshire Ambulance NHS Trust in 1997-98.

(52107)

179
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the costs incurred by each ambulance trust in England, the total number of patient journeys made by each trust, and the unit costs of each journey in 1997-98.

(52105)

180
N   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of allegations of involuntary euthanasia by (a) hospital staff and (b) general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

(51904)

181
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the planned date for the introduction of the integrated caseworking system in the Immigration and Nationality Department; what problems have been encountered in relation to the supporting technology and software for the system; what was the original estimated cost of introducing the system; what is the revised estimated cost of introduction; and if he will make a statement.

(51601)

182
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons are currently held at HMP Wormwood Scrubs following their conviction for offences contrary to (a) Section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 and (b) Section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

(51604)

183
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what projections have been made of the number of asylum applications to be (a) determined and (b) refused by his Department in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000, (iv) the financial year 1998-99 and (v) the financial year 1999-2000.

(51606)

184
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the immigration-related applications for leave to move for judicial review in 1996-97 were (a) asylum-related and (b) non-asylum related.

(51611)

185
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-asylum immigration appeals have been (a) received by his Department, (b) sent to the Immigration Appeals Authority and (c) determined by the Immigration Appeals Authority in each month of 1998; and how many such appeals are currently awaiting hearing by adjudicators of the Immigration Appeals Authority.

(51613)

186
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons were arrested at (a) Heathrow airport and (b) other United Kingdom airports for offences contrary to (i) Section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 or (ii) Section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, in (1) 1995-96, (2) 1996-97 and (3) 1997-98.

(51603)

187
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for asylum were determined by his Department in each month of 1998; and with what result.

(51605)

188
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the adjournment of asylum and immigration appeals.

(51609)

189
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many appeals against a refusal of asylum have been (a) received by his Department, (b) sent to the Immigration Appeals Authority and (c) determined by the Immigration Appeals Authority in each month of 1998; and how many such appeals are currently awaiting hearing by special adjudicators of the Immigration Appeals Authority.

(51612)

190
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women have been sentenced to imprisonment in England and Wales in each of the last five years for offences relating to (i) physical abuse of children, (ii) sexual abuse towards children, (iii) manslaughter of a child and (iv) murder of a child under the age of five years.

(52089)

191
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners are currently serving a prison sentence of over five years having been charged with (a) violent and (b) non-violent offences.

(52049)

192
   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will assess the factors underlying the differences between the number of police officers per 1,000 population in Birmingham and Coventry.

(52109)

193
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of introducing a central system of national recognition for young people; and what plans he has to introduce such a system.

(52095)

194
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the progress of pilot schemes based on the Duluth model for dealing with domestic violence; and if a timetable has been set for reporting on the outcome of such pilot schemes.

(52229)

195
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people whose convictions have been quashed over each of the last five years have (a) applied for and (b) received compensation.

(52096)

196
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been paid during each of the last five years in compensation to persons wrongly convicted; and what was (a) the highest, (b) the lowest and (c) the average sum awarded.

(52099)

197
N   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what access the South Wales fire authority has had to the reports and assessments made available to his Department by Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services on the proposed closures of the Bargoed Fire Station.

(52017)

198
N   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list those to whom his Department has sent Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services' report on the proposed closure of the Bargoed Fire Station.

(52016)

199
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many clerical errors have been identified in the information sent to Calcutta in relation to the trial of Mr Peter Bleach; and if he will make a statement.

(51880)

200
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions Mr Peter Bleach met officials of Her Majesty's Government and its agencies in relation to the issue of arms exports; and on what dates and where.

(51878)

201
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has provided to Fiji in terms of (a) healthcare provision, (b) education facilities and (c) information technology in the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(52053)

202
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on her Department's contingency planning to assist in the aftermath of natural disasters in the South Pacific region.

(52052)

203
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects her Department has sponsored in Fiji over the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

(52054)

204
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Papua New Guinea.

(51903)

205
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many asylum and immigration appeals were adjourned in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997; and what proportion of these adjournments were a consequence of (a) an application by the appellant, (b) an application by his Department and (c) other reasons.

(51608)

206
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what international comparisons he has made on the availability of legal aid for representation at asylum appeal hearings.

(51610)

207
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what projections have been made of the number of (a) asylum and (b) immigration appeals to be heard and determined by the Immigration Appeals Authority in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000, (iv) the financial year 1998-99 and (v) the financial year 1999-2000.

(51616)

208
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many further appeals to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal against a refusal of asylum were awaiting a hearing on (a) 31st December 1996, (b) 31st December 1997 and (c) 30th June 1998.

(51602)

209
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what international comparisons his Department has made of the availability of legal aid for representation at (a) asylum appeal hearings and (b) non-asylum immigration appeal hearings.

(51614)

210
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to increase the number of (a) adjudicators and (b) special adjudicators employed by the Immigration Appeals Authority during the financial year (i) 1998-99 and (ii) 1999-2000.

(51615)

211
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proportion of (a) asylum and (b) immigration appeals were determined on the basis of the papers only in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998 to date.

(51607)

212
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, when he last travelled by train on official business.

(51970)

213
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what is his policy on (a) receiving representations from lobbying companies, (b) initiating meetings with lobbying companies and (c) passing on representations made by lobbying companies.

(51969)

214
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will list the overseas visits he has undertaken at public expense since 1st January, indicating the purpose of each visit.

(51974)

215
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, if he will list the speeches he has made since 1st May, indicating their dates and audience; and if he will place copies in the Library.

(51971)

216
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, what is the nature of the representations he has made in respect of the proposed Freedom of Information White Paper.

(51968)

217
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to his Answer of 17th July, Official Report, column 316, on the Millennium Experience, what incentives he offers to individuals, companies or other organisations to sponsor zones within the Millennium Dome which are not available to the New Millennium Experience Company; what is the minimum monetary commitment required of them; and when that has to be made available to the New Millennium Experience Company.

(52176)

218
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the level of expertise in community policing held by members of the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland from (a) South Africa, (b) New York and (c) Toronto.

(52223)

219
N   Mr Terry Davis (Birmingham, Hodge Hill):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library the latest information bulletin on the activities of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union covering the period October 1997 to April 1998.

(52037)

220
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Prime Minister, which of his Ministers have been selected for assessment by civil servants under his new procedure; and if he will (a) place such assessments in the Library and (b) publish them.

(51906)

221
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Prime Minister, who by convention in addition to the Leader of the Opposition, makes regular nominations to the Prime Minister of candidates for possible enoblement as life peers.

(51951)

222
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 20th July, Official Report, column 389, how many telephone calls were made by Roger Liddle from No 10 Downing Street to (a) Derek Draper and (b) GPC Market Access in the four weeks prior to 24th June.

(51908)

223
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 20th July, Official Report, column 389, if he will list the telephone calls made by Roger Liddle to newspaper reporters on 25th June.

(51909)

224
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has (a) to appoint a minister for youth and (b) to set up a youth commission.

(52184)

225
N   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 14th July, Official Report, columns 145-6, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase between 1994 and 1996 of those prosecuted and charged with driving a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs.

(51848)

226
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many second homes in Scotland are subject to council tax discount in each council area.

(52063)

227
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what quantities of tritium were discharged from Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station in each month since January 1990.

(51597)

228
N   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review on provision for Scotland's schools and hospitals.

(50526)

229
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans she has to introduce a disabled persons tax credit disregard in the assessment of means-tested social security benefits.

(51989)

230
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if confirmation has been given to all successful organisations that bid to execute pilot projects under the New Deal for sick and disabled people.

(51990)

231
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many recipients of the disability living allowance have had the level reduced (a) since 1st May 1997 and (b) in the previous 15 months; how many requested a review; and how many had the benefit restored.

(52259)

232
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many recipients of the disability living allowance have had the allowance withdrawn (a) since 1st May 1997 and (b) in the previous 15 months; how many requested a review; and how many had their disability living allowance restored.

(52258)

233
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will make a statement on progress in respect of the Pathway Project.

(52110)

234
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what action she will take to increase investment in the Post Office.

(52094)

235
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proposals she has to increase trade between Britain and Fiji; and if she will make a statement.

(52059)

236
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what level of funding was provided by his Department to Women's Aid in Wales in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99.

(52249)

237
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the incidence of surface and groundwater pollution caused by (a) motorway and highways run-off and (b) agricultural activities; and if he will quantify the damage caused by both.

[Transferred] (52208)

238
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the plutonium contamination incident at AWE Aldermaston on 15th December 1997; and if he will place copies of the HSE reports on this incident in the Library.

[Transferred] (52173)

239
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library copies of all HSE reports on incidents and accidents which have occurred at AWE Aldermaston in the last 30 years.

[Transferred] (52174)

240
   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total cost to the NHS of (a) treating non-United Kingdom residents for all medical care and (b) providing abortion services to Irish citizens in the last year for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (52180)

241
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what conditions must apply before people receiving home care are entitled to an attendance allowance; and what is the value of the allowance.

[Transferred] (52220)

242
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received concerning conditions in the Immigration Office at the British High Commission in Islamabad; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (52048)

243
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many attachments of earning orders were issued by each magistrates' court in the Greater London area to collect unpaid fines in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (52050)

244
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce new legislation to protect the public from care in the community patients; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (52080)

245
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of women subjected to domestic violence in Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (52247)