Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 20 October 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 20 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 Tuesday 20 October, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 21 October, see Part 2 of this Paper.

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

TUESDAY 20th OCTOBER

1
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what powers he has to prohibit the distribution or sale within the United Kingdom of genetically-modified plant products for animal or human foodstuffs; and what proposals have been made by the Commission of the European Community for further regulations or directives permitting their growing or sale.

(55693)

2
N   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which organisations and individuals outside Government he met to talk about transport policy and the Transport White Paper during the three months before publication of the White Paper; and how many of these meetings were attended by employees of professional lobby consultants.

(54131)

3
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what exemptions of specific materials are (a) in place and (b) being considered for the landfill tax.

(55665)

4
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations his Department has received from contractors and trade associations about exemptions and rebates from landfill tax, with particular reference to top soil and inert natural materials.

(55668)

5
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which current powers of the Bank of England to make regulations, inspect or supervise, control credit limits and permit companies to operate as banks in the United Kingdom would, in the event of full adherence to monetary union, be within the authority of or subject to limits set by the European Central Bank.

(55691)

6
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received concerning the liability under EU legislation of owners of British registered merchant vessels for corporation tax on a tonnage basis; what estimate he has made of the impact on the Exchequer of changing to such a system; and what information he has collated concerning the practice of governments of other member states in this respect.

(55690)

7
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, by what means transfers of appropriation from one purpose to another within the budget of the European Community are authorised and published; where the public may obtain information concerning such changes and the amounts involved; and if he will list those approved so far in the current financial year, together with details for each.

(55692)

8
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in respect of the Transfer of Appropriations No. 16/98 Non Compulsory Expenditure (SEC 1998) 1062 final concerning Section III (Commission Parts A and B), agreed by the Council of Finance Ministers, what are the sums transferred in sterling, the former purpose of those sums and the purposes to which those sums will now be devoted; at which meeting of the ECOFIN Council such transfers were agreed, and which Treasury Minister was present; and if the Government will request the President of the Council when conveying such approval in future to include the original purpose and new purpose to which sums are being devoted in all public documents related thereto.

(55694)

9
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if euro notes and coinage, irrespective of the issuing national central bank, will be legal tender in all member states of the European Union.

(55680)

10
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for a national scheme of penalties for improper use of the 999 emergency system, with special reference to possible criteria for an indictable offence.

(55689)

11
   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prescriptions for neuroleptic drugs were issued in each prison with women inmates in each of the past three years.

(55682)

12
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 30th September on the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning world monetary stability, what plans he has to seek agreement between major trading nations to co-ordinate limited regulation of currency flows related to loans and investments of speculative character.

(55683)

13
   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the reduction in national insurance contributions resulting from the raising of the starting point for employees' contributions in April 1999; how much of this sum will accrue to the benefit of employees with earnings above the upper earnings limit; and what increase in the upper earnings limit would be required to neutralise the effect on the income of the National Insurance Fund.

(55681)

14
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects to make a statement in respect of payment to vaccine-damaged children who are now adults other than those affected by payments in 1979.

(55669)

15
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what evidence is provided by his Department's Family Resources Survey on the earnings levels of those receiving widow's benefits.

(55663)

16
N   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which bodies or individuals outside government his predecessor met to talk about transport policy and the Transport White Paper over the three months before publication of the White Paper; and how many of these meetings were attended by employees of professional lobby consultants.

(54132)

17
N   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received from EU environment ministers with regard to the future of the nuclear reprocessing industry.

(54334)

18
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the sponsorship of the Spirit Zone of the Millennium Experience.

(55679)

19
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish an account of all the proposals received by himself or the New Millennium Experience Company for the content of the Millennium Experience, describing the (a) scrutiny and (b) response which each proposal received.

(55685)

20
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what performance targets regarding (a) time and (b) budget have been set for the delivery of the Millennium Experience; and what penalties will be incurred by directors, executives, and employees of the New Millennium Experience Company in the event of failure to meet those targets.

(55687)

21
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the sponsors who are committed by written agreements to supporting the Millennium Experience, indicating in each case (a) the zones or activities concerned, (b) the amount of sponsorship and (c) the penalty laid down for non-performance of the agreement.

(55678)

22
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish an account of the suggestions, instructions and advice which he has given to the New Millennium Experience Company about the Millennium Experience.

(55684)

23
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the persons or organisations who will be responsible for providing the information and ideas to be conveyed in each zone of the Millennium Experience.

(55686)

24
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings he has attended in the course of his official duties at which there has been discussion of sponsorship of the Millennium Experience; how many of these meetings included lobbying organisations; and what contribution he made to these discussions.

(55688)

25
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans his Department has to announce investment in wave energy.

(55677)

26
N   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to reduce road congestion; and if he will make a statement.

[Question Unstarred] (54355)

27
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to improve access to registration records.

[Transferred] (55666)

28
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reform the system of access to civil registration records; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (55667)

TUESDAY 20th OCTOBER
1	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what powers he has to prohibit the distribution or sale within the United Kingdom of genetically-modified plant products for animal or human foodstuffs; and what proposals have been made by the Commission of the European Community for further regulations or directives permitting their growing or sale.
	(55693)
2 N	Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which organisations and individuals outside Government he met to talk about transport policy and the Transport White Paper during the three months before publication of the White Paper; and how many of these meetings were attended by employees of professional lobby consultants.
	(54131)
3	Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what exemptions of specific materials are (a) in place and (b) being considered for the landfill tax.
	(55665)
4	Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations his Department has received from contractors and trade associations about exemptions and rebates from landfill tax, with particular reference to top soil and inert natural materials.
	(55668)
5	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which current powers of the Bank of England to make regulations, inspect or supervise, control credit limits and permit companies to operate as banks in the United Kingdom would, in the event of full adherence to monetary union, be within the authority of or subject to limits set by the European Central Bank.
	(55691)
6	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received concerning the liability under EU legislation of owners of British registered merchant vessels for corporation tax on a tonnage basis; what estimate he has made of the impact on the Exchequer of changing to such a system; and what information he has collated concerning the practice of governments of other member states in this respect.
	(55690)
7	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, by what means transfers of appropriation from one purpose to another within the budget of the European Community are authorised and published; where the public may obtain information concerning such changes and the amounts involved; and if he will list those approved so far in the current financial year, together with details for each.
	(55692)
8	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in respect of the Transfer of Appropriations No. 16/98 Non Compulsory Expenditure (SEC 1998) 1062 final concerning Section III (Commission Parts A and B), agreed by the Council of Finance Ministers, what are the sums transferred in sterling, the former purpose of those sums and the purposes to which those sums will now be devoted; at which meeting of the ECOFIN Council such transfers were agreed, and which Treasury Minister was present; and if the Government will request the President of the Council when conveying such approval in future to include the original purpose and new purpose to which sums are being devoted in all public documents related thereto.
	(55694)
9	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if euro notes and coinage, irrespective of the issuing national central bank, will be legal tender in all member states of the European Union.
	(55680)
10	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for a national scheme of penalties for improper use of the 999 emergency system, with special reference to possible criteria for an indictable offence.
	(55689)
11	Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prescriptions for neuroleptic drugs were issued in each prison with women inmates in each of the past three years.
	(55682)
12	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 30th September on the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning world monetary stability, what plans he has to seek agreement between major trading nations to co-ordinate limited regulation of currency flows related to loans and investments of speculative character.
	(55683)
13	Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the reduction in national insurance contributions resulting from the raising of the starting point for employees' contributions in April 1999; how much of this sum will accrue to the benefit of employees with earnings above the upper earnings limit; and what increase in the upper earnings limit would be required to neutralise the effect on the income of the National Insurance Fund.
	(55681)
14	Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects to make a statement in respect of payment to vaccine-damaged children who are now adults other than those affected by payments in 1979.
	(55669)
15	Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what evidence is provided by his Department's Family Resources Survey on the earnings levels of those receiving widow's benefits.
	(55663)
16 N	Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which bodies or individuals outside government his predecessor met to talk about transport policy and the Transport White Paper over the three months before publication of the White Paper; and how many of these meetings were attended by employees of professional lobby consultants.
	(54132)
17 N	Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received from EU environment ministers with regard to the future of the nuclear reprocessing industry.
	(54334)
18	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the sponsorship of the Spirit Zone of the Millennium Experience.
	(55679)
19	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish an account of all the proposals received by himself or the New Millennium Experience Company for the content of the Millennium Experience, describing the (a) scrutiny and (b) response which each proposal received.
	(55685)
20	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what performance targets regarding (a) time and (b) budget have been set for the delivery of the Millennium Experience; and what penalties will be incurred by directors, executives, and employees of the New Millennium Experience Company in the event of failure to meet those targets.
	(55687)
21	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the sponsors who are committed by written agreements to supporting the Millennium Experience, indicating in each case (a) the zones or activities concerned, (b) the amount of sponsorship and (c) the penalty laid down for non-performance of the agreement.
	(55678)
22	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish an account of the suggestions, instructions and advice which he has given to the New Millennium Experience Company about the Millennium Experience.
	(55684)
23	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the persons or organisations who will be responsible for providing the information and ideas to be conveyed in each zone of the Millennium Experience.
	(55686)
24	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings he has attended in the course of his official duties at which there has been discussion of sponsorship of the Millennium Experience; how many of these meetings included lobbying organisations; and what contribution he made to these discussions.
	(55688)
25	Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans his Department has to announce investment in wave energy.
	(55677)
26 N	Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to reduce road congestion; and if he will make a statement.
	[Question Unstarred] (54355)
27	Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to improve access to registration records.
	[Transferred] (55666)
28	Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reform the system of access to civil registration records; and if he will make a statement.
	[Transferred] (55667)



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