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 22 October 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 22 October 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 22 October, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Friday 23 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.

THURSDAY 22nd OCTOBER

1
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(56000)

2
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions he has had with his Danish counterpart concerning the decision of the Danish Government to ban the use in animals of virginiamycin; and if he will make a statement.

(56273)

3
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions he has had with his Swedish counterpart concerning the decision by the Swedish Government in 1986 to ban the use of antibiotics in animals when used as growth promoters; what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the ban; and if he will make a statement.

(56272)

4
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(56001)

5
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the non-departmental public bodies which have been (a) established and (b) abolished since 2nd May 1997.

(55730)

6
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the members who have been (a) appointed and (b) dismissed from non-departmental public bodies since 2nd May 1997, giving in each case their declared political affiliation if any.

(55729)

7
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make more readily available to the public a full list of current green and white papers together with the relevant timescales for consultation.

(56161)

8
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to press for exemptions from the Multilateral Agreement on Investment for United Kingdom industries with particular reference to the (a) film and (b) publishing industries.

(56153)

9
   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 19th October, Official Report, column 919, on what estimates of the percentages of the National Lottery Distribution Fund to be received by each of the six good causes in 1999 and 2000 his decisions on the cash distribution were based; and if he will publish those estimates.

(56255)

10
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans next to conduct a survey of deserted medieval villages in England; and if he will make a statement.

(56171)

11
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many aircrew in the United Kingdom forces were born in Scotland; how many are pilots of (a) combat aircraft, (b) transport aircraft and (c) helicopters by arm of the service, and how many are other aircrew by (i) arm of service and (ii) function.

(55406)

12
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many single accommodation places exist for each of the services in Scotland, for (a) officers and (b) other ranks, by location; and if he will estimate the total number of service personnel that could be accommodated on shore in Scotland if all the available accommodation were utilised.

(55407)

13
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many places (a) are currently available and (b) will be available by 2000, in training camps in Scotland, for (a) Kirkcudbright, (b) Barry Buddon and (c) Cultybraggan.

(55408)

14
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what barrack accommodation is currently surplus to requirements in Scotland and awaiting disposal; and if he will estimate the potential single accommodation capacity of these barracks if modernised.

(55409)

15
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many MoD civilian jobs there are in Scotland by location.

(55410)

16
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(56005)

17
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the maximum recommended usage for tyres for each type of RAF aircraft; and what was the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) maximum recorded usage in each of the last three years.

(56059)

18
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army personnel have left the service on health grounds in each of the last five years.

(56062)

19
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the average finished consultant episode cost for the Defence Secondary Care Agency for 1997-98; what was the equivalent figure for 1996-97; what target was set for 1997-98 for this indicator; and what was the performance against target.

(56039)

20
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Territorial Army and (b) other reserve forces personnel are members of the RPAX insurance scheme; and what change there has been in membership since the scheme's inception.

(56065)

21
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF aircraft of each type have been used to provide spare parts for other aircraft in each of the last three years.

(56051)

22
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what have been the targets set for the Ships Support Agency on upkeep period timeliness for each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99; what were the achievements against the target in 1996-97 and 1997-98; and what factors influenced the selection of the target for 1998-99.

(56038)

23
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy (a) officers and (b) ratings have been (i) dismissed from the service and (ii) court-martialled in each of the last five years.

(56061)

24
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the ability of the Defence Secondary Care Agency to deliver the requirement to supply medically trained personnel to meet the operational needs of the commanders in chief during 1998-99; and if he will make a statement.

(56066)

25
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of RAF aircraft, by type, are available for service immediately.

(56037)

26
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the annual requirement for tyres for each type of RAF aircraft; and what is the total RAF requirement for aircraft tyres.

(56052)

27
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects his Department to complete its review of its training methods.

(56348)

28
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into a correlation between marital breakdown among armed forces personnel and the undertaking of extended spells of overseas duty.

(55866)

29
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures are in place to ensure that the armed forces provide counselling and support for personnel involved in marital breakdown.

(55865)

30
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the number of known incidences of marital breakdown in the armed forces (a) in total and (b) relative to the rate in the population as a whole in each of the last five years.

(55864)

31
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what advice his Department gives to education authorities on the optimum age at which to commence reading in schools; and what changes there have been in this advice in the last 10 years.

(56342)

32
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many SMEs have so far received grants under his Department's bugbusters training programme.

(55969)

33
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much money his Department has spent to date on advertising and marketing its bugbusters programme; and how much it intends to spend in the rest of 1998-99.

(55968)

34
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many training organisations have become accredited providers under the bugbusters training programme to date.

(55970)

35
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much money his Department has spent to date on grants to SMEs, under the bugbusters programme.

(55967)

36
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many bugbusters have been trained to date.

(55966)

37
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, which minister in his Department has responsibility for music therapy.

(56192)

38
N   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people have to date (a) applied to become millennium bugbusters and (b) successfully completed the training.

(55867)

39
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(56004)

40
N   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to report to Parliament the recommendations of the Independent Review Committee on Higher Education Staff Pay and Conditions.

(55762)

41
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to introduce sample auditing of school finances; and if he will make a statement.

(55832)

42
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the average percentage salary increase received by (a) primary school headteachers and (b) secondary school headteachers for each of the past five years.

(55836)

43
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimates he has made of the amount of money currently held in reserve accounts by schools in (a) England and Wales, (b) Cheshire and (c) Warrington.

(55833)

44
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the average percentage salary increase received by (a) primary school deputy headteachers and (b) secondary school deputy head teachers in each of the past five years.

(55835)

45
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the amount of money from delegated budgets underspent by schools in (a) England and Wales and (b) Cheshire in each of the past five years.

(55834)

46
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of teaching staff in (a) local authority schools and (b) grant maintained schools are currently on fixed-term contracts, broken down by local education authority.

(55831)

47
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what evaluation he has made of the standards of teaching achieved by those who have completed (a) a three year undergraduate degree, followed by a one year PGCE course and (b) a four year B.Ed or BA with qualified teacher status.

(56150)

48
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what progress his Department has made in ensuring that children in the care of local authorities receive the same standard of education as other children.

(56068)

49
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on his policy on middle and first schools.

(55099)

50
N   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the number of people under the New Deal in (a) England and (b) Wales who have entered full-time employment.

(55105)

51
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the cost to the Exchequer of students who dropped out of UK universities in each of the years 1992 to 1997.

(56200)

52
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish the undergraduate drop-out rates for individual courses in each state-funded university in the six most recent years for which figures are available.

(56202)

53
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish the drop-out rates for undergraduates in their first year of study at each UK university in the six most recent years for which figures are available.

(56201)

54
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to allow OFSTED to accredit initial teaching training courses either in whole or in part.

(56213)

55
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to require the publication of GNVQ results and league tables for institutions offering GNVQ courses.

(56206)

56
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students (a) applied for primary teaching courses, (b) began the courses and (c) subsequently failed to complete the courses, in each of the years 1992 to 1998.

(56197)

57
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many post graduate certificate in education courses in individual institutions of higher education failed to recruit sufficient numbers and therefore did not proceed in each of the last six years.

(56199)

58
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to improve guidance to students for transition at 18 plus.

(56208)

59
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students were recruited to PGCE courses in each subject area for each of the years 1992 to 1998.

(56198)

60
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to require Careers Service contractors to meet an externally-verified quality framework if they are to become preferred suppliers under the future contracting arrangements for the Careers Service.

(56209)

61
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he expects to award the first individual learning accounts; and which category of students will be eligible.

(56203)

62
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure that students in rural areas are not excluded from further education or training because of child care costs.

(56204)

63
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure that students in rural areas are not excluded from further education or training because of transport costs.

(56205)

64
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure that every Careers Service contractor is required and resourced to provide guidance to all holders of individual learning accounts and to adults in every local community as part of a locally-determined local learning access network to nationally-defined quality standards.

(56207)

65
N   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what timetable his Department plans to set for the installation of secondary treatment works at the Southern Water sewage treatment plant at Yaverland on the Isle of Wight.

(55725)

66
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the progress of plans to reduce road tax for vehicles with engines of 1600 cc or less.

(56036)

67
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans the Government has to review the planning regulations in respect of visual amenity and the impact of (a) mobile telephone aerials, (b) windmills and (c) electricity pylons.

(56345)

68
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which former British Rail sites, since the privatisation of British Rail, have been sold or leased for developments serviced by road haulage.

(56343)

69
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what acreage of unutilised former British Rail land has been allocated to (a) Railtrack and (b) the British Transport Property Board.

(56344)

70
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what criteria have been used to divide British Rail land between Railtrack and the British Transport Property Board.

(56242)

71
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance he has issued to regional development agencies concerning the implications for them of the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

(56157)

72
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(55999)

73
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many deaths were recorded arising from road traffic accidents on the A49 between Hereford and Ross on Wye in each of the last five years.

(56033)

74
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what alternatives to transporting children to and from school by car his Department is actively promoting.

(56071)

75
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has to review and revise PPG 6 and PPG 13; and what is the timescale for such proposals.

(56262)

76
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will monitor the effect of increasing the allowed maximum weight of lorries on British roads on the balance between rail and road freight haulage.

(56159)

77
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what have been the annual running costs for each year since their establishment, of each of the regional committees or bodies for the disbursement of European structural funds; and by what means such costs are scrutinised.

(56251)

78
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his planned timetable for the regulations which will extend Part M of the building regulations to new dwellings.

(55861)

79
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when his Department will announce the transitional provisions to cover the period before and following the extension of Part M of the building regulations to new dwellings.

(55862)

80
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many responses his Department received to their consultation on transitional provisions to cover the period before and following the extension of Part M of the building regulations to new dwellings; and what percentage of these were from (a) disability organisations, (b) building-related bodies and (c) housing providers.

(55863)

81
N   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to revise his Department's estimate that 4.4 million new homes will need to be built by 2016 to satisfy demand; and if he will make a statement.

(55763)

82
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he has taken to encourage the use of energy-efficient lighting in accommodation occupied by his Department.

(56193)

83
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects the regulations under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 to be in place.

(56261)

84
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the extent of a reduction in demand for social his Department has collated; and if he will publish the sources and nature of the evidence.

(56277)

85
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the errors made by the Office of National Statistics in the July Earnings Data.

(56243)

86
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions have taken place between the Treasury and the Bank of England on the circumstances in which action would be taken under section 19 of the Bank of England Act 1998 relating to emergency powers.

(56349)

87
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the percentage change in (a) the nominal trade-weighted exchange rate and (b) the real effective exchange rate since (i) 1st May 1997 and (ii) Britain left the ERM.

(56346)

88
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the current purchasing power parity exchange rate for sterling vis-a-vis (a) the US dollar and (b) the Deutschmark.

(56244)

89
N   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings he held with non-governmental bodies about transport policy and the Transport White Paper in the three months before the publication of the White Paper; and which of these meetings were attended by employees of professional lobby consultants.

(55269)

90
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and for each trip (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary cost for the adviser.

(56007)

91
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his Department's revised forecast for the public sector net cash requirement in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, and (c) 2001-02 following the revisions to his growth forecast.

(55838)

92
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the annual loss of UK hydrocarbon duty on (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) other fuels from cross-border smuggling.

(55731)

93
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the costs of converting to the euro for (a) Government departments, (b) the financial sector and (c) the economy as a whole; and if he will make a statement.

(55727)

94
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the (a) retail value and (b) excise duty content of (i) alcohol products and (ii) tobacco products subject to (1) cross-border smuggling and (2) cross-border shopping for each year from 1995.

(55728)

95
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on UK interest rates of (a) the decision to introduce a statutory minimum wage and (b) his spending plans published in July.

(55837)

96
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact on the market's perception of the independence of the Bank of England as regards UK interest rates of his statements on the level of UK interest rates.

(55842)

97
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what briefing was given by his special advisers regarding the revised growth forecast.

(55841)

98
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he had with the Governor of the Bank of England in the month prior to 8th October.

(55840)

99
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will publish his pre-Budget report.

(55845)

100
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his Department's revised forecast for growth in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

(55846)

101
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on his policy as regards making statements about the UK interest rate levels.

(55843)

102
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons his intention to publish revised growth forecasts was first announced (a) to the IMF and (b) on 6th October.

(55844)

103
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the international agreement to reduce interest rates will be implemented (a) in the EU and (b) in Great Britain.

(56162)

104
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will reduce to £25 the lower limit for purchase of premium bonds.

(56149)

105
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his assessment of the impact on the savings ratio arising from (a) the abolition of repayment dividend tax credits and (b) the abolition of TESSAs and PEPs.

(55723)

106
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his Department's current forecast for (a) corporation tax receipts and (b) VAT receipts in (i) 1999-00, (ii) 2000-01 and (iii) 2001-02.

(55724)

107
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his Department's current forecast for tax receipts in (a) 1999-00, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.

(55722)

108
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 15th September, ref. 3/05775/1998.

(55752)

109
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a substantive reply to his letter of 1st July, ref. 3/05072/1998.

(55753)

110
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(55998)

111
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations (a) he and (b) other Foreign Office Ministers have made in relation to the arrest and possible extradition of General Pinochet.

(55950)

112
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Malaysia about the case of Mr Anwar Ibrahim.

(55951)

113
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many people employed by his Department have physical difficulties.

(56260)

114
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what provisions are made by his Department for visitors to his Department who have physical difficulties.

(56257)

115
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to British Petroleum concerning the Company's internal investigation into arms sales and military activity in Colombia.

(56259)

116
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area had been waiting to see a consultant for more than (a) 0 to six months, (b) six to 11 months and (c) 12 months or more, on (i) 31st March 1997 and (ii) the latest available date.

(55760)

117
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area had been waiting for treatment for 12 months or more on (a) 31st March 1997 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available.

(55759)

118
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of health visitors in each of the next four years.

(56176)

119
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he intends to use to remove inequalities based on geographical areas in the prescribing of drug treatments for life-threatening conditions.

(56042)

120
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has evaluated into (a) comparative rates of screening detection and (b) treatment regimes for breast cancer in (i) France, (ii) Germany, (iii) the USA and (iv) the United Kingdom.

(56040)

121
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the £100 million extra National Lottery funds announced by the Prime Minister to be allocated to breast cancer treatment will be used to increase the drug budget for cancer drugs.

(56043)

122
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he intends to take to increase the number of oncologists per head of population.

(56041)

123
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(56003)

124
   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he proposes to publish the White Paper on Tobacco Control; and if he will make a statement.

(56035)

125
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he plans to take to raise the nutritional content of the diet of children.

(56070)

126
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what views the United Kingdom representative at the Copenhagen Conference of EU Chief Medical Officers in September expressed concerning the use of antibiotics as growth promoters.

(56168)

127
   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will instigate a review of prescription charge exemptions, with particular reference to women recovering from breast cancer.

(56164)

128
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the additional resources allocated to the National Health Service under the Comprehensive Spending Review is being (a) allocated to health authorities in England and Wales and (b) retained by the Government for distribution centrally.

(56210)

129
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what method of public accountability he intends to introduce to monitor the use of resources by primary health care groups.

(56211)

130
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to create discrete mental health care groups within area health authorities.

(56212)

131
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the Oxfordshire Health Authority area were waiting to see a consultant for 12 months or more on (a) 31st March 1997 and (b) the latest available date.

(55761)

132
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) recruitments to, (b) retirements from, (c) resignations from and (d) applications to join the Metropolitan Police there were in each month from January to October.

(56241)

133
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of additional refugees resident and seeking assistance from local authorities in each London borough in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998 to date, divided into (i) single adults, (ii) families and (iii) unaccompanied adults.

(56245)

134
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he received regarding Augusto Pinochet prior to his arrival in the United Kingdom for his current visit; and when he received such representations.

(56234)

135
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his most recent projection of the number of staff to be employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the next four years.

(56186)

136
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter of 24th August from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, in how many cases of clandestine illegal entry the individuals concerned have been referred to a place where their circumstances can be assessed and any applications processed according to the most recent figures which are available.

(56173)

137
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what requests his Department received for Augusto Pinochet to be interviewed; when he received such requests; and what factors he will take into account in responding to such requests.

(56263)

138
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times Augusto Pinochet visited the United Kingdom since 1st May 1997, prior to his present visit; and when he was notified of each such visit.

(56237)

139
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much investment in the determination of asylum casework has been made since 1st May 1997; and how much new investment has been planned since 1st May 1997.

(56167)

140
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has made concerning Augusto Pinochet; and when he made them.

(56271)

141
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many requests the United Kingdom has received from Spain for the extradition of persons to Spain in each of the last five years; and how many have been (a) granted and (b) refused.

(56254)

142
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much additional funding is to be made available to police authorities in areas containing targeted policing initiatives.

(56178)

143
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the amount of Immigration and Nationality Directorate casework which will be handled by the computer systems installed under his Department's contract with Siemens Business Services.

(56184)

144
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements are in place for the police to deal with cases of clandestine illegal entry where immigration officers are unable to attend.

(56190)

145
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 30th July, Official Report, column 387, if he has received proposals from Siemens Business Service for computerisation plans for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and when he expects the computerisation to be implemented.

(56239)

146
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for asylum have been received from nationals of (a) the Czech Republic and (b) Slovakia in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available.

(56188)

147
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the targeted policing of areas; and if he will publish it.

(56181)

148
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum cases were awaiting an appeal hearing (a) on 1st May 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

(56170)

149
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he was notified of the presence of Augusto Pinochet in the United Kingdom during his present visit.

(56235)

150
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many requests by the United Kingdom for the extradition of persons from Spain are currently outstanding.

(56253)

151
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff were employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on 1st May 1997; and how many were employed at the most recent available date for which figures are available.

(56185)

152
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of clandestine illegal entry have been reported to his Department (a) in each of the last five years and (b) in the most recent period for which figures are available.

(56191)

153
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of additional police officers required to implement targeted policing of areas.

(56177)

154
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received concerning (a) the proposed extradition of Augusto Pinochet and (b) the presence of Augusto Pinochet in the United Kingdom; and when he received them.

(56264)

155
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects targets policing of areas to be implemented in respect of (a) the initial 20 areas and (b) other areas.

(56180)

156
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many computer systems have been installed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate since 1st May 1997 which were not planned for on 1st May 1997; and how many have been planned for the directorate since 1st May 1997.

(56169)

157
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many requests by the UK for the extradition of persons from Spain have been (a) granted and (b) declined in each of the last five years.

(56274)

158
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his most recent projection of the number of immigration officers in each of the next four years.

(56187)

159
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 7th May, Official Report, column 452, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State intends to write to the honourable Member for Hertsmere on the casework programme system.

(56240)

160
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 30th July, Official Report, column 387, how long the pilot of working methods in the Integrated Casework Directorate is to last; and when the working methods will be implemented.

(56238)

161
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Paragraph 8.9 of the White Paper, Fairer, Faster, Firmer, what was the planned date for the implementation of the casework programme on 1st May 1997; and what is the present planned date for the implementation of the programme.

(56183)

162
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he was notified of the intention of Augusto Pinochet to travel to the United Kingdom to make his current visit.

(56236)

163
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal entrants have been removed from the United Kingdom in (a) each of the last five years and (b) the most recent period for which figures are available.

(56189)

164
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his most recent estimate of (a) the administrative costs and (b) the cost of compensation payments arising from the ban on the ownership of handguns.

(56174)

165
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria will be used to select areas to be made subject to targeted policing.

(56182)

166
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum cases were awaiting decision (a) on 1st May 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

(56166)

167
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he plans to take in respect of the proposed extradition of Augusto Pinochet.

(56265)

168
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter of 24th August from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, if the 20 people of Albanian origin who were located in Hounslow after entering the country clandestinely remain in the United Kingdom.

(56256)

169
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences involving (a) airguns, (b) handguns and (c) shotguns were committed in the period (i) 12 months prior to the imposition of the ban on the ownership of handguns and (ii) 12 months following the imposition of the ban.

(56175)

170
   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what levels of dose of (a) Largactil, (b) chloral hydrate, (c) tranquillisers and (d) other neuroleptic drugs are given to women prisoners on (a) admission to prison and (b) discharge from prison.

(56056)

171
   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the disturbance by prisoners in HMP Holloway on 13th August; and what action he is taking to avoid a re-occurence.

(56055)

172
   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what drugs were prescribed for the late Emma Humphries during her years in prison; and for what periods they were prescribed.

(56053)

173
   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recommendations are laid down by his Department for the prescribing of (a) Largactil, (b) tranquillisers, (c) chloral hydrate and (d) neuroleptic drugs to prisoners.

(56054)

174
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(55997)

175
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners currently in the United Kingdom are expected to be deported on completion of their prison sentence; and how many of these had deportation orders added to their sentence without the recommendation of a court.

(56063)

176
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what reports have been presented to him by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions.

(56067)

177
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when, and for what purpose the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions visited Haslar Immigration Holding Centre.

(56060)

178
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to publish the report of the Joint Prison Service/Department of Health Working Group on the future organisation of prisoners' health care.

(55830)

179
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in developing criteria for taking into account compassionate factors in immigration decisions affecting minors.

(56069)

180
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much additional finance will be allocated to the Essex Police Authority when it becomes responsible for areas of the county currently served by the Metropolitan Police.

(56151)

181
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the charges against General Pinochet contained in the extradition application by the Spanish judicial authorities.

(55757)

182
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date General Pinochet last arrived in the United Kingdom.

(55755)

183
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the application for the extradition of General Pinochet from the United Kingdom.

(55754)

184
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on (a) how many occasions and (b) what dates General Pinochet has visited the United Kingdom in the last five years.

(55756)

185
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(55996)

186
   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what support Her Majesty's Government intends to provide for football clubs in Northern Ireland to enable them to meet the standards demanded by health and safety legislation.

(56341)

187
N   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Prime Minister, what meetings he had with non-governmental bodies about transport policy and the Transport White Paper in the three months before the publication of the White Paper; and which of these meetings were attended by employees of professional lobby consultants.

(55268)

188
N   Mr Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he made about human rights during his recent visit to China.

(55952)

189
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the Government Ministers currently residing in publicly owned accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the precedents for the use of each property by Government Ministers, the reasons why the properties are so used and total annual cost in each case of the current and previous years of such use.

(56376)

190
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Prime Minister, if it is the Government's policy to accept the latest recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement.

(55758)

191
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will review the method used to define rural areas in the Non-Domestic Rating (Rural Areas and Rateable Value Limits) Scotland Order 1997; and if he will make a statement..

(55303)

192
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what have been the annual running costs for each year since their establishment, of each of the European programme directives or partnerships for the disbursement of European structural funds; and by what means such costs are scrutinised.

(56252)

193
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will report on progress in creating a national framework for study support.

(55103)

194
   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate the projected cost to the National Health Service in Scotland of extending prescription charge exemptions to include those recovering from cancer.

(56165)

195
   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what research his Department has evaluated into the effectiveness of Tamoxifen as an anti-cancer treatment; and if he will assess the advantages of extending the exemption from prescription charges to include those who are required to use it as part of their continuing treatment.

(56163)

196
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) pensioners, (b) widows and (c) widowers are currently in receipt of emergency payments because of the failure of the NIRS II computer system.

(55854)

197
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is his estimate of the number of pensioner households entitled to winter fuel payments for winter 1997-98 who have not yet been paid in full; and if he will make a statement.

(55856)

198
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects the NIRS II computer system to be fully operational; and if he will make a statement.

(55852)

199
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what tests were carried out before the NIRS II computer system was implemented.

(55855)

200
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter to which the honourable Member for Northavon made reference in his Oral Question on 19th October, Official Report, column 948.

(56347)

201
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(56002)

202
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many British citizens received United Kingdom state pensions in (a) the EU, (b) the Commonwealth and (c) other countries in the last year for which figures are available.

(56064)

203
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is his Department's forecast for spending on jobseekers allowance in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 on the basis of (i) the growth forecasts in the EFSR published in July and (ii) his revised growth forecasts.

(55839)

204
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list for (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each region of England the number of disabled people who were awarded disability living allowance (i) between 1st June 1996 and 31st May 1997, (ii) between 1st June 1997 and 31st May 1998 and (iii) since 1st June 1998 (1) on their initial application, (2) at review and (3) at appeal.

(55857)

205
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list for (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each region of England the number of people whose main disability was deafness who applied (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully in the last year for disability living allowance.

(55860)

206
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list for (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each region of England, the number of people whose main disabling condition is deafness who were awarded disability living allowance (i) between 1st June 1996 and 31st May 1997, (ii) between 1st June 1997 and 31st May 1998 and (iii) since 1st June 1998 (1) on their initial application, (2) at review and (3) at appeal.

(55858)

207
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list for (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each region of England the number of people who applied (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully in the last year for disability living allowance.

(55859)

208
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects the NIRS 2 system to be handling the number of cases which it was orginally planned to handle.

(55849)

209
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many new claimants have been awarded full benefit entitlement without establishment of national insurance records as a result of the difficulties with the introduction of the NIRS 2 computer system.

(55848)

210
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimates his Department has made of the number of people affected (a) in total and (b) according to benefit claimed as a result of the difficulties with the introduction of the NIRS 2 system.

(55850)

211
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what level of compensation, and to which pension companies, has been offered by his Department as a result of late payments and national insurance contributions due to the difficulties with the introduction of the NIRS 2 system.

(55847)

212
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to increase the number of occasions each year whereby a state retirement pension can be paid from a post office other than the one designated.

(56158)

213
   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list each change to the eligibility rules for each state benefit since May 1997, indicating for each change the number of people estimated to (a) have lost and (b) been denied benefit as a result, indicating their average financial loss.

(56249)

214
   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make it his policy not to reduce benefits for those claiming incapacity benefit, who are deemed fit for work, who reject a job or training place; and if he will make a statement.

(56248)

215
   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost to public funds of introducing for (a) all new claimants and (b) all claimants, a requirement to look for work for (i) all state benefits and (ii) incapacity benefit; if he will estimate the number of people who (1) would lose and (2) be denied incapacity benefit indicating their average financial loss; and if he will make a statement.

(56246)

216
   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost to public funds of introducing means testing for widows benefit, and extending the benefit to male claimants; if he will estimate the number of people who would lose benefit under such a system, indicating their average financial loss; and if he will make a statement.

(56247)

217
   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on those changes to benefit entitlement rules he currently proposes, indicating for each proposal the number of people who (a) will lose and (b) will be denied benefits as a result of proposed changes and their average financial loss.

(56250)

218
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the average time taken by the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency to provide a substantive reply to letters from honourable Members writing on behalf of constituents.

(55949)

219
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to publish the UKAEA initial response to the Dounreay Safety Audit.

(55851)

220
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 19th October, Official Report, column 1037, if he will stand aside in his regulatory role in respect of the takeover by BSkyB of Manchester United; and if he will make a statement.

(56006)

221
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what level of grant his Department is paying to the RSA in 1998-99; and what plans he has for 1999-2000.

(55853)

222
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reasons the Government has increased to £6,500 the prescribed fee payable on an application for a licence under its Outer Space Act 1986.

(55971)

223
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, by what means he consults the governments of developing countries in respect of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

(56154)

224
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list forthcoming intergovernmental meetings at which his Department will be represented to discuss the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

(56155)

225
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received from regional development agencies concerning the implications for their activities of the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

(56152)

226
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the prospects for employment in manufacturing industry over the next 24 months.

(55125)

227
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 19th October, Official Report, column 1050 and the recommendations in the Fifth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life concerning blind trusts, if an alternative arrangement to the blind trust for Lord Sainsbury's shareholdings will be made.

(56377)

228
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the overseas visits between 1st July and 19th October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip, (a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser.

(55995)

229
   Mr Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will grant an extension to the Kingston Communication PTO licence in accordance with the recommendation of the Director General of Telecommunications.

(56034)

230
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will introduce controls over consumer marketing to ensure that information given or implied is not misleading or easily misconstrued.

(56072)

231
N   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received on the Fairness at Work White Paper.

(55115)

232
   Mr Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many seizures of substandard cigarette lighters have been made by trading standards officers in each year since 1995.

(56073)

233
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will take steps to ban the use of anti-microbial disinfectants, impregnated mattresses and similar household goods.

(56172)

234
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals he has to amend the law on bankruptcy; and if he will make a statement.

(56179)

235
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received from agencies and others involved in temporary placements concerning the working time regulations.

(55957)

236
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much start-up grant Siemens received for their plant in the North East.

(55961)

237
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effect on the average cost of employing temporary employees of the working time regulations.

(55956)

238
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to introduce measures allowing greater commercial freedom to the Post Office.

(55953)

239
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to announce the conclusions of his review of the Post Office.

(55955)

240
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultations he plans to undertake with those regions from which he proposes to withdraw regional aid.

(55958)

241
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, by how much the Post Office has proposed to reduce its negative EFL in 1999.

(55965)

242
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has for the extent of the coverage of the assisted areas map.

(55959)

243
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will seek repayment of start-up grant from Siemens following the planned closure of their plant in the North East.

(55964)

244
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the Government's policy on repayment of start-up grant when companies close within five years of opening.

(55962)

245
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to announce the new map for RSA.

(55960)

246
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who has responsibility for setting the level of grant offered to inward investors in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; and what arrangements ensure that they are not competing for the same business.

(55963)

247
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what are the planned levels of annual borrowing and returned cash available to the Post Office for re-investment.

(55954)

248
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to introduce new measures to regulate companies which (a) trade fraudulently and (b) change their name.

(56074)

249
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the likely increase in carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the introduction of digital television.

(56194)

250
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement about progress in negotiating the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

(56321)

251
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has made to British Petroleum concerning the Company's internal investigation into arms sales and military activity in Colombia.

(56258)

252
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has received from the Welsh Development Agency concerning the implications for their activities of the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

(56156)

253
N   Mr John McAllion (Dundee East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of New Deal trainees were placed in subsidised employment at the latest available date.

[Question Unstarred] (55118)

254
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the outbreak of an anaemia virus in farmed salmon.

[Transferred] (56160)

255
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of national TEC expenditure in 1997-98 was allocated to (a) salaries and administration and (b) other activities.

[Transferred] (56050)

256
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what were the relative percentages of national TEC expenditure during the first five years after establishment in relation to (a) training, (b) business support and (c) salaries and administration.

[Transferred] (56057)

257
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the impact of the Single Regeneration Budget on the business support expenditure of the TECs in each of the last three years.

[Transferred] (56058)