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 10 November 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 10 November 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 10 November, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 11 November, 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 10th NOVEMBER

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the dates on which he or his predecessors have exercised the power under Regulation 11(3)(c)(ii) of the Seed (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended) to require the testing of potato seeds for disease, pest resistance, general characteristics and consumer quality; and if he will provide details of each such occasion and the reasons for it.

(59043)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for what reasons he is proposing to abolish his power to require the testing of potato seeds for disease, pest resistance, general characteristics and consumer quality under Regulation 11(3)(c)(ii) of the Seed (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended).

(59044)

3
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will ensure that no genetically-modified seed will be proposed for inclusion on the national seed list unless and until a marketing consent for that seed has been granted under Part C of Directive 90/220.

(59045)

4
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for what reasons the names of applicants and the dates and the entire contents of applications for pesticide approvals are regarded as commercially confidential; and for what reasons the public is excluded from participating in decisions on such applications.

(59046)

5
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the Food Standards Agency will be independent of government departments.

(59154)

6
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimates he has made of the costs of establishing the Youth Music Trust.

(59234)

7
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of 17 to 21 year olds from the Doncaster Borough are currently serving in Her Majesty's armed forces.

(59306)

8
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many nurses are employed by his Department; and how they are allocated between the services.

(59342)

9
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list, by rank (a) the establishment and (b) the current operational strength of (i) the Ministry of Defence Police, (ii) the Military Provost Guard Service and (iii) the Ministry of Defence Guard Service.

(58330)

10
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will issue an invitation to negotiate on the white fleet contracts for Scotland, Central, London and Southern regions; and if he will make a statement.

(58331)

11
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the target dates for the award of white fleet contracts outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

(58332)

12
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the contracts will be awarded in respect of the new transporters for the Challenger II tanks; and if he will make a statement.

(58333)

13
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence Police about the introduction of any necessary parallel changes to the Ministry of Defence police regulations following the reforms of complaints and discipline procedures for Home Department Police Forces announced by the Home Secretary on 23rd March; and what changes he will now make.

(58754)

14
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will let the contract for tri-service mechanical handling equipment; and if he will make a statement.

(58334)

15
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has caused the slippage in the installation of cockpit voice recorders in the RAF Chinook helicopter fleet from late spring 2000 to the end of the year 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(58756)

16
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 18th November 1997, Official Report, columns 152-3, if cockpit voice recorders will be fitted to the first six RAF Chinook helicopters by December 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(58836)

17
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the consultation document on the restructuring of the TA was first made available to the TA command; and on what date it was first made available to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

(59239)

18
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland concerning the proposed disposition of TA infantry and engineering units in Scotland.

(59238)

19
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date he will announce his proposals for the restructuring of the Territorial Army.

(59240)

20
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to retain a TA engineering presence in (a) Scotland and (b) the Highlands.

(59241)

21
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with other ministers concerning the anticipated role of the Territorial Army in contingency planning for the millennium bug.

(59235)

22
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision he has made for availability of Territorial Army or regular army units in the North of Scotland in case of civil emergency as a result of the millennium bug.

(59237)

23
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential role for Territorial Army units in cases of civil emergency as a result of the millennium bug.

(59236)

24
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if British tanks fired depleted uranium shells during the Gulf War; and if he will make a statement.

(59333)

25
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd November, Official Report, column 404, concerning access to work, what assessment he made of the implications of creating full-time councillors in drawing up the proposals for directly elected mayors and cabinets contained in the White Paper, In Touch with the People.

(59229)

26
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students from Doncaster Borough gained higher education places for the academic years (a) 1998-99, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1996-97 and (d) 1995-96; and what proportion the figures represent of those leaving school at 18 years.

(59305)

27
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of parents in Doncaster Borough, when selecting a secondary school, obtain (a) their first preference, (b) their second preference and (c) neither.

(59311)

28
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what factors underlay his decision on the priority given to the Youth Service in his Department's consultative document, The Learning Age.

(59337)

29
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many higher education students have withdrawn from courses before completion in each of the last five years.

(59341)

30
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Youth Service to lifelong learning.

(59335)

31
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what advice he has given to local education authorities on (a) the provision of and (b) the charging for lip reading classes.

(59315)

32
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what measures he is taking to ensure that all people who lose their hearing have the opportunity to attend lip reading classes.

(59314)

33
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proposals he has to promote courses on lip reading through the Further Education Funding Council.

(59316)

34
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what were the examination failure rates for undergraduate students in universities pursuing primary degrees in (a) veterinary science and (b) medicine, broken down by (i) university and (ii) year of study for each of the last five academic years.

(59296)

35
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what were the typical offers of A level grades required for students wishing to pursue primary degrees in (a) veterinary science and (b) medicine in universities, broken down by university, for each of the last five academic years.

(59294)

36
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to meet the management of Connex South Central to discuss its performance and services.

(59228)

37
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 4th November, Official Report, column 574, concerning rolling stock replacement, when he expects the Franchise Director to conclude his exploration of options with Connex South Central.

(59227)

38
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what monitoring he carries out on the composition of the regional customer service committees appointed by the Director of Ofwat.

(59336)

39
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, under the public service vehicle regulations, how often the speedometers of (a) fare stage buses and (b) coaches must be recalibrated; and if he will make a statement.

(58755)

40
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the proposed A14 multi-modal study will begin; and how long it will take to complete.

(59298)

41
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if negotiations between the Government's lawyers and the BEST trustees have begun; what outstanding issues remain; and when he expects a final settlement to be reached.

(59157)

42
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the proposed Welsh Highland Railway Order.

(59307)

43
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the GDP growth required in each of the next three financial years to satisfy the golden rule.

(58837)

44
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the recovered revenue for the last three tax years arising from priority creditorship in respect of (a) income tax, (b) corporation tax and (c) VAT.

(59162)

45
N   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when a decision will be made on the review of the VAT registration threshold.

(58889)

46
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will account for the increase in forecast of social security contributions for 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 between Table B8 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1998 and Table B9 of the pre-Budget Report.

(59098)

47
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will restate the Social Security Benefits expenditure from 1998-99 to 2001-02 in Table B12 of the pre-Budget Report on the basis of unemployment at the April 1998 level.

(59096)

48
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will reply to the letter of 6th July from the honourable Member for Wells requesting that he give estimates for the change-over costs of joining a single European currency.

(59100)

49
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would be the effect on the forecast social security contributions in Table B9 of the pre-Budget Report if the employee and employer national insurance contribution starting points were uprated each year in line with inflation.

(59099)

50
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide a break-down of the accounting and other adjustments line in Table B12 of the pre-Budget Report.

(59097)

51
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of revenues from stamp duty in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99 is attributable to intellectual property transactions.

(59299)

52
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the margin of error used in his growth forecast for the next financial year.

(59295)

53
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason projected revenues from tobacco duty for 1998-99 have been reduced; and if he will make a statement.

(59270)

54
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what rules will apply to (a) European commissioners, (b) members of the European Parliament and (c) accredited diplomats regarding the payment of excise duties on alcohol and tobacco products after 30th June 1999.

(59269)

55
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total cost to pension funds of the recoup of tax credits by the Inland Revenue paid in relation to share buybacks between September 1994 and October 1996.

(59272)

56
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the resignation of the Director-General of the British Council and place a copy of his resignation letter in the Library.

(59274)

57
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last made representations to Indonesia about East Timor.

(59283)

58
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussion he has had with EU member countries about reducing illegal currency transfers from Russia to western banking institutions.

(59276)

59
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is intending to take to reduce the incidence of child abuse in the Third World by western tourists.

(59281)

60
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to (a) Indonesia and (b) Australia following the decision of the International Commission of Jurists that five Australian journalists were killed by the Indonesian Government at the time of the invasion of East Timor

(59282)

61
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to review the UK's policy on sanctions against Pakistan.

(59277)

62
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the UK has been asked to render to the Russian Government in tracing illegal currency transfers out of Russia.

(59275)

63
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of sanctions on Pakistan by the USA on the prospects of Pakistan signing the Non-Proliferation Agreement.

(59280)

64
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd July, Official Report, column 693, when he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement by the United Kingdom and United States concerning maritime and aerial operations in the Caribbean, signed in Washington on 13th July, together with the explanatory memorandum.

(59042)

65
N   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what sum is currently owed on bills submitted by pharmacists to the Government.

(58757)

66
N   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time taken is for the Government to pay bills submitted by pharmacists.

(58758)

67
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what further guidance he has issued to health authorities and trusts concerning the levying of charges for car parking for staff and visitors.

(59245)

68
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for payment of the Children Services Grant after 2001-02.

(59226)

69
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) instruction or (b) guidelines his Department has (i) issued and (ii) intends to issue to require hospitals to amend the sterilisation procedure for surgical instruments in respect of (a) the temperature and (b) the duration of the autoclave cycle.

(59155)

70
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of operating theatre time in NHS hospitals in the Doncaster area, is devoted to the treatment of (a) waiting list patients, (b) emergencies, (c) other NHS patients, and (d) other non-NHS patients, for the most recent period for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

(59308)

71
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what number of waiting list patients were treated by hospitals in the Doncaster area as (a) day patients and (b) in-patients for the years (a) 1977, (b) 1987 and (c) 1997, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

(59309)

72
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of research paid for by his Department into ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been conducted using (a) London or Dowsett diagnostic criteria and (b) Oxford or CDC 1994 diagnostic criteria.

(59334)

73
N   Mr Martin Salter (Reading West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's recent letter to North Thames and South Thames health authorities regarding school nurses and health visitors.

(58737)

74
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of typical waiting times between GP referrals and NHS consultant appointments.

(57370)

75
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to reach a decision on the appeal by Mid Essex Community Health Council against the proposed closure of the maternity unit at St. Peter's Hospital, Maldon.

(59271)

76
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many appeals by community health councils against proposals to close hospital units are currently awaiting determination by him.

(59273)

77
   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what categories of planned admissions are excluded from NHS trusts' central returns to waiting (a) list and (b) time statistics; and from what date each category has been excluded.

(59301)

78
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd November, Official Report, column 385, concerning children in prison, how many children aged 15 years or under (a) are in young offenders' centres and (b) in adult prisons.

(59251)

79
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide a breakdown of educational attainment of inmates for the (a) Hatfield Young Offenders Institute, (b) HMP Lindholme and (c) HMP Moorlands at the time of admission; and what proportion of inmates were unemployed at the time of conviction.

(59302)

80
N   Sir Norman Fowler (Sutton Coldfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information was passed by Home Office (a) Ministers and (b) officials to the Prime Minister's Office prior to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, 27th October regarding the actions of the Right honourable Member for Caerphilly; and if he will make a statement.

(59278)

81
N   Sir Norman Fowler (Sutton Coldfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what briefing was received by (a) him and (b) Home Office (i) Ministers and (ii) officials from the Metropolitan Police before 11 a.m. on Tuesday 27th October, regarding the actions of the Right honourable Member for Caerphilly; and if he will make a statement.

(59279)

82
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passengers, by nationality, were refused leave to enter the United Kingdom and were detained overnight or longer, in each of the last five years.

(59340)

83
N   Mr Robert Sheldon (Ashton under Lyne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the average costs of recruitment of policemen (a) in the Metropolitan area and (b) in the rest of England.

(58838)

84
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter sent to him on 8th September by the honorable Member for Southend regarding the case of Mr Farooq Khalid Malik; and what enquiries he has made on the case since receipt of that letter.

(59300)

85
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 6th October to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State regarding the right of abode of a constituent.

(59063)

86
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid the UK Government is providing to victims of Hurricane Mitch; and if she will make a statement.

(59255)

87
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the UK National Commission for UNESCO.

(59252)

88
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the costs of the UK's membership of UNESCO in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99.

(59254)

89
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid has been requested by the Nicaraguan Government from the UK to help the victims of Hurricane Mitch.

(59256)

90
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the process for appointing members of the UK National Commission for UNESCO.

(59253)

91
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for each week in October the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many were in each category committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups.

(59231)

92
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for the week ended Saturday 7th November the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland; and if she will indicate how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalists and (ii) Republicans.

(59244)

93
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the President of the Council, if she has completed an audit of the state of readiness for millennium compliance in the public sector.

(59268)

94
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 19th October, Official Report, column 915, what advice he received on the production of EMPTA as a bi-product of tests on insecticides and pesticides for use in Africa.

(57344)

95
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he has been notified of the exact circumstances surrounding the finding of EMPTA at the El Shifa plant; and in what quantities they were found.

(57345)

96
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what steps Her Majesty's Government has taken to verify the information from the United States concerning the strike against the El Shifa factory.

(57346)

97
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 19th October, Official Report, column 915, what assessment he has made of the possibility that the EMPTA alleged to have been found in soil samples close to the pharmaceutical factory in the Sudan, could have been the hydrolysis product of an insecticide or germicide chemical for (a) military and (b) commercial test purposes.

(57347)

98
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) independent scientific organisations and (b) United Kingdom universities have been invited to assess whether the American claims about the Sudanese factories are true.

(57348)

99
N   Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 4th November, Official Report, column 870, if he will list the forecasts which indicate that there will be a pick-up in growth after next year.

(59293)

100
N   Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 4th November, Official Report, column 868, when he expects to announce the date of the referendum on the voting system.

(59292)

101
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if it is his policy to support the retention of a TA engineering presence in Scotland.

(59250)

102
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he believes civil authorities in the North of Scotland will be in a position to respond effectively to electricity or telecommunications failures which may result from the millennium bug.

(59242)

103
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what provision he has made for civil emergencies in (a) Scotland and (b) the North of Scotland as a result of the millennium bug.

(59248)

104
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what communications he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the provision of Territorial Army assistance to civil authorities in (a) Scotland and (b) the North of Scotland in the event of a civil emergency resulting from the millennium bug.

(59249)

105
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if it will be his policy to request the use of TA engineering units in the event of civil emergency resulting from the millennium bug.

(59243)

106
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what extra resources (a) have been and (b) are planned to be made available to (i) local authorities, (ii) the NHS and (iii) the emergency services in Scotland to deal with millennium bug compliance.

(59247)

107
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which minister in his Department has responsibility for millennium bug compliance in Scotland.

(59246)

108
   Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he intends to issue guidelines on the implications of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 in Scotland; and if he will place copies in the Library.

(59321)

109
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he plans to meet the Disability Benefits Forum to discuss his plans for replacing the Benefits Integrity Programme.

(59230)

110
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the range of qualifying benefits for eligibility for extended housing benefit; what plans he has to extend the range; and what assistance with rent payments is available to people starting paid employment who have to work a month before being paid.

(59339)

111
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of calculating housing benefit and council tax benefit for lone parents using the applicable amounts used for couples.

(59156)

112
   Miss Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the review of private pension provision will be completed.

(59322)

113
   Miss Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans the Government has to change the rules governing small self-administered pension scheme annuities.

(59323)

114
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 4th November to the honourable Member for Newbury, Official Report, columns 606-7, what estimate he has made of the total amount by which those entitled to SERPS have been underpaid (a) weekly and (b) since the introduction of NIRS 2 because of problems with that system.

(59091)

115
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 4th November to the honourable Member for Newbury, Official Report, columns 606-7, how many pensioners are currently receiving payments of (a) basic pension, (b) SERPS and (c) either basic pension or SERPS, where the Department cannot be certain that the correct amount is in payment.

(59101)

116
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make it his policy to publish, within one week of their agreement to commit funds, the identity of all new private sponsors of the Millennium Experience at Greenwich.

(59232)

117
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make it his policy to publish, within the week of their agreement at board level to commit funds, the identity of all new corporate sponsors of the Millennium Experience at Greenwich.

(59233)

118
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals he has to ensure protection of the interests of postal users in connection with moves to greater commercialisation of the Post Office.

(59267)

119
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress he is making in the evaluation of vertical agreements in the brewing industry.

(59163)

120
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals he has to monitor and publish performance on emissions from power generators on a basis of less than 12 months intervals.

(59164)

121
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the combined heat and power schemes sanctioned this year and those schemes for which there are applications for consent outstanding, indicating the capacity of the scheme.

(59165)

122
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the cost of the review of British Nuclear Fuels being carried out by KPMG; and when the review will be completed.

(59088)

123
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the terms of reference are for KPMG accountants' review of British Nuclear Fuels.

(59090)

124
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has for further consultations with industry on the proposals for secure electronic commerce announced on 27th April.

(59086)

125
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the EC Directives due to come before Parliament in the session commencing November 1998 which will be the responsibility of his Department.

(58530)

126
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what tender process was undertaken for the review of British Nuclear Fuels prior to the appointment of KPMG accountants; and if he will list the firms which submitted tenders.

(59089)

127
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals he has to facilitate electronic commerce with regard to changes in restrictions in the use of cryptography.

(59225)

128
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many responses he has received following the publication of the proposals for secure electronic commerce on 27th April; and if he will list them.

(59087)

129
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to require telecom providers to advertise their prices in a standard format.

(59304)

130
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to require providers of gas and electricity services to advertise their prices in a standard format.

(59303)

131
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the investment needs of the Post Office in each of the next five years.

(59338)

132
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the amount of money lost by Welsh farmers as the result of delays in the administration of farming subsidy payment system; and if he will make a statement.

(59317)

133
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will assess the amount of farming subsidy currently being lost by Welsh farmers as the result of farmers inaccurately filling out subsidy claims; and if he will make a statement.

(59318)

134
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to simplify the administration of agricultural subsidy claims; and if he will make a statement.

(59319)

135
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans his Department has to assist farmers who are experiencing difficulties in accurately completing paperwork relating to the claiming of farming subsidies and financial assistance; and if he will make a statement.

(59320)

136
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 31st July, Official Report, column 363, if he will make a statement on progress on the Millennium Stadium at Cardiff Arms Park.

(59332)

137
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the role of the TA in contingency planning scenarios for the millennium bug.

[Transferred] (59161)

138
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the Secretary of State for Scotland concerning the role of the Territorial Army in responding to civil emergencies resulting from the impact of the millennium bug on electricity supply and telecommunications; and if he will make a statement

[Transferred] (59158)

139
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his contingency planning scenarios for the millennium bug include a role for the TA infantry and TA engineers.

[Transferred] (59160)

140
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact on emergency preparedness for the millennium bug (a) in the UK, (b) in Scotland and (c) north of Inverness of planned reductions in the Territorial Army.

[Transferred] (59159)

141
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in the Don Valley constituency have (a) retired from work, (b) taken voluntary redundancy and (c) been made compulsorily redundant for the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available; and what these figures represent as a proportion of the workforce.

[Transferred] (59310)

142
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs in Doncaster Borough, broken down by sector, in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (59312)

143
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to ensure that the unemployment statistics represent the numbers available for and seeking work.

[Transferred] (59313)