 House of Commons |
Session 1997-98 Publications on the internet The Order Book |
| Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 16 November 1998
Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 16 November of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. |
| 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. |
| |
| 1 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, if the committee will consider recommending that relevant interests which appear on questions on the Order Paper also appear when answers are printed in the Official Report. |
| (59812) | |
| 2 N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, if she will publish the total number of House of Commons passes issued for persons classified as assistants/research assistants to honourable Members, and the known number who work full or part-time in the above positions. |
| (59944) | |
| 3 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59714) | |
| 4 | Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will (a) establish and (b) financially assist an early retirement scheme for fishermen as a means of reducing fishing effort. |
| (60179) | |
| 5 | Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to ensure the consistency of fishing vessel safety inspections. |
| (60181) | |
| 6 | Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assistance he will offer for the installation of safety equipment on fishing vessels under 10 metres in length. |
| (60180) | |
| 7 | Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to introduce a scrap and build programme for fishing vessels under 10 metres. |
| (60182) | |
| 8 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59716) | |
| 9 | Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to (a) prevent the destruction and (b) encourage the maintenance of dry stone walls. |
| (60006) | |
| 10 | Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which other EU states have pledged their support for the retention of the principle of relative stability as per the 1983 agreement. |
| (59826) | |
| 11 | Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what fisheries conservation objectives are intended to be achieved by the designation of landing ports. |
| (59828) | |
| 12 | Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the principle of relative stability will continue beyond 2002. |
| (59824) | |
| 13 | Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with which other states he has discussed the concept of coastal or zonal state management proposed by the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation. |
| (59827) | |
| 14 | Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what legal text governs the length of time that the principle of relative stability will continue. |
| (59825) | |
| 15 | Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what criteria will be used to determine which applicants will be accepted into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the effects of the recent £1 million addition to the scheme's budget. |
| (60175) | |
| 16 N | Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will estimate the amount of money his Department has spent in Staffordshire on measures relating to the BSE problem; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59545) | |
| 17 N | Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the susceptibility to the millennium bug of farm machinery and equipment in the United Kingdom; and what measures he proposes to take to deal with the problem. |
| (59563) | |
| 18 N | Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he has taken to ensure that the operation of farm machinery in the UK is not affected by the millennium bug. |
| (59909) | |
| 19 N | Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the publications in which his Department has taken advertisements to publicise the millennium bug and indicate the cost of these advertisements. |
| (59562) | |
| 20 N | Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the publications in which his Department has placed advertisements to publicise the millennium bug, indicating the cost of the advertisements. |
| (59910) | |
| 21 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the Animal By Products Order 1992 in relation to off-site hygenic disposal. |
| (60042) | |
| 22 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what criteria apply to define a waste water system as required by the Animal By Products Order 1992; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60026) | |
| 23 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those rendering plants currently in operation in accordance with the Animal By Products Order 1992 indicating for each whether (a) a waste water disposal system meeting hygiene requirements is required, (b) ministerial approval has been given for each facility and (c) a waste water disposal system is currently operating. |
| (60025) | |
| 24 N | Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask Mr Attorney General, what instructions were given by the Treasury Solicitor to Mr Alan Steele to contact newspapers over the resignation of the former Secretary of State for Wales. |
| (59572) | |
| 25 N | Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask Mr Attorney General, what position Mr Alan Steele holds in the Treasury Solicitor's Department. |
| (59571) | |
| 26 N | Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask Mr Attorney General, if Mr Alan Steele of Her Majesty's Treasury Solicitors telephoned The Sun newspaper on 3rd November in connection with the resignation of the former Secretary of State for Wales. |
| (59570) | |
| 27 N | Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): To ask Mr Attorney General, what responsibilities Mr Alan Steele of the Treasury Solicitor's Office holds for press relations. |
| (59574) | |
| 28 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59747) | |
| 29 | Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what budget has been allocated to the Interchange initiative for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000. |
| (60029) | |
| 30 | Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to promote the Interchange initiative. |
| (60016) | |
| 31 | Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many individuals have been seconded (a) from the Civil Service to industry and (b) from industry to the Civil Service under the Interchange initiative, since its establishment. |
| (60028) | |
| 32 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made since January 1996 in reviewing and releasing the records of the Joint Intelligence Committee; where in the Public Record Office the records are which have been released since then; which years are covered by records which have been released since then; what records are now planned to be reviewed for release; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60289) | |
| 33 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which Football League clubs have applied for lottery money from the Sports Council of England for youth development schemes. |
| (59939) | |
| 34 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications have been received by the Sports Council of England from Football League clubs for funding for youth development schemes. |
| (59938) | |
| 35 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what basis was used to calculate the funding required to compensate national museums which currently charge for admission for his plans to introduce universal free admission by 2001. |
| (59934) | |
| 36 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the present relationship between the Royal Opera House and its principal private sponsors. |
| (59933) | |
| 37 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Opera House. |
| (59932) | |
| 38 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what are the requirements placed on the BBC to advertise senior executive appointments externally. |
| (59937) | |
| 39 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much of the money which the New Opportunities Fund will receive during the licence period to September 2001 will be allocated to providing children with sporting opportunities at after-school clubs. |
| (59936) | |
| 40 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which Football League clubs have unsuccessfully applied for lottery money from the Sports Council of England to fund youth development schemes. |
| (59942) | |
| 41 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which Football League clubs have successfully applied for lottery money from the Sports Council of England to fund youth development schemes. |
| (59941) | |
| 42 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which Football League clubs have received lottery money from the Sports Council of England to fund youth development schemes. |
| (59940) | |
| 43 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59740) | |
| 44 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 11th June, Official Report, columns 677-8, if he will request the European Commission to provide the information sought on Community institutions purchasing World Cup tickets. |
| (59997) | |
| 45 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59717) | |
| 46 N | Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of lottery funds excluding Millennium Landmark projects has been received by coalfield communities in (a) South Yorkshire and (b) nationally. |
| (59820) | |
| 47 N | Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what has been the (a) average value and (b) number of lottery grants of less than £1 million received by coalfield communities (i) in South Yorkshire and (ii) nationally. |
| (59822) | |
| 48 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on support for the film industry in (a) Britain, (b) other member states of the European Union and (c) the United States of America. |
| (60266) | |
| 49 | Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how the coverage of terrestrial television services throughout the United Kingdom is planned. |
| (60233) | |
| 50 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans there are for exhibitions in the buildings of the former Royal Observatory, Greenwich, during and after the millennium celebrations. |
| (60103) | |
| 51 | Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what dates in (a) July, (b) August, (c) September and (d) October he attended sporting events; and if he will list what these events were and where they took place. |
| (59907) | |
| 52 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59748) | |
| 53 N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will undertake a study of the potential environmental effects of cruise missiles landing on (a) oil wells and (b) petroleum-refining complexes. |
| (59547) | |
| 54 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59718) | |
| 55 | Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will announce his conclusions on the future of the Territorial Army. |
| (60246) | |
| 56 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of (a) RAF Northolt, (b) RAF Uxbridge and (c) RAF Bentley Priory. |
| (59847) | |
| 57 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the role of the TA in dealing with the effects of the millennium bug. |
| (60264) | |
| 58 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will postpone his plans to cut the TA until 2000. |
| (60263) | |
| 59 N | Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what partnership funding he will make available to the military museums under their bid for millennium lottery money to improve access and education at the museums. |
| (58335) | |
| 60 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd November, Official Report, columns 348-9, for what reasons his Department is undertaking a review of events concerning 32 Field Hospital; when this review started; when it is expected to end; and who is carrying out this review. |
| (60330) | |
| 61 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what evaluation the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has made of whether short-term exposure to CR gas can harm human health in the long term. |
| (60328) | |
| 62 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in which years since 1968 water cannon have been used by the armed forces in Northern Ireland; and how many times water cannon were used by the armed forces in Northern Ireland. |
| (60335) | |
| 63 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 21st October, Official Report, columns 1110-1 on the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (Porton Down) Technical Papers, how many papers in the DERA Reports series of technical papers are currently unclassified; when the DERA Reports series of papers (a) started and (b) finished; and how many papers have so far been produced in the DERA Reports series of papers. |
| (60333) | |
| 64 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the armed forces (a) first and (b) last used rubber bullets in Northern Ireland; in which years since 1968 they used rubber bullets in Northern Ireland; how many rubber bullets they used in Northern Ireland in each of those years; and how many rubber bullets they have used in Northern Ireland since 1968. |
| (60334) | |
| 65 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th June, Official Report, column 230, on riot control agents, if his Department has completed its review of the quantity of CS gas which it holds. |
| (60329) | |
| 66 N | Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the letter written by the Commander in Chief Land Command on 26th October threatening to court martial soldiers who spoke to (a) the Press and (b) honourable Members about proposed TA cuts; and if the letter was authorised by him. |
| (59926) | |
| 67 N | Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the organisations and people consulted prior to the development of contingency plans for the deployment of the Territorial Army in Cambridgeshire in the event of civil disturbance arising from the millennium bug. |
| (59617) | |
| 68 N | Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will defer consideration of any reduction in the Territorial Army until January 2000 or until all millennium bug problems have been eradicated. |
| (59619) | |
| 69 N | Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place on the Library a copy of the contingency plans for the deployment of the Territorial Army in Cambridgeshire in the event of civil disturbance arising from the millennium bug. |
| (59618) | |
| 70 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the facilities and buildings currently (a) under construction, (b) undergoing refurbishment and (c) in the design stage, indicating their purpose and their estimated total cost at (i) AWE Aldermaston and (ii) AWE Burghfield. |
| (60020) | |
| 71 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many systems have been identified during the year 2000 audit as being critical to the safe and continuous operation of the Trident system. |
| (59972) | |
| 72 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of the computer chips within the Trident system were purchased off the shelf from suppliers; and what percentage were specifically designed and manufactured for the task required. |
| (59930) | |
| 73 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department will spend on the construction of the refit facilities at Devonport. |
| (60022) | |
| 74 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the items being purchased as the UK's share of the FY99 Trident procurement programme. |
| (60017) | |
| 75 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of the $107 million listed in the financial addendum to the US/UK Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Joint US/UK Trident D-5 Missile Production Program is included in the authorised US fiscal year 1999 UK Trident procurement in the USA. |
| (60024) | |
| 76 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money was spent in the last financial year on public relations by the (a) AWEs, (b) Royal Ordnance plc, (c) British Army, (d) Royal Navy, (e) RAF and (f) Defence Evaluation Research Agency. |
| (60021) | |
| 77 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much is planned to be spent by (a) the MoD, (b) the Royal Navy, (c) the Procurement Executive, (d) the Defence Evaluation Research Agency and (e) the AWEs to ensure millennium compliance of the Trident systems. |
| (59973) | |
| 78 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money was spent at AWE in each of the last five years and how much is projected to be spent in the next five years on new building programmes and refurbishment of existing facilities to meet (a) current safety standards and (b) the requirements of the Trident warhead programme; and what proportion of this expenditure is being met by Hunting BRAE. |
| (60019) | |
| 79 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of the budget being spent in the US on Trident during fiscal year 1999 is for items essential to maintain the continued operational availability of the UK Trident system. |
| (60018) | |
| 80 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) audits and (b) action plans completed by his Department on the subject of the Trident system's millennium compliance. |
| (59974) | |
| 81 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions have occurred between his Department and his US counterparts to ensure millennium compliance of those parts of the Trident system purchased in the US; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59929) | |
| 82 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much is paid annually to the US Government to guarantee the servicing of the UK Trident missile stock; and if this money is part of the estimated Trident running costs. |
| (60023) | |
| 83 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what procedures are in place within his Department to ensure the Trident system will not fail on key dates in the computer calendar. |
| (59931) | |
| 84 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff are dedicated to ensuring the Trident system's millennium compliance (a) within the MoD, (b) in the Royal Navy, (c) in the Procurement Executive, (d) in the Defence Evaluation Research Agency and (e) in the Atomic Weapons Establishments; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59928) | |
| 85 N | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the proportion of his Department's computer systems which will be millennium-compliant on 1st April 1999. |
| (58847) | |
| 86 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59746) | |
| 87 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 9th November, Official Report, column 90, how many requests he received from teachers to update material available on the European Union prior to the production of Partners in Europe. |
| (59879) | |
| 88 | Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many local education authority areas were operating (a) wholly and (b) partly, comprehensive secondary school systems in (i) 1968, (ii) 1978, (iii) 1988 and (iv) 1998. |
| (60187) | |
| 89 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59726) | |
| 90 N | Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is his assessment of the effect of the introduction of tuition fees and the abolition of the maintenance grant on the numbers of mature disabled students entering further and higher education; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59644) | |
| 91 N | Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd November, Official Report, column 524, on the cost of qualifications in maintained schools, if he will rank each local education authority in order of the cost per (a) A level and (b) GCSE, by dividing the education standard spending assessment per secondary school pupil by the number of qualifications obtained in each authority. |
| (60094) | |
| 92 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, within what period of time he will determine the need for legislation on the areas of the provision for special educational needs as set out in the Government's paper, Meeting Special Educational Needs: A Programme of Action. |
| (59835) | |
| 93 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those additional funds that have been made available to (a) local education authorites and (b) schools through a bidding process since May 1997 indicating for each aspect of funding the numbers of bids received and the number of recipients of funding. |
| (59832) | |
| 94 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will set out the definition of a parent partnership scheme as referred to in the Government's action programme for SEN; and what will be the requirements to qualify for such schemes. |
| (59831) | |
| 95 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will set out the basis for the calculation of the numbers of extra infant class teachers in post in September recently announced by his Department. |
| (59668) | |
| 96 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much of the £16 billion extra expenditure on education over the next three years, excluding that accounted for by increases in education standard spending assessments, capital funds and the standards fund, will be available for direct expenditure by schools. |
| (59833) | |
| 97 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the University for Industry will offer (a) courses and (b) places for trade union members. |
| (60085) | |
| 98 N | Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to combat discrimination against disabled people in matters not yet covered by legislation. |
| (58389) | |
| 99 | Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he expects the National Textile Training Organisation to be established. |
| (60172) | |
| 100 | Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received regarding the establishment of a unified National Textile Training Organisation. |
| (60183) | |
| 101 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the abandoned railway routes that are owned by British Rail, in each instance listing (a) the length in kilometres, (b) how long they have been closed and (c) the commercial value of the land. |
| (59688) | |
| 102 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the Strategic Rail Authority will have (a) the power and (b) the duty to draw up network development plans for main lines. |
| (59680) | |
| 103 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the allocation by Railtrack of train paths between freight and passenger traffic. |
| (59674) | |
| 104 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the potential for congestion charging to reduce traffic levels. |
| (59689) | |
| 105 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what role the Commission for Integrated Transport will play in helping to ensure that financial inconsistencies between the criteria for road and rail projects are eliminated. |
| (59691) | |
| 106 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the Strategic Rail Authority will be subject to the proposed freedom of information legislation. |
| (59679) | |
| 107 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the forthcoming paper on ports policy will explicitly endorse the strategic importance of Newhaven; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59694) | |
| 108 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he is taking to promote the re-opening of disused rail lines. |
| (59664) | |
| 109 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the impact on rail freight of the introduction of 44-tonne lorries. |
| (59690) | |
| 110 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many additional miles of railway track have been electrified in each of the last 10 years. |
| (59682) | |
| 111 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the Dutch transport information service; and what plans he has to introduce a similar scheme in the UK. |
| (59681) | |
| 112 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the average cost of constructing one kilometre of (a) a twin-track railway, (b) a two-way road, (c) a motorway, (d) a footpath and (e) a cycle lane. |
| (59687) | |
| 113 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59745) | |
| 114 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects the Environmental Stakeholders Forum for Genetic Modifications to be in operation; and what its terms of reference will be. |
| (59684) | |
| 115 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of capacity problems within the rail network. |
| (59678) | |
| 116 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he has taken to encourage the provision of secure parking for motorcycles. |
| (59665) | |
| 117 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the ecological monitoring of farm-scale trials of genetically-modified crops will involve; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59683) | |
| 118 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the average cost of moving freight per kilometre by (a) road, (b) rail and (c) air. |
| (59692) | |
| 119 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much the Government has spent in the last five years to reduce drink driving. |
| (59676) | |
| 120 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment the Government has made of the practice of banning motor cyclists from riding for six months if they fail to obtain a full licence within two years; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59686) | |
| 121 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the role of construction companies in the pollution of waterways in the UK; and if he will give a breakdown by industry of pollution incidents in waterways since 1990. |
| (59693) | |
| 122 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the potential (a) increased use of and (b) safety implications of the use of (i) cycle lanes and (ii) bus lanes by motorcycles. |
| (59685) | |
| 123 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if it is his policy to allow British Rail to bid for future rail franchises. |
| (59675) | |
| 124 N | Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make arrangements for the testing of dioxin levels at the site of Avenue Cokeworks, Wingerworth, Derbyshire. |
| (59597) | |
| 125 N | Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the standard spending assessment for Surrey County Council for each of the last 10 years in (a) all services, (b) education, (c) the police and (d) personal social services; and what forecast he has made of the level of Surrey's spending needs in the next financial year. |
| (60038) | |
| 126 N | Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what contribution the area cost adjustment made to the standard spending assessment of each London borough in respect of (a) all services, (b) education, (c) the police and (d) personal social services in each of the last 10 years. |
| (60046) | |
| 127 N | Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what contribution the area cost adjustment made to the standard spending assessment which Surrey received in respect of (a) all services, (b) education, (c) the police and (d) personal social services in each of the last 10 years. |
| (60051) | |
| 128 N | Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the standard spending assessment for each London borough for each of the last 10 years in (a) all services, (b) education, (c) the police and (d) personal social services; and what forecast he has made of changes in the level of London boroughs' spending needs in the next financial year. |
| (60050) | |
| 129 N | Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much cost adjustment each London borough received for each of the last 10 years; and what was the proportion of area cost adjustment to standard spending assessment in each of those years. |
| (60047) | |
| 130 N | Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what options he is considering for changes to the criteria for the area cost adjustment for the London boroughs in next year's financial settlement; and if he will list the financial implications of each option. |
| (60048) | |
| 131 N | Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what options he is considering for changes to the criteria for the area cost adjustment for Surrey in next year's financial settlement; and if he will outline the financial implications of each option. |
| (60036) | |
| 132 N | Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much area cost adjustment Surrey has received for each of the last 10 financial years; and what was the proportion of area cost adjustment to standard spending assessment in each year. |
| (60037) | |
| 133 N | Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what restrictions apply to the conveyance of passenger vehicles fuelled by autogas through the Channel Tunnel; and what is the safety case for these restrictions. |
| (59811) | |
| 134 | Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects his Department's investigation into the National Bus Company pension schemes to be concluded. |
| (60098) | |
| 135 | Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the Local Government Boundaries Commission's proposals for the Isle of Wight in relation to the unitary council elections of 2001. |
| (60040) | |
| 136 N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the maximum discount is under the Right to Buy scheme at present; and what it will be under the Government's new proposals. |
| (59620) | |
| 137 N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the (a) maximum and (b) minimum reductions in the Right to Buy discounts will be as a result of the Government's changes to the existing discount scheme. |
| (59622) | |
| 138 N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to reduce the maximum discount for council home tenants wishing to buy their homes under the Right to Buy. |
| (59621) | |
| 139 | Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the dates during the last six months when there was no officer on duty at Tyne-Tees coastguard station qualified above the rank of coastguard watch assistant. |
| (59886) | |
| 140 | Mr Tony Colman (Putney): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the aircraft movements at Heathrow Airport between midnight and 7 a.m. on Christmas morning 1997, indicating (a) airline, (b) aircraft, (c) origin or destination and schedule and (d) actual times of arrival and departure. |
| (60185) | |
| 141 | Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Highways Agency will hand over responsibility for trunk roads to county councils. |
| (59891) | |
| 142 | Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how soon standard spending assessments will be adjusted to take account of additional responsibility placed on county councils of maintaining, repairing and improving trunk roads. |
| (59892) | |
| 143 N | Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the (a) level of tolls on the Severn Bridge, (b) introduction of two way tolling and (c) concessions for local commuters. |
| (59561) | |
| 144 | Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to change planning controls over development carried out by licensed telecommunications code system operators. |
| (60158) | |
| 145 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59719) | |
| 146 | Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what results are available of the police pilot sweat/saliva tests of drug use among drivers in Strathclyde, Sussex, Cleveland and Lancashire. |
| (60322) | |
| 147 | Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the cost is of strengthening the Avonmouth Bridge to comply with EC loading standards; what the total cost is of bridge strengthening work in the United Kingdom in order to comply with the EC directive allowing 40 tonne lorries; and how much of this cost has been met from public funds. |
| (60267) | |
| 148 N | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 9th November, Official Report, column 29, on what date revised traffic forecasts will be available. |
| (59616) | |
| 149 | Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the oral Statement by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury of 11th November, Official Report, column 349, on taxation of road hauliers, if he will list examples of continental hauliers who have chosen to register their truck in the UK; and how many foreign-owned trucks have been registered in the UK by continental hauliers. |
| (59885) | |
| 150 | Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the capital investment was in publicly-owned and other social housing at 1994-95 prices in the Birmingham Metropolitan District in (a) 1979-80, (b) 1984-85, (c) 1989-90 and (d) each of the subsequent years; and what is the amount planned for 1999-2000. |
| (60252) | |
| 151 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the response to the Second Report of the Environmental Audit Committee on the Greening Government initiative (HC 517) will be published. |
| (59943) | |
| 152 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 10th November, Official Report, columns 114-5, for what reasons the names of the companies which submitted bids for Teesside Development Corporation equipment are commercially confidential. |
| (59864) | |
| 153 | Sir Nicholas Lyell (North East Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received in relation to BSG Property Services Limited of Everton, Bedfordshire, and the effects of Schedule 1 of the Housing Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60186) | |
| 154 | Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which coastal resorts have received funding from the Single Regeneration Budget. |
| (59839) | |
| 155 | Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to allow local authorities an exemption from housing management CCT, providing best value arrangements are in place. |
| (60177) | |
| 156 | Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which standard spending assessments take sparsity of population into account when calculating revenue support grants. |
| (60248) | |
| 157 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to issue new planning policy guidance on housing. |
| (59669) | |
| 158 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what evaluation he has made of the spread of radioactive gases over the South Coast from the French nuclear power station at Cap La Hague. |
| (60107) | |
| 159 | Mr Bill Olner (Nuneaton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has for recruiting a new Chairman for British Waterways. |
| (60232) | |
| 160 | Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made on his proposals for a public/private partnership for the management and operation of London Underground; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60323) | |
| 161 | Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to reduce the level of local government debt. |
| (59856) | |
| 162 | Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many homes in each UK region have water budget payment units; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59913) | |
| 163 | Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the current reviews and consultations which are being undertaken by his Department on climate change and sustainable development. |
| (59993) | |
| 164 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will assess the applicability of the proposed new models of local authority leadership to fire and rescue authorities; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60193) | |
| 165 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he plans to take to return technetium 99 discharges to pre-1994 levels; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59919) | |
| 166 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the statement by the Environment Agency of October in relation to the comissioning of the mixed oxide fuel plant at Sellafield, what plans he has to reconsider and extend the remit currently available to the Environment Agency. |
| (59920) | |
| 167 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he is taking to direct the Environment Agency to reassess the fundamental justification for licensing the mox plant in the light of environmental and safety issues. |
| (59921) | |
| 168 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with the Trade Secretary in respect of environmental considerations applying to the terms of reference of the recently commissioned KPMG report exploring future options for Sellafield. |
| (59922) | |
| 169 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to direct English Nature to revise its criteria for inclusion on the inventory of ancient woodland to cover smaller woods; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59923) | |
| 170 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to require English Nature to compile inventories of unimproved grassland; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59924) | |
| 171 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received in response to the statement by the Environment Agency on 23rd October relating to the Sellafield mox plant and variations to BNFL's site discharge authorisations. |
| (59917) | |
| 172 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what account he intends to take of the international agreement reached at the OSPAR conference in July at Sintra in responding to the Environment Agency's statement relating to liquid discharge limits. |
| (59918) | |
| 173 | Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer of the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 9th November, Official Report, column 100, when his Department proposes to issue exemptions from landfill tax; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59927) | |
| 174 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59736) | |
| 175 N | Mr Tony Benn (Chesterfield): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the European Union Council Recommendation 11393/97, issued in Brussels on 28th October 1997. |
| (59596) | |
| 176 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the consequences of Sweden's non-inclusion in Phase 3 of EMU for the precondition of two years membership of the ERM prior to any UK participation in EMU. |
| (60004) | |
| 177 | Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the use of tax stamps to combat the smuggling of tobacco and alcohol. |
| (60178) | |
| 178 N | Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 11th November, Official Report, column 198, and paragraph 2 of Cm 4076, what assessment he has made of the impact of gross domestic product growth below his Department's most pessimistic case on compliance with the golden rule. |
| (60044) | |
| 179 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the selection of non-civil servants to serve on the Euro Preparations Unit; on what terms the HSBC Midland secondee is serving; what is his area of expertise; how many other candidates were considered; and if additional non-civil servants will be brought in. |
| (59836) | |
| 180 N | Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which members of (a) Her Majesty's Treasury and (b) other government departments have made use of Dorneywood since 1st May 1997; on how many occasions and for what purposes in each case; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59626) | |
| 181 N | Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which Department provided the officials who prepared the initial drafts of the chapter on The Productivity Challenge in the November 1998 Pre-Budget Report; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59733) | |
| 182 N | Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the number of people each year who would benefit from tax relief on the salaries of staff seconded from business to educational establishments; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59734) | |
| 183 N | Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate what the growth of United Kingdom GDP would be in 1999, on the basis of the rates of growth of exports and imports assumed in the March 1998 Budget. |
| (59625) | |
| 184 N | Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people who have been on the New Deal have been employed subsequently by Her Majesty's Treasury; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59624) | |
| 185 | Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has to (a) tax pensions lump sums and (b) remove the higher rate tax benefit on private and occupational pensions. |
| (59887) | |
| 186 | Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out the amount of the excessive deficit for the United Kingdom decided by the Council of the European Union under Article 104C(6) of the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of the European Union; what plans Her Majesty's Government has pursuant to Council Declaration 11393/97 to comply with the Council recommendation to bring that situation to an end; within which timescale; and what assessment he has made of the impact on UK (a) taxation and (b) public expenditure. |
| (60008) | |
| 187 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59724) | |
| 188 | Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the rate of cot death in (a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998 to date. |
| (60012) | |
| 189 | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the current value of the age allowances for pensioners (a) aged 65 years and over and (b) aged 75 years and over in respect of those on a single income of (a) £4,045 to £5,220, (b) £5,221 to £9,320, (c) £9,321 to £15,600 and (d) £15,601 to £17,950 and on joint incomes of (i) £7,545 to £10,075, (ii) 10,076 to £14,175, (iii) 14,176 to £15,895 and (iv) £15,895 to £32,555. |
| (60034) | |
| 190 | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the value of the age allowance for single pensioners with joint incomes at five yearly intervals for the last 30 years. |
| (60032) | |
| 191 | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of abortions for women in Walthamstow were funded by the NHS in the last three years for which figures are available. |
| (60031) | |
| 192 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the pay bands for each tier of employees at the Financial Services Authority. |
| (60049) | |
| 193 | Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assets the United Kingdom is obliged to hand over to the European Central Bank; and at what stage. |
| (59823) | |
| 194 | Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for the harmonisation of liquor duties with other EU countries. |
| (59830) | |
| 195 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of a bit tax on Internet access. |
| (60260) | |
| 196 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of a worldwide tax treaty on electronic commerce. |
| (60259) | |
| 197 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will increase the number of members of the Monetary Policy Committee representing each region of the United Kingdom. |
| (59861) | |
| 198 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from small brewers concerning the introduction of progressive beer duty; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59896) | |
| 199 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what statutory force attaches to the EU Council's recommendation of 28th October 1997 that the UK Government achieves a government deficit that is close to balance when an allowance is made for the economy's cyclical position as projected in the convergence programme; and what extra measures will be required to fulfil this. |
| (60109) | |
| 200 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he took to implement the EU Council recommendation of 28th October 1997 on an excessive government deficit in the UK; and if he will publish the new convergence programme he submitted in September 1997. |
| (60105) | |
| 201 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the EU Council's conclusions of 13th October 1997 on the UK government deficit. |
| (60108) | |
| 202 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 26th October, Official Report, column 42, if he will publish the costs to public funds of introducing a tonnage-based tax on British shipping at rates comparable to those levied by other member states of the European Community, together with his estimate of the future trend in the yield from shipping taxes if the current tax regime is retained. |
| (60097) | |
| 203 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the council decision of 26th September 1974 on Britain's excess in deficit was abrogated; when he applied for this to be abrogated; and if he will make a statement on its impact. |
| (60113) | |
| 204 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd November, Official Report, column 349, concerning national deposits and share capital in the European Central Bank, if he will tabulate the percentage of the share capital subscribed by each participating state on 1st January 1999. |
| (60112) | |
| 205 | Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many representations he has received from (a) honourable Members and Peers and (b) members of the public regarding the proposed abolition of the ability of non-taxpayers to reclaim tax credits paid on investment income; and when he expects to announce his decision on whether non-taxpayers can continue to reclaim the tax credit from 6th April 1999. |
| (60159) | |
| 206 | Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the five-year survival rate for cancer is in (a) the UK and (b) other OECD countries. |
| (59849) | |
| 207 N | Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates he has made of the cost of collection of vehicle excise duty as a result of the proposed changes to the duty set out in the pre-Budget statement. |
| (59666) | |
| 208 | Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is his Department's policy on establishing international recognition of the Laos Government; and what support his Department has provided to Laos. |
| (60039) | |
| 209 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59744) | |
| 210 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 17th June, Official Report, column 246, if he will make a statement on the plans of Youth for Europe to develop (a) European solidarity and (b) European awareness; and if the definition of Europe is synonymous with the European Union. |
| (59998) | |
| 211 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations (a) he and (b) his Ministers have received from the European Union Youth Forum as part of its EU-funded lobbying activities. |
| (59992) | |
| 212 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the interpretation of the objectives of the Youth for Europe programme (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in the rest of the European Union. |
| (60005) | |
| 213 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of speakers at People's Europe '98 (a) endorsed and (b) opposed closer European integration; and what measures he will take to ensure balance in future conferences. |
| (60000) | |
| 214 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on (a) the policy on and (b) the extent of the practice of the destruction of European Union documents. |
| (60001) | |
| 215 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent from public funds on the provision of gifts distributed to journalists at the Cardiff summit. |
| (59999) | |
| 216 | Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy to assist the nations concerned to meet the 4th May deadline for the international recognition of the state of Palestine. |
| (59893) | |
| 217 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59727) | |
| 218 | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications for visit visas have been refused at the High Commission in Lagos; and what proportion of the total applications this represents, in each of the last four years, and in the current year to date. |
| (60027) | |
| 219 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 5th November, Official Report, column 637, which were the countries of application of those people refused visit visas in the last three years. |
| (59881) | |
| 220 N | Mr Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 10th November, Official Report, columns 126-7, when and where he will ratify the agreement by the UK and the USA concerning maritime and aerial operations in the Caribbean, signed in Washington on 13th July. |
| (59813) | |
| 221 N | Dr John Marek (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to ensure Her Majesty's Government's representatives abroad are of High Commissioner status in as many different Commonwealth countries as finances allow. |
| (59569) | |
| 222 | Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Baha'is in Iran. |
| (60174) | |
| 223 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the French Government about radioactive gases emitted from the nuclear power station at Cap La Hague. |
| (60110) | |
| 224 N | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of NHS computer systems which will be millennium-compliant on 1st April 1999. |
| (58846) | |
| 225 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59743) | |
| 226 | Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Bournewood Judgement. |
| (60293) | |
| 227 | Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the regulations which permit him to ban NHS prescriptions for Viagra. |
| (60196) | |
| 228 | Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue guidance on the statutory provisions as they affect private prescriptions issued by NHS GPs to their registered NHS patients for Viagra. |
| (60197) | |
| 229 | Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on private prescriptions issued by NHS general practitioners for their NHS residential patients where the cost of medication is lower than the registered prescription charge. |
| (60035) | |
| 230 N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd October, Official Report, column 1180, what are the latest figures for the number of people in the Mid Essex Hospital trust area waiting to see a consultant for (a) 13 to 25 weeks and (b) 26 or more weeks. |
| (59546) | |
| 231 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his officials have concluded their review of the impact of the introduction of the VAT Order SI 1997/2744; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59895) | |
| 232 N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce (a) part-time and (b) term-time nurse training to assist mature students with family responsibilities. |
| (59331) | |
| 233 N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about the number of temporary staff employed on psychiatric wards; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59440) | |
| 234 | Jean Corston (Bristol East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what would be the estimated annual cost in 1998-99 prices of meeting each of the principal recommendations of the Black Report on Inequalities of Health, as listed in the Official Report, 16th December 1982, columns 242-3; and what would be the total annual cost (a) as a percentage of gross domestic product, (b) as a percentage of total estimated expenditure on social security and (c) as a percentage of total estimated public expenditure. |
| (60086) | |
| 235 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, to what extent his Department has recorded which of the known new-variant CJD victims were previously blood donors; if he will publish the information his Department has collated on this matter; and if he will take steps to trace and destroy blood retained by the Blood Transfusion Service from these individuals. |
| (59982) | |
| 236 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what screening tests are currently available for new-variant CJD. |
| (59985) | |
| 237 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the risk of transmitting new-variant CJD by blood transfusion. |
| (59980) | |
| 238 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has evaluated on the leucodepletion of blood within the Blood Transfusion Service. |
| (59991) | |
| 239 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the information collected under paragraphs 11(1) and 11(3) of Schedule 9 of the COSHH Regulations allows his Department to trace other patients on the same operating list as the patient carrying the infective agent of new-variant CJD at Torbay; and if the hospital concerned has listed the employees involved in the operation in accordance with these paragraphs. |
| (59978) | |
| 240 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the risk of infection by new-variant CJD posed to close blood line relatives of the known new-variant CJD victims. |
| (59979) | |
| 241 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will require the hospitals where any of the known new-variant CJD victims (a) underwent operations and (b) other invasive procedures in the 10 years preceding their deaths, to carry out tests on archive tissue or blood specimens taken during these procedures in order to establish whether they contain the infective agent of new-variant CJD. |
| (59987) | |
| 242 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of the hospitals at which the known new-variant CJD victims were treated have listed the employees involved in this treatment in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 11(1) and 11(3) of Schedule 9 of the COSHH Regulations. |
| (59983) | |
| 243 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will establish from the (a) families and (b) medical records of the known new-variant CJD victims if they had undergone operations or other invasive procedures under the NHS in the 10 years preceding their death. |
| (59989) | |
| 244 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the conclusions of the National Blood Authority to be published with regard to the leucodepletion of blood within the blood transfusion service. |
| (59981) | |
| 245 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what efforts his Department is making to develop a test for new-variant CJD. |
| (59984) | |
| 246 N | Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will order hospitals at which the infective agent of new-variant CJD are identified in tissue or blood specimens taken during operations and other invasive procedures to trace all those patients subsequently operated on in (a) those same theatres and (b) with the same instruments, in order to carry out regular checks on their health to monitor symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. |
| (59988) | |
| 247 | Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS trusts in England (a) have and (b) have not implemented the Government's recommendation to ensure that midwives working as the lead professional are awarded a minimum F-grade salary. |
| (59990) | |
| 248 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59728) | |
| 249 | Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to reward local authorities for innovative new approaches in their provision of social services. |
| (60043) | |
| 250 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons he did not re-appoint Mr Martyn Long CBE DL for a second term as Chairman of the Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust. |
| (60045) | |
| 251 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Gedling of 28th July, Official Report, column 179, if he will estimate the cost of providing a hardship fund for people with haemophilia infected with the hepatitis C virus through contaminated blood products similar to the scheme operating for those with HIV infection. |
| (59883) | |
| 252 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many haemophilia patients were infected with hepatitis C virus through their NHS treatment prior to 1985; how many are currently awaiting liver transplants as a result of the disease; how many are currently undergoing NHS treatment; and how many have died as a result of liver diseases. |
| (59848) | |
| 253 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the current medical (a) evidence and (b) advice on the transmission of Hepatitis C virus (i) between partners and (ii) between parents and children. |
| (59843) | |
| 254 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Gedling of 28th July, Official Report, column 179, what representations he has received from the Haemophilia Society concerning abuse and discrimination against hepatitis C infected people. |
| (59884) | |
| 255 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Gedling of 28th July, Official Report, column 179, what steps he has taken to monitor the take-up of benefits by people infected with the hepatitis C virus through contaminated blood products; and what assessment he has made of the additional costs of care for such people and the loss of income from reduced availability for work. |
| (59882) | |
| 256 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which EU countries provide financial help for haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C virus through treatment products. |
| (59846) | |
| 257 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were treated for injuries caused by fireworks in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. |
| (60265) | |
| 258 N | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assistance his Department makes available to carers for the purchase of specialist equipment. |
| (58391) | |
| 259 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons his Department has started a review of the safety of CS sprays by the Committees on Toxicity and Mutagenicity; what the remit of this review is; when this review was announced; when it is expected to be completed; and if the results of the review will be available to the public when it is completed. |
| (60314) | |
| 260 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the research by the Bethlem and Maudsley NHS trust on the use of CS spray by the police on people with mental health problems; and what action has been taken following this assessment. |
| (60315) | |
| 261 N | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received relating to setting up a statutory body to inspect qualifications and training procedures for paramedics; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59899) | |
| 262 | Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to commission studies concerning the health effects of emissions from overhead power lines on those living nearby. |
| (59898) | |
| 263 | Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on when new NHS dentists' practices will be established in Shropshire. |
| (60157) | |
| 264 | Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his Department's practice on consultation prior to the establishment of healthy living centres. |
| (60188) | |
| 265 | Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to implement the proposals of the Calman Hine report; and over what period of time. |
| (59850) | |
| 266 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review his policy on making pen needles available on prescription. |
| (60192) | |
| 267 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued on how pharmacists should be represented in primary care groups. |
| (60191) | |
| 268 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review controls on dispensing from GP practices to ensure qualified persons are present when dispensing is carried out. |
| (60195) | |
| 269 N | Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd November, Official Report, column 540, if he will make a statement on the new NHS guidelines referred to in the memorandum of Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust of 25th June. |
| (59880) | |
| 270 | Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the reports he has commissioned on the issue of nurses being able to prescribe drugs; on what date such reports were received by ministers; and when he expects to publish them. |
| (59837) | |
| 271 | Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve the operation and regulation of tissue banks. |
| (59900) | |
| 272 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59742) | |
| 273 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to allow local authorities to keep fines received from prosecutions as a result of speed cameras. |
| (59672) | |
| 274 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if road traffic accidents and motoring offences will be included in the Crime and Disorder Audit. |
| (59677) | |
| 275 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimates he has made of (a) the number of traffic police officers and (b) expenditure on traffic police, within (i) the Metropolitan Police and (ii) UK police budgets as a whole (1) at the latest available date and (2) five years ago. |
| (59894) | |
| 276 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the incidence of (a) injury and (b) death in the Metropolitan Police area, in terms of recorded annual numbers per 1,000 of the population, arising from (i) traffic accidents and (ii) assaults and other violent crimes. |
| (59878) | |
| 277 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he has given to local authorities and the police regarding the operation of the House to House Collections Act 1939, with particular reference to soliciting householders for goods which they believe are for UK-based charity shops but which are exported for commercial gain. |
| (59889) | |
| 278 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to ensure that Part III of the Charities Act 1992 is being enforced to control house to house collections. |
| (59888) | |
| 279 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59725) | |
| 280 N | Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the outcome of Operation Bye Bye conducted in Doncaster and Sheffield. |
| (59821) | |
| 281 | Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will institute an inquiry into security procedures at Bulwood Prison, Hockley, following the findings of the police investigation. |
| (60337) | |
| 282 | Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the findings of the internal inquiry conducted by the Governor of Bulwood Prison, Hockley, into the circumstances surrounding the death of the prisoner Josie O'Dwyer. |
| (60336) | |
| 283 | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason category A prisoners in Belmarsh prison are required to leave defence papers in their cell during a search. |
| (60014) | |
| 284 | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many decisions have been made to date on asylum applications made between 1st July 1993 and 31st December 1995 as a result of the measures announced in the White Paper, Fairer Faster and Firmer; and how many of these decisions were for an outright refusal of the claim. |
| (60030) | |
| 285 | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria the prison service uses in denying prisoners access to books which are publicly available. |
| (60015) | |
| 286 | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many decisions have been made to date on pre-1993 Act asylum applications as a result of the measures announced in the White Paper Fairer, Faster and Firmer; and how many of these decisions did not result in the granting of indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK. |
| (60100) | |
| 287 | Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for asylum have been determined in each month of 1998 to date; how many of these decisions were for (a) a grant of asylum and (b) exceptional leave to remain, excluding any decisions made under the arrangements for dealing with the pre-1993 Act and pre-1996 cases announced in the White Paper, Fairer, Faster and Firmer. |
| (60099) | |
| 288 | Mr Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to regulate private investigation agencies; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59890) | |
| 289 | Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons from (a) Slovakia and (b) the Czech Republic have awarded (i) refugee status and (ii) extended leave to remain since May 1997. |
| (60011) | |
| 290 | Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers, claiming Kosovan origin are currently detained at (a) Campsfield House and (b) other immigration detention centres. |
| (60013) | |
| 291 | Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which of the following organisations are known to operate in the United Kingdom (a) Al-Ansar al-Shariah, (b) Al-Gamaa al Islaamiya, (c) Algerian Groupe Islamique Armee, (d) Al-Marsad al-l'lami al islami, (e) Al-Muhajir, (f) Al-Muharjiroun, (g) Committee for the Defence of Legitimate Rights in Saudi Arabia, (h) Filisteen al-Muslima, (i) Front Islamique de Salvation, (j) Hamas, (k) Hizbollah, (l) Hizb-ut-Tahir, (m) Islamic Jihad, (n) Nassiha wal-Isla, (o) Bahrain Freedom Movement, (p) Bahrain Liberation Front and (q) Islamic Observation Centre; and if (i) Ministers and (ii) officials have met representatives of the organisations. |
| (60229) | |
| 292 N | Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd June, Official Report, column 357, when he expects the Criminal Cases Review Commission to conclude its consideration of the case of Mark Day, convicted of murder on 26th March1993. |
| (59673) | |
| 293 N | Ms Beverley Hughes (Stretford and Urmston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the proposal by the National Criminal Intelligence Unit for the establishment of a national intelligence-led unit for tackling computer crime is to be proceeded with. |
| (59645) | |
| 294 | Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will consult the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs as a matter of urgency over transferring cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations to Schedule 2. |
| (59845) | |
| 295 | Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will raise the rescheduling of cannabinoids, other than dronabinol and nabizone, from Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations to Schedule 2 with the WHO. |
| (59842) | |
| 296 | Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will transfer cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations to Schedule 2 to allow doctors to prescribe an appropriate preparation of cannabis on a named-patient basis, and to allow doctors and pharmacists to supply the drug prescribed. |
| (59844) | |
| 297 N | Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the crime clear-up rate and annual percentage change for 1995, 1996 and 1997 in (a) Staffordshire and (b) the West Midlands. |
| (59549) | |
| 298 N | Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list for Staffordshire Police Force the (a) number of serving officers (b) number of patrol officers (c) average police pay and (d) cost of the service in real terms for 1995, 1996 and 1997. |
| (59550) | |
| 299 N | Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the (a) number of and (b) annual percentage change in recorded offences in 1995, 1996 and 1997 in (i) Staffordshire and (ii) the West Midlands. |
| (59548) | |
| 300 | Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average time currently taken to process claims under categories A and B of the Firearms Compensation Scheme. |
| (59853) | |
| 301 | Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people under categories A, B and C of the Firearms Compensation Scheme have received full compensation for their claims. |
| (59854) | |
| 302 | Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the current delay in processing applications for compensation under Category C of the Firearms Compensation Scheme; and what was the delay (a) one month ago and (b) two months ago. |
| (59852) | |
| 303 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Police Scientific Development Branch started research into the possibility of using alternative solvents in CS sprays; when this work is expected to be completed; and if the report of the results of this research will be made public. |
| (60292) | |
| 304 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research has been undertaken by his Department since 1968 on the interaction between CS gas spray and psychotropic medication; what were the results of this research; and what research his Department intends to conduct on this topic in the future. |
| (60291) | |
| 305 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) members of the public have started legal proceedings because of injuries caused by CS sprays since January 1995; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60332) | |
| 306 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times police forces have used CR tear gas in public since 1968; on what dates CR gas was used in public; for what reasons; and in what circumstances police forces have been authorised to use CR tear gas in public since 1968. |
| (60331) | |
| 307 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a copy of the his Department's guidelines for the use of CS cartridges and grenades by police forces in dealing with serious disorder. |
| (60290) | |
| 308 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the (a) draft conventions and (b) proposals for a convention, under discussion in the Co-ordinating Committee of Senior Officials established under article K4 of the Treaty of Maastricht. |
| (60096) | |
| 309 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long the programme of testing and evaluation he requires before cannabis can be made available on prescription will take; and what procedures will have to be gone through. |
| (60104) | |
| 310 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the Channel Islands about radiation emissions from the nuclear power station at Cap La Hague. |
| (60111) | |
| 311 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st July 1997, Official Report, column 74, if he will list those conventions agreed under the article K3 of the Maastricht Treaty, additional to the seven already agreed by that date; and if he will indicate for each the provision for adjudication by the Court of Justice and scrutiny of each carried out by Parliament. |
| (60095) | |
| 312 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the application of Protocol 14 of the Treaty of Maastricht, on Social Policy, to the United Kingdom; and what steps have been taken to ensure that the provisions of the social policy are applied in the Isle of Man. |
| (60258) | |
| 313 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the application of Council Directives (a) 96/34/EC, (b) 93/104/EEC, (c) 91/533/EC and (d) 90/270/EEC. |
| (60088) | |
| 314 | Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he has received representations about the grant of entry clearance to a number of Kosovo Albanian children to enable them to come to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, accompanied by their close relatives; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60230) | |
| 315 N | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of persons convicted of possession of cannabis over the past 12 months where use of the drug for therapeutic purposes was offered as a mitigating factor. |
| (59914) | |
| 316 N | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what public statements have been made by Ministers on the recommendations of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology's report on the medicinal use of cannabis since publication of the report. |
| (59915) | |
| 317 N | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government intends to consult the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on the recommendations in the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology on cannabis. |
| (59916) | |
| 318 N | Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what national guidelines there are for the training of police dog handlers and dogs; what plans he has to change them; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the trial of Essex police dog trainers. |
| (59623) | |
| 319 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government will take to take forward the proposals in the document, Fire Safety Legislation for the Future. |
| (60190) | |
| 320 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the registers held by her Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59739) | |
| 321 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what childcare provision is made available by her Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59729) | |
| 322 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the importance of vocational educational training in eradicating poverty; and if she will make a statement. |
| (59876) | |
| 323 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what departmental resources are currently allocated to vocational educational training programmes; and if she will provide details of the programmes. |
| (59877) | |
| 324 | Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to visit the Nepal Leprosy Fellowship on her visit to Nepal later this month. |
| (59851) | |
| 325 | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what monitoring he is carrying out of the effect that transfer of asylum appeals to provincial centres is having on legal representation at asylum appeals. |
| (60253) | |
| 326 | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, for what reasons the Chief Adjudicator of the Immigration Appellate Authority transferred asylum appeals out of London to provincial hearing centres. |
| (60255) | |
| 327 | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what studies are being made of the effects on asylum seekers of the transfer of asylum appeals to provincial hearing centres. |
| (60256) | |
| 328 | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, which interested parties the Chief Adjudicator of the Immigration Appellate Authority consulted before bringing forward asylum appeals and transferring asylum appeals to provincial hearing centres. |
| (60257) | |
| 329 | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what monitoring he is carrying out of the effect that bringing forward appeals is having on the Refugee Legal Centre. |
| (60254) | |
| 330 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59741) | |
| 331 | Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to ensure that unqualified existing court clerks can become qualified as a solicitor or barrister without significant disruption to the work of (a) the courts and (b) the individuals concerned. |
| (60194) | |
| 332 | Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will call for a report on the statement made by Judge Fingret at the Old Bailey case on the sentences of Timothy Heat and Jason Huczek. |
| (60325) | |
| 333 | Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many high court judges he has appointed that are (a) Asian and (b) black. |
| (60327) | |
| 334 | Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what race awareness course Judge Fingret has attended since his appointment to the Bench. |
| (60326) | |
| 335 | Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish details of each outstanding major industrial and commercial planning application, indicating the date on which each application for planning permission was lodged with the Planning Service in Northern Ireland. |
| (59858) | |
| 336 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what childcare provision is made available by her Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59730) | |
| 337 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in what circumstances the military and security forces in Northern Ireland have been authorised to use water cannon since 1968. |
| (60288) | |
| 338 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have been killed as a result of the use of plastic or rubber bullets by the security forces in Northern Ireland since 1970. |
| (60287) | |
| 339 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many times the security forces in Northern Ireland have used CR tear gas since 1968; on what dates CR gas was used; and for what reasons. |
| (60286) | |
| 340 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in what circumstances the military and security forces in Northern Ireland have been authorised to use CR tear gas since 1968. |
| (60283) | |
| 341 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have been injured as a result of the use of plastic or rubber bullets by the security forces in Northern Ireland since March 1981. |
| (60284) | |
| 342 | Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the Royal Ulster Constabulary (a) first and (b) last used rubber bullets; in which years since 1968 it used rubber bullets; and how many rubber bullets it used in each of those years. |
| (60285) | |
| 343 N | Mr William Ross (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many armed robberies there have been in the City of Belfast in each week in October and November to the latest available date; to which terrorist/paramilitary groups these thefts were attributed; and what estimate she has made of the amounts stolen. |
| (59568) | |
| 344 N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham): To ask the President of the Council, if she will make a statement on the progress made by the Government in ensuring that the UK deals with potential millennium bug problems. |
| (59670) | |
| 345 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's input into section A, People's Europe, in the European Communities document, Europe in 10 Points; and what discussions were held on the subject during the recent Heads of Government meeting at Portschach. |
| (59996) | |
| 346 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 28th October, Official Report, column 171, what are the criteria for determining the appropriateness of the Euro Preparations Unit producing information packs for schools. |
| (59857) | |
| 347 | Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has made for a specific Minister in each Department to be on duty at midnight on 31st December 1999 to deal with emergencies arising from the millennium bug. |
| (59908) | |
| 348 | Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set out the revised Terms of Reference of the Senior Salaries Review Body; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60184) | |
| 349 N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the results of UNSCOM's examinations of the presidential palaces in Iraq. |
| (60093) | |
| 350 | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the lines of accountability which apply to UNSCOM. |
| (60089) | |
| 351 N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 11th November, if he will ask the Iraqi Government for what reasons it requires the removal of the UN weapons inspectors. |
| (60091) | |
| 352 N | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 11th November if he will place in the Library evidence found by the French and Swiss on all aspects of weapons destruction. |
| (60092) | |
| 353 | Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will send a delegation of officials to Iraq to discuss the areas of disagreement between the UK and Iraq. |
| (60090) | |
| 354 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Prime Minister, what childcare provision is made available by his Office for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59720) | |
| 355 | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer to the Right honourable Member for Richmond, Yorks of 3rd December 1997, Official Report, column 349, by what date he expects his target of six million new savers to be achieved. |
| (60084) | |
| 356 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the recommendations contained in departmental select committee reports which have been accepted by government departments. |
| (59841) | |
| 357 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland): To ask the Prime Minister, how he will ensure that essential services are able to maintain adequate staffing levels on New Year's Eve 1999. |
| (59855) | |
| 358 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59721) | |
| 359 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many beds were available in National Health Service trust hospitals in each of the last three years (a) in total and (b) by trust area. |
| (59732) | |
| 360 | Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what targets he has set for increasing the proportion of woodland areas in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland by 2010. |
| (60106) | |
| 361 | Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is his policy regarding the sale of Forestry Commission woodlands. |
| (59829) | |
| 362 N | Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Inverness West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list those companies to which the rights to charge and to collect tolls on the Skye Bridge are currently assigned. |
| (59976) | |
| 363 N | Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Inverness West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the Skye Bridge toll order was printed and sold. |
| (59975) | |
| 364 N | Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Inverness West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he has provided Miller Civil Engineering with a certificate demonstrating their lawful entitlement to perform the statutory function of toll collection on the Skye Bridge; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59977) | |
| 365 N | Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will remove the statutory restriction which prevents mature students over the age of 50 years gaining access to student loans on recognised degree courses in Scotland. |
| (59365) | |
| 366 N | Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate the number of mature students over the age of 50 years currently enrolled on courses in Scotland which will lead to a recognised university degree. |
| (59366) | |
| 367 N | Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will estimate the initial public expenditure outlay necessary to extend student loans to students over the age of 50 years who are undertaking degree level courses in Scottish colleges and universities. |
| (59367) | |
| 368 N | Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many and what proportion of those full-time new entrant students whose university or college tuition fees were paid for by the Student Awards agency for Scotland or its predecessor bodies received the maximum maintenance award in (a) 1968, (b) 1972, (c) 1977, (d) 1982, (e) 1987, (f) 1992 and (g) 1997; what would the figures for 1997 have been if all points of the residual Income Scale for parental/spouse contributions had been increased by £10,000; and what would be the cost to public funds of such an increase. |
| (60010) | |
| 369 N | Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the maximum available Maintenance Award (or Maintenance Award plus Student Loan Company Ltd Student Loan) in (a) 1968, (b) 1972, (c) 1977, (d) 1982, (e) 1987, (f) 1992 and (g) 1997 using 1997 as the reference year. |
| (60009) | |
| 370 N | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the proportion of his Department's computer systems which will be millennium-compliant on 1st April 1999. |
| (58848) | |
| 371 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59738) | |
| 372 | Mr Ivor Caplin (Hove): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what progress the Child Support Agency has made in clearing its backlogs; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60231) | |
| 373 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59722) | |
| 374 | Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he (a) decided on and (b) announced the proposal to close the local benefits offices in the Vale of White Horse District Council area. |
| (60176) | |
| 375 N | Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list, by county, the number of centenarians in receipt of the state pension. |
| (59897) | |
| 376 N | Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the publication date is for the Green Paper on Pensions. |
| (58382) | |
| 377 N | Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what was the total number of claimants in 1997-98 for (a) jobseeker's allowance (income based), (b) jobseeker's allowance (contribution based only), (c) housing benefit with jobseeker's allowance and (d) council tax benefit with jobseeker's allowance. |
| (59564) | |
| 378 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people currently in receipt of severe disablement allowance became eligible to receive the allowance at age 20 years or over. |
| (59834) | |
| 379 N | Mr David Rendel (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if individuals receiving (a) interim estimated benefits and (b) initial awards of (i) retirement pensions, (ii) incapacity benefit and (iii) job seeker's allowance payments will be given the correct payments in due course. |
| (59573) | |
| 380 | Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much money has been paid out in (a) industrial injuries benefit, (b) disability living allowance, (c) incapacity benefit, (d) income support and (e) widows pension in each of the last five years for which figures are available at current prices. |
| (59995) | |
| 381 N | Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will reinstate the (a) medium rate and (b) high rate of disability living allowance awarded for life on 11th March 1997 to Mr M. E. Hatcher, 1 Raddicombe Drive, Brixham, Devon; and if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying its withdrawal. |
| (59715) | |
| 382 | Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement about Birmingham City Council's method of delivering groceries to asylum seekers in Birmingham. |
| (60247) | |
| 383 N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate (a) the percentage increase in cash terms and (b) the percentage increase in real terms in the grand total of (1) all social security expenditure and (2) non-cyclical social security expenditure, including in each case relevant expenditure by local government and by all departments of central Government, and including the cost of the working families tax credit, between (i) 1978-79 and 1982-83, (ii) 1982-83 and 1986-87, (iii) 1986-87 and 1991-92, (iv) 1991-92 and 1996-97 and (v) 1996-97 and 2001-02; and if he will set out in each case the totals which underlie these estimates. |
| (59863) | |
| 384 N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will provide an update of Figure 3 from his most recent Departmental Annual Report to cover the remainder of the planning period. |
| (59862) | |
| 385 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he expects the MMC report on the proposed BSkyB takeover of Manchester United to be published before the conclusion of the Restrictive Practices Court inquiry into the BSkyB/BBC/Premier League television arrangements. |
| (59935) | |
| 386 N | Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the proportion of his Department's computer systems which will be millennium-compliant on 1st April 1999. |
| (58890) | |
| 387 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59737) | |
| 388 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what contacts he had with the sponsors of the booklet Britain in Europe in order to facilitate its publication. |
| (60002) | |
| 389 | Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reasons he attended the 50th Anniversary of the Congress of Europe; at what cost; and at whose invitation. |
| (60003) | |
| 390 | Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions he has been present during discussion of sponsorship by BSkyB of the Millennium Experience. |
| (60321) | |
| 391 | Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish details of sponsorship agreements between the New Millennium Experience Company and BSkyB. |
| (60320) | |
| 392 | Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the rights which have been acquired by sponsors of the Millennium Experience over the names and contents of its zones and facilities. |
| (60318) | |
| 393 | Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the ticketing arrangements and charges for events in the theatre/cinema complex on the Millennium site. |
| (60319) | |
| 394 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59723) | |
| 395 N | Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list those sponsors who have signed irrevocable contracts with the New Millennium Experience Company for (a) zones of the Dome and (b) national programme stands. |
| (59671) | |
| 396 | Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what mechanisms his Department has for helping British inventors protect intellectual property rights which may have been infringed abroad. |
| (60173) | |
| 397 | Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to refer the profit margins enjoyed by supermarkets to (a) the Office of Fair Trading and (b) the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60313) | |
| 398 N | Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to encourage inward investment projects in (a) Staffordshire and (b) the West Midlands. |
| (59543) | |
| 399 N | Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the value of grants awarded to (a) inward investors, (b) existing indigenous UK companies and (c) new indigenous companies, in the last year for which figures are available, for each constituency in the West Midlands. |
| (59544) | |
| 400 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the risks posed by gasometers, gas storage bullets and other gas storage methods at unmanned facilities in relation to the millennium bug. |
| (60262) | |
| 401 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the preparedness of the gas industry in relation to the millennium bug. |
| (60261) | |
| 402 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to ensure that gas supplies will not be interrupted by the millennium bug; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of interruption. |
| (60280) | |
| 403 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of interruptions to electricity supplies as a result of the millennium bug. |
| (60279) | |
| 404 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to ensure that telecommunications services will not be interrupted by the millennium bug; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of interruption. |
| (60282) | |
| 405 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement about the responses of the credit card companies to the recent reductions in the base interest rate. |
| (59902) | |
| 406 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the readiness of the different sectors of the financial services industry to reduce interest rates charged by them following reductions in the base interest rate. |
| (59901) | |
| 407 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will consult with representatives of the credit card companies with a view to securing reductions in the interest rates that they charge. |
| (59903) | |
| 408 | Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will introduce legislation to control the interest rates charged by credit card companies. |
| (59904) | |
| 409 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to help businesses overcome problems relating to new regulations as a result of the introduction of the national minimum wage. |
| (59860) | |
| 410 | Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what effort he is making to overcome the fears of the business community of being overloaded by new regulations at the introduction of the national minimum wage next year. |
| (59859) | |
| 411 | Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many projects in receipt of RSA have received offers of regional selective assistance from sources in more than one of England, Scotland and Wales. |
| (59875) | |
| 412 | Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which coastal resorts receive assistance from (a) the European Regional Development Fund and (b) the European Social Fund. |
| (59840) | |
| 413 | Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which coastal resorts have assisted area status. |
| (59838) | |
| 414 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to produce an official history of the Millennium Experience; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60033) | |
| 415 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if information about the euro will be included in the Transaction Zone of the Millennium Experience. |
| (60087) | |
| 416 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultations he has had with the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council concerning the winding up of the Royal Observatory. |
| (60101) | |
| 417 | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which body will have responsibility for the former buildings and remaining equipment on the site of the former Royal Observatory at Greenwich following its removal to Herstmonceux Castle. |
| (60102) | |
| 418 N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate his Department has made of the likely increase in car imports into the United Kingdom by (a) volume and (b) market share if the present restrictions on non-EU imports are lifted. |
| (59565) | |
| 419 N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate the Government has made of the likely change in car prices to personal customers in the United Kingdom if (a) the restrictions on non-EU imports are lifted and (b) the present exclusive franchise system of distribution is scrapped. |
| (59567) | |
| 420 N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the impact of (a) 10 per cent. and (b) 15 per cent. reduction in new car prices on the (i) revenue and (ii) profits of United Kingdom-based car manufacturers. |
| (59566) | |
| 421 N | Mr John Redwood (Wokingham): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd October, Official Report, column 1174, if he will set out the procedures under which regional selective assistance is recovered. |
| (59595) | |
| 422 | Ms Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement about the support available from his Department to assist United Kingdom businesses participating in overseas trade fairs and seminars; and which trade fairs, seminars and outward missions his Department will support in the year 1st April 1999 to 31st March 2000. |
| (60317) | |
| 423 | Ms Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action he proposes to take to deal with unsolicited direct marketing faxes and calls; and if he will make a statement. |
| (60316) | |
| 424 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the amount of money spent in the last financial year by (a) BNFL, (b) Atomic Energy Authority Technology, (c) UK AEA and (d) NIREX on (i) public relations, (ii) educational materials for schools (iii) information materials for parliamentarians and (iv) advertising. |
| (60007) | |
| 425 | Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the current reviews and consultations being carried out by his Department on energy policy. |
| (59994) | |
| 426 | Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received concerning the position of trainees in the hairdressing industry and the application of the minimum wage. |
| (60189) | |
| 427 N | Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on (a) current reprocessing contracts at Dounreay, (b) future reprocessing contracts at Dounreay and (c) future reprocessing contracts at Dounreay involving processed fuel. |
| (59925) | |
| 428 N | Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the registers held by his Department which are open for inspection by (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public. |
| (59735) | |
| 429 | Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, which NHS trusts in Wales (a) have and (b) have not implemented the Government's recommendation to ensure that midwives working as the lead professional are awarded a minimum F-grade salary. |
| (59986) | |
| 430 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what childcare provision is made available by his Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98. |
| (59731) | |
| 431 | Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many homes in Wales had their water disconnected following the installation of water budget payment units by Hyder in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. |
| (59911) | |
| 432 | Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many homes in Wales have water budget units. |
| (59912) | |
| 433 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government's advertisement on domestic violence will first be shown; on which television channels it will be shown; what the cost of the advertising campaign will be; and if he will place a video of the advertising campaign in the Library. |
| [Transferred] (59667) | |
| 434 | Mr Paul Truswell (Pudsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will review the operation of the provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 relating to the revoking and reinstatement of private hire or taxi drivers' operating licences by local authorities in cases of conviction for dishonesty, indecency or violence. |
| [Transferred] (60324) | |
| 435 | Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he has taken to ensure that water supplies will not be interrupted by the millennium bug; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of interruption. |
| [Transferred] (60281) | |
| |
| © Parliamentary copyright 1998 | Revised 16 November 1998 |