Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 27 November 1998

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 27 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.

FRIDAY 27th NOVEMBER

1
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to regulate unqualified artificial inseminators.

(60919)

2
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to regulate equine dentists.

(60920)

3
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to reduce the quarantine period for pet animals from (a) North America and (b) Europe.

(61478)

4
N   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask Mr Attorney General, for what reasons he decided that it was not in the public interest to prosecute following an investigation into the circumstances of the disposal of clinical waste at Royal Hospital, Haslar.

(61031)

5
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the rules governing relations with the media which apply to (a) special advisers, (b) press officers and (c) Government Information Service officials.

(61620)

6
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library copies of the speeches to be made by Cabinet Office officials David Fisher and Edna Chivers to the conference on information warfare to be held at the Royal United Services Institute on 2nd December.

(61672)

7
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings he has had since 11th November with the Right honourable Member for Berwick upon Tweed in connection with the statement made on that date by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats; how long each meeting lasted; and how many are planned to be held.

(61644)

8
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role he has in the determination of the Liberal Democrat membership of the Cabinet Joint Consultative Committee.

(61645)

9
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people were employed by the Royal Parks Agency in each year since 1993 (a) in total and (b) by area of responsibility.

(60974)

10
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will provide a breakdown of the running costs of the Royal Parks Agency (a) by area of responsibility and (b) by Royal Park in each year since 1993.

(60973)

11
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people were employed by the Royal Parks Agency to maintain (a) Hyde Park and (b) Regent's Park in each year since 1993.

(60892)

12
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people employed by the Royal Parks Agency in each year since 1993 were paid (a) £0 to £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £20,000, (c) £20,000 to £30,000, (d) £30,000 to £40,000, (e) £40,000 to £50,000 and (f) £50,000 and above.

(60891)

13
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what responsibilities attach to owners of Grade II listed sites.

(61133)

14
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what grants are available to the owners of Grade II listed sites.

(61134)

15
N   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what changes he proposes to make to the operation of the New Opportunities Fund's three operational themes in Scotland after the establishment of the Scottish Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(61029)

16
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many pensioners currently receive a concessionary television licence under each criterion for each region in Great Britain.

(61152)

17
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial assistance is available to new entrant soldiers who are themselves on income support, or whose parents are, towards the cost of equipment and supplies which they are required to purchase and to meet obligatory insurance costs.

(60921)

18
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what precautions are available to (a) forces personnel, (b) officials and (c) Ministers in his Department travelling overseas and facing the risk of hepatitis A infection.

(61053)

19
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what advice is offered to (a) forces personnel, (b) officials and (c) Ministers in his Department travelling overseas and facing the risk of hepatitis A infection, with regard to deciding whether to receive (i) Üof2İy- (gamma-) globulin or (ii) the alternative hepatitis A vaccine.

(61054)

20
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the British participants in the defence industry seminar organised by the Italian presidency of the Western European Union in conjunction with the Rome ministerial meeting; and if he will make a statement.

(60978)

21
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what instructions have been issued by (a) ministers and (b) the chain of command regarding the change of policy on the wearing of military uniforms in public; and if he will make a statement.

(60975)

22
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision was taken under Article J.4.2 of the Maastricht Treaty to use the Western European Union satellite centre in Spain to contribute to monitoring the situation in Kosovo; what will be the cost; and if he will make a statement.

(60976)

23
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the British representatives who (a) attended and (b) gave presentations at the NATO meeting in Norfolk, Virginia, on 12th and 13th November; what was discussed; and if he will make a statement.

(60977)

24
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will establish website pages for each Employment Service region setting out the names and addresses of each contractor and sub-contractor supplying New Deal service contracts in each district.

(61624)

25
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the activities of Members of the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and London assemblies will constitute paid employment for the purposes of Access to Work support.

(61046)

26
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teaching assistants were in post in schools at 30th September.

(60980)

27
   Mr Bill Rammell (Harlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what were (a) the target number and (b) the actual number of responses to his Department's New Deal public information campaign; and if he will make a statement.

(61689)

28
   Mr Bill Rammell (Harlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure on (a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail incurred by his Department and agencies on the New Deal Public information campaign; and if he will make a statement.

(61688)

29
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of New Deal jobs have been provided to date by the public sector.

(61483)

30
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs provided under the New Deal arrangements by (a) the BBC, (b) the ITV companies and (c) S4C.

(61613)

31
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he had with National Express prior to their announcement of the withdrawal of a number of long-distance services.

(61443)

32
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce a regulatory framework and a regulator for the bus industry.

(61441)

33
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he will take to ensure the continued operation of a minimum network of long-distance coach routes.

(61442)

34
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the Government's policies for rural areas in England.

(61622)

35
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will provide a breakdown of transport infrastructure spending on (a) pavements, (b) cyclepaths, (c) roads, (d) the Underground, (e) buses, (f) railways and (g) River Thames quays and riverbuses, in London in each of the last five years.

(61662)

36
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans the Government has to encourage the development of secondary markets for recyclables; and if he will make a statement.

(61497)

37
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set out for each of the current rail franchises (a) how many Mark 1 trains are currently in use, (b) what the franchise agreement for each train-operating company originally stated as the replacement date for Mark 1 trains and (c) what revisions have been agreed to the original replacement date.

(60907)

38
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what studies his Department has commissioned into the safety of the use of razor wire as a fencing material and its possible dangers to humans and animals; and if he will make a statement.

(61480)

39
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans his Department has to increase retailers' obligations under the packaging and waste regulations.

(61636)

40
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received about the growing of high hedges adjacent to the boundaries of residential property; and what policy initiatives he is planning to address the issues raised in the representations.

(61663)

41
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list commercial charter flights used by himself or his Ministers since 1st May 1997.

(60897)

42
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, following his flight to Blackpool on 26th September, what engagements he undertook while in the Blackpool area.

(60896)

43
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, where the flight by a Minister in his Department in an RAF aircraft on 3rd May 1997 began and ended; and who were the two people accompanying the Minister.

(60895)

44
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what has been the cost to his Department of travel by Ministers in his Department in (i) RAF and (ii) privately chartered aircraft (a) in the year to 1st May 1997 and (b) since 1st May 1997.

(60894)

45
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what would have been the additional increase in the council tax at Band D of each local authority in 1998-99 if the proposed council tax limitation scheme had been introduced this year, assuming the limit had been set at five per cent. over 1997-98.

(61666)

46
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what would have been the additional council tax at Band D equivalent of each local authority if they had increased their spending by £100 per person, including all precepts, for 1998-99.

(61667)

47
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the value of the resources top-sliced from the 1998-99 RSG settlement to finance the area cost adjustment.

(61668)

48
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the members of the task force which is preparing contingency plans for transport to the Millennium Dome.

(60884)

49
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the expected number of passengers who will travel (i) to the Dome and (ii) from the Dome via (1) Charing Cross, (2) Euston, (3) King's Cross, (4) London Bridge Station, (5) Waterloo International Station, (6) Stratford Station, (7) Liverpool Street Station, (8) Canning Town Station and (9) City Airport, on London Underground (a) Monday to Friday and (b) at weekends during 2000.

(61144)

50
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (i) eastbound and (ii) westbound underground trains will pass through North Greenwich station per hour on (a) Monday to Friday and (b) weekends in the year 2000.

(61137)

51
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the expected date for opening to the public of each underground station on the Jubilee line extension.

(61140)

52
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the expected maximum number of passengers to be carried by each London Underground line per day (a) Monday to Friday and (b) at weekends in 1999.

(61142)

53
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the remit for the task force preparing contingency plans for transport to the Dome.

(60886)

54
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the percentage increase in passenger growth per annum on each London Underground line since 1990; and what the predicted increases are for (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000.

(61145)

55
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the expected times of first and last trains on the Jubilee line extension on (a) Monday to Friday and (b) at weekends at North Greenwich Underground station (i) eastbound and (ii) westbound in the year 2000.

(61136)

56
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on what dates the task force preparing contingency plans for transport to the Dome (a) has already met and (b) will be meeting.

(60885)

57
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the expected daily opening and closing times of Underground stations on the Jubilee Line Extension in the year 2000.

(61139)

58
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the difficulties which are delaying the introduction of new trains into service on the Northern Line, stating the date when each one is expected to be resolved.

(60890)

59
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the maximum number of passengers who can be carried by each London Underground line per day (a) Monday to Friday and (b) at weekends in 1998.

(61141)

60
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the expected number of passengers per hour (a) Monday to Friday and (b) at weekends who will use the Jubilee Line extension to travel (i) to and (ii) from the Dome.

(61138)

61
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the expected maximum number of passengers to be carried by each London Underground line per day (a) Monday to Friday and (b) at weekends in 2000.

(61143)

62
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects the task force preparing contingency plans for transport to the Dome to have completed its task.

(60887)

63
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to publish the Government's analysis of the response to its consultation paper on access to the open countryside in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(61642)

64
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he has engaged recruitment consultants to advise him on suitable candidates for appointment as Chair of the new Countryside Agency; and what criteria will be employed to assess potential candidates.

(61648)

65
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the final key outputs were for the 11 first-round and the 19 completed second-round city challenge schemes.

(61716)

66
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will prohibit the use of PVC waste for synthetic riding surfaces and its importation for such purposes.

(61485)

67
   Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the World Bank and the IMF about the debt problems of developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

(61720)

68
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the current amount of the national debt; and what the interest payments on this currently are.

(60911)

69
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list in rank order the top five creditors to whom the United Kingdom Government is indebted.

(60912)

70
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff at the Bank of England were employed in the (a) Traded Markets Team and (b) Supervision and Surveillance Division of the Bank of England on (i) 31st December 1996 and (ii) 31st December 1997.

(61037)

71
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he asked the National Audit Office to audit the key assumptions and conventions underpinning the fiscal projections in the Pre-Budget Report.

(61035)

72
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason no Audit of Assumptions for the Pre-Budget Report was published.

(61034)

73
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to implement the group payment arrangements for quarterly corporation tax payment; and how he proposes to do it.

(61045)

74
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff have transferred from the (a) Traded Markets Team and (b) Supervision and Surveillance Division of the Bank of England to the Financial Services Authority.

(61038)

75
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government has asked the National Audit Office to review the change of assumptions in unemployment from 1.65 million as set out in the Audit of Assumptions for the July 1997 Budget Projection to 1.3 million in the 1998 Pre-Budget Report.

(61036)

76
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to publish a consultation document on his review into double tax relief.

(61041)

77
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the Shamrock case.

(61043)

78
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff have transferred from the Insurance Directorate of his Department to the Financial Services Authority.

(61040)

79
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in his Department were employed in the Insurance Directorate on (a) 31st December 1996 and (b) 31st December 1997.

(61039)

80
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the revenue which would be raised from the abolition of the deductability of interest on overseas investments.

(61042)

81
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value was of commmercial HP leasing arrangements in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98.

(61044)

82
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what powers he has over veto of the harmonisation within the European Union of (a) company taxes, (b) personal taxes and (c) excise duties; and if he will make a statement.

(61714)

83
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the outcome of the Budget Council held in Brussels on 24th November; and if he will make a statement.

(61650)

84
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the occasions since 1st May 1997 on which a Minister in his Department has used (a) an aircraft belonging to the RAF and (b) a privately chartered aircraft together with (i) details of take-off and destination points, (ii) ground waiting time, (iii) dates of departure and return, (iv) purpose of the trip, (v) cost of the trip to his Department and (vi) details of people accompanying the Minister, indicating the total costs of all such travel borne by his Department (1) since 1st May 1997 and (2) between 1st May 1996 and 1st May 1997.

(60898)

85
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions have taken place in the Council of Ministers (ECOFIN) in respect of the proposals of the European Commission in Com (96) 328 Final concerning a revised system of VAT.

(61727)

86
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what memoranda have been made available to (a) honourable Members and (b) others, signed by Ministers, concerning the proposals of the European Commission for a revised system of community value added tax, as contained in their Document 9466/96 Com (96) 328 Final; and on what dates they were made available.

(61726)

87
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he has submitted a new convergence programme revising that of September 1997 to the EU Council following the downward revision of his growth projections.

(61718)

88
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals have been placed before the Council of Ministers (ECOFIN) of the European Community for the formation of the Monetary Committee required under Article 109c of the Treaty of Maastricht and Article 114 of the proposed consolidated Treaty of that community; and if he will make a statement.

(61725)

89
   Mr Bill Rammell (Harlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for a public information campaign on preparing for the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(61685)

90
   Mr Bill Rammell (Harlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of the expenditure on (a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail by the Euro Preparations Unit; and if he will make a statement.

(61687)

91
   Mr Bill Rammell (Harlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total expenditure and what was the breakdown of the expenditure on (a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail incurred by his Department and agencies on the self assessment public information campaign; and if he will make a statement.

(61686)

92
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what restrictions are placed upon the Government's ability to act independently of other creditors to reduce debt owed by developing countries by (i) the European Union, (ii) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and (iii) other international organisations or agreements.

(61491)

93
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to cancel the debt owed to the United Kingdom Government by Nicaragua and Honduras; and if he will make a statement on discussions with other creditors on assistance to Nicaragua and Honduras.

(61496)

94
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list for (a) Uganda, (b) Mozambique, (c) Bolivia, (d) Guyana, (e) Cote d'Ivoire and (f) Burkina Faso the (i) actual debt service in the five years prior to completion point in the HIPC Initiative and (ii) IMF/World Bank estimates of actual debt service for the five years after completion point.

(61490)

95
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will urge the IMF to sell gold reserves in order to pay for the immediate suspension of debt service payments to the international institutions by Nicaragua and Honduras.

(61494)

96
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged (a) between 65 and 69, (b) between 70 and 74, (c) between 75 and 79 and (d) 80 or over years of age there are in each region within Great Britain.

(61151)

97
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the terms of the agreement he made at the WEU ministerial council in Rome on 16th November to create a European arms agency; if he will list the countries involved; and if he will make a statement.

(60979)

98
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the remit is of the working group concerning proposed common principles for European elections; and if he will place in the Library the documentation relating to it.

(61719)

99
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last discussed with his Spanish counterpart the claim by Spain for sovereignty over Gibraltar.

(61641)

100
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from Argentina concerning its claim for sovereignty over the Falklands.

(61640)

101
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of India about sectarian atrocities committed against (a) Muslims, (b) Christians and (c) members of other minority communities.

(61487)

102
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has for the future of the British Consulate in Aden, Yemen; and if he will make a statement.

(61476)

103
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review for the United Kingdom's diplomatic presence abroad.

(61477)

104
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the timing and contents of his Department's first annual accounting report of British armaments exports.

(61030)

105
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the relationship between increases in traffic levels and health costs; and if he will make a statement.

(61489)

106
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to health and social services to ensure that rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury are provided at a time when they are most likely to prove beneficial.

(60906)

107
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review the way in which services for people with acquired brain injuries are co-ordinated.

(60908)

108
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice the Chief Medical Officer has issued to (a) public officials, (b) civil servants and (c) Ministers facing the risk of infection with hepatitis A on overseas visits, on the choice to be made between British-derived Üof2İy- (gamma-) globulin and the alternative hepatitis A vaccine.

(61058)

109
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the methods available to prevent transmission of spongiform encephalopathy between animals are suitable to be used for humans.

(61057)

110
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what efforts have been made to obtain alternative supplies of hepatitis A vaccine as an alternative to British-derived Üfy4İgÜfy1İ-(gamma-) globulin; and with what results.

(61052)

111
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of banning the use of British-derived Üof2İy- (gamma-) globulin.

(61055)

112
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk of contamination of British-derived Üof2İy- (gamma-) globulin stocks within the NHS with the infective agent of new variant CJD.

(61056)

113
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Canadian Government on the importation of British blood products into that country.

(61146)

114
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what efforts have been made to obtain alternative supplies of ready-made Anti-D from foreign sources; and with what results.

(61050)

115
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has received of the risk of contamination of British-derived Anti-D stocks within the NHS with the infective agent of new variant CJD.

(61049)

116
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to implement the recommended autoclave regime set out in Annex B, Table B.1 of the joint Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens/Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee Working Group document entitled Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Agents: Safe working and the prevention of infection.

(61059)

117
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what efforts have been made to obtain alternative suplies of ready-made Üfy4İgÜfy1İ-(gamma-) globulin for hepatitis A protection from foreign sources; and with what results.

(61051)

118
N   Mr Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the advantages of a ban on the use of British-derived Anti-D.

(61048)

119
   Mr Michael Foster (Hastings and Rye):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) children and (b) adults are currently suffering from Proteus syndrome; what is their age profile; and what training is given to paediatricians and others in the NHS to recognise and treat the condition.

(61619)

120
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the safety of epilim and other anti-convulsant drugs for use by pregnant women; and if he will make a statement.

(61623)

121
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the health effects of emissions from overhead power lines, with particular reference to (i) electric and (ii) magnetic fields.

(61465)

122
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into aspects of exposure to pollutants under powerlines, with particular reference to the work of Professor Henshaw and his colleagues at Bristol University.

(61464)

123
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Medicines Control Agency has to review the guidance in Medicines Act Leaflet Number 8; and what is the status of that leaflet.

(61618)

124
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if a manufacturer of a blend of herbs and vitamins which is assessed by the Medicines Control Agency as medicinal by presentation is given the opportunity to review the presentation of that product prior to enforcement action being taken.

(61639)

125
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans officials in (a) his Department and (b) the Medicines Control Agency have to meet manufacturers of vitamin and herb blends to discuss the licensing of their products as medicines in the United Kingdom.

(61669)

126
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what criteria the Medicines Control Agency assesses whether a blend of herbs and vitamins is medicinal by (a) function and (b) presentation; and if a manufacturer whose products are so assessed is given a written statement of the reasons for that decision.

(61638)

127
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Medicines Control Agency consults independent scientific experts when considering whether a herb and vitamin blend is medicinal by function; and if the manufacturer of such a product is able to have access to expert advice obtained by the agency.

(61637)

128
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what requests he has made to the manufacturers of MR and MMR vaccines for data on the possible side-effects of their products.

(61612)

129
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research has been (a) conducted and (b) commissioned by his Department into the children in respect of whom yellow cards have been issued.

(61621)

130
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department issues to GPs on informing people of potential side-effects of the use of MR or MMR vaccinations.

(61610)

131
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued to GPs on conducting follow-up enquiries after the reporting of adverse health reactions on a yellow card.

(61611)

132
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions have been made by the Metropolitan Police in respect of (a) speeding, (b) dangerous driving, (c) drunken driving and (d) defective vehicles in each of the last five years.

(61615)

133
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many speed cameras have been installed in (a) the Metropolitan Police area, (b) Surrey and (c) Thames Valley in each of the last five years; and how many prosecutions have resulted from evidence from them in each area.

(61617)

134
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many motoring accidents resulting in (a) death, (b) serious injury, (c) less serious injury and (d) vehicle damage but not injury were recorded in each Metropolitan Police district in each of the last five years.

(61616)

135
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many traffic police officers were deployed (a) five years ago and (b) at the latest available date in (i) each of the Metropolitan Police divisions, (ii) Surrey, (iii) Thames Valley and (iv) the United Kingdom.

(61723)

136
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department intends to reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Ashford of 16th July, 3rd September, 14th October and 22nd October on Category C firearms compensation.

(61629)

137
   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 been awarded (i) refugee status and (ii) exceptional leave to remain since May 1997; and, of these, how many achieved this status following an appeal.

(61683)

138
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications from Slovakians have been certified since May 1997; how many Roma or Slovakian cases there have been in the period; and in how many of these cases the certification has been overturned at appeal.

(61690)

139
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he intends to publish the files kept by the security services on Shapurji Saklatvala; and if he will make a statement.

(61649)

140
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his latest estimate for the total compensation paid under Category C of the Firearms Compensation Scheme.

(61684)

141
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost of travel by Ministers in his Department in (a) RAF and (b) privately chartered aircraft borne by his Department (i) between 1st May 1996 and 1st May 1997 and (ii) since 1st May 1997.

(60903)

142
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the timetable for implementation of Part V of the Police Act 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(61614)

143
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases are awaiting determination by the Criminal Cases Review Board.

(61488)

144
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what was the cost to her Department of travel by Ministers in her Department by (i) RAF and (ii) privately chartered aircraft (a) in the year to 1st May 1997 and (b) since 1st May 1997.

(60893)

145
N   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the President of the Council, what steps she has taken to establish the millennium compliance status of essential suppliers to central Government.

(61135)

146
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Prime Minister, if Government policy on the voting and sitting rights of the hereditary Peers applies to those members of the Royal Family who sit in the House of Lords.

(61482)

147
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Prime Minister, by what means he returned from Toulouse to London in August.

(60901)

148
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Prime Minister, if drafts of the Answers given to the honourable Member for Stratford-on-Avon by various departments on 19th November in respect of ministerial travel, were seen by anyone in his Office before publication.

(60910)

149
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Prime Minister, what was the cost to his Office of travel in aircraft (i) belonging to the RAF and (ii) privately chartered (a) in the year to 1st May 1997 and (b) since 1st May 1997.

(60902)

150
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Prime Minister, what form his bilateral discussions took in (a) Bologna in August and (b) Toulouse in August; and how many officials attended each with him.

(60900)

151
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the people who accompanied him on the flight he made in September from Lyneham to Highgrove: what was the cost of the flight; and by what means they then returned to London.

(60899)

152
N   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the electoral system to be used for elections for the European Parliament in June 1999.

(61047)

153
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the Scottish Office has (a) had direct or indirect involvement in the personnel and recruitment policies of the Rowett Research Institute and (b) made representations or recommendations to the Institute in relation to the early retirement or dismissal of staff.

(61721)

154
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will take steps to provide that the affirmative statutory instrument procedure is used for changes in attendance allowance.

(60881)

155
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has for benefits for those who are severely disabled and are older than 20 years of age.

(60915)

156
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has for the future level of incapacity benefit.

(60888)

157
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will introduce a trigger in the benefits system to ensure that those who are not in receipt of income support at the time of disability living allowance being awarded are invited to claim income support.

(60917)

158
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has for the relative levels of (a) disability living allowance and (b) incapacity benefit; and what decisions he has made about the minimum level of each.

(60914)

159
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are the criteria for the award of incapacity benefit and disability living allowance; and in what circumstances a person may be awarded both.

(60889)

160
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to means-test disability living allowance.

(60918)

161
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many life awards have been found to be unjustified by the Benefits Integrity Project; and how many were later upheld on appeal.

(60916)

162
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if carers who have not made national insurance contributions in the recent past will be refused incapacity benefit, but will be eligible for disability living allowance.

(60913)

163
   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what his policy is with regard to 100th birthday greetings; for what reasons he sends them; how his Department verifies the age of those claiming to be centenarians; what the cost is of such verification and delivering such 100th birthday greetings; and if he will make a statement.

(61715)

164
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the actual and estimated savings quoted by his Department for the Benefit Integrity Project are savings that incorporate the full costs of the investment and running costs of the Project.

(60982)

165
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what (a) the original assumptions were and (b) the current savings assumptions are for the Benefit Integrity Project in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 1998-99; what factors were taken into account in the revision of savings assumptions for the Benefit Integrity Project for 1997-98 and 1998-99; and if the costs of the Benefit Integrity Project include the costs of appeals following decisions made under the scheme.

(60983)

166
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the accounting procedures used by his Department in calculating the savings generated by the Benefit Integrity Project.

(60981)

167
   Ms Claire Ward (Watford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what instructions are issued to Benefits Agency staff who deal with the public requiring them to identify themselves.

(61626)

168
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of benefit units where (a) more than 25 per cent., (b) more than 50 per cent., (c) more than 75 per cent. and (d) 100 per cent. of the income from occupational and personal pensions is offset by reductions in entitlement to means-tested benefits.

(60925)

169
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners are in receipt of income support and are (a) between 65 and 69 years of age, (b) between 70 and 74 years of age, (c) between 75 and 79 years of age and (d) 80 or over years of age in each region within Great Britain.

(61147)

170
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many current recipients of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) invalidity benefit who are aged under state pension age, are receiving occupational or personal pensions of (i) £0.01 to £9.99, (ii) £10 to £19.99, (iii) £20 to £29.99, (iv) £30 to £39.99, (v) £40 to £49.99, (vi) £50 to £59.99, (vii) £60 to £69.99 and (viii) £70 or above per week.

(60922)

171
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate his Department has made of the extra numbers of cold weather payments which would have been paid for the winter of 1997 to 1998 if the wind chill factor had been incorporated into the measure of temperature, for each region within Great Britain.

(61153)

172
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the proportion of growth in spending in each Parliament since 1979 which was attributed to (a) demographic changes, (b) growth in expenditure on SERPS, (c) discretionary policy changes and (d) other factors.

(60924)

173
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the value of the basic state pension for (a) someone of minimum state pension age and (b) someone aged 80 years as a percentage of average earnings in (i) 1980 and (ii) 1998; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for (1) all other EU countries, (2) all non-EU G7 countries and (3) other OECD nations for which similar figures are available.

(60923)

174
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the reduction in the cost of state earnings-related pensions arising from (a) the changes contained in legislation basing pension entitlement on lifetime earnings, and related changes and (b) the changes contained in the Pension Act 1995 in (i) 2000, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2030 and (iv) 2040.

(61440)

175
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of pensioners in each region in Great Britain who have income (a) before housing costs and (b) after housing costs below half the national average.

(61154)

176
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of raising the lower capital limit for income support for pensioner claimants from £3,000 to (a) the level it would have been if it has been uprated by prices since 1988, (b) £10,000, (c) £15,000 and (d) £20,000, assuming no upper limit in all cases.

(61148)

177
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the amount of each means-tested benefit which is currently unclaimed by pensioners for each region within Great Britain.

(61155)

178
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what will be the effect on the number of people dependent on means-tested benefits of his proposed reforms to widows' benefits.

(60926)

179
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what weekly SERPS pension would be received in April 2000 by (a) a man, on retirement, who had earned average male earnings throughout his working life, (b) the widow of such a man who died after 31st March 2000 and (c) a married woman, on retirement, who had earned average female earnings throughout her working life, except for 10 years during which she received child benefit, under the SERPS rules which existed (i) when SERPS was first introduced, (ii) following the enactment of legislation basing pensions entitlement on life time earnings and related changes and (iii) following the Pensions Act 1995.

(61439)

180
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the savings which will result from the decision to halve SERPS for widowers and widows whose spouse dies on or after 6th April 2000.

(61150)

181
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be affected in each of the 20 years after 2000 by the decision to halve SERPS for widowers and widows whose spouse dies on or after 6th April 2000.

(61149)

182
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what steps he is taking to encourage the take up of (a) housing benefit, (b) income support, (c) family credit and (d) council tax benefits.

(61472)

183
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, for what reasons the computer system for programming payments for self-employed people will not be operational until spring 1999.

(61475)

184
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the quantity of small arms exported in each of the last five years and their destination; and what (a) quantity and (b) proportion were exported to a country at war or which was at war within a year of the arms being exported.

(61661)

185
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he will release documents to the solicitors of C. A. Barnes and Partners of Morebath, Devon in respect of the entry for Bampton/Oakford and Tiverton in the original text of Commission decision 94/197/EC.

(60909)

186
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what are the terms of reference of the MMC inquiry into the supply of raw milk.

(61033)

187
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects the MMC Report into the Supply of Raw Milk to be published; and if he will list all those (a) who have given evidence and (b) who are due to give evidence to the MMC inquiry.

(61032)

188
   Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has made to tobacco companies about marketing practices in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

(61481)

189
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to introduce security standards to meet the challenge posed by information warfare techniques to United Kingdom telecommunications.

(61671)

190
   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if there will be a celebration of Britain's contributions to political theory during the last 1000 years in the Millennium Dome.

(61665)

191
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which Minister flew in February from Liverpool to London; how that Minister travelled to Liverpool; what was the purpose of the visit; if he will list the engagements which the Minister undertook; who accompanied the Minister; and what was the cost of the flight to his Department.

(60905)

192
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the cost to his Department of travel by Ministers in his Department in (a) RAF and (b) privately chartered aircraft (i) in the year to 1st May 1997 and (ii) since 1st May 1997.

(60904)

193
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what provision will be made for the sale of traditional British food at the Millennium Experience.

(61625)

194
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many visitors to the Dome are expected to come from each region of the United Kingdom and each European Union country in each week in 2000.

(60882)

195
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many visitors to the Dome are expected to come from each London borough in each month in 2000.

(60883)

196
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to persuade the Lear Corporation to retain its manufacturing facility in Colne.

(61643)

197
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the role of London Fashion Week in promoting the United Kingdom textile industry; and if he will make a statement.

(61646)

198
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to respond to the BATC/GMB/KFAT/TGWU action plan for the textiles industry.

(61647)

199
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he intends to take to ensure that there is clear and transparent annual reporting of the different types and amounts of weapons covered by arms export licences granted and denied by (a) the UK and (b) other European Union countries.

(61493)

200
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he intends to take to ensure that the Council of Ministers Working Group on arms exports agrees a common list of items be controlled by the EU Code.

(61495)

201
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to ensure that the European Code of Conduct on the arms trade is adopted into UK law; and what plans he has to make arms brokering to arms embargoed countries a crime.

(61492)

202
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many 18 to 24 year olds in Wales have lost their jobseekers allowance as a result of refusing all four options in the New Deal.

(61469)

203
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the impact on young children's dental health of introducing water fluoridation in Wales.

(61479)

204
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what has been the drop-out rate for participants in the New Deal in Wales.

(61471)

205
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of food poisoning have been reported in each year since 1995 caused by (a) turkeys eviscerated in retail premises, (b) turkeys eviscerated in retail premises which were improperly cooked, (c) turkeys eviscerated at abattoirs and (d) turkeys eviscerated at abattoirs which were improperly cooked.

[Transferred] (61670)

206
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken in the last year to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of existing arms embargos.

[Transferred] (61484)

207
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the next annual report on defence exports will contain a breakdown of licences refused.

[Transferred] (61470)

208
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time students have been in receipt of (i) disability living allowance, (ii) severe disablement allowance, (iii) disabled student allowance and (iv) other disability-related benefits in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (61468)

209
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deaths occurred in each of the Metropolitan Police divisions in each of the last five years arising from (a) murder and (b) road traffic accidents.

[Transferred] (61724)

210
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what actions he proposes to take on the allocation of visas to child refugees from Albania.

[Transferred] (61628)

211
   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what facilities there are for arranging the transfer of a person arrested abroad in an EC country to face charges in a United Kingdom court; what legal aid facilities are available to such persons; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (61664)

212
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what quantity of heroin has been imported into the United Kingdom through controlled deliveries since 1985; from which countries it came; and in (a) how many instances and (b) what quantity some of those imports have gone missing.

[Transferred] (61717)

213
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will publish the result of the Customs National Investigation Service inquiry into the practice of the controlled delivery of drugs by drugs liaison officers attached to the British High Commission in Islamabad.

[Transferred] (61486)

214
   Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action was taken in respect of the senior British Drugs Liaison Officer who was caught in possession of heroin in his official vehicle in mid-1997.

[Transferred] (61627)

215
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps the Welsh Office is taking to increase access to justice for people living in rural areas in Wales.

[Transferred] (61473)

216
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will take steps to halt the closure of (a) magistrates' and (b) county council courts in the rural areas of Wales.

[Transferred] (61474)



© Parliamentary copyright 1998	Revised 27 November 1998