 House of Commons |
Session 1998-99 Publications on the internet The Order Book |
| Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 1 December 1998
Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 1 December of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department. For other Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 1 December, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business. For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 2 December, see Part 2 of this Paper. |
| Notes: * Indicates a Question for Oral Answer. + Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled. [N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered. [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. |
| |
| 1 | Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the agenda items for discussion at the meeting between the Director General of the Forestry Commission and the Chair of the Commissioners of the Forestry Commission, and the Quantock Staghounds on 4th December; and if he will make a statement. |
| (62033) | |
| 2 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps (a) his Department and (b) the Arts Council take to establish the financial soundness of theatres which are supported by public funds. |
| (61978) | |
| 3 N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on what plans there are in place to reduce the level of television licence evasion in Chelmsford. |
| (61889) | |
| 4 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Atlantic Frontier Continental Shelf World Heritage Site nomination was, for the purposes of the review of responses to the Government public consultation, classed as a Scottish site. |
| (62048) | |
| 5 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will set out the timetable and procedure for UK World Heritage Site nominations before they are put forward to UNESCO. |
| (62049) | |
| 6 N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the impact his announcement on the future of the TA will have on manpower levels in Chelmsford. |
| (61887) | |
| 7 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civil and (b) military personnel are employed at (i) the Clyde Submarine Base, Faslane and (ii) the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Coulport. |
| (61844) | |
| 8 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate how many (a) direct and (b) indirect civilian jobs rely upon the Trident programme currently; and how many will in (i) 2000, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2020. |
| (61846) | |
| 9 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people are employed by the atomic weapons establishments at (a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield and (c) Blacknest. |
| (61845) | |
| 10 N | Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel are employed at (i) the Royal Dockyard, Rosyth and (ii) the Royal Dockyard, Devonport. |
| (61847) | |
| 11 N | Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to assist the regular and part-time forces and cadets in Scotland to recruit up to their full complement. |
| (61082) | |
| 12 N | Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much expenditure in 1996-1997 can be associated directly with security activities in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Falklands and (c) the remaining United Kingdom dependent territories. |
| (61696) | |
| 13 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many series of research papers his Department produces; and what are the names of each of these series of research papers. |
| (62041) | |
| 14 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the report of the review of the south coast defence trials between 1964 and 1977 by Professor Brian Spratt will be made publicly available on completion. |
| (62042) | |
| 15 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the current security classifications of the newsletters produced for the staff of (a) the Pay and Personnel Agency and (b) the Duke of York's Royal Military School; how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter was first produced. |
| (62043) | |
| 16 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a list of unclassified Defence Council Instructions which have been issued since 1st February. |
| (62044) | |
| 17 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people have accessed the Disability Task Force web page since its launch. |
| (61876) | |
| 18 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Service Development Fund included in the Comprehensive Spending Review. |
| (61878) | |
| 19 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many hours were spent in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools by teachers on permitted trade union activities in each of the last three years for which figures are available. |
| (62028) | |
| 20 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the numbers of children who left state primary schools in 1997 from the boroughs of (a) Islington, (b) Camden, (c) Kensington and Chelsea, (d) Hammersmith and Fulham and (e) Westminster to enter (i) fee-paying and (ii) selective grammar schools. |
| (62024) | |
| 21 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the median salary of a secondary school teacher with 10 year's experience was as a percentage of (a) average industrial male earnings, (b) the salary of a police sergeant with 10 years service in that rank and (c) the salary of a middle-ranking member of the professional, administrative and managerial grade in local authority service in 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and currently. |
| (62084) | |
| 22 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) men and (b) women became teachers in the maintained school sector in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1970. |
| (62030) | |
| 23 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the ranking of the UK has been in standard international comparative tables for literacy and numeracy in each of the last five years. |
| (62026) | |
| 24 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the average number of hours per week spent teaching GCSE subjects by teachers, excluding head teachers and deputy headteachers, in LEA secondary schools in England. |
| (62029) | |
| 25 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the trade unions representing teaching staff with which his Department has dealings. |
| (62025) | |
| 26 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of GNP was spent on (a) education and (b) secondary schools in (i) Germany, (ii) France, (iii) the Netherlands, (iv) Sweden, (v) Switzerland, (vi) the US and (vii) the UK in each year since 1968. |
| (62085) | |
| 27 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of undergraduates of British nationality entering (a) Oxford, (b) Cambridge and (c) the London School of Economics came from (i) fee-paying private schools and (ii) selective grammar schools in each year since 1968. |
| (62027) | |
| 28 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance he has given to local education authorities on the relative merits of three tier and two tier systems; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61660) | |
| 29 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those local education authorities which are failing to process draft statements of SEN within the legally required period; and if he will set out the action taken by his Department with each such authority and list the responses of each authority. |
| (61975) | |
| 30 | Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of students attending university in the current academic year are from ethnic minority groups, broken down by individual ethnic group. |
| (62036) | |
| 31 | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to increase the levels of (a) home to study transport and (b) other support for 16-18 year old students in (i) the FE sector and (ii) LEA sixth forms. |
| (62089) | |
| 32 | Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to increase the average level of funding per unit at FE colleges in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01; and if he will list the average level of funding unit values for each of the previous five years. |
| (62090) | |
| 33 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has held with (a) Greenwich Council, (b) London Underground and (c) the Port of London Authority over contingency plans for transport to the Millennium Dome. |
| (61980) | |
| 34 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps the Franchise Director has taken to involve the train rolling stock companies in supplying Connex's rolling stock replacement needs. |
| (61877) | |
| 35 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with train operating companies. |
| (61938) | |
| 36 N | Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the research on the effect of aircraft noise on sleep disturbance which his Department has commissioned, indicating sites chosen for noise trials. |
| (61974) | |
| 37 | Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will identify the places in the studies by Ken Young and Nirmala Rao, Coming to Terms with Change? the Local Government Councillor, in 1993 and the Audit Commission's publication Representing the People-the Role of Councillors, which indicate that councillors wish to spend more time in direct contact with those they represent. |
| (62037) | |
| 38 N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to include provision for spending on tourism in the Standard Spending Assessment. |
| (61086) | |
| 39 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many series of research papers his Department produces; and what are the names of each of these series. |
| (62046) | |
| 40 N | Mrs Janet Dean (Burton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made in reducing the amount of alcohol illegally imported into Britain. |
| (61535) | |
| 41 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received relating to the rule that Inland Revenue staff must retire at the age of 60 years. |
| (62031) | |
| 42 | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what rules his Department applies to allocation between departments of receipts from sales of assets; and what changes have been made since 1st May 1997. |
| (62032) | |
| 43 N | Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the current United Kingdom national debt was built up over the period 1978-79 to 1994-95; and what proportion of the current interest payments on debt are associated with the debt built up over that period. |
| (61704) | |
| 44 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what approaches he has made to the European Commission since the spring Budget regarding VAT in the United Kingdom on energy conservation materials and supplies. |
| (62038) | |
| 45 N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list by region in Great Britain the number of pensioners who will lose money, and the amounts involved, as a result of the abolition of the dividend tax credit. |
| (61842) | |
| 46 N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much it would cost to exempt pensioners from the abolition of the dividend tax credit for the years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02. |
| (61839) | |
| 47 N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has held on a reduced VAT rate on labour intensive services; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61886) | |
| 48 N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what matters have been discussed by the EU Code of Conduct Group to date; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61884) | |
| 49 N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what occasions the EU Code of Conduct Group has met since its formation; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61885) | |
| 50 N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his policy on the taxation of electronic commerce; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61881) | |
| 51 N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions have taken place at Ministerial level over the last six months about the future of duty free and the tax regime following its abolition. |
| (61882) | |
| 52 N | Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures have been proposed by the European Commission to reduce harmful tax competition; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61883) | |
| 53 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the talks between the United States and North Korea concerning the latter's nuclear programme. |
| (61860) | |
| 54 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the governments of (a) North Korea, (b) South Korea and (c) the United States concerning North Korea's nuclear programme. |
| (61859) | |
| 55 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development concerning the continued provision of aid to Zimbabwe. |
| (61862) | |
| 56 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the United Kingdom has offered to monitor the North Korean nuclear programme. |
| (61861) | |
| 57 N | Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan concerning the status of Christians in that country. |
| (61409) | |
| 58 N | Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent on the purchase of alcoholic drinks by the United Kingdom embassy in France in 1996-97. |
| (61698) | |
| 59 N | Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent by his Department on the purchase of alcoholic drink in the United Kingdom in 1996-97. |
| (61697) | |
| 60 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support the imposition of financial sanctions on the regime in Burma. |
| (62040) | |
| 61 N | Mr Robert Syms (Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice on security measures he intends to give to British Scouts, Guides and leaders who are to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Chile starting on 20th December. |
| (61880) | |
| 62 N | Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue guidelines to all health authorities requiring that patients should not be removed from waiting lists at the time that they are booked for an operation. |
| (61843) | |
| 63 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the first and second quarter figures for 1998-99 for the number of patients aged 75 years and over who were readmitted to hospital as an emergency within 28 days of discharge. |
| (61872) | |
| 64 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is his Department's timescale for commissioning new research into betaferon and issuing revised guidelines. |
| (61871) | |
| 65 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) other effects of the VAT order on the supply of certain renal and cancer drugs and on pharmaceutical products by retail pharmacists to residents of nursing homes. |
| (61939) | |
| 66 N | Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evaluation his Department has made of the effectiveness of section 22(1) of the National Health Services Act 1977. |
| (61868) | |
| 67 N | Mrs Janet Dean (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government's review of the number of NHS beds needed satisfactorily to treat patients will also assess whether there are sufficient intensive care beds. |
| (61534) | |
| 68 | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received regarding electro-convulsive therapy; and if he will make a statement. |
| (62012) | |
| 69 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many series of research papers his Department produces; and what are the names of each of these series of research papers. |
| (62051) | |
| 70 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many cases since his appointment he has exercised his discretion to grant leave to remain in the United Kingdom to foreign nationals resident in the United Kingdom on the grounds of compassionate circumstances. |
| (61992) | |
| 71 N | Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations, other than those made by or on behalf of a person awaiting a decision, he can take into account in the exercise of his discretion in extradition cases. |
| (61866) | |
| 72 N | Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what requests he has received for the exercise of his discretionary powers in the case of Augusto Pinochet; and when he received them. |
| (61865) | |
| 73 N | Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has made to the Bow Street Magistrates regarding the timetable of proceedings in the case of Augusto Pinochet. |
| (61863) | |
| 74 N | Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the timetable for the exercise of his discretion in the case of Augusto Pinochet. |
| (61864) | |
| 75 N | Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received regarding Augusto Pinochet following the judgement of the House of Lords in Regina v Burtle and Commissioner of Police on 25th November. |
| (61867) | |
| 76 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women under the age of 20 years were serving a prison sentence in England and Wales on 1st November. |
| (62020) | |
| 77 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women held in prisons in England and Wales on 1st November had a child or children with them. |
| (62022) | |
| 78 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (i) men and (ii) women were sentenced to imprisonment in England and Wales during each of the last three years for (a) non-payment of fines, (b) use of or trading in illegal drugs, (c) shoplifting, (d) abuse towards children and (e) involvement in violent crimes. |
| (62018) | |
| 79 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the current number of offenders who are electronically tagged in England and Wales. |
| (62021) | |
| 80 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women over the age of 65 years are serving prison sentences in England and Wales. |
| (62019) | |
| 81 N | Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to (a) speed up his Department's handling of applications for passports and visas and subsequent appeals and (b) to improve the handling of related complaints from honourable Members. |
| (61085) | |
| 82 N | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his role in extradition procedures; and what factors he takes into account in deciding whether or not to exercise his discretion. |
| (61848) | |
| 83 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a list of unclassified papers produced in (a) the special interest series by the Police and Reducing Crime Unit, and (b) the technical series of papers from the Police Scientific and Development Branch since January 1997, indicating (a) the title of each paper and (b) the date on which it was produced. |
| (62045) | |
| 84 N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the progress of the emergency relief operation in the countries affected by Hurricane Mitch. |
| (61417) | |
| 85 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much the United Kingdom's contribution is to multilateral donor projects in Mozambique in (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000. |
| (61857) | |
| 86 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much the United Kingdom's contribution is to multilateral donor projects in Zimbabwe in (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000. |
| (61852) | |
| 87 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the good governance criteria the Government has for assessing Zimbabwe's eligibility for assistance from her Department. |
| (61854) | |
| 88 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Foreign Secretary concerning the provision of aid to Zimbabwe. |
| (61858) | |
| 89 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the projects sponsored by her Department in Mozambique for (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000, giving their value and expected expiration dates. |
| (61856) | |
| 90 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the IMF's decision to suspend aid to Zimbabwe. |
| (61853) | |
| 91 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the projects sponsored by her Department in Zimbabwe for (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000, giving their value and expected expiration date. |
| (61851) | |
| 92 N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the Zimbabwe government's land reform programme up to 1st December 1997. |
| (61855) | |
| 93 N | Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the current humanitarian situation in Kosovo. |
| (61414) | |
| 94 N | Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings): To ask the Prime Minister, when the Government first announced that it planned to introduce a closed list system in respect of elections to the European Parliament. |
| (61841) | |
| 95 N | Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, for what reasons his Department is proposing a voluntary code of practice for the management of complexes of retirement flats owned by their occupants. |
| (61083) | |
| 96 N | Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the voluntary code of practice for the management of complexes of retirement flats owned by their occupants will include provisions relating to (a) major repair funds, (b) complaint procedures, (c) terms in deeds of conditions, (d) adherence to these conditions and (e) the implementation of an arbiter's award by managing agents. |
| (61084) | |
| 97 N | Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the impact upon crofters and other small producers of the costs of disposing of spent sheep dip as proposed under the Groundwater Regulations; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61849) | |
| 98 N | Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions the Government has had with (a) Highland Council and (b) Dornoch Academy about bringing the school back into local authority control; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61850) | |
| 99 N | Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what monitoring he undertakes of the sale price achieved for land and capital assets transferred to private companies as part of private finance deals and then sold on. |
| (61702) | |
| 100 | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to review the rules that will determine the number of Scottish parliamentary constituencies. |
| (62086) | |
| 101 | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what measures is he taking to combat racism in Scotland. |
| (62088) | |
| 102 | Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to review the method by which additional members of the Scottish parliament will be elected. |
| (62087) | |
| 103 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the organisations in Scotland involved in reviewing World Heritage Site nominations resulting from the Government's recent consultation. |
| (62052) | |
| 104 N | Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations he has received regarding the transfer to Moray House College of Education of the East Suffolk Road student hostels; what investigation he has made of the events surrounding this transfer and the accounting procedures involved; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61703) | |
| 105 N | Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, for what reasons the new Housing Partnerships Initiative precludes local authorities in Scotland from investing the funding available in local authority owned stock without transferring ownership of this stock outside the local authority. |
| (61678) | |
| 106 N | Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how his figure for the cost of abolishing tuition fees in Scotland was arrived at; over what period it applies; what the annual figures are; and what assumptions underlie the calculation. |
| (61710) | |
| 107 N | Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to implement the Nitrates Directive in respect of water bodies, rivers and their catchments which exceed the limit of 50mg/l of dissolved nitrates; and if he will make a statement. |
| (61699) | |
| 108 N | Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what advice he has received from Scottish Natural Heritage in respect of applications for licences for the killing of barnacle geese on the Island of Islay; and if licences will be issued for land within areas designated as special protection areas under EU Directive 79/409/EEC. |
| (61700) | |
| 109 N | Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recommendations he has received from the National Goose Forum relating to geese on Islay. |
| (61701) | |
| 110 N | Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the current operating difficulties in the Benefits Agency Medical Services. |
| (61874) | |
| 111 N | Mr David Rendel (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list for each employment service region, how many lone parents there are (a) in total, (b) with children under five years of age and (c) with children over five years of age. |
| (61964) | |
| 112 N | Mr David Rendel (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when his Department intends to publish the draft Bill on reform of the Child Support Agency. |
| (61962) | |
| 113 N | Mr David Rendel (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects to publish the review of the Habitual Residence Test. |
| (61875) | |
| 114 | Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Commonwealth nations have negotiated reciprocal arrangements to enable British pensioners living abroad to receive annual increases; and if he will make a statement on reciprocal arrangements with Kenya. |
| (62035) | |
| 115 N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will publish a breakdown of the £40 better off figures cited for lone parents who take paid employment as a result of the New Deal programme prototypes by amounts of (a) child benefit, (b) maintenance, (c) family credit, (d) net income from earnings, (e) housing benefit and (f) council tax benefit; and if he will break down the equivalent income figures which applied before paid employment was taken. |
| (61840) | |
| 116 N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the length of time taken in issuing housing benefit for each local authority in the United Kingdom. |
| (61869) | |
| 117 N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans his Department has to prevent local reference rent rules resulting in landlords refusing to let to claimants of housing benefit. |
| (61870) | |
| 118 N | Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, for what reasons there has been a delay in the publication of the Pension Income Series for 1996-97; and when he expects to publish the report. |
| (61873) | |
| 119 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with the BBC over broadcasting rights to the Millennium Exhibition in Greenwich. |
| (61982) | |
| 120 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish the budgets for each of the zones in the Greenwich Millennium Exhibition. |
| (61981) | |
| 121 N | Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish the amounts budgeted to be spent on design and content within each of the zones in the Greenwich Millennium Exhibition. |
| (61979) | |
| 122 N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) Government and (b) EU funding will be made available to replace the KONVER funding of the Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Chelmsford. |
| (61888) | |
| 123 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many informal meetings at which government business was discussed he has had with British Airways. |
| (61993) | |
| 124 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many informal meetings he has had since 2nd May 1997 at which Government business was discussed with (a) Srichand P. Hinduja, Chairman and (b) Gopichand P. Hinduja, President of the Hinduja Group of Companies. |
| (61976) | |
| 125 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the total value of grants paid by his Department to the Ford Motor Company since 1st May 1997. |
| (61989) | |
| 126 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many informal meetings at which Government business was discussed he has had with the directors or employees of Sangam Ltd. since 2nd May 1997; and what was the subject matter. |
| (62001) | |
| 127 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he sought the advice of his Permanent Secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry about potential conflicts of interest arising from his position as Secretary of State and as the sponsoring Minister of the New Millennium Experience Company; and what advice he received. |
| (61996) | |
| 128 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, from which civil servants he has sought advice in respect of potential conflicts of interest arising from his position as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and as the sponsoring Minister of the New Millennium Experience Company; and what advice he received. |
| (61997) | |
| 129 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard terms and conditions of sponsorship in respect of the New Millennium Experience Company. |
| (62002) | |
| 130 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings he has had with the Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company since 30th July; what was discussed; and if officials were present. |
| (61984) | |
| 131 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library copies of the submissions received in response to the Government's consultation on electronic commerce. |
| (61995) | |
| 132 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who was present and what was discussed at his meeting with British Aerospace on 7th September. |
| (61998) | |
| 133 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make it his policy to refuse sponsorship for the New Millennium Experience Company from companies which are in receipt of government grants. |
| (61991) | |
| 134 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who was present and what was discussed at his meeting with British Aerospace on 26th October. |
| (61983) | |
| 135 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many informal meetings at which government business was discussed he has had with British Aerospace. |
| (61994) | |
| 136 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on what dates he has had meetings with (a) Srichand P. Hinduja, Chairman and (b) Gopichand P. Hinduja, President of the Hinduja Group of Companies since 2nd May 1997; what was the location of the meetings and the subject matter discussed; and if officials were present. |
| (61977) | |
| 137 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what has been the total value of grant paid by his Department to British Aerospace since 1st May 1997. |
| (61990) | |
| 138 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings he has had with (a) McDonald's and (b) Manpower since becoming Secretary of State; and if civil servants were present. |
| (61986) | |
| 139 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library a copy of the legal advice which he has received in respect of any potential conflicts of interest arising from his roles as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister with responsibility for the New Millennium Experience Company. |
| (61987) | |
| 140 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings he has had with the directors or employees of Sangam Ltd. since he became the Minister responsible for the Millennium Experience; where they were held; what was the subject matter; and if civil servants were present. |
| (62000) | |
| 141 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who was present and what was discussed at his meeting with British Telecom on 30th October. |
| (62003) | |
| 142 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many informal meetings at which Government business was discussed he has had with (a) the Ford Motor Company, (b) Thames Water, (c) GEC, (d) British Telecom, (e) Tesco, (f) BSkyB and (g) Manpower since becoming Secretary of State. |
| (61985) | |
| 143 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the total value of grants paid by his Department to GEC since 1st May 1997. |
| (61988) | |
| 144 N | Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings he has had with the directors or employees of Sangam Limited since he became Secretary of State; where they were held; what was the subject matter; and if civil servants were present. |
| (61999) | |
| 145 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the average fine levied on a company director convicted of approving accounts which did not comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 1985 in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. |
| (61949) | |
| 146 | Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the outcome of the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 27th November; and if he will make a statement. |
| (62034) | |
| 147 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of the building materials used at the Millennium Site for National Celebration has been transported to the site by river. |
| (62039) | |
| 148 N | Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many expressions of interest he has received for the use of the Millennium Dome after 1st January 2001; and when he will make a decision on a short list of potential users. |
| (61879) | |
| 149 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list those organisations in Wales involved in reviewing World Heritage Site nominations resulting from the Government's recent consultation. |
| (62050) | |
| 150 N | Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects to restore full diplomatic relations with Nigeria. |
| [Question Unstarred] (61384) | |
| 151 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many directors were fined in 1997, and for what amounts, for approving accounts which did not comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 1985. |
| [Transferred] (61952) | |
| 152 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the maximum punishment for conviction as a director of a company which fails to file an annual return which discloses the names of the directors and owners of the company within 28 days of its due date under section 363 of the Companies Act 1985. |
| [Transferred] (61961) | |
| 153 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many company directors were (i) found guilty and (ii) fined for failing to file an annual return which disclosed the names of the directors and owners of the company within 28 days of its due date under section 363 of the Companies Act 1985 in each year since 1987. |
| [Transferred] (61947) | |
| 154 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the maximum available punishment following a conviction as a director of a company which failed to keep adequate accounting records. |
| [Transferred] (61951) | |
| 155 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many company directors were fined for being a director of a company which failed to file financial accounts with Companies House within (a) seven months and (b) 10 months of the end of the period of account in each year since 1987. |
| [Transferred] (61957) | |
| 156 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many company directors were disqualified for one or more Companies Act 1985 offences for failing to keep adequate accounting records in each year since 1987. |
| [Transferred] (61959) | |
| 157 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many companies were (a) found guilty and (b) fined for not disclosing to the public that a director has (i) resigned and (ii) been appointed within two weeks of that resignation under section 288 of the Companies Act 1985 in each year since 1987. |
| [Transferred] (61955) | |
| 158 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many company directors have been found guilty of failing to keep adequate accounting records in each year since 1987; and what penalties were imposed. |
| [Transferred] (61953) | |
| 159 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the maximum punishment following conviction for being a director of a company which fails to file financial accounts with Companies House within (i) seven months and (ii) 10 months of the end of the period of account. |
| [Transferred] (61948) | |
| 160 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many company directors were found guilty of approving accounts which did not comply with the Companies Act 1985 in each year since 1987. |
| [Transferred] (61954) | |
| 161 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many company directors have been (a) imprisoned or (b) fined over the last 10 years for approving accounts which do not comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 1985; and what is the maximum (i) prison sentence and (ii) fine which may be imposed. |
| [Transferred] (61958) | |
| 162 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many company directors were found guilty of failing to file financial accounts with Companies House within (i) seven months and (ii) 10 months of the end of the period of account in each year since 1987; and how many were fined. |
| [Transferred] (61956) | |
| 163 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the maximum punishment for a company which does not disclose to the public that a director has (a) been appointed and (b) resigned within two weeks of that resignation under section 288 of the Companies Act 1985. |
| [Transferred] (61960) | |
| 164 N | Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many company directors have been fined, and for what amounts, for approving accounts which did not comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 1985 in each year since 1987. |
| [Transferred] (61950) | |
| 165 N | Mr David Rendel (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the expenditure on the New Deal for lone parents in each employment service region. |
| [Transferred] (61963) | |
| 166 | Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list those organisations and persons consulted over the Atlantic Frontier Continental Shelf nomination (a) before and (b) since the World Heritage Site meeting on 12th November. |
| [Transferred] (62047) | |
| 167 | Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many representatives of the Welsh and Scottish development agencies are stationed outside the United Kingdom. |
| [Transferred] (62023) | |
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| © Parliamentary copyright 1998 | Revised 1 December 1998 |