Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 12 January 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 12 January 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 12 January, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 13 January, see Part 2 of this Paper.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

TUESDAY 12th JANUARY

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of his discussions with the Home Office about possible criteria for further controls enabling his Department to take into account the treatment of animals in the country of destination before he issues official non-statutory health certification.

(64986)

2
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to discuss with his counterparts in other European Union member states the establishment of a pesticide policy across the Community.

(65415)

3
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask Mr Attorney General, what was the cost to public funds (a) in total and (b) to the Crown Prosecution Service of the court hearings in respect of Senator Pinochet's allegation of conflict of interest on the part of Lord Hoffman.

(65253)

4
N   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will review the position of students who are required to attend a foundation course before taking up a university place who currently receive no grant for the year of their foundation course.

(63358)

5
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the impact of (a) the 6 per cent. fuel duty escalator, (b) full take up of local transport measures in areas greater than 25 kmÜof5Ý2, (c) full take up of local transport measures in London and in 1/3rd of all areas greater than 25 kmÜof5Ý2 and (d) strict enforcement of 70 mph speed limit on national traffic levels in the models used to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions savings given in the table on page 38 of the UK Climate Change Programme.

(64995)

6
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the consequences for congestion of the introduction of night-time rules for mobile workers in the EU Working Time Directive.

(64982)

7
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the relative damage caused to roads by (a) 38 tonne lorries, (b) 40 tonne lorries and (c) 44 tonne lorries with standard axle arrangements.

(64983)

8
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many 44 tonne lorries are licensed to operate on United Kingdom roads.

(64984)

9
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of cities which could reduce their road traffic carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. as described in paragraph 2.59 of the New Deal for Transport; and what changes to traffic levels, based on 1990 levels, such reductions would imply (a) in those cities and (b) nationally.

(64989)

10
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what level of traffic, expressed as a percentage of traffic levels in 1990, has been assumed to calculate the 22 to 27 per cent. reduction in forecast road traffic carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 referred to in paragraph 2.26 of the New Deal for Transport.

(64990)

11
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the amount which road traffic levels would need to be reduced in order to reduce road traffic carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. by 2010, on 1990 levels.

(64991)

12
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the reduction in carbon dioxide from (a) road freight transport and (b) private car use on a 1990 base by 2010; and what proportion of this reduction would be (i) as a result of improvements in engine efficiency and (ii) from reductions in the number of lorry-kilometres travelled.

(64992)

13
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what change in traffic levels, expressed as a percentage of 1990 levels, was assumed in order to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions forecast for 2010 from road traffic given in paragraph 127 of the UK Climate Change Programme.

(63993)

14
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what forecast he has made of the levels of traffic reduction which would occur in (a) the urban areas concerned and (b) nationally if local authorities in cities at least the size of Southampton acted to reduce road traffic carbon dioxide by 0.8 MtC by 2010, as set out in paragraph 114 of the UK Climate Change Programme.

(64994)

15
   Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made in his revision of the current Planning Guidance Note for Sport and Recreation (PPG17).

(65431)

16
   Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress he has made in considering means to prevent owners from deliberately running down or demolishing sporting facilities following the court's decision in the Thames Ditton Lawn Tennis Club case.

(65428)

17
N   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress is being made on the New Deal for communities in Liverpool.

(63564)

18
N   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received in the last 12 months about bus company mergers and take-overs.

(63408)

19
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress he has made towards the injection of private capital into the infrastructure of London Transport Underground.

(63563)

20
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what pressure he is applying to bring duty levels on diesel in other EU countries up to the level currently applicable within the United Kingdom.

(64985)

21
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK road haulage industry of the differences in rates of duty on diesel between EU states.

(65027)

22
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of people in each decile of (a) benefit unit income and (b) household income, who will gain from the introduction of the working families tax credit.

(65421)

23
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the (a) current and (b) future use of special constables by the police force.

(64963)

24
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate how many hours special constables, on average, work each week in (a) England and Wales and (b) Norfolk; what estimate he has made of future work loads; and if he will make a statement.

(64960)

25
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special constables are currently employed in (a) England and Wales and (b) Norfolk; what estimate he has made of the future employment levels; and if he will make a statement.

(64961)

26
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the penalties in respect of a conviction of a vehicle's registered keeper for failure to name the known driver of the vehicle following a road traffic offence.

(64962)

27
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of expenditure on special constables (a) in 1998-99 and (b) in each year of the planning period in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Norfolk; and if he will make a statement.

(64964)

28
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for the weeks ending (i) 19th December 1998, (ii) 26th December 1998, (iii) 2nd January 1999 and (iv) 9th January 1999 the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) shootings which took place in Northern Ireland; and how many in each category were committed by (1) Loyalists and (2) Republicans.

(64212)

29
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the French Government about the consequences for his policy of establishing a separate European defence identity of the American and British military action against Iraq.

(65380)

30
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what response he gave to representations from the Government of Italy concerning the attack on Iraq.

(65379)

31
   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much has been spent in Scotland on Royal Burgh environment improvement by the Government since May 1997.

(65427)

32
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the combined value of the basic pension and the proposed second state pension as a proportion of average earnings once the new scheme has fully matured, for someone with annual earnings of (a) £4,500, (b) £9,000, (c) £13,500, (d) £18,000 and (e) £22,500.

(65426)

33
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate on the basis of current policy how many (a) men and (b) women, aged (i) 65 to 69, (ii) 70 to 79 and (iii) 80 years or above in 2050, will receive income support by that date.

(65425)

34
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the capital sum which would be required, at current annuity rates, to buy a pension which would give a person retiring at the age of 65 years the same income after housing costs as someone entitled to income support, assuming an average level of housing costs and taking into account the cash value of the principal benefits in kind available to pensioner recipients of income support but not to other pensioners.

(65423)

35
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects take-up of stakeholder pensions to reach (a) 500,000, (b) 1 million, (c) 1.5 million and (d) 2 million; and what estimate he has made of the eventual level of take-up of stakeholder pensions.

(65420)

36
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the cost in each of the next 10 financial years of linking the rate of income support for pensioners to earnings rather than prices.

(65424)

37
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the effect would be of an immediate increase in the age addition to the basic state pension to (a) £5 for the over 80s, (b) £5 for the over 80s and £3 for the over 75s and (c) £10 for the over 80s and £5 for the over 75s, on the number of pensioners receiving income support in (i) 1999-2000 and (ii) 2000-01.

(65422)

38
   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the (a) dates and (b) venues for public seminars on Objective I status for West Wales and the Valleys organised by his Department.

(65414)

39
   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the members of the European Objective I Task Force and the organisation or councils they represent.

(65413)

40
   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the number of new small and medium-sized enterprises which were set up in each county in Wales for each of the past 10 years.

(65417)

41
   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized enterprises which went out of business in each county of Wales for each of the past 10 years.

(65416)

42
   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the number and types of audit available to his Department to ensure that European funding is properly spent, indicating how many of the audits were used to monitor European grants to the ex-Rhuddlan Borough Council between 1988 and 1996; and if he will make a statement.

(65412)

43
N   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning planning permission for opencast mining at Avenue Cokeworks, Wingerworth, Derbyshire.

[Question Unstarred] (63577)

TUESDAY 12th JANUARY
1 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of his discussions with the Home Office about possible criteria for further controls enabling his Department to take into account the treatment of animals in the country of destination before he issues official non-statutory health certification.
	(64986)
2	Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to discuss with his counterparts in other European Union member states the establishment of a pesticide policy across the Community.
	(65415)
3 N	Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask Mr Attorney General, what was the cost to public funds (a) in total and (b) to the Crown Prosecution Service of the court hearings in respect of Senator Pinochet's allegation of conflict of interest on the part of Lord Hoffman.
	(65253)
4 N	Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will review the position of students who are required to attend a foundation course before taking up a university place who currently receive no grant for the year of their foundation course.
	(63358)
5 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the impact of (a) the 6 per cent. fuel duty escalator, (b) full take up of local transport measures in areas greater than 25 kmÜof5Ý2, (c) full take up of local transport measures in London and in 1/3rd of all areas greater than 25 kmÜof5Ý2 and (d) strict enforcement of 70 mph speed limit on national traffic levels in the models used to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions savings given in the table on page 38 of the UK Climate Change Programme.
	(64995)
6 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the consequences for congestion of the introduction of night-time rules for mobile workers in the EU Working Time Directive.
	(64982)
7 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the relative damage caused to roads by (a) 38 tonne lorries, (b) 40 tonne lorries and (c) 44 tonne lorries with standard axle arrangements.
	(64983)
8 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many 44 tonne lorries are licensed to operate on United Kingdom roads.
	(64984)
9 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of cities which could reduce their road traffic carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. as described in paragraph 2.59 of the New Deal for Transport; and what changes to traffic levels, based on 1990 levels, such reductions would imply (a) in those cities and (b) nationally.
	(64989)
10 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what level of traffic, expressed as a percentage of traffic levels in 1990, has been assumed to calculate the 22 to 27 per cent. reduction in forecast road traffic carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 referred to in paragraph 2.26 of the New Deal for Transport.
	(64990)
11 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the amount which road traffic levels would need to be reduced in order to reduce road traffic carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. by 2010, on 1990 levels.
	(64991)
12 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the reduction in carbon dioxide from (a) road freight transport and (b) private car use on a 1990 base by 2010; and what proportion of this reduction would be (i) as a result of improvements in engine efficiency and (ii) from reductions in the number of lorry-kilometres travelled.
	(64992)
13 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what change in traffic levels, expressed as a percentage of 1990 levels, was assumed in order to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions forecast for 2010 from road traffic given in paragraph 127 of the UK Climate Change Programme.
	(63993)
14 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what forecast he has made of the levels of traffic reduction which would occur in (a) the urban areas concerned and (b) nationally if local authorities in cities at least the size of Southampton acted to reduce road traffic carbon dioxide by 0.8 MtC by 2010, as set out in paragraph 114 of the UK Climate Change Programme.
	(64994)
15	Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made in his revision of the current Planning Guidance Note for Sport and Recreation (PPG17).
	(65431)
16	Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress he has made in considering means to prevent owners from deliberately running down or demolishing sporting facilities following the court's decision in the Thames Ditton Lawn Tennis Club case.
	(65428)
17 N	Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress is being made on the New Deal for communities in Liverpool.
	(63564)
18 N	Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received in the last 12 months about bus company mergers and take-overs.
	(63408)
19 N	Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress he has made towards the injection of private capital into the infrastructure of London Transport Underground.
	(63563)
20 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what pressure he is applying to bring duty levels on diesel in other EU countries up to the level currently applicable within the United Kingdom.
	(64985)
21 N	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK road haulage industry of the differences in rates of duty on diesel between EU states.
	(65027)
22	Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of people in each decile of (a) benefit unit income and (b) household income, who will gain from the introduction of the working families tax credit.
	(65421)
23 N	Mr David Prior (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the (a) current and (b) future use of special constables by the police force.
	(64963)
24 N	Mr David Prior (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate how many hours special constables, on average, work each week in (a) England and Wales and (b) Norfolk; what estimate he has made of future work loads; and if he will make a statement.
	(64960)
25 N	Mr David Prior (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special constables are currently employed in (a) England and Wales and (b) Norfolk; what estimate he has made of the future employment levels; and if he will make a statement.
	(64961)
26 N	Mr David Prior (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the penalties in respect of a conviction of a vehicle's registered keeper for failure to name the known driver of the vehicle following a road traffic offence.
	(64962)
27 N	Mr David Prior (North Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of expenditure on special constables (a) in 1998-99 and (b) in each year of the planning period in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Norfolk; and if he will make a statement.
	(64964)
28 N	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for the weeks ending (i) 19th December 1998, (ii) 26th December 1998, (iii) 2nd January 1999 and (iv) 9th January 1999 the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) shootings which took place in Northern Ireland; and how many in each category were committed by (1) Loyalists and (2) Republicans.
	(64212)
29 N	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the French Government about the consequences for his policy of establishing a separate European defence identity of the American and British military action against Iraq.
	(65380)
30 N	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the Prime Minister, what response he gave to representations from the Government of Italy concerning the attack on Iraq.
	(65379)
31	Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much has been spent in Scotland on Royal Burgh environment improvement by the Government since May 1997.
	(65427)
32	Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the combined value of the basic pension and the proposed second state pension as a proportion of average earnings once the new scheme has fully matured, for someone with annual earnings of (a) £4,500, (b) £9,000, (c) £13,500, (d) £18,000 and (e) £22,500.
	(65426)
33	Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate on the basis of current policy how many (a) men and (b) women, aged (i) 65 to 69, (ii) 70 to 79 and (iii) 80 years or above in 2050, will receive income support by that date.
	(65425)
34	Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the capital sum which would be required, at current annuity rates, to buy a pension which would give a person retiring at the age of 65 years the same income after housing costs as someone entitled to income support, assuming an average level of housing costs and taking into account the cash value of the principal benefits in kind available to pensioner recipients of income support but not to other pensioners.
	(65423)
35	Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects take-up of stakeholder pensions to reach (a) 500,000, (b) 1 million, (c) 1.5 million and (d) 2 million; and what estimate he has made of the eventual level of take-up of stakeholder pensions.
	(65420)
36	Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the cost in each of the next 10 financial years of linking the rate of income support for pensioners to earnings rather than prices.
	(65424)
37	Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the effect would be of an immediate increase in the age addition to the basic state pension to (a) £5 for the over 80s, (b) £5 for the over 80s and £3 for the over 75s and (c) £10 for the over 80s and £5 for the over 75s, on the number of pensioners receiving income support in (i) 1999-2000 and (ii) 2000-01.
	(65422)
38	Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the (a) dates and (b) venues for public seminars on Objective I status for West Wales and the Valleys organised by his Department.
	(65414)
39	Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the members of the European Objective I Task Force and the organisation or councils they represent.
	(65413)
40	Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the number of new small and medium-sized enterprises which were set up in each county in Wales for each of the past 10 years.
	(65417)
41	Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized enterprises which went out of business in each county of Wales for each of the past 10 years.
	(65416)
42	Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the number and types of audit available to his Department to ensure that European funding is properly spent, indicating how many of the audits were used to monitor European grants to the ex-Rhuddlan Borough Council between 1988 and 1996; and if he will make a statement.
	(65412)
43 N	Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning planning permission for opencast mining at Avenue Cokeworks, Wingerworth, Derbyshire.
	[Question Unstarred] (63577)



© Parliamentary copyright 1999	Revised 12 January 1999