Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 19 January 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 19 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 19 January, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 20 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 19th JANUARY

1
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 11th January, Official Report, column 119, what assessment he has made of the extent of competition within the UK sugar industry; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the sugar import levy on that competition.

(66671)

2
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research his Department has commissioned into the possible (a) health dangers and (b) side-effects of Aspartame.

(66678)

3
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the health risks posed by Aspartame.

(66677)

4
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what funding will be available for the Integrated Farming Initiative to limit the use of pesticides.

(66590)

5
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what provisions have been made under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 for the disposal of List I and List II substances in large areas of exposed aquifers, with particular reference to the Cotswolds.

(66586)

6
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what provisions have been made for the disposal of List I and List II substances under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 when it is necessary to use them at short notice due to animal welfare considerations or other unforeseen circumstances.

(66587)

7
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on responsibility under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 for obtaining the appropriate authorisations under the new legislation, with particular regard to the disposal of spent sheep dip.

(66594)

8
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what refund provisions there will be under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 for farmers who pay for an authorisation application on the basis of Environmental Agency advice which is subsequently deemed unnecessary once the full guidance has been developed.

(66588)

9
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what consultations have taken place with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions concerning the implementation of a pesticide tax.

(66591)

10
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Attorney General, what were the main points of his submission made to the High Court concerning the seizure and arrest of Mr Nick Mullen in Zimbabwe in 1989; and if he will place a copy of the submission in the Library.

(65996)

11
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money has been paid out to date for each of the Millennium Landmark projects.

(66672)

12
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the (a) occupations and (b) employers of members of the Independent Review of the Future of the Royal Opera House Companies and the English National Opera.

(66692)

13
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military or dual use goods have been exported since 1st May 1997 under government-to-government deals without export licence.

(66241)

14
N   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations his Department has received requesting the use of its uranium stocks for cancer research, with particular reference to the detection and treatment of cancer; what response his Department gave; and what factors underlay this response.

(66487)

15
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are (a) the running costs averaged over a four year period, excluding costs attributable to refits, DEDs, or manning and (b) the current estimates for an average refit and DED of a (i) Type 23 frigate, (ii) Type 22 (Batch 3) frigate, (iii) Sandown class SRMH, (iv) Hunt Class MCMV, (v) Island Class patrol vessel, (vi) Archer Class training vessel, (vii) Castle Class patrol vessel, (viii) Landing Ship-Logistic (LSL), (ix) Bulldog Class survey vessel, (x) Projected CNGF, (xi) Impulse Class tug and (xii) (ARMY) ramped landing craft.

(66597)

16
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total annual cost of providing harbour craft services, including those sub-contracted, at HM Naval Base Clyde.

(66598)

17
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many technical support personnel are required to support the deployment away from existing RAF bases of flights of (a) four and (b) eight RAF Harrier aircraft.

(66669)

18
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the anticipated hull life of the Trafalgar class of submarines.

(66667)

19
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of investment by other government departments into infra-red technology for use in the defence industry.

(66670)

20
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the interval between major refits for HMS 'Invincible'.

(66666)

21
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what investment his Department has made in infra-red technology for use in (a) the defence industry and (b) elsewhere in each of the last 10 years.

(66661)

22
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if infra-red technology is listed by his Department as a key defence technology.

(66663)

23
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the expected average time between major refits for Project Horizon ships.

(66665)

24
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the anticipated reactor life of the Vanguard class of submarines.

(66668)

25
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action he has taken to ensure that technology developed partly using his Department's funding is given the opportunity to compete for sub-systems work when private contractors are given overall technical responsibility.

(66662)

26
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the anticipated service life of (a) Tornado GR4 aircraft engines, (b) Eurofighter aircraft airframes and (c) Type 42 ships.

(66664)

27
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the location of the structures other than surveillance towers that are maintained by the security forces in Northern Ireland for a variety of observation purposes referred to in his Answer of 3rd November 1998, Official Report, columns 443-4.

(65997)

28
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the intended strategic purpose of the surveillance towers on hilltop sites in the South Armagh area; and what factors would be taken into account in a review of these towers.

(65998)

29
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research has been conducted into Aspartame as a possible cause of Gulf War Syndrome.

(66676)

30
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what evidence he has assessed of a possible link between Aspartame and Gulf War Syndrome.

(66675)

31
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what organophospate lubricants are used in the engines of military (a) fixed winged aircraft and (b) helicopters; and if he will make a statement on possible health hazards for air crews.

(66599)

32
N   Mr Geraint Davies (Croydon Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many job centres are fully accessible for the disabled; and what percentage have the equipment and trained staff to offer a gateway interview to disabled people.

(65086)

33
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what progress his Department made in encouraging installers of the Home Energy Efficiency scheme to take on young trainees as part of the Government's Welfare-to-Work programme.

(66660)

34
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many valuation appeals have been lodged since 11th March 1998 in which the appellant cites the decision in the Benjamin v. Anston Properties Ltd case.

(66511)

35
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his oral statement of 11th January, Official Report, column 71, if he will publish the evidence and working papers on which he based his estimate of the number of properties which might be in a sufficient state of disrepair to encourage owners to appeal against their valuation for rating purposes.

(66513)

36
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what information an appellant must supply in order to lodge a valuation appeal.

(66512)

37
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects negotiations with the United States towards a new air services agreement to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(66640)

38
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which categories of traffic he proposes to ban from the A1 corridor between Lobley Mill and North Brinton, Newcastle; if that ban will extend to the New Tyne Crossing; over what hours the ban will be in force; what alternative routes he proposes; when the ban is to be introduced; and what consultation he proposes to have with local residents and schools that may be affected.

(66600)

39
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 22nd September 1998 (IYR/PSO/16123/98) from the Minister for the Environment to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, if he will give examples of what has been achieved in making progress towards clean development mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol.

(65394)

40
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has had from Sir Crispin Tickell on comparisons of cost in carrying (a) air freighted vegetables and (b) other air freight between (i) Scotland and London and (ii) Asia/Africa/Caribbean/South America and London.

(66495)

41
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has had from Sir Crispin Tickell on the concept of a World Environment Organisation.

(66494)

42
N   Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce his decision in respect of the recommendations of the Local Government Commission for the boundaries of the electoral areas for the Assembly of the Greater London Authority.

(66596)

43
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral Answer to the honourable Member for Buckingham of 14th January, Official Report, columns 430-1, on the New Deal for Young People, what assumptions in respect of savings in benefits and increased tax revenue from those funding work are made in his calculations of the cost per job; and if it is his intention to apply this methodology to other Government programmes.

(66592)

44
N   Mr Ivan Henderson (Harwich):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on retaining duty free sales in the EU.

(64597)

45
N   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on retaining duty free sales in Europe.

(64620)

46
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the Government has received from President Clinton concerning negotiations over, and the sovereignty of, the Falkland Islands.

(65819)

47
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects the British Ambassador to Sudan to return to Khartoum.

(66490)

48
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the total cost of the compensation for loss of pension rights which his Department has agreed to pay to the 14 former employees of GCHQ.

(66489)

49
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Spanish Foreign Minister on the possibility of a licensing and quota agreement for Spanish fishing boats in British waters around Gibraltar.

(66247)

50
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to send a fisheries protection vessel to Gibraltar to reinforce the protection of British waters from unlawful incursions by Spanish fishing boats.

(66246)

51
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when a representative of the British Embassy in Yemen first met with a member of the Yemeni government to discuss the five detained British citizens.

(66686)

52
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations were made to the Yemeni government between the kidnapping of the hostages on 28th December and their death on 29th December; and what response was received from the Yemeni government.

(66688)

53
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when (a) he and (b) a Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister first spoke to a member of the Yemeni government to discuss the situation in Yemen.

(66687)

54
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department's ministers have to visit Yemen.

(66690)

55
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the British Consul General in Aden first learnt of the detention of the five British citizens being detained in Aden.

(66685)

56
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of Yemen's application to join the Commonwealth.

(66689)

57
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was (a) the budget and (b) the outturn for general dental services for England for the financial year 1997-98.

(66654)

58
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each health authority area (a) the number of applications received and (b) the gross funding awarded under Investing in Dentistry; and if he will make a statement.

(66658)

59
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money has been allocated to Investing in Dentistry up to 31st December; which health authority areas applied for such funds; how much each has bid for; and how many applications were (a) received and (b) successful in each health authority area.

(66659)

60
   Dr Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review the impact of new regulations on aspirin and paracetamol pack sizes; what action he will take to ensure that pharmacists are aware of their discretion to supply up to 100 tablets at a time without a prescription; and if he will make a statement.

(66674)

61
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to appoint a pharmacist to membership of each primary care group.

(66657)

62
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when primary care groups will have their membership expanded to include a community optician.

(66656)

63
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from community health councils regarding the composition of primary care groups.

(66652)

64
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons dentists were excluded from the membership of primary care groups.

(66655)

65
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours a week are spent by prisoners at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution, Cheshire, on education, community work, preparation for employment and work to change offending behaviour; and how this compares with time spent on similar activities at other young offenders institutions.

(66248)

66
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average cost for each place on the high-intensity training pilot scheme at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution, Cheshire.

(66250)

67
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average weekly cost of keeping a prisoner at a young offenders' institution.

(66244)

68
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what basis prisoners are selected for a place on the high-intensity training pilot scheme at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution, Cheshire.

(66249)

69
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter of 20th September to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what he has done to keep under review the possible use of cellphone jammers to disrupt criminal activity.

(65396)

70
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes have been (a) considered and rejected and (b) made since the publication of the Home Affairs Committee First report of Session 1997-98 on police disciplinary and complaints procedures (HC 894) into the ability of police officers to avoid disciplinary procedures by taking retirement.

(66648)

71
N   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the (a) target time and (b) average actual time between applications for renewal of visas and decisions for nationals of (i) Bahrain and (ii) China currently in the United Kingdom.

(65755)

72
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which department of Government has responsibility for keeping the UK State of Emergency regulations under review; when the last review was made; if he will undertake his own departmental review of the regulations; and if this matter has been included in the general review of international obligations announced on 3rd July 1997.

(65999)

73
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 9th December, Official Report, column 210, what guidance has been given to state parties by the UN Committee on Torture on appropriate responses to its recommendations; what measures he will take to act upon its recommendations prior to the deadline for the fourth UK Periodic Report in 2002; and what steps he has taken to secure the agreement of other Ministerial departments to respond to the recommendations of the UN Committee.

(66084)

74
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date findings of the police investigation into the shooting on 23rd September 1996 of Diarmuid O'Neill were received by (a) the Police Complaints Authority, (b) the Crown Prosecution Service and (c) Her Majesty's Coroner; and what decisions have been made by each of these bodies concerning criminal or disciplinary action.

(66085)

75
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list for each other European Union country, how many asylum seekers have been accepted in each of the last two years.

(66112)

76
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been allowed into the United Kingdom in the last two years; and from which countries they came.

(66115)

77
N   Mr Ivor Caplin (Hove):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the use of funds donated to the Palestine Authority by the European Union.

(64594)

78
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the countries with which she is having discussions regarding use of child labour.

(66651)

79
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 11th January, Official Report, column 23, if she will list (a) the countries and (b) the projects in respect of which overseas expenditure was misappropriated through corruption or fraud in 1996-97 and 1997-98; what prosecutions have taken place in respect of these amounts, and with what outcome; and if any of the money has been recovered.

(66595)

80
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her oral Answer of 16th December, Official Report, column 954, on Zimbabwe, when the review of the Government's overall relationship with Zimbabwe was announced; what are the terms of reference of the review; what progress has been made; what plans she has to publish its conclusions; and if she will make a statement.

(66488)

81
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to permit licensed jury deliberation research.

(66693)

82
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she plans to publish the strategy paper setting out her approach to normalisation.

(65995)

83
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she received the report of the June 1998 police investigation into the circumstances of departmental leaks concerning her telephone conversations about appointments to the Policing Commission; and if she will list (a) the principal conclusions of the report and (b) her responses to each recommendation.

(66086)

84
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she expects to receive the report of the equality working group chaired by Dr Joan Stringer; and if she will make a statement.

(65993)

85
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her Answer of 10th December, Official Report, column 270, on compensation for wrongful conviction, how many persons have had their convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal in each of the last 10 years.

(65994)

86
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in the RUC investigation into the murder of Seamus Ludlow in 1976; how many people have been questioned in the past 12 months; how many people have been charged; what representations she has received from the Irish Government; and what assessment the DPP has made of the feasibility of a trial within the Northern Ireland jurisdiction.

(66486)

87
N   Mr Ian Pearson (Dudley South):    To ask the President of the Council, if she will make arrangements for honourable and Right honourable Members to have the option of receiving their salaries in euros.

(66509)

88
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what consultations he had with (a) leaders of the British Muslim community and (b) British Muslim academics before endorsing the bombing of Iraq.

(65393)

89
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what knowledge Her Majesty's Government has of the number of civilian casualties to which he referred in his letter to the honourable Member for Linlithgow of 13th January.

(66492)

90
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 12th January, Official Report, column 143, concerning military action against Iraq, by whom the reasons are well understood.

(66493)

91
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter of 13th January to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what was the outcome of discussions with (a) EU partners and (b) Security Council colleagues about making more effective arrangements for alleviating the suffering of the Iraqi people.

(66491)

92
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Prime Minister, what sanctions would apply to Liberal Democrat Party members of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee considering foreign policy and defence and security issues who disclosed the contents of classified material.

(66510)

93
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 16th December, Official Report, column 962, what steps he plans to take to reduce the discarding of edible fish under the quota system.

(66114)

94
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 16th December, Official Report, column 962, what steps he plans to take with other European countries to reform the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement.

(66113)

95
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Prime Minister, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 7th December regarding former prisoners of war of the Japanese.

(66583)

96
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Maidenhead of 1st December, Official Report, columns 145-7, on the Benefits Integrity Project, what estimates his Department made of the level of successful reviews and appeals following decisions made by the Benefits Integrity Project, when calculating estimated benefit savings; and what plans his Department has to revise the current estimate for benefit savings to reflect the latest statistics on appeals against decisions made under the Benefits Integrity Project.

(66413)

97
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if recipients of severe disablement allowance will be compelled to attend work-focused job interviews through the Single Gateway to Work.

(66245)

98
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what performance targets have been set for the disability living allowance administration, Norcross, Blackpool, in respect of the length of time to reply to enquiries by honourable Members.

(66673)

99
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what export licences have been issued to International Military Sales Ltd. since 1st May 1997.

(66242)

100
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what licences have been granted to the Crown Agents since 1st May 1997 for military or dual-use goods, by category.

(66237)

101
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the export licences for tear gas or plastic bullets (a) given to and (b) applied for by the Crown Agents since 1st May 1997.

(66239)

102
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many export licences have been given to the Crown Agents since 1st May 1997 for goods in the ML7 category.

(66240)

103
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what documentation has been required for export licences issued to International Military Sales Ltd.

(66243)

104
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what export licences are required for (a) military goods and (b) dual-use goods exported by the Crown.

(66236)

105
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what military or dual-use goods have been exported without licences by the Crown Agents since 1st May 1997, by category.

(66238)

106
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many severance payments have been made to ministers who have quit office in his Department since 2nd May 1997; and if he will list (a) the former ministers concerned and (b) the sums paid.

(66593)

107
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 his predecessor's letter to British Airways in reply to a letter dated 2nd December seeking deferment of a final decision on the alliance with American Airlines; and if he will make a statement.

(66643)

108
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if his predecessor received advice from the Permanent Secretary at the DTI that there was no conflict of interest which prevented him dealing with competition issues arising from the proposed British Airways alliance with American Airlines.

(66644)

109
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on what issues more progress is needed before a final decision can be announced on the application for approval of the alliance between British Airways and American Airlines.

(66641)

110
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to be able to announce a final decision on the proposed alliance between British Airways and American Airlines.

(66642)

111
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the letter of 22nd September from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, if he will list the contributions of the Wellcome Trust to significant additional investments in areas of science (a) in the biomedical area and (b) outside the biomedical area.

(65395)

112
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what procedures were put in place to ensure there was (a) no conflict of interest and (b) no appearance of conflict of interest when the former Secretary of State, the Right honourable Member for Hartlepool, met BAe during his period as Secretary of State.

(66601)

113
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on Anglo-Yemeni trade relations.

(66691)

114
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 18th November regarding mineshafts.

(66585)

115
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 14th December regarding trade union legislation.

(66584)

116
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when a decision concerning the imposition of a pesticide tax will be made.

[Transferred] (66589)

117
N   Mr Ian Pearson (Dudley South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make arrangements for civil servants to have the option of receiving their salaries in euros.

[Transferred] (66508)

118
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the policy of his Department on the setting-up of elected safety representatives and safety committees within the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (66649)

119
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to reply to Wirral Metropolitan Council's request to review the licence given to Cable and Wireless to provide cable television services in the Wirral.

[Transferred] (66653)

120
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the number of registered deaths in the United Kingdom within the last 12 months where the cause of death was due to exposure to asbestos; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (66650)



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