Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 21 January 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 21 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 Thursday 21 January, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Monday 25 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.

THURSDAY 21st JANUARY

1
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 18th to 19th January; and if he will make a statement.

(67011)

2
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement about Crown immunity in relation to the randomised badger culling trial.

(67012)

3
   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will introduce routine testing for TB in all cattle.

(67271)

4
   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research his Department is currently funding into formulating a new TB vaccine for cattle.

(67288)

5
   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which countries will qualify for privileged entry arrangements under the Kennedy Report on the reform of quarantine; and how many pet animals were imported from these countries in (a) 1998, (b) 1997, (c) 1996.

(67202)

6
   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list (a) the organisations that have responded to the Kennedy Report on the reform of quarantine and (b) the organisations and individuals he will be consulting before he announces his decisions on the new regime.

(67201)

7
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much genetically modified (a) maize, (b) soya and (c) canola was imported for (i) seed, (ii) animal feed and (iii) human consumption in the last year for which figures are available.

(67208)

8
N   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on (a) genetically modified organisms and (b) the biotechnology industry from the US Administration.

(66682)

9
N   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he will take to protect organic farming from possible effects of biotechnology.

(66681)

10
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is the Chair of the Ministerial Group on Older People; and if he will list the Group's full membership.

(67246)

11
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) secretarial and (b) other administrative help is given to honourable and Right honourable Liberal Democrat Members of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee; and what is the estimated cost of this assistance to date.

(66880)

12
   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans exist to increase the broadcasting coverage of Channel 5 to areas that currently are unable to receive transmissions, with particular reference to Worcester.

(67029)

13
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations have been received by the NMEC concerning food at the Dome.

(67270)

14
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications have been made for (a) branded restaurants and (b) other catering facilities at the Dome.

(67267)

15
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if all applicants for catering facilities at the Dome were interviewed by the same panel.

(67269)

16
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is his policy on the provision of ethnic food at the Dome.

(67268)

17
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what basis International Military Services (Iran) is trading; and if he will make a statement on its activities.

(66984)

18
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what basis International Military Services Ltd is trading; and if he will make a statement on its activities.

(66998)

19
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what basis International Military Services (Saudi Arabia) is trading; and if he will make a statement on its activities.

(66985)

20
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the membership of the National Defence Industries Council and its working parties; and how these have changed since 1996.

(67297)

21
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements exist for publicising the public access arrangements to the defence estate; and what plans he has to publish the arrangements on the internet.

(67003)

22
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what income was received by the MoD estate from (a) agricultural lettings, (b) sporting rights and (c) commercial lettings in each year since 1994-95.

(67004)

23
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which countries' armed forces pension schemes have been studied as part of the UK Armed Forces Pension Scheme Review announced on 23rd September 1998.

(67127)

24
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel, and at what ranks, are currently attached to (a) HMS 'Ark Royal' and (b) HMS 'Intrepid' in Portsmouth Dockyard; and at what annual cost per ship.

(67248)

25
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the crew numbers of the Swiftsure class of submarines are up to full complement; how many officers and men are on each submarine; and if he will make a statement.

(67249)

26
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to announce the conclusions of the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; and what opportunities there will be for public consultation before final recommendations are implemented.

(67126)

27
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if representations from the public can be made to the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

(67125)

28
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has sought from (a) members of the armed forces and (b) the public on the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

(67124)

29
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library copies of the British equivalent of the US Department of the Navy SP10 Memo 4900 SP131522 relating to UK Trident purchases in the US from fiscal year 1984 to date.

(67040)

30
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library copies of AWE Company Security, Environment, Safety and Health Systems Analysis reports.

(67213)

31
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with BNFL about extending the life of the Chapelcross and Calderhill reactors; and if he will make a statement.

(67209)

32
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions have taken place with United States government officials concerning the possibility of Britain meeting future US tritium requirements.

(67212)

33
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with the DETR regarding the implications of the OSPAR agreement for continued operation of the Chapelcross tritium production facility.

(67211)

34
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the items to be purchased from the money authorised recently to be paid to the US Government as the UK share of the fiscal year 1999 Trident procurement programme.

(67041)

35
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of the money paid by the UK to the US Government on Trident to be spent during fiscal year 1999 is for items essential to maintain the continued operational availability of the UK Trident system.

(67042)

36
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is his forecast for the longevity of the tritium production facility at Chapelcross.

(67210)

37
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to publish a revised code of conduct on ethics and discipline for the Royal Navy.

(66748)

38
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from European partners concerning Project Horizon.

(66755)

39
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the percentage of his Department's systems which might be affected by millennium compliance failure by other departments, public or private companies and international government and non-governmental systems.

(66752)

40
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what budget has been allocated within his Department to deal with the millennium bug.

(66881)

41
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to establish the post of Chief of Defence Personnel.

(66744)

42
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to publish a revised code of conduct on ethics and discipline for the Royal Air Force.

(66746)

43
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of his Department's systems are currently not millennium compliant.

(66751)

44
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to publish a revised code of conduct on ethics and discipline for the Army.

(66747)

45
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what alternative systems to Project Horizon are available to the Royal Navy.

(66749)

46
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what departmental funds have been spent to date on Project Horizon.

(66750)

47
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for his Department's future participation in Project Horizon.

(66754)

48
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many outstanding legal cases are pending against his Department on grounds of (a) equal opportunities, (b) racial discrimination, (c) homosexuality and lesbianism, (d) post-traumatic stress syndrome and (e) physical injury.

(66743)

49
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if it is his policy to provide single accommodation for all single service personnel.

(66745)

50
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which of his officials is responsible for co-ordinating his Department's action on the millennium bug.

(66753)

51
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the compliance of the practice of recruiting men and women aged under 18 years to the armed forces with the United Kingdom's responsibilities under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(67215)

52
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance he has issued to local education authorities relating to the means by which existing Section 11-funded adult education will be protected following the introduction of ethnic minority achievement grants.

(66610)

53
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to introduce quality assurance procedures within Section 11-funded adult education.

(66608)

54
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will ensure that, within the new administrative arrangements for ethnic minority achievement grants, the level of existing funding of adult education within each participating local education authority is ring-fenced before the retained and devolved proportions of the authority's allocations are set.

(66609)

55
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much was spent per student out of the Local Management of Schools allocations for primary and secondary students up to 16 years in each local education authority in the years (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99.

(67298)

56
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the letter of 27th August (EM CC/614/2044) to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what interim results he has received in respect of the non-statutory code of practice on unfair discrimination on grounds of age in the teaching profession.

(65404)

57
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the participation rate of three-year-olds in early education in Portsmouth.

(67226)

58
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the increase in standard spending assessment for education for Portsmouth Education Authority for 1999-2000.

(67241)

59
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance is given by (a) the Quality Assurance Agency and (b) other bodies to universities and other institutions of higher education in relation to (i) the systems to be used in their internal complaints procedures and (ii) the ways in which complaints procedures should be publicised.

(67206)

60
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what action is being taken to ensure that universities and other institutions of higher education have in place an internal complaints procedure available to (a) undergraduates and (b) postgraduates.

(67205)

61
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those universities and other institutions of higher education which do not currently have in place a formal internal complaints procedure available to (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate students; and what timetable has been set for the introduction of such complaints procedures in each case.

(67207)

62
   Mr Robert Syms (Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the state-maintained grammar schools, grouping them by constituency.

(67098)

63
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the (a) areas and (b) projects which have been involved in the millennium volunteers programme to date.

(67238)

64
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to extend the millennium volunteers scheme to Leicester.

(67237)

65
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the millennium volunteers programme.

(67236)

66
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the total amount spent by his Department on central administration of education action zones; and what is this amount as a proportion of the total departmental expenditure on education action zones.

(67292)

67
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the total amount of the private sector financial contribution for each education action zone and show this as a proportion of the total available budget.

(67295)

68
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each education action zone the resources provided from other government initiatives.

(67290)

69
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each education action zone the amount of private sector contribution that has been given in (a) cash and (b) kind in each case, broken down (b) by type of help provided.

(67294)

70
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those instances where a contribution from a TEC to an education action zone has been included as a private sector contribution.

(67289)

71
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those education action zones which have no school currently or previously in special measures.

(67293)

72
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what each education action zone is proposing to spend as a proportion of its total budget on (a) administration, (b) project co-ordination and management not included in (a) and (c) salaries not included not in (a) or (b).

(67291)

73
   Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many allotment sites have been (a) approved for sale and (b) sold since 24th June 1998.

(67026)

74
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the current tabulation of the distribution of the SAP rating of the housing stock.

(66885)

75
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 18th January, Official Report, column 306, concerning rental deposits, if a date has beeen set for the meeting with Ministers; and how its conclusions will be reported to honourable Members.

(66883)

76
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement about progress at the Environment Council meeting on 21st December on the proposed Directive on end of life vehicles.

(67340)

77
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if it is Government policy that no vehicle powered by liquid petroleum gas and no dual-powered vehicle may be transported on the EuroTunnel Shuttle; and if he will make a statement.

(67343)

78
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many new housing units were built and how many existing housing units were cleared in each local authority area in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland in the calendar years 1993 to 1998.

(67299)

79
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to letters of 15th December 1997 (EE/P50/17203/97) and of 9th June (EE/P50/9738/98) to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what action has been taken as a result of the Environment Agency's Report on its research using earthworms as indicator organisms of contaminated land.

(65403)

80
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 17th July (R/J/P50/8480/98/98) to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what progress has been made in developing a gender audit to assist transport planners.

(65405)

81
   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on Railtrack's position as regards planning legislation, with particular reference to demolition of property.

(67097)

82
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the trunk roads in England and Wales which have junctions less than two kilometres apart where there is a 70 mph speed limit.

(66846)

83
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research he has commissioned on the redevelopment of the Defence Estate; and when it was published.

(67128)

84
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had, and with whom, concerning the definition of public interest in the sale of publicly-owned sites.

(67129)

85
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the research work which he has commissioned in connection with his pesticide minimisation policy; what are the terms of reference of that research; and if he will publish the results of the research.

(67103)

86
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what funding is provided to the Air Transport Users Council from public bodies; and if he will list those bodies.

(66827)

87
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which department has responsibility for monitoring the Warsaw Convention as it relates to air travel.

(66826)

88
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the cost to British industry of traffic congestion.

(65218)

89
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the proposed EU directive on the incineration of waste; and if he will make a statement.

(67038)

90
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made towards resolving the issue of the former National Bus Company Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(67102)

91
N   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned into the possibility of biotechnology causing irreversible contamination of the ecosystem.

(66679)

92
N   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the potential for biotechnology to produce herbicide resistant weeds.

(66683)

93
N   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what evidence he has assessed that biotechnology may cause permanent changes to the ecosystem.

(66680)

94
N   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the potential of horizontal gene transfer biotechnology to produce new viruses and bacteria.

(66684)

95
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimates he has received of the average number of miles driven by a non-company car driver in each of the last five years (a) in the course of work, (b) for travel from home to work and (c) for other reasons.

(66912)

96
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the average number of miles driven by a company car driver each year (a) in the course of work and (b) not in the course of work.

(66910)

97
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has (a) to reduce the number of discretionary journeys made in company cars not in the course of work and (b) to reform the system of allowances for business-related journeys.

(66911)

98
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received from Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire concerning the lack of representatives of their counties on the East Midlands Development Agency Board.

(67265)

99
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many people of Asian origin he has appointed to the Board of the East Midlands Development Agency.

(67264)

100
N   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what factors underlie the timescale for issuing a section 34 consent under the Coastal Protection Act 1949 to The Gosport Marina Limited in respect of its proposed redevelopment and construction of a 400 metre section of the Millennium Promenade at Gosport.

(66882)

101
   Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he has taken to ensure the compliance with the landfill site licence in respect of noxious smells at the Highmoor Quarry site in Oldham.

(67225)

102
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the letter of 28th October from the Financial Secretary to the honourable Member for Linlithgow (3/5658/98) concerning the Customs and Excise investigation into Lear's macaws and other parrots, what is the current position in respect of the Lear's macaws and their return to Brazil.

(65406)

103
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the United Kingdom's net contribution to (a) the European Union, (b) NATO, (c) the United Nations, (d) the Council of Europe, (e) the WEU and (f) the OSCE in the latest year for which figures are available.

(67119)

104
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Knowsley South of 8th December 1998, Official Report, column 140, regarding deaths from hypothermia, if he will provide the information by (i) region and (ii) parliamentary constituency.

(67296)

105
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the quantity of beer smuggled into the United Kingdom for resale in the last year.

(67229)

106
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many prosecutions for smuggling (a) alcohol and (b) tobacco there have been in each quarter since January 1993.

(67230)

107
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent amendments to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative have been made to give further support to post-conflict and post-catastrophe countries.

(67037)

108
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list for the Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex local authority areas (a) the locations of land in respect of which conditional exemption from inheritance tax is currently allowed, (b) the number of cases in which such exemption has been lost or deferred tax charged as a result of breaches of the conditions related to exemption in 1998-99 and (c) the location of land in respect of which exemption has been lost or deferred tax charged in each of the last five years because of breaches of the relevant conditions.

(67204)

109
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the ability of transport companies to obtain insurance cover to operate services on 1st January 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(65217)

110
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the British Embassy in Moscow learnt of the Interfax Report of 6th December that a rescue attempt was to be made to release the hostages in Chechnya, employed by Granger Telecom.

(66958)

111
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department in London learnt of the BBC World Service Report from the Caversham Monitoring Service that Interfax had reported that a rescue attempt was to be made to release the hostages in Chechnya employed by Granger Telecom.

(66959)

112
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the advice he has placed in the Library in respect of people travelling to Chechnya was issued to individual visa applicants employed by Granger Telecom or was issued to the company that employed them.

(66960)

113
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the advice given to travellers visiting Chechnya is the same as that given to people intending to work there.

(66961)

114
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what requests he has received from the Government of Iran for compensation for a stray missile which landed in or near the Iranian city of Koramshahr.

(65400)

115
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what stage discussions with the BBC World Service have reached in relation to their three year plan; and if he will make a statement.

(67106)

116
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures he has taken and what further measures are planned to address the problem of illegal fishing by Spanish nationals in Gibraltarian waters.

(67266)

117
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to provide St. Helena with landing facilities for aircraft.

(67118)

118
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish six-monthly reports on progress towards a resolution of the conflict in Kashmir.

(67039)

119
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received concerning the case of Swathi Pankhania, born on 18th March 1973, currently being dealt with in Bombay.

(67234)

120
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what basis the entry clearance officer in Bombay is calling for additional evidence in the case of Swathi Pankhania, HO Ref. S787788.

(67235)

121
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is his policy for dealing with the spread of head lice among school pupils.

(67033)

122
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what appraisal he has made of the incidence and cost of ill-health currently attributable to poor ventilation and condensation in the housing stock.

(66884)

123
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health took 17 weeks to reply to the letter dated 9th September 1998 from the honourable Member for Christchurch about the continued availability of animal insulin for diabetics; and if he will make a statement.

(67344)

124
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the forthcoming White Paper on Health is planned to be published; and if it will contain a section on dental care.

(67108)

125
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his letter of 21st October (POH(3)5437/58) from the Minister of State for Public Health to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what is Her Majesty's Government's policy at the World Health Organisation on the proposed destruction of the known stocks of smallpox virus.

(65401)

126
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the letter of 9th October (POH(6)5437/63) from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what assessment his Department has made of fabrics containing fungicide which kills house dust mites in new bedding materials.

(65402)

127
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the letter of 1st December (POH (6) 5437/66) to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what assessment he has made of Japanese research on organ preservation.

(65409)

128
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will give (a) the names, (b) the terms of office and (c) the nominating body of the members of Barnet Community Health Council.

(67035)

129
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he takes to assess value for money in the purchase of ambulances by health trusts; and if he will make a statement.

(67219)

130
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people had a bone marrow transplant in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(67107)

131
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedures are in place to inform doctors of the symptoms of organophosphate exposure.

(67123)

132
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department has taken to educate doctors regarding the recognition and treatment of chronic organophosphate poisoning.

(67121)

133
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many physiotherapy posts are currently vacant in (a) England and Wales, (b) the North West and (c) North Cheshire Health Authority; and in each case what percentage of the total number of posts this vacancy level represents.

(66831)

134
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many members on the (a) North Cheshire Health Authority, (b) Warrington Community Health Trust and (c) Warrington Hospital NHS Trust are resident in (i) the Warrington North constituency, (ii) the Warrington South constituency and (iii) other areas.

(66832)

135
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many paediatric physiotherapy posts are currently unfilled in (a) England and Wales, (b) the North West region and (c) North Cheshire Health Authority.

(66829)

136
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what in each of the past five years, was the percentage of students completing physiotherapy training who took up employment in the NHS.

(66833)

137
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total expenditure on agency physiotherapy staff in (a) England and Wales, (b) the North West region and (c) North Cheshire Health Authority in each of the past five years.

(66830)

138
   Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the recommendations on beta interferon funding made by West Midlands Beta Interferon Management Group on 6th October 1998.

(67049)

139
   Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the waiting list for beta interferon treatment drawn up by the West Midlands health authorities.

(67050)

140
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission further research into the causes of the increasing incidence of hay fever, eczema, asthma and similar allergies.

(65327)

141
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence his Department has identified linking asthma, eczema and similar allergies to chemical by-products from (a) home heating systems and (b) car exhaust fumes.

(65328)

142
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research has been commissioned into the incidence of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by long-term exposure to poorly-ventilated domestic gas appliances.

(65329)

143
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of awareness among general practitioners of the incidence of carbon monoxide poisoning from poorly-ventilated domestic gas appliances and the medical symptoms of long-term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide.

(65330)

144
   Mr David Lock (Wyre Forest):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has commissioned into the safety of the drug, Lamotrigine.

(67006)

145
   Mr David Lock (Wyre Forest):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations have been made to his Department since the drug, Lamotrigine, was licensed for use in Britain, arising out of or related to the use of this drug or arising out of or connected to side effects suspected to be related to the use of this drug.

(67005)

146
   Mr David Lock (Wyre Forest):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deaths have been reported to his Department since the drug, Lamotrigine, has been licensed for use in Britain arising out of or related to the use of this drug or arising out of or connected to side effects suspected to be related to the use of this drug.

(67007)

147
   Dr Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the health implications of variations in costs of the new aspirin and paracetamol pack sizes; and if he will make a statement.

(67034)

148
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people received specialist treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome at the Havering Hospitals NHS Trust broken down by those treated as (a) out-patients and (b) in-patients in each of the last three years.

(67009)

149
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list those NHS trusts in Britain which offer specialist treatment to patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

(67008)

150
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of people in Britain diagnosed as suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome; and how many are receiving, or have received, specialist treatment for their condition.

(67010)

151
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the ratio of orthopaedic consultants to (a) adults and (b) pensioners in each health authority.

(67000)

152
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of section 11 funding in each of the participating local education authorities is currently used to support adult education.

(66611)

153
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list each local education authority currently using section 11 funding to support adult education.

(66613)

154
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of section 11 funding is currently used to support adult education.

(66612)

155
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total amount of section 11 grant for the financial year 1998-99.

(66614)

156
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportation orders were made between 1st June 1997 and 31st May 1998; and how many have not yet been executed.

(67345)

157
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his estimate of the cost of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into animal experiments.

(67339)

158
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 18th January, Official Report, column 330, on deportation orders, if he will give the reasons for the deportation orders not having been given effect.

(67337)

159
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 18th January, Official Report, column 330, on deportation orders, how many (a) failed asylum seekers and (b) immigration offenders were removed in 1996 and 1997; and how many have yet to be removed.

(67338)

160
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the deportation orders made between 1st June and 30th November 1998 were in respect of people who were in custody.

(67347)

161
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were deported between 1st June 1997 and 31st May 1998; and of these how many were on the strength of deportation orders made before 1st June 1997.

(67346)

162
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the number of staff on establishment at Feltham Young Offenders Institution when it is at full strength; and what is the current number of staff at Feltham.

(67048)

163
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Job Simulation Assessment Centre system of prison service recruitment.

(67046)

164
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when it is planned to end doubled-up cell accommodation at Feltham Young Offenders Institute

(67047)

165
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to reduce the length of time in each day for which remand prisoners in young offender institutions remain locked in their cells.

(67045)

166
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average length of time prisoners on remand in young offender institutions spent in custody awaiting disposal of their case in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(67044)

167
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce a requirement that all asylum interviews are tape-recorded.

(67094)

168
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to have disposed of the outstanding applications for asylum made between 1st July 1993 and 31st December 1995.

(67110)

169
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish guidelines to staff on implementing the new policy of considering compassionate circumstances at all stages of an asylum case.

(67095)

170
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if a person who has been refused political asylum but granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom has the right to appeal to a special adjudicator about the decision to refuse political asylum.

(67109)

171
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has commissioned to ascertain how asylum seekers who have not taken up the offer of assistance under the National Assistance Act 1948 are currently supporting themselves.

(67114)

172
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average length of time from asylum application to initial decision in each year since 1980.

(67117)

173
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the lowest Civil Service grade at which a decision to refuse asylum may be made.

(67113)

174
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research has been carried out on the comparative costs of (a) current arrangements for funding asylum seekers and (b) restoring benefits for asylum seekers, during the period that his Department takes to process an application.

(67043)

175
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what opportunity will be afforded to asylum seekers who have been able to demonstrate that they have been the victims of unscrupulous advisers to establish their claims without their case being prejudiced by the actions of those advisers.

(67115)

176
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if an individual who has been granted exceptional leave to remain will be entitled to apply for reunion with family members abroad within four years.

(67093)

177
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were granted (a) refugee status and (b) exceptional leave to remain following a successful appeal against refusal of that status in each year since 1993, broken down by country of origin.

(67112)

178
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications made between 1st July 1993 and 31st December 1995 have been disposed of to date; and with what result.

(67111)

179
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to have disposed of the outstanding asylum applications made before 1st July 1993.

(67096)

180
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisons were visited in England and Wales by Sir David Ramsbottom during the last 12 months; and how many of his reports of such visits have to date been published.

(67223)

181
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average length of time spent by young people held in custody on remand before their case was decided in the last year for which figures are available.

(67224)

182
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the juvenile prison establishments which have workshops in England and Wales.

(67221)

183
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisons in England and Wales do not have a probation service operating within the prison; and if he will make a statement.

(67222)

184
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of uniformed prison officers who are working in prisons in England and Wales are from ethnic minority communities.

(67220)

185
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what central government payments have been made to the Police Federation in each of the last five years in support of (a) conferences organised by the Federation and (b) other purposes; and if he will indicate the statutory authority under which such payments are made.

(67028)

186
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to reduce the incidence of suicide among people aged under 18 years in prisons in England and Wales.

(67217)

187
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many boys aged (a) under 15, (b) 15, (c) 16 and (d) 17 years are currently imprisoned in adult prisons in England and Wales.

(67231)

188
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of those people aged under 18 years who committed suicide in prisons in England and Wales last year were (a) being held in adult jails and (b) on remand.

(67218)

189
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to remove the United Kingdom's reservation on Article 37 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(67216)

190
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reservations and derogations the UK Government has entered under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(67214)

191
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision he has made for additional staff at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate during the transfer of files from Croydon.

(67240)

192
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many enquiries were made to the PEO of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon on 15th January.

(67239)

193
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what arrangements are in place in his Department to respond to Law Commission reports; and if he will make a statement.

(67307)

194
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what staff and other resources in his Department are dedicated to responding to Law Commission reports.

(67306)

195
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the titles and dates of publications of Law Commission reports on which legislation has not been enacted.

(67308)

196
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he expects to respond to the Law Commission's report of March 1998 on psychiatric injury.

(67309)

197
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement concerning the backlog of unimplemented Law Commission reports concerning uncontroversial issues.

(67305)

198
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he expects to respond to the Law Commission's report of December 1997 on aggravated, exemplary damages.

(67310)

199
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the Government's policy with regard to the maintenance of the monopoly enjoyed by the Worshipful Company of Scriveners on notary public services in London.

(67203)

200
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how long it takes to process an application for grant aid under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme.

(67030)

201
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many applications were made for grant aid under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme (a) in each year from 1st April 1995 to 31st March 1998 and (b) from 1st April to 31st December 1998; of these (i) how many have been approved, (ii) what payments were made, (iii) how many were refused and (iv) how many are outstanding.

(67031)

202
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many renewal claims were made for child benefit (a) in 1997-98 and (b) from 1st April to 31st December 1998; how many (i) have been processed with payments made and order books issued and (ii) are outstanding; and how long it takes to process a renewal claim.

(67032)

203
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she has taken to ensure that Northern Ireland Electricity (a) undertakes a review of existing infrastructure and investment in new infrastructure and (b) implements an effective strategy for communications with consumers.

(67250)

204
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions have taken place with senior management in Northern Ireland Electricity concerning the protracted interruptions to electricity supply over the Christmas 1998 period; and what was the outcome.

(67027)

205
   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge):    To ask the President of the Council, what plans she has to meet requests from honourable and Right honourable Members for the payment of their salaries in euros.

(67273)

206
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the President of the Council, what plans she has to propose reforms of parliamentary procedure in respect of uncontroversial Bills implementing Law Commission recommendations.

(67301)

207
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the President of the Council, what representations she has received concerning the procedure for putting non-contentious, technical law reform Bills recommended by the Law Commission before Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

(67302)

208
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the President of the Council, how many Bills based on Law Commission recommendations have been enacted in each of the last five years.

(67304)

209
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the President of the Council, what was the length of time of the debates which took place at each parliamentary stage of each of the Bills introduced to implement Law Commission recommendations in each of the last five years.

(67303)

210
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Prime Minister, what invitations have been extended to political parties other than the Liberal Democrats to develop policy jointly with the Government using the JCCC mechanism.

(66879)

211
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the architect Enric Miralles on (a) the estimated date of completion of the Scottish Parliament's new building and (b) the cost overrun on the project.

(66706)

212
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the allegations made by the project manager for the Scottish Parliament's new building that he was prevented from taking the action necessary to solve problems of building cost overrun.

(66704)

213
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the interim findings of the Quigley Committee on student applications.

(65475)

214
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will state the terms of reference of the Quigley Committee on higher education; and when he expects it to report.

(65476)

215
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what were the criteria used in calculating the initial estimated building cost for the Scottish Parliament; and what factors have led to an increase in cost since that estimate.

(66703)

216
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what reports he has received from the project manager of the Scottish Parliament's new building as to the prospects for the building being completed on time.

(66705)

217
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to extend industrial injury benefit to the self-employed; and if he will make a statement.

(67122)

218
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much it would cost to raise the upper threshold of income support for those in residential or nursing care to £60,000 with a lower limit of (a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £50,000 and (f) no lower limit.

(67244)

219
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much it would cost to raise the upper threshold of income support for those in residential or nursing care to £70,000 with a lower limit of (a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £50,000, (f) £60,000 and (g) no lower limit.

(67245)

220
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much it would cost to raise the upper threshold of income support for those in residential or nursing care to £50,000 with a lower limit of (a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000 and (e) no lower limit.

(67243)

221
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much it would cost to raise the upper threshold of income support for those in residential or nursing care to £40,000 with a lower limit of (a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000 and (d) no lower limit.

(67242)

222
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the target times are for the CSA to deal with applications for compensation; and what are the actual times.

(67228)

223
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the average time taken for the CSA to determine applications for compensation.

(67227)

224
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many applications for compensation, received by the Child Support Agency before 1st May 1998, are still awaiting determination.

(67131)

225
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many applications for compensation received by the Child Support Agency in the last two years have been determined within 30 days.

(67132)

226
   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the annual cost of compensation for families in receipt of family credit for lost income while on parental leave assuming its application to children aged up to eight years and take up of 10 per cent. for men and 50 per cent. for women.

(67002)

227
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what evaluation he has made of the responses to his Department's consultation on changes to the system of child support; and what reforms he proposes to make as a result and when.

(67036)

228
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will place in the Library a copy of the responses his Department has received following the consultation process for the paper, A New Contract for Welfare: Support for Disabled People.

(66828)

229
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the number of (a) pensioners, (b) single pensioners and (c) pensioners in couples in Stoke-on-Trent; and what estimate he has made of the number of (i) single pensioners and (ii) pensioners in couples in Stoke-on-Trent who will qualify for the minimum pension guarantee.

(67101)

230
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate is provided by his Department's Family Resources Survey of the number of non-taxpaying pensioners who have some dividend income and who have capital in excess of £8,000.

(67001)

231
N   Ms Hazel Blears (Salford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action he will take to ensure that postal service users pay an affordable, uniform price for services wherever they use the service in the UK.

(65196)

232
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will specify the procedures for recovery of losses incurred by BNFL on nuclear reprocessing contracts in the UK in the process of cancellation by German interests (a) under contract and (b) under intergovernmental agreements; if he will specify the amount of such losses; and if he will make a statement.

(66836)

233
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the purchase by the Post Office of German Parcel requires clearance by European or UK regulatory or competition authorities.

(66834)

234
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what financial obligations have been incurred by the Post Office in its acquisition of and indirect stake in General Parcel arising from its purchase of German Parcel.

(66835)

235
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is his Department's current estimate of the cost of implementation of the draft EC Directive on end of life vehicles.

(67341)

236
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish the results of the consultation exercise by his Department to assess the implications of the draft EC Directive on end of life vehicles.

(67342)

237
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the letter of 7th October from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what response he has had from OST to his request about taking forward specific projects recommended by Sir Gareth Roberts' report on researchers.

(65408)

238
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the letter of 11th November (td-235-11) from the Minister of State for Energy and Industry to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what progress he has made in considering air products refrigeration systems using air as the coolant as an alternative to CFCs and other ozone-depleting refrigerants.

(65407)

239
   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with British Gas plc about the break up and sale of Transco.

(67335)

240
   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how he proposes to use his special share to protect consumers in the impending break up of Transco by British Gas plc.

(67336)

241
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to review the regulations covering safety standards for domestic gas appliances.

(65331)

242
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the changing trading relationships between the United States of America and (a) the European Union as a single entity and (b) individual EU member states with reference to the continuing sanctions relating to the trade dispute over bananas.

(67116)

243
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Stroud, of 18th January, Official Report, columns 364-5, on nuclear fuel, what is the basis for his statement that the Japanese government's preferred means of using recovered plutonium is for it to be converted into MOX nuclear fuel.

(67099)

244
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made by BNFL in developing the tank waste remediation system for vitrification of long-lived radioactive wastes at Hanford; and what plans it has to apply this technique to the immobilization of high level radioactive wastes at BNFL's Sellafield site.

(67105)

245
   Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment his Department has made of (a) competition policy issues which arise from insurance companies which own their own garages and carry out in-house repairs being exempt from VAT on labour and (b) the impact which this has on independent garages; and if he will make a statement.

(67247)

246
   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many quango posts in Wales have become vacant since May 1997; in which newspapers advertisements for these posts have been published; and which of these posts were filled without having been publicly advertised.

(67272)

247
N   Mr Rhodri Morgan (Cardiff West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will place a copy in the Library of the letter from the Head of European Division concerning the recent appointment of the Chief Executive of the Wales European Centre.

(66878)

248
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the quangos which were operating in April 1997 which subsequently have had their powers transferred to other quangos.

(67232)

249
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the estimated cost, in each of the next three financial years, of the recently announced inducement payments for students prepared to undertake teacher training courses; if these payments are to be made to students regardless of whether they are undertaking such courses in Wales or elsewhere; and if such grants will be made by his Department to students from outside Wales wishing to undertake such courses at colleges in Wales.

(67104)

250
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the timescale for the conclusion of his review of the regional assistance map of Wales; and what is his anticipated timescale for legislative changes arising from the review.

(67100)

251
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what agreements exist between Government departments and the Law Commission about the timing of responses to Law Commission reports.

[Transferred] (67300)

252
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what quantity of beer has been seized by HM Customs officials at Portsmouth Ferry Port in each quarter since January 1993.

[Transferred] (67130)

253
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what transitional support will be available to rural areas upon losing Objective 5b status.

[Transferred] (67120)

254
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure that the entry clearance officer in Bombay is informed of his letters to the honourable Member for Leicester East in respect of the case of Swathi Pankhania, Ref S787788.

[Transferred] (67233)