Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 28 January 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 28 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 28 January, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Monday 1 February, 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 28th JANUARY

1
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to provide funding for the establishment of regional farm produce markets.

(68069)

2
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the establishment of a regional farm produce market for the North West.

(68070)

3
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the regional farm produce markets in the United Kingdom.

(68071)

4
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68400)

5
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68416)

6
   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to ensure that a pesticide tax does not disadvantage British growers relative to their European competitors.

(68237)

7
   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what study he has made of the relative advantages of a pesticides tax as opposed to other measures adopted by other EU states to reduce pesticide usage.

(68229)

8
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he has made contingency plans to deal with the consequences of disruption to the services offered by the Meat Hygiene Service in the event of industrial action; and if he will make a statement.

(68319)

9
N   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what were the flight number, date, time and place of departure and destination, class travelled, cost and purpose of each flight by senior civil servants in the course of their duties, including attendance at foreign conferences, symposia and other meetings, between 1st May 1998 and the present; and what were the total costs of the flights of each of the 10 senior civil servants whose flights cost the most between 1st May 1998 and the present.

(67263)

10
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what further progress has been made on formulating plans for vacating the Marsham Street offices and demolishing them.

(68316)

11
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68394)

12
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68410)

13
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has held with the British Olympic Committee about the UK Sports Institute.

(68114)

14
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects to announce the appointment of a new chairman for the English Sports Council.

(68115)

15
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many sports have formally undertaken to participate in the United Kingdom Sports Institute.

(68113)

16
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to reply to the question tabled by the Right honourable Member for South West Surrey on 11th January, concerning the Royal Society of Literature.

(68311)

17
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the BBC on the standards of transmission quality; and if he will make a statement.

(68305)

18
N   Sir Peter Emery (East Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department will take to ensure that the tourist industry in Devon is supported by the RDA for the West Country.

(68081)

19
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the cost of proposals to abolish the payment of television licence fees by old age pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

(67928)

20
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68399)

21
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68415)

22
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what investigations are taking place into an incident in May 1998 involving a cargo of military equipment flown from RAF Manston destined for South Africa which failed to reach its destination; and if he will make a statement.

(68236)

23
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what occasions his Department procured electro-shock batons between 1970 and 1986 for deployment in Northern Ireland.

(68227)

24
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, under what circumstances private companies may export goods by air from military airfields.

(68197)

25
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the cost to public funds of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 in each of the years since its enactment.

(68306)

26
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 15th December, Official Report, column 450, what definition of South Lancashire his Department uses.

(68159)

27
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide details of the cost of the transfer of computer equipment from Chorley to Queensferry 101 Battalion Headquarters.

(68155)

28
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th December, Official Report, column 656, on REME (Chorley), if he will set out the basis of his estimate of 25 per cent. saving in operating the 101 Battalion REME out of Queensferry instead of Chorley.

(68154)

29
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the interval of time between the decision to move 101 Battalion REME from Chorley Barracks to Queensferry and the announcement of the future structure of the Territorial Army on 17th November 1998.

(68112)

30
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the additional travelling costs that will be incurred by detachments travelling to Queensferry instead of Chorley when the 101 Battalion is transferred.

(68156)

31
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on the retention of the 101 Battalion REME in Chorley since 16th December.

(68157)

32
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the Cadet Force in Chorley.

(68158)

33
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times Exemption 2 in the Code of Practice on access to government information was used by his Department in replying to parliamentary questions to justify withholding information in the last 12 months.

(68160)

34
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the operating costs for 101 Battalion REME based at Queensferry for the next five years.

(68153)

35
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the Territorial Army centres which he had planned to close or transfer as part of the Strategic Defence Review but which will now remain open; and if he will make a statement.

(68072)

36
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68418)

37
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68402)

38
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of civilian casualties in Iraq caused by military action since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox.

(68352)

39
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what grants have been made by his Department to Shropshire County Council in addition to revenue support grant in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99.

(68439)

40
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what grants have been made by his Department to Telford and Wrekin Council in 1998-99.

(68440)

41
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the administrative costs for each of the last five years, as a percentage of the total budget, for (a) the Higher Education Funding Council, (b) the Further Education Funding Council and (c) training and enterprise councils, expressed as the national average figure, for that proportion of their responsibilities which is comparable with the responsibilities of the FEFC and the HEFC.

(67670)

42
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what criteria he will use to assess the levels of sustained improvement to be achieved in order to trigger payments under his new proposals for school bonus payments.

(67675)

43
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of increasing the capacity of the Public Employment Services as suggested in the explanatory memorandum on European Community document Com (1998) 641 final.

(68350)

44
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if his Department will continue to have the main responsibility in Wales for policy questions arising from the Commission communication, Modernising Public Employment Services to support the European Employment Strategy after the establishment of the Welsh Assembly.

(68348)

45
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what has been the total cost of the press releases issued by his Department since May 1997.

(67924)

46
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what conventions relating to the propriety of government publicity affect press releases issued by his Department; and if he will set out the conventions relevant to (a) content and (b) cost.

(67926)

47
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to support the work of general practitioners and health centres in reducing the levels of teenage pregnancy by providing contraception and advice for pupils via schools.

(67942)

48
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 12th January, Official Report, column 145, if he will list the expenditure incurred by (a) the Employment Service (b) his other agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (c) the Central Office of Information for relevant work carried out for his Department which is not included in the table.

(67944)

49
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 12th January, Official Report, column 145, if he will list expenditure not included in his Answer incurred (a) by task forces and review bodies, (b) by focus groups, (c) by market research and (d) for publications and publicity; and if he will list the bodies which incurred the expenditure.

(67945)

50
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each of the years 1990 to 1998 the number of press releases issued by his Department.

(67925)

51
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the outcome of statutory notices that have been waiting for more than five months from the date of each statutory notice for determination by him; and if he will (a) list the reasons for the delay in each case and (b) estimate when each determination will be made.

(67927)

52
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list (a) those units in his Department and (b) the number of departmental staff which are concerned with preparing rebuttals of allegations in the media; and what is (i) the total cost of their work, including salaries and (ii) the number of rebuttals issued since May 1997.

(67943)

53
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of four year olds in England are currently in primary reception classes.

(67995)

54
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the proportion of teachers currently working with children aged under five years in reception classes who have been trained to teach children under five.

(67994)

55
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance his Department has issued to local education authorities on provision for four year olds in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

(67996)

56
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that every local educational authority ensures that sufficient schemes are available to provide the opportunity of appropriate education for all pupils with autistic spectrum disorder in their area; and if he will make a statement.

(68205)

57
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that every local education authority has a range of provision for children with autism that includes specialist provision; and if he will make a statement.

(68204)

58
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that current school-aged children with autism have suitable provision made for them; and if he will make a statement.

(68201)

59
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that the guidance on educational services for children with autistic spectrum disorder, available to the public from local education authorities, is fair and consistent throughout England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(68207)

60
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he has obtained from each local education authority a copy of the guidance which they make available to the public on the educational services for children with autistic spectrum disorder; and if he will make a statement.

(68206)

61
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that every local education authority will make available for each registered pupil with special educational needs, with particular reference to autistic spectrum disorder, the special educational provision which that learning difficulty calls for; and if he will make a statement.

(68202)

62
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that every local education authority places the most important component of an autistic child's education on the statement of special educational needs of each child it has identified as having autism; and if he will make a statement.

(68203)

63
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he plans to extend Government funding of nursery places to three-year olds.

(68324)

64
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what provision his Department has made for the funding of early years provision in the private and voluntary sectors for four-year olds with special educational needs.

(68323)

65
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the Government funds nursery places on the assumption of 100 per cent. take-up.

(68326)

66
   Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidelines he has issued to local authorities in informing parents of three and four-year olds of their rights of access to local provision of nursery places.

(68325)

67
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will (a) account for the difference between outturn departmental spending in Table A1 of the Comprehensive Spending Review and outturn departmental spending in Table 1.2 of the 1998-99 Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis for his Department for (i) 1993-94, (ii) 1994-95, (iii) 1995-96 and (iv) 1996-97 and (b) provide forecast figures for departmental spending for his Department in (1) 1997-98, (2) 1998-99, (3) 1999-00, (4) 2000-01 and (5) 2001-02 on a comparable basis to Table 1.2 of the 1998-99 Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis.

(68380)

68
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68407)

69
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68423)

70
   Mr Colin Burgon (Elmet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his review of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) regulations 1997.

(68346)

71
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the total cost of accommodation and internal travel for the Minister for the Environment, the Right honourable Member for Oldham West and Royton, and those who accompanied him to the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica.

(67977)

72
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the cost of the flights for the Minister for the Environment, the Right honourable Member for Oldham West and Royton, to attend the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica; and in what class he travelled.

(67979)

73
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) civil servants and (b) political advisers accompanied the Minister for the Environment, the Right honourable Member for Oldham West and Royton, to the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica; and what was the total cost of their airfares.

(67978)

74
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what use the Minister for the Environment, the Right honourable Member for Oldham West and Royton, made of RAF aircraft to travel to and from the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica.

(67980)

75
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the OSPAR meeting on radioactive emissions held in Dublin this month; and if he will place in the Library copies of the United Kingdom and other submissions made to the meeting.

(67703)

76
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with ministers of the German government concerning the termination of contracts with BNFL for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement.

(67705)

77
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to make a response to the Environment Agency's proposed decision on the BNFL Mixed Oxide Fuel Plant.

(67707)

78
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in how many cases a driver, found to be over the legal limit for alcohol, has caused the death of another person in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(68308)

79
   Mrs Teresa Gorman (Billericay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the average daily number of Heavy Goods Vehicles arriving in Kent from (a) continental ports and (b) the Channel Tunnel.

(68304)

80
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has held with Herefordshire Council on improvements to trunk roads in Hereford.

(68232)

81
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Highways Agency will present for public consideration schemes to improve the junction of the A49 and A465 at the Belmont Roundabout.

(68233)

82
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Crossrail project.

(67973)

83
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when his predecessor asked Railtrack to prepare a report on the Crossrail project; and when he expects to receive this report.

(67974)

84
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to expand membership of the West Midlands Regional Development Agency to include a representative from (a) Worcestershire and (b) the business community of the region; and if he will make a statement.

(68109)

85
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will (i) account for the difference between outturn departmental spending in Table A1 of the Comprehensive Spending Review and outturn departmental spending in Table 1.2 of the 1998-99 Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis for his Department excluding local government and regional policy for (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96 and (d) 1996-97 and (ii) provide forecast figures for departmental spending for his Department excluding local government and regional policy for (1) 1997-98, (2) 1998-99, (3) 1999-00, (4) 2000-01 and (5) 2001-02 on a comparable basis to Table 1.2 of the 1998-99 Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis.

(68381)

86
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68405)

87
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68421)

88
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the percentage increase in revenue occurring to London Underground arising from the installation of automatic ticket barriers at stations operated by passenger train operating companies.

(68518)

89
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Regional Planning Group on alternatives to M6 widening to relieve traffic congestion in Staffordshire.

(68322)

90
N   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if all revenues raised from congestion charging or private non-residential parking charges will be ring-fenced and re-invested in transport.

(66526)

91
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research he has commissioned on methodologies for the calculation of gross domestic product which take account of social and environmental costs of economic and industrial activities.

(67676)

92
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received concerning the mis-selling of AVCs; and what plans he has to extend the current investigation into pensions mis-selling to include AVCs.

(67677)

93
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on his plans for public spending on health and education for the next three years.

(66542)

94
N   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the value for money to public funds of using PFI for financing public sector capital developments.

(66524)

95
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of the Secretary of State for the Home Department of 25th January, Official Report, column 75, on electronic warfare, what responsibilities of his Department for measures against information warfare will come within the lead responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

(68314)

96
N   Sir David Madel (South West Bedfordshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will revise his estimate of economic growth for 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(66527)

97
   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Inland Revenue order line cannot respond to requests for copies of leaflet IR165 on individual savings accounts.

(68231)

98
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list for each Department the level of funds that are, according to paragraph 4.22 of the Comprehensive Spending Review, (i) allocated for the delivery of services and (ii) non-allocated, for each of the years from 1997-98 to 2001-02.

(68390)

99
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list latest estimates and forecast expenditure in cash terms for VAT refunded to general government for each of (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-2000, (iv) 2000-01 and (v) 2001-02.

(68387)

100
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list for each of the years 1997-98 to 2001-02 all cross-departmental budgets, the spending accounted for by each and a breakdown of how that spending is allocated between the departmental totals in Table A1 of the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68391)

101
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the restrictions on departments channelling funds from capital expenditure to current expenditure listing (a) the restrictions, (b) what exceptions apply to these restrictions and (c) what margin for flexibility applies to these restrictions.

(68383)

102
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list his latest estimates and forecast expenditure in cash terms for (i) defence superannuation less charges, (ii) civil superannuation less charges and (iii) pension increase payments for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-00, (d) 2000-01 and (e) 2001-02.

(68379)

103
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list latest estimates and forecast expenditure for the value of general government non-trading capital consumption for each of (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-2000, (iv) 2000-01 and (v) 2001-02.

(68386)

104
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend footnote 3 of Table A2 in the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review to cover the years 1993-94 to 1997-98.

(68389)

105
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will account for the difference between the forecast of total receipts from asset sales in paragraph 2.31 of the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review and Table 4.4 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report.

(68392)

106
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list his latest estimates and forecast expenditure in cash terms for the capital receipts initiative for (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-00, (iv) 2000-01 and (v) 2001-02.

(68384)

107
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are his latest estimates of the support costs for asylum seekers charged to each of (a) the Home Office, (b) the Department for Social Security and (c) the Department of Health for each of (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-2000, (iv) 2000-01 and (v) 2001-02.

(68388)

108
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide latest estimates and forecasts for (i) local authority self-financed expenditure and (ii) Scottish non-domestic rate payments, for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000, (d) 2000-01 and (e) 2001-02.

(68393)

109
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the exchange rate of the pound against the Deutschmark in each quarter since January 1997.

(68428)

110
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received regarding building societies during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(68436)

111
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions his Department has had with building societies; and if he will make a statement.

(68438)

112
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has for legislation to protect the principle of mutuality; and if he will make a statement.

(68437)

113
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what end use monitoring his Department has undertaken into the use of the electro-shock batons trans-shipped from the United States to Saudi Arabia via the United Kingdom in 1993.

(68189)

114
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the South African authorities concerning a cargo of military equipment flown from RAF Manston in May 1998 destined for South Africa which failed to arrive; and if he will make a statement.

(68235)

115
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when an official from the British High Commission last visited the town of Famagusta; and if he will make a statement.

(68310)

116
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the British Council's record of investment in (a) its premises and (b) information technology.

(68307)

117
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has held and with whom, on the possibility of the return of the town of Famagusta to the Republic of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

(68309)

118
   Mr Jim Marshall (Leicester South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 25th and 26th January; and if he will make a statement.

(68321)

119
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68401)

120
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68417)

121
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the average proportion of non-generic drug prescriptions in 1997-98 in (a) prescribing practices and (b) dispensing practices.

(68445)

122
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total NHS expenditure on drugs in 1997-98.

(68441)

123
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what were the average comparative costs of drugs per patient in 1997-98 in (a) prescribing practices and (b) dispensing practices.

(68444)

124
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when arrangements were introduced through which general practitioners may earn additional income related to the volume and costs of drugs they dispense.

(68448)

125
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the cost to the NHS in 1997-98 of drugs (a) prescribed by doctors and (b) dispensed by doctors.

(68442)

126
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the savings which the NHS would have made in 1997-98 had equivalent generic drugs been prescribed in place of non-generics.

(68450)

127
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total (a) expenditure and (b) allocation for drugs in (i) the NHS and (ii) each health authority in 1997-98.

(68451)

128
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of GPs dispense drugs.

(68443)

129
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the average cost of non-generic drugs in 1997-98 in (a) NHS hospitals, (b) pharmacies and (c) dispensing practices.

(68449)

130
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the average income in 1997-98 in (a) a prescribing GP and (b) a dispensing GP.

(68446)

131
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the average income supplement earned by a GP through dispensing.

(68447)

132
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in England.

(67673)

133
N   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the total NHS budget (a) in 1996-97 and (b) 2000-01, in 1998-99 prices.

(66525)

134
N   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on NHS general dental services in each health authority in each year since 1995-96.

(67260)

135
N   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, by health authority, the number of dentists with an NHS list and the average number of patients on each dentist's NHS list for (i) the most recent period for which data is available, (ii) March 1994 and (iii) March 1997.

(67261)

136
N   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list by health authority or council area the number of (i) children and (ii) adults registered, and the number of patients registered per 100 residents for (a) the last date for which figures are available, (b) March 1995, (c) March 1996, (d) March 1997 and (e) March 1998.

(67262)

137
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the expenditure on research and development by each NHS region in each year since 1992.

(68226)

138
   Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith (Wealden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will respond to the report of the Centre for Policy on Ageing on National Required Standards for Residential Care and Nursing Homes; and if he will provide an estimate of the costs of compliance.

(68222)

139
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68422)

140
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68406)

141
N   Mr Syd Rapson (Portsmouth North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions have taken place between the Ministry of Defence and the NHS on the planned closure of the Royal Hospital, Haslar; and what plans he has to ensure the maintenance of hospital provision on the Gosport Peninsular.

(68073)

142
N   Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Solihull to ministers in his Department dated 19th November and 16th September 1998.

(67975)

143
   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the funds allocated to the Investing in Dentistry scheme has been allocated.

(68351)

144
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the company that was responsible for handling, storing and distributing the electro-shock batons that were trans-shipped from the United States to Saudi Arabia via the United Kingdom under the 1993 trans-shipment licence granted by the Department of Trade and Industry had been issued with the relevant licences under section V of the Firearms Act.

(68190)

145
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the companies that were granted export licences by the Department of Trade and Industry for the export of electro-shock batons from the United Kingdom between 1989 and 1994 had been granted the relevant licence under section V of the Firearms Act to (a) handle, (b) store, (c) distribute and (d) manufacture such weapons.

(68191)

146
   Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the guidance in Home Office Circular 4/1998, relating to the payment of money to officers, either former or serving, involved in criminal proceedings, applies (a) to officers who have retired on health grounds with outstanding disciplinary charges against them and (b) to officers against whom outstanding disciplinary charges have been dropped because of a retirement on health grounds of another officer.

(68225)

147
   Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the costs to the South Yorkshire Police Authority of funding the defence of David Godfrey Duckenfield and Bernard Dean Murray in the cases of Adlington v Murray and Adlington v Duckenfield in the Leeds Magistrates Court.

(68223)

148
   Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average annual cost in the South Yorkshire Police Authority area of keeping a police constable on the beat.

(68224)

149
N   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned in the past year into crime among ethnic minorities; and when the results of any such research will be made available to the public.

(68111)

150
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have had their application for early retirement on health grounds refused during the past 12 months for each police authority in England and Wales.

(67785)

151
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers currently on sick leave have had their pay (a) reduced by 50 per cent. and (b) stopped altogether for each police authority in England and Wales.

(67787)

152
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of police officers in post have more than 25 years' service for each police authority in England and Wales.

(67789)

153
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the annual cost of the proposed new police authority for Greater London.

(67791)

154
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a table showing (a) the number and (b) the percentage of officers in post aged 50 years and over for each police authority in England and Wales.

(67788)

155
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a table showing the percentage of revenue budget apportioned to the payment of police pensions for each police authority in England and Wales.

(67790)

156
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the cost in police time of escorting wide or exceptionally loaded vehicles for the last year for which figures are available for each police authority in Engand and Wales.

(67792)

157
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have applied for early retirement on health grounds whose applications have not yet been determined for each police authority in England and Wales.

(67786)

158
   Mr Ivan Henderson (Harwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines exist for striking out court cases on the basis that they are an abuse of process; and if he will make a statement.

(68242)

159
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 25th January, Official Report, column 75, on electronic warfare, if he will take lead responsibility for electronic warfare attacks on (a) the banking system, (b) utilities, (c) telecommunications, (d) air traffic control, (e) areas currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and (f) areas currently within the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.

(68312)

160
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Cabinet committees are currently responsible for considering information warfare issues; and if that will change following his Answer of 25th January, Official Report, column 75.

(68315)

161
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 25th January, Official Report, column 75, on electronic warfare, if his Answer was the statement referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the honourable Member for Warley, on 4th November 1998, Official Report, column 992.

(68347)

162
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68420)

163
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68404)

164
N   Mr Brian Sedgemore (Hackney South and Shoreditch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the review of the guidelines covering the use of plastic bullets will be completed; and when he will publish his conclusions.

(67997)

165
N   Mr Brian Sedgemore (Hackney South and Shoreditch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take action to abolish the use of plastic bullets as a means of riot control in the United Kingdom.

(67998)

166
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to make MI5's history of its operations from 1908 to 1945 available for commercial publication.

(67981)

167
N   Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and financial efficiency of the Commission for Racial Equality.

(68186)

168
N   Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date he met the former Commission for Racial Equality member, Mrs Blondel Cluff; what detailed response he has made to the paper on the Commission for Racial Equality which she submitted to the Home Office; and if he will place a copy of his response to her paper in the Library.

(68185)

169
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee, if he will include honourable Members' web site addresses in the Palace of Westminster telephone directory.

(68435)

170
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee, how many honourable Members currently have access to (a) the PDVN and (b) the Parliamentary Intranet.

(68434)

171
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of her Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68424)

172
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what responsibilities which her Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by her Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to her Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68408)

173
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps he has taken to monitor the work of the Office of the Supervisor of Solicitors; and if he will make a statement.

(68320)

174
   Mr Ivan Henderson (Harwich):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years abuse of process was used by a judge to dismiss a case concerning child abuse.

(68241)

175
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was, for personal injury litigation, (a) the cost of legal aid before cost recovery and retention of contributions, (b) the amount of costs recovered, (c) the amount of damages retained, (d) the amount of contributions retained and (e) the net cost after deduction of costs recovered, damages retained and contributions retained for (i) all personal injury litigation, (ii) medical negligence cases and (iii) personal injury cases excluding medical negligence in 1997-98.

(68228)

176
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68419)

177
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68403)

178
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in Northern Ireland.

(67704)

179
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the research and development by (a) her Department and (b) the NHS, indicating separately that on health technology assessment each year since 1992.

(68209)

180
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what responsibilities which her Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by her Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to her Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68409)

181
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of her Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68425)

182
   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with President Clinton about genetically modified food.

(68433)

183
   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he has received from industry about genetically modified food.

(68432)

184
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in Scotland.

(67671)

185
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the research and development expenditure by (a) his Department and (b) the NHS, indicating separately that on health technology assessment in each year since 1992.

(68208)

186
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68397)

187
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68413)

188
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps have been taken to interview new witnesses or witnesses who have changed their evidence in the case of Stuart Gair; and if he will make a statement.

(68173)

189
   Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what date he received a submission on behalf of Stuart Gair; what action he has taken; and when he expects to complete his consideration.

(68188)

190
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, whether those widows now over the age of 45 who were widowed before the age of 45 will continue to receive the widow's pension at age 60 following the implementation of his reform proposals; and what will be the basis of the calculation of their pension entitlement.

(67674)

191
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects to update the National Insurance Contributions records of Mr John Farren, a constituent.

(68234)

192
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68414)

193
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68398)

194
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects to announce the outcome of the review of compensation for vaccine damaged children.

(68239)

195
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the effect of linking the basic state pension for those aged over 75 years to earnings rather than prices on (a) gross expenditure on NI benefits, (b) expenditure on means-tested benefits and (c) income tax revenues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2010.

(67976)

196
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with ministers of the German government concerning the termination of contracts with BNFL for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement.

(67706)

197
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the quantities of (a) low, (b) intermediate and (c) high level radioactive waste which will arise from the reprocessing of Swiss irradiated oxide nuclear fuel at Sellafield; what negotiations have been held to date with Swiss authorities concerning the repatriation of the waste; and if Switzerland has indicated whether it would accept its waste to be returned following the application of substitution.

(67708)

198
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for how long a British company or agency which has supplied military, security or police equipment which has been exempted from export licence requirements is required to maintain records of such transfers.

(68303)

199
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if companies granted export licences for the export of electro-shock batons between 1989 and 1994 had been granted the relevant licence under firearms legislation to (a) handle, (b) store, (c) distribute and (d) manufacture such weapons.

(68192)

200
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the companies granted export licences for the export of electro-shock batons to (a) Egypt, (b) Botswana and (c) Saudi Arabia.

(68230)

201
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many electro-shock batons were shipped from the United States via the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia under the trans-shipment licence that his Department granted in 1993; and if he will identify the company listed as the end user on the trans-shipment licence.

(68196)

202
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which British company brokered the trans-shipment of electro-shock batons to Saudi Arabia under the trans-shipment licence granted by his Department in 1993.

(68194)

203
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps his Department has taken to evaluate and audit the military, security and police equipment exported to Saudi Arabia by British Aerospace which, under the Al Yamamah agreement, is exempt from export licence requirement.

(68330)

204
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the military and paramilitary export licences granted to (a) Sky Air Cargo and (b) Occidental Airlines between 1st January 1996 and 1st January 1999, indicating the export category and country of destination in each case.

(68238)

205
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what end use monitoring his Department has undertaken on the use of the electro-shock batons trans-shipped from the United States to Saudi Arabia via the United Kingdom under the trans-shipment licence granted by his Department in 1993.

(68198)

206
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which Saudi Arabian organisation was identified as the end user on the 1993 trans-shipment licence granted by his Department for the transfer of electro-shock batons from the United States to Saudi Arabia via the United Kingdom.

(68195)

207
   Frank Cook (Stockton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to ensure that the reform of electricity trading arrangements are subject to an environmental assessment under the environmental policy guidelines.

(68318)

208
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of the Secretary of State for the Home Department of 25th January, Official Report, column 75, on electronic warfare, what responsibilities of his Department for measures against information warfare will come within the lead responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

(68313)

209
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68411)

210
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68395)

211
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the export licences granted to Alvis for the transfer of ammunition, machine guns and larger calibre guns to Indonesia since 1988.

(68328)

212
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many visits his officials have made to British Aerospace to check that electro-shock batons were not transferred to Saudi Arabia as part of the Al Yamamah deal.

(68331)

213
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the export licences granted to GKL Group for the export of armoured vehicles components and weapons to Indonesia since 1988.

(68329)

214
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the export licences granted to Alvis Vehicles Limited or Alvis subsidiary companies for the export of Saracen and Saladin armoured vehicles to Indonesia.

(68327)

215
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library a specimen contract between BNFL and a German utility covering reprocessing services, excluding any commercially confidential information.

(68427)

216
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in Wales.

(67672)

217
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list those bodies in Wales to which the Welsh Assembly will be able to appoint members.

(68349)

218
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on his public spending plans for health and education in the next three years.

(68359)

219
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on his policies for the tourist industry in North East Wales.

(68361)

220
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, by how much he has increased spending on rural transport in real terms between 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

(68356)

221
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what was the total cost of salaries for (a) nurses and (b) general practitioners in Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

(68365)

222
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the role of primary health care provision in North Wales.

(68362)

223
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many children attend (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the county authorities in Wales.

(68358)

224
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is his assessment of the scale of improvements in numeracy and literacy in schools in Wales in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(68355)

225
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the current acreage of genetically modifed crops under cultivation in Wales.

(68357)

226
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) general practitioners and (b) dentists there are in the NHS in North Wales.

(68363)

227
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to improve the provision of health care for children.

(68364)

228
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to reform the operation of housing regeneration and improvement schemes; and if he will make a statement.

(68353)

229
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is his policy on the funding of regional (a) theatres and (b) orchestras.

(68360)

230
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what new measures he is implementing to improve economic prospects in North East Wales.

(68354)

231
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

(68396)

232
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(68412)

233
N   Mr Brian Sedgemore (Hackney South and Shoreditch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the UN Committee Against Torture in respect of the use of plastic bullets for riot control.

[Transferred] (67999)

234
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list his latest estimates and forecast expenditure in cash terms for cyclical social security for (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-00, (iv) 2000-01 and (v) 2001-02.

[Transferred] (68385)

235
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list his latest estimates and forecast expenditure in cash terms for the element of NHS trusts' charges to health authorities which trusts use to remunerate their debt to central government for (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-00, (iv) 2000-01 and (v) 2001-02.

[Transferred] (68382)

236
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what actions his Department has taken against (a) companies and (b) individuals that were not in possession of the relevant firarms licences for the handling, storeage, distribution or manufacture of electro-shock batons.

[Transferred] (68240)

237
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the (a) military, (b) security and (c) police equipment exported to Saudi Arabia by British Aerospace as prime contractor for the Al Yamamah agreement, that was exempt from export licence requirement.

[Transferred] (68200)

238
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Disposal Sales Agency uses MoD airfields to export goods.

[Transferred] (68193)

239
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the private companies that ship Disposal Sales Agency equipment overseas.

[Transferred] (68199)

240
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many electro-shock batons were transferred via the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia as part of the Al Yamamah deal.

[Transferred] (68221)

241
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the cash balances held by each of the training and enterprise councils in the North East Region, as at December 1998.

[Transferred] (68317)



© Parliamentary copyright 1999	Revised 28 January 1999