Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 3 February 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 3 February 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 Wednesday 3 February, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Thursday 4 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.

WEDNESDAY 3rd FEBRUARY

1
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has for a levy to fund the Food Standards Agency from chain stores or stores over 10,000 sq ft.

(69150)

2
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what are the principal (a) domestic and (b) export markets for tobacco grown in the European Union under subsidy.

(69326)

3
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will estimate the UK contribution in the current financial year to the FEOGA budget.

(69323)

4
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the member states of the EU which will benefit from financial support from the FEOGA budget in the current financial year for their tobacco growing industries.

(69324)

5
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many people are employed as a result of grant-assisted tobacco growing in the European Union.

(69325)

6
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of Lord Rothschild's statement at the time of the publication of the 1996-97 Annual Report of the National Heritage Lottery Fund relating to the reduction of lottery funding for purposes related to heritage.

(69161)

7
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many independent radio stations catering principally for the Muslim community operate in the United Kingdom.

(69060)

8
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received concerning the running of independent radio stations in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement.

(69061)

9
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the gender balance on the Board of the English National Stadium Development Company.

(69350)

10
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the auditing arrangements for the expenditure of the Board of the English National Stadium Development Company.

(69351)

11
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who appointed the Chairman and members of the Board of the English National Stadium Development Company; and on what dates.

(69347)

12
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which sports individual members of the Board of the English National Stadium Development Company represent.

(69349)

13
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what remuneration is paid to the members of the Board of the English National Stadium Development Company; and from what sources.

(69348)

14
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if applicants for contracts for catering facilities at the Dome were interviewed by a panel which included a person who was not employed by the New Millennium Experience Company.

(69085)

15
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th January, Official Report, column 460, on RN Base Faslane, on what date BP4 probes started to be used at RN Naval Base Clyde to monitor personnel leaving the reactor compartments of nuclear submarines.

(69088)

16
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th January, Official Report, columns 460-1, on RN Base Faslane, in which year the current civilian system of monitoring started at RN Naval Base Clyde; and what proportion of Navy supervisors were qualified to City and Guilds standards prior to that date.

(69087)

17
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the average flying hours in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998 for Tornado GR aircraft in service with the RAF.

(69063)

18
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which organisation maintains and refits nuclear submarines at RN Base Clyde; when the contract commenced; and what previous experience of such work the organisation had.

(69062)

19
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th January, Official Report, column 461, on RN Base Faslane, on what occasions radiation supervisors have been required to carry out the work of radiation monitors in each of the last five years; and on how many occasions all duty supervisors were carrying out such work.

(69086)

20
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the availability of married officers quarters in Queensferry.

(69330)

21
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the net effect of the review of the Territorial Army, in terms of number of units per head of the population, in (a) North West England and (b) North Wales.

(69318)

22
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list by county the number of REME officers and regulars recruited in each of the last three years

(69328)

23
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on (a) the Territorial Army's and (b) the cadets, role in recruiting regulars for the army; and if he will list the recruitment figures for regulars by region in each of the last three years.

(69327)

24
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many REME regulars were recruited in the North West; how many REME recruits came from North Wales during each of the last five years; and how many of these were recruited via the cadets.

(69329)

25
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost to his Department of empty houses vacated by (a) officers and (b) other ranks moving from Chorley 101 REME to Queensferry.

(69332)

26
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date Land Command submitted to Ministers the (a) first, (b) second and (c) final set of proposals for reorganisation of the Territorial Army.

(69316)

27
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will assess the (a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of withdrawing the MOD contract with Volvo Trucks.

(69319)

28
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the prospects for continued production in the UK by Volvo.

(69322)

29
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date TAVRA North West was consulted about the decision to transfer HQ 101 Battalion REME to Queensferry.

(69317)

30
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date Land Command made the recommendation to (a) transfer HQ 101 Battalion REME to Queensferry and (b) close HQ 101 Battalion REME in Chorley.

(69343)

31
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if HQ 101 Battalion REME was listed for closure in the first round of recommendations for the future of the Territorial Army proposed by HQ Land Command.

(69346)

32
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Ministers in his Department next plan to visit (a) Chorley and (b) Queensferry.

(69345)

33
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from Volvo on the closure of the Irvine plant.

(69321)

34
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the closure of the Irvine Truck plant; and if he will list the contracts in place with Volvo.

(69320)

35
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what advice he received from TAVRA North West on the proposal to transfer HQ 101 Battalion REME to Queensferry.

(69344)

36
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what accommodation is available for (a) NCOs and (b) other ranks in Queensferry.

(69331)

37
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of RAF aircraft will be mission capable by 31st May.

(68260)

38
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68508)

39
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the multi-launch rocket system future phase one rocket (FFOR); and if he will list the project milestones.

(68756)

40
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future amphibious support helicopter; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68500)

41
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of his Department's critical systems will be Year 2000 compliant by 1st April.

(68261)

42
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Aimed Controlled Effect Anti-Tank Mine; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68507)

43
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on Future Short and Very Short Range Air Defence Systems; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68511)

44
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessments he has made of building a new national warship following a decision to withdraw from Project Horizon.

(68515)

45
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the air-launched anti-armour weapon; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68503)

46
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department is collaborating with the Russian Ministry for Defence on assessing and rectifying systems affected by the Year 2000 computer problem.

(68256)

47
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the testing of all Year 2000 modified systems for which he is responsible was completed by 31st January.

(68258)

48
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the mission statement for the Kosovo extraction force based in Macedonia.

(68802)

49
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the beyond visual range air-to-air missile; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68504)

50
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on progress on the Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68512)

51
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library the report from the British contingent in the Kosovo Verification Mission on the circumstances of the recent killings.

(68758)

52
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was (a) the total cost and (b) the average daily cost to the United Kingdom of Operation Desert Fox.

(68248)

53
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which nations participate in the patrolling of the northern and southern no-fly zones in Iraq; what has been the total cost of the operations to date; and how the cost is apportioned between each nation.

(68249)

54
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the cost each year since 1991 of the deployment of British Forces to the Gulf.

(68250)

55
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the total cost of the SFOR de-mining programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(68252)

56
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost to date of the NATO extraction force in Macedonia; and how the cost is divided between the participating states.

(68253)

57
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the estimated costs of (a) Operation Deliberate Forge, (b) Operation Radome and (c) Operation Kingower; how the costs will be apportioned between (i) named international bodies and (ii) named countries; and if the costs to the United Kingdom will be met from his Department's budget or from the government's contingency funds.

(68254)

58
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has developed to support the civil community in case of emergencies associated with Year 2000.

(68259)

59
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Future Engineer Tank; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68516)

60
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Bowman project; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68510)

61
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the TERRIER project; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68757)

62
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the airborne stand-off radar project; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68501)

63
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Skynet 5 UK Military Satellite Communications System; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68505)

64
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Future Offensive Air System; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68509)

65
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on Future Carrier-Borne Aircraft; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68513)

66
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the conventionally armed stand off missile; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68502)

67
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with NATO nations on the impact of the Year 2000 problem on interchange of defence-related electronic information and on equipment that is in common service; if interconnections between NATO nations are Year 2000 compliant; and if Year 2000 tests are included in multinational military exercises conducted with (a) NATO and (b) other nations.

(68255)

68
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if systems for (a) service members' pay and (b) service members' medical records are Year 2000 compliant; and if he will make a statement.

(68257)

69
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when NATO's standing Mediterranean force, STANAVFORMED, visited the Albanian port of Durres; and what was the purpose of the visit.

(68803)

70
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Medium Range Third-Generation Anti-Tank Guided Weapon System; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68506)

71
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the cost of withdrawing from Project Horizon.

(68514)

72
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the counter-battery radar (COBRA) project; and if he will list the project milestones.

(68755)

73
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if NATO's partnership for peace activities in Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have been (a) fulfilled, (b) extended and (c) expanded.

(68760)

74
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the long-term future of RAF Dishforth.

(69178)

75
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list, for each of the last three years, the percentage of full-time and part-time teaching staff in (a) schools and (b) further education colleges without a first degree.

(68731)

76
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list, for each of the last three years, the percentage of full-time and part-time teaching staff in (a) schools and (b) further education colleges with no teaching qualifications.

(68754)

77
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list, for each of the last three years, the percentage of full-time and part-time teaching staff in (a) schools and (b) further education colleges with a postgraduate certificate in education.

(68732)

78
   Yvette Cooper (Pontefract and Castleford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the grants and awards that require bids from applicants which his Department is responsible for administering and awarding (a) nationally and (b) that people and groups within Wakefield Metropolitan District are eligible to bid for; if he will publish the deadlines for these applications; and if he will produce this list on a regular basis.

(69089)

79
   Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith (Wealden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each of the last 10 years for (a) England and (b) Wales how many students entered higher education; and of these, how many (i) dropped out before completing courses and (ii) failed their final examinations.

(69090)

80
   Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith (Wealden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each of the last 10 years for (a) England and (b) Wales how many pupils (i) left state education without having been entered for any CSE/GCSE or equivalent examination and (ii) were entered for such examinations in (1) one, (2) two, (3) three, (4) four and (5) five or more subjects; and how many such entrants failed to qualify in each subject paper they sat.

(69092)

81
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many staff in the Employment Service have been employed for less than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) one year and (d) two years.

(68940)

82
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the budget of the Childcare Unit.

(69232)

83
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what reports he has received from (1) Fernley Employment Service and (2) Pelcon on their delivery of the New Deal.

(69234)

84
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he has taken to ensure that the New Deals for (a) loan parents and (b) over 25s meet the needs of the ethnic minority community.

(69233)

85
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what discussions he has had with Remploy about their factories in North Staffordshire.

(69059)

86
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the annual amount of council tax benefits subsidy to be withdrawn from local councils in the next financial year.

(68733)

87
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what his policy is on the recycling of plastic; and what discussions he has had with local authorities in England and Wales on initiatives undertaken by them.

(69067)

88
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with Wandsworth Borough Council on its policy of selling council properties in certain areas of the borough.

(69070)

89
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent discussions he has had with his European Union colleagues on the development of environmentally friendly vehicles by European vehicle producers.

(69093)

90
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with the German Government on the United Kingdom's rules relating to the import and export of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement.

(69157)

91
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his policy relating to the import and export of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement.

(69156)

92
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if imports of spent nuclear fuel from Germany primarily to alleviate the shortage of on-site waste storage capacity at German nuclear facilities contravene Government policy; and if he will seek advice on this matter from the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.

(69159)

93
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what monitoring he is conducting of the Water Industry Specifications Committee's emerging standard for plastic pipes.

(68116)

94
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he proposes to ensure that rats do not escape into properties from sewers.

(68117)

95
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the percentage of sewers which are made from thin wall plastics.

(68118)

96
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will incorporate a rodent damage test for drainage pipes in the review of Part H of the Building Regulations.

(68119)

97
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of rat infestations of homes and businesses.

(68120)

98
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the susceptibility of each of the principal sewerage drainage pipe materials to damage by rodents.

(68121)

99
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what arrangements are in place to monitor the contamination of drinking water supplies by leaking sewers and drains; and what has been the results of such monitoring in each of the last three years.

(68122)

100
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps the Government is taking to protect internationally important lowland raised peatlands from damage caused by commercial peat extraction for horticultural and gardening use; and if he will make a statement.

(69149)

101
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to monitor the punctuality of scheduled air services in the same way as rail services are currently monitored.

(68533)

102
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he plans to publish a White Paper on aviation and airport policy during the current Parliament.

(69027)

103
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list Highways Agency projects in 1998, including the 1998 national travel survey, which made use of (a) automatic traffic counters, (b) roadside interviews, (c) manual classified counts and (d) additional surveys undertaken outside the normal hours of 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays.

(67710)

104
   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what restrictions are imposed by his departmental regulations on the taking airside of (a) cameras and (b) mobile phones by holders of temporary airside passes at British airports.

(69072)

105
   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what security screening requirements are imposed by his departmental regulations on holders of temporary airside passes before they can go airside at British airports.

(69057)

106
   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the maximum length of time laid down in his departmental regulations for which a temporary airside pass can be issued at a British airport.

(69073)

107
   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the rules are under his departmental regulations on checking of references before the issue of a temporary airside pass at British airports.

(69056)

108
   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many breaches of his departmental regulations covering the issue of temporary airside passes at British airports were confirmed during (a) 1997 and (b) 1998.

(69058)

109
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the United Kingdom's total financial contribution to the EU in 1997-98.

(69165)

110
N   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action the Government is taking to speed up the implementation of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.

(67520)

111
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been the total cost of the United Kingdom's contribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996; and if he will list the costs borne by each department.

(68251)

112
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he would estimate the rates of child benefit for the first and subsequent children from April 1999 required to ensure that if a higher rate taxpayer in receipt of child benefit paid tax on it at (a) the higher rate or (b) the standard rate, the net cash amount of benefit received remained at the level already announced from April 1999; if he would further estimate (1) the gross annual programme cost of increasing child benefit to those levels and (2) what would be the net cost to the Exchequer of raising child benefit to those levels (i) with no taxation and (ii) with higher rate taxpayer recipients paying tax on the benefit at the higher rate, taking into account the consequential effects on working families tax credit, income support payments and other means-tested benefits.

(67795)

113
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many vacancies there were in operation posts of Customs and Excise in (i) South Wales, (ii) Newcastle-upon-Tyne and (iii) West Yorkshire in (a) January 1995, (b) January 1996, (c) January 1997, (d) January 1998 and (e) at the latest available date.

(68815)

114
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what powers of direction he will have over money transferred to the Scottish Consolidated Fund as a consequence of increased investment in specific, nominated projects in England and Wales; if such money would have to be used by the Scottish Parliament for identical projects in Scotland or for projects in the same departmental heading; and what monitoring role his Department would have over the use of such money.

(68599)

115
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will state the real terms annual percentage change in spending in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland between 1996-97 and 2001-02 on (i) education, (ii) health, (iii) transport, broken down into (1) roads and (2) rail, (iv) housing, (v) police and (vi) local government.

(68431)

116
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to establish a public service agreement between the Treasury and the Scottish Executive over monies transferred to the Scottish Consolidated Fund; what will be the purpose of such an agreement; and what discussions he has had with the Scottish Office on this issue.

(68430)

117
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he has (a) met the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss the activities of Standard Chartered Bank and (b) called for a report from the Governor of the Bank of England on Standard Chartered Bank's involvement in India; when he last met the Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank; and what changes to the system of banking supervision he plans following the involvement of Standard Chartered Bank in India.

(69084)

118
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the progress of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.

(67513)

119
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the amounts paid by the EU to (a) Republic of Ireland, (b) Spain, (c) Portugal and (d) Greece in 1997-98.

(69164)

120
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Sudan regarding the rights of Christians to religious freedom, over the last 18 months.

(68639)

121
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many licences for the export of armaments to Indonesia have been agreed for each of the last five years.

(68638)

122
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Pakistan regarding the application of Sharia Law and its impact upon the Christian minority.

(68640)

123
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Spanish fishermen crossing the boundary between Spanish and Gibraltian territorial waters without authority and his related discussions with the Spanish Government.

(69155)

124
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what independent international investigation was conducted into the killings in Kosovo at Gornje Obrinje and what were the results; and if an investigation into killings at Racak has been commenced.

(68804)

125
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the legal basis for the possible use of military force in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

(68759)

126
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 25th January, Official Report, column 147, concerning Swati Pankhania of Leicester, Ref S787788, when the decision will be made in this case.

(69314)

127
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment in 1997-98; and how much was spent on HIV/AIDS research in 1997-98 on projects wholly and partly funded by his Department.

(69167)

128
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the number of patients waiting for more than 12 months for treatment in each year during the past 20 years.

(69163)

129
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will make a statement on the future of the Blood Transfusion Service in Liverpool.

(69315)

130
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what has been the cost of extra contractual referrals (a) in total and (b) for prosthesis users in each year since 1994-95.

(69222)

131
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how his Department calculates the cost-benefit ratio of out of area referrals for prosthesis users whose own limb centre cannot meet their individual needs for comfort, capability and cosmesis.

(69223)

132
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many extra contractual referrals were made (a) in total and (b) for prosthesis users in each year since 1994-95.

(69221)

133
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if disablement service users are involved in assessing the effectiveness of mechanisms to address the variations in access to, and quality of, disablement services.

(69169)

134
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about the effectiveness of mechanisms to address the variations in access to, and quality of, disablement services.

(69153)

135
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms are in place to help ensure consistent access to, and the quality of, disablement services.

(69170)

136
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will access the benefits of establishing a disablement services national service framework to help ensure consistent access to, and quality of, disablement services.

(69168)

137
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mechanisms to address the variations in access to, and quality of, disablement services.

(69151)

138
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how his Department assesses the effectiveness of mechanisms to address the variations in access to, and quality of, disablement services.

(69152)

139
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received calling for a disablement service national service framework.

(69154)

140
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total female prison population by category and in total (a) on 1st May 1997 and (b) at the latest available date.

(69219)

141
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women prisoners have been held in prison in England and Wales and had a child or children with them in each of the last 10 years.

(69175)

142
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list his current planning projections of the future female prison population.

(69174)

143
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women were sentenced to imprisonment for offences involving possession, supply or trafficking of controlled drugs in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(69176)

144
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women were held in prison in each member state of the European Union (a) in absolute terms and (b) in proportion to the size of their population for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(69177)

145
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what educational publicity campaign he plans, at what cost, to inform electors of the proportional voting system to be used to elect United Kingdom members of the European Parliament in June.

(69033)

146
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many metropolitan police officers have been suspended from duty due to allegations as to their conduct and for (a) up to three months, (b) up to six months, (c) up to nine months, (d) up to 12 months, (e) up to 15 months and (f) over 15 months.

(69069)

147
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the longest period of time an (a) male and (b) female prison inmate has been held in a segregation unit (i) at the inmate's own request and (ii) at the decision of the prison authorities in a prison in England and Wales in the last 10 years.

(69066)

148
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on reducing the supply of illegal drugs in prisons.

(69179)

149
   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the most recent figures for recorded racist attacks in Greater Manchester; and what measures he proposes to deal with this kind of crime.

(69173)

150
   Mr James Plaskitt (Warwick and Leamington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the role of the voluntary sector in addressing social exclusion.

(69160)

151
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many school crossing patrol positions there are in England and Wales; and how many vacancies there are.

(68814)

152
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the planned timetable for the drawing up of guidelines and consultation on the treatment of transsexual prisoners; what consultation is planned with non-convicted transsexual persons; who is to be responsible for drawing up of the guidelines; and if the guidelines will cover prisoners on remand.

(69230)

153
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines are provided to prison service clinicians in respect of the treatment of transsexual prisoners.

(69231)

154
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Leicester East dated 7th December 1998 and 25th January 1999, concerning Swati Pankhania of Rushey Mead, Leicester (Home Office ref. S787788).

(69229)

155
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on opening the Line of Route during the summer adjournment.

(69171)

156
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much was spent on overseas aid in 1997-98 by her Department in (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Bangladesh, (d) Zimbabwe and (e) Kenya.

(69166)

157
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is the budget of her Department from the Know How fund for 1999.

(69068)

158
N   Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the current status of negotiations concerning the impact on developing countries of the planned Multilateral Agreement for Investment.

(67506)

159
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement about the current humanitarian assistance to Angola.

(67510)

160
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of her Department's budget in the year 1997-98 was paid (a) directly to other governments, (b) to non-governmental organisations outside of the United Kingdom and (c) to the E.U.

(69226)

161
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much bilateral aid debt of developing nations has been cancelled by Her Majesty's Government since 1st May 1997.

(69225)

162
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to assist with vaccination of children against measles and polio in Southern Sudan.

(69031)

163
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement about the cessation of funding from her Department to the NGO Merlin working in Southern Sudan.

(69029)

164
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to assist with the construction of secure roads and bridges in Southern Sudan.

(69032)

165
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has for the continuation of humanitarian aid to Southern Sudan; and if she will make a statement.

(69028)

166
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement regarding funding by her Department of simple fishing equipment in Southern Sudan.

(69030)

167
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the cost to the Legal Aid Fund of paying Civil Court fees in (a) county court proceedings and (b) High Court proceedings in each of the last five years.

(69227)

168
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the prospective release dates of all prisoners qualifying for early release under the Belfast Agreement.

(69091)

169
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Prime Minister, how much was spent on official entertainment at 10 Downing Street in 1997-98.

(69162)

170
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Prime Minister, which of his Ministers is co-ordinating the Government response to the Acheson report.

(68938)

171
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Prime Minister, if the Acheson report will be submitted to the Social Exclusion Unit.

(68939)

172
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 3rd February.

(68570)

173
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what educational publicity campaign he plans to undertake, and at what estimated cost, to inform electors of the new voting system for the Scottish Parliament.

(69053)

174
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much was spent by the councils of (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow, (c) Aberdeen and (d) Dundee on assistance to private sector housing repairs, indicating separately (i) replacement of lead water pipes and (ii) adaptations to help people with disabilities in each of the past 10 years.

(68536)

175
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proposals he has to ensure that enough ground floor dwellings remain in public sector housing to enable houses adapted for occupation by people with disabilities to be provided to those who need them.

(68534)

176
N   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proposals he has (a) to give the latest EU directive allowing less lead in domestic water supplies legal effect and (b) to provide funding to those councils which are already trying to operate within the new directive.

(68535)

177
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the estimated cost of the proposed A9 improvement scheme, Helmsdale to the Ord of Caithness.

(68993)

178
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's preferred engineering scheme for the A9, Helmsdale to the Ord of Caithness, currently under assessment as part of the Trunk Road Review.

(68991)

179
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the status of the (a) Brora by-pass, (b) Portgower-Green Park and (c) Craickaig-Culgower proposed A9 improvement schemes.

(68992)

180
   Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the Scottish Office guidelines are for commercial non-timber activities on Forestry Commission land.

(69071)

181
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of families with children in receipt of income support distinguishing between (a) one-parent and (b) two-parent families broken down by families with (i) one child, (ii) two children, (iii) three children and (iv) four or more children; and within each group if he will list the number of children aged (1) under 12 months, (2) one to two years, (3) three to four years, (4) five to 10 years, (5) 11 to 15 years and (6) 16 to 18 years.

(67793)

182
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the number of families with children in receipt of family credit distinguishing between one-parent and two-parent families between families with (a) one child, (b) two children, (c) three children and (d) four or more children and between children aged (i) under 12 months, (ii) one to two years, (iii) three to four years, (iv) five to 10 years, (v) 11 to 15 years and (vi) 16 to 18 years.

(67794)

183
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the groups of disabled people which will automatically be exempted from the new system of periodically reviewing awards of disability living allowance.

(69224)

184
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the proposed system of periodically reviewing awards of disability living allowance announced on 28th January will include the safeguards announced on 9th February 1998 in respect of the Benefits Integrity Project.

(69220)

185
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many staff in the Benefits Agency have been employed for less than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) one year and (d) two years.

(68941)

186
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, for what reasons maternity benefit has not been paid to Mrs Swati Pankhania of Rushey Mead, Leicester who made an application under reference PW916526C/STBFC/DN; and when he expects payment to be made.

(69228)

187
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the power stations with FGD, indicating their capacity and the cost of installation of FGD in each case at current prices.

(69065)

188
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimates he has made of the cost of electricity per KWh produced by (a) existing coal-fired power stations, (b) new CCGT gas-fired power stations and (c) existing coal-fired power stations with FGD.

(69064)

189
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with the German Government on negotiation of contracts for processing nuclear waste in the United Kingdom.

(69158)

190
N   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the total amount of funding available to (a) South Yorkshire, (b) Merseyside and (c) Cornwall from each of the EU Structural Funds in the last year for which figures are available.

(68942)

191
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what projects have been approved under the New Deal for Communities Programme in Wales.

(69274)

192
N   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement about the operation of the Social Exclusion Unit in Wales.

(69036)

193
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will estimate (a) how many schools in Wales have requested additional funding in order to reduce infant class sizes to under 30 pupils in the last 12 months and (b) the number of such requests that were successful.

(68730)

194
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department has spent on hospitality in each of the last five years.

(69216)

195
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what overseas visits he has made since his appointment; and what the cost was of each visit.

(69275)

196
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what leisure facilities are planned to be made available for members of the National Assembly; and if he will make a statement.

(69218)

197
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what was the average cost of a hip replacement operation in Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

(69217)

198
N   Mrs Betty Williams (Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many of (a) the applicants and (b) those interviewed for the Chairmanship of the North West Wales NHS Trust were (i) male and (ii) female.

(69034)

199
N   Mrs Betty Williams (Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much was distributed to each health authority and NHS trust in Wales in each of the last three years.

(69035)

200
N   Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the impact of her Department's policies on accessibility and clean water supply in developing countries.

[Question Unstarred] (67514)

201
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the potential environmental risks of NASA's Cassini Space Probe.

[Transferred] (69215)

202
   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people in the North West Region are claiming compensation for suffering from vibration white finger.

[Transferred] (69172)



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