Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 26 April 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 26 April of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

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.

MONDAY 26th April

1
N   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, when she expects the Committee's proposals for re-opening the Line of Route during the Summer Adjournment to be made available to the House.

(81905)

2
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he has taken recently to urge consumers to purchase pork and bacon that has been reared to high welfare standards.

(82443)

3
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the countries which are outside the European Union and which are not islands which are currently considered to be free from rabies by the World Health Organisation.

(81927)

4
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if countries with land borders with countries outside the European Union will be eligible for the pet passport system recommended by Professor Kennedy if they comply with the Office International des Epizooties definition of being free from rabies.

(81928)

5
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the countries which will be contacted to confirm whether they can comply with the OIE definition of being free from rabies; and when he expects to publish the list of qualifying countries.

(81929)

6
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps his Department takes to ensure that quarantine kennels meet acceptable standards of animal welfare.

(81930)

7
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many quarantine kennels have indicated that they will be unable or unwilling to comply with the Animal Health (Amendment) Act 1998; and if he will list them.

(81931)

8
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on (a) the frequency of veterinary inspections and (b) the exemptions for abattoirs and cutting plants which apply under Article 4(e) of Directive 64/433/EEC with regard to Chapter VIII of Annex 1.

(81719)

9
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which is the competent authority to implement Articles 3 and 4 of Council Directive 64/433/EEC.

(81720)

10
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what derogations apply to the exemption of small abattoirs and cutting plants from the requirements of Chapter VIII of Annex 1 of Directive 64/433/EEC; and if he will make a statement.

(81721)

11
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he has implemented Annex 4 Chapter I (paragraph 6c) of Directive 96/43.

(81722)

12
   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received regarding the administrative arrangements for applying for inward processing relief; and what plans he has for reform of the system.

(82243)

13
N   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of progress towards the lifting of the ban on the export of British beef; and if he will make a statement.

(82223)

14
N   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the costs of in real terms of administration for farmers in each of the last four years.

(82180)

15
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 15th April, Official Report, column 321, on special advisers, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82409)

16
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator has met members and officials of the US Government since he took up his post; and if he will list the dates and locations of each meeting, the US departments involved on each occasion and the names of the US members and officials at each meeting.

(82265)

17
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times Ministers in his Department have met their counterparts in the US Government since 1st June 1998; and if he will list the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved on each occasion and the name of the US counterpart at each meeting.

(82266)

18
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his Answer of 31st March, Official Report, column 710, on special advisers, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when a special adviser travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82434)

19
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of an increase in the taxation of seaside amusement machines on his policy with regards to historic seaside piers.

(82315)

20
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received regarding seaside amusement machines; and if he will make a statement.

(82316)

21
N   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is the total amount of cash receipts in sponsorship received by the Millennium Company up to 31st March.

(81744)

22
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 21st April, Official Report, column 577, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82412)

23
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that those invited to the opening ceremonies of the Dome are representative of the whole of society.

(82327)

24
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to set targets for the BBC in relation to the employment of Black and Asian people.

(82325)

25
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to appoint a permanent chair of the English Sports Council.

(82326)

26
   Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that the pay and conditions of service of service men and women serving in Macedonia are comparable with those service men and women of other NATO countries.

(82228)

27
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of the conflict with Yugoslavia to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(81970)

28
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of (a) the damage inflicted on the Basra Pumping Station and (b) the effect it has had on the pumping station.

(81932)

29
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the purpose was of dropping the bombs which fell on date palm trees in Abu Al-Khasib, south of Basra; and what military installation was intended as the target of the bombs.

(81933)

30
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many free-fall bombs have been dropped on Yugoslavia in the last month; and what assessment he has made of the reliability of tail-fin guided direction.

(81971)

31
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in the investigation into vaccines used on Gulf War service personnel.

(82288)

32
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which vaccines or components of vaccines given to Gulf War service personnel contained squalene preparations; and how many British Gulf War veterans have tested positive for the presence of squalene in blood samples.

(82286)

33
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which vaccines used on Gulf War service personnel were acquired from the USA.

(82287)

34
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the military situation in relation to Iraq since 24th March, with particular reference to the allies' capability in the region of Iraq and Iraqi military action.

(82030)

35
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to extend the provision of RAF pensions to surviving spouses of service personnel; and if he will make a statement.

(82042)

36
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Chief of Defence procurement instructions have been issued since 1st June 1998; and how many were unclassified.

(82246)

37
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings his special adviser, Bernard Gray, and Deputy Chief of Defence Procurement (Support) held with members and officials of the US Administration during their visit to the USA on 4th and 5th March; with which US department they met at each meeting; and what was the purpose of their visit.

(82247)

38
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Mid Norfolk of 31st March, Official Report, column 674, on special advisers, if he will give the average cost per head for each official and adviser for the trips listed.

(82417)

39
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish the terms of the retirement package for the recently retired Principal of Wirral Metropolitan College.

(82309)

40
N   Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that pupils at former grant maintained schools secure the same increases in funding per individual as those in other state schools in (a) Cumbria and (b) England.

(82183)

41
N   Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will reply to the letter sent to him by Mr T. A. Schofield, Bursar to Kirkbie Kendal school, Kendal, Cumbria on 16th April.

(82185)

42
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has for the future of his Department's Race Relations Advisory Service.

(82330)

43
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate how many pre-schools have closed since May 1997; and if he will set out the basis of the Government's calculation.

(82016)

44
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, columns 200-1, when he expects to be able to publish the detailed breakdown of the expected expenditure on early years education in 1998-99.

(82014)

45
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the basis for the difference in figures produced by his Department and by the Pre-School Learning Alliance on the number of pre-schools that have closed since May 1997.

(82019)

46
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many staff were employed in the Standards and Effectiveness Unit of his Department on 31st March; what the budget was of that unit in 1998-99; and what budget has been set for the unit in 1999-2000.

(82015)

47
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many four year-olds are currently attending (a) maintained nursery schools, (b) nursery classes in maintained primary schools, (c) reception classes, (d) voluntary sector pre-school provision and (e) private sector pre-school provision.

(82017)

48
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, on how many occasions special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity accompanied by Ministers; what was the average cost of each trip per head for the accompanying adviser; and what were the places visited.

(82432)

49
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much central government money was spent per capita in 1998 in England on grants to (a) voluntary aided schools and (b) voluntary controlled schools.

(82208)

50
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much central government money was spent per capita in 1998 in England on books and stationery in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

(82209)

51
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much central government money was spent per capita in 1998 in England on helping schools meet special educational needs.

(82211)

52
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much central government money was spent per capita in 1998 in England on (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools, (iii) further education colleges and (iv) universities.

(82210)

53
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to lay guidance issued under the contaminated land regime before each House of Parliament.

(81799)

54
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to bring into force the contaminated land regime in Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

(81798)

55
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to consult the public on proposed guidance under the contaminated land regime before it is laid before Parliament.

(81800)

56
   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects on airline flight crews of organophosphate air pollution on board aircraft.

(82322)

57
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the cost of the development plan produced by Railtrack to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

(81973)

58
   Mr Clive Efford (Eltham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will review the regulations that prevent local authorities from accepting a financial contribution from clients towards the cost of disabled adaptations with the objective of allowing them a choice in how their needs are met.

(82407)

59
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the cost implications involved in ensuring that traffic lights within the UK are Year 2000 compliant.

(82256)

60
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he last met representatives of the RAC to discuss congestion charging.

(82255)

61
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans the Highways Agency has to update the existing motorway and trunk road stress maps.

(82258)

62
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the fuel escalator's impact on social exclusion.

(82257)

63
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what monitoring of air quality has been conducted, and what were the results thereof, in relation to the A13 and abutting residential areas, from the vicinity of Dagenham Dock to Central London; and if he will make a statement.

(82034)

64
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what information he has obtained about the speed of traffic movements, congestion and impediments to mobility at peak times on the A13 from the vicinity of Dagenham Dock to Central London; and if he will make a statement.

(82033)

65
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will convene a meeting of representatives of the Highways Agency, the London boroughs and the Traffic Section of the Metropolitan Police to examine what interim measures could be introduced to minimise traffic congestion and to maximise mobility in the westbound section of the A13 from the vicinity of Dagenham Dock to Central London; and if he will make a statement.

(82031)

66
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment his Department has made of the frequency and scale of congestion on the westbound A13 section from the vicinity of Dagenham Dock to Central London; and if he will make a statement.

(82032)

67
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set out the outturn, estimated outturn or planned level of core investment excluding the Jubilee line extension in London Transport for the years 1993-94 to 1999-2000, in 1999 prices.

(82419)

68
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what studies his Department has undertaken or evaluated to assess the impact of the Millennium Dome on the localities of (a) Bermondsey tube station and (b) London Bridge tube station, with particular reference to the Shad Thames development.

(82428)

69
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the Millennium Dome on the localities of (a) Bermondsey tube station and (b) London Bridge tube station, with particular reference to the Shad Thames development.

(82429)

70
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what studies his Department has carried out or evaluated to assess the impact of the Millennium Dome on the locality of North Greenwich tube station, with particular reference to parking for local businesses and residents.

(82426)

71
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of people, other than Millennium Dome visitors, who will use the Jubilee line between North Greenwich tube station and (a) Stratford, (b) London Bridge, (c) Waterloo, (d) Westminster, (e) Green Park and (f) Baker Street.

(82425)

72
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to enable tube trains to run on existing lines to Clapham Junction.

(82422)

73
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if people who are not visiting the Millennium Dome will be able to drive to North Greenwich tube station to deliver or collect passengers.

(82420)

74
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans have been made for the provision of car-parking for non-local commuters using the Jubilee Line.

(82421)

75
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of people, other than Millennium Dome visitors, who will use the Jubilee Line tube stations of (a) Bermondsey, (b) London Bridge, and (c) North Greenwich.

(82424)

76
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the Millennium Dome on the locality of North Greenwich tube station with particular reference to car-parking for local businesses and residents.

(82427)

77
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of landlords in (a) Pendle, (b) Burnley, (c) Blackburn, (d) Rossendale, (e) Darwen and (f) Hyndburn whose rents are met from housing benefit.

(82321)

78
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for each year since 1990, how many landlords received rent for their properties from housing benefit.

(82320)

79
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his Department's policy towards planting and protecting urban trees; and if he wll make a statement.

(82044)

80
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to improve the mechanisms for informing local communities of genetically-modified crops being grown in their area.

(82259)

81
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if it is the Government's policy to seek an amendment of EC Directive 90/220/EEC so that companies with marketing consents for genetically-modified crops must inform the relevant local authority of their intention to plant genetically-modified crops in their area.

(82261)

82
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer on 26th March, Official Report, column 417, how many times Ministers in his Department met their counterparts in the US Government between 1st January 1998 and 1st June 1998; and if he will list the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved on each occasion and the name of the US counterpart at each meeting.

(82227)

83
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the occasions when special advisers in his Department have travelled abroad in an official capacity accompanied by Ministers; and if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion and the place visited.

(82431)

84
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on bilateral discussions on landing rights between India and the UK.

(82285)

85
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning landing rights for British airlines in India.

(82284)

86
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much new money has been allocated to EU budget subsection B3 established in the first Supplementary Amending Budget (1999/211/EC-OJ L81, 26.3.99); and what is the policy of the Government in respect of that.

(82233)

87
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish an estimate of the current figure for half adult median earnings on a like-for-like basis with the hourly adult rate for the national minimum wage.

(82045)

88
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the Millennium Gift Aid scheme to support services provided in the UK by UK-based charities.

(82260)

89
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the results of the advance pricing agreement consultation process.

(82405)

90
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of people with a marginal income tax rate on their earnings and pension income of 10 per cent. who also have savings income.

(82192)

91
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of taxpayers who have taken advantage of (a) ESC D15, (b) ESC D16, (c) ESC D22 and (d) ESC D39 in (i) 1992-93, (ii) 1993-94, (iii) 1994-95, (iv) 1995-96, (v) 1996-97, (vi) 1997-98 and (vii) 1998-99.

(82406)

92
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the results of the General Anti-Avoidance Rule and Mini-GAAR consultation process.

(82404)

93
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to introduce tax relief for tuition fees paid by mature students.

(82328)

94
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what changes there have been to numbers of HM Customs and Excise staff at Heathrow Airport since 1st May 1997 involved in investigations relating to drugs or other illegal items.

(80986)

95
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what were (a) the rates of vehicle excise duty, (b) the levels of road fuel duty and (c) the annual receipts from each of these sources in each of the last 10 years.

(82436)

96
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the revenue from amusement machine licence duty on 10 pence stake amusements-with-prizes trivial machines in the years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.

(82312)

97
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the taxation of 10 pence stake amusements-with-prizes trivia machines.

(82311)

98
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will revise Tabel C.1 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report March 1998 to take account of the timing of the implementation of the VAT (Sports, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) (No.2) Order.

(82310)

99
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many representations he received in 1998-99 regarding amusement machine licence duty.

(82313)

100
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what organisations were consulted by Customs and Excise during the drafting of the VAT (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) (No. 2) Order 1998.

(82318)

101
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to implement the VAT (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) (No.2) Order.

(82317)

102
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what forecast he has made of the revenue from amusement machine licence duty in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02.

(82314)

103
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the annual difference in revenue raised between the VAT (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) Order 1998 and the VAT (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education (No.2) Order 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(82319)

104
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for the future of Training for Work.

(82162)

105
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the sums lost to the Revenue as a consequence of the smuggling of (i) petrol and (ii) diesel fuel into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic in each quarter for each of the last three years and the current year up to 31st March.

(82215)

106
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many litres of (i) petrol and (ii) diesel oil duty was paid in each quarter in each of the last three years and the current year up to 31st March, in respect of such fuels sold in Northern Ireland by (a) retailers and (b) wholesalers.

(82196)

107
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 31st March, Official Report, column 686, how many times ministers in his Department met their counterparts in the US Administration between 1st January and 1st June 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved and the name of the US counterpart.

(82248)

108
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list (a) the place visited on each occasion when (i) departmental and (ii) non-department special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997, (A) accompanied and (B) unaccompanied by Ministers and (b) the total travel cost of each occasion when a departmental and non-departmental adviser travelled abroad in an offical capacity since 2nd May 1997.

(82430)

109
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the mandate of the EU Special Envoy for Kosovo; what is his budget; and what level of assistance has been provided to him to date.

(82234)

110
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the bearing of the letter from the Dutch Government of 16th July 1997, regarding the Amsterdam Treaty negotiations, on the United Kingdom's declaration of intent at the Justice and Home Affairs Council to join elements of Schengen.

(82298)

111
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will estimate of the average proportion of the agenda for European Union Council meetings attended by his Ministers which change in the period between his monthly announcement of the proposed agenda and the actual meeting.

(82296)

112
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who in his Department had access to the Foreign Office Report written in Madrid on 16th October 1998 pertaining to Senator Pinochet and passed to his Department; at what time of day; and what action was taken as a result.

(82408)

113
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the Government's policy on the use of child soldiers; and if he will make a statement.

(82329)

114
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussion held with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 20th April.

(82028)

115
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on political and diplomatic developments in relation to Iraq since 24th March.

(82029)

116
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy that opt-in proposals by Her Majesty's Government into parts of the Schengen Agreement will only be made on the basis that Gibraltar will also have the same opportunity.

(82036)

117
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons the White Paper on Overseas Territories did not propose the granting of full British passports to those Chagossiens who had British citizenship before being resettled.

(82035)

118
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times British and American officials have visited Russian facilities under the US-British-Russian Trilateral Process to end Russia's offensive biological warfare programme since the process was initiated in September 1992; what were the dates of each visit; and what were the names and locations of each facility visited.

(82250)

119
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many expert working groups have been set up under the US-British-Russian Trilateral Process to end Russia's offensive biological warfare programme since the process was initiated in September 1992; and what are the names of each of these expert working groups.

(82251)

120
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times Russian officials have visited British and American facilities under the US-British-Russian Trilateral Process to end Russia's offensive biological warfare programme since the process was initiated in September 1992; what were the dates of each visit; and what were the names and locations of each facility visited.

(82249)

121
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 19th April, Official Report, column 404, on special advisers, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82413)

122
N   Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice he has received about the basis in international law for the military action by the United Kingdom and its NATO allies against Serbia.

(82068)

123
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he discussed with the Secretary of State of the United States of America United Kingdom support for the USA's draft resolution on China and Tibet at the 55th United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

(82182)

124
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what grounds the United Kingdom decided at the General Affairs Council of the European Union not to co-sponsor a joint resolution with its partners on Chinese suppression of human rights in Tibet for the 55th United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

(82181)

125
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how may GPs are expected to retire over the next five years in the Easington Primary Care Group and if he will make a statement.

(82299)

126
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to receive the report of the panel set up by the National Radiological Protection Board to examine the health effects of mobile phones.

(81972)

127
N   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, for each health authority and NHS trust, the projected budget surplus or deficit planned by that authority or trust for the financial year 1999-2000.

(82069)

128
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the sums available to the unitary authorities in Berkshire this year and in each of the next two financial years as part of the £140 million available under the Government's strategy for carers.

(82018)

129
   Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Medical Devices Agency has a record of patients with pacemakers in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(82398)

130
   Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Siemens Sensolog 2033T pacemakers have been supplied by the NHS for use in England and Wales.

(82402)

131
   Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the regulations regarding the recording of patients with pacemakers.

(82397)

132
   Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) the companies which manufacture pacemakers supplied by the NHS and which are used by patients in England and Wales, (b) the type of pacemaker supplied by the NHS and (c) the number of patients who use each type.

(82403)

133
   Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Siemens Sensolog 2033T pacemaker was withdrawn from sale; and when the Medical Devices Agency was informed of its withdrawal.

(82400)

134
   Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the procedure for alerting patients who have pacemakers which are withdrawn from supply because of faults in manufacture.

(82399)

135
   Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Siemens Sensolog 2033T pacemakers have been referred to the Medical Devices Agency as having faults.

(82401)

136
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dental practices have closed in each year since 1990 as a result of (a) retirement of the dentist and (b) the inability of the dentist to sell the practice as a going concern.

(82331)

137
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list by health authority, ranked in descending order, the number of people, and the percentage of the population served by the authority, who have been diagnosed as having (a) treatable and (b) untreatable oral cancers in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(82332)

138
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of oral cancers which were identified as such by a dentist (a) at an early and treatable stage and (b) at an advanced stage, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(82334)

139
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department has collated on whether ethnic minority students are less likely than white students to gain admission to medical school or university to study medicine.

(82230)

140
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department has collated on the time it takes for ethnic minority members of NHS staff to be promoted within NHS hospitals relative to white members of staff.

(82232)

141
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department has collated on the rate at which ethnic minority members of NHS staff resign from the NHS relative to the rate for white members of staff.

(82231)

142
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department has collated on whether ethnic minority members of NHS staff are more likely to be disciplined by (a) suspension and (b) dismissal than white members of staff.

(82229)

143
N   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will establish an independent panel to inform the deliberations of the Medicines Control Agency under the procedures set out in the consultation document MLX 249; and if he will make a statement.

(82046)

144
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average delay in processing parole dossiers at the first application stage for prisoners in England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(82448)

145
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions the telephone preference scheme and the access overload control scheme have been used in each of the last 20 years; which categories of user were disconnected in each case; and if he will make a statement.

(82445)

146
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation he has undertaken on developing new plans to combat the advertising of prostitutes in public pay telephones; and if he will make a statement.

(82450)

147
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of prisoners serving four years or more in England and Wales were granted parole on (a) their first application and (b) their second application in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(82447)

148
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the total number of (a) fines and (b) contract payments which have been reduced to reflect the performance against the contract at (1) HMP Parc, (2) HMP Lowdham Grange, (3) HMP Altcourse, (4) HMP Wolds, (5) HMP Buckley Hall and (6) HMP Doncaster; and if he will state the reasons for each fine and reduced payment.

(82446)

149
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce new measures to combat the advertising of prostitutes in public pay telephones; and if he will make a statement.

(82449)

150
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list those elements of the Schengen supplementary accords, copies of which his Department had not received at the time of the indication he made to the Justice and Home Affairs Council of an intent to apply to join elements of the Schengen system; and when he expects to receive them.

(82295)

151
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers entered the United Kingdom for each month since January 1998; and of those how many were (a) granted asylum, (b) granted leave to remain and (c) refused the right to remain.

(81981)

152
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many inmates in prisons in England and Wales have a record of illegal drug taking.

(82289)

153
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisons in England and Wales have drug treatment facilities; and how many prisoners were undertaking such treatment on 1st April.

(82290)

154
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refugees have been admitted into the United Kingdom since 24th March; and in which local authority areas they have been accommodated.

(82063)

155
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the United Kingdom has placed a limit on the number of refugees it is prepared to accept as a result of the Kosovo crisis.

(82084)

156
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what admittance criteria are applied to those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom as result of the Kosovo crisis.

(82065)

157
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is given by his Department to Her Majesty's prisons on the arrangements to be made to respond to requests by honourable Members to visit a prisoner.

(82323)

158
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements there are for visits to prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons by honourable Members.

(82324)

159
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will announce a date by which all outstanding payments under the compensation for handguns scheme will be completed.

(82026)

160
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who have handed in large or small calibre hand-guns to the police are still waiting to receive final payments under the two firearms compensation schemes.

(82025)

161
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he is taking to reduce the time it is taking to process compensation payments for people who have handed in handguns to the police.

(82027)

162
N   Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on unannounced visits to check if a marriage is one of convenience for immigration purposes.

(82013)

163
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 17th March, Official Report, column 664, on special advisers, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82411)

164
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance the United Kingdom Government has provided to (a) Albania, (b) Macedonia and (c) Montenegro since 24th March.

(82062)

165
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the countries which have received refugees as a result of the Kosovo crisis.

(82064)

166
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the medical needs of the refugees in Macedonia and Albania; and what provisions her Department has made to meet these needs.

(82159)

167
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has prepared to maintain support for refugees in Macedonia and Albania over the next few months.

(82156)

168
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement about the ways in which the £20 million of financial help from her Department for Kosovar refugees is being spent.

(82161)

169
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to provide basic education for child refugees in Albania and Macedonia.

(82158)

170
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how support for refugees in Macedonia and Albania is being co-ordinated amongst EU member states.

(82157)

171
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the (i) need and (ii) estimated costs of providing water, electricity and sanitation to the refugee camps in (a) Albania and (b) Macedonia; and if she will make a statement.

(82160)

172
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 15th March, Official Report, column 510, on special advisers, if she will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) a departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82410)

173
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on (a) the reform of the law relating to the mistake of law rule at common law and (b) the Law Commission Report (1994 No.227) entitled Restitution: Mistakes of law and utra vires Public Authority Receipts and Payments.

(82308)

174
   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many default summonses were issued by Gravesend County Court between (a) 1st April 1997 and 30th September 1997 and (b) 1st April 1998 and 30th September 1998.

(82301)

175
   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many (i) liquidated and (ii) unliquidated default summonses were issued by Gravesend County Court in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998.

(82300)

176
   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what legal costs were incurred in respect of the processing of applications from prisoners for early release under the provisions of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.

(82333)

177
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her Answer of 29th March, Official Report, column 477, on special advisers, if she will give the total travel cost of each occasion when advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82415)

178
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Great Grimsby of 14th April, Official Report, column 275, if she will place her full reply in the Library.

(82297)

179
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her Answer of 18th March, Official Report, column 711, on special advisers, if she will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82435)

180
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on UK participation in the enforcement of the arms ban on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1160.

(82294)

181
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the (a) mandate, (b) membership and (c) frequency of meetings of the Anglo-Spanish Working Group on Employment and Economic Reform.

(82235)

182
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library his answer to the letter from Mr Tim Pendry of 29th March concerning the El-Shifa factory.

(81906)

183
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions on Kosovo he has had with (a) the Prime Minister of, and (b) other political figures in Greece.

(82222)

184
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list in date order since 2nd May 1997 each occasion on which Scottish Office ministers have made announcements about the creation or safeguarding of jobs in Scotland indicating (a) the business and the economic sector to which it belongs, (b) its address in Scotland, (c) the number of jobs to be (i) created and (ii) safeguarded, (d) the nature of the assistance offered by the Scottish Office and other Government agencies, (e) the reference number of Scottish Office press notices issued in association with the announcement and (f) the Minister who made the announcement.

(82184)

185
   Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many publicly funded CCTV schemes are operating; if he will list them (a) by each local authority area and (b) by the date they started operating; and how many schemes are planned to be introduced over the next year.

(82444)

186
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many times Ministers in his Department have held meetings with members and officials in the US Administration since 1st June 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved at each meeting and the US department involved in each meeting.

(82264)

187
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 24th March, Official Report, column 321, on special advisers, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82414)

188
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much central government money was spent per capita in 1998 on helping schools meet special educational needs.

(82212)

189
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much central government money was spent per capita in 1998 on grants to (a) voluntary aided schools and (b) voluntary controlled schools.

(82214)

190
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much central government money was spent per capita in 1998 on (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) further education colleges and (d) universities.

(82213)

191
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the Accommodation and Office Services project authorised the PRIME contract in 1997; how many bidders were allowed, after the time limit had expired, to modify their bids; if the successful bidder's modified bid was significantly different from his original bid; and what assessment was made of the prospects for the successful bidder's first bid.

(81602)

192
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what steps he takes to ensure that contracts for work formerly carried out in the public sector are awarded fairly.

(81603)

193
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the expected date by which all appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project will have been heard.

(82024)

194
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what additional financial resources his Department has provided to the Independent Tribunal Service to handle the appeals resulting from the Benefit Integrity Project.

(82020)

195
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what progress his Department has made in reducing the average clearance time for appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project through speeding up the preparation of appeals.

(82022)

196
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion of appeals decisions made under the Benefit Integrity Project based on (a) postal questionnaires and (b) home visits, have led to benefit being increased or extended for a longer period.

(82067)

197
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what has been the average clearance time for appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project since its commencement.

(82021)

198
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, since the commencement of the Benefit Integrity Project, (a) how many people have requested an expedited appeal hearing on the grounds of hardship, (b) how many of these requests have been accepted by the Independent Tribunal Service and (c) what steps have been taken to inform people that they may request an expedited appeal hearing.

(82023)

199
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 18th March, Official Report, column 791, on special advisers, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82418)

200
   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people faced marginal tax rates, including social security of over (a) 40 per cent., (b) 50 per cent., (c) 60 per cent., (d) 70 per cent., (e) 80 per cent., (f) 90 per cent. and (g) 100 per cent. in each year since 1996-97.

(82237)

201
   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people will face marginal tax rates including social security of over (a) 40 per cent., (b) 50 per cent., (c) 60 per cent., (d) 70 per cent., (e) 80 per cent., (f) 90 per cent. and (g) 100 per cent. taking account of the introduction of the working family tax credit and the children's tax credit.

(82236)

202
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the potential use of oil and gas platforms to exploit the underground gasification of coal under the North Sea.

(82442)

203
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the potential for underground gasification of coal seams under the North Sea as a source of energy for the United Kingdom.

(82441)

204
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the United Kingdom's policy is on the proposal from the US and other governments to negotiate a forest products sectoral trade liberalisation agreement before the 1999 WTO ministerial conference in Seattle.

(82262)

205
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimates he has made of the possible investment in Wales resulting from the proposed gas-fired power stations in (a) Anglesey, (b) Baglan Bay and (c) Rassau.

(82240)

206
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his Department's progress in dealing with applications for gas-fired power stations in (a) Anglesey, (b) Baglan Bay and (c) Rassau.

(82238)

207
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the employment involved in (a) construction of and (b) permanent employment at proposed gas-fired power stations in (i) Anglesey, (ii) Baglan Bay and (iii) Rassau.

(82239)

208
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy with regard to the report from the Law Commission, (1994 No.227) entitled Restitution: Mistakes of Law and utra vires Public Authority Receipts and Payments.

(82307)

209
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has for encouraging the power generating companies to increase their use of renewable energy sources.

(82244)

210
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the outcome of the Telecommunications Council held in Luxembourg on 22nd April; and if he will make a statement.

(82396)

211
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his estimate is of the current time taken by his Department in considering export licences for goods with a possible military application; and what steps he is taking to speed the process up.

(82439)

212
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in each of the last five years for which he has figures, (a) how many applications for export licences for goods with a possible military application his Department has considered and (b) what the average time was for considering each application.

(82440)

213
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list those countries for which an export licence for goods with a possible military application is not permitted.

(82438)

214
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what regulations apply to the standards of goods and services sent to the United Kingdom by companies based overseas; and if he will make a statement.

(82043)

215
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on what dates special advisers from his Department travelled abroad on official business since 2nd May 1997; which countries were visited on each occasion; and what were the names of the special advisers who travelled abroad on each occasion.

(82252)

216
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 29th March, Official Report, column 493, on special advisers, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and the place visited.

(82416)

217
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the proportion of deep mined coal from Wales that is supplied to electricity power stations supplying the National Grid.

(82242)

218
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many coal miners are employed in deep mines in Wales.

(82241)

219
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if consents for building power stations will be a matter devolved to the Welsh Assembly.

(82245)

220
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he had with ministerial colleagues prior to his decision to overturn his inspector's decision not to grant planning permission for an extension to the wind farm at Mynydd y Cemmaes.

(82041)

221
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what procedures he followed in his consideration of the planning inspector's report on the application for an extension to the wind farm at Mynydd y Cemmaes.

(82040)

222
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when the letter from the honourable Member for Wrexham to him of 5th April about the Mynydd y Cemmaes wind farm extension planning application was brought to his attention; and when he expects to reply.

(82037)

223
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will rescind his decision to allow the application for an extension to the wind farm at Mynydd y Cemmaes and pay all appropriate compensation.

(82066)

224
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the procedures which he follows when he is minded to overturn a planning decision made by one of his inspectors.

(82038)

225
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the visits to wind farms by his Department's Ministers in the last year, indicating upon whose invitation each visit was made.

(82039)

226
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, on what dates special advisers from his Department travelled abroad on official business since 2nd May 1997; which countries were visited on each occasion; and what were the names of the special advisers who travelled abroad on each occasion.

(82254)

227
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many times ministers in his Department held meetings with members and officials in the US Administration since 1st June 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved at each meeting and the US Department involved in each meeting.

(82253)

228
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his Answer of 31st March, Official Report, column 726, on special advisers, if he will give (a) the total travel cost of each occasion when a departmental special adviser has travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2nd May 1997 and (b) the place visited.

(82433)

229
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much central Government money was spent per capita in 1998 in Wales on (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) further education colleges and (d) universities.

(82200)

230
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much central Government money was spent per capita in 1998 in Wales on books and stationery in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

(82199)

231
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much central Government money was spent per capita in 1998 in Wales on grants to (a) voluntary aided schools and (b) voluntary controlled schools.

(82197)

232
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much central Government money was spent per capita in 1998 in Wales on helping schools meet special educational needs.

(82198)

233
N   Mr Harold Best (Leeds North West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provisions have been made by his Department in respect of emergency planning for the millennium bug.

[Question Unstarred] (80968)

234
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of requiring applicants who want to make complaints to the Parliamentary Ombudsman under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information to ask an honourable Member to submit their complaints.

[Transferred] (82263)

235
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on Newport County Borough's plans to demolish its prefabricated housing stock and its impact on housing funding for Newport.

[Transferred] (82423)

236
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the quantity of (a) petrol and (b) diesel fuel used in the UK by all motor vehicles in each of the last 10 years.

[Transferred] (82437)