Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 13 May 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 13 May 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.

THURSDAY 13th MAY

1
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under what legal authority the scallop licensing system is being introduced.

(84175)

2
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask Mr Attorney General, what proportion of criminal cases relating to the financial services sector referred to (a) the CPS and (b) the SFO resulted in charges being brought in each of the last three years.

(84089)

3
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask Mr Attorney General, what proportion of prosecutions alleging offences relating to the financial services sector brought by (a) the CPS and (b) the SFO resulted in convictions in each of the last three years.

(84090)

4
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if it is departmental policy to refer to the New Territorial Army in official communications or publications.

(84098)

5
   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the findings of research commissioned by his Department from universities and research institutes are required to be reviewed by his Department before publication is allowed.

(84209)

6
   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the research projects which have been commissioned by his Department from (a) universities, (b) research institutes and (c) industry which involve genetically-modified organisms since 1995 indicating the places involved and the value and purpose of the contracts.

(84211)

7
   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former (a) Chatham and (b) other dockyard workers have received compensation due to possible radiation exposure through the no fault scheme.

(84072)

8
   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in what month of what year HMS 'Dreadnought' was last in commission and at sea.

(84301)

9
N   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many extra Scottish resident students at United Kingdom universities would be exempted from paying university tuition fees if the income level below which tuition fees are not levied were raised by (a) £2,000 and (b) £4,000 per annum.

(84059)

10
N   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many extra United Kingdom students would be exempted from paying university tuition fees if the income level below which tuition fees are not levied were raised by (a) £2,000 and (b) £4,000 per annum.

(84060)

11
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much public money has been paid to (a) Pelcom Ltd and (b) Fernley Business Services in respect of work on the New Deal in Leicester.

(84264)

12
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will call for a report on the work of Fernley Business Services under the New Deal in Leicester.

(84290)

13
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the value of the contracts awarded to (a) Pelcom Ltd and (b) Fernley Business Services in respect of work on the New Deal in Leicester; what percentage of the value of each contract is in respect of work with ethnic minorities; and what is the value of contracts awarded by (i) Fernley Business Services and (ii) Pelcom Ltd. to ethnic minority-led projects under the New Deal in Leicester.

(84265)

14
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the cost of increasing the income level below which students are exempt from tuition fees by (a) £2,000, (b) £4,000, (c) £6,000, (d) £8,000 and (e) £10,000 for students resident in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) England.

(84061)

15
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the cost of exempting all university students aged over (a) 21 and (b) 25 years living in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) England from tuition fees.

(84063)

16
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the cost of exempting all university students living in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England from tuition fees.

(84062)

17
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much has been awarded to environmental bodies since January 1997 under the landfill tax credit scheme; and what percentage of this total is a voluntary donation from landfill operators and not refunded through landfill tax credits.

(84214)

18
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the maximum period of time for which an auditor may be appointed by the Audit Commission.

(84044)

19
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers the Audit Commission has to terminate the appointment of an appointed auditor (a) in general and (b) for professional incompetence.

(84045)

20
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers the Audit Commission has to vary the personal fee levels of appointed auditors.

(84046)

21
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received on the impact on Westminster City Council's fulfilment of its statutory functions of the reimbursement of legal costs associated with councillors and officers in connection with the District Auditor's inquiry into designated sales.

(84065)

22
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he proposes to take, in relation to the work of the auditor involved in the inquiry, following the Court of Appeal's judgment reducing the Westminster auditor's calculation of loss in connection with the inquiry into designated sales.

(84064)

23
   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what has been the (a) average length of time between diagnosis and receipt of compensation and (b) the average value of compensation paid, for former employees of British Rail who are diagnosed as having (i) mesothelioma, (ii) asbestosis and (iii) primary carcinoma of the lung, related to exposure to asbestos in (1) the North West and (2) England.

(84221)

24
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what qualitative reviews are required by the Audit Commission of the work of district auditors; and how many such reviews were carried out in the case of the District Auditor's investigation of Westminster City Council.

(84105)

25
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what have been the fee levels, in pounds per hour, charged by each of the auditors appointed by the Audit Commission over the period from July 1989 to April 1999.

(84103)

26
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what tendering procedures were employed by the District Auditor in the case of Westminster City Council in choosing his legal representative.

(84104)

27
   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the average time taken between the completion of a planning inquiry and the announcement of the inspector's decision within the South West Region.

(84220)

28
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what risk assessment exercises have been undertaken with other European countries concerning the potential threat to the United Kingdom population from their nuclear installations over the millennium period.

(84256)

29
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what arrangements have been made with the police and local authorities for dealing with an overseas nuclear accident over the millennium period.

(84255)

30
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much money has been levied from local authorities by the Audit Commission up to 30th April to finance the Divisional Court and the Appeal Court costs of Westminster Council's appointed auditor, his support staff and legal team.

(84116)

31
   Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the amount which the Audit Commission will need to levy from local authorities to reimburse the legal costs of the six persons cleared by the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal of liability for the surcharge by the Westminster Council's Auditor.

(84117)

32
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what were the average rents in each year since 1989 for (a) local authority properties, (b) housing association properties and (c) private properties.

(84047)

33
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many planning applications he called in in April.

(84277)

34
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the airlines that have landing rights at Heathrow Airport; and at which terminals they have these rights.

(84278)

35
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give for the current tax year (a) the number of people in work whose marginal income tax rate will be 10 per cent., (b) the number of people in work whose marginal income tax rate will be 23 per cent. and (c) the proportion of group (b) whose marginal income tax rate would have been 20 per cent. had the income tax rates remained the same and the thresholds been increased in line with statutory indexation only.

(83761)

36
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the gain from work for a one-earner couple on £200 per week with two children under 11 years (a) previous to the 1998 Budget, (b) after the 1998 Budget and (c) after the 1999 Budget.

(83762)

37
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the change in the value of gold in sterling since January.

(84085)

38
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the value (a) in sterling and (b) as a percentage of total foreign reserves, of the gold reserves held in March by each of the G8 countries.

(84083)

39
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason he has decided to sell almost 60 per cent. of the United Kingdom's gold reserves; and if he will make a statement.

(84087)

40
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which currencies, in which proportions, will be bought with the proceeds of the recently announced sale of part of the United Kingdom's gold reserves.

(84086)

41
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the remuneration is of the new non-executive director of the Treasury Management Board.

(84305)

42
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the change in the value of the euro against sterling since January.

(84084)

43
   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on recent developments in the negotiations on duty free sales.

(84300)

44
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the source of the statistics used in the section Trade in Goods, under International Trade, of his booklet, The British Economy.

(84096)

45
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the planned (a) timing and (b) contents of the first biennial Conference on Perceptions of Britain.

(84091)

46
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the statistical source for levels of imports and exports provided in his Departmental poster, Outline Britain; and what is the (a) target audience and (b) how many have been distributed.

(84097)

47
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recommendations in the Panel 2000 consultation document he has (a) adopted and (b) rejected; and if he will make a statement.

(84099)

48
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 5th May, Official Report, column 421, on UN peacekeeping, if he will list the cases which have arisen, other than in Kosovo, when in the light of all the circumstances a limited use of force has been deemed justifiable under international law in support of purposes laid down by the Security Council.

(84066)

49
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he proposes to appoint a new Chairman of the Independent Monitor of Entry Clearance Refusals.

(84269)

50
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what ethical guidelines are given to government-supported medical researchers into the Alzheimer's drug Aricept about administering placebos to patients who could benefit from the drug.

(84261)

51
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of Alzheimer's patients are being treated with Aricept.

(84275)

52
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the new evidence on the effects on Alzheimer's patients of the drug Aricept since the Standing Medical Advisory Committee reported in December 1997.

(84248)

53
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the social costs and benefits of Aricept for Alzheimer's patients and (b) the savings in respite and other long-term care resulting from the use of Aricept.

(84274)

54
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for a White Paper on guidance and funding for people with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

(84247)

55
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out his Department's expenditure on (a) NHS audiology services and (b) the NHS provision of hearing aids for (i) adults and (ii) children, for each of the last five years.

(84302)

56
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department plans to spend on (a) NHS audiology services and (b) the provision of hearing aids by the NHS for (i) adults and (ii) children, in the current year.

(84303)

57
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what cost benefit analysis his Department has carried out or draws upon to inform its current policy towards the supply of digital hearing aids through the NHS.

(84304)

58
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the arrangements whereby doctors in rural areas may dispense medicines; and if he will make a statement.

(84074)

59
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the pricing arrangements for doctors who dispense their own prescriptions; and if he will make a statement.

(84073)

60
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice and guidance is disseminated by his Department to the public on which lifestyle changes can improve their chances of avoiding cancer.

(84236)

61
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost of creating, reviewing and maintaining an Internet directory of cancer care services; and if he will make a statement.

(84240)

62
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission a study into the impact on long-term survival rates for cancer patients of using the latest chemotherapy drugs; and if he will make a statement.

(84237)

63
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce and maintain an Internet directory of cancer care services and information; and if he will make a statement.

(84239)

64
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the findings of the report, The Case for an Increase in Oncology Drug Expenditure in the UK by the Campaign for Effective and Rational Treatment, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

(84246)

65
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce a national screening programme for bowel cancer; and if he will make a statement.

(84244)

66
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many onocologists are employed per head of population in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) each EU country, (c) Canada, (d) the USA and (e) Japan; and if he will make a statement.

(84238)

67
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proposals the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has to improve survival rates for cancer patients; and if he will make a statement.

(84245)

68
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the expenditure per head on oncology services (i) in total and (ii) by type of treatment in (a) the UK, (b) each EU country, (c) Canada, (d) the USA and (e) Japan in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(84241)

69
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent by the NHS on drugs for cancer treatment in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

(84243)

70
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission a study into the relative cost effectiveness of using (a) drugs, (b) surgery, (c) chemotherapy, (d) radiography and (e) other methods in the treatment of cancers; and if he will make a statement.

(84242)

71
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what date the NHS Capital Prioritisation Group completed its assessment of the hospital development schemes currently seeking prioritisation for PFI funding.

(84273)

72
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the announcements of the schemes to be implemented following the assessment by the NHS Capital Prioritisation Group of the proposals submitted has not yet been made.

(84272)

73
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what date the NHS Capital Prioritisation Group's assessment of the hospital development schemes currently seeking prioritisation for PFI funding was made available to Ministers at his Department.

(84271)

74
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the announcement as to which of the hospital development schemes currently seeking investment prioritisation have been successful will be made.

(84276)

75
   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which members of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Partners' Council are (a) disabled and (b) from organisations representing the disabled.

(84101)

76
   Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) Afro-Caribbean and (b) African (i) men and (ii) women are currently diagnosed as schizophrenic in England and Wales.

(84114)

77
   Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people from ethnic minorities between the ages of (a) 16 to 25, (b) 26 to 35, (c) 36 to 45 and (d) 45 years and over are currently sectioned under the Mental Health Acts in England and Wales.

(84113)

78
   Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to monitor adherence to the guidelines issued by his Department on the use of ECT.

(84218)

79
   Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in London from ethnic minorities between the ages of (a) 16 to 25, (b) 26 to 35, (c) 36 to 45 and (d) over 45 years are currently sectioned under the Mental Health Acts.

(84115)

80
   Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many black and ethnic minority (a) psychiatrists and (b) community psychiatric nurses are currently registered in England and Wales.

(84111)

81
   Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what audit he had carried out of the safety of ECT treatment in clinics; and if he will make a statement.

(84112)

82
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the number of recorded homophobic crimes for each police force in each year since 1996.

(84069)

83
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he is taking to reduce the number of homophobic attacks.

(84068)

84
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what account will be taken of the confiscation from Kosovar Albanians of documents issued by the former Yugoslav authorities when deciding what penalties to apply to (a) Kosovar Albanians seeking asylum in the UK and (b) carriers who transport Kosovar Albanians to the UK.

(84216)

85
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what penalties may be applied to Kosovar Albanians seeking asylum in the UK if they arrive (a) without proper documents and (b) clandestinely.

(84215)

86
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 27th April, Official Report, columns 110-1, on home detention curfews, how many of the curfewees who were released on curfew and who were charged with an offence committed during the period of curfew and thereby made subject to breach action under section 38(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, were (a) returned to custody and (b) remained on home detention curfew.

(84071)

87
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the National Organisation for lay visitors about custody suites at police stations regarding (a) length of service of lay visitors, (b) retirement age of lay visitors and (c) the future of the lay visitors scheme.

(83967)

88
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from (a) the West Midlands Police and (b) other organisations regarding proposed changes by the West Midlands Police Authority to the lay visitors scheme.

(83969)

89
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what role he has in approving changes in the operation of the West Midlands lay visitors scheme.

(83971)

90
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the police authorities regarding the National Organisation for lay visitors schemes for custody suites at police stations with reference to (a) length of service, (b) retirement age and (c) the future of the lay visitors scheme.

(83968)

91
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposed changes to lay visitors schemes have been notified to him by the West Midlands Police Authority.

(83970)

92
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 6th May, Official Report, column 468, on the Cleveland Police, if the meeting of the Cleveland Police Authority on 8th February discussed the 999 call from the house of the former Deputy Chief Constable on 20th January.

(84259)

93
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 4th May, Official Report, column 317, on the cost of the Lancet inquiry, if the salaries of the eight suspended officers mentioned in his Answer of 20th April, Official Report, column 484, were included in his breakdown of costs.

(84249)

94
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 4th May, Official Report, column 317, on the Lancet Inquiry, if he will list the total cost of the salaries of the 11 officers, and the total number of days each one has worked on the Lancet Inquiry.

(84260)

95
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the procedures are for informing applicants of exceptional delays in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

(84270)

96
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many telephone lines there are for the public switchboard at Lunar House; how many telephone calls were received on average each day in the last 12 months; and how many staff man the telephone lines between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.

(84102)

97
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the working group on the rights and treatment of trans-sexual prisoners; and what guidelines he proposes.

(84267)

98
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons are employed in HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

(84268)

99
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library copies of the Government's evidence to the House of Lords European Communities Committee's inquiry into the corpus juris report.

(84070)

100
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what has been the total (i) UK and (ii) international contribution to the World Bank's fund to assist developing countries with millennium computer compliance; and what the fund has been spent on to date.

(84217)

101
   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 5th May, Official Report, column 397, on the reference for the former Deputy Chief Constable of Cleveland Police for the post of Deputy Commissioner of Royal Turks and Caicos Islands, on what date the references were requested by her Department.

(84219)

102
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations her Department has made in the past three weeks to the European Commission about its aid programme for Kosovar refugees.

(83966)

103
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will set out her Department's planned financial assistance towards orphanages in Romania in the financial year 1999-2000.

(83965)

104
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the current backlog of cases in the (a) Immigration Tribunals and (b) Immigration Appeal Tribunal.

(84263)

105
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many magistrates he has appointed since 1st January; and how many are (a) women, (b) Black and (c) Asian.

(84262)

106
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has held with President Prodi on the establishment of a European army.

(84092)

107
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) 9.9.99 and (b) 29.2.00 computer compliance.

(84100)

108
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on progress made at the meeting with Mr Romano Prodi on 14th April, with reference to reform of the EU.

(84095)

109
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on activities by the RAF over Iraq since the end of March.

(84173)

110
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if it is his policy to assist in the development of a single economy and a single political unity within the European Union.

(84212)

111
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Hereford of 7th May, Official Report, columns 476-7, on the Bilderberg Group, what official (i) transport and (ii) funds have been used to facilitate attendance at Bilderberg meetings of members of his Government; which members have attended meetings; what reports they have made on the meetings; and what subsequent communication they have had with others attending on subjects discussed at the meetings.

(84213)

112
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set up a Cabinet Committee on the provision of cancer treatment in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(84235)

113
   Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on his recent visits to (a) the Muslim Council and (b) the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa in Birmingham.

(84266)

114
   Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the current level of per capita funding for students is in the Borders Region (a) in primary schools, (b) in secondary schools up to the age of 16 years and (c) for those aged between 16 and 18 years.

(84174)

115
   Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the (a) duration and (b) cost of the inquiry into objections to the East Lothian Local Plan; if he will compensate East Lothian Council for the costs of the inquiry; and if he will make it his policy to require objectors with financial interests in proposed developments to contribute to the costs of inquiries.

(84088)

116
   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is his estimate of the cost of completing the automation of benefit payments at post offices.

(84110)

117
   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the total expenditure on the scheme to automate benefit payments at post offices has been to date.

(84109)

118
   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what date the automation of benefit payments at post offices will be implemented nationally.

(84107)

119
   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will publish a report on the trials for the automation of benefit payments at post offices and sub-post offices; and if he will make a statement.

(84106)

120
   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the budget allocated to the (a) development and (b) implementation of the automation of benefit payments at post offices.

(84108)

121
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if, under the proposed reforms to incapacity benefit, persons who have their entitlement reduced to zero by their level of pension will continue to receive national insurance credits.

(83721)

122
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what additional costs there will be for the pensions schemes for the Police and Fire Services as a result of the changes contained in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill to incapacity benefit for claimants with occupational pensions; and what other public service schemes will be similarly affected.

(84043)

123
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, for what reason the Green Paper, Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future, is no longer available on his Department's website.

(84042)

124
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what percentage of housing benefit claimants are unemployed.

(84048)

125
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which employment sectors are currently excluded from the 48-hour week provision of the Working Time Directive; for which of them Her Majesty's Government has tabled alternative proposals; and what maximum hours respectively are suggested in these proposals.

(83839)

126
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will modify the Working Time Regulations to take into account hours at work spent not continually working on account of machine breakdown, supply difficulties or for other reasons beyond the direct control of management.

(83840)

127
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to (a) introduce and (b) modify minimum standards of service for the Post Office, with particular reference to deliveries.

(83841)

128
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he proposes to publish the Post Office White Paper.

(83842)

129
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what evaluation he has made of the role of information technology in developing postal and other services in rural areas.

(84054)

130
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of sub-post offices is located in rural areas.

(84053)

131
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the current hourly target rate of remuneration for sub-postmasters.

(84057)

132
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of sub-postmasters' remuneration is accounted for by (a) sale of postal services and (b) payment of benefits.

(84058)

133
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what evaluation he has made of the benefits of the Pathway project for the viability of sub-post offices.

(84052)

134
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the current number of (a) Crown post offices and (b) sub-post offices; and what these numbers were one year and five years previously.

(84056)

135
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) Crown post offices and (b) sub-post offices have shut during the last 12 months.

(84055)

136
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the implications for the Post Office of the Pathway Scheme.

(84051)

137
N   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his decision relating to the proposal by Rockwell to take over Owen-Corning's plant at Pentre, Deeside, Flintshire.

(83981)

138
   Mr Jim Marshall (Leicester South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the outcome of the Energy Council held in Brussels on 11th May; and if he will make a statement.

(84067)

139
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has in respect of the improvement of North-South rail services; and if he will make a statement.

(84296)

140
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has for rural bypasses, with particular reference to North-South routes; and if he will make a statement.

(84293)

141
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the funds currently held by each local authority from the sale of council houses; and if he will make a statement

(84291)

142
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what guidance he gives to housing associations about their letting policies, with particular reference to the share of tenancies awarded to people who live in the area of the development; and if he will make a statement.

(84292)

143
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what measures he has taken to assist the economies of the uplands communities; and if he will make a statement.

(84297)

144
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on his measures to tackle heroin addiction.

(84298)

145
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the progress of the joint police authorities and local authorities strategy to tackle disorder by youths and other anti-social behaviour.

(84299)

146
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what initiatives he has taken to improve planning appeal procedures; and if he will make a statement.

(84294)

147
N   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the effect on employment at Pentre, Deeside, of the decision not to allow Rockwell to take over the Owen-Corning's plant.

(83982)

148
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the number of council houses to be built in the years 1999 to 2003; and if he will make a statement.

(84295)

149
N   Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on his reform of national insurance contributions.

[Question Unstarred] (83197)

150
   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) progress has been made and (b) issues remain unresolved in the negotiations concerning a protocol to the Biological and Toxic Weapons Conventions.

[Transferred] (84210)

151
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if a country may be admitted to the European Union without becoming a signatory to the European Union code of conduct on arms sales.

[Transferred] (84257)

152
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give a breakdown by age range of the incidence of breast cancer in women in England in each of the last five years.

[Transferred] (84258)

153
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the draft Commission legislation on the jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and parental responsibility for children; and what is the Government's policy on the draft legislation.

[Transferred] (84094)

154
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the draft Commission directive on the service of judicial and extra-judicial documents in civil and commercial matters; and what is his policy thereto.

[Transferred] (84093)