Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 18 May 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 18 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.

TUESDAY 18th MAY

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the result of discussions between his Department and the Home Office concerning possible criteria for further controls on the export of animals for use in experiments, which would enable his Department to take into account the treatment of animals in the country of destination before the issuing of official non-statutory health certification.

(84186)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84197)

3
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will bring forward proposals on measures to protect cattle through the Berne Convention.

(84422)

4
N   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will publish the agenda for the Agriculture Council of 17th to 18th May.

(84698)

5
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what were the reasons for the real terms increase in expenditure on bishops listed in the Church Commissioners' last annual report.

(84187)

6
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, how many and what percentage of bishops had use of a chauffeur at May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; and what was the total cost in current prices for each appropriate financial year.

(84188)

7
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what has been the annual expenditure including council tax, maintenance and other works, on each residence available to each bishop in (i) 1990-91, (ii) 1997-98 and (iii) 1998-99.

(84189)

8
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84194)

9
N   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the issues which he (i) plans to raise and (ii) expects other states to raise at the Culture Ministers meeting on 18th and 19th May.

(84677)

10
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the nature of the sports report that he will be submitting to the heads of government at the Helsinki Summit.

(84231)

11
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had about the provision of boxing in schools with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

(84230)

12
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list all current UK/US military agreements, giving in each case the date on which they were entered into and the objectives.

(84233)

13
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84192)

14
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) shepherds and (b) sheep killed by US and UK action in Iraq.

(84576)

15
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if cockpit voice recorders will be fitted to the first six RAF Chinook helicopters by 30th June as set out in his Answer of 16th November 1998, Official Report, columns 352-6.

(84703)

16
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent reports he has received from his United States counterpart in respect of the security of confidential nuclear weapons design information originating in the United Kingdom and shared with the United States Department of Energy under bilateral atomic energy co-operation agreements.

(84726)

17
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (i) 16 and (ii) 17 year olds are currently deployed in (a) NATO taskforces in the Adriatic, (b) Bosnia, (c) Macedonia and (d) Albania.

(84719)

18
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84195)

19
   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for schools in the Isle of Wight Local Eduation Authority the change in the average size of classes, taught by one teacher, between January 1998 and January 1999 for pupils in (a) nursery classes, (b) Key Stage Two and (c) secondary schools.

(84718)

20
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance is issued by his Department to local education authorities in respect of the provision of boxing in schools.

(84229)

21
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received from the Local Government Association in respect of possible future legislation to implement the White Paper on Integrated Transport.

(84232)

22
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what targets have been set for improving energy efficiency in his Department's buildings at (a) Eland House, (b) Ashdown House and Great Minister Street.

(84234)

23
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84201)

24
   Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many people in his Department are directly employed promoting cycling policies; and how many were so employed in May 1997.

(84721)

25
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has undertaken on correlation between voter turnout in local elections and the frequency of elections.

(84543)

26
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning improvements to the London concessionary fares scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(84545)

27
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to implement the recommendations of the KPMG report on the setting of fees for local air pollution control.

(84700)

28
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the changes in local air pollution control fees for each year since 1997-98.

(84702)

29
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to announce the fee level for local air pollution control for 1999-2000.

(84701)

30
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many responses to his Department's consultation document on Federal Express's application for fifth freedom rights from Prestwick and Stansted airports have been received; and of these how many were (a) in favour of granting those rights unilaterally, (b) opposed to the application and (c) in favour if UK carriers were given reciprocal access to the US market.

(84386)

31
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84191)

32
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to review the classification of community psychiatric nurses as essential users of cars.

(84577)

33
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the studies commissioned by him into the essential use of cars by community psychiatric nurses.

(84578)

34
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to answer the letter from the honourable Member for Birkenhead dated 12th April in respect of his constituent Colin Tierney.

(84573)

35
N   Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date the current proposal for the introduction of a European-wide withholding tax was first raised at a meeting of a Council of Ministers.

(84575)

36
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84193)

37
N   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the agenda for the meeting of Cooperation Council with Russia on 18th May.

(84699)

38
N   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the agenda for the EEA Council of 18th May.

(84697)

39
N   Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on United Kingdom citizens arrested abroad being required to pay for embassy and consular services.

(83723)

40
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84190)

41
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received regarding the closure of wards at Altrincham General Hospital.

(84671)

42
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department was first informed of the decision of the Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust to close two wards at Altrincham General Hospital.

(84672)

43
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue directions to Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust to suspend its proposed closure of two wards at Altrincham General Hospital until the public consultation required by statute has taken place.

(84670)

44
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about the future of St. Anne's hospital in Altrincham.

(84673)

45
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS trusts and hospitals had not implemented the nurses pay award in time for increases to be paid in April salary payments.

(84674)

46
M   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to promote a public debate on the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission on long-term care.

(84544)

47
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to commission research into the causes of ME and the development of appropriate diagnostic procedure.

(84574)

48
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence he has had with the non-executive directors of the Guild Community Trust, Preston.

(84704)

49
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with (a) the authors of and (b) others about the Galbraith/Campbell report relating to the Guild Community Trust, Preston.

(84705)

50
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that more (a) openness and (b) accountability is introduced into the governance of NHS trusts.

(84708)

51
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage non-executive directors of NHS trusts to bring to his attention any mismanagement within the trust.

(84709)

52
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to appoint a permanent Chairman of the Guild Community Trust, Preston.

(84706)

53
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence he has had concerning the appointments of the non-executive directors of the Guild Community Trust, Preston.

(84707)

54
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he read the Galbraith/Campbell report relating to the Guild Community Trust, Preston; and what assessment he has made of its findings.

(84711)

55
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) discussions he has had and (b) advice he has received from the North West Regional Office concerning the appointments of the current non-executuve directors of the Guild Community Trust, Preston.

(84710)

56
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to increase the availability of (a) osteopathy and (b) chiropractic treatment in the NHS.

(84728)

57
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the General Medical Council on the evidence produced by the Medical Practitioners Union on the need for safeguards to prevent racially-motivated complaints against doctors reaching the Professional Conduct Committee of the General Medical Council.

(84725)

58
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he has taken to address the concerns of the Medical Practitioners Union that the disciplinary procedures in the medical profession may discriminate against doctors from ethnic minorities.

(84723)

59
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of hospital telephone enquiry numbers are free phone numbers.

(84720)

60
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84204)

61
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he plans to take against the possession of illegally-held firearms; and if he will make a statement.

(84733)

62
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of illegally-held firearms in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(84735)

63
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions have taken place under each section of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; how many and what percentage of prosecutions have resulted in a conviction; how many cautions have been issued in relation to each section of the Act; and if he will make a statement.

(84734)

64
   Mr Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the occasions on which he or representatives from his Department have met representatives from (i) the Countryside Alliance, (ii) the Master of Foxhounds Association and (iii) the British Field Sports Society since May 1997 indicating in each case (a) the reason for the meeting, (b) where and when it took place and (c) its duration.

(84717)

65
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within her Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84205)

66
N   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish the agenda for the forthcoming EU Development Council of 21st May.

(84675)

67
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84198)

68
N   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his Answer of 13th May, Official Report, column 183, if he will set a date for publication of the Community Legal Service consultation document.

(84669)

69
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, on what authority and on what grounds the Central Probate Registry in High Holborn has increased its fees for the examination of wills from 1858.

(84724)

70
N   Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of those terrorist prisoners released early under the Good Friday Agreement by 13th May would have been due for release by that date under the terms of the early release arrangements which apply in Northern Ireland.

(84667)

71
N   Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings):    To ask the President of the Council, what official functions she held on 13th April; and if she will list the persons who attended.

(84668)

72
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84199)

73
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Oral Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 309, concerning water and oil supplies in Iraq, if he will define the term, attach ourselves.

(84541)

74
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 309, for what reasons the Government has made no assessment of the effect of depleted uranium on the water supply, and water-table and on the health of the civilian population in Iraq.

(84579)

75
N   Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 318, what was the basis for his statement relating to rural representation in the House.

(84666)

76
N   Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 315, if he will make a statement on the progress of his review into the way in which war widows pensions relate to housing benefit.

(84665)

77
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84203)

78
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 20th April, Official Report, column 256, for what reason the three-year land-based trial project involving genetically-modified salmon has been terminated early.

(84185)

79
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84196)

80
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to review the guidance issued to adjudicators and BAMS doctors on the assessment of people diagnosed as suffering from ME.

(84542)

81
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of paying in full the mortgate interest costs of recipients of income support and related benefits from the first day of receipt of benefit.

(84663)

82
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84200)

83
N   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the agenda for the EU Research Council on 20th May.

(84676)

84
N   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if approval of UK export credit guarantees for the Ilisu Dam in Turkey will be conditional on the project complying with (a) the World Bank's guidelines and (b) the UN convention on the Laws of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses International Waterways.

(84228)

85
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(84202)

86
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made, for each of the new NHS Trust areas in Wales, of the number of posts which have been terminated in executive and directorate structures as a direct result of the recent reorganisation of the Health Service in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(84727)

87
N   Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when he expects to announce his decision on the application for a pharmacy at Killay Medical Centre.

(84664)

88
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress he has made in resolving the dispute with Serbia.

[Question Unstarred] (83504)