Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 20 May 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 20 May of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Thursday 20 May, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Friday 21 May, see Part 2 of this Paper.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

THURSDAY 20th MAY

1
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the annual (a) value and (b) tonnage of fish caught by British-owned fishing vessels in each of the last five years.

(84907)

2
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs sustained (a) afloat and (b) ashore by the activities of British-owned fishing vessels.

(84908)

3
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of when all upland grazing areas in the United Kingdom will be free of contamination from the fall-out from Chernobyl.

(84894)

4
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Attorney General, if he will make the report of the Police Complaints Authority investigation into the death of Diarmuid O'Neill available to his family.

(84875)

5
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask Mr Attorney General, what is the target set by the Crown Prosecution Service for the length of time to consider a report laid before it by the Police Complaints Authority and to make a decision on whether to bring criminal charges; how many reports of the PCA the Crown Prosecution Service has considered in each of the past five years; what was the average length of time taken to consider a PCA report in each year; on how many occasions consideration of a PCA report has taken more than five months in each of the past five years; for what percentage of PCA reports considered by the CPS a decision was taken to bring criminal charges; and what was the average length of time taken to consider a report that (i) resulted in the placing of criminal charges and (ii) did not lead to criminal charges.

(84874)

6
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the membership of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee.

(84982)

7
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received regarding proposals by the BBC to withdraw concessionary TV licences from sheltered accommodation.

(84904)

8
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list those British military uniforms which are produced by overseas countries; and if he will list the countries that make such equipment.

(84965)

9
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th April, Official Report, column 330, if the proposed changes to the current Submarine/Fishing Vessel Interaction Code of Practice are with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and the Clyde Fishermen's Federation for ratification as well as with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations; and if he will place a copy of the proposals in the Library.

(84712)

10
   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria the Committee on Honours, Decorations and Medals uses to determine whether a military event or service is eligible for the award of the General Service Medal.

(84937)

11
   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the roles and responsibilities of (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the process for determining eligibility for the award of the General Service Medal for a period of military service.

(84934)

12
   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the terms of reference of the Committee of Honours, Decorations and Medals.

(84936)

13
   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the members of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals; and who was responsible for appointing them.

(84933)

14
   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what definition his Department uses of (a) active service and (b) conflict zone, in respect of military service.

(84938)

15
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what protection was provided to Ms Oonagh Flynn following the death of Captain Robert Nairac.

(84776)

16
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the present whereabouts of videotape and cassette tape given to intelligence service agents by Ms Oonagh Flynn purporting to record Captain Robert Nairac's interrogation and death.

(84778)

17
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the service career of Captain Robert Nairac, and list his assignments on each of his tours of duty in Northern Ireland.

(84774)

18
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the conclusions of the internal investigation of the circumstances of Captain Robert Nairac's death; what was his date of death as recorded on the death certificate; and what was his date of death as recorded at the Irish inquest.

(84775)

19
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the four men who were reported by the Irish police to the Irish Coroner's inquest to have identified themselves as members of the British Intelligence services, and to have removed the corpse of Captain Robert Nairac from the car park of the Ravensdale House Inn were on duty at the time.

(84777)

20
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what powers are available to Ministry of Defence police (a) to search civilian property, (b) to interrogate civilians and (c) to lay charges against individuals; from what legal authority officers of the MoD police derive their powers; what remedy is open to civilians who believe they have been subject to ill-treatment or abuse by MoD police officers; how many complaints have been made against MoD police in each of the past five years; and what were the results of such complaints.

(84783)

21
   Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilians were seconded to the armed forces during the Gulf Crisis; and, of those, how many are known to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

(84952)

22
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 10th May, Official Report, column 19, on the Falklands garrison, what is the strategic reason for maintaining a garrison in the Falklands; and if he will make a statement.

(84899)

23
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the schools in Hendon which have received funding from New Deal for Schools, indicating the work concerned and the amount awarded.

(84931)

24
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of grammar schools have attained beacon school status.

(84869)

25
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the report published in the New Scientist on 1st May on the speeding-up of the cooling of the mesosphere and its likely impact on global warming.

(84909)

26
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will take steps to implement the measures to protect limestone pavements in the United Kingdom proposed by the Wildlife Trusts.

(83843)

27
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what provision exists to facilitate the reinstatement of canals obstructed by road construction and improvement.

(84905)

28
   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 17th May, Official Report, column 245, if he will list (a) the dates on which claims were made, (b) the dates on which compensation was received, (c) the value of the compensation claimed and (d) the region in which the employee was working, for all claims since 1991 by former employees of British Rail who are diagnosed as having mesothelioma, asbestosis or primary carcinoma of the lung, related to exposure to asbestos.

(84985)

29
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers his Department retains to ensure that the plans of the water companies for asset replacement are consistent with public safety.

(84892)

30
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the official guidance on the minimum distance between mobile telephone and other communication masts and (a) residential property, (b) schools and colleges and (c) places of business in (i) other EU countries, (ii) Scandanavian countries, (iii) the United States of America and (iv) Canada.

(84953)

31
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with representatives of professional medical opinion on the guidance for the minimum distances between mobile telephone and other communication masts and occupied properties; and if he will make a statement.

(84954)

32
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 18th May, concerning reviews by the Audit Commission of the District Auditor's investigation of Westminster City Council's designated sales, if he will list the reviews carried out.

(85061)

33
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers are available to (a) the DVLA and (b) local authorities to remove abandoned vehicles on the public highway.

(84980)

34
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to review the powers and procedures exercised by (a) the DVLA and (b) local authorities for the removal of abandoned vehicles from the public highway.

(84981)

35
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the cost of the removal of abandoned vehicles from the public highway by (i) local authorities and (ii) the DVLA in each year since 1995-96.

(84978)

36
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what procedures exist within his Department for the monitoring of the number of abandoned vehicles on the public highway collected by (i) local authorities and (ii) the DVLA.

(84979)

37
   Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assistance the Government is giving toward the Carlisle Northern Relief Road.

(85042)

38
   Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the total amount of capital receipts that have been released for Carlisle City Council in each year since 1990.

(85041)

39
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the locations of new landfill sites currently under planning consideration to receive household and organic waste.

(84431)

40
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list by local authority the local targets and current achievement for recycling of household waste.

(84432)

41
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures are in place for monitoring the accuracy of local authorities' waste recyling figures .

(84433)

42
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action the Government is taking to encourage the recycling of plastics.

(84434)

43
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much plastic waste has been imported into the UK each year since 1994.

(84435)

44
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those local authorities which run waste plastic collection and recycling schemes.

(84514)

45
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his estimate of the percentages of (a) metals other than aluminium, (b) aluminium, (c) paper, (d) plastics, (e) glass and (f) organic materials recycled in the last year for which figures are available.

(84528)

46
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will specify in contracts between his Department and construction companies the use of a minimum percentage of recycled materials; and if he will make a statement.

(84898)

47
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what legislation regulates the siting of television and mobile phone masts; and if he will make a statement.

(84871)

48
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to use his powers to regulate relative tolling levels in respect of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road.

(85037)

49
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Inland Revenue will take acount of differences in the cost of childcare during holiday periods, compared to term time, when calculating the childcare element of the working families tax credit.

(84960)

50
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what evidence parents will be required to produce to support a claim for the childcare tax credit element of the working families tax credit.

(84955)

51
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which social security benefits will be excluded from the calculation for entitlement to working families tax credit.

(84950)

52
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information childcare providers will have to provide to the Inland Revenue to show how much those parents claiming working families tax credit are charged for childcare.

(84959)

53
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total expenditure on gas and electricity by the public sector for each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(84309)

54
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the Government's policy on reductions in debt service payments after a country has emerged from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative; and if he will make a statement.

(84961)

55
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons (a) Jordan, (b) Syria, (c) Lebanon and (d) the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are excluded from the list of countries eligible for Millennium Gift Aid; and if he will make a statement.

(84903)

56
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in what currency the UK's contribution to the EU is made.

(84902)

57
N   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the working families tax credit will be assessed when the snapshot of income immediately preceding an application comes out at a time when the applicant is on parental leave without pay.

(84751)

58
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the per capita gross domestic product in the Republic of Ireland as a percentage of the EU average, for the most recent year available.

(84956)

59
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Greek Cypriot (a) men, (b) women and (c) children up to the age of 16 years are living in the Karpass area of occupied northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

(84951)

60
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has held with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in connection with its application for membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

(84940)

61
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action his Department has taken in conjunction with the British High Commission in Cyprus to support projects to encourage contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots living in Cyprus; and if he will list the projects that have been supported in each of the last three years.

(84963)

62
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when an official of the British High Commission in Cyprus last visited the Karpass area in occupied northern Cyprus; and what report of that visit has been produced.

(84964)

63
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what surveys have been carried out to establish the number of Turkish Cypriots who were born in Cyprus, and still live in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

(84939)

64
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) embassies and high commissions and (b) consulates have e-mail and Internet links available to honourable Members.

(84941)

65
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the most recent communications he has (a) sent to and (b) received from the UN special rapporteur with responsibility for human rights and states of emergency.

(84781)

66
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on changes to the membership of the permanent members of the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement.

(84895)

67
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the studies his Department has funded since January 1998 to investigate the effects of pollution on health, with particular reference to pollution from (a) landfill sites, (b) factories and (c) exposure to chemicals in the home; and when these studies were or will be published.

(84897)

68
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to health authorities and local authorities on their responsibilities regarding incontinence aids and advice to residents in residential care and nursing homes.

(84536)

69
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines he has issued to health authorities relating to the use of safety syringes; what assessment he has made of the extent of the current use of safety syringes by health trusts; and if he will make a statement.

(84537)

70
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proposals are under consideration for the future management of the Glenthorne Centre, Erdington.

(84785)

71
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place a copy of the job evaluation and grading scheme report on operational and unit staff at the Glenthorne Centre, Erdington, in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(84784)

72
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many directors serve on National Health Service trust boards operating in (a) Doncaster and (b) Barnsley; and how many of those directors reside in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency.

(84988)

73
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultation the regional NHS executive offices will carry out before distributing HIV/AIDS treatment and care money recently allocated to them with (a) people with HIV and (b) providers of HIV services.

(85065)

74
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what date regional NHS executive offices will distribute the £6.2 million HIV/AIDS treatment and care money recently allocated to them.

(85064)

75
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to inform GPs of the outcome of the Edinburgh study into organophosphates.

(84906)

76
   Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce a national scheme to compensate nurses who will be working over the millennium period.

(84977)

77
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to reply to the letter of 10th February from the honourable Member for Slough to the Minister of State about the funding of health care in Slough.

(84976)

78
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the research he has carried out into the possible effects of radiation emitted from television and mobile telephone masts on public health; what were the findings of that research; and if he will make a statement.

(84870)

79
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his holding Answer of 8th December and his further holding Answer of 1st March, when he expects to provide a substantive answer to the honourable Member for Tewkesbury.

(84873)

80
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to announce the consultation arrangements in respect of the Centre for Policy on Ageing's Report on National Standards for Residential and Nursing Homes, presented to him on 19th January; and if he will make a statement.

(85047)

81
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deaths of women have been caused by use of a combined oral contraceptive in the last 10 years; and in each case what was (a) the reaction that caused the death and (b) the product.

(85038)

82
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on police (a) progress in implementing and (b) plans to implement recommendations of the Macpherson Report.

(85063)

83
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many drug treatment orders have been (a) made and (b) breached in the three pilot areas for the orders; and in how many of the cases where an order has been breached the offender attended the breach hearing.

(84891)

84
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unacceptable absences are allowed before an offender on community supervision becomes the subject of breach proceedings.

(84889)

85
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were on the Probation Service's community supervision caseload for (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998; and what the probation budget was for England and Wales for each of those years.

(84888)

86
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders were made subject to (i) a Probation Order and (ii) a Combination Order in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998; and how many in each case have been breached for failure to comply with the terms of the order.

(84890)

87
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the procedure for authorisation of private prosecutions.

(83883)

88
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Eltham of 13th May, Official Report, columns 187-8, on the Macpherson report, if he will publish the report of the leak enquiry with the names of the officials and advisers who had access to the relevant papers omitted.

(85054)

89
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the legal authority is for the declared state of emergency relating to the affairs of Northern Ireland; if he reviewed the continuance of the state of emergency as part of his deliberations on the renewal of the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989; and what are the most recent communications he has (i) sent to and (ii) received from the UN special rapporteur with responsibility for human rights and states of emergency.

(84780)

90
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the findings of the 1984 police investigation into the break in at the home of Ms Oonagh Flynn.

(84779)

91
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people applied for asylum in the UK during 1998; how many of these applied (i) at a port of entry and (ii) within the country; how many decisions were made; and of those how many were (a) recognition as a refugee, (b) exceptional leave to enter or remain and (c) refusal of asylum; and of the refusals, how many were (x) on safe third country grounds, (y) on non-compliance grounds and (z) refused after full consideration of the case; how many applications were withdrawn; and how many asylum applications were outstanding at the end of the year.

(85045)

92
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Hertsmere of 22nd April, Official Report, column 666, on the Immigration Act 1971, if the answer included applications made by people who did not have current leave to remain at the time of application; what was the average time taken to decide a non-asylum application made out of time; and how many applications were made (a) in time and (b) out of time in each year since 1994.

(85039)

93
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the pilot of the Casework Programme in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to begin.

(84975)

94
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people applied for asylum in the UK in (a) March and (b) April; how many people were (i) recognised as refugees, (ii) granted exceptional leave and (iii) refused asylum in each of those months; and how many decisions on the asylum backlog were taken in each of those months.

(85043)

95
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library copies of (a) the Statement of Service Requirements issued to the companies shortlisted to bid for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Casework Programme and (b) the casework business model produced by Sema following its 1994 study.

(84974)

96
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the agreed baseline costs for (a) asylum and (b) immigration cases agreed between the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and Siemens Business Services in November 1997; what are the current baseline costs for each type of case; and what changes in the contract have been made since November 1997.

(85040)

97
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are working on clearing the backlog of asylum applications made before 31st December 1995; how many decisions on these applications have been made in each month since July 1998; how many of these decisions have been (a) indefinite leave, (b) exceptional leave, (c) refusals and (d) other; how many applications are outstanding from (i) before July 1993 and (ii) between July 1993 and December 1995; and when he expects this backlog to be cleared.

(85044)

98
   Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the waiting time to receive a passport from the Liverpool passport office; and if he will make a statement.

(85056)

99
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases the Criminal Cases Review Committee is currently dealing with; what is the average length of time spent by the Criminal Cases Review Committee on each case; how many people are employed by the Criminal Cases Review Committee; and if he will make a statement.

(84872)

100
   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement about the future of the Fire Service Training College in Moreton-in-Marsh.

(84935)

101
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what disciplinary sanctions have been imposed on prison officers following complaints of ill-treatment in each of the last five years.

(84944)

102
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many working days elapsed between the issuing of guidance to prisons in regard to arrangements for unconvicted prisoners wishing to take part in the local government elections and elections for the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament and the date by which applications to vote by post or proxy had to be received by electoral registration officers.

(84949)

103
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list, by prison, the number of prisoners on each level of the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme.

(84948)

104
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many doses of prescription-only (a) psychotropic, (b) hypnotic, (c) other drugs acting on the central nervous system and (d) other drugs were prescribed in each prison holding female prisoners in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(84946)

105
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unconvicted prisoners in England and Wales exercised their right to vote in the recent local government elections and elections for the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.

(84947)

106
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list by prison the number of prisoners (a) assessed for release on home detention curfew, (b) released and (c) recalled.

(84942)

107
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints of ill-treatment have been lodged against prison officers in each of the last five years.

(84945)

108
   Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial and other assistance her Department intends to provide to establish a UK National Commission for UNESCO.

(84896)

109
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will implement the recommendations of the Ogden tables working party to set a rate of return of two per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

(84932)

110
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many magistrates sit on the Doncaster Magistrates' Bench; and how many of those magistrates reside in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency.

(84986)

111
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many magistrates sit on the Barnsley Magistrates' Bench; and how many of those magistrates reside in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency.

(84987)

112
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what are the most recent communications she has (a) sent to and (b) received from the UN special rapporteur with responsibility for human rights and states of emergency.

(84782)

113
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for the week ended Saturday 15th May the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups.

(85049)

114
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for the week ended Saturday 15th May the number of violent incidents involving paramilitary groups which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many involved (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups.

(85048)

115
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to answer questions on the length of Cabinet meetings.

(85062)

116
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he plans to announce his decision on the separation of the functions of the Secretary of State for Wales and the First Secretary.

(84796)

117
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what period of time is recommended in government guidelines for public consultations.

(84900)

118
N   Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will appoint a Committee of Privy Councillors to review the way in which the responsibilities of the Government in relation to British policy towards Kosovo were discharged in the period leading up to the start of the NATO action on 24th March, taking account of all such factors in previous years as are relevant, and to report; and if he will make a statement.

(84887)

119
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the (a) opinion polling and (b) focus group research carried out on the authority of the Government into the use of military force in connection with the Kosovo conflict.

(85046)

120
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the backlog at the Disability Living Allowance Unit concerning cases where the Disability Appeal Tribunal has upheld an appeal against (a) refusal of disability living allowance, (b) the rate of mobility component and (c) the rate of care component; what the figures were (i) six and (ii) 12 months ago; and what steps are being taken to deliver a more efficient service to claimants.

(84880)

121
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects to pay Mr Edward Turner (Ref. ZM897757D) the disability living allowance with lower rate mobility component and middle rate care component he was awarded by the Disability Appeal Tribunal on 26th February; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in payment.

(84879)

122
N   Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners whose income made them not eligible for income support prior to April 1999 but who are now eligible to claim the minimum income guarantee in (a) Wythenshawe and Sale East, (b) Manchester, (c) Trafford and (d) the United Kingdom.

(84331)

123
   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if an employed lone mother in receipt of working families tax credit whose pay is stopped when taking parental leave under the provisions of the Employment Relations Bill, will be eligible to claim income support.

(84983)

124
   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if an employed individual in a two-parent couple in receipt of working families tax credit, whose pay is stopped when taking parental leave under the provisions of the Employment Relations Bill, will be able to claim income support.

(84984)

125
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the steps which he has taken to give more detailed consideration to the areas of concern highlighted in the study of the Ilisu Dam project commissioned by the Swiss Government.

(84893)

126
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will request the Director General of Electricity Supply and Gas Supply to produce figures for the average annual cost of fuel used by (a) pensioners and (b) other domestic users.

(84786)

127
   Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to instruct the Office of Fair Trading to enforce fair trading practices in the operation of contracts between oil companies and petrol retailers.

(84962)

128
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the increase in demand for childcare places as a result of the introduction of the childcare tax credit within the working families tax credit.

[Transferred] (84958)

129
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the impact on parents' ability to pay higher childcare fees of the introduction of the childcare tax credit element of the working families tax credit.

[Transferred] (84957)

130
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the euro will be adopted as the currency in French overseas territories.

[Transferred] (84901)

131
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women were remanded to prison to enable the preparation of psychiatric reports in each of the last five years.

[Transferred] (84943)

132
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, what steps were taken (a) to carry out an environmental impact assessment of Portcullis House and (b) to ensure that it sets a high standard for energy efficiency.

[Transferred] (85055)