Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 14 June 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 14 June of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

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

MONDAY 14th JUNE

1
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has for public consultation relating to proposals to introduce a levy upon those providing outside catering facilities at (a) amateur and (b) professional sporting venues.

(86972)

2
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 10th June; and if he will make a statement.

(87099)

3
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to investigate reports of the presence of BSE in the USA.

(86872)

4
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will appoint an independent arbiter for English farmers in order to rule on disputes between English farmers and his Department on similar lines to the one to be set up for Scottish farmers.

(86416)

5
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what tests have been conducted in the UK on genetically modified (a) soya, (b) maize and (c) tomatoes; when they were held; by whom were they conducted; where they were held; if any were carried out on mammals; and in which scientific journal the results were published.

(86422)

6
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to ensure that all members of the EU are constrained by the same rules and regulations as those in the UK with regard to testing of genetically-modified foods.

(86423)

7
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will set up an inquiry into the possible link between the growth factor IGF 1 in milk and breast cancer and prostate and colon cancer; and if he will make a statement.

(86424)

8
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research his Department has conducted into the effects on human health of using genetically-engineered growth hormones to stimulate the production of milk.

(86484)

9
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the maximum and minimum durations of meetings of the Joint Consultative Committee and the number of agenda items in each case.

(87036)

10
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate the average amount of time which he devotes each week to Duchy matters.

(87004)

11
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures will be taken to enable voluntary organisations to promote their activities within the Dome.

(86932)

12
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps will be taken to promote the issue of volunteering within the Dome.

(86933)

13
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects to publish the Report of the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education; and if he will make a statement.

(86934)

14
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of peace-keeping in Kosovo in each of the next three years.

(87103)

15
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total cost to the Exchequer of the military action in Kosovo up to 10th June.

(87102)

16
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if British aircraft have used depleted uranium munitions during the bombing in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

(86992)

17
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to upgrade the Harpoon missiles fitted to HM ships to give them Block II land attack capability.

(87001)

18
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to fit Block II land attack missiles to HM ships.

(87002)

19
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money has been spent to date by his Department in financing the legal costs of former members of the Parachute Regiment called to give evidence to the Bloody Sunday inquiry; and what forecast he has made of the total cost.

(86684)

20
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 8th June, Official Report, column 211, on satellite dishes, for what reason there will be a 12 hour delay between transmission and viewing by ships' crews.

(86874)

21
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what advice will be given to returning Kosovan refugees and what precautions will be taken to protect them from contamination from depleted uranium in the region consequent on its use in ordnance and missiles.

(86743)

22
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department has obtained a tape of the entire BBC Radio 4 programme, Costing the Earth, broadcast on 7th June to which the Minister of State for the Armed Forces contributed.

(86742)

23
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what special equipment has been issued to service and other personnel in the former Yugoslavia to minimise the risk of contamination from depleted uranium; what other precautions were taken; what guidance was given to commanders; and if he will make a statement.

(86741)

24
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list, by regiment and other section headings (a) the official complement and (b) the actual numbers in post in the Army.

(87005)

25
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the shortfall in the official complement of the Army on 1st May (a) 1997 and (b) 1998.

(87035)

26
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will announce the name of the preferred bidder for the Colchester Garrison PFI project.

(87006)

27
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many vice-chancellors and their deputies in British universities are currently suspended on full pay; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of such persons.

(86876)

28
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many chief executives and their deputies in further education colleges are currently suspended on full pay; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of such persons.

(86877)

29
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will investigate the impact on school budgets in Worcestershire of the proposed increase in water charges.

(86871)

30
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the rate support grant for rural local education authorities takes into account the cost of home to school transport with particular reference to Cornwall.

(86680)

31
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans the Government has to integrate the grant for reducing infant class size into the rate support grant to local education authorities to enable this funding to be provided through the local management of schools formula.

(86682)

32
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he intends to take to prevent adverse effects on core school budgets as a result of pressure on local education authorities to find the matching funding necessary for the Standards Fund.

(86681)

33
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to lay before Parliament a Statutory Instrument on the use of lead shot in wetlands.

(86417)

34
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what economic assessment he has carried out of the impact of the right to roam proposals on hill farmers; and if he will make a statement.

(86418)

35
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to fund any increased costs of dealing with wider access to the countryside (a) by increasing resources to and (b) from existing budgets of (i) the Countryside Agency, (ii) English Nature and (iii) English Heritage.

(86419)

36
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to amend the law governing rights of way; and if he will make a statement.

(86420)

37
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with English Nature on the environmental impact of a right to roam in (a) national nature reserves, (b) Ramsar sites, (c) special protection areas under the EU Birds Directive, (d) special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive, (e) sites of special scientific interest and (f) other environmentally sensitive areas.

(86421)

38
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress is being made in establishing the Strategic Rail Authority.

(86989)

39
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the average annual mileage travelled per road vehicle (a) in the latest year for which figures are available, and (b) (i) five years, (ii) 10 years and (iii) 20 years before that year.

(87013)

40
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the average weight of a loaded lorry as found by the weighbridge inspectors (a) in the latest year for which figures are available, and (b) (i) five years, (ii) 10 years and (iii) 20 years before that year.

(87012)

41
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the safety impact of compulsory use of vehicle lights during daylight hours; and if he will make a statement.

(86938)

42
   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will name the non-governmental consultees and advisors engaged by his Department to advise on the conduct of the research by London Economics into the Environmental Costs and Benefits of Aggregate Supply; and what his Department has paid to each for their services.

(87098)

43
   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he received the final report by London Economics on the Costs and Benefits of Aggregates Supply.

(87097)

44
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will investigate the level of charges by Severn Trent Water for water at educational establishments; and if he will make a statement.

(86870)

45
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what advice he has received from English Nature concerning the notification of the River Tweed as a candidate special area of conservation under the European Council Directive 92/ 43/ EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora; and if he intends to proceed to notification.

(86868)

46
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of cars sold in Britain in each of the past five years have been fitted with (a) airbags in the driver's seat only, (b) airbags in the driver's and front passenger seats, (c) airbags for rear passengers and (d) side-impact air bags.

(86999)

47
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to publish the Report on the New Household Projections to 2021.

(86425)

48
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will ensure that genetically-modified crops will only be tested in EU countries once the timetable, rules and regulations with regard to conducting those trials have been agreed by the Council of Ministers.

(86415)

49
N   Mr Don Touhig (Islwyn):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to introduce measures to tackle work place violence and bullying.

(85590)

50
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published.

(86990)

51
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the UK's policy advice to developing countries on capital controls; and what assessment he has made of IMF agreements which prohibit a government from imposing capital controls.

(86942)

52
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with British investors on their role and responsibilities in financial crises in emerging markets; and what part British investors have agreed to play in preventing and resolving future financial crises.

(86943)

53
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential loss of revenue from off-shore betting; what plans he has to prevent such loss; and if he will make a statement.

(87104)

54
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures he is taking to ensure that the social principles drafted by the World Bank will be adhered to by the IMF and World Bank in any future financial crisis lending.

(86988)

55
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on incorporating the social principles drafted by the World Bank into macro-economic decision-making.

(86987)

56
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the extent of pension mortgage mis-selling.

(86936)

57
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the number of people in Britain who have (a) endowment mortgages, (b) pension mortgages, (c) ISA mortgages and (d) interest-only mortgages without any repayment vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

(86937)

58
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will remove VAT on fee-based financial advice.

(86935)

59
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for hypothecated taxes to encourage recycling, with particular reference to the packaging sector.

[R] (87000)

60
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research his Department has carried out on the cost to his Department of delays to operations in the NHS, with particular reference to the consequent continued payment of benefits.

(86427)

61
   Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what timetable he is proposing for the announcement of decisions on allocations in the financial year 1999-2000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund with respect to the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive submissions.

(87003)

62
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the United Kingdom submitted its 1998 return to the UN Register of Conventional Arms; and if copies of the return will be placed in the Library.

(87101)

63
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what actions the Government is taking to bring about a ceasefire in Southern Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

(87007)

64
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many chief executives and their deputies of (i) health authorities and (ii) NHS trusts are currently suspended on full pay; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of persons in these categories, respectively.

(86878)

65
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the practice among pharmacists of dispensing calendar packs instead of the doses prescribed by doctors.

(87014)

66
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on establishing independent advocacy services in each of the three English special hospitals; and when he expects the services to be in operation.

(86431)

67
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department has allocated for each of the last three financial years for (a) research into and (b) the treatment of autism; and if he will make a statement.

(87010)

68
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to investigate the use of the drug Secretin for treating sufferers from autism; and if he will make a statement.

(87009)

69
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the waiting times are for (a) cruciate ligament operations and (b) consultations relating to them (i) in hospitals in Devon and Cornwall and (ii) in the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital in Exeter; and if he will make a statement on the time taken to provide treatment for Mr Jason Ganney of Buckfastleigh.

(86426)

70
N   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that the procedures to be adopted by the Medicines Control Agency under the provisions of the Medicines (Advertising and Monitoring of Advertising) Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 267) accord with principles of natural justice and transparency.

(86939)

71
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers of chief constable rank and their deputies are currently suspended on full pay; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of such officers.

(86879)

72
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convicted offenders were transferred from prison to high security hospitals in the last (a) six months and (b) three months of their sentences in each of the past five years.

(86432)

73
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportation orders were enforced in May.

(87011)

74
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will place the change in instructions to staff at the Immigration Directorate on dealing with applications from people whose children have been living in the United Kingdom for seven years, announced on 24th February, on the Internet.

(87008)

75
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will invite bids for the redundant building and land formerly the Home Office Regional Government Headquarters at Soar, Malborough, Kingsbridge, Devon; and if he will make a statement as to the timetable for such a sale.

(86430)

76
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what has been the cost to date of the consultants' study of the proposal to re-open the line of route during the summer adjournment; and whether their contract has been re-negotiated.

(86683)

77
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what negotiations her Department has had with the World Bank about protecting the poor from the effects of financial crises; and if she will press for an external evaluation of the effectiveness of the protection measures which are supported with World Bank loans to be conducted and to be published.

(86941)

78
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by her Department during this session; and if their responses have been published.

(86997)

79
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the President of the Council, if she will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by her Department during this session; and if their responses have been published.

(86996)

80
   Mr Terry Davis (Birmingham, Hodge Hill):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library the latest Information Bulletin on the activities of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union covering the period October 1998 to April.

(87100)

81
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he expects to send a substantive reply to the letter dated 11th May from the honourable Member for Aldershot concerning former members of the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

(86685)

82
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to require Government departments and agencies to discontinue the practice of referring to date as postmark and to date their correspondence.

(86873)

83
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he proposes to discuss the issue of Kashmir at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November.

(86993)

84
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published.

(86995)

85
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published.

(86994)

86
N   Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 8th June, Official Report, column 303, on widows, what advice he has received on the availability of full-time paid work for widows aged 45 to 60 years entering the job market in different parts of the country.

(86940)

87
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to continue operation of the benefit swipecard in the post offices where the system is currently operational.

(86927)

88
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what percentage of benefit payments are currently made through automated credited transfer into bank accounts.

(86924)

89
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what savings were achieved due to the operation of the benefit swipecard in the 250 post offices where it was operating prior to renegotiation of the BA-Pocl Horizon contract.

(86926)

90
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion of benefit claimants do not have a bank account.

(86928)

91
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what income was generated for post offices as a result of benefit payment transactions in the last year for which figures are available.

(86925)

92
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will arrange to expedite the disability living allowance review in relation to Brenda Oakham of Barton Close, Paignton.

(86429)

93
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, for what reasons disability living allowance was removed from Brenda Oakham of Barton Close, Paignton, in April; and for what reason no explanation was given.

(86428)

94
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published.

(86991)

95
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the cost of the Review of Electricity Trading Arrangements.

(86882)

96
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what changes in primary legislation will be required to implement the revised arrangements for wholesale electricity trading.

(86880)

97
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the additional costs which will arise in (a) establishing and (b) running a revised electricity wholesale trading market; and who will bear these costs.

(86883)

98
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what has been the reason for the revised date for the planned completion of the Review of Electricity Trading Arrangements.

(86881)

99
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to announce his decision in respect of the proposed acquisition of City Flyer Express Limited by British Airways; and if he will make a statement.

(86869)

100
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make it his policy to publish his decisions on the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report into the supply of milk before the end of June.

(86875)

101
   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made on the launch of the Reach-Out fund to enhance university interaction with business.

(87033)

102
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received from industry concerning the proposed climate change levy.

(87031)

103
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to announce his proposed map for regional assistance.

(87030)

104
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which companies the Minister for Science visited during his most recent visit to the USA; and what was discussed.

(87034)

105
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact on jobs of the proposed climate change levy.

(87032)

106
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the number of post offices, indicating separately those run by sub-postmasters, which operate in rural areas.

(86931)

107
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the reduction in revenue to post offices under the proposed swipecard.

(86929)

108
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (i) post offices and (ii) post offices run by sub-postmasters, there were at (a) at the latest available date, (b) in 1997, (c) in 1989 and (d) in 1979.

(86930)

109
N   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to announce the date of the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the supply of raw cows' milk in Great Britain.

(86974)

110
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published.

(86998)

111
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment his Department has carried out of the financial consequences for the sports concerned of the imposition of a levy on those providing outside catering at (a) amateur and (b) professional sporting venues.

[Transferred] (86973)