 House of Commons |
Session 1998-98 Publications on the internet The Order Book |
| Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 18 June 1999
Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 18 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. |
| |
| 1 | Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on ending egg production in battery cages. |
| (87638) | |
| 2 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the tonnage of linseed fibre flax produced in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what was the total financial subsidy paid on this crop in each of those years. |
| (87651) | |
| 3 | Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list by county the number of cattle herds with confirmed bovine tuberculosis breakdowns during 1998; how many were ongoing from 1997; and how many were on holdings with no previous breakdowns for 10 years. |
| (87687) | |
| 4 | Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a statement on progress on the transfer of services previously provided by the Security Facilities Executive. |
| (87774) | |
| 5 | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what was the (a) volume and (b) value of tourism from (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the Republic of Ireland to the North West Region for each of the last five years for which information is available. |
| (87624) | |
| 6 | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what was the (a) volume and (b) value of tourism to Britain from (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the Republic of Ireland for each of the last five years for which figures are available. |
| (87625) | |
| 7 N | Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the applications since 1st May 1997 made by the BBC for his prior approval under (a) Article 3(b), (b) Article 3(c) and (c) Article 3(u), giving in each case the date of the applications; and if the application was approved or rejected. |
| (87592) | |
| 8 | Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to market test services previously supplied to it by the Security Facilities Executive. |
| (87775) | |
| 9 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation with Russia over year 2000 compliance. |
| (87654) | |
| 10 N | Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the meeting at the home of Commandant Patrick Trears in the Republic of Ireland on 30th July 1974 involving Major Peter Maynard. |
| (87461) | |
| 11 N | Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will release documents and records covered by the Official Secrets Acts in order to assist an investigation of allegations of British and Irish military intelligence involvement in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings. |
| (87462) | |
| 12 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if United Kingdom involvement in the US National Ignition Facility replaces proposals to develop a high powered laser facility at AWE Aldermaston. |
| (87694) | |
| 13 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the laser facilities in existence, under construction and proposed for the future at AWE Aldermaston, indicating their primary purpose and how they differ from the US National Ignition Facility. |
| (87695) | |
| 14 | Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston of 9th June, Official Report, columns 329-30, how much Britain has invested to date in the US National Ignition Facility; and what further investment is planned in each of the next five years. |
| (87693) | |
| 15 | Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children have attended year 6 booster classes in 1998-99. |
| (87676) | |
| 16 | Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans there are to continue year 6 booster classes in 1999-2000. |
| (87677) | |
| 17 | Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what funding is made available to schools to fund year 6 booster classes. |
| (87678) | |
| 18 | Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, in which (a) local education authorities and (b) districts year 6 booster classes have been introduced. |
| (87675) | |
| 19 N | Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the consultants employed over the past 18 months in connection with the Government's plans for teacher pay and teacher appraisal, indicating the terms of reference in each case and the total sum of consultancy fees paid; and how many of the consultants were paid over £50,000 for carrying out a research project. |
| (87596) | |
| 20 N | Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he expects the Further Education Funding Council to inform colleges of the amount of access funds to be made available for students for 1999-2000. |
| (87140) | |
| 21 | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when the next round of applications for technology college status is to be invited; and what advice and guidance is to be offered to previous unsuccessful applicants to assist resubmission of their applications. |
| (87630) | |
| 22 N | Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will ensure that the appointments of parish council representatives are confirmed in time for the annual meeting of the Northumberland National Park Authority on 23rd June. |
| (87507) | |
| 23 | Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of how the Slow Down Campaign will benefit vulnerable users of rural roads. |
| (87635) | |
| 24 | Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many crashes on rural roads causing injury were associated with excessive speed, listing the fatalities, serious injuries and slight injuries, in the most recent year for which figures are available. |
| (87634) | |
| 25 | Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has made to BMW about its national newspaper advertisements on 10th June which refer to the enjoyment of cornering on country lanes at high speed; if he will publish its response; and if he will discourage such advertisements. |
| (87633) | |
| 26 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how oil and grease will be classified under the new landfill directive. |
| (87623) | |
| 27 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the extent of oil and fat waste being put down sewers and drains. |
| (87622) | |
| 28 | Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made on the review of the definition of wood recovery in respect of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 from 1st January 2000. |
| (87683) | |
| 29 | Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reasons the climate change levy is being imposed on timber-based industries. |
| (87682) | |
| 30 | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many listed buildings in each category have been destroyed since 1992. |
| (87629) | |
| 31 | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many miles of canal towpath are used by cable companies for their transmission network. |
| (87649) | |
| 32 N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what permission has been given to grow genetically modified oil seed rape at Stanton, Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87508) | |
| 33 | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to ensure that the UK representatives to the Financial Stability Forum working groups on short-term capital flows, highly leveraged institutions and offshore financial centres consult with international development non-governmental organisations in the UK. |
| (87685) | |
| 34 | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is representing Her Majesty's Government on the Financial Stability Forum working groups on short-term capital flows, highly leveraged institutions and offshore financial centres. |
| (87684) | |
| 35 | Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to introduce (a) economic and (b) fiscal instruments to reduce HFC emissions in the refrigeration market sector. |
| (87688) | |
| 36 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will deposit in the Library documentation relating to the seminars provided by the European Commission to EU consumer organisations in November and December on training in important aspects of the transition to the euro, from the consumer's viewpoint. |
| (87672) | |
| 37 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports are submitted by the Ambassadors for British Business. |
| (87652) | |
| 38 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) nature and (b) cost of the assistance supplied by the European Commission to the TUC to encourage public debate on EMU. |
| (87686) | |
| 39 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the nature of the project financed by the European Commission relating to vulnerable sectors of the population and preparation for the advent of the euro. |
| (87659) | |
| 40 | Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to assist in measures to reduce the level of corruption in Zimbabwe. |
| (87699) | |
| 41 | Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what government support and advice is provided to police forces in Zimbabwe to assist and encourage them to (i) police by consent and (ii) maintain a politically neutral position. |
| (87767) | |
| 42 | Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the level of political violence in Zimbabwe; what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe on this matter; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87700) | |
| 43 | Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what Government support is provided to the Zimbabwean human rights organisation Zim Rights. |
| (87698) | |
| 44 | Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports have been received from the EU-funded election monitoring programme in Zimbabwe (a) in general and (b) on the preparations for this year's urban elections; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87697) | |
| 45 | Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will assess the impact on the territorial integrity of (a) Pakistan and (b) India of Kashmir becoming an independent state; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87670) | |
| 46 | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Iran concerning the role of the Iranian state in procuring for cash body parts from living donors for use in transplants. |
| (87648) | |
| 47 N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Sudan about separatism in South Sudan; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87505) | |
| 48 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many meetings he has had with the Standing Conference of Women's Organisations in the last 12 months; and how many he had in the previous 12 months. |
| (87646) | |
| 49 | Mr John Cummings (Easington): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects pen needles used by insulin-dependent diabetics to be available free of charge; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87641) | |
| 50 | Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to inform the public of risks associated with a diet with a high salt intake. |
| (87645) | |
| 51 | Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his plans for the implementation of the report of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care. |
| (87627) | |
| 52 | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many actions were brought against NHS trusts alleging negligence arising from surgical detritus left in wounds following an operation for the most recent year for which figures are available. |
| (87671) | |
| 53 | Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to make an announcement concerning the prescribing of insulin pen needles; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87644) | |
| 54 N | Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue advice to the residents in the areas from which the solar eclipse can be witnessed on the precautions to be taken when viewing it, to avoid damage to their sight. |
| (87312) | |
| 55 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 30, on young offenders, for what reasons he will not seek funding from local education authorities for the education of young offenders who are in custody. |
| (87640) | |
| 56 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 32, on education at Feltham Young Offenders' Unit, for what reasons the number of teaching hours purchased for 1999 is less than in 1998. |
| (87643) | |
| 57 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of young juvenile and young offenders convicted of sexual offences are enrolled under a sex offender treatment programme; and what was the percentage in each of the last three years. |
| (87621) | |
| 58 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of young offenders and juveniles were held on remand in (a) Feltham young offenders' unit and (b) other young offenders' units for eight weeks or more in each of the last three years and in the period from November 1998 to May 1999. |
| (87619) | |
| 59 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 30, on young offenders, when the revision of the selection criteria for staff working with offenders aged under 18 years will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the revised criteria. |
| (87639) | |
| 60 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what part education plays in rehabilitation programmes for young offenders and juveniles in young offenders' units. |
| (87618) | |
| 61 | Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the studies he has commissioned into rehabilitation programmes for juveniles and young offenders and the consequent recommendations he has made about such programmes. |
| (87620) | |
| 62 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were (a) arrested and (b) charged for attempting to smuggle drugs into prisons in England and Wales in each of the last three years. |
| (87653) | |
| 63 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convictions there have been in England and Wales for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs in each of the last three years. |
| (87656) | |
| 64 | Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal immigrants have been caught while seeking to enter the United Kingdom by hiding in vehicles since 1st January. |
| (87655) | |
| 65 N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the incidence of doctors (a) refusing to authenticate applications for postal votes on medical grounds and (b) charging a fee for signing postal votes; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87463) | |
| 66 | Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to establish courts dedicated to dealing with cases of domestic violence in the North East of England. |
| (87680) | |
| 67 | Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received on the treatment of cats at Hillgrove Farm, Oxfordshire. |
| (87673) | |
| 68 | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted since 1969 for unlawfully casting a proxy vote. |
| (87647) | |
| 69 N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the statutory requirements which require the Electoral Roll number to be written on the ballot paper at elections; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87504) | |
| 70 N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many House of Commons staff earn more than £100,000 per year. |
| (87465) | |
| 71 N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many House of Commons staff in the £50,000 to £200,000 salary range in the financial years (a) 1998-1999 and (b) 1997-1998 received percentage pay awards in excess of those given to non-Senior Civil Service grades. |
| (87466) | |
| 72 N | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the largest percentage increase in (a) salary and (b) bonus payments paid to staff earning over £50,000 in the House of Commons in the last year for which figures are available. |
| (87464) | |
| 73 | Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to introduce legislation to reform (a) adult protective legislation and (b) enduring power of attorney. |
| (87632) | |
| 74 N | Mr William Ross (East Londonderry): To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the range of sums paid per hour to solicitors in Northern Ireland in respect of legal aid payments; and what is the average taxed rate. |
| (87377) | |
| 75 | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the (a) volume and (b) value of imports to Northern Ireland for each of the last five years for which information is available. |
| (87650) | |
| 76 | Mr Clifford Forsythe (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will make a statement on the Northern Ireland Planning Appeals Commission. |
| (87689) | |
| 77 N | Mr William Ross (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the hourly rate paid to solicitors acting for the families of those persons killed by the Army in Londonderry on 30th January 1972; by what procedures this sum was negotiated and agreed; and under which Budget sub-headings provision for these sums is made. |
| (87376) | |
| 78 | Mr William Thompson (West Tyrone): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list for each (a) controlled, (b) maintained, (c) integrated and (d) voluntary sector school in each Education and Library Board area the number of, and the expenditure on, PEAG places for the school year 1998-99. |
| (87674) | |
| 79 | Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will examine the various records of Ministers in replying to letters from honourable Members and instruct all ministerial heads of departments to set up specific structures within their departments and private offices for effective and speedy response to such letters. |
| (87696) | |
| 80 | Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will bring to an end the Joint Consultative Cabinet Committee. |
| (87631) | |
| 81 | Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he expects the review of the costs of abattoirs and producers to be completed. |
| (87690) | |
| 82 | Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to restructure the district salmon fishery boards; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87691) | |
| 83 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on departmental policy in response to the European Commission's proposals under the Gender and Science Watch System. |
| (87679) | |
| 84 | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures his Department takes to encourage businesses to trade with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. |
| (87626) | |
| 85 | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the (a) volume and (b) value of exports from Britain to Northern Ireland for each of the last five years for which information is available. |
| (87642) | |
| 86 N | Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the tariffs imposed by the United States on European Union goods as a result of the banana dispute. |
| (87506) | |
| 87 | Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the (a) agricultural and (b) pharmaceutical biotechnology industry in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000. |
| (87769) | |
| 88 | Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the value of public investment in the biotechnology industry in (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000 (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of total investment in the industry. |
| (87768) | |
| 89 N | Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when he expects to publish the findings of the Waterhouse Inquiry into Child Abuse in North Wales. |
| (87457) | |
| 90 N | Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the companies based in the USA which have a presence in Wales indicating in each case the location and number of workers employed. |
| (87459) | |
| 91 N | Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list in rank order by country the number of international overnight visits to Wales in each of the past 10 years. |
| (87458) | |
| 92 N | Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the countries which have (a) established consulates in Wales and (b) made enquiries about establishing consulates in Wales; and if he will make a statement. |
| (87460) | |
| 93 | Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the climate change levy is to be imposed on combined heat and power schemes. |
| [Transferred] (87681) | |
| 94 | Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the extent of interchange of information with Unit A-I of Directorate-General IV; and if he will deposit papers published by the Unit in the Library. |
| [Transferred] (87692) | |
| 95 | Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to review the working procedures within his Department regarding the regulation of insurance companies. |
| [Transferred] (87628) | |
| |
| © Parliamentary copyright 1999 | Revised 18 June 1999 |