Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 22 June 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 22 June 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 Tuesday 22 June, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Wednesday 23 June, 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.

TUESDAY 22nd JUNE

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the studies which he has evaluated examining the effects of irradiation processes on GM material; what safety requirements apply to such practices; and if he will make a statement

(87512)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what progress he has made in securing labelling of genetically-modified additives and flavourings in food.

(87607)

3
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessments he has made of the implications for animal welfare of the use of recombinant bovine somatotropin on cows.

(87610)

4
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the relationship between levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 in milk from cows which have been injected with recombinant bovine somatotropin and the incidence of breast and prostate cancers in humans; and if he will make a statement.

(87609)

5
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask Mr Attorney General, what were the terms of settlement of the case of Hayes v Attorney General; and if he will make a statement.

(87807)

6
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask Mr Attorney General, if he will make a statement on the case of Maria Bamieh and the Crown Prosecution Service.

(87808)

7
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, since 1st May 1997, how many (a) Grade One, (b) Grade Two and (c) Grade Three equivalent civil servants have been appointed; how many in each category came from (i) within the Civil Service and (ii) outside the Civil Service; and if the posts were advertised in media available outside the Civil Service.

(87600)

8
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) the relationship is between and (b) the relative responsibilites are of, the (i) Interdepartmental Group on Genetic Modification Technology and (ii) MISC 6.

(87827)

9
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the membership of the Interdepartmental Group on Genetic Modification Technology; how often it has met; and if he will make a statement.

(87826)

10
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what his policy is in respect of the use of church land to grow trial genetically-modified crops.

(87608)

11
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Hammersmith and Fulham Council regarding the future of the Lost Theatre; and if he will make a statement.

(87812)

12
N   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 15th June, Official Report, column 88, if he will place in the Library copies of the external audit reports on BBC Worldwide and BBC Resources for the years 1997-98 and 1998-99.

(87823)

13
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many pieces of ordnance were used by UK forces in the Kosovo conflict.

(87814)

14
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many submarine spent nuclear fuel cores are currently held at (a) HMS 'Vulcan', (b) Rosyth, (c) Devonport and (d) Sellafield.

(87707)

15
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on how AWE Aldermaston intend to treat and dispose of the plutonium-contaminated rainwater that has accumulated on-site following heavy rainfall on 19th May.

(87709)

16
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many gloveboxes are in storage at AWE Aldermaston awaiting treatment and disposal.

(87711)

17
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to publish the results of his Department's review of its decommissioned nuclear submarine storage and disposal policy.

(87713)

18
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what day the new Used Core Transport Package for transporting submarine spent fuel cores entered into service.

(87704)

19
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the contract for the new Used Core Transport Package for transporting submarine spent fuel cores was awarded; and what was the cost.

(87705)

20
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the number of submarine spent nuclear fuel cores that have been transported to Sellafield in each of the last 10 years.

(87706)

21
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the proportion of the ordnance used in Kosovo which has been millennium non-compliant.

(87821)

22
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the plant for conditioning the plutonium-bearing sludges currently stored in stainless steel tanks at AWE Aldermaston commenced operations.

(87708)

23
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of the submarine nuclear emergency plan that covers berths in Gibraltar in the Library.

(87710)

24
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much storage space for intermediate and low-level nuclear waste awaiting a final repository will be left at AWE Aldermaston once the unsuitable waste stores have been emptied and the plutonium-bearing sludge has been conditioned and stored.

(87712)

25
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time soldiers there are currently in each battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment.

(87888)

26
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many companies have been disbanded in each battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment since the regiment was formed; and how many of these companies have been disbanded in the past two years.

(87889)

27
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time soldiers there were in each battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment in each year since the regiment was formed.

(87887)

28
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral statement of 10th June, Official Report, column 808, concerning the disclosure of soldiers' names, if he has decided to provide protection to those potentially at risk.

(87828)

29
N   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the UK armed forces currently serving as part of the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo are under 18 years of age.

(87702)

30
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the deployment of under 18 year olds from British armed forces in the international peace force in Kosovo.

(87976)

31
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what monitoring he is undertaking of the Islington Education Service; and what meetings he has held with representatives of the education service.

(87817)

32
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the expenditure by his Department on the contracting out of part of Islington Education Service.

(87819)

33
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much (a) revenue support and (b) capital allocation was provided to Islington Education Service for education up to the age of 16 years in each of the past five years.

(87815)

34
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the number of pages issued as press releases from his Department for 16th and 17th June; and if he will make a statement.

(87973)

35
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what grants he has made to the Drug Education Forum; who are its members; what arrangements he has made to monitor its use of funds; and if he will make a statement.

(87892)

36
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many hours HSE inspectors have spent undertaking field inspections of genetically-modified trial crop sites for each month since October 1997.

(87602)

37
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of national railway track was classified as (a) poor, (b) good and (c) very good for each year from 1990 to date.

(87603)

38
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment of potential environmental impact he undertook before permission was given to Zeneca to plant genetically-modified poplar trees near Bracknell.

(87604)

39
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the land sales by the British Railways Board since the moratorium on such sales was introduced, giving in each case (a) the date of sale, (b) the location and (c) the price agreed.

(87605)

40
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the maximum percentage of lead permitted in unleaded petrol.

(87606)

41
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of new dwellings to be completed for (a) housing association rent and (b) local authority rent in each London borough in (i) 1999-2000 and (ii) 2000-01.

(87818)

42
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance his Department gives to Railtrack and other station operators on the provision of parking for bicycles.

(87703)

43
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of social housing on new developments in each London borough in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

(87820)

44
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of single people who are unable to be placed on local authority housing waiting lists and are in need of affordable rented housing in each London borough.

(87816)

45
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many miles of red routes cover the Greater London area; what is the proposed red route mileage outstanding in the London Borough of Wandsworth area; and if he will make a statement.

(87974)

46
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the outcome of the Transport Council held in Luxembourg on 17th to 18th June; and if he will make a statement.

(87977)

47
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to persuade Plymouth City Council to adopt the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 in its regulation of Plymouth-based private-hire vehicles.

(87824)

48
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions his officials have had with Plymouth City Council officers in the past six months concerning the regulation of Plymouth-based private hire vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

(87825)

49
N   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the use of the veto in relation to European taxation measures.

(86587)

50
   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the organisations represented on the joint working group with business representatives set up by the Paymaster General to examine EU tax reform; which representatives were invited from the accountancy profession; and if he will make a statement.

(87988)

51
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on progress made on tax and currency matters during the German Presidency of the EU.

(86610)

52
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the purpose of his Department's establishment at Morwenstow, Cornwall.

(87601)

53
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the average total cost per item, net of VAT, dispensed during the most recent year for which figures are available for (a) prescriptions issued by dispensing doctors and (b) prescriptions issued by prescribing doctors.

(87967)

54
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to announce proposals with regard to parallel imports of pharmaceutical products.

(87969)

55
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to reply to the letter of 7th May from the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers.

(87968)

56
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the average net ingredient cost per item dispensed during the most recent year for which figures are available for (a) prescriptions issued by dispensing doctors and (b) prescriptions issued by prescribing doctors.

(87966)

57
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish the report on the review of radiotherapy provision.

(87970)

58
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will implement the Health Ombudsman's recommendation that health authorities review removals from GPs' lists and conduct research on such removals.

(87971)

59
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the responsibilities of health authorities regarding the removal of patients from GPs' lists.

(87972)

60
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 15th June, Official Report, column 93, on police car response times, what plans he has to commission research on this matter.

(87975)

61
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will introduce workplace car park charging within the Parliamentary Estate.

(87611)

62
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will place in the Library a transcript of the trial at Birmingham Crown Court of former West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent Barry Mason in April.

(87701)

63
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the members of the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments and Silk.

(87801)

64
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the dates on which the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments and Silk met.

(87802)

65
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he expects the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments and Silk to report.

(87805)

66
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, what assessment he has made of the implications of the case of Hayes v Attorney General for the secret soundings system in the appointment of silk; and if he will make a statement.

(87806)

67
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on progress of the work of the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments and Silk.

(87803)

68
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, for what reasons the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments and Silk was set up.

(87804)

69
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he proposes to publish the report of the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments and Silk.

(87809)

70
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Kingston upon Hull North of 9th June, Official Report, column 326, on Barry Mason, what action she plans to take; and if she will make a statement.

(87765)

71
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many individuals have been (a) arrested and (b) charged with offences under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998.

(87890)

72
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will provide details of the allocation to each College of further and higher education of the 600 additional full-time higher education places to be made available over the next two years.

(87886)

73
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many individuals have been charged with offences in connection with the bomb explosion in Omagh, County Tyrone on 15th August 1998.

(87891)

74
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the visits she has made to (a) RUC Headquarters and (b) RUC stations since she took office as Secretary of State stating the duration of each such visit; and if she will provide the same information in respect of each of the ministers in her Department.

(87597)

75
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many absent vote applications were made for each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland for the election held on 10th June; how many applications were made on each ground for which such an application can be made, in each constituency; for each constituency how many applications were made for proxy votes; and how many in each category were (a) granted and (b) refused.

(87598)

76
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what evidence she has obtained of attempts fraudulently to acquire absent votes in parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland for the election to the European Parliament on 10th June; and in which parliamentary constituencies investigations are being undertaken.

(87599)

77
N   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will be attending the forthcoming launch of the pro-euro campaign.

(87822)

78
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many new claims for council tax benefit have been subject to the cap on properties above Band E since the new rules were introduced.

(87813)

79
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effect of the national minimum wage on riding schools and equestrian centres; and if he will make a statement.

(87810)

80
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will exempt riding schools from the national minimum wage.

(87811)

81
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has received regarding the condition of Gwrych Castle; and if he will make a statement.

(87987)

82
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to visit the Falkland Islands to discuss the recent talks with Argentinian officials.

[Question Unstarred] (86579)



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