Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 14 July 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 14 July 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.

WEDNESDAY 14th JULY

1
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, pursuant to her Answer of 12th July, Official Report, column 22, what is the cost of the multiple licence held throughout the Parliamentary Estate for television sets used for leisure or recreational purposes.

(91507)

2
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the (a) location, (b) purpose, (c) number of staff accommodated and their wage costs and (d) running costs of the buildings owned, rented and occupied by his Department or its agencies in Scotland.

(90860)

3
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on Milk Marque's application to expand into processing milk products.

(91413)

4
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the prospects for the dairy farming sector.

(91419)

5
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to promote agri-environment measures for smaller dairy farmers to offset lower commodity prices.

(91298)

6
   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under what circumstances licences for the use of glufosinate or glyphosate on herbicide-tolerant genetically-modified crops may be granted before the completion of the farm-scale trials with herbicide-tolerant genetically-modified crops in 2003.

(91414)

7
   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the honourable Member for Clwyd South, of 21st January, Official Report, column 574, on BSE, if he will make a statement on the results to date of random sampling for BSE of cows slaughtered under the over thirty months scheme

(91477)

8
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many drivers allocated to ministers have been (a) stopped, (b) cautioned, (c) charged and (d) convicted of motoring offences since 1st May 1997, giving in each case (i) the nature of the offence, (ii) the date of the offence and (iii) the minister to whom the driver was allocated.

(91273)

9
N   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much expenditure his Department has (a) incurred to date and (b) forecast to be incurred, on preparations for possible United Kingdom entry into the European single currency; and if he will make a statement.

(91089)

10
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the current average salary by Civil Service grade.

(90862)

11
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the number of his Department's employees by United Kingdom region, indicating the wage bill (a) in total and (b) by region in the most recent year for which figures are available, separately identifying the costs of London allowances and weightings.

(90864)

12
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the number and percentage of civil servants employed at each grade in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) London, (d) the South East of England, (e) Wales, (f) Northern Ireland and (g) the United Kingdom in total at the latest available date.

(90861)

13
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the location and running costs in the last year for each of his Department's buildings.

(90863)

14
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a statement on the rules concerning the carriage of ministerial red boxes by public transport.

(91492)

15
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what investment is planned in Lilleshall National Sports Centre to improve standards among British sports people.

(91508)

16
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action his Department is taking to increase the proportion of (a) pensioners, (b) people with disabilities and (c) people from ethnic minorities who participate in sport.

(91311)

17
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of transferring the HQ of 2nd Division from York to Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement.

(91320)

18
   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sorties were conducted by service low-flying aircraft (a) over Wales and (b) over mainland Britain in each of the years 1990 to the present.

(91476)

19
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to review the EMAG arrangements for those local authorities which have taken on significant responsibility for the education of the children of refugees from Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

(90788)

20
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what discussions he has had with the Minister for Science on the experimental teaching of (a) biology, (b) chemistry, (c) physics, (d) environmental sciences and (e) other sciences in the past two years.

(91280)

21
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the cost of science laboratory teaching per pupil in England and Wales in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each of the last three years.

(91288)

22
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what recommendations he has made for the design, layout and organisation of school scientific laboratories.

(91284)

23
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the range of qualifications held by those teaching science at (a) GCSE level and (b) A-level; and if he will make a statement.

(91277)

24
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to review the school scientific laboratory teaching curricula in the sciences.

(91282)

25
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what studies he has undertaken in the last two years on the standards set for the design and equipment of school scientific laboratories for the teaching of (a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) biology, (d) environmental sciences and (e) other sciences in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools.

(91286)

26
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what reports he has received from Ofsted on the need for improvement in the laboratory teaching of (a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) biology, (d) environmental sciences and (e) other sciences in the past two years; and if he will make a statement.

(91281)

27
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what consultations he has had with industry on the financing of scientific laboratories in schools in the past two years.

(91285)

28
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, with what scientific professional and academic organisations he has had discussions on (a) the improvement of the school scientific laboratory infrastructure and (b) the laboratory teaching of (i) physics, (ii) chemistry, (iii) biology, (iv) environmental sciences and (v) other sciences.

(91279)

29
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to develop technical assistance for teachers in school scientific laboratories.

(91283)

30
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the research which he has evaluated in the past two years into the provision of laboratory science teaching in (a) England and Wales, (b) the USA and (c) European countries; and if he will make a statement.

(91287)

31
   Mr David Lock (Wyre Forest):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance he has issued to local authorities about charging parents for school transport to the nearest denominational school to their home.

(91291)

32
N   Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list (a) the properties purchased alongside the A1 road between Scotch Corner and Rainton in Yorkshire to allow for the upgrading of the road to motorway standards and (b) the total cost of the properties; what plans he has for these properties; and what is the future of the upgrading scheme.

(90792)

33
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate how many new homes will be built in the United Kingdom by the year 2006 (a) in total, (b) on greenfield sites and (c) on brownfield sites.

(91318)

34
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many new homes were built (a) on brownfield, (b) greenfield sites and (c) in total in the United Kingdom in 1998.

(91319)

35
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to encourage more people to stand for election to their local authorities.

(91299)

36
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the new PPG3 will be fully operational.

(91412)

37
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many new houses were built on (a) greenfield sites and (b) brownfield sites in Lancashire in 1998.

(91399)

38
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate how many new homes will be built within Lancashire on (a) greenfield and (b) brownfield sites over the next 10 years.

(91317)

39
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate how many new homes will be built on greenfield sites over the next 10 years, broken down by region.

(91316)

40
   Mr David Lock (Wyre Forest):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance he has issued for highways engineers on developing cycling facilities as part of trunk road schemes.

(91292)

41
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of homes in England that have been abandoned by their owners; and if he will make a statement.

(91401)

42
   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the maximum number of fields and the maximum field size that will be permitted in the farm-scale trials of genetically-modified oil seed rape, maize and sugar beet; and which body will determine these numbers and sizes.

(91415)

43
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 18th January, Official Report, column 304, on private hire vehicles, what progress has been made in respect of restoring the position which existed prior to the decision in the case in the Queen's Bench Division between C. Benson and Copeland Borough Council concerning the personal use of a private hire vehicle by the spouse of the licence holder.

(91295)

44
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's letter of 24th June (ref. FA00059) to Mr G. S. Wright in respect of payment for a survey for seaworthiness made on 8th March, if he will refund the overpayment outstanding together with interest; and if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the delay in repayment.

(90834)

45
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance on computerized vehicle routing and scheduling software he intends to produce.

(91445)

46
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has commissioned to assess the longer-term implications of home shopping for planning and transport services.

(91447)

47
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what conclusions the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force has arrived at concerning ways of reducing the environmental impact of new vehicles and improving the emissions performance of vehicles in use.

(91446)

48
   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the actual and planned Government expenditure on the home energy efficiency scheme in each of the years from 1990-91 to 2001-02.

(91475)

49
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what he expects to be the salary of London Assembly members when they first meet.

(91493)

50
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has for the development of Post Bus services under the proposals for the reform of the Post Office.

(91506)

51
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to introduce women-only carriages on London Underground.

(91494)

52
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received regarding extensions to the 42-day notice period for bus service variations; and if he will pay compensation to operators compelled to continue running uneconomic services

(91478)

53
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many extra District Line trains have run since the closure of parts of the Circle Line.

(91088)

54
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many meetings Ministers have had with (a) officials and (b) others regarding the draft Aeroplane Noise (Amendment) Regulations 1999.

(91052)

55
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to publish the Urban White Paper.

(91393)

56
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the total cost to local authorities of introducing half-fare bus travel for all pensioners.

(91449)

57
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on driver recruitment for bus operators; and what plans he has to introduce new bus driver instruction regulations.

(91489)

58
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to publish the Rural White Paper.

(91392)

59
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to repeal United Kingdom rules on bus and coach drivers' hours and apply EU rules to all operations.

(91490)

60
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to allow motorcycle couriers to use bus lanes in London.

(91488)

61
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many of the Government's performance targets for (a) London Underground and (b) London Buses have been met in the last two years.

(91528)

62
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he plans to extend the Working Time Directive to the road transport sector.

(91491)

63
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to give statutory force to local transport plans.

(91529)

64
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what criteria he will use to evaluate the performance of Quality Partnership.

(91322)

65
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, whom he plans to consult before approving draft regional development agency strategies.

(91050)

66
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list annual bus ridership figures from 1992 to 1998 in (a) Greater London, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) Merseyside, (d) Greater Manchester, (e) South Yorkshire, (f) West Yorkshire, (g) West Midlands and (h) the rest of England.

(91406)

67
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what will be the cost of installing the planned 360 on-bus cameras for the enforcement of bus lanes in London.

(91487)

68
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how he will determine whether Quality Contracts are necessary in a local authority area.

(91405)

69
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the funding arrangements for planned transport infrastructure improvements for Wembley Stadium.

(91497)

70
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of household waste from Greater London is (a) recycled, (b) incinerated and (c) taken to landfill sites.

(91499)

71
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what studies he has commissioned into the commercial effects of repealing section 92(1) of the Transport Act 1985 or otherwise relaxing local authorities' duty not to inhibit competition in bus services.

(91417)

72
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what functions of Training and Enterprise Councils will be taken over by the regional development agencies when TECs are abolished.

(91502)

73
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received regarding compensation for bus operators excluded from routes or areas under a re-regulated Quality Contract.

(91418)

74
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the regional development agencies will determine the boundaries of local learning and skills councils; and whom they must consult beforehand.

(91503)

75
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many meetings the Minister for Transport in London had with officials and others regarding the draft Stansted Airport Aircraft Movement Limit (Amendment) Order 1999.

(91049)

76
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to set national criteria for determining the social necessity of uncommercial passenger bus services.

(91408)

77
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to consult on proposals to improve roadworks management standards.

(91498)

78
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many new bus registrations there were in England in (a) 1994, (b), 1995, (c), 1996, (d), 1997, (e) 1998 and (f) 1999 to date.

(91394)

79
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of the total bus subsidy in England supports services operating in (a) metropolitan areas, (b) non-metropolitan areas and (c) Greater London.

(91407)

80
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects the national public transport timetable information system to be available.

(91324)

81
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how he intends to improve the enforcement of bus priority schemes.

(91496)

82
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many landfill sites (a) in Greater London and (b) outside Greater London receive household waste from Greater London.

(91500)

83
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many Quality Contract pilot schemes he intends to approve, and when.

(91323)

84
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what national planning guidelines there are on the siting of transmission masts on schools and colleges; and if he will make a statement.

(91501)

85
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many bus service registrations have been rejected by the Traffic Commissioners in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(91416)

86
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what were the average daily passenger figures for the Circle Line connecting (a) Tower Hill and Aldgate and (b) Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington over the last 12 months.

(91051)

87
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if employer-provided bus services will be required to meet Quality Partnership standards before being permitted to use Quality Partnership facilities.

(91505)

88
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of 1999 rural bus challenge funds were allocated to projects in the (a) North West, (b) North East, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) West Midlands, (e) East Midlands, (f) Eastern, (g) South West and (h) South East Government Office regions.

(91411)

89
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he has decided to designate (a) Vauxhall Bridge Road and (b) Belgrave Road as red routes.

(91504)

90
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the half-fare concessions scheme for pensioners will apply to forms of local passenger transport other than buses.

(91410)

91
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to ensure that all applications to the Inland Revenue for C1S6 and C1S5 certificates are processed before 1st August; and if he will make a statement.

(90787)

92
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much income, or deemed income, is received from premium bonds per annum; and what percentage of this income is paid out in prizes.

(91276)

93
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many contracts of a value greater than £10,000 his Department has with companies in (a) London, (b) South East England, (c) England, (d) Scotland, (e) Wales and (f) Northern Ireland; and what is the total value of such contracts for each area.

(90835)

94
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people, and what percentage of the population, held premium bonds in (a) 1979, (b) 1989 and (c) 1999; and what was the average holding.

(91402)

95
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received about the liability for VAT on work done by vehicle repair shops owned by insurance companies; and if he will make a statement.

(91315)

96
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the level of the fuel duty rebate in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98 and (d) 1998-99; and what the projection is for (i) 1999-2000 and (ii) 2000-01.

(91404)

97
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of when the River Danube in Serbia will be open for normal commercial traffic; what assessment he has made of the effect of the blocking of the River Danube to commercial traffic on the economies of adjacent states other than Serbia; and what help is being given by NATO and the EU to adjacent states whose commercial and industrial traffic has been affected by the blocking of the Danube by destroyed Serbian bridges.

(90004)

98
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much expenditure his Department (a) has incurred to date and (b) expects to incur in the future, on preparations for possible United Kingdom entry into the European single currency; and if he will make a statement.

(91237)

99
N   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the new Commission of Enquiry into the HFEA/HGAC recommendations on cloning will be appointed.

(90836)

100
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Peterborough of 6th July, Official Report, column 498, concerning national standards for care homes, what the closing date for the consultation will be.

(90925)

101
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to (a) introduce price controls for NHS purchases of generic medicinal drugs and (b) strengthen price controls for NHS purchases of branded medicinal drugs.

(91509)

102
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if consultant surgeons and other consultants working in the private sector are obliged to publish their charging arrangements; and what assessment he has made of the extent of differential pricing for operations and consultations charged to insurance compared with charges made directly to patients.

(91275)

103
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the National Service Framework for Older People will improve access to organised stroke services; and if he will make a statement.

(91325)

104
   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Birmingham Selly Oak of 14th April, Official Report, column 257, what representations he has received regarding the working group on the status of transsexual people; what meetings he and his officials have had with groups representing transsexual people; and what plans he has made for such meetings in the future.

(91294)

105
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pusuant to his Answer of 5th July, Official Report, column 325, on the M4 bus lane, when information on the number of motorists that have been (a) charged and (b) cautioned for using the new bus lane on the M4 will be made available.

(91409)

106
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the last five years for which figures are available, of those defendants who pleaded not guilty at (a) the Crown Court and (b) the magistrates' court, how many were acquitted and how many convicted.

(91396)

107
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has commissioned into the respective (a) rates of conviction, (b) levels of sentencing upon conviction following a plea of not guilty between (i) stipendiary and (ii) lay magistrates and (c) the levels of sentencing upon conviction following a plea of not guilty of (i) judges in the Crown Court, (ii) stipendiary and (iii) lay magistrates; and if he will publish it.

(91397)

108
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the last five years for which figures are available, how many defendants have elected trial by (a) jury and (b) magistrates; and what proportion of defendants charged with either way offences (a) and (b) represent.

(91395)

109
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in respect of offences triable either way, what was, for the last five years for which figures are available, the average period between the plea of not guilty and the trial in (a) the Crown Court and (b) the magistates' courts

(91398)

110
   Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications were made for British Citizenship by non-British nationals under the age of 18 years in (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997 and (d) 1998; and how many such applications have been (i) granted and (ii) refused in each of these years.

(91289)

111
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there were in Sussex in (a) May 1997 and (b) May 1999.

(91450)

112
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures she intends to take to improve the situation in Somalia with regards to (a) food, (b) seeds and (c) health assistance.

(91296)

113
N   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps are being taken to secure representation for Somalia in the negotiations on the successor to the Lome� Convention.

(91090)

114
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to prevent growth in the number of deaths due to smoking in the developing world.

(91198)

115
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to work towards a global ban on tobacco advertising.

(91199)

116
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is giving to the re-building of the civil administration in Kosovo; and if she will make a statement.

(91293)

117
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Prime Minister, if progress in response to the threat of the millennium bug was discussed and an assessment of the millennium compliance of the global economy made at the recent Cologne Summit; and if he will make a statement.

(91297)

118
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he last invoked the Luxembourg Compromise.

(91495)

119
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff he plans to employ during the next 12 months in (a) his London Office and (b) Scotland; and what will be the grade of those staff.

(91400)

120
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the number, grade and previous experience of his staff in (a) London and (b) Edinburgh.

(91321)

121
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July , Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices of the Benefits Agency in the Highland Region and the Western and Northern Isles.

(90927)

122
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 6th July, Official Report, columns 506-7, if his estimate assumed that (a) a separate Scottish system would require the provision of new buildings or (b) a separate Scottish system would be denied access to existing computer systems; and if he will make a statement.

(90926)

123
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the procedural steps for assessing eligibility, reviewing, appealing and making payment of (a) child support allowance, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit and (d) income support; and which of the offices of his Department and its agencies in Scotland handle each of these steps.

(90866)

124
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 6th July, Official Report, columns 506-7, what were the total fixed costs for his Department in the UK; and if he will provide a breakdown by category of these costs for (a) his Department and (b) each relevant agency.

(90928)

125
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefits Agency office would handle (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility of the claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal relating to the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for a person living in Elgin and claiming incapacity benefit.

(90865)

126
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the percentages of households with (a) savings of up to £1,000, (b) savings between £1,000 and £20,000, in bands of £1,000 and (c) savings above £20,000; and if he will give the same data for households where the head of household is between 50 and 65 years.

(91053)

127
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July, Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will indicate the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices of the Benefits Agency in the South of Scotland Region.

(90790)

128
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will review the current situation in respect of the award of disability benefit to Penn Wooding of Brixham, Devon; and what plans he has to clarify the instruction on form DLA 434 sections 2 and 2A with reference to the rubric relating to changes in circumstance.

(90833)

129
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July, Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices of the Benefits Agency in the Mid Scotland and Fife Region.

(90791)

130
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will set out the progress that has been made in implementing article 8 of the EC Revised Voice Telephony Directive.

(90789)

131
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the arrangements are for remunerating the members of industrial development advisory committees for expenses that arise in the exercise of their duties.

(90659)

132
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the members of the North West Industrial Development Advisory Committee and the dates of their appointment.

(90660)

133
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the persons who have attended each of the last 12 meetings of the North West Industrial Development Advisory Committee when applications for regional selective assistance have been under discussion.

(90661)

134
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what guidance he gives to members of the North West Industrial Advisory Committee on the exercise of their responsibilities on behalf of the Secretary of State.

(90662)

135
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions in each of the last five years decisions taken by the North West Industrial Development Advisory Committee have been subject to amendment by the Secretary of State under the Industrial Development Act 1982.

(90663)

136
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what guidelines he has given to members of the North West Industrial Development Advisory Committee on the policy of his Department towards the allocation of regional selective assistance to areas of high unemployment in the North West of England.

(90664)

137
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the policy of his Department is on decisions taken by members of industrial development advisory committees which do not reflect the priorities of his Department.

(90665)

138
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what procedures his Department follows to ensure that conflicts of interest cannot arise in the case of the (a) members of industrial development advisory committees and (b) those who advise them.

(90666)

139
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will amend the membership criteria of industrial development advisory committees to include representatives of elected bodies, trade union organisations and sub-regional development organisations.

(90657)

140
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what guidance he has given industrial development advisory committees on responding to approaches from honourable Members prior to the consideration of applications for regional selective assistance.

(90667)

141
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list by name of recipient all allocations of regional selective assistance in the last five years to organisations in the North West of England, the value of the assistance and the date of the allocation, in development and intermediate areas separately.

(90668)

142
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he next intends to announce an appointment to the North West Industrial Development Advisory Committee.

(90651)

143
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in what circumstances pressures from competitors on UK commercial undertakings can be taken into account by the members of industrial development advisory committees or those advising them when considering applications for regional selective assistance.

(90652)

144
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what statistics are collected by his Department in respect of rejections of applications for regional selective assistance which lead to the cancellation of the proposed investment projects and a consequential loss of potential jobs.

(90653)

145
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs or potential jobs lost as a result of refusals of applications for regional selective assistance which have led to the cancellation of the proposed investment in each of the last three years.

(90654)

146
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of regional selective assistance per job created in the North West of England in the last five years.

(90655)

147
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions in the last five years members of the North West Industrial Development Advisory Committee or those who advise them have had to stand aside from the consideration of regional selective assistance applications for reasons of either personal or professional conflict of interest.

(90656)

148
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he next intends to review the workings of the Industrial Development Act 1982 in relation to the allocation of regional selective assistance.

(90658)

149
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the future of Crown post offices; and when he will lift the moratorium on conversion of Crown post offices to agency status.

(91314)

150
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement about the future of the powers of entry, search and arrest currently enjoyed by the Investigation Branch of the Royal Mail under his proposals for a limited company.

(91481)

151
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if (a) the postal archives and (b) the Post Office Museum will become part of the public limited company under his proposals for the Post Office.

(91480)

152
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions his Department has held with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport regarding the future of the Post Office Archives and the Post Office Museum; and if he will make a statement.

(91479)

153
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has held with the Energy Regulator on (a) two-way net metering and (b) industry charging and remuneration policy for photovoltaic installations.

(91448)

154
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance is being given to Nepal to help improve its educational infrastructure.

[Question Unstarred] (89775)

155
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 14th July.

[Question Unstarred] (89793)

156
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what factors underlay the time taken to publish the report of the Competition Commission on Milk Marque.

[Transferred] (91312)

157
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many accidents have been recorded in science laboratories in the last 10 years in (a) schools and (b) higher educational establishments.

[Transferred] (91278)

158
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the design life of the Thames Barrier; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (91403)

159
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much has been spent by the Environment Agency on improving flood defences in Leicestershire since Easter 1998.

[Transferred] (91313)