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House of Commons

Session 1998-98 Publications on the internet The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 8 November 1999 Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 8 November of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

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

MONDAY 8th NOVEMBER
1	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received concerning the likely effects of genetically-modified food on anaphylactics and other food allergy sufferers from (a) industry, (b) environmental and (c) consumer groups.
	(97974)
2	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to license the use of (a) proteins and (b) genes in GMOs which have been shown to cause anaphylactic shock.
	(97807)
3	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to introduce (a) a good practice code and (b) a charter mark to encourage the food processing industry to avoid the inclusion of allergens in its products.
	(97972)
4	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to introduce (a) a good practice code and (b) a charter mark to encourage food retailers and caterers to avoid the inclusion of allergens in the foods that they sell.
	(97973)
5	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to regulate the use of GMO ingredients which carry risk for allergy sufferers.
	(97884)
6	Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received as a result of his campaign to ensure that public authorities take account of animal welfare when purchasing pork and pork products.
	(97911)
7	Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assistance is being provided by his Department to the Heritage Seed Library at Ryton.
	(97808)
8	Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will introduce diversification grants in non-assisted areas.
	(97841)
9	Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what forecast he has made of the future take-up of grant aid for conversion to organic farming.
	(97843)
10	Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the practicability of setting up a separate meat and livestock commission in Wales answerable to the National Assembly.
	(97812)
11	Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will consult with the agricultural industry on the options available to the Government in relation to the future of less-favoured areas under Agenda 2000.
	(97811)
12	Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to adopt the specified risk material disposal system as utilised by the French Government.
	(97813)
13	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the growth of the UK organic food market over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.
	(97940)
14	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how representatives of the small farming sector will be involved in the proposed agriculture development scheme; and if he will make a statement.
	(97793)
15	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which successor organisation to Milk Marque, farmers in Shrewsbury and Atcham will be able to join on 1st April 2000; and if he will make a statement.
	(97939)
16	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to ensure the German ban on British beef is lifted quickly; and if he will make a statement.
	(97792)
17	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of household milk sold in England in the last year for which figures are available was organic; and if he will make a statement.
	(97938)
18	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the review of the Meat Hygiene Appeals Tribunal; and if he will make a statement.
	(97794)
19	Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will place in the Library the full remit of the further consultation underway between France and the United Kingdom in respect of British beef.
	(97796)
20   N	Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects the Arts Council of England to publish its 1998-99 Annual Report.
	(97712)
21   N	Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if construction work on each of the zones in the Millennium Dome will be completed by 31st December.
	(97774)
22   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on his policy towards the future regulation of programme output on (a) BBC1 and (b) ITV.
	(97591)
23   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement in respect of his policy towards the percentage of home-produced material broadcast on SkyTV.
	(97590)
24   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the suitability for screening prior to the 9 pm watershed of programmes of United States origin depicting extensive use of firearms.
	(97588)
25   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, at what time in the morning the watershed period before which programmes unsuitable for family viewing are discouraged, ends.
	(97592)
26   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to improve regulation of satellite television providers.
	(97589)
27   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the ITC in respect of News at Ten and its successor programmes; and if he will make a statement.
	(97597)
28	Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimates he has made for the time when analogue television transmission will be discontinued, of the percentage of (a) the viewers of BBC1 who will have access to analogue but not digital equipment in their homes and (b) the viewers of S4C who will have access to analogue but not digital equipment in their homes.
	(97953)
29	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that the medium range Trigat missiles will be completed before the Milan 1 ATGW systems expire.
	(97876)
30	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK troops took part in the Bright Star 99 exercise; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.
	(97879)
31	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what forces make up the UK's Amphibious Readiness Group.
	(97878)
32	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of replacing the Milan 1 ATGW systems with the medium range Trigat missiles.
	(97875)
33	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what Royal Naval forces were deployed in the 'Bright Star 99' exercise.
	(97880)
34	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK troops participated in the Saffron Sands exercise; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.
	(97877)
35   N	Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the inflow and outflow rates for (a) the Territorial Army, (b) the Royal Naval Reserve and (c) the Royal Auxiliary Airforce for (i) officers and (ii) other ranks, for each of the years from 1994-95 to date.
	(97661)
36   N	Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sexual discrimination cases involving his Department are pending before (a) the European Court of Justice and (b) the European Court of Human Rights.
	(97666)
37   N	Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has paid in employment protection to employers of members of (a) the Territorial Army, (b) the Royal Navy Reserve, (c) the Royal Auxiliary Airforce and (d) sponsored reservists mobilised in each year for which figures are available since 1989-90; and if he will make a statement.
	(97663)
38   N	Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sexual discrimination cases have been brought against his Department in industrial tribunals since 1st February 1995; in how many such cases rulings were made against his Department; how much financial compensation was paid in each case; and how many cases are awaiting decision.
	(97668)
39   N	Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the readiness cycle for mobilisation for operations in (a) the Territorial Army, (b) the Royal Navy Reserve, (c) the Royal Auxiliary Airforce and (d) among sponsored reservists for the deployment of (i) formed units and (ii) individual members to regular units; and if he will make a statement.
	(97662)
40   N	Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from which posts in (a) the Army, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy women are excluded; what percentage of overall service posts this represents; and if he will make a statement.
	(97667)
41   N	Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on Major-General Spacey's report, Welfare in the Army; and when he intends to make the report public.
	(97660)
42   N	Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sexual discrimination complaints against his Department since 1st February 1995 (a) have been made under service redress procedures, (b) were upheld by his Department at that stage, (c) came before industrial tribunals, (d) came before the European Court of Justice and (e) came before the European Court of Human Rights.
	(97664)
43	Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) servicemen and women and (b) civilians are (i) resident or (ii) visiting for work at the Warminster Training Centre; and how many physicians and other trained medical staff provide (1) 24-hour cover and (2) working day cover.
	(97856)
44	Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) physiotherapists and (b) osteopaths are (i) resident at or (ii) visitors to the Warminster Training Centre; and if he will make a statement about medical support at Warminster Training Centre.
	(97852)
45	Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many orthopaedic surgeons are in post at Royal Hospital, Haslar; what is the waiting time for an appointment for (a) a local civilian and (b) a serving member of HM Forces; and how many (i) servicemen and (ii) civilians are on (1) the waiting list and (2) the pending list.
	(97853)
46	Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) his Department's pensions review and (b) his Department's compensation review will be (i) completed, (ii) presented to ministers and (iii) published; and if he will make a statement.
	(97851)
47	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the (a) safety and (b) continuing need for practice low flying for (i) home and (ii) NATO defence commitments.
	(97929)
48   N	Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to make an announcement about the future of RAF Neatishead, Norfolk.
	(97665)
49   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is (a) expenditure to date and (b) planned expenditure over the next two years on the New Deal for Disabled People.
	(97775)
50   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students are wholly or partly exempted from paying tuition fees; what proportion that represents of the student body; and what is the range of that proportion between the various higher education institutions.
	(97655)
51   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the development of educational and youth international exchanges.
	(97484)
52   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what arrangements his Department has made to ensure that higher education institutions do not breach the prohibition on top-up fees.
	(97657)
53   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) considered in connection with the equivalence between GNVQs Intermediate and Advanced qualifications and their GCE counterparts.
	(97491)
54   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on measures designed to curtail fraud in the student support system.
	(97489)
55   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on recent developments in the field of educational and vocational exports.
	(97485)
56   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the (a) current operations and (b) use made of the National Academic Recognition and Information Centre.
	(97487)
57   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what studies he has undertaken into the relative values of grades awarded at GCE A Level.
	(97490)
58   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what progress has been made in developing a unique student identification number.
	(97488)
59   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the current net yield of tuition fees at higher education institutions in England.
	(97656)
60   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what advice he has circulated to local authorities and contractors about the relative priority in careers advice to be given to young people studying for qualifications (a) at Level 3, (b) at Level 2 and (c) at or below Foundation Level.
	(97486)
61   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many disabled people have so far obtained employment through the New Deal for Disabled People.
	(97751)
62	Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the comparative administration costs associated with (a) New Deal trainees and (b) FEFC-funded students in further education colleges.
	(97904)
63	Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance he has issued to the Employment Service in respect of the exceptional circumstances in which New Deal trainees taking the full-time education option can progress to Level 3 courses.
	(97905)
64	Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many New Deal trainees on the full-time education option have progressed to Level 3 courses.
	(97906)
65	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many advanced skills teachers are paid (a) more than £36,000, (b) more than £38,000 and (c) £40,000 per annum.
	(97846)
66	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the average pay of advanced skills teachers.
	(97848)
67	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many advanced skills teachers are currently in post; and if he will give a breakdown of the number of advanced skills teachers in (a) each local education authority and (b) each education action zone in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.
	(97847)
68	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the number of advanced skills teachers who will be in post in each of the next five years.
	(97845)
69	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is his estimate of the annual cost of administering performance related pay.
	(97936)
70	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he plans to answer the questions of 21st October from the honourable Member for Hertsmere regarding nursery class sizes, secondary school class sizes of 41 or more, classes of 31 or more in maintained schools and lists of local education authorities with classes of over 41 at Key Stage 2 and secondary level.
	(97885)
71	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd November, Official Report, column 201, on class sizes in primary schools, what factors underlay his decision to restrict the collection of data to classes for five, six and seven year olds.
	(97932)
72	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, which measures of classroom teachers' performance in assessment for performance related pay do not relate to attainment by pupils.
	(97930)
73	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much funding has been available through the Standards Fund for the provision of advanced skills teachers in each year since its inception.
	(97857)
74	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is his most recent estimate of the number of teachers who will pass through the threshold assessment for performance related pay.
	(97935)
75	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what appeal procedures will be available to teachers who are dissatisfied with their assessment under performance related pay.
	(97937)
76	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the effect on education spending of introducing performance related pay over (a) the next three years, (b) the next five years and (c) the next ten years.
	(97934)
77	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, further to the letter of 30th September from the Minister of State for Education, if he will list the interested parties involved in consultation about the future of A level photography; and how many consultees were in favour of abolishing A level photography.
	(97933)
78	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the cost was of collecting data on infant class sizes in September.
	(97844)
79	Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to make additional funding available to (a) local education authorities and (b) individual schools with an above average number of teachers achieving threshold success following the implementation of performance related pay.
	(97931)
80	Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the current proportion of 11 year olds achieving a reading age appropriate to their age (a) in the last year for which figures are available and (b) two years ago in (i) England, (ii) the North West Region and (iii) Bolton.
	(97909)
81   N	Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance Her Majesty's Government has given to universities which employ nurses on the relationship between pay awards for nurses employed by universities and those employed by the NHS; and if he will make a statement.
	(97671)
82   N	Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those firms approved as registered providers of ICT to schools under the National Grid for Learning.
	(97771)
83   N	Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the criteria used to determine which firms qualify to be registered providers of ICT in schools under the National Grid for Learning.
	(97772)
84   N	Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teachers were in post in infant classes in (a) January 1998 and (b) January 1999.
	(97757)
85   N	Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the rights to protection against unfair dismissal enjoyed by head teachers and the legislation in which those rights are enshrined.
	(97093)
86   N	Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of international examples of best practice with regard to teachers' employment rights; and what examples exist of teachers being subject to dismissal by bodies or individuals other than their employers.
	(97094)
87   N	Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the number of school inspections carried out and the average cost of school inspections in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools for each of the last five years.
	(97095)
88   N	Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list by local education authority (a) the number of admission appeals held to date under the current admissions regulations and (b) the current number of surplus school places; and if he will make a statement on the continuing role of local education authorities in setting school admissions policies for their areas.
	(97096)
89	Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the average time taken by his Department to decide planning applications which have been called in in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what targets he has set on the length of time taken to determine such planning applications.
	(97910)
90	Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to increase the speed limit on motorways.
	(97946)
91	Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of car owners who use motorways less than once a month; and what proportion never use motorways.
	(97907)
92	Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to reduce the speed limit in built-up residential areas.
	(97945)
93	Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what relationship he proposes between regional development agencies and local authority development agencies.
	(97837)
94	Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what part regional development agencies will play in the development and implementation of local transport policies.
	(97835)
95	Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what relationship he proposes between regional development agencies and local authorities.
	(97836)
96	Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he last met leaders of the water industry; and what matters were discussed.
	(97902)
97	Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of current levels of investment in the water industry.
	(97903)
98	Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of OFWAT's efforts to ensure that water companies are able to finance the proper execution of their functions.
	(97947)
99	Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he has taken to ensure that the funding criteria applied to water companies will ensure satisfactory levels of future investment.
	(97948)
100	Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the impact upon employment levels of planned future reductions in the price of water.
	(97949)
101   N	Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has for the removal of full moped licence entitlement from new car licences; and if he will make a statement.
	(97672)
102   N	Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) moped riders and (b) cyclists were (i) killed and (ii) seriously injured in the years 1993 to 1998; what were the annual rates per 100,000 in each case; and if he will make a statement.
	(97673)
103   N	Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the circumstances surrounding the suspension and subsequently continued employment of train drivers who are caught driving without due care or attention.
	(97776)
104   N	Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to announce the allocation for provisional local transport plans for 2000-01; and if he will make a statement.
	(97710)
105   N	Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of road fatalities that are caused by (a) excessive speed, (b) failure to observe traffic regulations, (c) failure to observe traffic signs and (d) failure to observe maximum speed limits in the most recent year for which figures are available.
	(97777)
106   N	Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd November, Official Report, column 85, concerning major road schemes, if he will estimate the capital cost of each of the schemes listed and provide a total figure.
	(97709)
107   N	Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what were the total amounts of the bids made by local authorities in their provisional local transport plans for the years 2000-01 and 2001-02 for projected local transport capital expenditure on (a) maintenance of principal highways, (b) maintenance, assessment and strengthening of bridges, (c) individual schemes costing more than £5 million and (d) individual schemes and groups of related schemes costing less than £5 million; and if he will list the total cash bid for each authority for each year.
	(97703)
108   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what information his Department holds and what discussions have taken place with (a) Railtrack and (b) train operators in relation to (i) the funding of signalling on the LTS line and (ii) the punctuality and safety implications of the introduction of a new station at West Ham on this line; and if he will make a statement.
	(97406)
109   N	Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the future of the M4 bus lane.
	(97773)
110   N	Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had on the application to extend Bursting Stone Quarry in Cumbria.
	(97670)
111	Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what schemes his Department operates to assist pensioners to install smoke alarms in their homes; and if he will make a statement.
	(97963)
112   N	Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received from non-governmental organisations concerned with development issues regarding the UK Government's position on the Biosafety Protocol; and if he will make a statement.
	(97658)
113	Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the numbers of leasehold (a) properties and (b) households for each local authority area.
	(97804)
114	Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will report on the progress of the Docklands Light Railway.
	(97901)
115   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the improvements to the Treasury building to be achieved through the proposed PFI scheme.
	(97596)
116   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been spent on (a) maintaining, (b) decorating and (c) otherwise improving the Treasury building since 1st May 1997.
	(97595)
117   N	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his official engagements were between 3.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday 3rd November.
	(97749)
118   N	Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individuals trading as personal service companies are currently (a) on contract to HM Treasury, (b) on contract to the Inland Revenue and (c) employed by EDS in pursuance of their contractual obligations to the Inland Revenue.
	(97295)
119	Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what calculation he has made of the cost of collection and administration of the climate change levy for (a) the Government, (b) large companies and (c) small and medium sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement.
	(97855)
120	Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from scientists and engineers about the effect of the climate change levy on (a) large companies and (b) small and medium sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement.
	(97840)
121	Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the effect the climate change levy will have on GDP, based on the assumption that industry will not be able to pass on the climate change levy to customers; and if he will make a statement.
	(97858)
122	Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect the climate change levy will have on the balance of payments between the UK and the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
	(97859)
123	Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will exempt companies which make reductions in their carbon dioxide emissions commensurate with the UK's national reduction targets agreed at Kyoto from the climate change levy; and if he will make a statement.
	(97861)
124	Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact the climate change levy would have on future investment in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
	(97854)
125	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to relieve the tax burden on middle-income earners, defined as those earning between £15,000 and £29,000 per year.
	(97926)
126   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list (a) the rules governing the local environmental trusts created under the provisions of landfill tax legislation, (b) the method or format by which nominated trustees are to be selected and (c) the common core provisions that have to exist in any trust's constitution, in particular in relation to safeguarding the trust's work from the interests of the industries contributing to the trusts.
	(97401)
127   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the membership of the regulatory body overseeing the work of environmental trusts set up under the landfill tax legislation, indicating from where the members are drawn, the duration of their office and their terms of reference.
	(97402)
128	Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Ludlow of 2nd November, Official Report, column 168, on the EU Budget, if he will convert the figures contained in his Answer into sterling.
	(97806)
129   N	Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how, and under whose authority, the London gold bullion market is supervised; and what reporting requirements exist in gold bullion trades to prevent the manipulation of the gold market.
	(97394)
130   N	Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in what form authority was given to the Governor of the Bank of England to sign the statement issued on 26th September by 15 European central banks entitled, Statement on Gold.
	(97392)
131   N	Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedure was followed to sell gold from Britain's reserves.
	(97395)
132   N	Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the official gold reserves expressed in tonnes of (a) Germany, (b) France and (c) Italy; and what will be the gold reserves expressed in tonnes of the United Kingdom after the completion of the gold sales programme announced on 7th May.
	(97396)
133   N	Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the United Kingdom would continue to (a) own and (b) control its gold reserves if Britain were to join the single European currency after January 2002.
	(97393)
134   N	Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultation took place with other governments and central banks prior to the announcement on 7th May about the sale of the United Kingdom's gold reserve.
	(97397)
135	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will arrange for a representative from the British Embassy in Beijing to be present at the trial of Jiang Qisheng.
	(97900)
136	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking in respect of the decision of the Chinese Government to make Jiang Qisheng stand trial.
	(97899)
137	Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd March, Official Report, column 125, what progress has been made in obtaining the report of the Nigerian police on the death of Mr. Mark Davey in April 1998.
	(97956)
138	Mr Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to monitor the operation of trade agreements between the European Union and both the Palestine Authority and the PLO; what assessment he has made of the levels of cooperation given by Israel to the implementation of these agreements; and what impact such cooperation has had on Palestine's ability to trade with the EU.
	(97873)
139	Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to sign the Council of Europe Charter on Minority and Regional Languages.
	(97883)
140	Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Philippines Ambassador concerning human rights abuses in Canatuan and the question of indigenous land rights in that area.
	(97809)
141	Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects to reply to the letter sent to him on 12th July regarding Dr Amin of Birkenhead.
	(97944)
142   N	Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the total amounts paid in compensation for the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade to (a) the Government of the People's Republic of China and (b) individuals in the People's Republic of China.
	(96144)
143	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to report on preparations for enlargement of the EU at the next Intergovernmental Conference.
	(97924)
144   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in which (a) regions and (b) cities there are European Commission representative offices in the Russian Federation outside of Moscow.
	(97405)
145   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what initiatives Her Majesty's Government is taking to assist the civil prison service in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.
	(97404)
146   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what initiatives Her Majesty's Government is taking to assist the restoration of municipal government in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.
	(97403)
147   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in which (a) regions and (b) cities there are diplomatic representations of European Union member states in the Russian Federation outside of Moscow, indicating which of these posts issue visas to Russian nationals to travel to (i) EU countries in the Schengen zone and (ii) EU countries outside the Schengen zone.
	(97400)
148   N	Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many people accompanied the Chinese President on his state visit, (a) arriving with him and (b) in advance; into which categories these people fell; and how many of them were known to his Department to be from the Chinese police or other security services.
	(97756)
149	Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many permits were issued by the Israeli government to Palestinians for travel from Gaza to (a) Israel and (b) the West Bank (i) for each of the six months preceding the opening of the Southern Safe Passage and (ii) since the opening of the Southern Safe Passage.
	(97978)
150	Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many housing units in Jewish settlements on the West Bank have been demolished; and how many new housing units in Jewish settlements on the West Bank have been started since 14th October.
	(97976)
151	Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the agreement made on 14th October between the Israeli Government and the Yesha Council.
	(97975)
152	Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on continued house demolitions by the Israeli authorities in East Jerusalem.
	(97977)
153	Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to use Article 124 to opt out of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court when it ratifies the International Criminal Court Statute.
	(97882)
154   N	Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will give a substantive reply to the letter from the Right honourable Member for North-East Hampshire dated 5th July regarding the outcome of his Department's review of direct payments for care.
	(97292)
155	Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if laser treatment to deal with acne scarring is currently available on the NHS.
	(97952)
156   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on delays in the payment of grants to student nurses.
	(97492)
157   N	Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the availability of supplies of vaccines for childhood immunisation programmes; and if he will make a statement.
	(97533)
158	Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the expenditure per head (a) in England, (b) in each English health region and (c) in each English health authority area on health services estimated for the current financial year and for the previous two financial years.
	(97967)
159	Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been recovered from insurers of those responsible for road accidents under the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999; in how many cases recovery has been achieved; and if he will make a statement.
	(97802)
160   N	Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the (a) actual and (b) percentage increase in the price of generic drugs to the NHS over the last 12 months.
	(97293)
161   N	Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the change in the drug tariff to the NHS for 1,000 thyroxin 100 mcg in actual and percentage terms between November 1998 and November 1999.
	(97291)
162	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the number of nurses (a) in the NHS and (b) at York District Hospital.
	(97795)
163   N	Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to reduce deaths from prostate cancer.
	(97669)
164	Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS Direct schemes are (a) in operation and (b) planned; and if he will make a statement.
	(97964)
165	Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the salary and benefit for the financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 for the Chair and Chief Executive of Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare Trust.
	(97819)
166	Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the career structure for laboratory technicians in the NHS.
	(97818)
167	Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what complaints he has received in respect of side-effects of prescribed corticosteroids.
	(97797)
168	Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission further research into the side-effects of steroid-induced inflammation following prescribed corticosteroids for eye treatment; and if he will make a statement.
	(97798)
169	Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the incidence of motor neurone disease (a) amongst those aged (i) under 16 years, (ii) 16 to 60 years and (iii) over 60 years and (b) in total, in the most recent years for which figures are available.
	(97791)
170	Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the level of funding targeted by his Department on (a) the treatment of motor neurone disease and (b) research into motor neurone disease during 1999.
	(97790)
171	Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the level of funding targeted by his Department on (a) the treatment of multiple sclerosis and (b) research into multiple sclerosis during 1999.
	(97788)
172	Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the incidence of multiple sclerosis (a) amongst those aged (i) under 16 years, (ii) 16 to 60 years and (iii) over 60 years, and (b) in total, in the most recent years for which figures are available.
	(97789)
173   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions since 1st May 1997 local authorities have (a) refused to allow the screening of films cleared by the British Board of Film Classification and (b) permitted the screening of films deemed unsuitable for screening by the British Board of Film Classification.
	(97593)
174   N	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is on the manufacture for sale abroad by UK companies of defence and security goods that are illegal in the UK; what action is taken against such companies; and if he will make a statement.
	(97483)
175	Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are his plans for publishing on the Internet further draft statutory instruments to be made under the Data Protection Act 1998.
	(97886)
176	Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to require that (a) local authority social services and (b) local police are informed when prisoners with a record of convictions involving the sexual abuse of minors are released.
	(97969)
177	Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he has taken to implement Recommendation 63, regarding stop and search provisions, in the Macpherson Report.
	(97810)
178   N	Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to implement sections 40 and 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.
	(97408)
179	Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to reply to the letter sent to him on 16th June regarding Mr Khalid Shalabi Suliman of Birkenhead.
	(97943)
180   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions in the past five years a Metropolitan Police vehicle has been damaged consequent to the firing of police small arms during an operation; and if he will make a statement.
	(97407)
181   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions in the past five years a firearm held by a Metropolitan Police officer has been fired accidentally in an operational situation; and if he will make a statement.
	(97398)
182	Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the textile, clothing and footwear produced within HM Prisons is sold at normal commercial prices for goods of comparable quality; and what measures are in place to ensure that this is done.
	(97959)
183	Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the annual sales turnover of textile, clothing and footwear products produced within HM Prisons broken down between those consumed by (a) the Prison Service, (b) other Government Departments, (c) local authorities and (d) the private sector in each of the last five years.
	(97958)
184	Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of HM Prisons are engaged in the production of textiles, clothing and footwear; and what was the annual turnover of such products in each establishment in the latest year for which information is available.
	(97957)
185	Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with chief constables in England on their planning arrangements for 31st December and 1st January 2000; and if he will make a statement.
	(97962)
186	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ensure that illegal immigrants and bogus asylum seekers do not remain in the UK.
	(97891)
187	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total cost in each of the last 10 years of (a) welfare benefits, (b) medical and (c) education for illegal immigrants and asylum seekers in the UK.
	(97890)
188	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has for the speedy clearing of the backlog of asylum applications.
	(97888)
189   N	Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what budget has been allocated for Scottish Grand Committee meetings in the next session.
	(97654)
190	Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee, what arrangements have been made between the Library and the British Museum for the keeping of those parts of the Library's older book stock which are of antiquarian interest but which are seldom needed by honourable Members.
	(97838)
191	Mr Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimates she has made of per capita water consumption by (a) Israelis and (b) Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
	(97874)
192	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her policy is on making the WTO subject to greater scrutiny and accountability; and what plans she has to suggest such changes at the WTO Seattle Conference.
	(97893)
193	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to (a) review market access for developing countries and (b) assess the impact of zero tariffs for agricultural and textile exports from developing to developed countries.
	(97892)
194	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the Government's plans for financial and technical assistance to developing countries, setting out how much such assistance has been given in each of the last 10 years.
	(97894)
195	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to improve the mechanisms for Special and Differential Treatment for Less Developed Countries.
	(97895)
196	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to ensure that government procurement, competition policy and investment are addressed at the WTO Seattle Conference.
	(97896)
197	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will review the effects of existing trade agreements on developing countries, with particular focus on smaller communities and their environment, before the WTO Seattle Conference in November.
	(97889)
198   N	Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list assets sold by her Department and their value item by item in each year from 1991-92 to 1998-99; and if she will estimate the value of asset sales planned to be made in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.
	(97723)
199	Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent representations she has received on women's human rights in Pakistan; and if she will make a statement.
	(97816)
200	Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many legal aid franchises for the provision of advice in immigration and nationalty cases have been created in the North East Region; and how many cases it is estimated these franchises will take up.
	(97968)
201	Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will identify, for each of the last three years, (a) the 10 sets of chambers with the highest number of judicial appointments, (b) the number of appointments from those chambers broken down by reference to judicial rank and (c) the total number of judicial appointments in each year, broken down by judicial rank.
	(97961)
202	Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what percentage of defendants who elect at committal for a Crown court trial (a) in the Liverpool Magistrates' Court and (b) in England and Wales subsequently plead guilty.
	(97887)
203   N	Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the offences for which prisoners released under the accelerated prisoner release scheme have been (a) arrested and (b) charged.
	(97704)
204   N	Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many prisoners released under the accelerated prisoner release scheme have since been arrested in connection with terrorist-related offences.
	(97747)
205   N	Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd November, Official Report, column 135, concerning prisoners released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, what constitutes a terrorist-related offence; if such offences relate to crimes committed in (a) mainland Britain and (b) the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
	(97778)
206	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many vehicles were registered as in the ownership of (a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and (b) the Police Authority for Northern Ireland in each of the last five years and the current year at the latest available date.
	(97803)
207   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, how much has been spent on (a) maintaining, (b) decorating and (c) otherwise improving 10 Downing Street since 1st May 1997; how much has been spent on wallpaper; and what plans exist for future spending.
	(97594)
208   N	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what his official engagements were between 3.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday 3rd November.
	(97748)
209   N	Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Prime Minister, which department will answer the letter from the honourable Member for North Essex to him of 29th July concerning the threatened closure of Foudry Court Elderly Persons Home; when it will do so; and which department has responsibility for care of the elderly.
	(97746)
210	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will create a ministry for rural development; and if he will make a statement.
	(97839)
211	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 1st November, Official Report, column 3, on the European Charter of Rights, (a) when he expects to publish the name and qualifications of the personal representative he is nominating to the drafting body of the working group and (b) what items he expects to be included in such a charter additional to those in the existing European Convention and those capable of introduction under existing treaty powers.
	(97954)
212	Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the expenditure per head on health services in Scotland for the current financial year and each of the two previous financial years.
	(97966)
213	Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the expenditure per head for each Scottish health board area estimated for the current financial year and for each of the previous two financial years.
	(97965)
214	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent talks he has held with European Commission officials regarding meat exports and imports.
	(97928)
215   N	Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what inflation assumption and what financial provision was made in the Comprehensive Spending Review for 2000-01 for the uprating of the basic state pension.
	(97480)
216	Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the level of benefit fraud in the Bolton area; and what targets have been set for the anti-fraud team in Bolton.
	(97908)
217   N	Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many individuals trading as personal service companies are currently under contract to (a) his Department, (b) the Information Technology Services Agency and (c) the Benefits Agency.
	(97294)
218	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what representations he has received on (a) his proposals for reform of the Child Support Agency and (b) the length of time of the implementation of his proposals.
	(97925)
219   N	Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what notice Australia gave of its decision to terminate the social security agreement between Australia and the UK; and what the ramifications will be for British pensioners covered by the existing agreement.
	(97399)
220	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what function is performed by, the observatory on Family Matters, appointed by the European Commission; what are its (a) terms of reference and (b) annual cost; and who represents Her Majesty's Government on it.
	(97955)
221	Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what criteria are used to determine the countries in which United Kingdom state pensions are uprated in line with inflation; and what proposals he has to amend those criteria.
	(97897)
222	Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people in the West Midlands are currently on the waiting list for the consideration of appeals against unsuccessful claims for disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.
	(97801)
223	Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Solicitor General, what arrangements the Serious Fraud Office will make with the Financial Services Authority to ensure the effective enforcement of the criminal law in cases of financial crime.
	(97842)
224   N	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultation he has had with the higher education sector about the implications of the EU Copyright Directive; and if he will make a statement.
	(97750)
225   N	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the defence and security goods that are currently prohibited from (a) use by UK security services, (b) sale within the UK and (c) sale abroad under export licence.
	(97481)
226   N	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what mechanisms are in place to control and monitor advertisements on his Department's export website; and if he will make a statement on the advertisement placed on his Department's website by Nisam International of Esher listing stun guns among the equipment the firm was prepared to sell.
	(97482)
227	Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list changes since 1st May 1997 to United Kingdom law in areas covered by his Department's responsibilities which have been directly legislated by EU Regulations; and if he will list these regulations.
	(97950)
228	Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what procedures his Department has to ensure that British industry is not put at a competitive disadvantage compared with industry in other EU member states from the timing and implementation of EU directives.
	(97951)
229   N	Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he introduced his stricter consents policy on energy sources for power generation; and when he will relax it.
	(97659)
230	Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will assess the effect the climate change levy will have on UK industrial competitiveness relative to that of (a) Belgium, (b) Norway and (c) Sweden; and if he will make a statement.
	(97860)
231	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of forthcoming EU directives on electronic commerce; and if he will make a statement.
	(97960)
232	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what support the Government will give to British organic food producers at the Bio Fach trade fair in February 2000; and if he will make a statement.
	(97941)
233	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what reports he has received that the RSA-155 e-commerce code has been broken by the Dutch National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science; and if he will make a statement.
	(97942)
234	Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received about the non-inclusion of Beeston Rylands, Nottingham, under Objective 2.
	(97970)
235	Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made in establishing procedures to compensate sufferers of vibration white finger from the former mining industry; how much compensation has been paid to date; and if he will make a statement.
	(97815)
236	Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made in establishing procedures to compensate sufferers of diminished lung function from the former mining industry; how much compensation has been paid to date; and if he will make a statement.
	(97814)
237	Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will establish a vibration white finger test centre in North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement.
	(97800)
238   N	Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if Lottery monies which are used as a constituent part of projects attracting Objective 1 European funding will be termed public or private expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
	(97534)
239   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of land for which the Church Commissioners are responsible for the cultivation of GM crops.
	[Question Unstarred] (96157)
240	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on the possible introduction and use of a reacting portable device for drug testing of road users; and if he will make a statement.
	[Transferred] (97927)
241	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to review the First Aid at Work Regulations with particular regard to the use and administration of medication for sufferers of (a) anaphylaxis, (b) diabetes and (c) other medical conditions.
	[Transferred] (97805)
242	Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what number and percentage of jobseeker's allowance claimants have been proved to be claiming fraudulently in each of the last five years; and what savings have been made in each of these years as a result of benefit withdrawal in such cases.
	[Transferred] (97881)
243	Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to revise the Working Time Regulations.
	[Transferred] (97817)
244	Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what arrangements he is making to ensure that specialist milks are marketed effectively after 31st March 2000, with particular reference to Jersey, Ayrshire and organic milk.
	[Transferred] (97849)
245	Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has for using a single co-operative to market organic milk after 31st March 2000.
	[Transferred] (97850)
246	Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the locations in North Staffordshire where he is monitoring contamination of surface waters by discharges of mine water; and if he will list those which (a) have and (b) do not have discharge consents.
	[Transferred] (97799)

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