Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 9 November 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 9 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.

TUESDAY 9th NOVEMBER

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to improve the descriptions of eggs for sale in terms of the rearing system used.

(97501)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will prohibit the description farm fresh eggs from being used to describe those originating from battery systems.

(97502)

3
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the legal status of the Florence Agreement in respect of dairy calves of the export ban on live cattle.

(98017)

4
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans his Department has to replace the current large MAFF-specified cattle ear tags with more durable, smaller, stronger tags containing a microchip.

(97691)

5
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what application of the principle of best value is made to Integrated Administration and Control System inspections of farms.

(97690)

6
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much money was recovered from surveys made through the Integrated Administration and Control System farm inspections in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99.

(97694)

7
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the cost of a farm inspection programme under the Integrated Administration and Control System in total per year; and what is the cost per farm inspected.

(97693)

8
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if his officials will rely on Ordnance Survey maps for calculating land area when completing Integrated Administration and Control System forms.

(97692)

9
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he expects the conclusions of the BSE Inquiry conducted by Lord Justice Phillips to be published.

(97698)

10
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who was responsible for authorising the original design brief for the new National Stadium.

(97981)

11
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations he has received from (a) the British Olympic Association and (b) other sporting bodies regarding the proposed capacity of the new National Stadium; and what response he has made.

(97980)

12
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the factors contributing to the fall in the number of people employed in the tourism industry in England between December 1997 and December 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(97988)

13
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his policy is towards holding the Olympic Games in the United Kingdom.

(97985)

14
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Sport England Lottery grant for the development of the new National Stadium was conditional on the inclusion of an athletics facility.

(97983)

15
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications of seating capacity options at the new National Stadium for the likely success of a future bid to host the Olympic Games in the United Kingdom.

(97984)

16
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what requirements regarding seating capacity for track and field events were contained in the original design brief for the new National Stadium.

(97982)

17
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his visit to China earlier this year.

(97979)

18
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what agreement he has reached with the Chinese authorities regarding the trade in illegal copies of compact discs and videos.

(97987)

19
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on what seating capacity options for the new national stadium have been considered by his Department.

(97986)

20
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the titles of research studies, audits and surveys (a) being undertaken and (b) commissioned by his Department for completion within (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, indicating in each case when the results are due to be published.

(98015)

21
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the titles of official departmental reports being prepared for publication in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000, indicating in each case the planned date for publication.

(98016)

22
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the information technology projects being undertaken by his Department and agencies responsible to his Department including the (a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

(98014)

23
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the depleted uranium in armour-piercing ammunition is converted upon impact to insoluble oxide particles of less than 10 microns in diameter; and what parameters, transfer coefficients and methodologies are used in estimating the radiological effects of such particles.

(97689)

24
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to provide additional assistance to lone parents on income support who wish to progress to higher education.

(97409)

25
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the information technology projects undertaken by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies, including the (a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

(98021)

26
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to establish single local learning and skills councils for Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes; and if he will make a statement.

(98035)

27
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he received a copy of the report from the Newspaper Publishers' Association on targets for the recycled content of newsprint; if he will make a statement; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

(97685)

28
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent advice he has received from industry representatives concerning the maximum achievable recycled content of newsprint; and if he will make a statement.

(97684)

29
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he met representatives of the Newspaper Publishers' Association in the last 12 months.

(97686)

30
N   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what changes in the law will be required to implement the Government's policy for speeding up the process of buying and selling homes in England and Wales.

(96379)

31
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, under what head voluntary contributions to HM Treasury as a supplement to income tax are classified; and how much was received under this head in the last financial year.

(97493)

32
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to review the persons eligible for support under the Civil List.

(97494)

33
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to review the arrangements relating to the Civil List.

(97495)

34
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the level of financial support provided by 1991 Civil List arrangements.

(97496)

35
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if monies allocated to the Civil List by the 1991 arrangement which remain unspent at the end of the 10-year period will be returned to the Treasury.

(97497)

36
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the amount each member of the Royal Family would have received under the Civil List in each year from 1991 had the 1991 figure been increased each year by the rate of inflation.

(97498)

37
N   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the total value of (a) ISAs sold in the period April to September and (b) PEPs sold in the same months in 1998.

(97862)

38
N   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the amount of income tax paid was per resident tax payer in each county in England for the latest year for which data is available.

(96412)

39
N   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average gross weekly household income was for each county in England for the latest year for which data is available.

(96413)

40
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date the Bank of England agreed to act as the depository for the Central Bank of Kuwait to lend part or all of its official gold reserves to the market.

(97675)

41
N   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) fixed assets, property and land and (b) moveable assets owned by the Government and its agencies (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in Scotland.

(97296)

42
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to introduce a tourist tax on popular tourist attractions.

(98034)

43
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Cynon Valley of 28th October, Official Report, column 993, on the Chinese State visit, (a) for what reason no minutes were taken of these meetings and whether that is normal practice and (b) if he will name the officers from (i) the Metropolitan Police and (ii) the Cambridgeshire Constabulary who attended these meetings.

(97508)

44
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions (i) he and (ii) his Department has had with the governments of Peru and Colombia about the export of precursors to drugs; and if he will make a statement.

(96497)

45
N   Mr Ian Pearson (Dudley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what programmes and resources British Trade International and his Department have to support companies which wish to make investments in Central and Eastern Europe.

(97865)

46
N   Mr Ian Pearson (Dudley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what programmes and resources British Trade International and his Department have to assist companies looking into the feasibility of making investments in Central and Eastern Europe.

(97864)

47
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans Her Majesty's Government has to enter into bilateral agreements under Article 98 of the International Court Statute which would prevent the extradition of nationals to (a) the court and (b) a third country.

(97828)

48
   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the information technology projects undertaken by his Department and agencies responsible to his Department, including the (a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) expected completion date, (d) planned costs and (e) estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

(98022)

49
N   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what were (a) the number of people waiting for 12 months or more for hospital treatment and (b) the total number of people waiting for hospital treatment, in May in each year from 1992 to 1999 in the Worcester Royal Infirmary Trust area.

(96414)

50
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has carried out into levels of plutonium found in the teeth of children in the UK; and what were the results of the research.

(97697)

51
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the remit is of his Department's Radiation Protection Research Programme.

(97724)

52
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what concentrations of plutonium have been measured in the tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes of people in (a) West Cumbria and (b) other regions of England in the last three years.

(97695)

53
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the health effects of the concentrations of plutonium measured in the tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes of people of West Cumbria.

(97696)

54
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department is undertaking or contributing to into the proportions of different forms of uranium oxides resulting from the impact of armour-piercing ammunition containing depleted uranium, and associated health effects.

(97725)

55
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement regarding his plans to investigate waiting list management at Dereford Hospital.

(97826)

56
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for New Forest West will receive a substantive response to his question of 19th October on discussions with the professions regarding levels of clinical suspicion.

(97827)

57
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to reply to the letter of 29th July from the honourable Member for Northavon regarding vaccinations, acknowledged on 2nd August (reference POH (3) 5303/62).

(97866)

58
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to require operators of animal sanctuaries to be licensed.

(97505)

59
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to transfer the operation of anti-social behaviour orders to the County Court.

(96380)

60
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact on the speed of the home buying process of his proposal to restrict the commercial use of the electoral register.

(97989)

61
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to amend the right to trial by jury in fraud cases.

(96386)

62
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to alter the right to trial by jury in fraud cases.

(96389)

63
N   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to amend the right to trial by jury in fraud cases.

(96382)

64
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the average price paid in (a) September and (b) October, in 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1990 and 1985 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, for suckler calves in the principal markets for such stock in Northern Ireland.

(97825)

65
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what information he has obtained concerning alleged involvement of members of the UVF in the murder of the three Quinn children in Ballymoney.

(97823)

66
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what items of capital expenditure on new buildings for government departments in Northern Ireland are planned for the current and next three years (a) in the grounds of the Stormont Estate and (b) elsewhere in Belfast; and what is the estimated cost of each such building.

(97779)

67
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will review whether members of the UVF should qualify for early release under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.

(97821)

68
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons claiming affiliation to each terrorist organisation were in prison in Northern Ireland on (a) 1st January and (b) 1st November; and, of those remaining, how many he estimates will be in prison on 1st January 2000.

(97824)

69
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will place in the Library a copy of the reply received by his predecessor to her letter, with annex, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Irish Republic, sent in the second week of July and deposited in the Library on 13th July.

(97780)

70
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if the person recently found guilty of the murder of the Quinn children has been accepted in the prison as a member of the UVF group there.

(97822)

71
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what additional funding, excluding funds for training, was provided to each of the health and social services boards for implementation of the Children (NI) Order 1995 in the financial years 1995-96 to date.

(97688)

72
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the actual spend on child care services in each health and social services board from April 1996 to March 1999.

(97687)

73
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Council, on how many occasions, in each parliamentary session since 1992, Lords amendments to bills which have been the subject of a motion moved in this House to disagree have been (a) rejected and (b) accepted by this House.

(97820)

74
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last had meetings with representatives of the Scottish opencast coal industry; and what issues were discussed.

[R] (97682)

75
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what guidance he has given to the Office of Fair Trading to ensure that the interests of the consumer are reflected in its operating policy.

(97500)

76
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with mortgage lenders on Friday 29th October.

(97504)

77
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effect of differences in financial commitment by local authorities on the application of trading standards rules.

(97499)

78
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to review (a) the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and (b) the Estate Agents Act 1979.

(97503)

79
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to ensure that the interests of consumers are addressed within Government.

(97506)

80
N   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he was consulted by the Post Office before its decision to appeal against the minimum wage ruling of the employment tribunal in the case of Sub-postmistress Elizabeth Bain of Tone, Inverness.

(97863)

81
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps have been taken by HM Government to encourage the transfer of opencast coal production from road to rail; what percentage of coal produced is transported by rail; and what reports he has received regarding the efficiency of the rail services provided to the industry.

[R] (97679)

82
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many persons are employed in the opencast coal industry in (a) Scotland and (b) England; what is the annual output of the industry in each country; and what percentage of the output of each is used by power stations.

[R] (97677)

83
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will seek reports from the rail regulation authorities about the efficiency of service provided to the opencast coal industry; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (97681)

84
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the future of the Scottish coal industry.

[R] (97676)

85
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the total amount of coal imported to the UK in each of the past five years broken down by the nations from which the coal was imported.

[R] (97680)

86
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions he has had with owners of power stations about their long-term purchases of coal produced in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (97678)

87
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he last met representatives of the opencast coal mining industry; and what issues were discussed.

[R] (97683)

88
N   Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to restrict the periods of (a) display and (b) sale of fireworks to the period immediately preceding 5th November and the new millennium.

(97898)

89
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for what reasons an extra £35 million was allocated to his Department in addition to the block grant during the financial year 1998-99.

(98020)

90
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make it his policy to ensure that all Government decisions are subject to a consumer impact assessment.

[Transferred] (97507)

91
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many children were living in households in each decile of income up to half average income for each year since the data was collected, broken down by (a) whether the children live in (i) one and (ii) two parent families and (b) by the economic status of the parents.

[Transferred] (97912)

92
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how long the moratorium on the sale of publicly-owned forest land will last.

[Transferred] (98018)

93
   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what criteria govern the sale of publicly-owned forest land.

[Transferred] (98019)



© Parliamentary copyright 1999	Revised 9 November 1999