Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1998-98
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 11 November 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 11 November of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Thursday 11 November, of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order of Business.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer from Friday 12 November, see Part 2 of this Paper.

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

THURSDAY 11th NOVEMBER

1
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he expects to reply to the letter of 1st September from Mr Robert Persey, a constitutent of the honourable Member for Tiverton and Honiton, concerning human sewage sludge in French pig and poultry feed.

(98181)

2
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98219)

3
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98211)

4
   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if land, which has been used within the horticultural industry with buildings thereon but where agricultural rates have been paid, falls within his definition of brownfield land.

(98333)

5
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many targets have been agreed since May 1997 between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

(98320)

6
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the last year for which information is available, for how long fisheries licences were frozen before (a) the Chief Inspector decided there was no case to answer, (b) the Chief Inspector decided to issue a written warning, (c) the charges resulted in a conviction and (d) the charges were dismissed.

(98370)

7
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will take steps to require that the requirement set out in Clause 125 of the Financial Services and Markets Bill should apply to all sector regulators in respect of their regulatory decision-making role; and if she will make a statement.

(98088)

8
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what procedures are in place to ensure that departments comply with the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Assessment guidelines.

(98089)

9
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans she has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by her Department and its agencies; and if she will make a statement.

(98216)

10
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the total number of vehicles used by her Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans she has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98197)

11
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from the BBC about the system of funding television licence fees by direct payment from the Department of Social Security; and if he will make a statement.

(98377)

12
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what safeguards exist to prevent transfer of ownership of televisions to people aged 75 years or over in households where there are people younger than 75 years in order to avoid payment of the television licence fee.

(98372)

13
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of net revenue in each of the next five years which may be lost to the BBC as a result of proposals to introduce a free television licence fee to people aged 75 years and over.

(98374)

14
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he had with the BBC about proposals to introduce a free television licence fee for people aged 75 years and over.

(98375)

15
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the percentage of BBC television licence fee revenues which will be funded by the Department of Social Security following the introduction of free television licences for people aged 75 years and over.

(98376)

16
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Department of Social Security prior to the announcement of proposals to introduce a free television licence fee for people aged 75 years and over.

(98373)

17
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98210)

18
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98220)

19
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many targets have been agreed since May 1997 between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

(98319)

20
N   Mr Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many Millennium Experience tickets have been sold to date in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each of the English regions.

(98126)

21
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if people using the proposed new visitors' centre at Stonehenge who are (a) members of English Heritage, (b) members of the National Trust, (c) members of the National Trust for Scotland and (d) local people exercising their right of free access to the stones will be charged for (i) car parking (ii) access to the visitors' centre and (iii) access to the stones.

(98047)

22
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will break down the press releases issued by his Department in the past 12 months by broad departmental responsibility.

(98147)

23
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 5th November, Official Report, column 362, what sums will be provided in 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 to pre-eminent regional collections through the Designated Museums Challenge Fund.

(98239)

24
N   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Cherwell District Council will receive a reply to the letter sent to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State earlier this year concerning the joint venture agreement between his Department and the North Oxfordshire Consortium.

(98044)

25
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98221)

26
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98209)

27
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what meetings he has had with health authority managers regarding the use of NHS personnel in a military emergency; and if he will make a statement.

(98316)

28
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the medical services of the Territorial Army.

(98314)

29
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to reorganise the career structure of the Territorial Army Medical Service.

(98315)

30
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the involvement of the Gurkhas in the Remembrance Day commemorations.

(98328)

31
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral Answer of 8th November, Official Report, column 679, concerning night patrols by the Irish Guards in Kosovo, when the honourable Member for Linlithgow will receive the letter promised.

(98137)

32
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 8th November, Official Report, column 681, on heavy lift aircraft, if he has re-opened the competition for interim strategic lift capability which was terminated by the Minister for Defence Procurement on 4th August.

(98330)

33
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to complete his review of the in-service date of the Bowman project.

(98046)

34
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) studies and (b) tests he proposes to commission concerning the effects on Gulf War veterans of depleted uranium weapons and armour.

(98354)

35
N   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the grammar schools visited by himself or his Ministers since May 1997, identifying the Minister in each case.

(98144)

36
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average unit of resource derived from public funds and authorised tuition fees, where applicable, was for a full-time equivalent student at a higher education institution in England for the past three academic years; and what figure is projected for the current year.

(98240)

37
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what measures he is taking to maintain morale and staff retention and to give advice and assistance to those employed by organisations likely to be affected by proposals in Learning to Succeed (Cm. 4392); with particular reference to (a) the Further Education Funding Council, (b) training and enterprise councils; and (c) the training standards council; and if he will make a statement.

(98099)

38
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what studies he has made into differences in the course drop-out rate for trainee teachers according to (a) whether they are on Bachelor or Postgraduate Certificate of Education courses, (b) their gender, (c) their ethnic origin and (d) whether or not they are disabled; and if he will make a statement.

(98100)

39
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98208)

40
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98222)

41
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answers of 27th July, Official Report, column 185, and 29th October, Official Report, column 1009, concerning class sizes, when he now plans to write to the honourable Member for Hertsmere.

(98237)

42
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what measures he is taking to reduce class sizes in Northampton South.

(98321)

43
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of people leaving the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds had by the end of August returned to the New Deal or Jobseeker's Allowance (a) within 13 weeks, (b) within 26 weeks and (c) within 52 weeks.

(98187)

44
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received from head teachers regarding the timetable for the introduction of the National Grid for Learning and the Government's post-16 education and training reforms between April and September 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(98282)

45
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what recent representations he has received from head teachers on (a) improving school performance and (b) performance-related pay for heads; and if he will make a statement.

(98281)

46
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, in which directorate of his Department the LEA Support Unit is located; how many staff were employed in that unit at the end of September; and what the budget of the unit is in the current year.

(98298)

47
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many staff are employed in his Private Office; how many of those staff are political appointees; and what the current year's budget is for the Private Office.

(98296)

48
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the total amount of matched funding which has been pledged by business in the first year of the operation of Round Two Education Action Zones; and what proportion of that funding will be in cash.

(98284)

49
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the members, budget and terms of reference of the National Educational Research Forum.

(98286)

50
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many staff are employed within his Department in the (a) schools, (b) finance and analytical services, (c) personnel and support services, (d) strategy and communications, (e) further and higher education and youth training, (f) employment, lifelong learning and international and (g) operational directorates; and what the current year's budget is for each directorate.

(98276)

51
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the research projects related to raising standards in schools which have been commissioned by his Standards and Effectiveness Unit since May 1997.

(98285)

52
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many staff were employed in the Standards and Effectiveness Unit at the end of September 1999; and what the budget of the Unit is in the current year.

(98297)

53
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much of the £18 million of sponsorship for the Education Action Zone initiative which was announced on 8th November has been (a) in kind and (b) in cash.

(98283)

54
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of total spending on education is retained by each local education authority for the purpose of central administration.

(98361)

55
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of local education authorities spend (a) below, (b) at and (c) above their standard spending assessments.

(98367)

56
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assistance is provided to former grant maintained schools which make staff redundant on changing to foundation school status.

(98366)

57
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the announcements of additional expenditure on education made between May 1997 and the publication of the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011), stating the date of the announcement and the amount announced in each case.

(98253)

58
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the announcements of extra expenditure on education since July 1998 not included in the additional money announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011), giving the dates of those announcements and amounts announced in each case.

(98252)

59
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what sums have been allocated to the Service Development Fund for (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 indicating those allocations and expenditures made from the Service Development Fund to date.

(98250)

60
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 28th June, Official Report, columns 56-8, concerning education initiatives launched since May 1997, how much of each initiative's budget was (a) spent centrally and (b) distributed in grants in financial years (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 1998-99.

(98327)

61
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what (a) amount and (b) percentage of the extra money for education announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) is to be expended (i) through the Standards Fund, (ii) through education standard spending assessments and (iii) otherwise.

(98251)

62
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much of the extra money for education announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) has been (a) allocated to and (b) spent on (i) employment and (ii) Welfare to Work programmes, for each relevant financial year.

(98246)

63
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much of the extra money for education announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) included (a) matched funding for standards fund and other centrally-managed projects contributed by local authorities and (b) permission to local authorities and others to increase their borrowings.

(98245)

64
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the (a) planned and (b) actual education expenditure by (a) central and (b) local government for 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, indicating the change for each year compared with the previous year in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

(98335)

65
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the decision to class student loans as government assets was taken into account when the total additional educational expenditure announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) was calculated.

(98336)

66
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98207)

67
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98223)

68
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 3rd November from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Whitty, to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, reference P/W/28454/99, concerning cytotoxic drugs, when he expects the report on NHS ward staff handling such drugs to be (a) completed and (b) published.

(98146)

69
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to letter AM/15632/99 of 15th June from his Department to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, what was the result of the September meeting of the member states of the Atlantic Biogeographical Region on sand dunes; and what action has been taken to protect duneland habitats.

(98280)

70
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 3rd November from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the honourable Member for Sunderland South to the honourable Member for Linlithgow, reference CM/20311/99, if he will make a statement on progress at the Conference of the Parties at the Bonn Convention in respect of sensitive species, with particular reference to dolphins, turtles and albatross.

(98145)

71
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on British aerospace companies.

(98325)

72
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if it is the Government's policy to support the European Union's application to joint Eurocontrol; and if he will make a statement.

(98153)

73
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans his Department has to extend the use of the M4 bus lane to include high-occupancy vehicles; and what measures he plans to implement to ensure compliance with this rule.

(98184)

74
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) buses, (b) taxis and (c) bus services use the M4 bus lane; and what were the equivalent figures for the same stretch of road prior to the bus lanes existence.

(98185)

75
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made the effect of the M4 bus lane on traffic flow and journey times on the M4 (a) between the M25 intersection and the start of the bus lane and (b) before the M25 intersection at (i) rush hour and (ii) off-peak periods; and if he will publish the recent report submitted by the Road Transport Laboratory.

(98182)

76
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 impact of a formal relationship between the European Union and Eurocontrol on sovereignty over UK air space.

(98155)

77
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to introduce variable speed limits on the M4 between the M25 intersection and the Chiswick terminus.

(98183)

78
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans the Government has to give decisions of Eurocontrol direct applicability and direct effect in the United Kingdom.

(98154)

79
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if it is the Government's policy to lower the permitted blood alcohol level for driving; and if he will make a statement.

(98149)

80
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimates he has made of (a) the number of passengers carried in the M4 bus lane and (b) the number of people who have changed their journey routes to avoid the M4 since the bus lane was established.

(98186)

81
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what provision has been made to protect against loss to public funds as a result of (a) failure and (b) overrun of (i) time and (ii) cost for the new computer system for the Vehicle Inspectorate.

(98244)

82
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the Government will require guarantees that the new computer system for the Vehicle Inspectorate will work before awarding a contract.

(98243)

83
   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the causes of the fatal accident and fire on the M4 in Berkshire on 1st November.

(98347)

84
   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to amend the law to improve the safety of supplementary fuel tanks on heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

(98371)

85
   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) public funds, (b) private individuals and (c) the private sector arising from delays resulting from the accident which closed the M4 in Berkshire on 1st November.

(98348)

86
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what format will be used for the new photographic driving licence; what information is stored on this licence; what plans he has to introduce further information onto the driving licence; and if he will make a statement.

(98358)

87
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to allow the Countryside Agency to make grants from the Rural Transport Development Fund to enable private hire vehicles to comply with the legislation relating to disability discrimination; and if he will make a statement.

(98363)

88
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his press release of 5th November concerning GM crops, what commercial benefits the consent-holder for GM crops subject to the voluntary agreement will be permitted to seek; if the crops may be given to farmers to feed to animals; what steps he is taking to ensure that such crops do not enter the human food chain; and if he will make a statement.

(98108)

89
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his press release of 5th November, concerning GM crops, if he will list the plantings of farmscale trials of GM crops subject to the voluntary agreement which he expects to agree between now and 2002, indicating the crops to be planted, when they are to be planted, what acreage is required for each, what separation distances will be used for each and how long after harvest he estimates the environmental effects of each crop will be completely evaluated.

(98109)

90
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the proportion which Government subsidies to (a) train operating companies and (b) Railtrack in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) the current year formed or will form of those companies' profits.

(98331)

91
N   Dr Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many respondents to his consultation paper, A Public-Private Partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd., requested confidentiality for their comments; and what were the names of those individuals or organisations whose response to the document was in confidence.

(98170)

92
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to include questions in the 2001 English House Condition Survey on rat infestations associated with dwellings; and who will be responsible for processing and analysing the data.

(98380)

93
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he or any of his Ministers last met representatives of Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council to discuss central government funding and the standard spending assessment for that council; and who was present at that meeting.

(98289)

94
N   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what hours Her Majesty's Customs and Excise will be working over the Christmas and New Year period 1999-2000; and if those hours differ from arrangements in previous years.

(98045)

95
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the European Commission about Council Directive 1999/85/EC concerning reduced VAT rates on labour-intensive services.

(98176)

96
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the number of deaths linked with hypothermia in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Greater London and (f) Sutton and Cheam for each of the last five years for those aged (i) 60 to 64 years, (ii) 65 to 79 years, (iii) over 80 years and (iv) all ages.

(98351)

97
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list excess winter mortality rates in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Greater London and (f) Sutton and Cheam for each of the last five years in terms of (i) numbers and (ii) percentages for those aged (1) 60 to 64 years, (2) 65 to 79 years, (3) over 80 years and (4) all ages.

(98352)

98
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of tax payers in (a) the current tax year and (b) the 1998-99 tax year who have paid extra tax as a result of increasing their endowment payments in the last 10 years of their policy; and how much revenue is involved.

(98334)

99
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what revenue projections he has made for the tax yield from taxable additional payments in the last 10 years of endowment policies.

(98332)

100
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it departmental practice where government departments are seeking to rent or lease property from companies registered overseas in (a) tax havens or (b) otherwise to require the landlords to provide lessees with information as to corporate structure, directors' names and United Kingdom shareholdings prior to entering into such rent or leasing arrangements.

(98269)

101
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98201)

102
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98231)

103
N   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings he has had with representatives of the Professional Contractors Group to discuss IR35.

(98128)

104
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 1st November, Official Report, column 47, if he will add an additional column to the Table indicating the numbers of staff at each grade transferred from the Department of Social Security to the Inland Revenue.

(98349)

105
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

(98318)

106
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been the cost to the Treasury of the Give as You Earn scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

(98000)

107
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many trained primary teachers are registered as unemployed.

(97917)

108
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the present public expenditure cash planning total for the year 2001-02 will remain unchanged when the Comprehensive Spending Review is rolled forward in 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(98357)

109
   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures the Government has taken to assist in the relief of the refugee crisis in Chechnya.

(98311)

110
   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures the Government has taken to persuade the Russian Government to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Chechnya.

(98312)

111
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many members of his Department are deployed in the United Kingdom's mission to the WTO in Geneva; and what are (i) the personnel costs and (ii) the office costs of maintaining them.

(98234)

112
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98206)

113
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98224)

114
N   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the timing of the release of funds allocated by international institutions for stability and reconstruction work in Kosovo in respect of their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

(98097)

115
N   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the prospects for continued operation of power stations in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

(98098)

116
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason the UK rejected the Iraqi appeal to halt patrols over the no-fly zone on the day of the solar eclipse on 11th August.

(98277)

117
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will estimate the number of revenge attacks on (a) gypsies and (b) Jews in Kosovo since September.

(98268)

118
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received from the FBI about the number of bodies found in mass graves in Kosovo.

(98263)

119
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the terms of reference of the Stability Pact in relation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; what objectives it is designed to achieve; how it is organised; where is the Secretariat; and who are its signatories.

(98264)

120
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on attacks by ethnic Albanians on Serbs who have stayed in Kosovo.

(98265)

121
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on UN reaction to the grenade attack on Sunday 7th November on the Serb village of Pasjane.

(98266)

122
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many villagers from Ulastica are under arrest; and for what alleged crimes.

(98267)

123
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the barriers to (a) UK and (b) EU investment and trade with the Ukraine; what (i) formal meetings and (ii) programmes and initiatives have been introduced to overcome such barriers; and if he will make a statement.

(98005)

124
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what occasions since May 1997 the British Ambassador to Ukraine held formal meetings with (a) the President, (b) the Prime Minister and (c) other ministers in Ukraine's government; and on what occasions Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK has had meetings with Government ministers.

(98006)

125
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the (a) staffing levels and (b) budget spent by the British Council in Ukraine in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

(98002)

126
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department collates on the foreign language skills of staff in diplomatic service grades.

(98003)

127
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the governments of Eastern European countries regarding the transportation of horses to the European Union.

(98364)

128
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the NHS Trust and Health Authority appointments which were not made by the due date and which remained outstanding on 1st November.

(98110)

129
   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) Conservative, (b) Liberal Democrat and (c) Labour councillors have been appointed to the boards of (i) NHS trusts and (ii) health authorities since 1st May 1997.

(98346)

130
   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the National Burns Care Review; and when he expects it to be completed and its findings published.

(98262)

131
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral Answer of 30th March, Official Report, column 845, concerning Beta Interferon, if he will convey to the honourable Member for Sutton and Cheam the results of his inquiries into the case of Mrs Josephine Timms.

(98275)

132
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to issue guidance within the NHS on the collection of data relating to the age of patients.

(98279)

133
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98213)

134
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98217)

135
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made since 1st May 1997 in increasing the numbers of student nurses.

(98322)

136
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what inquiries are taking place within the NHS into the medical consequences of the use of the tranquillizer benzodiazepine; and if he will make a statement.

(98313)

137
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the health authority inquiry into the discharge, supervision and later conviction for murder of Dominic McKilligan to be complete; what were the terms of reference of that inquiry; and whether those conducting that inquiry can insist on the cooperation of local authority social services departments.

(98133)

138
   Mr Bruce George (Walsall South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions have been brought by the Medicines Control Agency since 1994 in respect of dermatological products, indicating the products involved.

(98256)

139
   Mr Bruce George (Walsall South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which dermatological products the Medicines Control Agency has required to be withdrawn from sale as a result of unsustainable claims made in respect of them since 1994.

(98257)

140
   Mr Bruce George (Walsall South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions have been brought by the Medicines Control Agency since 1994 to remedy fraudulent or inaccurate claims made in respect of medical products.

(98255)

141
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were waiting for a first appointment with a consultant in the West Sussex Health Authority area on (a) 1st April and (b) 1st October.

(98261)

142
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were on the NHS waiting list for treatment in the West Sussex Health Authority area on (a) 1st April and (b) 1st October.

(98260)

143
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if waiting time for hearing aid installations are included in official NHS waiting list figures.

(98259)

144
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the rules regarding the sale of non-moulded hearing aids in retail outlets.

(98258)

145
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the final version of the Health Service circular on beta interferon.

(98381)

146
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received on the composition of the membership of the Food Standards Agency from (a) consumer organisations, (b) food retailers, (c) food manufacturers, (d) farmers' groups and (e) other organisations.

(98249)

147
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to announce the appointment of the (a) Chairman, (b) Deputy Chairman and (c) membership of the Food Standards Agency.

(98248)

148
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many members of the Food Standards Agency will have a consumer organisation background.

(98247)

149
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many residents of Eastbourne are currently receiving kidney dialysis treatment on the NHS.

(98355)

150
N   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of nursing staff at Eastbourne District General Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

(97326)

151
N   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many electric wheelchairs were issued or paid for by Eastbourne and County Healthcare Trust in each of the last three years.

(98195)

152
N   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase funding for electric wheelchairs in East Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

(98196)

153
   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total staffing levels were for (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96, (c) 1996-97, (d) 1997-98 and (e) 1998-99, and what the projected level is for 1999-2000 for (i) the Derbyshire Police Authority, (ii) the Leicester Police Authority, (iii) the Cheshire Police Authority, (iv) the Yorkshire Police Authority, and (v) the Surrey Police Authority, broken down into total officer strength and total civilian strength.

(98291)

154
   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Government funding was received in real terms in (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96, (c) 1996-97, (d) 1997-98 and (e) 1998-99, and will be received in 1999-2000 by (i) the police forces in England and Wales in total, (ii) Derbyshire Police Authority, (iii) Leicester Police Authority, (iv) Cheshire Police Authority, (v) Yorkshire Police Authority and (vi) Surrey Police Authority.

(98290)

155
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98225)

156
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98205)

157
N   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he has responded to the petition about deaths in custody from families of the deceased; and if he will make a statement.

(98150)

158
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he and his staff have had with Northumbria Police about present procedures for supervising discharged offenders, following the conviction of Dominic McKilligan.

(98132)

159
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he intends to give trial judges the power to extend the registration systems of the Sexual Offences Acts to convicted offenders whose offences contain a strong sexual motivation.

(98131)

160
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to impose a statutory obligation on social services departments and hospital authorities to consult statutory care agencies and the police authorities before discharging anyone from their care who may pose a known risk to the general public.

(98129)

161
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he intends to require an inter-agency risk assessment prior to release of anyone convicted of indecency with children under Schedule 1 to the Sexual Offences Act.

(98130)

162
   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many police authority areas have police used spot fines powers to deter dangerous cycling; and if he will make a statement.

(98345)

163
   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has undertaken into the Canadian police campaign of zero tolerance of domestic violence and its suitability for the United Kingdom.

(98288)

164
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the Consumers Association concerning the effect on social exclusion of commercial use of the electoral register.

(98171)

165
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the value is of London weighting for (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff in the Metropolitan Police; what the rates were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(98173)

166
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total numbers of (a) applications and (b) recruits were in each police force in each of the last three years; what the ratio was of applications to recruits per force in each year; and if he will make a statement.

(98174)

167
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of service is per police officer (a) per force and (b) for England as a whole; and if he will make a statement.

(98175)

168
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total (a) budget and (b) expenditure were for police staff costs for the Metropolitan Police in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(98172)

169
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 1st November, Official Report, column 64, if he will detail the settlements made with the five employees of the Commission for Racial Equality with regard to their claims of racial discrimination against the Commission.

(98369)

170
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his office received passports from Mr Farouk Sarraj and his wife Haj Fadel of 5a Camper Road, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2YR with the request that they have printed on them the permanent right of residence granted by his Department in its letter dated 10th September 1973 (reference F95293), and when he intends to respond to the request.

(98127)

171
   Mr Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate he has made of the cost to the House of (a) the conducting of each division in the House (i) before and (ii) after 10 p.m. and (b) each hour of the House's sittings after 10 p.m., in each case including all costs relating to staff and the Parliamentary Estate.

(98287)

172
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by her Department and its agencies; and if she will make a statement.

(98215)

173
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is the total number of vehicles used by her Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans she has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98214)

174
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what have been the levels of spending of the Know How Fund in each year in the Ukraine; and if she will make a statement.

(98001)

175
N   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 Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement.

(98087)

176
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98227)

177
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98204)

178
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98212)

179
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98218)

180
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made concerning the demilitarisation and normalisation programme since June 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(97762)

181
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the average compensation award made to (a) victims and (b) relatives of victims of paramilitary violence for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(98362)

182
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter of 8th November to the honourable Member for Linlithgow (a) what he has made of the number of refugees made homeless in (i) Kosovo before the cease-fire and (ii) Krajina, (b) what is his latest estimate of the number of mass murders in Kosovo, (c) what he has made of the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving democratic reform in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, (d) what support he has had from the International Committee of the Red Cross for sanctions against Serbia, (e) what requests he has received through international humanitarian organisations for exemptions from sanctions against Serbia and (f) if he will identify the western structures to which he is referring.

(98273)

183
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the visits made since May 1997 by Government ministers to the Ukraine indicating the duration of each visit and its purpose.

(98004)

184
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Prime Minister, what amendments have been made to the Ministerial Code in the past year in relation (a) to soliciting leaked drafts of select committee reports and (b) to their use and retention if their receipt was unsolicited; and if he will make a statement.

(98135)

185
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Prime Minister, what instructions have been given to (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in relation to the handling of unsolicited leaked drafts of select committee reports.

(98134)

186
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98200)

187
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98228)

188
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate (a) the net cost and (b) the gross cost of paying SERPS to widows and widowers at (i) 100 per cent. of spouse's contributions made to 5th April 2000 and (ii) 50 per cent. of spouse's contributions made after 6th April 2000, broken down by each year from 2000 to 2020.

(98091)

189
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefits Agency Pensions Bulletins issued since October 1998 mention SERPS for widows and widowers after April 2000; and if he will publish them.

(98095)

190
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many enquiries (a) by letter, (b) by telephone and (c) in total have been received by the Benefits Agency since October 1998 on SERPS for widows and widowers after April 2000.

(98093)

191
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) honourable Members, (b) members of the public and (c) organisations have written to him since October 1998 about SERPS for widows and widowers after April 2000.

(98092)

192
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 5th November, Official Report, column 339, concerning Benefits Agency information, if he will set out the findings and actions arising from the review.

(98274)

193
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to consult outside organisations before he publishes regulations under Clause 1 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill relating to additional pension for widows and widowers.

(98094)

194
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98203)

195
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98229)

196
   Mr David Curry (Skipton and Ripon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the communications addressed to local authorities by his Department on the administration of housing benefit since 1st January.

(98299)

197
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many staff who worked for the Contributions Agency before it was transferred to the Inland Revenue continue to work on national insurance in his Department.

(98343)

198
   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

(98317)

199
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 8th November, Official Report, column 385, how many individuals trading as personal service companies are currently working for his Department and its agencies.

(98152)

200
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 8th November, Official Report, column 385, if he will publish a list of the seven companies currently contracted to his Department to provide information technology contractor staff.

(98151)

201
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will define the category of individuals classified as credits only in his quarterly incapacity benefit statistics; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the increased size of this group since 1995.

(98278)

202
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many meetings of the Pension Forecasting Advisory Group have taken place so far.

(98293)

203
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many meetings of the working group on Best Practice Guidelines for occupational pensions have taken place so far.

(98294)

204
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many letters his Department has received about his proposals on incapacity benefit; and how many of these were (a) in favour of and (b) against the proposals.

(98148)

205
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Solicitor General, what arrangements exist to ensure that representatives of the Crown Prosecution Service, when negotiating leases on commercial property for use by his Department secure the best possible terms.

(98301)

206
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Solicitor General, if he will investigate occasions when his Department has failed to negotiate lower rents for commercial property where lower rents are available for similar property used by quangoes and private sector operators.

(98305)

207
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Solicitor General, what monitoring arrangements exist to ensure that rents paid by his Department for office accommodation in the regions are comparable to those paid by the private sector and quangoes.

(98302)

208
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Solicitor General, if his Department will publish statistical information indicating the percentage reduction negotiated by his departmental officials for commercial property as against the original rent demanded by landlords.

(98304)

209
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Solicitor General, if he will investigate the effect of increases in commercial rents paid by his Department on similar properties the tenants of which are quangoes or private sector organisations.

(98303)

210
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Solicitor General, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98199)

211
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Solicitor General, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98226)

212
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 16th February, Official Report, column 664, concerning petrol prices and petrol taxation in member countries of the European Union, if he will update those figures.

(98107)

213
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the terms of reference are for the Director General of Fair Trading's review of petrol undertakings; when the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(98233)

214
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what reports he has received in 1999 of smuggled petroleum products being offered to petrol filling stations.

(98179)

215
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many petrol filling stations in the UK closed in (a) 1998 and (b) the first six months of 1999.

(98180)

216
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what guidance he has given to the oil industry concerning the disposal of any stocks of leaded petrol that may remain on 31st December.

(98177)

217
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many complaints were received from petrol retailers by the Director General of Fair Trading in (a) 1998 and (b) the first six months of 1999 concerning their contracts with petroleum suppliers; and what action was taken in response to such complaints.

(98178)

218
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what monitoring arrangements exist to ensure that rents paid by his Department for office accommodation in the regions are comparable to those paid by the private sector and quangoes.

(98307)

219
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will investigate the effect of increases in commercial rents paid by his Department on similar properties the tenants of which are quangoes or private sector organisations.

(98308)

220
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if his Department will publish statistical information indicating the percentage reduction negotiated by his departmental officials for commercial property as against the original rent demanded by landlords.

(98309)

221
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will investigate occasions when his Department has failed to negotiate lower rents for commercial property where lower rents are available for similar property used by quangoes and private sector operators.

(98310)

222
   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what arrangements exist to ensure that representatives of his Department, when negotiating leases on commercial property for use by his Department secure the best possible terms.

(98306)

223
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with developing countries about the forthcoming WTO Seattle Round.

(98236)

224
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98230)

225
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people will be in the UK's official delegation to the forthcoming Seattle Ministerial Meeting of the WTO; how many of those will be (a) Government officials, (b) Ministers and (c) others; and what the estimated cost is of the UK's participation in the meeting.

(98238)

226
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many members of his Department are deployed in the United Kingdom's mission to the WTO in Geneva; and what are (i) the personnel costs and (ii) the office costs of maintaining them.

(98235)

227
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98202)

228
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much inward investment has taken place in the (a) Middleton and (b) Heywood areas since 1st May 1997.

(98254)

229
N   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 5th November, Official Report, columns 336-7, for what reasons £8 million is being transferred from the Reserve to the Post Office for Horizon re-negotiation costs; and what the reason is for the re-negotiation.

(98136)

230
N   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he took legal advice about excluding parents of children aged under five years but born before 15th December 1999 from the new right to parental leave; and what advice he was given.

(98090)

231
N   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he has discussed excluding parents of children aged under five years but born before 15th December 1999 from the new right to parental leave with the European Commission.

(98096)

232
   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what advice he received from the European Commission when he discussed with it excluding parents of children under five years old but born before 15th December 1999 from the new rights to parental leave; and what legal advice he obtained on the subject.

(98241)

233
   Mr Jim Marshall (Leicester South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the outcome of the Industry Council held in Brussels on 9th November; and if he will make a statement.

(98300)

234
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many ex-miners in Scotland have completed spirometry tests; and of those how many are currently in receipt of industrial injuries benefits.

(98342)

235
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims he has received from ex-miners in Scotland for compensation related to chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

(98340)

236
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the total amount which has been paid in compensation to ex-miners in Scotland with chronic bronchitis and emphysema; and how much of this is made up of interim payments.

(98341)

237
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas.

(98198)

238
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(98232)

239
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October, Official Report, column 910, what the total value is of the windfall tax reserve in the current financial year; and what it was in financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99.

[Transferred] (98324)

240
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27th October, Official Report, column 910, if he will list the amounts of, and purposes for which, expenditure from the windfall tax reserve has been authorised to date; and whether such expenditure (i) may be authorised by the Department of Education and Employment alone or (ii) requires the prior agreement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

[Transferred] (98326)

241
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government received all payments and compensation owing from Siemens for computer work at the Immigration Department before Siemens was allowed to bid for the Vehicle Inspectorate system.

[Transferred] (98242)

242
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he intends to publish the report of the 1996 English House Condition Survey on rat infestations associated with dwellings.

[Transferred] (98379)

243
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the Central Science Laboratory has completed the processing and analysis of data from the 1996 English House Condition Survey relating to rat infestations in and around dwellings.

[Transferred] (98378)

244
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the statutory provisions which govern the transportation of horses in the European Union.

[Transferred] (98365)

245
   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to raise awareness amongst cyclists of the need to obey the Highway Code; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (98344)

246
   Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on (a) his assessment of the threat from biological weapons to international security and (b) the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards early completion of the negotiations for an effective protocol to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to enable the protocol to be signed at a conference in London during 2000.

[Transferred] (98329)

247
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new claims for working families tax credit were granted during October; how many new claims there were for family credit in each of the previous 12 months; and how many six-monthly renewals of entitlement have occurred in each of the previous 13 months.

[Transferred] (98292)

248
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many calls about working families tax credit have been received at the Enquiry Line; and how many have led to a claim being granted.

[Transferred] (98295)

249
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what safeguards exist to prevent someone who has been removed from the National Register of Nurses and Midwives continuing to work in the profession as a care worker.

[Transferred] (98323)