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House of Commons
Session 1999-2000
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 28 January 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 28 January 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.
 


 
FRIDAY 28th JANUARY
1  
  
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement to the House of 7th December, Official Report, columns 701-2, whether his plans for expenditure under the EU rural development regulation are subject to the outcome of the current consultation by the Scottish Executive on modulation.
(107803)
2  
  
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to promote the sale of beef to non-EU countries.
(107562)
3  
  
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the total (a) number and (b) value of grants made under the organic farming scheme since its introduction.
(107561)
4  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 24th January, Official Report, column 9W, on BSE, in determining whether a company has a satisfactory and long standing contractual relationship under the OTMS, what examination is made of the annual published accounts of the company concerned.
(107757)
5  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the registered markets for the collection of over thirty month scheme cattle in East Anglia.
(107753)
6  
N  
Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he received a copy of the notification under Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 of Agrevo T25 modified maize; and if he will place a copy of the notification in the Library.
(107541)
7  
  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is her policy with regard to granting civil servants time off work for counselling.
(107575)
8  
N  
Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Brent North, of 24th January, Official Report, column 87W, on what date the Football Association proposed that £20 million be returned to Sport England; what form this proposal took; and where the proposal was made.
(107296)
9  
N  
Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he last met the Chairman and Chief Executive of Sport England; and what matters were discussed.
(107297)
10  
N  
Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to introduce a Football Regulator; and what recent representations he has received from the (a) Football Association and (b) Premier League on this matter.
(107298)
11  
N  
Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his oral statement of 1st December 1999, Official Report, column 306W, which bodies advised him that it seemed unlikely that Wembley could provide an appropriate venue for the World Athletics Championships.
(107299)
12  
N  
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if historic military aircraft restoration projects are eligible for lottery funding; and if he will make a statement.
(107374)
13  
  
Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action his Department is taking to promote Irish (a) culture, (b) arts and (c) sports in Britain.
(107587)
14  
  
Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement about the UK Athletics report into the drug Nandrolone.
(107655)
15  
  
Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the sports eligible for the World Class Performance Programme.
(107654)
16  
N  
Mr Martin Bell (Tatton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which governments and private companies were involved in the sale of landmines formerly held by UK armed forces; and if he will make a statement.
(107272)
17  
N  
Mr Martin Bell (Tatton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of each type of cluster munitions are held by (a) the Royal Air Force, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Army.
(107273)
18  
N  
Mr Martin Bell (Tatton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Air Accident Investigation Branch (a) considered and (b) ruled out the possibility of an uncommanded flying control movement, that left no trace as having occurred prior to the fatal crash of RAF Chinook 2D576 on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994.
(107274)
19  
N  
Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in the review of arrangements for compensating service personnel and their dependants, killed or injured while on service announced on 7th December 1997; and when he will publish a consultation document.
(107439)
20  
  
Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to inform Parliament of (a) the amount spent on nuclear weapons research and (b) plans for research or work on future nuclear weapons systems.
(107597)
21  
  
Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) work and (b) research the Government is funding on future nuclear weapons systems and on the components of such systems; and at what cost.
(107737)
22  
  
Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy of investing in the US National Ignition Facility.
(107734)
23  
  
Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to fund further work or research on the Trident warhead and its individual components; and at what cost.
(107736)
24  
  
Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Government (a) has invested and (b) is planning to invest in the US National Ignition Facility.
(107735)
25  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked.
(107752)
26  
  
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the RAF in the current financial year to date; and how much he plans to expend in the remainder of the financial year.
(107599)
27  
  
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what statutory requirement applies to the provision of transport for children to their nearest state school; and what obligation there is for local education authorities to fund such transport (a) from the nearest bus stop to the school and (b) from the child's home to the bus stop.
(107568)
28  
  
Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what action his Department is taking to (a) identify and (b) address the specific needs of the Irish community in Britain.
(107584)
29  
N  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the total cost to his Department of the publication of his speeches since 1997.
(107436)
30  
N  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much has been spent to date on the New Deal for the long-term unemployed aged 18 to 24 years.
(107437)
31  
N  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many pupil attacks on teachers were recorded in each of the years since 1992.
(107478)
32  
N  
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list those local education authorities on which Ofsted has reported, and the outcome of each report.
(107537)
33  
N  
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many classroom assistants were employed in schools in January 1998 and 1999.
(107538)
34  
N  
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the national learning targets and the current policies against target for each and all other targets set by his Department.
(107539)
35  
N  
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he expects to receive the report by Hay McBer on teacher competencies and other aspects of performance-related pay; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
(107536)
36  
N  
Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish the consultation document on teacher competencies that has been sent to the teacher trade unions together with a list of all those who have been consulted on the document.
(107540)
37  
  
Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the impact on schools' budgets of the use by parents of mobile phone numbers as a point of contact for school staff.
(107610)
38  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the total allocation of Seed Challenge Capital for schools within Essex County Council in the next financial year; and how many schools within Essex County Council are eligible to bid for funds under the scheme.
(107758)
39  
  
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will require insurance companies to insist on minimum standards of maintenance and repair of leased properties they insure.
(107732)
40  
  
Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will instruct the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to discuss with the Association of Train Operating Companies the coverage of the National Routing Guide.
(107596)
41  
N  
Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of new municipal waste incinerators that will need to be built by May 2002 to meet the Government's international commitments.
(107377)
42  
N  
Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to increase the number of waste incinerators; and if he will make a statement.
(107378)
43  
  
Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of extending the right of appeal to opponents of planning applications following granting of planning permission by local authorities.
(107564)
44  
  
Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his decision to refuse Gloucestershire County Council's bid for funding for a route to bypass the A40 through Cheltenham.
(107563)
45  
  
Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the draft proposal by Cuba on hawksbill turtles for discussion at the forthcoming conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
(107609)
46  
  
Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action his Department is taking to (a) develop and (b) support services to the Irish community in Britain
(107586)
47  
  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the safety studies on the A66 will be completed.
(107576)
48  
  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce the decision in the appeal by Alba Proteins against conditions imposed on their plans by Eden District Council.
(107578)
49  
  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce the start of construction on the Cumberland Gap.
(107577)
50  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded.
(107740)
51  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked.
(107751)
52  
  
Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many responses he received on his consultation for the new edition of the Highway Code.
(107657)
53  
  
Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many proposed developments on playing fields have been referred to him for approval following the introduction of new legislation to protect playing fields; and how many he has objected to.
(107725)
54  
  
Mr Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many times he has rejected the recommendations of planning appeals inspectors; what proportion of the total number of such recommendations this represents; and how many such decisions were subsequently the subject of legal challenge, in each of the last five years.
(107592)
55  
  
Mr Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many times he has made decisions which were at variance with determinations made by the appropriate local planning authority following an appeal hearing, in each of the last five years.
(107593)
56  
  
Mr David Curry (Skipton and Ripon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list for each of the most recent 10 years for which figures are available (a) the numbers of dwellings upon which repairs were carried out occasioning a VAT payment, (b) the yield from such payments in each year and (c) the average value of the work carried out.
(107754)
57  
  
Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact that LINK ATM surcharging will have on access to financial services for people on low incomes.
(107729)
58  
  
Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make representations to the LINK board meeting on 29th February, regarding acess to financial services.
(107730)
59  
  
Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the (a) gross earnings, (b) earnings after income tax and national insurance contributions and (c) entitlements to the working families tax credit of a dual-earner couple with two children under the age of 11 years, both earning the minimum wage and where one works full-time and the other 16 hours a week.
(107801)
60  
  
Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the steady-state cost of providing the childcare tax credit to all households with a child below the age of one year on the current tapers, irrespective of whether anyone is in work, assuming that households with a mother in the first (a) 18 and (b) six weeks of maternity leave are not included.
(107651)
61  
  
Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the (a) gross earnings, (b) earnings after income tax and national insurance contributions and (c) entitlements to the working families tax credit of a single parent with two children under the age of 11 years, earning the minimum wage and working (i) full-time and (ii) 16 hours a week.
(107739)
62  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded.
(107741)
63  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked.
(107749)
64  
  
Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the total yield from national insurance contributions in 1999-2000 prices in each financial year since 1978-79, broken down by (a) employer national insurance contributions, (b) employee national insurance contributions, (c) national insurance contributions paid by the self-employed, (d) national insurance contributions paid by the others and (e) the national insurance surcharge; if he will provide corresponding estimates of the investment income of the National Insurance Fund; and if he will provide projections for each of these items of the next three financial years.
(107660)
65  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the Member for Enfield of 19th January, Official Report, column 477W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the US Senate testimony on counter terrorism to which he refers.
(107830)
66  
  
Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Egyptian Government regarding the security of the Christian community following the recent killings in the village of El-kosheh.
(107656)
67  
  
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department instructs British diplomatic staff overseas not to communicate with individual UK nationals.
(107566)
68  
  
Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received concerning the use of child soldiers in Southern Sudan.
(107601)
69  
  
Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received concerning the attack on the relief workers of Norwegian Church Aid, Africa Inolanol Church and the Sudanese Episcopal churches in Southern Sudan.
(107602)
70  
  
Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the UNICEF estimate of the number of children who have died in Iraq during the period for which sanctions have been imposed; and if he will make a statement.
(107591)
71  
N  
John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which health authorities and primary care groups are purchasing bone density measurements by means of dual X-ray absorptiometry for particular clinical indications, as advised in NHS EL (96) 110.
(107440)
72  
N  
John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the efficiency and availability of current provision of dual X-ray absorptiometry.
(107441)
73  
N  
John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the average number of operating hours dual X-ray absorptiometry equipment is in use per week by providers; and what assessment he has made of the hours that they are in use for (a) research and (b) NHS purposes.
(107442)
74  
N  
John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the availability of full diagnostic osteoporosis services in each health authority in England.
(107443)
75  
  
Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the advice given by the World Health Organisation on the addition of fluoride to the water supply.
(107728)
76  
  
Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the proportion of ingested fluoride that is retained in the body of a healthy adult.
(107612)
77  
  
Sir Richard Body (Boston and Skegness):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence he has received on the relationship between incidence of Down's syndrome and the fluoridation of water.
(107611)
78  
N  
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will give the amount of non-capital funding in 1998-99 for (a) the Christie Hospital and (b) the Royal Marsden which was derived from (a) his Department, (b) charitable donations, (c) endowments and (d) other sources.
(107376)
79  
  
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has for publicising the value of selenium in the diet in reducing incidence of cancer.
(107662)
80  
  
Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on NHS chiropody services in Gloucestershire.
(107560)
81  
  
Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of (a) the side-effects of the drug Epilim, (b) the circumstances in which it should not be prescribed to children, (c) the number of cases since 1995 in which children who have been given Epilim have developed (i) fits and (ii) other adverse reactions, (d) the number of cases since 1995 where Epilim has been given to pregnant women and (e) the number of cases since 1995 of pregnant women who have been treated with Epilim and who have then given birth to babies with birth defects.
(107571)
82  
  
Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the stated recommended dose of the drug Epilim when administering it to (a) adults and (b) children.
(107570)
83  
  
Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to (a) identify and (b) address the specific health needs of the Irish community in Britain.
(107585)
84  
  
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the percentage of total labour costs of firms in (a) the automobile sector and (b) the insurance sector attributable to providing health insurance cover for their employees, in (i) the United States, (ii) Canada, (iii) France and (iv) Germany.
(107802)
85  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked.
(107746)
86  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded.
(107744)
87  
  
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the population of (a) Pendle and (b) England had an entire set of false teeth by the age of (i) 40 years, (ii) 50 years, (iii) 60 years and (iv) 70 years (a) in 1990 and (b) for the latest year for which figures are available.
(107616)
88  
  
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating mouth cancers in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.
(107619)
89  
  
Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists have ceased to treat NHS patients in each of the past five years for which figures are available.
(107727)
90  
  
Mr Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list by region his Department's establishment for biomedical scientists.
(107608)
91  
  
Mr Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the additional funding that will be made available to Wakefield Health Authority in each of the next five years, following the Prime Minister's recent announcement on NHS spending.
(107607)
92  
  
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each health authority for the current financial year in both cash figures and as a percentage the actual allocation and the fair share or target allocation.
(107756)
93  
  
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list those primary care groups which have formally applied to seek or have already received trust status; and if he will list in each cast the distance from target in the current year of (a) baseline and (b) actual allocation.
(107755)
94  
  
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what extra resources he is making available to meet the demands on the NHS made by asylum seekers and refugees.
(107603)
95  
  
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many asylum seekers and refugees have presented themselves to (a) general practitioners, (b) district general hospitals and (c) other NHS services in Eastbourne in the last 12 months.
(107615)
96  
  
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on plans to employ social workers from South Africa; and what plans he has to encourage more people into the profession in Britain.
(107598)
97  
  
Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out total expenditure on the NHS (a) at 1999-2000 prices and (b) as a proportion of natural income for each financial year since 1978-79 and for the remainder of the period covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will provide a breakdown between (i) current and (ii) capital expenditure.
(107661)
98  
  
Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for the implementation of his proposal to legalise Sunday dancing.
(107613)
99  
  
Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 with respect to circus animals; and if he will make a statement.
(107731)
100  
  
Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received concerning the policing of the arrangements for the state visit of the Chinese President.
(107733)
101  
  
Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce paediatric pathology for the post mortem examination of children; and if he will make a statement.
(107569)
102  
  
Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action his Department is taking to tackle anti-Irish discrimination.
(107588)
103  
  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list those prisons in which the WRVS deliver services, and the nature of the services.
(107580)
104  
  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to use a computerised booking system for visits to prisoners.
(107581)
105  
  
Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the permitted methods for families to send money to prisoners; and if he will make a statement.
(107579)
106  
  
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals were prosecuted for offences in connection with child pornography on the Internet in each year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
(107574)
107  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded.
(107742)
108  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked.
(107748)
109  
  
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what considerations lay behind his decision to include in the membership of the inquiry into the economic impact of fox hunting individuals with a record of support for fox hunting.
(107618)
110  
  
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were tagged in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available; and what number and percentage broke the terms of their tagging order.
(107617)
111  
  
Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions were successfully brought against drivers who caused road traffic accidents whilst at work in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
(107658)
112  
  
Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide funds for the provision of accommodation at Chelmsford Prison to enable a full search of visitors suspected of possessing drugs.
(107726)
113  
  
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will review the Police Indices Formula.
(107590)
114  
  
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers and refugees are residing in the Eastbourne area.
(107600)
115  
  
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many primates were used in research in the United Kingdom in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998.
(107595)
116  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will set out the procedures for nomination, selection and appointment of the Senior Bar in Northern Ireland; how many appointments have been made in each of the last 10 years; and what was the perceived community affiliation of the intake in each year.
(107823)
117  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what words form the declaration required as a condition of appointment to the Senior Bar in Northern Ireland; and what is his assessment of the compatibility of this requirement with (a) the Fair Employment Act, (b) the Good Friday Agreement and (c) UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
(107826)
118  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what consultation procedures were adopted following publication of the Elliott Report in May 1997; what responses were made; and what conclusion he reached.
(107827)
119  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many individuals have been called to the Bar in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years; and what was the perceived community affiliation of the intake in each year.
(107824)
120  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the dates of correspondence exchanged since January 1997 with the Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice concerning appointments to the Senior Bar; and if he will place copies of correspondence in the Library.
(107825)
121  
  
Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations he has received from (a) the Irish Government and (b) Sinn Fein Assembly Members with regard to an alleged incident of RUC officers crossing the border to mount a surveillance operation in Monaghan.
(107583)
122  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to appoint a covert policing commissioner to regulate the activities of Special Branch and other intelligence activity.
(107807)
123  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he had to draw up a code of practice on covert law enforcement techniques and other intelligence activity overseen by a complaints tribunal.
(107804)
124  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will provide funding for a research programme to find a less potentially lethal alternative to plastic baton rounds.
(107812)
125  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will establish a public register of interests and associations for the police in Northern Ireland which will include currently serving officers.
(107816)
126  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officers currently serving in the RUC Special Branch have served on the force (a) less than five years, (b) more than five and less than 10 years, (c) more than 10 and less than 15 years, (d) more than 15 years.
(107821)
127  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he intends to report on the role of district policing partnerships in Belfast; and what representations he has received on this matter.
(107806)
128  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what criteria relating to minor criminal records will govern entry into the proposed Police Service for Northern Ireland; what class of criminal conviction is a barrier to recruitment to the RUC; and what plans he has to change the criteria.
(107815)
129  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, (i) on what date the most recent use of violence for political ends was thought to be the responsibility of or claimed by (a) the Irish Republican Army, (b) the Real IRA, (c) Oglaigh na'hEireann, (d) Cumann na mBann, (e) Fianna na h'Eireann, (f) the Red Hand Commando, (g) Saor Eire, (h) the Ulster Freedom Fighters, (i) the Ulster Volunteer Force, (j) the Irish National Liberation Army, (k) the Irish People's Liberation Organisation, (l) the Ulster Defence Association, (m) the Loyalist Volunteer Force, (n) the Continuity Army Council, (o) the Orange Volunteers and (p) the Red Hand Defenders, (ii) how many persons have been charged or successfully prosecuted for belonging to each, (iii) how many persons have been charged or successfully prosecuted for soliciting support for each, (iv) how many persons have been charged or successfully prosecuted for contributing money or property to each, (v) how many persons have been charged or successfully prosecuted for displaying support for each and (vi) what is his estimate of the numerical strength of each organisation.
(107832)
130  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will review the existing practice on the display of the Union Flag from (a) police premises and (b) other public buildings.
(107817)
131  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officers currently serving in the RUC Criminal Investigation Department have served on the force (a) less than five years, (b) more than five and less than 10 years, (c) more than 10 years and less than 15 years and (d) more than 15 years.
(107820)
132  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officers currently serve in (a) the Special Branch and (b) the Criminal Investigation Department of the RUC.
(107819)
133  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what mechanisms are in place to monitor aftercare of victims of terrorist violence and punishment shootings; what is his assessment of the extent to which compensation payments have been subject to seizure by paramilitary organisations; how many incidents of such seizure have been reported; what is the RUC estimate of the extent of under-reporting; what steps are taken to prevent fraudulent claims; and what is his assessment of the proportion of claims that may be fraudulent.
(107818)
134  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to make the Chief Constable of the RUC responsible for assessing the security situation; how often he will be required to make this assessment; and in what form his findings will be made public.
(107808)
135  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who he plans will be responsible for the periodic review of progress towards a routinely unarmed police service in Northern Ireland recommended by the Patten Report; how often these reviews will take place; and if their findings will be laid before the House.
(107811)
136  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what correspondence he has exchanged over the past three years with the Lord Chancellor concerning appointments to the Inner Bar of Northern Ireland; and if he will place correspondence in the Library.
(107828)
137  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to develop a tenure policy for police officers; and if he will ensure that officers involved in security work are included in it.
(107813)
138  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his Answer of 20th December, Official Report, column 410W, what communication he has received from bodies other than the US Congress about US-sponsored training and exchange programmes; and what response the RUC will make to fulfil conditions that will be imposed upon joint training and exchange programmes.
(107822)
139  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take measures to ensure that the composition of the staff of the proposed Policing Board, Northern Ireland Office Police Division and Office of Police Ombudsman are broadly reflective of the population of Northern Ireland as a whole.
(107814)
140  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will outline the criteria by which the Policing Board will make a decision on the badge for the proposed Police Service for Northern Ireland; and if he will ensure that proposals be made public.
(107809)
141  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his oral statement of 19th January, Official Report, columns 845-8, when he will appoint the Oversight Commissioner; and if he will set out the person specification and job description for the Oversight Commissioner.
(107810)
142  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will ensure that the proposed policing board will possess the power to call upon the chief constable to retire in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness, subject to the approval of the secretary of state.
(107805)
143  
  
Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he last met members of the Northern Ireland Police Federation to discuss his plans to reform the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
(107614)
144  
  
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Council, if he will place in the Library the instructions and terms of reference of the contract placed with PricewaterhouseCoopers to advise on persons suitable for membership of the second chamber.
(107620)
145  
N  
Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    To ask the Prime Minister, what steps he has taken since May 1997 to combat age discrimination; and if he will make a statement.
(107145)
146  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions each Cabinet Committee has met in the past year.
(107829)
147  
N  
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out the number of software releases he plans to make available within his Department in each of the next three years; and what changes to the benefit system each release will produce.
(107295)
148  
N  
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the recent overpayment of benefit into recipients' bank and building society accounts.
(107543)
149  
N  
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the extra costs incurred in recovering the overpayment of benefits paid direct into beneficiaries' accounts; and if he will make a statement.
(107542)
150  
N  
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, for each quarter since BASIS was formed how many fraud cases compiled by BASIS's National Intelligence Unit (a) were forwarded to the police investigation and (b) resulted in a prosecution.
(107444)
151  
N  
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what were the responsibilities and achievements of BASIS's Business Development Team for each of the last five years.
(107445)
152  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked.
(107747)
153  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded.
(107743)
154  
N  
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people were contacted about benefit overpayments by the Central Recovery Group Manager of the Benefits Agency in letters to recipients in January.
(107534)
155  
N  
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much benefit was overpaid due to a processing error notified to recipients in a letter from the Benefits Agency Central Recovery Group Manager dated 23rd January; and if he will make a statement.
(107533)
156  
N  
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what steps he will take to recover overpaid benefit due to a processing error notified to recipients in January from those people who are unable to pay it back immediately; and if he will make a statement.
(107535)
157  
  
Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the method used to calculate holiday entitlement for people in receipt of invalid care allowance.
(107653)
158  
  
Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many applications have been made to him in each of the last three years for his fiat; in respect of what proceedings such applications were made; and in how many and in what percentage of such cases in each category he (a) granted and (b) withheld his consent.
(107831)
159  
N  
Mr Colin Burgon (Elmet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in the last three years, how many bankrupt people who appointed the Official Receiver to act on their behalf as trustee were transferred to a private trustee; and after what periods.
(107438)
160  
N  
Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many non-fossil fuel obligation electricity generators projects failed to receive planning permissions between 1st May 1997 and 31st December 1999.
(107379)
161  
  
Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of extending launch aid to aerospace equipment manufacturers.
(107565)
162  
N  
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations he has had concerning British involvement in the National Roads and Bridges Project in the Philippines; and if he will make a statement.
(107375)
163  
  
Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action his Department is taking to promote trade between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
(107589)
164  
  
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will introduce legislation to provide for a parent's or guardian's authorisation before children under the age of 16 years enter into a contract with mobile phone companies.
(107652)
165  
  
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will ensure that authorisation of a parent or guardian is needed before children under the age of 16 years enter into financial agreements with mobile phone companies.
(107567)
166  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded.
(107745)
167  
  
Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked.
(107750)
168  
  
Mr Jon Trickett (Hemsworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the final destination of coal being imparted from Mozambique; who is the purchaser; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the imports on employment among mine workers.
(107594)
169  
  
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he will take to ensure that competition in electricity connections for street lighting columns can proceed quickly; and if he will make a statement.
(107582)
170  
  
Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make it a requirement for the granting of licences to companies for the laying of cables that they share cable trenches with other companies; and if he will make a statement.
[Transferred] (107604)
171  
  
Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many licences for the laying of cable routes through the boroughs of Maidstone and Swale he has granted since May 1997; and how many applications for licences are under consideration.
[Transferred] (107605)
172  
  
Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many representations he has received from (a) individuals and (b) representative bodies since May 1997 relating to the laying of cable routes through (i) Kent and (ii) Maidstone and Swale Borough Council areas.
[Transferred] (107606)
173  
  
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Internet Watch Foundation in implementing the recommendations of the Department of Trade and Industry/Home Office report entitled Review of the Internet Watch Foundation.
[Transferred] (107572)
174  
  
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to raise public awareness of the role of the Internet Watch Foundation to investigate alleged pornographic materials; and if he will make a statement.
[Transferred] (107573)
175  
  
Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many reportable injuries there were in 1998-99 as a result of driving accidents caused whilst at work.
[Transferred] (107659)


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