Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 6 March 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 6 March of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

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

MONDAY 6th MARCH

1
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency for fisheries work.

(112554)

2
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the grant-in-aid from his Department for fisheries work by the Environment Agency for each of the last three years in (a) current prices and (b) constant prices.

(112553)

3
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many tree felling licences have been granted by the Forestry Commission to the RSPB in each of the last five years; and how many trees have been felled as a result.

(113115)

4
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the 10 largest recipients of CAP payments made to farms in Herefordshire for the calendar year 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(113482)

5
N   Mr Denis Murphy (Wansbeck):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what will be the (a) starting date, (b) finishing date and (c) the duration of this year's drift net salmon fishing season for the sea area from the River Tyne to the River Tweed.

(113177)

6
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, column 721W, on day-old chicks, if he will list each of the countries within and outside the EU from which day-old chicks were imported in 1999, and the numbers imported from each country.

(113186)

7
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those members of the Food Advisory Committee whose participation was limited in its consideration of the labelling of genetically-modified maize products placed on the market by Agrevo (T25), Monsanto (Mon 810), Novartis (Bt 11) and Pioneer (MON 809), indicating the manner in which it was limited.

(113354)

8
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) scientific information which the Food Advisory Committee considered before coming to its view in respect of the labelling of genetically-modified maize products placed on the market by Agrevo (T25), Monsanto (Mon 810), Novartis (Bt 11) and Pioneer (MON 809), and (b) correspondence in respect thereof passing between the Food Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes.

(113356)

9
N   Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff are employed by each Government department and agency in (a) the South West, (b) Devon and (c) Exeter.

(113209)

10
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the review of public sector ombudsman schemes will be published.

(113421)

11
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received concerning the future location of the headquarters of UK Sport and the UK Sports Institute.

(112762)

12
   Mr Colin Burgon (Elmet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimates he has made of the number of families in the Elmet constituency who will benefit from the introduction of free TV licences for households with a member aged 75 years or over.

(113415)

13
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what will be the cost of administering the free television licence scheme in 2000-01; and how the cost is to be funded.

(113130)

14
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on progress in negotiations with museums and galleries on the provision of free entry for adults.

(113441)

15
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what are the most recent attendance figures for the New Millennium Experience.

(113446)

16
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action his Department has taken to identify potential sources of funding for proposals for the partial pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square.

(113445)

17
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many projects supported by the Millennium Commission (a) are fully operational, (b) will be operational during the summer and (c) will not be completed by 1st July.

(113438)

18
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the British Film Institute has identified a permanent site for the re-location of the Museum of the Moving Image.

(113443)

19
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when Ministers from his Department last held discussions with the representatives of the British Resorts Association.

(113437)

20
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with the British Film Institute on the provision of a new permanent location for the Museum of the Moving Image.

(113442)

21
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the British Film Institute's Museum of the Moving Image will re-open.

(113439)

22
N   Mr Richard Page (South West Hertfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will place in the Library the financial accounts of the Millennium Experience as at the end of January.

[R] (113116)

23
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will investigate the reasons for the level of National Lottery grants given to organisations in Tewkesbury.

(113185)

24
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the (a) amount of money raised from the sale of lottery tickets, and (b) the amount of lottery money spent, in each constituency, ranked in descending order of lottery money spent.

(113276)

25
N   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many pensioner households will not receive the free TV licence for the over 75s.

(111865)

26
N   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements will exist for the provision of weather information for aircrew using the Northumberland low-flying area following the planned closure of the manned Meteorological Office stations at RAF Boulmer and at Newcastle.

(112824)

27
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Queen Victoria School for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111758)

28
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111762)

29
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Army Base Repair Organisation for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111766)

30
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the RAF Logistic Support Services for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111757)

31
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Naval Manning agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111761)

32
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111765)

33
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Duke of York's Royal Military School for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111771)

34
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Secondary Care Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111755)

35
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Pay and Personnel agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111759)

36
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the UK Hydrographic Office for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111735)

37
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the RAF Training Group Defence for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111739)

38
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Communications Services for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111748)

39
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the RAF Personnel Management Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111740)

40
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Medical Supplies Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111744)

41
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111749)

42
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Medical Training Organisation for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111753)

43
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Naval Recruiting and Training agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111760)

44
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Sales agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111770)

45
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111731)

46
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Dental Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111733)

47
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Ship Support Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111737)

48
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Vetting Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111743)

49
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111752)

50
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the MoD Police for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111763)

51
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Logistics Information Services agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111768)

52
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Estate Organisation for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111725)

53
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111726)

54
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Analytical Services Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111727)

55
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111728)

56
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Army Recruitment and Training Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111729)

57
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Service Children's Education Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111738)

58
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Animal Centre for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111734)

59
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Specialist Procurement Services for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111736)

60
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the RAF Maintenance Group Defence for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111741)

61
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Meteorological Office for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111750)

62
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111742)

63
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Army Technical Support Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111747)

64
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111751)

65
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Transports and Movements Executive for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111756)

66
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Military Survey for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111764)

67
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Bills Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111730)

68
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Codification Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111732)

69
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111754)

70
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the Army Personnel Centre for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(111746)

71
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many de-mining staff his Department has in (a) Mostar and (b) Prijstina.

(113353)

72
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures have been put in place since July 1999 to protect British forces deployed overseas from attack by biological and chemical weapons.

(112972)

73
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what exemptions from procurement rules have been granted to Alvis for the supply of transmission mechanisms for the CVR(T); and for what reasons.

(113191)

74
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what new equipment for detecting, identifying and monitoring biological and chemical hazards has been procured since the publication of his Department's paper, Defending against the Threat from Biological and Chemical Weapons.

(112969)

75
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans he expects to be tested for depleted uranium; what will be the cost; and if he will make a statement.

(112968)

76
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the prescribed welfare standards which govern imported food products supplied to HM Forces.

(112967)

77
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the military units involved in biological and chemical defence tasks; and what are the operating costs he is meeting in each case in the (a) current and (b) next financial year.

(112971)

78
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to deploy (a) HMS 'Ocean' and (b) other RN ships to Mozambique.

(112970)

79
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the temporary field accommodation has been fully deployed in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

(113190)

80
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about the arrangements for driver training for the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD.

(111828)

81
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the accidents involving the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD attributable to (a) mechanical failure, (b) driver error and (c) defective maintenance.

(111774)

82
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what factors underlay the decision not to authorise road use of the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD within the UK.

(111772)

83
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) fatalities and (b) other injuries have occurred in accidents involving the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD.

(111827)

84
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement regarding the mechanical problems experienced by units using the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD.

(111826)

85
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what problems have been identified with the (a) gearbox and (b) braking systems of the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD.

(111775)

86
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the safety record of the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD.

(111825)

87
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the theatres where the Foden Thompson Carmichael MWD is deployed for operational use.

(111773)

88
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the total of accumulated TEC surpluses to date.

(113212)

89
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the capital requirements of voluntary-aided Anglican schools.

(113447)

90
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what action is being taken to ensure VAT does not have to be levied on basic capital approval borrowing by voluntary-aided schools.

(113448)

91
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) enquiries and (b) requests for assistance were received by (i) the Equal Opportunities Commission and (ii) the Commission for Racial Equality in each of the last two years, in respect of (1) all areas and (2) further education; and how many requests for assistance were taken up in each case.

(113493)

92
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the progress of the 12 pilot schemes for education maintenance allowances.

(113121)

93
N   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many young people have stayed at school after the age of 16 years in each of the 12 pilot areas for education maintenance allowance since the scheme was introduced; and what the figures were for the comparable period in 1998.

(113120)

94
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many pupils were excluded from school (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the school population for each of the past 10 years.

(113278)

95
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the 50 local education authorities with the highest number of exclusions expressed as a percentage of their school population for the last year for which figures are available.

(113277)

96
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what were the (a) percentage and (b) actual changes in the national education budget for each of the past 10 years.

(113194)

97
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children (a) were entitled to free school meals and (b) claimed free school meals in each of the past 10 years.

(113206)

98
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the 50 local education authorities with the highest percentage of pupils that are entitled to free school meals ranked in descending order of percentage.

(113200)

99
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 31st January concerning political material in schools.

(113310)

100
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans has he to introduce legislation on residential leasehold property; and if he will make a statement.

(113428)

101
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many tour buses are registered to operate in (a) London, (b) Oxford, (c) Cambridge, (d) Bath and (e) Stratford upon Avon; and how many are entitled to a fuel-duty rebate.

(113440)

102
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action his Department has taken to identify potential sources of funding for proposals to partially pedestrianise Trafalgar Square.

(113444)

103
   Mrs Sylvia Heal (Halesowen and Rowley Regis):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to change the rating of plant and machinery in combined heat and power schemes; and if he will make a statement.

(113426)

104
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 recent RAC survey on the relative costs to families of using their car and using public transport; and if he will make a statement.

(113118)

105
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when work will begin on the (a) A2/A282 Dartford Improvement, (b) A2 Bean to Tolgate widening, (c) Tolgate to Cobham widening and (d) M60, junctions 5 to 8 widening.

(113104)

106
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what provision he has made for the monitoring of the effects of increase solar radiation on satellite and mobile communications systems that are required for the safety of airlines and ships at sea; and if he will make a statement.

(113109)

107
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what factors underlay the decision not to include (a) the widening of the M25 between junctions 12 and 15, (b) the A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford road scheme, (c) the A46 Newark to Lincoln improvement and (d) the A63 Selby bypass in the list of road schemes planned to start in 2001-02.

(113100)

108
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what impact the road schemes announced in the recent local transport settlement will have on the Government's objective of reducing traffic growth; and if he will make a statement.

(113098)

109
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the start dates and completion dates of the 37 schemes on the Government's list of targeted trunk road and motorway improvements.

(113117)

110
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the report of the study of road problems (a) in the Hull area, (b) in South East Manchester, (c) in the Tyneside area, (d) around Hastings, (e) around the London orbital motorway, (f) at Deeside Park Junction and (g) between Southampton and Folkestone is to be published; and if he will make a statement.

(113102)

111
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement about the location of polling stations for early voting for the GLA and London mayoral elections.

(113112)

112
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the (a) trunk roads that are carried by a bridge, or which pass through a tunnel, of at least 600 metres in length and (b) the dates on which such bridges and tunnels are set to be renewed.

(113114)

113
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when work will begin on the (a) A249 Iwade-Queenborough Improvement, (b) A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford road scheme, (c) A1(M) Ferrbybridge to Hook Moor road scheme, (d) M25, junction 12 to junction 15 widening, (e)A23 Coulsdon relief road scheme and (f) A21 Lamberhurst bypass.

(113105)

114
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the persons to whom media briefings were given by Government press spokesmen on the subject of rail safety on Monday 21st February, prior to the Deputy Prime Minister's statement on Tuesday 22nd February.

(113110)

115
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what consultations his Department carried out before the approval of the trunk road schemes planned to start in 2000-01.

(113101)

116
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what factors underlay the decision not to include (a) the M60, junctions 5 to 8 widening and (b) the A1 Ferrybridge to Hook Moor road scheme in the list of road schemes planned to start in 2001-02.

(113099)

117
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many special advisers are employed in his Department; and how many were employed on 1st May 1997.

(113107)

118
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the reports of the study of road problems on the (a) A3 at Hindhead, (b) South and West Yorkshire motorway box and (c) A1 between Bramham and Boston will be published; and if he will make a statement.

(113103)

119
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the value of new rail rolling stock that is waiting for safety approval; and if he will make a statement.

(113113)

120
N   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will call for a report from London Underground on (a) the reasons for the work on the second escalator at St. John's Wood Station taking longer than originally assumed, (b) when Baker Street Station will be re-opened for Jubilee Line passengers and (c) the reasons why at Westminster Station debris obstructs the walkway to the House, certain exits have not opened and the previously opened exit to Victoria Embankment has been boarded shut.

(113126)

121
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations in relation to specific planning applications in the last 24 months his Department has received from Mr Alan Donnelly prior to his resignation as a Member of the European Parliament.

(113122)

122
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what will be the cost of the Head of the Rough Sleepers Unit and her department in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01.

(113124)

123
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what objectives and targets have been set for the head of the Rough Sleepers Unit.

(113123)

124
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list for each of the last five years for which figures are available (a) the total allocation to Shrewbury and Atcham from the Rural Bus Fund and (b) the number of (i) additional and (ii) improved bus services supported by these grants; and if he will make a statement.

(113484)

125
   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he plans to take to incease the income from Packaging Recovery Notes to ensure the continuing recovery and recycling of glass and other waste materials; and if he will make a statement.

(113423)

126
   Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to ensure that targets set under the Producer Responsiblity Obligation (Packaging Waste) Regulations will be achieved; and if he will make a statement.

(113422)

127
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, to which specific classes of freight currently predominately transported by road, his policy on moving freight transport from road to rail applies.

(113485)

128
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make it his policy to require planning permission for a window to be inserted in an existing house wall which faces a window in a separate house and is less than 20 metres away; and if he will make a statement.

(113183)

129
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to promote a strategic approach to planning for renewable energy development; and if he will make a statement.

(113479)

130
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the average death rates allowing for age and sex standardisation for (a) all causes, (b) coronary heart disease, (c) stroke and (d) cancer for each ward in Leeds Central parliamentary constituency and for the City of Leeds as a whole.

(112551)

131
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what powers he has (a) to stop and (b) to regulate the application of charges for the use of ATM cash points in the LINK system.

(113182)

132
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent debt write-off arrangements have been agreed with the Government of Mozambique that cover payments to countries which are in receipt of IMF assistance.

(112927)

133
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers make national insurance contributions in each of the postal districts in Birkenhead.

(113188)

134
   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the full year cost from April 2000 of transferring an unused personal tax allowance from a married person to their earning spouse where (a) there are no children and (b) where that person's youngest child is (i) aged under five, (ii) under 11 and (iii) under 16 years at the beginning of the tax year.

(113478)

135
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the level of tax paid on fuel by the emergency services for running their vehicles.

(113184)

136
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the Windfall Tax Fund has been spent on programmes in Wales to the latest date.

(113494)

137
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, columns 266-7W, (a) when the imports of carpets from the Israeli West Bank settlement of Barkan were first detected, (b) when details were first passed to the European Commission, (c) how many consignments of carpets from the area Barkan have been imported into the UK under preferences, (d) what type of goods were described in the details obtained by the European Commission and (e) when he expects the European Commission to make its assessment.

(113550)

138
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, columns 266-7W, concerning Israel (a) whether he has examined imported goods still held by the consignee to obtain actual evidence of origin, (b) when the imports of wines from (i) the Golan Heights and (ii) the Israeli West Bank settlement of Barkan, were first detected, (c) when details were first passed to the European Commission and (d) whether the Syrian Government has been informed of the detection of imports from Israeli settlements on the Golan Heights.

(113417)

139
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, columns 266-7W, on how many occasions in the past five years Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has referred to the European Commission instances of goods alleged to have been imported under preference as Made in Israel which were produced in Occupied Territories or elsewhere; on how many occasions in the past five years the European Commission had established the origin of the products in question; in how many of these cases the origin was established as (i) within the internationally recognised borders of Israel, (ii) within the Occupied Territories of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalmen or the Golan Heights and (iii) elsewhere; and what was the average time taken by the European Commission to establish the origin of goods referred by the UK Government to the Commission for possible violation of the Protocol on Rules of Origin of the EC Trade Agreement with Israel in the last five years.

(113551)

140
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received concerning the selection of a new managing director of the IMF; and if he will make a statement.

(112828)

141
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what percentage of the costs of GCHQ are met by the United States Government.

(113119)

142
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what factors were taken into account in evaluating applications for export licences for arms to parties involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(112702)

143
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what involvement his Department has had recently in attempting to find a political solution to the problems of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

(112697)

144
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which countries have ratified the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court; and when he expects the UK to ratify the treaty.

(112925)

145
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what monitoring of human rights in Chechnya is being undertaken by his Department; and what departmental representatives have visited Chechnya.

(112696)

146
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent involvement his Department has had in the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

(112703)

147
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what factors were taken into account by his Department in the evaluation of export licence applications to (a) India and (b) Pakistan during 1998.

(112700)

148
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to introduce draft legislation to enable the UK to comply with the treaty to establish an international criminal court.

(112928)

149
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussion his Department is having with the Government of Norway on the initiative the Norwegian Government is taking to help resolve the conflict in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

(113431)

150
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka last visited (a) the northern area of Sri Lanka and (b) Jaffna; and what reports he has made of his visit.

(113429)

151
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which Ministers in his Department have visited Sri Lanka since 1st May 1997.

(113433)

152
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had within the European Union on the involvement of that organisation in the resolution of the conflict in Sir Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

(113432)

153
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if Her Majesty's Government has ratified the International Labour Office Convention C138; and if he will make a statement.

(113434)

154
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the agreement relating to the loan of Diego Garcia to the United States with special reference to the stocking of anti-personnel land-mines.

(113352)

155
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the advice he has received on resuming the licensing of Hawk jets to (a) Indonesia and (b) Zimbabwe.

(113213)

156
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the implications for the Great Lakes Region of UN Security Council Resolution 1291.

(113425)

157
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the progress of the Burundian peace negotiations in Arusha.

(113424)

158
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations, at what level, were made to the Spanish Foreign Ministry following the diversion of the Renaissance cruise liner 'R2' from its intended docking in Gibraltar on 27th February.

(113132)

159
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the diversion of Renaissance cruise liner 'R2' scheduled to dock at Gibraltar on 27th February.

(113133)

160
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will advise the European Commission on the circumstances surrounding the diversion of the Renaissance cruise liner 'R2' from its intended docking in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement on the implications of this incident for (a) Community law compliance and (b) bilateral relations with Spain.

(113131)

161
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Indonesia regarding the repatriation of East Timorese refugees.

(112825)

162
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his UN counterparts concerning the establishment of an international tribunal to try those suspected of crimes against humanity and human rights violations in East Timor.

(112827)

163
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received concerning UNHCR access to refugees in West Timor; and if he will make a statement.

(112826)

164
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received concerning fighting in the Heglig and Unity oil fields in Sudan.

(112832)

165
N   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he proposes to take following publication of the survey of heads of pathology departments carried out by MSF, a copy of which has been sent to him.

(113358)

166
N   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to improve recruitment, retention and training of NHS pathology staff.

(113357)

167
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement about the future status of the NHS Pensions Agency.

(113419)

168
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS dentistry in Hereford; and if he will make a statement.

(113481)

169
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list in rank order the allocations per head of population to each health authority in England in each year for (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000.

(113313)

170
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce legislation to transfer responsibility for the regulation of the medical and dental professions from the Privy Council to Parliament.

(113427)

171
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much it costs on average to train a person as a medical laboratory science officer.

(113193)

172
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the current average starting pay for (a) hospital cleaners, (b) hospital porters and (c) trainee medical laboratory science officers in the NHS.

(113195)

173
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the average starting pay for (a) clinical psychologists, (b) clinical scientists, (c) speech and language therapists and (d) health advisers on sexually transmitted diseases working in the NHS.

(113202)

174
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) constituencies, (b) health authorities and (c) counties that are (i) covered and (ii) not covered by NHS Direct; and what is his timetable is for extending coverage.

(113203)

175
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many medical laboratory science officers left the NHS in each of the past 10 years.

(113192)

176
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of staff morale in the professions working in the NHS who are not covered by the NHS pay review body.

(113197)

177
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people qualified as medical laboratory science officers, and how many of them went into direct employment in the NHS, in each of the last 10 years.

(113199)

178
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the professions within the NHS that are not covered by the NHS Pay Review Body.

(113204)

179
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the salary level for each grade of medical laboratory science officer in the NHS; and how many employees there are on each pay level.

(113201)

180
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many tests were performed by NHS medical laboratory science officers; and what was the ratio of tests per worker in each of the last 10 years.

(113198)

181
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what qualifications and training are required for a medical laboratory science officer grade 1; and what requirements exist for such staff to retrain on an annual basis.

(113196)

182
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the reoffending rates of former inmates of (a) private and (b) publicly owned prisons in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(113483)

183
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many investigations have been undertaken to date by the Metropolitan Police under the provisions of the (a) War Crimes Act 1991 and (b) International Convention on Torture.

(112923)

184
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Metropolitan Police officers are assigned to the investigation of cases referred to the Metropolitan Police under (a) the War Crimes Act 1991 and (b) the International Convention on Torture; and if he will make a statement.

(112926)

185
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many accidents involving police vehicles there were in each police area in each of the past three years; and what was the severity of the injuries incurred in each case.

(112924)

186
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were being housed in each of the London borough council authorities on 1st March.

(113430)

187
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the Charity Commission took no action following their investigation of the financial affairs of the Romanian Orphans Trust in 1998.

(112929)

188
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) constables there will be in (i) the Colchester Division and (ii) the Tendring Division of the Essex Constabulary on 31st March; and what were the equivalent figures for the same date in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999.

(113108)

189
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what areas are to be transferred from the Metropolitan Police to the Essex Police.

(113106)

190
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) constables there will be in the Essex Constabulary at the time when the new boundaries for the Metropolitan Police comes into force; and if he will provide the equivalent figures for the same enlarged area for 31st March in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999.

(113111)

191
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list those local authorities which are currently supporting asylum seekers who are unaccompanied minors, indicating how many such people are being supported by each such local authority.

(113318)

192
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims for asylum have been submitted by people who came into the United Kingdom (a) under the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Plan from Kosovo and (b) through organised medical evacuations from Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

(113323)

193
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes he has made since 2nd May 1997 to the list of countries where, in terms of section 1 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, there is in general no serious risk of persecution.

(113322)

194
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason payments to Scottish local authorities for supporting asylum seekers differ from such payments to English and Welsh local authorities.

(113319)

195
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement about his Department's investigation into allegations of the misuse of public money to house asylum seekers in Northamptonshire.

(113355)

196
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the organisations which have agreed with his Department to provide first contact support for asylum seekers on or after 1st April.

(113314)

197
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to apply the new support scheme under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to all asylum seekers whose applications are made on or after 1st April; and if he will make a statement.

(113320)

198
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries are designated by him under section 1 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 as ones where there is in general no serious risk of persecution; what plans he has to amend that list; and if he will make a statement.

(113321)

199
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list those local authorities which are currently supporting asylum seekers, indicating how many asylum seekers are being supported by each such local authority.

(113316)

200
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy in publishing asylum statistics to differentiate between claimants from different parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

(113317)

201
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the organisations which have agreed with his Department to provide accommodation for asylum seekers on or after 1st April under the provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, indicating how many asylum seekers each contractor has agreed to accommodate.

(113315)

202
N   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been applied for in each police force area in (a) England and (b) Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(113134)

203
N   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total cost to public funds of his Department's current recruitment advertising campaign for (a) press officers and (b) internal communications advisers; and if he will make a statement.

(113208)

204
N   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his Answer to the right honourable Member for Maidstone and the Weald of 29th February on pilot projects of alternative voting methods, (a) for what reasons (i) the Local Government Association and (ii) journalists were informed of his provisional decisions, and why he imposed no restriction on publication before Parliament had been informed, (b) why he chose not to inform Parliament of his provisional decisions, (c) if he expects his final decisions on the projects to differ from his provisional decisions, and (d) if he will list the journalists whom he informed of his provisional decisions on 15th February; and if he will make a statement.

(113279)

205
N   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his plans to increase the size of his Department's Press Office; what will be the cost of those plans; and if he will make a statement.

(113207)

206
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Government's policy on debt reduction on her target of halving world poverty by 2015.

(113495)

207
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what reports she has received on the operation of the early warning system for cyclones and tropical storms in the Indian Ocean area; and if she will make a statement.

(112698)

208
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the problems of soil erosion and de-forestation in the hinterland of the Mozambique river system; and if she will make a statement.

(112699)

209
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the services that management consultants provided to her Department in each of the last 10 years, indicating the remuneration made in each case and the number of person days employed.

(113491)

210
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much bilateral aid has been spent on technical cooperation in each of the last 10 years (a) in cash terms and (b) as a proportion of total overseas development aid.

(113492)

211
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which UK companies received (a) the greatest number and (b) the greatest value of contracts from the Crown Agents in the past three years in respect of their procurement activities on behalf of her Department.

(113490)

212
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to use companies in local recipient countries to provide the advice and products necessary for UK aid projects.

(113488)

213
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of technical cooperation contracts are awarded to non-UK companies.

(113489)

214
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the likely impact on the UK economy of (a) unilaterally, and (b) multilaterally untying the UK's aid programme.

(113487)

215
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish the results of the review, conducted by her Department in 1998-99, of the activities of the European Children's Trust in Romania supported by the Know-how Fund; what action was taken by her Department as a result of that review; and if she will make a statement.

(113127)

216
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list radio projects funded by her Department which aim to disseminate information for women.

(112830)

217
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent representations she has received concerning conditions in state orphanages in China; and if she will make a statement.

(112831)

218
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to restore dialogue between the parties to the Good Friday Agreement.

(113360)

219
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will recommend a minimum level of infertility treatments per 100,000 of population in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(113189)

220
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what expenses have been incurred to date arising from compensation claims against the RUC in the last 10 years.

(113436)

221
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply to the honourable Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone of 29th February, Official Report, column 200W, on parliamentary questions, what expense was incurred in answering questions from the honourable Member for Kingston upon Hull North (a) concerning the cirumstances surrounding and subsequent enquiries into the deaths of (i) Patrick Finucane, (ii) Rosemary Nelson and (iii) Robert Hamill and (b) concerning (1) the RUC's response to the Patten Report and (2) the Police Federation's response to the Patten Report.

(113435)

222
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people there are on the Central Services Agencies Register.

(112798)

223
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will discuss with (a) President Clinton and (b) the Federal German Chancellor the resignation of (i) Hans von Sponeck and (ii) Jutta Burghardt from their UN assignments in Baghdad.

(113359)

224
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of (a) the number of claimants and (b) the cost of cold weather payments in Paisley South constituency in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) 1999.

(113480)

225
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people aged 65 years and over are currently receiving the minimum income guarantee in (a) the Leeds Central parliamentary constituency and (b) the City of Leeds.

(112552)

226
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will place in the Library a guide to pensioners' entitlement to the minimum income guarantee; and how it can be claimed.

(112555)

227
   Mr Colin Burgon (Elmet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the number of people in the Elmet constituency aged over 60 years who are not claiming benefit to which they are entitled.

(113416)

228
   Mrs Janet Dean (Burton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what progress has been made with establishing a fund to compensate vaccine-damaged children.

(113418)

229
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many local authorities (a) have the verification framework in place and fully operational, (b) are implementing it at present and (c) have accepted funding and intend to implement it.

(113187)

230
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will update his estimates based on the Family Resources Survey 1996-97 of (a) median pensioner incomes, excluding means-tested benefits, by age, sex and marital status, consistent with his Answer of 18th January 1999, Official Report, column 372 and (b) the size of each group.

(113283)

231
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when action will be taken to ensure that all pensioners entitled to income support receive it; and what administrative obstacles exist to backdating the resulting awards of benefit to (a) April 1999 and (b) the date when eligibility commenced.

(113128)

232
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to consult insurance companies in establishing the stakeholder pension.

(111845)

233
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what are the current staffing levels in local Benefits Agency offices in (a) Inverclyde and (b) Scotland.

(111840)

234
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of men over the age of 65 years who are not claiming the benefits to which they are entitled in the (a) constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, (b) Teeside Region, (c) Northern Region and (d) United Kingdom.

(113210)

235
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of women over the age of 60 years who are not claiming the benefits to which they are entitled in the (a) constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, (b) Teeside Region, (c) Northern Region and (d) United Kingdom.

(113211)

236
N   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what steps he is taking to ensure that all pensioners receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

(111836)

237
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many children were living in poverty in each of the past 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the number of children living in poverty over the next three years.

(113205)

238
N   Mr Giles Radice (North Durham):    To ask the Solicitor General, if, following the recent decision by the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the M25 murder case, he will take steps to expedite the appeal procedure for similar cases.

(112628)

239
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many pupillages have been offered by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last 12 months.

(113420)

240
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to remove the provisions relating to (a) telecommunications and (b) water from the Utilities Bill; and if he will make a statement.

(113324)

241
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what powers he has (a) to stop and (b) to regulate the application of charges for the use of ATM cash points in the LINK system.

(113181)

242
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what inquiries (a) he and (b) OFTEL have started into the major faults in computers which disrupted 0845 telephone number access, NHS Direct Services and other services in the week beginning 21st February; and what action is to be taken to ensure that the telecommunications infrastructure is not disrupted again.

(113178)

243
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 28th February, Official Report, column 50W, on international price comparisons, for what reason his Departmental Press Notice of 11th February stated that the survey report was to be published on 11th February.

(113129)

244
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the dates on which end-user certification of exports were granted in 1998 and the scope of the certificates to countries involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo relating to (a) four-wheel drive and armoured vehicles sold to Angola, (b) military cargo vehicles to Uganda and (c)(i) military vehicles, (ii) combat aircraft and (iii) their components sold to Zimbabwe.

(112701)

245
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his plans for the regulation of telecoms and water.

(113280)

246
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received concerning alternative developments to the Ilisu Dam to provide energy for Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

(112829)

247
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if the former Welsh Office civil servant, Derek Brushett attended any of the preliminary hearings held by Sir Ronald Waterhouse to discuss procedure with the North Wales child abuse inquiry on 10th September, 15th October, 26th November 1996 and 3rd January 1997.

(113486)

248
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has held with local authorities about increasing the use of anti-social behaviour orders.

[Transferred] (113125)



© Parliamentary copyright 2000	Prepared 17 January 2000