Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 7 March 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 7 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.

TUESDAY 7th MARCH

1
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, what measures will be taken in pursuance of the Government's road safety strategy to improve the driving of (a) employees of the House who drive vehicles on House of Commons business and (b) honourable Members.

(113530)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to control the importation of seeds treated with Lindane; what estimate he has made of the quantity of such seeds imported within the last month for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(112560)

3
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent advice he has received from the European Commission with regard to payments to hop producers under special temporary measures under Regulation 1098/98; and when he expects such payments to be made.

(113504)

4
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what genetically-modified seeds he plans to add to the National Seed List; and if he will make a statement.

(111967)

5
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with (a) ministers and (b) senior officials in her Department since 1st May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if she will make a statement.

(113500)

6
   Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will make a statement on the Executive Non Departmental Public Bodies 1999 Report and the Executive Agencies 1999 Report.

(113591)

7
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list all National Lottery-funded films to date, together with in each case (a) the value of lottery support, (b) the total production cost, (c) the date of lottery grant, (d) the planned or actual release date, (e) the number of screens on which they were released, (f) box office receipts and (g) repayment of lottery funds made.

(113511)

8
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the names of unpaid creditors of the New Millennium Experience Company, together with the amount owed in each case and the dates of the relevant invoices; and if he will make a statement.

(113510)

9
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the proposed EU copyright directive in respect of its effect on the legality of home recording of television programmes.

(112558)

10
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made in establishing a viewers' panel on the change from analogue to digital broadcasts.

(112559)

11
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will invite Jean-Marie Gerbeaux to contribute his expertise to the operation of the Millennium Dome.

(113505)

12
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will place in the Library copies of correspondence between NMEC and the Millennium Commission relating to the approval of further monies from the Commission to NMEC on 5th February.

(112833)

13
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate for each Scottish and Welsh constituency the number of households which will be entitled to a free TV licence (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of total households.

(112841)

14
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimates he has made of the number of new households which will become entitled to a free TV licence in each of the next 15 years.

(112842)

15
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Department of Social Security regarding the possibility of making a payment of the equivalent value to a TV licence to those aged over 75 years through the benefits system.

(112850)

16
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what advice he has been given on the question of possible breach of EU state aid rules as a result of payments to the BBC in lieu of the revenue lost through giving free TV licences to those aged over 75 years.

(112849)

17
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on his proposals for the rescinding of free TV licences in households where the sole person aged 75 years or over dies; what period of time will be given after such a death before members of the household are informed of the rescinding of the free licence; who will be responsible for informing the household of the decision to rescind; and what consideration he has given to introducing a grace period in such cases.

(112852)

18
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the administrative cost to the BBC of issuing free TV licences to households containing a person aged over 75 years.

(112851)

19
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people from (a) Paisley South, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK are serving in Her Majesty's armed forces.

(113553)

20
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with (a) ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1st May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement.

(113503)

21
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many helicopters his Department has offered for use in Mozambique to the Department for International Development; what financial charge he has made in respect of this offer to the Department for International Development; and what other offers of assistance his Department has made to the Department for International Development.

(113460)

22
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many married quarters are available to forces families in Scotland; where they are; and what are their occupancy levels.

(112837)

23
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are taken to protect personnel in training and operational areas exposed to discharged depleted uranium ammunition.

(112839)

24
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS 'Spartan's' refit will be completed; and when the vessel will be operational.

(112838)

25
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent research he has commissioned into a substitute for depleted uranium ammunition.

(112840)

26
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contract or memorandum of agreement his Department has signed with Barratts or another developer in relation to Alma-Dettinger Barracks site, Deeport, Surrey; when this was signed; for what reason no information about this was given to locally elected representatives or the honourable Member; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(113515)

27
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's civilian personnel are employed in Scotland; where they are employed; how many are at each location; and which agencies employ them.

(112857)

28
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total cost of operating (a) an air defence squadron (43 Squadron), (b) a strike attack squadron (12 Squadron), (c) an offensive support squadron (1 Squadron), (d) a photo-reconnaissance squadron (41 Squadron and 51 Squadron), (e) a maritime reconnaissance squadron (120 Squadron), (f) a transport squadron (24 Squadron), (g) a transport flight (C130), (h) a refuelling squadron, (i) a refuelling flight, (j) a support helicopter squadron (18 Squadron and 33 Squadron), (k) an SAR squadron (202 Squadron), (l) UAS, (m) JEFTS and (n) No. 3 FTS in the last year for which figures are available.

(112854)

29
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the safety of Mk 10 radiation monitors with BP 3 Geiger Muller glass probes; if he will list the areas where their use is authorised; and if he will state his policy on the replacement of Mk 10 with BP 3 probes, by a more modern replacement system.

(112846)

30
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the total costs of each of the defence installations, including operating costs, maintenance and civilian and services salaries, in the last year for which figures are available.

(112934)

31
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many IPM-7 radiation detectors are in use in (a) Rosyth and (b) Faslane; what is his policy on the use of IPM-7 radiation detectors for safety checks on staff at Rosyth and Faslane; and if he will make a statement on differences in the safety procedures for monitoring staff between Rosyth and Faslane.

(112847)

32
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to introduce secondary monitoring of staff at Faslane; what secondary monitoring procedures are in place at (a) Rosyth and (b) Devonport; and if he will make a statement.

(112843)

33
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's civilian personnel are employed (a) at HMNB Clyde, (b) at HMNB Clyde exclusively on maintaining and servicing nuclear propelled submarines, (c) at HMNB Clyde exclusively on maintaining conventional surface vessels and (d) on work on both submarines and surface vessels.

(112855)

34
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel were involved in staff safety monitoring at (a) Rosyth and (b) Faslane in each of the last five years.

(112845)

35
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the maximum number of surface vessels that were accommodated at Faslane at any one time in the past five years; what were the types and numbers of vessels accommodated on that occasion; and when that was.

(112856)

36
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what radioactive monitoring processes exist at (a) Rosyth and (b) Faslane for staff at work and for checking staff on completion of their duties; what equipment is used to carry out these checks; if he will list the safety equipment which is more than (i) one year old, (ii) three years old, (iii) five years old and (iv) 10 years old; which organisation is responsible for safety checks for staff and for monitoring equipment used; and what role he has in reviewing and overseeing staff safety at the sites.

(112848)

37
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the costs of salaries for all his Department's civilians in Scotland, by agency and in total.

(112853)

38
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is his policy on the carrying out of radiation/contamination monitoring surveys at the entrance of submarine reactor chambers on a 12 hourly basis.

(112844)

39
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people have joined the voluntary sector option of the New Deal since implementation, by unit of delivery; how many and what percentage of these (a) completed their programme before leaving the New Deal, (b) left their programme before completing it and (c) left at any stage for unknown destinations.

(113556)

40
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people have joined the Environmental Task Force option of the New Deal since implementation, by unit of delivery; how many and what percentage of these (a) completed their programme before leaving the New Deal, (b) left their programme before completing it and (c) left at any stage for unknown destinations.

(113554)

41
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people have joined the full-time education and training option of the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds since implementation, by unit of delivery; how many and what percentage of these (a) completed their courses before leaving the New Deal, (b) left their courses before completing it and (c) left at any stage for unknown destinations.

(113557)

42
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people have joined the subsidised employment option of the New Deal since implementation, by unit of delivery; how many and what percentage of these (a) completed their programme before leaving the New Deal, (b) left their programme before completing it and (c) left at any stage for unknown destinations.

(113555)

43
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the cost of extending the entitlement to unpaid parental leave to staff in his Department in respect of their children born before 15th December 1999.

(113136)

44
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to make available to candidates the marked scripts of 'A' level and GCSE examinations.

(112034)

45
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) requests for re-marks, (b) requests for re-marks with reports and (c) appeals against decisions were lodged with the AQA in respect of the 1999 GCE 'A' level computing examination.

(112035)

46
N   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will reply to the Question from the honourable Member for Putney tabled on 17th February relating to Bishop Gilpin School.

(113449)

47
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what has been the change in the number of unemployed individuals from ethnic minorities between 1997 and the latest date for which figures are available.

(113523)

48
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many permanent school exclusions there were in each year since 1990 (a) in total and (b) of pupils of ethnic minority origin.

(113497)

49
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, column 282W, concerning MTBE, what contribution has been made by oil companies to the Environment Agency's research project on the incidence of MTBE in England and Wales; if he will publish the results when available; and what assessment he has made of the possible carcinogenicity of MTBE.

(113543)

50
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with (a) ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1st May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement.

(113501)

51
N   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce the result of the review of the London Borough of Wandsworth's planning application approval for the development of the site of the Old Wandsworth Secondary School, Sutherland Grove, London SW15, for educational and residential purposes.

(113450)

52
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what claims there have been for compensation from motor dealers as a result of difficulties in issuing registration documents for new motor vehicles at DVLA.

(113525)

53
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he will take to improve the safety of drivers who make journeys by motor vehicles on behalf of their employers.

(113528)

54
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has for prime time advertising on television to support the objective of his road safety strategy.

(113521)

55
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason the case for the road scheme in Hull is included in his Department's appraisal tables in the category of jobs and prosperity rather than that of safety and healthier communities; and if he will make a statement.

(113522)

56
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to set casualty reduction targets for (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists and (c) motorcyclists.

(113519)

57
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he next intends to hold a rail summit.

(113518)

58
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the total cost was of the launch event for the Government's road safety strategy; and what was the breakdown of the costs, including the cost of the (i) videos and films, (ii) stage backdrop, (iii) hire of the premises, (iv) expenses provided for the schoolchildren who participated in the event, (v) sound systems, (vi) issue of invitations, (vii) hospitality and (viii) other costs.

(113526)

59
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects the EU Council of Ministers to decide on a proposal to harmonise the drink-drive limit in the EU.

(113527)

60
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what special measures he proposes to reduce accidents amongst (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists and (c) motorcyclists.

(113520)

61
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what difficulties were experienced with DVLA systems in relation to the registration of V registration vehicles; what the (a) cause and (b) effects were of such problems; what measures were taken to rectify them; and at what cost.

(113524)

62
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish his Department's consultation document concerning additional funds to deal with rural poverty.

(113476)

63
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish his Department's research into the extent of rural poverty; and what definitions of poverty he has used.

(113465)

64
N   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps are being taken to regenerate former coal field areas.

(112179)

65
N   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library his response to the MAFF response to changes to the 1982 Seeds Regulations.

(113475)

66
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the tax status of the Duchy of Cornwall, with particular reference to the tax exemptions which apply.

(112834)

67
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the loss of revenue through the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

(113539)

68
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the level of smuggling of petroleum products into England in 1998 and 1999.

(113540)

69
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) vehicles were seized by HM Customs and Excise for alleged smuggling of petroleum products in Northern Ireland and (b) litres of fuel were seized in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999.

(113538)

70
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to press other EU member states to broaden the experimental arrangement of Council Directive 1999/85/EC (Annex K to Sixth VAT Directive) to provide for the inclusion of repairs to historic and listed buildings.

(113562)

71
N   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he has initiated since the publication of the Social Exclusion Unit Policy Action Team 3 report on Enterprise and Social Exclusion (A National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal) to improve access to finance for social enterprises; and if he will make a statement.

(113452)

72
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the charge in (a) the relevant local currency and (b) pounds sterling equivalent for an application for a visitor's visa in (i) India, (ii) Pakistan and (iii) Bangladesh in each of the last five years for which information is available.

(113140)

73
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the current arrangements for assessing sponsors' particulars in respect of applications for visitors' visas from (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Bangladesh; when they were last amended; and for what reason.

(113139)

74
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications for visitors' visas were received from (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Bangladesh; and what percentage of these were refused in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(113141)

75
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on which dates Lord Levy in his capacity as the Prime Minister's special envoy has had meetings with (a) ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1st May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement.

(113498)

76
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if Lord Levy reports directly to him on his activities as the Prime Minister's personal envoy; what mechanism exists to ensure information gathered by Lord Levy whilst acting as personal envoy to the Prime Minister is communicated to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(113506)

77
N   Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he made of the human rights record of the People's Republic of China before his Department became involved in the exchange arrangements between the Scottish Police College and the State Police of the People's Republic of China.

(112800)

78
N   Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the role of his Department in the exchange arrangements between the Scottish Police College and the State Police of the People's Republic of China.

(112799)

79
N   Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of Iran about the treatment and planned execution of members of the Baha�'i community.

(112801)

80
   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 Indian Government's response to the concerns the Minister of State raised on the issue of bonded labour during his visit in November.

(113588)

81
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the release of bonded labourers from the villages of Kili-Nahal-Singh-Wala and Buraj Mehma in Punjab State, India; and what prosecutions were initiated against landlords in respect of bonded labourers.

(113590)

82
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received regarding the attempted abduction of bonded labourers from the human rights organisation, Volunteers for Social Justice, on 7th February; and what reports he has received on the action that has been taken by the Indian authorities to bring to justice the instigators of this attack and ensure the safety of human rights workers at Volunteers for Social Justice.

(113589)

83
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the waiting time for a person applying for entry clearance for settlement in (a) September 1999, (b) October 1999, (c) November 1999, (d) December 1999, (e) January 2000 and (f) February 2000 for an interview in each queue at each post in the Indian sub-continent; and if he will make a statement.

(113587)

84
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had with the Mayor of Hasankeyf about his proposed meeting in London; and what reasons underlay the decision to cancel that visit.

(113561)

85
   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place the report containing the Wallace recommendations on the constitution of St. Helena in the Library.

(113593)

86
N   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the foetal tissue banks in the UK.

(113496)

87
N   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the additional health risk of smoking cigarettes containing (a) calcium carbonate, (b) cellulose fibre, (c) Di-ammonium (d) hydrogen phosphate, (e) ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, (f) Sorbitol, (g) citric acid and its tripotassium and trisodium salts, (h) menthol, (i) cocoa, (j) sucrose and sucrose syrup, (k) glycerol, (l) liquorice, (m) benzoic acid and/or its potassium salts, (n) caramel, (o) dried extracts and esters of fruits, (p) acetic acid, (q) guar gom, (r) propylene glycol, (s) magnesium oxide, (t) carboxymethyl cellulose, (u) humic acid, (v) triethylene glycol, (w) polyvinyl alcohol, (x) triethylene glycol, (y) methyl hydroxy propyl cellulose, (z) diatomaceous earth, (aa) potassium chloride, (bb) sodium chloride, (cc) cellulose acetate propionate, (dd) glyoxal, (ee) ortho-phosphoric acid and (ff) iron oxide.

(113508)

88
N   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with tobacco manufacturers regarding additives used in cigarettes; if he will list those additives known to be used; and if he will make a statement.

(113509)

89
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines who have, in each year from 1987 to date, declared outside interests in (a) SmithKline Beecham, (b) SmithKline and French laboratories, (c) Merck Sharpe and Dohme, (d) Pasteur Merieux and (e) the Wellcome Foundation.

(112835)

90
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children, for each year from 1988 to date, have been identified as suffering damage as a consequence of injection of the MMR vaccine.

(112836)

91
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to monitor the use of electro-convulsive treatment following his Department's earlier survey; and if he will make a statement.

(113361)

92
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to seek an amendment of the law to permit hospital operating department practitioners lawfully to possess a stock of such controlled drugs as they may lawfully administer.

(113558)

93
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what analysis he has made of the shortage of secure beds in psychiatric hospitals broken down by (a) region and (b) trust; what plans he has to meet the shortfall; and if he will make a statement.

(113592)

94
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what have been the locations of the secure places in the mental health service provided in the last six months; what plans he has to increase the number in the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(113564)

95
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for how long the BCG vaccine programme in schools in North Essex will remain suspended; and if he will make a statement.

(113517)

96
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement about the future of cleft lip and palate surgery and treatment at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex.

(113463)

97
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where in London and the South East of England he has decided that specialist cleft lip and palate surgical facilities will be located.

(113464)

98
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if Mr Tharcisse Muvunvi and Captain Valentine Strasser have been granted asylum within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(113142)

99
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list those countries outside the UK which operate a visitor's bond scheme.

(113138)

100
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason injury awards made to police officers in lieu of earnings remain payable after retirement age.

(112556)

101
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the police personnel procedure regulations in respect of the provision to allow those suffering from long-term sickness to have their employment terminated.

(112557)

102
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to encourage local authorities to use the options of (a) restriction of species range and (b) restriction of numbers under the Pet Animals Act 1951; and if he will make a statement.

(112561)

103
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 10th Feburary, Official Report, columns 257-8W, on animal experiments, how many of the pigs used were transgenic; and if he will make a statement.

(112633)

104
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the occasions in the last three months when powers under the Royal Prerogative were exercised on the advice of ministers.

(113281)

105
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the applicability to current conditions of the police pension regulations; what plans he has to update these; and if he will make a statement.

(112562)

106
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to table 11 of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in GB for 1998, relating to procedures carried out on dogs to satisfy legislative requirements, if he will identify the legislative requirements, indicating the number of licences awarded in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999 to allow procedures to be carried out and the number of procedures carried out under each licence; and if he will make a statement.

(112563)

107
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 10th February, Official Report, columns 257-8W, on animal experiments, how many primates were killed by order of the Home Office Inspectorate under the provisions of section 18(3) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, on the grounds that they were undergoing excessive suffering; what procedures they had been subjected to; and if he will make a statement.

(112564)

108
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 10th February, Official Report, columns 257-8W, on animal experiments, in the case of primates used in organ transplant experiments, how many primates had an organ of their own removed and replaced with a pig organ; how many had a pig organ inserted into them but kept their own organ; and if he will make a statement.

(112565)

109
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pusuant to his Answer of 10th February, Official Report, columns 257-8W, on animal experiments, how many of these primates were wild-caught; and if he will make a statement.

(112629)

110
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 10th February, Official Report, columns 257-8W, on animal experimentation, if he will provide a breakdown of the cause of death of all the primates used in xenotransplantation research between 1996 and 1999; and if he will make a statement.

(112630)

111
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pusuant to his Answer of 10th February, Official Report, columns 257-8W, on animal experiments, if he will describe the experiments in which these primates were used; and if he will make a statement.

(112631)

112
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 10th February, Official Report, columns 257-8W, on animal experimentation, how many pigs were used in (a) breeding experiments aimed at producing pigs with certain desired genetic characteristics and (b) experiments involving the removal of pig organs for transplantation into primates; and if he will make a statement.

(112632)

113
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what reports he has received from the operators of HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Forest Bank as to the current financial difficulties being experienced by Prison Realty Trust Inc and Corrections Corporation of America; and what assurances he has obtained that these financial difficulties will have no detrimental effect on the companies currently operating HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Forest Bank and their ability to meet all their respective contractual obligations.

(113563)

114
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Metropolitan Police of the presence of Senator Augusto Pinochet in Surrey for 17 months; what discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of Surrey relating to such costs incurred by his force; and what payments have been made by his Department to each force in reimbursement of those costs.

(113559)

115
N   Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been involved in the protection of Senator Pinochet since October 1998.

(113513)

116
N   Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent from public funds on protecting Senator Pinochet since October 1998 (a) in total and (b) broken down by the principal heads of expenditure.

(113514)

117
N   Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his estimate of the costs to public funds of Government participation in legal activity relating to General Pinochet (a) to date and (b) in total; and if he will break this information down by the principal heads of expenditure.

(113529)

118
N   Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many public employees have been involved in legal work relating to Senator Pinochet since October 1998.

(113512)

119
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people (a) in total and (b) from ethnic minorities (i) applied and (ii) were recruited to the police in each year since 1995.

(113466)

120
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with (a) ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1st May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement.

(113499)

121
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when her Department first asked the Ministry of Defence to provide helicopters to help in the Mozambique crisis.

(113457)

122
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department has hired helicopters from Captain McKenzie of Nairobi to help in the Mozambique crisis.

(113459)

123
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of difficulties relating to customs controls being encountered by those taking goods into Mozambique by (a) air and (b) road.

(113455)

124
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when her Department first sought helicopters to assist in the Mozambique crisis.

(113458)

125
N   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when her Department was first informed of an impending flood crisis in Mozambique; and what action she took at that stage.

(113456)

126
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the bodies which he intends to designate as public authorities under section 75(3)(a) and (3)(d) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; which departments, corporations or bodies listed in Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 will not be so designated; and when he intends to make the final list public.

(113560)

127
N   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what are the terms and scope of the review to be carried out under Section 2 of the Northern Ireland Act 2000.

(113454)

128
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what authority he has given Lord Levy in his capacity as his personal envoy to meet and deal with senior civil servants in the UK.

(113507)

129
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd February, Official Report, column 852W, on Lord Levy, if the development of bilateral relationships includes discussion in respect of possible defence contracts.

(112930)

130
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd February, Official Report, column 852W, on Lord Levy, if the discussions in furtherance of the Prime Minister's support for the Peace Process, held by Lord Levy when visiting Israel in a private capacity, were held at the specific request of the Prime Minister.

(112931)

131
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make it his policy that, after 2003, pensioners will continue to be able to draw their pension in cash from a post office without having to pay a charge for doing so.

(113137)

132
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list for the Benefit Agency's study of family credit accuracy (i) the number, (ii) the percentage and (iii) the monetary value, of cases found to be (a) erroneous, (b) actually fraudulent, (c) having a high suspicion of fraud and (d) having a low suspicion of fraud.

(113462)

133
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the (i) areas in which pilots of barcoded orderbooks and giros have taken place, (ii) duration of each pilot and (iii) estimated savings from each pilot.

(113461)

134
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the impact of the decision by banks to charge for the use of automatic telling machines owned by other banks on the ability of benefit recipients to obtain benefits in cash from post offices.

(113516)

135
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) families and (b) ethnic minority families are living on below half-average income.

(113467)

136
N   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Solicitor General, what training is being provided for Government lawyers to ensure that legislation is prepared to comply with human rights.

(113453)

137
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the contribution of tidal barrages to meeting the Government's 10 per cent. target for renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

(113135)

138
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will ensure that voluntary agreements between petrol suppliers and petrol retailers not covered by the undertakings given by oil companies in 1966 are subject to equivalent scrutiny by the Office of Fair Trading to ensure fair competition.

(113533)

139
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he will publish the findings of the Competition Commission's inquiry into the supply of new cars.

(113362)

140
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who has the responsibility for ensuring adherence to the petrol undertakings given by oil companies in 1966.

(113534)

141
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact of changes in the number of petrol supplier and petrol retailers in the downstream market from 1997 to date on competition.

(113535)

142
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what information he collects on the percentage market share of each of the major suppliers of petroleum fuel to petroleum retailers.

(113536)

143
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with (a) ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1st May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement.

(113502)

144
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the Director General of Fair Trading began the present review of the petrol undertakings given by oil companies in 1966; when the review will be completed; and if he will publish the results of the review.

(113532)

145
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what controls exist to prevent petrol suppliers charging petrol retailers for petrol which has evaporated before delivery.

(113531)

146
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the decision by the European Parliament to amend the proposed Directive on End of Life Vehicles to require car manufacturers to pay for the recycling of used cars when they reach the end of their lives.

(113541)

147
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has made to the European Parliament regarding their decision to amend the proposed Directive on End of Life Vehicles to require car manufacturers to pay for the recycling of used cars.

(113542)

148
N   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action he has initiated since the publication of the Social Exclusion Unit Policy Action Team 3 report on Enterprise and Social Exclusion (A National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal) to improve support for and to promote the social enterprise sector; and if he will make a statement.

(113451)

149
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many successful prosecutions there were in 1998 and 1999 for smuggling petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and what estimate he has made of the tonnage smuggled.

[Transferred] (113537)