Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 8 March 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 8 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.

WEDNESDAY 8th MARCH

1
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, what access there is to toilet facilities in the House for people who are wheelchair users.

(113603)

2
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what acreage of farming land has restricted use as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear explosion.

(113604)

3
N   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to prevent the destruction of GMO field trials.

(112255)

4
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what safeguards have been put in place to ensure that animal owners participating in the pets travel pilot scheme are not overcharged for any of the services required to clear their pets for travel; and if he will make a statement.

(113741)

5
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what advice his Department has issued to pet owners to enable them to identify veterinary surgeons in France and Belgium who are able to provide the required tick and tapeworm treatment for animals under the pets travel pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(113740)

6
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the cost per animal of (a) vaccination against rabies, (b) insertion of a microchip and (c) treatment against ticks and tapeworms in connection with the pets travel pilot scheme.

(113739)

7
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will estimate by how much plantings of biomass would have to be increased on an annual basis (a) to save the equivalent of the horticulture industry's current carbon dioxide output and (b) to save the equivalent of 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, using the same basis for his calculation as that used in page 7/5 of the England Rural Development Plan 2000-06.

(113363)

8
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans she has to increase communications between Ministers and members of the public by means of the Internet.

(112277)

9
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the statements in paragraph 27 of his Department's memorandum to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of December 1998 (HC124-II, Session 1998-99, page 169) represent the Government's current policy.

(113779)

10
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what was the total Lottery funding made available to the English Sports Council in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99; and what is the estimated total Lottery funding to be made available to Sport England in each of the years (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01 and (iii) 2001-02.

(113770)

11
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, at what time on 2nd March he (a) received a copy of the Fourth Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (HC164) and (b) finalised the content of his Department's press notice No. 49/2000.

(113777)

12
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list those London football clubs with which his Department or Sport England has discussed ground-sharing with athletics; and if he will make a statement.

(113776)

13
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if DLA Ellerbe Beckett have been engaged by his Department in an advisory role on architectural issues relating to possible athletics venues in London.

(113775)

14
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list those organisations and individuals outside his Department whom he met in the week beginning 28th February to discuss venues for major athletics events and related issues; and at what time and on what date those meetings were held.

(113778)

15
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what amendments to the Lottery Funding Agreement relating to Wembley National Stadium have been discussed by the Football Association and Wembley National Stadium Ltd. with his Department in the context of the proposed £20 million payment.

(113780)

16
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the distribution of lottery funding across the regions of the United Kingdom.

(113642)

17
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the plans for the partial pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square on the Square's potential to attract tourists and Londoners.

(113643)

18
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had since May 1997 about the establishment of a national sports museum.

(113736)

19
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to establish a national sports museum; and if he will make a statement.

(113734)

20
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received since May 1997 from individuals and organisations requesting that a national sports museum be established.

(113735)

21
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action he is taking to encourage links between schools and local sports clubs; and if he will make a statement.

(113656)

22
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what types of precision guided weapons are in service with the Royal Air Force.

(113746)

23
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list, for each GCE and GCSE awarding body for each of the last three years, the total number of requests from candidates for (a) re-marks and (b) re-marks with reports, together with the total number of appeals against decisions lodged by individual examination centres.

(112036)

24
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the individuals employed or used by Ofsted to undertake inspections of schools, other educational establishments and education authorities, indicating with what private consultancies each is associated.

(113659)

25
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the contribution of the GCSE course in nautical studies in relation to the understanding and promotion of best practice in sea safety.

(113544)

26
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the annual cost of administering the GCSE examination in nautical studies.

(113545)

27
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students took the GCSE examination in nautical studies in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98; and how many he estimates will take it in 1999-2000.

(113547)

28
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what action he is taking to ensure that students on teacher training courses acquire the skills to teach PE and sport to a high standard; and if he will make a statement.

(113657)

29
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much funding was given by his Department to supplementary language schools in England and Wales in each year since 1992 and 1993.

(113655)

30
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what action he is taking to ensure Ofsted monitors the quality, range and overall level of provision for PE and sport provided by primary and secondary schools.

(113658)

31
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to facilitate the conversion of disused farm buildings for residential and other purposes; and if he will make a statement.

(113145)

32
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many dumped motor vehicles there were in the Greater London area in 1999; and if he will make a statement.

(113605)

33
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what monitoring his Department carries out on emissions from open-topped tourist buses in town and city centres.

(113639)

34
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate how much it would cost to extend the fuel duty rebate to (a) school buses and (b) dial a ride schemes.

(113583)

35
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the cost of extending the 50 per cent. concessionary fare scheme to 100 per cent, using the same basis as outlined in the national concessionary fares scheme cost assessment (annex B), in the consultation document, Implementation of Statutory Minimum Concessionary Fares Commitment.

(113582)

36
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps his Department is taking to encourage nautical education.

(113546)

37
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent representations he has received regarding the GCSE course and examination in nautical studies.

(113548)

38
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the GCSE in nautical studies.

(113577)

39
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in which month he plans to publish the Green Paper on Housing.

(113644)

40
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the extension of china clay quarrying in Dartmoor is an exceptional circumstance in the sense intended by his own guidance; and what examination of proposals for such quarrying he has conducted.

(113573)

41
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what AADT figures were recorded for the Chideock section of the A35 in 1998 and 1999; and what percentage increases are projected for the years 2000 to 2010.

(113576)

42
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will monitor kerbside nitrogen dioxide in Chideock on the A35.

(113574)

43
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers he plans to give to regional assemblies.

(113599)

44
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those local authorities in England which (i) have completed an LSVT of housing stock and (ii) are currently undertaking an LSVT.

(113598)

45
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the average turn around times between tenants of local authority housing stock for each authority in England.

(113597)

46
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what funds will be available for the study of traffic congestion on the A27 in the Worthing area due later this year; and when the study will be carried out.

(113596)

47
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will issue guidance to local authorities asking them to collect household waste more frequently than once a fortnight.

(113686)

48
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations he has received from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise requesting increased funding to improve enforcement of regulations pertaining to the use of red diesel.

(113606)

49
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of arrangements for enforcing the regulations pertaining to the use of red diesel.

(113612)

50
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the expected net revenue gain from the introduction of IR35; and what assumptions the Government has made as to the number of business closures and the extent of business migration overseas for the purposes of calculating this figure.

(112763)

51
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many contractors operating through personal service companies have moved overseas (a) in each year since 1992 and (b) in the last year for which figures are available; and what is his Department's estimate for each of the next three years.

(112764)

52
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate, broken down by industrial sectors, the extra taxation that the introduction of IR35 will place on contractors operating through personal service companies (a) next year, (b) in 2001-02 and (c) in 2002-03, assuming current levels of tax rates.

(112765)

53
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the extra revenue which will arise as a result of the introduction of IR35.

(112858)

54
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which sectors of industry benefit most from the rules on national insurance contributions that would be changed under IR35 proposals.

(112859)

55
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the gross budgetary cost to the Exchequer of the Treasury's funding matching available Objective 1 funding; how much EU funding would be unlocked each year over the planning period; and what the cost to UK public funds would be after taking account of the subsequent impact on the British budget rebate.

(113607)

56
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answers of 19th January, Official Report, column 516W, on government debt over the 1975 to 1999 period, what the estimated interest cost of the difference between nominal and gross debt values is; what measures have been undertaken to ensure this will not occur again; and which officials responsible for the debt funding decisions have been disciplined in connection with this matter.

(113468)

57
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 21st February, Official Report, column 769W, on inflation, if regional price data have been made available to the European Commission for use in calculating regional GDP per head; and what plans the Chancellor has to instruct the Office of National Statistics to publish regional price and real GDP data for the UK.

(113470)

58
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many earners in the UK earn less than £60 per week; how many households in the UK contain an earner who earns less than £60 per week; and what changes there have been in these numbers since 1980.

(113469)

59
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on the principle of independent taxation of husband and wife.

(113580)

60
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total cost of the (a) information packs and (b) videos that have been sent to those employers who are expected to administer the working familes tax credit and the disable persons tax credit.

(113585)

61
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library the latest edition of the Tax Benefit Reference Manual.

(113578)

62
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many recipients of the working families tax credit and the disabled person's tax credit are paid at rates above the minimum wage; and how many are paid at the minimum wage.

(113581)

63
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the regional arrangements and agencies, as recognised under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, of which the United Kingdom is a member.

(113747)

64
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice his Department's officials gave to the police regarding the Chinese state visit.

(113743)

65
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations were made to his Department by the Chinese authorities regarding the policing of the Chinese state visit last October.

(113744)

66
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many meetings were held between his Department's officials and representatives of police services involved with policing the Chinese state visit.

(113745)

67
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received from Zimbabwe of wide-scale incursions by squatters on to white-owned farms; what assessment he has made of the extent of government involvement in these incursions; and if he will make a statement.

(113579)

68
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many meetings were held between his Department and Chinese authorities regarding the policing of the Chinese state visit last October.

(113742)

69
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the dates when he held discussions with Lord Levy about his role as the Prime Minister's personal envoy; and if he will make available minutes of those meetings.

(113566)

70
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to propose measures (a) in and (b) outside the inter-governmental conference to improve enforcement of EU law.

(113609)

71
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what further efforts he is making to encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sri Lanka between government forces and the Tamil Tigers.

(113653)

72
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects work to start on the building of the new Rothbury community hospital, Northumberland.

(113796)

73
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money is currently owed to NHS trusts by (a) health care insurers and (b) independent providers for the care of private patients in the NHS; and for how long these debts have been outstanding.

(113640)

74
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make lay representatives available within hospitals to give guidance to patients on their rights.

(113611)

75
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to close Harefield Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

(113572)

76
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which specialist cleft lip and palate surgical and treatment units will be closed in London and South East England during the next five years.

(113594)

77
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many assaults on prison staff there were in each of the London prisons in 1999.

(113602)

78
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there were under the Animal Scientific Procedures Act 1986 in 1999; and if he will make a statement.

(113601)

79
N   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of police local drugs units in bringing to court hard drugs dealers.

(112259)

80
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria he is proposing for a police/community consultative group working well; and if such criteria will be agreed in consultation with PCCGs.

(113645)

81
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if a dedicated member of the Metropolitan Police Authority will be responsible for the development strategy of police/community consultative groups.

(113646)

82
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the current status of those passengers on the recently hi-jacked Afghan airliner who sought asylum.

(113575)

83
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what has been the total cost to the (a) central and (b) local government of the containment of Senator Pinochet broken down into (a) police, (b) legal and (c) accommodation costs.

(113600)

84
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the most recent statistics for reported racist incidents for each of England's police forces.

(113549)

85
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter from Mr Jeremy Davenport of his Department to the British Council dated 4th December 1994 concerning the outcome of the Polish-British Enterprise Project.

(113738)

86
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what evaluation her Department made of the leadership of Dr Brian Burrows on the Polish-British Enterprise Project between 13th and 18th November 1994.

(113737)

87
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what was the level of financial support given by her Department to projects in India in each year since 1992 and 1993.

(113652)

88
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if it is his policy that all magistrates' courts shall have safe cells installed; and if he will make a statement.

(113732)

89
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many safe cells were installed in magistrates' courts in the last year for which figures are available; how many will be installed in the coming financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(113730)

90
N   Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East):    To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to update the report entitled, Sharing the Nation's Prosperity.

(112253)

91
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he made to the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about Lord Levy's role as the Prime Minister's personal envoy.

(113565)

92
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he asked Lord Levy to become his personal envoy to the Middle East.

(113567)

93
N   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Prime Minister, what recent representations he has received regarding leak inquiries in Government departments.

(112265)

94
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd February, Official Report, column 851W, on Operation Horseshoe, if he will place a copy of the statement made by the German Defence Minister on 9th April 1999 in the Library.

(113365)

95
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Utilities Bill on electricity supply and distribution and renewable energy in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

(113610)

96
   Mr Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many doctors who are panel members for the Independent Tribunal Service are also employed by SEMA to report on the condition of applicants for incapacity or disability benefit.

(113647)

97
   Mr Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) enquiries and (b) requests for assistance about constituency problems have been received from members of the Scottish Parliament by the Benefits Agency Scottish Parliamentary Relations Unit since it was established; and if he will list the numbers according to (a) constituency and (b) originating MSP.

(113648)

98
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he has published a list of acceptable proofs of identification to comply with the housing benefit verification framework.

(113773)

99
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will extend the definition of hostels for the purposes of implementation of the housing benefit verification framework to other organisations providing accommodation for the vulnerable and socially excluded.

(113650)

100
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what guidance he gives landlords about what they should do if a potential tenant is unable to produce any forms of identification acceptable to local authority housing benefit officers to comply with the verification framework.

(113772)

101
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many representations he has received on implementation by local authorities of the housing benefit verification framework.

(113651)

102
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what guidance he gives local authorities on telling potential tenants what are accepted proofs of identification to comply with the housing benefit verification framework.

(113771)

103
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the impact of implementation of the housing benefit verification framework on the level of rent arrears for private sector landlords, voluntary housing organisations and housing associations which provide accommodation for the vulnerable and socially excluded.

(113649)

104
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if a recent letter from the police regarding investigation of a burglary at a property is acceptable proof of identification to comply with the housing benefit verification framework.

(113774)

105
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will publish, for the last two calendar years (a) the reports furnished to his Department on the mortgage interest rates charged by the United Kingdom's top 20 lenders, (b) the dates upon which the average of these rates changed by one quarter of one per cent. or more and (c) the date and amount of any changes he made to his Department's own standard interest rate.

(113364)

106
   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of increasing statutory maternity pay at 90 per cent. of earnings to 18 weeks, but restricting the additional entitlement to those women not paying the higher rate tax.

(113660)

107
   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion of applications to the Social Fund for funeral expenses are refused (a) in whole and (b) in part.

(113633)

108
   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of increasing the amount allowable for funeral expenses under the Social Fund to (a) £800 and (b) £1,000.

(113632)

109
   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the average length of time taken between receipt of invoice and payment of funeral expenses by the Social Fund.

(113634)

110
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he issues guidelines to Chairmen of Independent Tribunal Service hearings; what is the recommended time for them to provide appellants with written explanations for decisions; what is the average time currently taken; and if he will make a statement.

(113733)

111
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many lone parents have received letters inviting them to join the New Deal for Lone Parents.

(113584)

112
N   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many calls have been received by the Minimum Wage Hotline (a) in his Department's administrative region containing Paisley, (b) in Scotland and (c) nationally; and what action he is taking to publicise the existence of the service.

(113552)

113
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many employers have been prosecuted (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for non-compliance with minimum wage legislation over the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

(113144)

114
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment the OFT has made of the comparative cost of telephone calls from the UK to (a) India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and (b) the USA, Australia and New Zealand; and if he will make a statement.

(113143)

115
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his policy is towards extending export credit guarantees to Bulgaria; and if he will make a statement.

(113641)

116
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list (a) the meetings and contacts his Department has had with the telecommunications industry in connection with the Utilities Bill between 20th January and 2nd March, (b) the telecommunications companies involved and (c) the occasions on which Ministers from his Department attended.

(113568)

117
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when consultation took place with consumer groups between 20th January and 2nd March on the decision to remove the provisions concerning telecommunications and water industries from the Utilities Bill; and what responses were received.

(113570)

118
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations his Department received on behalf of the telecommunications industries between 20th January and 2nd March in connection with the Utilities Bill; and if he will list the telecommunications companies involved.

(113569)

119
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which consumer groups were consulted on the decision to remove the provisions concerning telecommunications and water industries from the Utilities Bill between 20th January and 2nd March.

(113571)

120
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list those trade contracts with Latin American countries which have been cancelled in the last 16 months.

(113595)

121
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what efforts he is taking to promote increased trade between Britain and the Indian subcontinent; and if he will make a statement.

(113654)

122
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer of 28th February, Official Report, column 134W, on EU structural funds, if he will state in both sterling and euros the amounts allocated to (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c ) Wales and (d) England, the totals in each area of the matching funds required, and (i) the amounts so far agreed and (ii) yet to be found by Her Majesty's Government and other sources.

[Transferred] (113728)

123
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will ensure that the courts have the right of access to names and addresses held by other Government departments and agencies in order that those who default on compensation payments can be traced.

[Transferred] (113729)

124
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff have been dismissed from the Civil Service in each of the last five years; and what proportion of the total staff in post this represented in each year.

[Transferred] (113608)

125
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners committed suicide in cells in magistrates' courts in the last year for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (113731)