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House of Commons

Session 1999-2000 Publications on the internet The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 15 March 2000 Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 15 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 15th MARCH
1   N	Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what progress has been made on the development of a regional fisheries forum for the Irish Sea area.
	(114706)
2   N	Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing a regional fisheries forum for the Irish Sea area.
	(114707)
3	Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the methods for charging and the cost of hygiene and veterinary inspections of slaughterhouses in other EU countries.
	(114948)
4	Mr Alan Hurst (Braintree):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many premises were licenced as slaughterhouses in England and Wales in the years (a) 1979, (b) 1989 and (c) 1999.
	(114949)
5	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make it his policy to ban the commercial release of GM crops until tests demonstrate that they are safe for (a) people and (b) the environment.
	(115032)
6	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the risks attached to the exchange between plant and animal viruses in relation to GM crops; and if he will make a statement.
	(115034)
7	Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what reserved rights fishermen from England have to operate in United Kingdom fishing zones controlled and managed by the (a) Scottish Parliament and (b) National Assembly for Wales.
	(114891)
8	Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the responsibilities of (a) his Department and (b) the devolved Executives in respect of the delineation of fisheries zones in United Kingdom waters; and if he will make a statement.
	(114892)
9	Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to alter the boundaries between the English fishing zones and those for (a) Scotland and (b) Wales.
	(114893)
10	Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the price (a) per carcase and (b) per tonnage paid by the Intervention Board in each year since 1996 to each company awarded a contract to render cattle under the over-30-months Scheme.
	(114827)
11	Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the locations where tallow from over-30-months Scheme cattle is stored, indicating the tonnage at each site.
	(114829)
12	Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how tallow produced as a by-product under the over-30-months Scheme is classified by his Department.
	(114830)
13	Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many carcasses he estimates will be rendered under the over-30-months Scheme in each of the next five years.
	(114828)
14	Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what has been the (a) total number of carcasses and (b) total amount of revenue claimed from the European Union in compensation for cattle disposed of under the over-30-months Scheme for each month since the scheme began.
	(114825)
15	Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many companies offering (a) rendering followed by incineration and (b) direct incineration, that were awarded a contract under the over-30-months Scheme have not had contracts renewed; and if he will make a statement.
	(114826)
16   N	Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the (a) Civil Service grade and (b) areas of responsibility of each of the staff employed in the MAFF Press Office.
	(114754)
17   N	Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the budget for running the MAFF Press Office in each of the last 10 financial years.
	(114755)
18   N	Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the agricultural shows that he and each of the ministers in his Department attended in 1999 and the dates of each such visit.
	(114756)
19   N	Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the agricultural shows that he and each of the ministers in his Department have accepted invitations to attend in 2000.
	(114757)
20   N	Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what was the budget for running the Cabinet Office Press Office in each of the last 10 financial years.
	(114752)
21   N	Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will make a statement on the role of the GM Communications Unit.
	(114753)
22   N	Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the (a) Civil Service grade and (b) areas of responsibility of each of the staff employed in the Cabinet Office Press Office.
	(114751)
23   N	Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list those organisations which have received funding under the Pairing Scheme administered by Art and Business (formerly ABSA), together with the relevant amount in each case in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000.
	(114743)
24   N	Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list those organisations which agreed funding arrangements under the Arts Council Pairing Scheme administered by Art & Business (formerly ABSA) for schemes lasting more than (a) one year, (b) two years and (c) three years in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, and (iii) 1999-2000, together with the planned funding agreed for each year.
	(114742)
25	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to promote tourism in North Yorkshire.
	(114945)
26	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made in locating a site for a new national athletics stadium.
	(114908)
27	Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will reply to the letter of 5th July 1999 and the fax of 24th August 1999 from the honourable Member for Easington concerning Mr A. Jones of Seaham.
	(114942)
28   N	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the conference on stockpiling of landmines in Belarus.
	(113366)
29	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the long-term service plans for use of (a) HMS 'Sheffield', (b) HMS 'Coventry' and (c) HMS 'Cardiff'.
	(114768)
30	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the status of HMS 'Kent'; when she will be ready for service; what are the causes and cost of the delays; and if he will make a statement.
	(114764)
31	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the refit of HMS 'Nottingham' is proceeding on time and within budget; when she will start post-refit trials; what is the date for her to return to active service; and if he will make a statement.
	(114802)
32	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the mid and long-term service plans for the three Royal Navy aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement.
	(114797)
33	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when and where HMS 'Norfolk' will have her next refit; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.
	(114771)
34	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal Navy ships will take part in Naval Task Group 2000; if a round the world voyage is to be part of the deployment; and if he will make a statement.
	(114765)
35	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost of the refit is for the HMS 'Lancaster'; if it will be completed to time and cost; if she will be able to carry the Merlin helicopter; and if he will make a statement.
	(114763)
36	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the use of HMS 'Birmingham'; and if he will make a statement.
	(114767)
37	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are to fit further Royal Navy ships with Sonar 2087; and if he will make a statement.
	(114803)
38	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which of the soldiers on duty in Londonderry on 30th January 1972 suffered a bullet wound to his foot.
	(114901)
39   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the sandbagged oil leak at HM Naval Base Clyde at Calport has been reported to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency; and what steps are being taken to repair the leak.
	(114233)
40   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) the offices owned or rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland for civilian use and (b) the number of staff (i) employed and (ii) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site.
	(114234)
41   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what action he is taking to monitor the safety of commercial vessels near HM Naval Base Clyde.
	(114242)
42   N	Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the maximum number of R.A.F. Puma helicopters which can be carried in (a) Hercules C130K, (b) Hercules C130J, (c) Boeing C17 and (d) Antonov 124-100 transport aircraft; and how many refuelling stops each aircraft requires, carrying its respective maximum complements of Puma helicopters, on a flight from R.A.F. Brize Norton to South African Air Force Base Heudspruit.
	(114745)
43   N	Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the sum invoiced to his Department by Air Foyle Ltd. for the charter of an Air Foyle Antonov 124-100 aircraft to Transport four Royal Air Force Puma helicopters from R.A.F. Brize Norton to South African Air Force Base Heudspruit on Friday 3rd March.
	(114744)
44   N	Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the average percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals in the 500 schools with the (a) highest and (b) lowest proportion of pupils achieving five grade A*-C passes at GCSE in the last year for which figures are available.
	(114667)
45	Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the average charge for an (a) childminder, (b) private nursery place and (c) local authority nursery place for children aged (i) nil to one, (ii) one to two and (iii) two to three years in each local authority.
	(114792)
46	Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the outcome of the Employment and Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 13th March; and if he will make a statement.
	(114906)
47   N	Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) his Department, (b) local education authorities and (c) schools of the extension to all duties of public authorities of the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 in respect of indirect discrimination.
	(114708)
48	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the annual expenditure on centrally financed local initiatives in the (a) Northern, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and (c) North West Region for each of the last five years.
	(114905)
49	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if all teachers are eligible for assistance with the purchase of a computer; and if he will make a statement.
	(114998)
50   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list (a) the offices (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland and (b) the number of staff (i) employed and (ii) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site.
	(114241)
51   N	Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the decision by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to end the setting of GCSEs in agriculture after 2002.
	(114750)
52	Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will conduct a review of sections 92 and 122 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, with particular reference to compatability between those two sections and the personal injuries and damage to vehicles caused by rising bollards.
	(114795)
53   N	Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he is taking to ensure that the money paid to (a) Bus Employees Pension Trustees Ltd to settle the action of the Bus Employees Superannuation Trust and (b) the National Bus Pension Fund Trust on 1st August 1999 is actually paid to pensioners.
	(114721)
54	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many of the directors of the Safety Company subsidiary of Railtrack will have a background in an industry other than railways; what will be the composition of the Board; what arrangements have been made for funding the company; and to what extent he has been consulted on the appointments of directors.
	(114833)
55	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what talks he has held with the Board and Chief Executive of Railtrack since the announcement of their decision to create a separate subsidiary safety company; what timetable is proposed for its establishment; who is to be its Chief Executive, to whom the Board will report; and who are its members.
	(114834)
56	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many homes received home improvement grants in each of the years 1970-76.
	(114770)
57	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce measures to allow properties that have received home improvement grants over 25 years ago to receive grants for updating those improvements; if he will make funds available to local authorities for such purposes; and if he will make a statement.
	(114766)
58	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if there is a centrally-held list of empty properties owned by housing associations; and if so how many (a) have been empty for under six months, (b) have been empty for under one year and (c) have been empty over a year.
	(114801)
59	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many properties owned by housing associations have been empty for (a) under six months, (b) under one year and (c) over one year.
	(114800)
60	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the number of empty council-owned properties in each local authority.
	(114799)
61	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if there is a centrally-held database on the amount of council-owned empty property.
	(114798)
62	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many people are registered on each local authority list as homeless.
	(114769)
63	Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the consultation exerecises so far undertaken to evaluate the environmental impact of the proposed MOX Plant (SMP) at BNFL Sellafield.
	(114796)
64	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he is taking to enforce the wearing of seat belts by motorists and their passengers.
	(114950)
65	Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on imposing VAT on tolls, with particular reference to the Humber Bridge.
	(114899)
66	Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the level of debt on the Humber Bridge at the end of April 1997; and how much of the debt has been (a) written off and (b) rescheduled since that date.
	(114900)
67	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is (a) the annual cost, (b) the number employed and (c) the total expenditure of (i) the integrated regional office and (ii) the regional development agencies in (1) Yorkshire and Humberside, (2) the Northern Region, (3) the North West and (4) all English regions in (A) 1997, (B) 1998 and (C) 1999, respectively.
	(114903)
68	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will require commercial airlines to make available sufficient leg room to ensure that all passengers can adopt the brace position in the event of an emergency.
	(114937)
69	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will take powers to require utility telecoms companies and local authorities to co-ordinate their work programmes so that disruptive excavations of the highway are minimised; and if he will make a statement.
	(114996)
70	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the return to local authorities of the full value of the landfill tax to fund schemes for reduction, re-use and recycling of waste; and if he will make a statement.
	(114888)
71	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those local authorities (a) which have met Government accident reduction targets and (b) which on current trends are (i) likely and (ii) unlikely to achieve them.
	(114889)
72	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he is taking to ensure that local authorities meet the Government's accident reduction targets; and if he will make a statement.
	(114890)
73   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list (a) the offices (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland and (b) the number of staff (i) employed and (ii) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site.
	(114240)
74	Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to allow local authorities greater access to the financial markets.
	(114911)
75	Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the income distribution is in deciles of (a) lone mothers and (b) women in two-parent families who are in work when they give birth and who are eligible for statutory maternity pay.
	(114791)
76	Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families with children in Southwark he estimates are eligible for working families tax credit.
	(114840)
77	Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Southwark are in receipt of (a) working families tax credit and (b) the childcare tax credit.
	(114835)
78	Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the average (a) working families tax credit and (b) childcare tax credit payment per week for people in Southwark in the last 12 months.
	(114836)
79	Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the annual expenditure by government on (a) working families tax credit and (b) childcare tax credit in Southwark in each of the last five years.
	(114837)
80	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on compensation for farmers for currency adjustments; and if he will make a statement.
	(114947)
81   N	Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families have benefited from the working families tax credit in Northern Ireland.
	(113225)
82	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the economic implications of the entry of dot.com companies into the FTSE 100.
	(114997)
83	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has made to Barclays Bank plc over its branch closure policy; and if he will make a statement.
	(114910)
84	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the maximum sum which could have been allocated from the landfill tax to environmental trusts (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in the County of Essex.
	(114884)
85	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money has been collected since the landfill tax was introduced (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in the County of Essex.
	(114883)
86	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been allocated from the landfill tax to develop new waste management strategies in each year since its introduction (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in the County of Essex.
	(114886)
87	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money has been allocated from the landfill tax to environmental trusts (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in the County of Essex.
	(114885)
88	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will return to local authorities the full value of the landfill tax to fund schemes for reduction, re-use and recycling of waste; and if he will make a statement.
	(114887)
89	Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the yield, in each of years 2002-03 and 2003-04 as a result of the abolition from 6th April 2001 of the ability to carry foward entitlement to pension payment tax relief for up to six years.
	(114762)
90   N	Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of gross domestic product was spent on the Investing in Britain Fund in the financial years (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000; what estimate he has made for (i) 2000-2001 and (ii) 2001-02; and if he will make a statement.
	(114705)
91   N	Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 6th March, Official Report, column 524W, on departmental secondment, if he will list the companies from which staff were seconded to his Department in the periods (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available.
	(114544)
92	Alice Mahon (Halifax):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Latvia regarding the imprisonment of Mr Vassily Kononov; and if he will make a statement.
	(114793)
93   N	Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd February, Official Report, column 852W, what practical support was given by his Department to Lord Levy during his visits to Middle Eastern states, apart from Israel, on official business as the Prime Minister's personal envoy.
	(114680)
94   N	Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd February, Official Report, column 852W, what practical support was given by his Department to Lord Levy during his visits to Israel (a) on official business as the Prime Minister's personal envoy and (b) on private visits during which Lord Levy conducted business on behalf of the Prime Minister.
	(114693)
95   N	John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on Agency staff in Pathology in each NHS region in the last year for which figures are available.
	(114746)
96   N	John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the percentage increase in the total pay bill for the NHS will be as a result of the Pay Review Body award to (a) nurses, (b) midwives and (c) health visitors for the year commencing April 2000.
	(114748)
97   N	John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the membership of the boards of primary care groups broken down by (a) ethnic origin and (b) gender.
	(114747)
98   N	John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses, midwives and health visitors have received discretionary increments in the last three financial years, broken down by gender and ethnic origin.
	(114749)
99   N	Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the total number of people waiting for hospital treatment in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area; and how many have waited 12 months or more.
	(114724)
100	Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the position of Her Majesty's Government in relation to the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.
	(114941)
101	Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimates he has made of the impact on (a) employment and (b) exports of the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, indicating the constituencies affected in each case.
	(114940)
102	Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mandate he has given to the European Commission to negotiate on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in meetings on the World Health Organisation's Convention for Tobacco Control.
	(114944)
103	Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials have had with (i) EU partners, (ii) other nations, (iii) the World Health Organisation and (iv) the European Commission regarding the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.
	(114943)
104   N	Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to deal with the problem of children being used for the purposes of begging; and if he will make a statement.
	(114723)
105   N	Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the role of residential care as a placement option for looked-after children; and if he will make a statement.
	(114722)
106	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provision his Department has made for research into and treatment of Crohn's disease.
	(114951)
107	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was (a) the annual cost of and (b) the number of people employed in each NHS regional structure in each of the last three years.
	(114902)
108	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total spending by his Department for the last five available years on centrally funded special schemes in (a) the Northern and (b) the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.
	(114904)
109	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the stage reached in the planning process for all sites under consideration for future use (a) as prisons, (b) secure training centres and (c) other secure facilities.
	(114758)
110	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost of the tendering process for the scheme to provide vouchers for asylum seekers; how many firms bid for the contract; on what basis was the contract awarded to Sodexho Pass International; what is the duration and cost of the contract with Sodexho Pass International; what profit margin is built in to the contract; and if he will publish the contract.
	(114760)
111	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the findings of the working group set up under Lord Laming on prisons.
	(114759)
112	Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the current prisoner population at HMP Forest Bank; when it will reach capacity; what is the current staff/prisoner ratio; what is the expected staff/prisoner ratio at full capacity; how many prisoner custody officers and managers have transferred (a) from HMP Blakenhurst, (b) other privately run prisons and (c) the Prison Service; what incidents have been reported at the establishment since it opened; what amounts have been calculated for financial penalties for contract failures to date; and if he will list the reasons for financial penalties being imposed so far.
	(114761)
113	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many motorists were convicted of speeding in the Greater London area as result of the use of speed cameras during 1999.
	(114992)
114	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the recruitment target is for the Metropolitan Police for the current year.
	(115033)
115	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women officers of the Metropolitan Police were under suspension from duty for alleged misconduct on 1st February.
	(114993)
116	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of prison places required within the prison Service in England and Wales over the next five years.
	(114994)
117	Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will investigate means of rationalisation of the system for funding fire authorities in metropolitan authorities, county councils and combined fire authorities.
	(114912)
118	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his policy on regulations appertaining to (a) trade union and (b) other organisations' ballot procedures which for public policy reasons were laid down by Parliament.
	(114995)
119	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provisions exist for a city to have its title and status removed.
	(114882)
120   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list (a) the offices (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland and (b) the number of staff (y) employed and (z) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site.
	(114238)
121	Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent requests, she has received from Mongolia for assistance arising from severe weather; and if she will make a statement.
	(114831)
122   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list (a) the offices (i) owned and (ii) rented by her Department and its agencies in Scotland and (b) the number of staff (y) employed and (z) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site.
	(114236)
123   N	Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on progress made on policing reform since the publication of the Patten Report.
	(113221)
124	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what are the dimensions of the RUC crest on police cars in Northern Ireland.
	(114896)
125	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many RUC detectives are engaged (a) full-time and (b) part-time on the Omagh Bomb.
	(114936)
126	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what has been the cost to the latest available date of the RUC investigations into the Omagh Bomb.
	(114894)
127	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many RUC (a) detectives and (b) other officers are working (i) full-time and (ii) part-time, on the investigation into the death of Mrs Rosemary Nelson.
	(114935)
128	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what has been the cost of the police investigations into the death of Mrs. Rosemary Nelson; how much of this is in respect of the costs of RUC officers; and how much is in respect of police officers from Great Britain.
	(114895)
129	Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the RUC crest being removed from police cars in Northern Ireland.
	(114897)
130   N	Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the decommissioning of illegally-held weapons and explosives.
	(113235)
131   N	Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what restrictions there are on persons conducting party political business while acting as the Prime Minister's personal envoy on business overseas.
	(114592)
132   N	Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if Lord Levy has conducted business on his behalf while on personal visits to Middle Eastern states other than Israel.
	(114681)
133   N	Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what account he took of the business interests of Lord Levy in deciding whether to appoint Lord Levy as his personal envoy.
	(114591)
134   N	Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations or inquiries he has received from Israeli authorities about Lord Levy's role as his personal envoy or otherwise acting on his behalf.
	(114694)
135   N	Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set out the distinction between visits conducted by Lord Levy (a) travelling as the Prime Minister's personal envoy and (b) travelling in his personal capacity while also having discussions on the Prime Minister's behalf.
	(114690)
136   N	Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th March.
	(114182)
137   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list (a) the offices (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland and (b) the number of staff (y) employed and (z) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site.
	(114237)
138	Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's programme of inspections for the forthcoming year (a) generally and (b) with special reference to housing benefit administration.
	(114832)
139   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list (a) the offices (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland and (b) the number of staff (y) employed and (z) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site.
	(114235)
140	Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he will be in a position to make a statement about the outcome of the Office of Fair Trading consultation with the impulse ice cream industry regarding Wall's distribution.
	(114794)
141	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if it is his policy to make available secondhand refurbished computers to socially-excluded groups; and if he will make a statement.
	(114999)
142	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals he has to expand banking and financial services in the national network of post offices; and if he will make a statement.
	(114909)
143	Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what factors the Low Pay Commission takes into account when setting the accommodation offset for the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement.
	(114789)
144	Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how the accommodation offset for the national minimum wage has been calculated; and if he will make a statement.
	(114790)
145   N	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list (a) the offices (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland and (b) the number of staff (y) employed and (z) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site.
	(114239)
146	Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what was the average payment per week of (a) family credit and (b) childcare allowance via family credit in Southwark in the last year of family credit.
	[Transferred] (114839)
147	Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people in Southwark were in receipt of (a) family credit and (b) the childcare allowance in each of the last five years.
	[Transferred] (114835)
148	Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much revenue was received by the Treasury from tolls on the Humber Bridge for each of the last five years.
	[Transferred] (114898)
149	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the value of counterfeit goods seized by trading standards officers in the United Kingdom during 1999.
	[Transferred] (114991)
150	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has made to Barclays Bank plc over its branch closure policy in respect of the Government's policy on social exclusion; and if he will make a statement.
	[Transferred] (114881)
151	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received concerning the closure of bank branches in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.
	[Transferred] (114946)
152	Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has made to Barclays Bank plc over its branch closure policy; and if he will make statement.
	[Transferred] (114907)

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