Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 16 March 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 16 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.

THURSDAY 16th MARCH

1
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the precautionary principle has been adopted in the decision to (a) allow storage of meat and bonemeal from over 30 months scheme cattle prior to incineration, (b) allow the storage of meat and bonemeal from over 30 months scheme cattle over a long period of time, (c) allow the incineration of meat and bonemeal from over 30 months scheme cattle that has been stored over a long period of time, (d) choose contracts offering rendering of over 30 months scheme cattle prior to incineration rather than those offering direct incineration and (e) allow tallow from over 30 months scheme cattle to be used as fuel.

(115113)

2
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what has been the cost of storing meat and bone meal produced under the over-30-months scheme prior to incineration in each of the storage locations.

(115110)

3
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what are the total costs for transporting meat and bone meal produced under the over-30-months scheme from storage locations to incinerators.

(115112)

4
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the location of each site currently burning meat and bone meal produced under the over-30-months scheme, and the names of the companies operating each site.

(115111)

5
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on progress made in the case of the European Union v. Government of France relating to the ban on UK beef.

(113399)

6
N   Mrs Janet Dean (Burton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much his Department has spent on agri-environment schemes in the financial year to date; and how much was spent in 1996-97.

(113376)

7
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of recent research from the Research School of Biological Sciences at the Australian National University concerning plant viruses recombining with vertebrate-infecting viruses; what evaluation he made of the risks of parts of the HIV virus being used as carriers in the context of his risk assessment of GM crops; and if he will make a statement.

(115200)

8
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if traces of agents thought to be sources of BSE have been found in meat imported into the United Kingdom since 1996.

(115092)

9
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 10th March, Official Report, column 868W, if he will make a statement on the practice of spreading of liquid condensate on land in Staffordshire; when he intends to announce new proposals; and what public consultation is proposed in relation to the Committee's recommendations.

(115087)

10
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when she will be in a position to place material stored on the Knowledge Network computer system on the Internet; and if he will make a statement.

(115095)

11
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the work of the unit of the Cabinet Office responsible for the Knowledge Network computer system is to be placed on the Internet.

(115050)

12
N   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent meetings the Government has held with representatives of the US Government on the subject of genetically-modified technology.

(113390)

13
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 8th March, Official Report, column 736W, on film funding, how much National Lottery funding was recouped in each case where repayments have been made.

(114976)

14
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from the British Activity Holiday Association regarding the impact of the level of accommodation offset within the National Minimum Wage Regulations.

(114972)

15
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he last met representatives of (a) the film company Alchymie and (b) the finance company Flashpoint; and if he will make a statement.

(114973)

16
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made in promoting nautical archaeology.

(114930)

17
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the representatives of Wembley National Stadium Ltd who were present at the meeting with his Department's ministers on 29th June 1999 described in his Department's memorandum to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (HC 164, Session 1999-2000, p. 90); and if he will make a statement.

(115229)

18
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 13th March, Official Report, column 13W, what amendments to the Lottery Funding Agreement relating to Wembley National Stadium were discussed at his meeting with Mr Ken Bates on 22nd December 1999.

(115230)

19
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will place in the Library minutes of his meeting with UK Sport on 30th November 1999.

(115233)

20
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what is the basis for the reference in his Department's news release no. 49/2000 of 2nd March to a 20 foot high, 10 acre concrete platform at the new Wembley National Stadium.

(115228)

21
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to reply to the Third Report of Session 1999-2000 of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Funding of the BBC (HC 25).

(115231)

22
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to reply to the Fourth Report of Session 1999-2000 of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Wembley National Stadium (HC 164).

(115232)

23
   Mr David Faber (Westbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if it is the policy of his Department that any stadium selected as a London bid venue for the 2005 World Athletics Championships should be capable of being upgraded to 80,000 seats in the event of a successful London Olympic bid.

(115227)

24
   Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will publish figures for the percentage of programmes subtitled on each of the digital terrestrial television channels since their launch in November 1998.

(115258)

25
   Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if all channels are meeting their requirements for subtitling on digital terrestrial television; and what exceptions have been made to the requirements.

(115257)

26
   Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in what ways his Department is monitoring the levels of subtitling on digital terrestrial television.

(115256)

27
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he will reply to the question tabled on 15th February, ref 110728, from the honourable Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham concerning peat compost.

(115191)

28
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for (a) the suspension and (b) the termination of live firing exercises for the Royal Navy; for what reasons he has made these plans; what plans his Department has to review live firing exercises for the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

(114545)

29
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures are being taken to protect reservists in the armed forces from dismissal by their civilian employers; and if he will make a statement.

(114916)

30
N   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 29th February, Official Report, column 201W, when he will deposit in the Library (a) the list of contracts held by SERCO, their date of execution, their length and location and (b) his reply to the honourable Member for Crewe and Nantwich.

(115035)

31
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of the facilities being offered to Railtrack for training by his Department; what is the length of time for the course; where it is taking place; and what facilities exist for re-charging Railtrack for these facilities.

(115085)

32
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will name the Chairman and members of the Defence Diversification Council.

(115039)

33
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the Defence Diversification Council to present its first Annual Report.

(115038)

34
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of Major-General (Retired) Spacie's report, Welfare in the Army, in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(114914)

35
   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on (a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered, (ii) the average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years.

(115090)

36
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 10th March, Official Report, column 828W, on peat compost, when his officials began their assessment of the full impact of phasing out the use of peat on his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

(115234)

37
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer on 10th March, Official Report, column 828W, on peat compost, if he will list all his Department's estate gardens; and if he will make a statement.

(115235)

38
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what will be the loss of gross earnings per month attributable to withdrawal of the London allowance for Servicemen serving in Greater London in the financial year starting in April 2000 for (a) aircraftsman second class, (b) aircraftsman first class, (c) corporal, (d) sergeant, (e) flight sergeant, (f) warrant officer, (g) pilot officer, (h) flying officer, (i) flight lieutenant, (j) squadron leader, (k) wing commander, (l) group captain, (m) air commodore, (n) air vice-marshal, (o) air marshal and (p) air chief marshal and their army and navy equivalents.

(114807)

39
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what progress is being made towards a national roll-out of the New Deal for Disabled People.

(114688)

40
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many and what percentage of full-time students are claiming disabled student allowance; and what was the total cost in each of the last three years.

(115003)

41
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the reasons which underlie the revision of the timetable for appointments to the Learning and Skills Council as explained in a letter to the honourable Member for Daventry from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary dated 13th March.

(115010)

42
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what procedure will be adopted for appointment of members to the local learning and skills councils; and if such appointments will be subject to local advertisement and consultation.

(115008)

43
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many TECs have merged their operation with chambers of commerce; and what arrangements will be made for continued business involvement by membership of their successor bodies.

(115006)

44
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what are the criteria determining residence by a UK student in the various component parts of the UK for the purpose of student support; and if the circumstances determining such deemed residence can change during the course of study.

(115009)

45
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what arrangements will be made for the continuation of local Education-Business Partnerships and partnerships with other public education providers and local authorities when TECs are replaced by local learning and skills councils.

(115007)

46
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what obligation there is on higher education institutions to charge higher fees for part-time study to overseas students than to United Kingdom residents; if this fee regime applies to EU residents studying in the United Kingdom; and if the same fees regime applies to UK-national students whose home is in another EU county.

(115002)

47
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the proposed loan for part-time students will be (a) confined to hardship cases and (b) made available to Open University students.

(115000)

48
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on progress in the national roll-out of individual learning accounts.

(115004)

49
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the relationship between the proposed foundation degrees and the higher national diplomas.

(115001)

50
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if a personal careers interview is now available to all 16-year-olds who request one.

(115005)

51
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each of the last 10 years.

(115094)

52
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how pupils with special educational need will be supported and advised in Excellence in Cities areas.

(115048)

53
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what progress has been made towards the achievement of Commonwealth Heads of Government target relating to the proportion of women in decision-making roles in political, public and private sectors by 2005.

(114778)

54
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the incidence of Mundic in housing.

(115193)

55
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will assess the impact his statement of 7th March on housebuilding will have on the Chelmsford Local Authority area; and, as a result of his statement, how many houses will have to be built in Chelmsford, (a) over the next five years and (b) over the next 16 years.

(114782)

56
N   Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many genetically-modified crop trials are currently taking place in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(114424)

57
   Mr John Cryer (Hornchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many workers in the construction industry are employed on a PAYE basis.

(115051)

58
   Mr John Cryer (Hornchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many workers in the construction industry are self-employed on the basis of holding a C154 registration card.

(115052)

59
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance he has given to planning authorities about the protection of privacy for neighbours.

(114921)

60
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to introduce measures to improve protection of privacy for neighbours.

(114920)

61
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to amend planning law in respect of the siting of dormer windows.

(114919)

62
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will increase the required deposit to establish financial probity for road haulage companies from £5,000 to £20,000.

(115084)

63
   Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce the 2000-01 housing transfers programme.

(115220)

64
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many bypasses have been removed from the trunk road and motorway improvements programme since May 1997.

(114977)

65
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the Commission for Integrated Transport took into account in drawing up its recent report on 44-tonne lorries for the Government, the evidence in McKinsey's report of 10th February produced for Railtrack.

(114979)

66
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many full-time staff worked in the Office of the Rail Regulator at the time that the present Regulator was appointed; how many new appointments have been made since then; how many staff have left since then; how many vacancies exist; how many staff are due to leave within the next six months; and how many staff the Regulator employs.

(114917)

67
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many of his Department's press officers have access to the PA newsfeed via their desk-top PCs; and at what cost to public funds.

(114918)

68
N   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many applications for opencast mines in greenbelt areas have (a) been approved, (b) been sent to public enquiry and await determination, (c) been sent to public enquiry and are subject to further evidence having been requested by him following the issue of the minerals planning guidance and (d) have been rejected; and of these, how many in each category have had costs awarded against those opposing the application since May 1997.

(114775)

69
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what distinction his Department makes between brownfield sites and usable brownfield sites when identifying the amount of developed land available for redevelopment.

(115011)

70
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) private cars, (b) commercial vehicles and (c) public transport vehicles have been converted to run on liquid petroleum gas since May 1997.

(115026)

71
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 a list of those areas to be designated as urban priority areas for redevelopment funding.

(115017)

72
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what has been the cost of each of the regional chambers in each of the years since their inception; and what is the projected cost for the next five years.

(115015)

73
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans his Department has for legislation relating to the control of rents.

(115021)

74
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what public funding has been made available for Hull airport in the last three years.

(115023)

75
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what grants are available from central government for home improvements in owner occupier and private rented accommodation.

(115013)

76
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent representations he has received regarding the reform of controlled rents.

(115022)

77
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what additional resources have been allocated within his Department to oversee the regulation of the water industry.

(115012)

78
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many staff are employed in his Department; and how many were employed in each of the last four years, including the component departments which were merged into his Department after May 1997.

(115020)

79
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) private cars, (b) commercial vehicles and (c) public transport vehicles can run on liquid petroleum gas in the United Kingdom.

(115025)

80
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 each of the regional development projects funded by the regional development agencies to date; and what funds have been committed.

(115016)

81
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what has been the cost of each of the regional development agencies in each of the years since their inception; and what is projected for future years as to (a) administration and running costs and (b) project funding costs.

(115014)

82
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many meetings he has had with officials of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union since May 1997.

(115024)

83
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to ensure that company car drivers pay their own insurance.

(115221)

84
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to prevent able-bodied drivers from using parking bays designated for people with disabilities.

(115046)

85
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what EU legislation governs the allocation of departure and arrival slots at Heathrow to British airlines which merge with non-EU airlines; and if he will make a statement.

(115226)

86
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many kilometres of cycle lanes have been built in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how many are projected to be built in the next five years.

(114814)

87
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the exemptions granted to date under the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Reguations 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(114813)

88
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those local authorities that have set targets for the overall level of road traffic in their area as part of their draft local transport plans, giving the targets set in each case.

(114810)

89
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when safety modifications to the tracks outside Paddington station to eliminate cancellations of trains in the evening peak period will be completed.

(114809)

90
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place a copy in the Library of his Department's gender audit to assist transport planners and operators in meeting women's transport requirements.

(114806)

91
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the average costs of establishing a home zone.

(114812)

92
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many trains carrying radioactive materials have passed signals at danger in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(114811)

93
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement about the public inquiry in Gloucestershire concerning the transport strategy for the region.

(115027)

94
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what timetable he has agreed in respect of the 31st January announcement on consultation about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and access to taxis.

(115082)

95
N   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the current progress of genetically-modified crop trials in the United Kingdom.

(113387)

96
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the amount of heroin which was sent via Kosovo in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(114929)

97
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much heroin sourced from Kosovo has been surrendered at UK ports by HM Customs and Excise in the past 12 months.

(114926)

98
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the percentage of heroin sold in the (a) UK and (b) EEC which came from smuggling through Kosovo in the last 12 months.

(114928)

99
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the annual expenditure by government on (a) working family tax credit and (b) childcare tax credit in Norwich in each of the last five years.

(115100)

100
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families in Norwich are eligible for working family tax credit.

(115097)

101
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Norwich are in receipt of (a) working families tax credit and (b) childcare tax credit.

(115098)

102
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of administering the taxing of aviation fuel.

(115301)

103
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent communications he has received from the European Commission concerning the breach, or potential breach, of the terms of any EU legislation concerning state aids or taxation benefits for (a) firms in Northern Ireland, (b) shipbuilding and (c) motor manufacture or assembly, stating the topic and purpose of each communication.

(115251)

104
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to encourage banks to install ATM machines that both dispense cash and accept cash deposits.

(115255)

105
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to encourage high street banks to co-operate in sharing premises and overheads to avert closures in villages and rural towns.

(115253)

106
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to encourage high street banks to set up mini-branches in rural sub-post offices in areas where no high street bank is present.

(115254)

107
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answers of 1st March, Official Report, columns 266-7W, whether examination of the documents accompanying the consignments referred to in those Answers has substantiated the alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Agreement between the EC and Israel.

(115319)

108
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the extent to which achievement of the objects and purposes of the EC's trade agreements with Israel depends on the provisions of the agreement relating to the scope of territorial applicability and to bilateral customs co-operation.

(115324)

109
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answers of 14th February, Official Report, column 447W, and 1st March, Official Report, columns 266-7W, whether the documents referred to in those Answers referred to (a) importation of dates and (b) importation under preferences of other products, with particular reference to wines and carpets from the area Barkan and the Golan Heights.

(115318)

110
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, columns 266-7W, what measures to recover duties and collect security deposits have been taken in connection with importations from Israel under preferences of consignments accompanied by documents identifying the location of their suppliers as within the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights.

(115320)

111
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has demanded security deposits from importers claiming the benefit of preferences under the Community's preferential trade agreements in cases where the documents accompanying the consignments being imported, or the labelling or other identifying details of the goods themselves, have given rise to strong doubts regarding their originating status under the agreements in question.

(115321)

112
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, where the responsibility for ensuring the appropriate application of Community treaties, including external trade agreements, lies and if the United Kingdom will ask the Commission to indemnify it against liability for losses to the Community's own resources consequent on failures of UK customs enforcement that may arise out of a misapplication of EU-Israel agreements by Israel's customs service.

(115317)

113
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if any of the other European Community member states' customs services have taken measures in the past three years to recover duties or collect security deposits in connection with goods of any sort that have been imported from Israel under preferences in cases where (a) the documents submitted in support of their originating status referred to locations in the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip or the Golan Heights or (b) the goods were labelled or otherwise identified in a fashion indicating that they were produced or had undergone substantial processing in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.

(115323)

114
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Customs and Excise can take if Israel's customs service has been systematically misapplying the territorial clauses and origin rules in its trade agreements with the EU to prevent fraudulent preferential importations into the United Kingdom of products from settlements without the cooperation of Israeli customs.

(115316)

115
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answers of 1st March, Official Report, columns 266-7W, whether, upon their examination by Customs and Excise, the information contained in the documents accompanying the consignments referred to in those Answers, together with the maps and other information available to Customs and Excise, justifies imposing duties and collecting deposits from the importers of those consignments under UK and Community law.

(115311)

116
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what account Her Majesty's Government has taken, in connection with imports from Israel under preferences, of public communications by the Government of Israel stating that Israel issues certificates of origin according to its own definition of territoriality.

(115312)

117
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has demanded security deposits from importers claiming the benefit of preferences under the Community's preferential trade agreements for importations from Israel based on evidence indicating that the products being imported may have been produced or undergone substantial processing in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including in Israeli settlements.

(115322)

118
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting Aberdeen from air passenger duty.

(115073)

119
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the main families in Kosovo dealing in heroin.

(114923)

120
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many international policemen were promised by NATO countries for service in Kosovo; and how many have arrived.

(114924)

121
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons NATO expelled the 4th Unit of the Narcotics Squad of the Serb Army from Kosovo.

(114922)

122
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many persons have been apprehended in Kosovo for trafficking in heroin since police from NATO countries arrived.

(114925)

123
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures he has taken to encourage the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Northern Uganda; and if he will encourage the Ugandan and Sudanese governments to enter into negotiations with all the warring parties.

(115219)

124
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the estimated cost of his visit to Brazil; and how many staff will travel with him.

(115019)

125
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the purpose of his visit to Brazil; and if he will publish his itinerary.

(115018)

126
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent meetings he has had with Lord Levy to discuss the Middle East peace process.

(115222)

127
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what occasions since 1993 his (a) Department's officials, (b) Ministry of Defence personnel and (c) Ministers met Mr Roger Crooks to discuss (i) the security situation in Sierra Leone and West Africa, (ii) the political situation in Sierra Leone and West Africa, (iii) the supplying of arms in Sierra Leone and West Africa, (iv) the supplying of military assistance and advisers in Sierra Leone and West Africa, (v) logistical support in Sierra Leone and West Africa; and if he will make a statement.

(114968)

128
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd February, Official Report, column 941W, on peat compost, what percentage of the compost used in his Department's estate gardens is peat; when use of peat compost will be phased out on his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement.

(115236)

129
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in respect of the Convention on a draft Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, if he will list (a) the participant from each member state or other appointing body, (b) the composition and tasks of its, (i) working groups, (ii) drafting Committee and (iii) Editorial Committee, (c) the dates when these groups and the Plenary of the Convention (1) have met and (2) plan to meet and (d) what (x) oral and (y) written evidence from his Department has been reported by select committees of the House concerning the Convention.

(115249)

130
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which Ministers will be attending the World Education Forum in Dakar.

(114915)

131
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department have made to the Government of Honduras about the murder of Edy Ortega and Francisco Espinoza.

(114842)

132
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ascertain whether, prior to the conclusion of an internationally-recognised final settlement ending Israel's occupation of the territories it has occupied since 1967, parties to international agreements with Israel can permit their agreements to be implemented in a manner which treats any part of those occupied territories as falling within the territory of the State of Israel without themselves contravening public international law.

(115194)

133
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ascertain whether extending the benefits of trade preferences to enterprises established by Israeli nationals in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 (a) de jure and (b) de facto would, prior to the conclusion of an internationally-recognised final settlement ending Israel's occupation, contravene the duties on the UK and its European partners under Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

(115195)

134
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise concerns on human rights abuses in Chinese-occupied Tibet in the United Kingdom's ministerial statements at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights.

(115091)

135
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 14th January, Official Report, column 221W, on British Overseas Territories, what plans his Department has to introduce an order in council to ensure that the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands change their existing legislation on homosexual acts.

(114774)

136
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what presentations he has made to British companies involved in the extraction of oil in Sudan in connection with the recommendations made in the document, Human Security in Sudan: The Report of a Canadian Assessment Mission.

(114780)

137
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the European tour of Raul Reyes, the senior Colombian FARC commander.

(114777)

138
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received concerning violence in the Ituri region of north-eastern Congo.

(114776)

139
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on the use of revenues received by the Government of Sudan from the exploration of oil and development projects.

(114783)

140
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, column 738W, on Sudan, what discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart concerning the recommendations made in the study, Human Security in Sudan: The Report of a Canadian Assessment Mission; and if he will make a statement.

(114773)

141
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals for reform of the United Nations, Her Majesty's Government will be putting forward at the Millennium Assembly and Summit in September this year.

(114779)

142
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Latvian authorities regarding the prosecution for war crimes of a Latvian citizen who had fought against the Nazis.

(114938)

143
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Latvian authorities regarding the non-prosecution of Nazi war criminals.

(114939)

144
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the total number of appointments to health authorities, trusts and other NHS bodies he has made in Greater London since 1st May 1997 indicating the total number who have declared a Labour Party background, their names, and Labour Party activities.

(114772)

145
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made on reducing waiting times for cancer treatment.

(115196)

146
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS walk-in centres have been introduced to date.

(115260)

147
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many further NHS walk-in centres are planned.

(115259)

148
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he gives local authorities on the regulation of private health care.

(115282)

149
   Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve the standard of (a) nursing and (b) residential home care of elderly people in Sunderland; and if he will make a statement.

(115078)

150
   Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds were occupied at the Ryhope General Hospital, Sunderland, on the first day of each month since 1st January 1999.

(115080)

151
   Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to extend provision for (a) hospital-based and (b) community-based mental health services in Sunderland.

(115079)

152
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to consult on allowing the NHS Pensions Agency to pay benefits from the NHS pension scheme to a contributor's unmarried partner.

(115116)

153
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he will take to increase the number of heart operations in 2000.

(115114)

154
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) clinical and (b) medical oncology consultants there are per 100,000 population for each health authority in England; and if he will make a statement.

(115190)

155
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to introduce the new class of scientific screening officers for the NHS breast screening programme.

(115225)

156
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the level of deficit allocated to (a) NHS trusts and (b) health authorities, and their predecessors where applicable, for 1979 to 1999.

(115106)

157
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds were available (a) nationally and (b) in London in each year from 1979 to 1999.

(115103)

158
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on social services (a) nationally and (b) in London in each year from 1979 to 1999.

(115104)

159
   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were (i) nationally and (ii) in London in each year between 1979 and 1999.

(115086)

160
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received about including speech and language therapists within the remit of the Pay Review Body; and if he will make a statement.

(115083)

161
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 18th January concerning an MRI scanner, ref: POH(3) 5608/38.

(114808)

162
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers and constables there were in the Chelmsford Division of the Essex Constabulary (a) on 1st May 1997 and (b) at the latest available date; and what reports he has received from the Chief Constable about the number of (i) officers and (ii) constables there will be in that division in the next three years.

(114784)

163
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his Department's representations made at the recent conference in Sweden on drug trafficking in Kosovo.

(114927)

164
N   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the correspondence from the honourable Member for Crewe and Nantwich relating to Mr Gugaueshau and the loss of passports by the Passport Office.

(115031)

165
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the honourable Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton will receive a reply to his letter of 27th January regarding Mrs Janet Kirkwood, a constituent.

(114970)

166
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of current legislation relating to official secrets with the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

(114975)

167
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost, including salary, was of the suspension of each Metropolitan Police officer suspended in the past 10 years, the period of each officer's suspension, and the date of determination of each case, indicating in each case the results of suspension broken down into (a) reinstatement, (b) retirement, (c) dismissal and (d) successful criminal prosecution.

(114952)

168
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long (a) Detective Inspector John Redgrave and (b) Detective Constable Charman of the Metropolitan Police have been suspended from duty and for what reasons; when he expects their futures to be determined; and if he will make a statement.

(114969)

169
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements exist to ensure that the allocation of papers for consideration by Treasury Counsel, which have been received consequent upon a complaint having been investigated in relation to the conduct of police officers, is handled by counsel removed from any relationship either with earlier related cases, or those with police officers subject of complaint; and if he will make a statement.

(114966)

170
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the results of the Metropolitan Police Inquiries relating to the referral by the Police Complaints Authority of the complaint by Mr Keith Green, was passed to Treasury Counsel; and if he will make a statement.

(114965)

171
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what disciplinary action has been taken in relation to the joint CIB/Kent Police investigation; and if he will make a statement.

(114960)

172
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what details of arms shipments to, and via, West Africa were revealed by Operation Nightshade; and if he will make a statement.

(114957)

173
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action has been taken to prevent retired police officers publishing criticism of the conduct and stewardship into the investigation of the murder of Rachel Nickell in 1992; and under what powers such action was taken.

(114958)

174
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the investigation into the complaint made by former Detective Keith Pedder will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(114955)

175
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints made over the last five years by (a) serving police officers, (b) retired police officers and (c) other members of the public against the conduct of (i) CIB and (ii) the Serious Crime Squad have been investigated by (1) current and (2) former officers of CIB or the Serious Crime Squad; and if he will make a statement.

(114963)

176
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if manuscripts and other documents belongings to former Detective Keith Pedder have been returned to him following their seizure by the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement.

(114956)

177
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates in 1993 and 1994 Roger Crooks was interviewed by the Anti-Terrorist Squad.

(114953)

178
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost of Operation Cornwall.

(114954)

179
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason on 16th December 1997 Mr Keith Green was taken from the hospital wing of Brixton Prison for interview by two police officers; for what reasons (a) the interview was not recorded or notes taken; (b) no solicitor was present; and (c) the Prison Doctor was not informed; and if he will make a statement.

(114967)

180
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Metropolitan Police received from the Police Complaint's Authority its referral of the complaint of Mr Keith Green; for what reason it was passed for investigation to an officer due to retire; when the results of the Metropolitan Police Complaint's Department inquiries into this matter were completed; what were the reasons for the length of time for the inquries' completion; and if he will make a statement.

(114964)

181
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason (a) on 9th December 1997 Mr Keith Green was offered accommodation in a safe house, (b) this offer was made in the absence of a solicitor, (c) no tape recording of the interview was made and (d) no caution was given; and if he will make a statement.

(114961)

182
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the Police Complaints Authority passed the complaint of Mr Keith Green of 16th February 1999, against CIB to the Metropolitan Police Complaints Department for investigation; and if he will make a statement.

(114962)

183
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what purpose in 1993 and 1994 Metropolitan Police officers serving under the direction of Detective Inspector John Redgrave met Mr Geoffrey Brennan to discuss arms sales and shipments; at which of these discussions Mr Roger Crooks and other representatives of the prospective vendor and importer were present; and if he will make a statement.

(114959)

184
   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on (a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered, (ii) the average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years.

(115088)

185
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd February, Official Report, column 875W, on peat compost, what percentage of the compost used in his Department's estate gardens is peat; when use of peat compost will be phased out on his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement.

(115237)

186
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Jill Dando murder investigation has cost to date broken down into (a) salary, (b) expenses and (c) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

(115238)

187
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the rate of absenteeism of Metropolitan Police officers for each of the years 1990 to 1999.

(115223)

188
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Metropolitan Police officers were serving in specialist units for each of the years from 1990 to 1999.

(115224)

189
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received about the decision of the police to refuse to release to the media the names and addresses of people injured in road accidents; and if he will make a statement.

(115299)

190
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers concerning the decision by the police to prevent the release of names and addresses of people injured in road accidents; and if he will make a statement.

(115298)

191
   Mr Mike Wood (Batley and Spen):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent by each police force in England and Wales, and in total, on the purchase of CS gas in the year April 1998 to March 1999.

(115093)

192
   Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the salaries are for the two most senior positions in the Refreshment Department in financial year 1999-2000; and what the percentage increase in those salaries will be in the next financial year.

(115252)

193
N   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the membership of the County Committee for Cheshire indicating the home towns of the members and the bench on which they sit, and if he will list the county and magistrates' courts that the Committee is considering for closure.

(115030)

194
   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on (a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered, (ii) the average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years.

(115089)

195
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what progress the Government is making in considering the implications of the Starrs case in Scotland for the judicial system in England and Wales.

(113405)

196
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) clinical and (b) medical oncology consultants there are per 100,000 population for each health authority in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(115189)

197
   Mr Robert Walter (North Dorset):    To ask the Prime Minister, what plans the Government has to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War.

(115037)

198
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the Government's support for shipbuilding on the Clyde.

(115197)

199
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is his estimate of the cost to his Department of re-printing the leaflet , You have a Choice, on the payment of benefits and pensions through post offices; and if he will make a statement.

(114183)

200
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will bring forward proposals to provide compensation to those in receipt of a state pension in Scotland for the recent increases in water charges; and if he will make a statement.

(114679)

201
   Mr John Cryer (Hornchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many inspections of building sites have been made in the past 12 months by Benefits Agency inspectors to check on the employment status of construction workers.

(115053)

202
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimates he has made of the number of severely disabled children aged three and four years who will benefit from the provisions of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster.

(115199)

203
   Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the sources of in-work support for people without dependent children; and if he will make a statement.

(115108)

204
   Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list for each year of the earnings top-up pilot, the relevant local authority area in England and Wales and the total number of individuals, indicating their (a) gender and (b) average ETU award, who participated in the pilot.

(115109)

205
   Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the evaluation of the effects of the earnings top-up pilot.

(115107)

206
   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what basis he has calculated the net average income of single pensioners at £132 per week.

(115115)

207
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the Benefits Agency Fraud officer for North Sussex will be contactable by e-mail; and if he will make a statement.

(114978)

208
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what recent discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with the Australian Government about frozen state pensions of British people living in Australia; and if he will make a statement.

(115101)

209
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the Government's liability is for (a) the basic state pension, (b) SERPS and (c) state second pension in (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2010, (d) 2015, (e) 2020, (f) 2030, (g) 2040 and (h) 2050 at current real values.

(115102)

210
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will extend winter fuel payments to people with disabilities who are not in receipt of income support.

(115047)

211
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners in (a) Stoke-on-Trent South parliamentary constituency and (b) the City of Stoke-on-Trent are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee.

(115081)

212
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he will make a decision on the future of widows' SERPS.

(114971)

213
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to revise the present level of the accommodation offset within the National Minimum Wage Regulations.

(114974)

214
N   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, to whom the inspectors' report on Blue Arrow was distributed prior to its publication in September 1992.

(114468)

215
N   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which (a) companies and (b) individuals who had access to the inspectors' report on Blue Arrow prior to its publication in September 1992 made representations as to its contents.

(114469)

216
N   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if amendments to the draft inspectors' report on Blue Arrow report were made following representations by interested parties prior to its publication.

(114470)

217
N   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what other DTI investigations into Blue Arrow have been (a) undertaken or (b) commissioned by his Department other than that which led to the report published on 24th September 1992.

(114471)

218
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many representations he has received in favour of placing the diamond synchrotron investment at Daresbury; and from whom.

(115040)

219
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) the North West economy, (b) science in North West universities and (c) science and technology in the North West of the decision to place the diamond synchrotron investment at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.

(115042)

220
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what account he took in coming to his decision on placing diamond synchrotron investment of the impact on joint science and technology projects between Daresbury and North West universities.

(115105)

221
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with the Wellcome Trust concerning the location of the diamond synchrotron investment.

(115041)

222
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the total subsidy for the generation of power from wind turbines in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000.

(114913)

223
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received about the effect of the second change to London telephone numbers on the charity MEDIC-ALERT; and if he will make a statement.

(115119)

224
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what safeguards he will put into place to ensure that (a) charities and (b) MEDIC-ALERT will not be faced with a third change to telephone numbers and consequent expenses; and if he will make a statement.

(115120)

225
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the combined power output of all the signals broadcast from the telecommunication masts at (a) the north site and (b) the south site on Old Blandford Road at Harnham Hill, Salisbury; and what assessment he has made of the potential risk to human health.

(114804)

226
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on when he expects the next British astronaut to take part in a space mission.

(115192)

227
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) leave and (b) payment entitlements employers are required to give male and female employees after they have adopted a child.

(114841)

228
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to ensure that personal shareholders are represented on the consultative committee when carrying out its review into company law; and if he will make a statement.

(115029)

229
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if Israel and the European Community established a single specific definition and interpretation of the territorial scope of their agreements' applicability prior to concluding them.

(115313)

230
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if, prior to the conclusion of an internationally-recognised final settlement between Israel and its Palestinian and Syrian neighbours, the Commission has authority to conclude and implement agreements on behalf of the European Community without the consent of member states that would allow the benefits of trade preferences to accrue to Israeli settlements and enterprises established in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.

(115315)

231
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the European Community takes when, in respect of existing trade agreements with other countries, there ceases to be an agreed definition and interpretation of their territorial scope of applicability.

(115314)

232
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list by region of residence the numbers of (a) claims received in respect of respiratory disease, (b) interim and expedited awards in respect of respiratory disease by (i) number and (ii) value, (c) claims in respect of vibration white finger and (d) interim and general damage awards in respect of vibration white finger by (i) number and (ii) value.

(115043)

233
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims his Department has received in respect of respiratory disease; and in respect of how many claims spirometry has been completed.

(115045)

234
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims have been made in respect of respiratory disease by (a) the sufferer and (b) widows and dependants where the claimant has died after the date of claim.

(115044)

235
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the locations, dates of opening or proposed dates of opening are of centres for medical assessment of claims for vibration white finger.

(115049)

236
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the KONVER programme.

(114781)

237
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he plans with the First Secretary concerning BAe Systems'application for an RSA grant; and if he will make a statement.

(115202)

238
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to discuss with the First Secretary the propects of the tourist industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(115201)

239
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made for the New Deal expenditure for over 25 year olds in 1998-99 and 1999-2000; and if he will estimate the expenditure for 2000-01.

(115076)

240
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the expenditure on the New Deal for those aged over 50 years in 1999-2000; and what is his estimate for 2000-01.

(115077)

241
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the spending on the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds in each year since 1997-98; and what estimate he has made of expenditure in 2000-01.

(115075)

242
N   Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews (Medway):    To ask the Solicitor General, what proportion of lawyers in the Government Legal Service are women.

[Question Unstarred] (113400)

243
N   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact on revenue of introducing duty on aviation kerosene in line with the amount of fuel in aircraft leaving the United Kingdom.

[Transferred] (114805)

244
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what investigation he has carried out into the use of carbon monoxide detectors in homes; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (115028)

245
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, what plans the Committee has for improving the acoustics for sittings in Westminster Hall.

[Transferred] (115250)

246
   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the former government offices in Marsham Street are to be demolished; and what will replace them.

[Transferred] (115074)

247
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list by local authority (a) the average cost per resident per week of providing accommodation in council non-residential care homes and (b) the rate paid per resident per week for accommodation in privately run residential care homes.

[Transferred] (115117)

248
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of a tax on aviation fuel on air passengers; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (115300)

249
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    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 Norwich in the last year of family credit.

[Transferred] (115099)

250
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people in Norwich were in receipt of (a) family credit and (b) the childcare allowance in each of the last five years.

[Transferred] (115096)

251
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many citizens of the United Kingdom, or their relatives, have been stopped and their belongings searched for drugs at air or sea entry points equipped with separate entry arrangements for these persons.

[Transferred] (115281)

252
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many private zoos there are in the UK; and how many reported accidents involving (a) animals and keepers and (b) animals and the public resulted in (i) hospitalisation and (ii) death in the last five years.

[Transferred] (115118)

253
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many disabled people in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster have benefited from the disabled persons' tax credit since its introduction.

[Transferred] (115198)

254
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of bank branch closures on rural areas.

[Transferred] (115203)