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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 22 March 2000 Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 22 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 22nd MARCH
1	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, if the Committee will establish a booking system for taxis to be available to honourable Members after late-night sittings.
	(116041)
2   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when his Department intends to enact the provisions of the Animal Health (Amendment) Act 1998, in respect of minimum animal welfare standards in quarantine kennels; and if he will make a statement.
	(115506)
3	Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the operating costs are of each of his Department's regional service centres; what refurbishment costs have been incurred at each centre in each of the last three years; and on what terms each of the buildings accommodating the regional service centre are secured, indicating which are (a) freehold and (b) leasehold.
	(115920)
4	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he is taking to reduce the backlog in payments due under the over 30 months scheme.
	(116012)
5   N	Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EC fishing nations regarding sport angling and offshore trawling for bass in the English Channel.
	(115738)
6	Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 20th and 21st March; and if he will make a statement.
	(115958)
7	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many British-produced films were made in the UK in 1999.
	(115919)
8   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if goats that fail to respond to training for the submarine escape and rescue research programme are culled; and if he will make a statement.
	(115811)
9   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many goats have had to be killed on humane grounds after being used in the submarine escape and rescue research programme in the last six months; and if he will make a statement.
	(115812)
10   N	Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many live firing exercises have been undertaken by the Royal Navy in each of the last five years stating in each case (a) the name of the exercise and (b) the number and cost of rounds expended by (i) the Goalkeeper gun system, (ii) the Phalanx gun system and (iii) the 114mm gun system; and if he will make a statement.
	(114547)
11	Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions, in each of the last six months, RAF aircraft patrolling the (a) northern and (b) southern no-fly zones in Iraq have been fired on; on how many occasions coalition forces have retaliated; and what targets have been destroyed as a result.
	(115913)
12	Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department's review of the rules relating to annual leave for non-industrial civil servants will report; what the terms of reference of the review are; and if he will publish the results of the review.
	(115922)
13	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (a) if he will make a statement on the reasons which underlay the decision (i) to remove the body of the son of Margaret Maurex from an NHS hospital to a Ministry of Defence site, where a post-mortem examination was performed and (ii) not to ask the permission of Margaret Maurex, (b) what tests were performed on the body, (c) what were the results of the post-mortem examination and (d) for what reasons such exercises were performed in secret; and if he will make a statement.
	(115926)
14	Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which British Army personnel (a) have served during the last six months and (b) are currently serving, in Zimbabwe; and for what purpose.
	(115931)
15   N	Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the prescribed welfare standards included in the legislative requirements governing the supply of imported meat to Her Majesty's forces.
	(115639)
16	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the numbers of (a) civilian and (b) service personnel planned to occupy Craigiehall.
	(116051)
17	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the area is of office space in the Craigiehall building to be occupied by Command HQ civilian and service personnel; and if the trade unions have been given this information.
	(116054)
18	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total office space in the Craigiehall building to be occupied by Army Command HQ civilian and service personnel; and when the trade unions were given this information.
	(116038)
19	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what load-bearing tests have been carried out in the Craigiehall building to establish whether it can safely accommodate the personnel and equipment needed in the reorganised Army Headquarters 2nd Division; when and by whom the tests were conducted; what the findings of the tests were; and whether the report of the tests was disclosed to the trade unions.
	(116039)
20	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel and what volume of office equipment can be safely accommodated in the Craigiehall building.
	(116052)
21	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what investigation has been carried out in the Craigiehall building, which is to house the Army Headquarters 2nd Division, to establish the extent of the use of asbestos in its fabric and whether it is safely inert; what alterations to the interior of the Craigiehall building are planned that could disturb existing asbestos installation; at what cost; and what are the health and safety implications for his Department's personnel being accommodated there.
	(116036)
22	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the risk assessment relating to the Craigiehall building to be used for Army 2nd Division Headquarters under Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.
	(116045)
23	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received concerning the proposed accommodation to be provided for Army 2nd Division HQ at Craigiehall.
	(116053)
24	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) service personnel are planned to occupy the Craigiehall building following the transfer there of Army 2nd Division Headquarters; and if this information has been disclosed to the relevant trade unions.
	(116037)
25	Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the average length of time it will take a primary school headteacher to assess an application for threshold status from a teacher.
	(116040)
26   N	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to classify school librarians as teachers for the purposes of the Computers for Teachers initiative.
	(115810)
27	Mr Alan Campbell (Tynemouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much funding was awarded to Northumberland Local Education Authority in each year from 1997-98 to 1999-2000 in respect of (a) reduction in infant class sizes, broken down by (i) revenue and (ii) capital, (b) the National Grid for Learning, (c) literacy programmes, (d) numeracy programmes, (e) books for schools, (f) truancy initiatives, (g) school security, (h) standards fund, school effectiveness, (i) excellence in cities, (j) new deal for schools, (k) voluntary aided schools capital grant, (l) energy efficiency, (m) music programmes, (n) year six booster classes and (o) education standard spending assessment.
	(116013)
28	Mr Bruce George (Walsall South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the future of the GCSE in nautical studies; and what consultation his Department has held on proposed changes.
	(115861)
29	Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many villages with populations of under 3,000 have a speed limit of 30 mph.
	(116015)
30   N	Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans his Department has to set up an interactive website.
	(114822)
31	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to improve the safety of coach passengers under the age of five years.
	(116001)
32	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what are the procedures that must be followed regarding the dumping of radioactive waste in the UK.
	(115916)
33   N	Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list for the financial year 1998-99 the number and total value of contracts let by his Department with external consultants and advisors that (a) have been put out to competitive tender, (b) have not been put out to competitive tender and (c) have been let on a non-commercial basis, stating in each case the names of the individuals or organisations that have carried out the work.
	(115809)
34   N	Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to reach a final decision in response to the draft structure plan for the former Avon area.
	(115853)
35   N	Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in what ways the fashion modelling industry will benefit from the changes proposed under IR35.
	(115640)
36   N	Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the impact of IR35 proposals on the avoidance of tax and national insurance payments in the fashion modelling industry.
	(115641)
37   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason a Grand Marquis has been bought for use as a flag car in Caracas; who has use of this car; what was the cost of this car; and if he will make a statement.
	(115737)
38   N	Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many flag cars have been purchased for the official use of ambassadors and high commissioners since 1st May 1997; how many of each model have been purchased; and at what total cost.
	(115736)
39   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what mechanisms exist for the promotion of public awareness in the United Kingdom of the institutions of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.
	(115828)
40	Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received relating to the safety of Gedhum Choekyi Nyima and his possible release from his captivity; what is the UK's policy on the matter; and if he will make a statement.
	(115924)
41	Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 20th and 21st March; and if he will make a statement.
	(115957)
42	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to restrict further exports to Sudan by Weir Pumps Limited and Allen Engineering until a peace agreement is reached there; and if he will make a statement.
	(116035)
43	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent meetings have been held between Her Majesty's Government and the EU Commission in connection with the banana dispute with the United States.
	(116000)
44	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of Avon Health Authority's scheme to reduce outpatient waiting times by guaranteeing a number of outpatient appointments for each primary care group; and if he will make a statement.
	(116002)
45	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the system used to assess annual increases in NHS funding.
	(116011)
46	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he will take to ensure that services for children with learning disabilities in the Weston-Super-Mare area will not decline following the disbandment of Phoenix NHS Trust.
	(116010)
47	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the staff to patient ratio for children with learning disabilities within the Weston Area Health Trust.
	(116006)
48	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the staff to patient ratio for children with learning disabilities within the Weston Area Health Trust following the disbanding of the Phoenix NHS Trust.
	(116007)
49	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the annual NHS funding allocated to Avon Health Authority for 2000-01.
	(116004)
50	Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission an independent inquiry into the incidence of MRSA.
	(115928)
51	Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the incidence of MRSA in hospitals in England and Wales for 1996.
	(115927)
52	Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received regarding the payments negotiated by NHS trusts and hospices for the provision of services in hospices; and if he will make a statement.
	(116009)
53	Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines his Department issues to NHS trusts regarding the purchase of services from hospices.
	(116008)
54	Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the average number of days taken on sick leave per police officer for each police force in England for the latest year for which figures are available.
	(116055)
55	Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to reply to the letter dated 22nd February, from the honourable Member for Altrincham and Sale West, regarding Samuel Adams.
	(115860)
56   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what internal disciplinary actions have been taken by the Metropolitan Police concerning officers who were responsible for the custody of Roger Sylvester in January 1999.
	(115642)
57   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what special police actions by officers not based at Tottenham police station took place from 10th to 13th January 1999 in the Tottenham police division.
	(115643)
58   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the Police Complaints Authority report into the circumstances surrounding the death of Roger Sylvester to be published.
	(115644)
59   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received concerning the death of Roger Sylvester in January 1999; and if he will make a statement.
	(115645)
60	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training is given to police officers on dealing with domestic violence; and if he will make a statement.
	(115915)
61	Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many representations he has received from (a) individuals and (b) organisations expressing concern about the £10 levy for the criminal record checks; what plans he has to lower this charge in respect of enquiries by charities and voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement.
	(115923)
62   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to publish his plans for the regulation of the use of the electoral register under paragraphs 10 and 11 of Schedule 2 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 as amended by the Representation of the People Act 2000; what discussions he has had regarding those plans; and if he will make a statement.
	(115815)
63   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his intention that press notices issued by a Minister of the Crown, government department and local authority during the relevant period referred to in Clause 118 (2) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill should be (a) posted on the Internet and (b) otherwise be made publicly accessible.
	(115859)
64   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral statement of the honourable Member for Warwickshire North, of 14th March, Official Report, columns 255-6, if he will publish guidelines on the role of (a) civil servants, (b) special advisers and (c) local government officers in future referendum campaigns; if he will publish draft guidelines whilst the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill is before Parliament; and if he will make a statement.
	(115857)
65   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to publish draft orders to be made under Clause 122 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill.
	(115813)
66   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the increase in the number of registered political parties as a result of the restriction on the description of candidates contained in Clause 19 (2) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill; and if he will make a statement.
	(115832)
67   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has undertaken into the cost to registered political parties of compliance with the requirements of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill; if he will place a copy of that research in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
	(115827)
68   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a definition of the term press notice used in Clause 118 (3)(d) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill.
	(115858)
69   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to appoint the interim Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission.
	(115830)
70   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total cost to public funds of material issued by Her Majesty's Government during the recent referendum campaigns in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) London.
	(115826)
71   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his intention that the duty placed on the Electoral Commission to promote the institutions of the European Union under Class 11(1)(c) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill should extend only to those institutions of the European Union that are directly elected; and if he will make a statement.
	(115835)
72   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive about the extent to which the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill should apply to Scotland.
	(115814)
73   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if (a) the European Single Currency and (b) the European Central Bank are institutions of the European Union within the meaning of Clause 11(1)(c) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill.
	(115834)
74   N	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to begin the appointments process for electoral commissioners.
	(115829)
75   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what statutory mechanisms exist to ensure that (a) an offender convicted of an offence against a child not listed in Schedule 4 to the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill and (b) an offender sentenced to a term of imprisonment of less than 12 months for an offence committed against a child is prohibited from working with children; what is the maximum term of such a prohibition; and if he will make a statement.
	(115818)
76   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of persons who will be sent to prison annually as a result of the introduction under Clause 55 of the Criminal Justice and Court Service Bill of the three month sentence for failing to secure regular attendance at school; what will be the cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement.
	(115854)
77   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of (a) the average cost to public funds of an exclusion order made under Part III of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, (b) the number of orders that will be made annually and (c) the number of other community orders that will include exclusion requirements; if magistrates' courts will be able to make such an order; and if he will make a statement.
	(115824)
78   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders have been released to date under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme; how many offenders convicted of each category of offence have been released; how many offenders convicted of (a) unlawful supply of a controlled drug and (b) possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply have been released on the scheme; how many have re-offended whilst on the scheme, and what offences have been committed; and if he will make a statement.
	(115816)
79   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners who will be released on licence earlier than at present as a result of the introduction of (a) monitoring and (b) drug testing requirements for release on licence under the provisions of Part III of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; and if he will make a statement.
	(115820)
80   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his policy that a person breaching the provisions of (a) an exclusion order and (b) a drug abstinence order made under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill should be taken before a court after the first breach; and if he will make a statement.
	(115822)
81   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his intention that a disqualification order issued under Part II of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, should apply indefinitely; and if he will make a statement.
	(115831)
82   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his policy that a positive test for (a) class A and (b) class B drugs conducted under Clause 48 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill should be taken into account as an aggravating factor in the sentencing exercise if the suspect is subsequently convicted of the offence with which they have been charged; and if he will make a statement.
	(115819)
83   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of his plans to change the name of the Probation Service.
	(115856)
84   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of his plans to change the name of (a) probation orders, (b) community service orders and (c) combination orders.
	(115825)
85   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms prevent (a) sex offenders and (b) other offenders from working with children; and if he will make a statement.
	(115833)
86   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his policy that any suspect charged with an offence who subsequently tests positive for (a) class A and (b) class B drugs under the provisions of Clause 48 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill should be prosecuted for unlawful possession of such a drug (i) in addition to prosecution for other offences with which they have been charged and (ii) in cases where the charges for other offences are subsequently dropped; and if he will make a statement.
	(115817)
87   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners who will be returned to prison after breaching the (a) monitoring and (b) drug testing requirements of their release on licence under the provisions of Part III of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; and if he will make a statement.
	(115821)
88   N	Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the average cost to public funds of a drug abstinence order made under Part III of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; what estimate he has made of the number of orders that will be made annually; what estimate he has made of the number of other community orders that will include drug abstinence requirements; if magistrates' courts will be abe to make such an order; and if he will make a statement.
	(115823)
89	Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what matters were discussed at the meeting of the House of Commons Commission on 6th March; and how long the meeting lasted.
	(115925)
90	Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to encourage other developed nations to lift trade barriers and quotas to help developing countries compete in the export market.
	(115921)
91	Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reason the decision was taken to discontinue funding awards for students from Northern Ireland to undertake courses at residential institutions for adult education in Great Britain from the beginning of the 1999-2000 academic year; and if he will make a statement.
	(115911)
92   N	Mr John D. Taylor (Strangford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what applications there are for the provision of pre-school education at Kircubbin, County Down; what funding is available for pre-school education; and if such funding would be available if pre-school provision in Kircubbin were under the control of the (a) South-Eastern Education and Libraries Board and (b) Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
	(115397)
93   N	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he received from, or on behalf of, the telecommunications industries between 20th January and 2nd March in connection with the Utilities Bill; and if he will list the telecommunications companies involved.
	(115771)
94   N	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list (a) the meetings and contacts he had with the telecommunications industry between 20th January and 2nd March and (b) the telecommunications companies involved; and on which occasions ministers from the Cabinet Office attended.
	(115783)
95   N	Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 22nd March.
	(115384)
96   N	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to amend the rules with regard to downrating of the state retirement pension for pensioners who go into hospital for six weeks or more.
	(115808)
97   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what date he expects local authority verification of the validity of housing benefit applications to commence.
	(115646)
98   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will state (a) the total cost of housing benefit administration, (b) the subsidy provided by his Department and (c) the net cost to each London borough for (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 1998-99; and what is his estimate for the current year to date.
	(115648)
99   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the performance of contractors operating housing benefit administration; and if he will make a statement.
	(115650)
100   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the cost of verification of the validity of housing benefit applications to local authorities; and what additional resources they will receive to accommodate this.
	(115647)
101   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what advice he has given to housing benefit administrators concerning the processing of applications (a) that are more than six months late and (b) that have been lost by the processing agent.
	(115649)
102   N	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the quality of service for housing benefit claimants resident in Hackney and Islington since IT Net was contracted to provide the service; and if he will make a statement.
	(115651)
103	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what was the average length of time between date of initial application and date of appeal for incapacity benefit applications in North Somerset in each of the last three years.
	(116005)
104	Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how GPs' assessments for disability living allowance are monitored; and what action his Department takes when dealing with general practitioners against whose decisions a high number of successful appeals are submitted.
	(116003)
105   N	Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will investigate the time taken by the Child Support Agency to deal with the case of Mrs Janet Potter, a constituent, whose details have been supplied to him; and if he will make a statement.
	(115652)
106   N	Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many complaints about the conduct of medical examinations have been received by the Disability Benefits Unit in the past 12 months.
	(115654)
107   N	Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many complaints he has received during the last 12 months about the actions of medical examiners employed by SEMA in cases of claims for disability living allowance.
	(115653)
108	Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects the low-earning self-employed to be brought into the state second pension.
	(115910)
109	Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what advice he has received from his advisers on the increase in the number of pensions taken out and the money likely to be put into pensions if stakeholders' pensions were fully concurrent.
	(115908)
110	Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he plans to announce his conclusions on pensions for the self-employed.
	(115909)
111   N	Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out the criteria which determine which recipients of child benefit receive letters inviting them to move to four-weekly payment in arrears.
	(115852)
112	Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the income and capital ceilings of each relevant benefit were established; and if he will calculate the value when set at current prices of each ceiling.
	(115905)
113	Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk):    To ask the Solicitor General, if he will make a statement regarding the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
	(115906)
114	Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the average cost of (a) 650 therms of gas and (b) 8,000 units of electricity to consumers (i) paying by direct debit and (ii) paying by means of a pre-payment meter in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
	(115912)
115   N	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 10th March, Official Report, column 839W, on the Utilities Bill, if the officials of his Department who met the Other Licenced Operators group on 15th February to discuss the Utilities Bill included secondees to his Department from commercial companies.
	(115770)
116	Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 15th March, Official Report, column 190W, on the nuclear industry, if he will provide a technical description of the reasons which led to each of the shutdowns listed.
	(115914)
117   N	Mr Kenneth Clarke (Rushcliffe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to receive the Performance and Innovation Unit report on the sub-Post Office network; and if he will make a statement.
	(115769)
118	Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he made of the long-term demand for super jumbo aircraft prior to his proposed loan to BAe Systems.
	(115932)
119	Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the role of the Small Business Service.
	(115862)
120	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Global Enterprise Initiative.
	(116046)
121	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on progress in encouraging investment in e-commerce businesses in (a) Shropshire and (b) the West Midlands region in the last three years.
	(116047)
122	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will assess the performance of manufacturing industry in (a) Shropshire and (b) the West Midlands region in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
	(116048)
123	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people have access from (a) home to the Internet and (b) their workplace to the Internet; and if he will make a statement.
	(116050)
124	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what incentives his Department plans to introduce to encourage less expensive methods of access to the Internet for (a) small businesses and (b) home users; and if he will make a statement.
	(116049)
125   N	Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will amend his regional aid map proposals to bring them into line with EU rules.
	(115839)
126   N	Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he is able to make regional aid available to Alchemy to invest at Longbridge on the same basis as was proposed for BMW.
	(115838)
127   N	Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made following his meeting with Alchemy of the number of jobs expected to be lost at Longbridge.
	(115836)
128   N	Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to meet the EU Commissioner to discuss the regional aid map.
	(115837)
129   N	Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will provide a regional breakdown of the 3,000 new automated teller machines to be installed in post offices which were announced by the Prime Minister.
	(115855)
130	Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on what date the undertakings by Birds Eye Walls will come into effect in relation to the impulse ice-cream market.
	(115956)
131	Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will implement the findings of the Competition Commission to ensure that consumers obtain the benefits of effective competition in the impulse ice-cream market for the coming season.
	(115955)
132	Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will bring forward legislation to empower the National Assembly of Wales to amend those Acts which have effect in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
	(115954)
133	Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) former service personnel and medical auxiliaries and (b) members of their families, have made appeals to the Pensions Appeals Tribunal for compensation due to exposure to radiation from British nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific since 1970; how many have been awarded compensation; how many are awaiting adjudication; and if he will make a statement.
	[Transferred] (116014)
134	Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact on United Kingdom companies of the banana dispute between the European Union and the United States.
	[Transferred] (115999)
135	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claims were made for industrial injury benefit during 1999.
	[Transferred] (115918)
136	Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) men and (b) women are single parents in the UK.
	[Transferred] (115917)
137	Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what advice he has received on (a) the costs of full concurrency in stakeholder pensions in tax revenue forgone and (b) changes in administrative costs borne by the Inland Revenue.
	[Transferred] (115907)

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