Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 5 April 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 5 April, 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 5th APRIL

1
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to promote scientific debate on the safety of genetically-modified foods.

(116398)

2
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117817)

3
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will seek to amend the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy in respect of the measurement of field margins, in order to ensure that such rules take account of the character of Britain's hedgerows; and if he will make a statement.

(117836)

4
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what her policy is in respect of the appointment of local councillors to non-departmental public bodies.

(116401)

5
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government departments (a) have and (b) have not joined the Employer's Forum on Disability.

(117628)

6
N   Mr John Butterfill (Bournemouth West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the average percentage increase in hotel room rates in Central London between March 1994 and March 2000.

(117520)

7
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which museums and galleries in London provide free admission to pensioners.

(117839)

8
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117816)

9
   Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to promote tourism and culture opportunities in the North East.

(117942)

10
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect membership of the euro would have on (a) the domestic tourism industry and (b) overseas visitors to the United Kingdom.

(117927)

11
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Resorts Task Force will report on (a) health and safety, (b) employment, (c) environmental and (d) other regulations as they affect hotels and guest houses in seaside resorts.

(117928)

12
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Resorts Task Force will report on the effects of the six bed rule on small hotels and bed and breakfast establishments.

(117921)

13
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the impact of the value of the pound on the (a) domestic tourism industry and (b) number of overseas visitors to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(117936)

14
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the resorts task force will report on the effects of UK (a) membership and (b) non-membership of the euro on (i) domestic tourism and (ii) foreign visitors to the UK.

(117933)

15
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Resorts Task Force will report on the effects of VAT rates on accommodation (a) in the UK and (b) in the UK's European competitors.

(117934)

16
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Resorts Task Force will report on the deregulation of dry rooms in licensed hotels.

(117935)

17
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of the UK's participation in the Principal anti-air missile system.

(117848)

18
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on the France-UK joint cooperation on the Joint Airborne Navigation and Attack electro-optical targeting system; and if he make a statement.

(117849)

19
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on introducing the Stabilised Weapon and Reconnaisance Mount into the UK armed services.

(117850)

20
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the Royal Air Force's role in the A400M Project; and if he will make a statement.

(117846)

21
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the United Kingdom will help to prepare NATO forces for asymetric warfare; and if he will make a statement.

(117847)

22
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received regarding cooperation between the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the NXT.

(117844)

23
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of HMS 'Ramsey'.

(117845)

24
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117815)

25
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the Royal Ordnance sites from which Ministry of Defence Police cover will be withdrawn; on what date this will take effect; and if he will make a statement.

(117665)

26
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the (a) establishment strength, (b) actual strength and (c) bases of all Scottish regiments.

(117666)

27
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence Police will be deployed to Kosovo in support of the UN International Police Force; what will be the length of their tour; what training they will receive; and if he will make a statement.

(117667)

28
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward legislation to extend the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence Police to give them the same constabulary powers as Home Office police; and if he will make a statement.

(117669)

29
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received concerning funding for a memorial on the Burma Railway for British servicemen who lost their lives whilst prisoners of the Japanese during the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.

(117938)

30
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will establish a memorial to the British servicemen killed during the Cyprus emergency in the 1950s; and if he will make a statement.

(117937)

31
   Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what authorisation there is for low flying in the Saddleworth area; and if any part of the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency is designated as a Royal Air Force training area.

(117922)

32
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to redress the remaining differences in student support for 2000-01 between the component parts of the UK following the Government's response to the Quigley report.

(117626)

33
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate his Department has made of the costs to London boroughs of providing education for the children of asylum seekers in 1999-2000.

(117930)

34
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117814)

35
   Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) men and (b) women have benefited from the New Deal in Houghton and Washington East.

(117977)

36
   Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) men and (b) women have benefited from the New Deal in the North East.

(117940)

37
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make provision for free school meals for children whose parents receive working families tax credit.

(117852)

38
N   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the schools which have received the document entitled, Beyond a Phase: A Practical Guide to Challenging Homophobia in Schools, from Avon Health Authority.

(117717)

39
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the timetable for the forthcoming review of the statutory registration fee structure for packaging waste compliance schemes.

(117949)

40
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research has been undertaken on the advantages and disadvantages of volume discounting of statutory fees, following the discount in statutory registration fees received by the largest packaging waste compliance scheme.

(117950)

41
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent representations his Department has received on the statutory registration fee structure for packaging waste compliance schemes.

(117948)

42
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received on the index of local deprivation, indicating the numbers which were (a) in favour of the new proposals, (b) opposed to the new proposals and (c) requested the release of the underlying data used to compile the new index.

(117932)

43
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent discussions he has had on improving transport facilities for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

(117824)

44
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to make a decision on the planning issues arising from the RAF east camp site, Colindale.

(117842)

45
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he has received the inspector's report on the planning inquiry into the Brent Cross extension scheme; and when he expects to make a decision.

(117843)

46
   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what encouragement his Department is providing for the regeneration of disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

(117869)

47
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117813)

48
   Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to make public transport in the North East more affordable and accessible to those on low incomes.

(117943)

49
   Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many council houses and properties owned by housing associations in the North East have been empty for six months or more.

(117975)

50
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will bring forward legislation to extend the jurisdiction of the British Transport Police to give them the same constabulary powers as Home Office police; and if he will make a statement.

(117668)

51
   Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the cost of relocation of the offices of Valuation Tribunals in the North West.

(117924)

52
   Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, under what statutory authority the appointment of a Head of Administration for valuation tribunals in the North West is to be made.

(117923)

53
   Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received regarding the administration of Valuation Tribunals in the North West.

(117925)

54
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer in a full year of the working families tax credit.

(117838)

55
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117806)

56
   Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Houghton and Washington East receive the working families tax credit; and what has been the expenditure on working families tax credit for that area since it was introduced.

(117976)

57
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what taxes are payable on the purchase of (a) new cars imported from other EU member states, (b) cars less than six months old imported from other EU member states and (c) used cars.

(117854)

58
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the basis for the revision of the figure for the expected revenue in 2000-01 from his changes to the tax and national insurance treatment of personal service companies between table 1.11 of the 1999 Budget Report and table A2.1 of the 2000 Budget Report.

(117302)

59
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what factors underlay his estimate of the fall in revenues resulting from his changes to the tax and national insurance treatment of personal services between 2001-02 and 2002-03, as shown in table A2.1 of the 2000 Budget Report.

(117303)

60
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117812)

61
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what effect the creation of the St. Helena Business Forum has had on unemployment levels.

(117797)

62
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans has he to develop employment opportunities on St. Helena in non-governmental areas.

(117799)

63
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many St. Helenians are serving in the Armed Forces; and what percentage of the population that represents.

(117801)

64
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans has he to assist St. Helena in developing the fishing industry.

(117798)

65
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to assist St. Helena in diversifying its economy.

(117800)

66
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the pilot scheme in the Manchester, Salford and Trafford Health Action Zone, for provision of the morning-after pill, with the preconditions laid down in Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority.

(118017)

67
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the pilot scheme in the Manchester, Salford and Trafford Health Action Zone; under which pharmacists provide the morning-after pill to girls under 16 years.

(118014)

68
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who is responsible for the appointment of the members of the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Working Group on Therapeutic Cloning.

(118015)

69
   Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children (a) under five and (b) under 10 years old have been treated for dental decay in the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

(117946)

70
   Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which water companies in the United Kingdom add fluoride to water; what notification his Department has received of the reasons why other companies have refused to add fluoride; and what steps are being taken to overcome obstacles to fluoridation.

(118006)

71
   Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what has been the rate of replacement of fillings and crowns in NHS dentistry in each of the last 10 years.

(117853)

72
   Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how time spent on advising patients on how to improve dental hygiene is reflected in dentists' remuneration.

(117945)

73
   Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage practising dentists to take part in post-graduate training.

(117944)

74
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what changes in working practices have been introduced by health authorities following Her Majesty's Government's consultation exercise on the application and use of information technology in the NHS.

(116855)

75
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the role of the Information Management Group in terms of advance guidance and direction in the application of information technology in the NHS.

(116856)

76
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures have been introduced in the last three years by Her Majesty's Government to reduce (a) the level of bureaucratic duplication, (b) burdens on professional staff and (c) administrative difficulties in the application and use of information technology at a local level.

(116857)

77
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) complaints proceeded to a hearing before the Professional Conduct Committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and (b) such cases led to a removal from the register in the last five years.

(117156)

78
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, for each of the last five years, the total number of complaints referred to the Preliminary Proceedings Committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

(117157)

79
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each NHS hospital trust in London the current projected deficit for each trust for 1999-2000.

(117931)

80
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase the number of NHS dentists working in the Greater London Authority area.

(117822)

81
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements are in place at the Royal Free Hospital to provide death certificates at weekends in respect of members of groups and communities who require them to arrange early burial or cremation because of their beliefs or culture; and if he will make a statement.

(117840)

82
N   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to implement recommendations from the report by the Commissioner for Public Appointments on Appointments to NHS Trusts and Health Authorities.

(116406)

83
N   Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Government response to the Sixth Report of the Health Committee of session 1998-99 on Procedures related to Adverse Clinical Incidents and Outcomes in Medical Care (HC 549) will be published; and what factors underlie the delay in its issue.

(117627)

84
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117811)

85
   Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provision he has made for research into, and treatment of, ME/CFS.

(117980)

86
N   Mr David Prior (North Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what were the estimated liabilities of health authorities and NHS trusts in England on 31st March; and of those, how much is due for payment prior to 30th June.

(116383)

87
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what amounts each London borough has claimed in excess of the maximum asylum grant available from his Department for (a) single asylum seekers and (b) asylum seekers with children for (i) 1998-99 and (ii) each calendar month in 1999-2000.

(117929)

88
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the amount of organised crime in the UK that is organised by foreign nationals living in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(117823)

89
   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will consult interested parties about the contents of the publication scheme that his Department will be required to adopt under the Freedom of Information Bill.

(117969)

90
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117810)

91
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which department has responsibility for bringing forward legislation to extend the jurisdiction of (a) the Ministry of Defence Police and (b) British Transport Police to give them constabulary powers; and if he will make a statement.

(116670)

92
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will compensate the Essex Police Authority for the costs incurred following the recent crash of a Korean Airlines plane at Stansted Airport.

(117939)

93
N   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 have been released on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme to date; what offences they committed; what was the sentence (a) received and (b) served in each case; and if he will make a statement.

(117718)

94
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much was spent in the last year for which figures are available on (a) the Welsh Grand Committee and (b) the Welsh Affairs Committee.

(117821)

95
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many lawyers are employed by her Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117809)

96
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps are being taken to limit the fees payable to Queen's Counsel by the Legal Services Commission.

(117841)

97
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117819)

98
   Mr Cecil Walker (Belfast North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the cost of re-welding train chassis operated by Translink in each of the last three years.

(117866)

99
   Mr Cecil Walker (Belfast North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is his estimate of the cost to public funds arising from taking trains out of service because of chassis corrosion problems in the last three years.

(117837)

100
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday, 5th April.

(117370)

101
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117818)

102
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 28th March, Official Report, column 110W, on assisted areas, if he will indicate in respect of the Inverness travel-to-work area what comparators he has used which indicate that it is an area of extremely low population density leading to additional costs in the provision of goods and services.

(117763)

103
   Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the honourable Member for Cunninghame South will receive a reply to his letter of 8th November 1999 (Reference: C/ST/5638/RB/BHD).

(117820)

104
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117808)

105
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners are being targeted as possible qualifiers for the minimum income guarantee in each of the age groups (a) 60 to 65, (b) 65 to 70, (c) 70 to 75, (d) 75 to 80, (e) 80 to 85, (f) 85 to 90 and (g) over 90 years old.

(118007)

106
   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people have had their state pensions reduced as a result of hospital downrating; and what the total benefit savings were in (i) 1979, (ii) 1984, (iii) 1989, (iv) 1994 and (v) 1999.

(117872)

107
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the proportion of recipients of letters under his minimum income guarantee take-up campaign who are entitled to income support.

(117870)

108
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he plans to use local authority housing benefit data in order to identify pensioners who should receive letters as part of his minimum income guarantee take-up campaign.

(117871)

109
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many persons were prosecuted for involvement in fraud over the procurement of computer equipment in the NHS in each of the last six years.

(116858)

110
N   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish an annual estimate of the costs of government regulations to businesses which employ fewer than 100 people.

(116403)

111
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effect on competition in the packaging waste compliance market of the volume discount structure applied to statutory registration fees for packaging waste compliance schemes.

(117947)

112
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of cross departmental cooperation on EU Objective One programmes.

(116412)

113
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117807)

114
   Mr Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to attract more business and industry to the North East.

(117941)

115
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how often he met the Minister for Science and Technology between 1st October 1999 and 19th January 2000 to discuss the synchrotron.

(117926)

116
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd April, Official Report, column 277W, on the diamond synchrotron, who represented the French Government in the private discussions in October 1999 and who represented the UK.

(117979)

117
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd April, Official Report, column 277W, if, at the time when he took his initial decision to site the new synchrotron at Daresbury, he had been informed of the French Government's view, expressed in October 1999, that it should be sited in Oxfordshire.

(117978)

118
   Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones (Ynys Môn):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995.

(117805)

119
N   Barbara Follett (Stevenage):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will make a statement on the progress of the Better Regulation Taskforce in reducing the regulatory burden on businesses.

[Question Unstarred] (116399)

120
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licences were granted for LD50 tests in each of the last four years.

[Transferred] (117851)

121
   Ms Linda Perham (Ilford North):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he intends to publish the report on Active Ageing.

[Transferred] (118008)