Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 5 May 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 5 May, 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.

FRIDAY 5th MAY

1
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will answer the Question tabled by the honourable Member for Tewkesbury on 17th January (Ref. 105197).

(120923)

2
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of cars bought by the Government car service since May 1997 have been Rovers.

(120862)

3
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on attendance figures for the Millennium Dome.

(120806)

4
   Mr Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) financial and (b) other audits his Department carries out on bodies funded through the Sports Council or by Lottery grants.

(121102)

5
   Mr Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) public and (b) Lottery funds have been given to the Badminton Association of England in each of the last 10 years.

(121103)

6
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will set targets for the World Class Performance sportsmen and women for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and publish them before 1st September.

(121042)

7
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many athletes who gained World Class Performance status in 1999 achieved personal best performances at the World Athletics Championships in 1999.

(121040)

8
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money has been spent on the World Class Performance programme by Sport England and the UK Sports Council (a) since it was introduced and (b) per sport.

(121041)

9
N   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which sportsmen and women have qualified for world class performance status for 1999 and 2000; and which of them have since achieved a new best performance where that can be measured.

(121039)

10
   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if UK servicemen serving under UN auspices are given UN pay.

(121082)

11
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many troops from (a) the UK and (b) other EU countries are committed to (i) Eurocorps and (ii) EUROFOR.

(120820)

12
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what progress has been made with plans for gifted children to sit maths GCSE early under the Maths 2000 project.

(121251)

13
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teachers have received computers as a result of his Computers for Teachers initiative.

(121252)

14
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the provision of specialist staff through Ethnic Minority and Travellers Educational Achievement Grant funding.

(121253)

15
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 92W, what was the pupil teacher ratio in (a) former grant maintained primary schools and (b) former grant maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years.

(121270)

16
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what discussions he has had with the directors of London education authorities on developing the Government's anti-drugs policy in schools within their authority areas.

(121121)

17
N   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to improve the pay and conditions of part-time lecturers in further and higher education.

(121069)

18
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will meet representatives of the Lancashire Cricket Board to discuss the regulations relating to the employment of overseas professionals in league cricket.

(121266)

19
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received on the employment of overseas professionals in league cricket; and if he will make a statement.

(121265)

20
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what regulations have been introduced in the past five years which change the existing arrangements whereby overseas professionals can be employed in league cricket; and if he will make a statement.

(121264)

21
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, which Careers Service contractors hold (a) a Charter Mark, (b) an Investors in People award and (c) an International Standards Organisation registration.

(120779)

22
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to abolish the agricultural, horticultural and nautical studies GCSE courses offered by the NEAB.

(121086)

23
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure that his Department avoids operating policies which result in age discrimination.

(121087)

24
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many end of Key Stage 2 English test papers were returned for a review of marking last year; and what proportion of these resulted in a change of National Curriculum level.

(121088)

25
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what reliability data are available for the end of Key Stage 2 tests; and for what reason they are not published.

(121091)

26
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to improve the training of end of Key Stage 2 test markers.

(121092)

27
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, whether he expects teachers to check the marking of end of Key Stage 2 test papers on their return from the external marking agency.

(121090)

28
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will request that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority cease the practice of selling Key Stage 2 and 3 past papers to BBC Educational.

(121093)

29
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many end of Key Stage 2 English test papers were returned for a review of marking in each of the past four years.

(121089)

30
N   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will reply to the letter dated 14th December 1999 from the Right honourable Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, regarding the proposals to introduce cabinet-style committees in the National Park Authority.

(121064)

31
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the Government's policy is on granting the European Commission a mandate to negotiate bilateral air service agreements between the EU and the US.

(121285)

32
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if it is his objective to achieve full liberalisation of air services between the UK and the US as a result of the forthcoming bilateral air service agreement talks with the US.

(121283)

33
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what his policy is on open skies in the context of the forthcoming bilateral air talks with the US Government.

(121284)

34
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on bilateral air service agreements.

(121281)

35
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what HM Government's aims are in the forthcoming bilateral air service agreement talks with the US Government; and if he will make a statement.

(121282)

36
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 5W, how many journeys on the Royal Train have involved the use of the sleeping accommodation.

(121269)

37
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much was paid to Wisconsin Central to service and operate the Royal Train in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(121257)

38
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many licences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the removal of peregrine have been issued in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(121117)

39
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received following the publication of the Report of the UK Raptor Working Group; and if he will make a statement.

(121116)

40
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which organisations tendered for the project, A Study into the Raptor Predation of Domestic Pigeons, published in March; which organisation was awarded the tender; and what the qualifications were of the individuals who researched and wrote the study.

(121118)

41
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the costs to business will be of administering the working families tax credit from April 2000 to 31st March 2003.

(121072)

42
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the current Bank of England reserves of euros; and how many euros have been purchased by the Bank of England since 1st January.

(121268)

43
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he has altered his projections for the revenue yield from changes to double taxation relief and controlled foreign companies following representations from business since the Budget.

(121063)

44
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much (a) has been spent since May 1997 and (b) is projected to be spent in the next 12 months on measures to meet public service agreement targets.

(121012)

45
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged 65 years and above pay income tax at the (a) basic and (b) higher rate; and how many did so in the financial year 1996-97.

(121010)

46
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what will be the net financial impact, in the first financial year of its operation, of the climate change levy on (a) the automotive industry, (b) the farming industry, (c) the shipbuilding industry and (d) manufacturing industry in the West Midlands.

(120992)

47
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many public service agreement targets (a) have been met in full, (b) are on course to be met and (c) have been abandoned.

(121013)

48
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of tax revenues have been paid by people aged 65 years and above in each year since 1979.

(121015)

49
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many public service agreement targets have been set to date.

(121016)

50
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been spent on the New Deal since 1997.

(120997)

51
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who (a) hold and (b) have held a mini ISA and a maxi ISA simultaneously.

(121014)

52
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost of increasing the age related personal allowance for people aged (a) 65 to 74 years and (b) 75 years and over by (i) £500, (ii) £1,000, (iii) £1,500 and (iv) £2,000; and how many people would cease to pay income tax in each case.

(121017)

53
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what taxes he includes in his calculation of the tax burden on the average family.

(121009)

54
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the average quarterly percentage fall in claimant count unemployment (a) from May 1994 to May 1997 and (b) from May 1997 to May 2000.

(121011)

55
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of United Kingdom exports and imports counted as being within the EU, consists of entrepôt trade through Rotterdam and Amsterdam (a) to and (b) from non-EU countries.

(120810)

56
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals are under negotiation in the EU for (a) Europe-wide taxes and (b) European limits and controls on national taxes.

(120809)

57
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, by how much the United Kingdom's reserves have been reduced in value since the decision in July 1999 to sell gold and purchase euros, due to the fall in the value of that currency; and if he will make a statement.

(121200)

58
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what Barnett formula comparability factors are being used for (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland for each department in the 2000 Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.

(121085)

59
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what studies his Department has (a) undertaken, (b) commissioned and (c) reviewed on the efficiency of the Private Finance Initiative; and if he will make a statement.

(120925)

60
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the average percentage increase in real benefit unit net income between 1997-98 and 2000-01 of the 1.2 million children that his policies have lifted out of poverty.

(121287)

61
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many married women actively revoked their decision to pay the reduced rate of national insurance contributions in each year from 1977 to the present.

(120999)

62
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what decision he has reached about undertaking a further information campaign to advise married women paying the reduced rate of national insurance contributions about their options.

(120998)

63
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate, for the latest year for which data are available, the number of married women currently paying the reduced rate of national insurance contributions who would pay less in national insurance contributions if they were to pay the full rate of national insurance contributions; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for 1990.

(121199)

64
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish for each year since 1970, the level of the United Kingdom national debt (a) in actual terms, (b) in constant money terms and (c) as a proportion of gross national product; and if he will publish, on the same basis, a projection of these figures for the next five years.

(121197)

65
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will meet Hans von Sponeck to discuss the effect of sanctions on Iraq.

(120861)

66
N   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan to Britain on 3rd May.

(121066)

67
N   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the role of the United Nations in Kosovo.

(121067)

68
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will exert pressure on the Iranian Government to respect the human rights of Iranian Jews, Baha'is and Christians.

(121193)

69
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those areas of policy where the United Kingdom would lose its veto if the Commission proposals in COM (2000) 34 were adopted.

(120812)

70
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the areas of policy where the United Kingdom has a veto over EU proposals.

(120813)

71
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the dates in 2000 for (a) negotiating sessions and (b) other meetings on the draft Treaty of Nice.

(120808)

72
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Peru regarding the persecution of Christians in that country; and if he will make a statement.

(121008)

73
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provision has been made available on the National Health Service for the percutaneous vertebroplasty operation to treat osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement.

(121083)

74
N   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter dated 2nd December 1999 from the Right honourable Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed about access to specialist alcohol services in the North East.

(121065)

75
N   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve the pay and conditions of community midwives.

(121068)

76
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Prescription Pricing Bureau will resume paying pharmacists for actual costs.

(121120)

77
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to include standards relevant to the provision of domiciliary services to deafblind people, including communicator-guide and intervenor services, in the domiciliary care standards under development by his Department.

(120414)

78
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to consult deafblind users of domiciliary care services, including communicator-guide and intervenor services, in relation to the setting of domiciliary care standards.

(120415)

79
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to include standards relevant to deafblind people in the care standards for residential services for adults.

(120416)

80
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the Audit Commission's report, Testing Times: A Review of Diabetes Services in England and Wales; and what actions he proposes to take.

[R] (121124)

81
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) spending per head on social services was in each of the last three years and (b) standard spending assessment per head for social services was in each of the last three years and is for 2000-01, in (i) Devon and (ii) England.

(120828)

82
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many London borough councils have developed systems with the local police to combat racial incidents within their borough.

(121119)

83
N   Dr Jack Cunningham (Copeland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers he has to ban demonstrations by individuals and organisations with records of violent conduct, destruction of property and vandalism; and if he will make a statement.

(121000)

84
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will fund the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths publication entitled Drug-Related Deaths as reported by coroners in England and Wales.

(121263)

85
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners serving life terms in United Kingdom gaols have served (a) more than 25 years, (b) more than 30 years, (c) more than 35 years and (d) more than 40 years; and how many such prisoners there are in total.

(121262)

86
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will grant a pardon to Richard Lewis, also known as Dic Penderyn; and what representations he has received on this issue.

(121127)

87
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by Sir Thomas Legg and Mr Peter Bosworth on the case of Harmon v. House of Commons Corporate Officer.

(120780)

88
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the policy is of the House in respect of public procurement and buying British goods; and what changes there have been in this policy since May 1997.

(120823)

89
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much food aid was promised by the European Union through ECHO to Ethiopia in 1999; and when and where it was delivered.

(121094)

90
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if contributions to ECHO are voluntary for members of the European Union; and if she will change her contribution to ECHO based on its past performance.

(121098)

91
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much food aid has been committed to Ethiopia by the European Union through ECHO in 2000; and when and where it will be delivered.

(121095)

92
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if ECHO is committed to finding the cheapest appropriate food aid on the open market in responding to humanitarian need in Ethiopia and other such crises.

(121097)

93
   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proposals she has to improve the performance of ECHO.

(121096)

94
N   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what date the report of the Investment and Finance Cross Sector Working Group was placed on the Strategy 2010 web site; on what dates (a) the summary of that report and (b) the report of the Inward Investment sub-group were removed; and for what reason the latter document was removed.

(120587)

95
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) rifles minus their bolts and (b) complete rifles were stolen from their civilian owners in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and of these how many were (i) .22 calibre and (ii) full bore.

(121259)

96
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the total cost of producing the bound volumes of the reports of the Northern Ireland Forum; how many copies were produced; and to whom they were provided free of charge.

(121255)

97
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the Guidelines on Health and Safety regarding the dimensions of the Royal Ulster Constabulary crest displayed on police vehicles came into force; when they were to be implemented; and by which government department these guidelines were prepared.

(121256)

98
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many powdered milk tokens were provided by the Western Health and Social Services Board in the last 12 months for which figures are available and (a) what was their face value in (i) Limavady Council District, (ii) Londonderry Council District and (iii) Strabane Council District and (b) how many (i) chemists and (ii) other outlets provided this service in each of the council districts; and what checks he has carried out to determine whether only those chemists authorised to do so have returned such tokens for payment by the Board.

(121254)

99
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many legally-held firearms have been destroyed in the last 12 months for which figures are available, as a consequence of the authority to hold such a firearm being (a) withdrawn and (b) given up by the holder; and of those firearms how many were (i) handguns, (ii) rifles of .22 calibre, (iii) rifles over .22 calibre, (iv) shotguns and (v) other firearms.

(121258)

100
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on his April meeting with the management of Ford, Dagenham.

(121070)

101
   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he will publish the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the social value of rural post offices; and if he will make a statement.

(121126)

102
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many responses were received by his Department in respect of the revised assisted areas map; and how many responses (a) objected to and (b) supported the removal of Inverness, Nairn, Badenock, and Strathspey from the proposed map.

(120924)

103
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the criteria were which excluded Inverness, Nairn, Badenock and Strathspey from the revised assisted areas map.

(120926)

104
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will rank Scottish constituencies by (a) the reduction and (b) the increase in population coverage proposed in the revised assisted areas map.

(120927)

105
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion of the clients who have used the single work-focused gateway have been women in the pilot projects in (a) Great Britain and (b) Clyde Coast and Renfrew.

(121101)

106
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what percentage of the women who have used the single work-focused gateway were (a) single mothers, (b) married, (c) widows and (d) carers; and what steps have been taken to ensure that staff who operate this service are trained to give the proper advice to each category of women.

(121099)

107
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what reviews have been carried out to assess the success of the single work-focused gateway.

(121100)

108
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 34W, on fraud savings, what are the abbreviated names of the initiatives and projects in full.

(121280)

109
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 19th April, Official Report, column 551W, if he will list the IT procurement contracts agreed with EDS since 1st May 1997 with a value over £10,000; when each contract was agreed; when the IT provision began to be installed; and if each IT system is (a) fully operational and (b) in use.

(120922)

110
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 19th April, Official Report, column 551W, how many pensioners are excluded from the minimum income guarantee because of income from an occupational pension.

(120921)

111
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the Government has fulfilled its commitment in paragraph 3.18 of the White Paper, Safeguarding Social Security, to ensure that data is correct on 1.8 million payroll items; how many anomalies (a) were found, (b) were passed to fraud investigators, (c) resulted in prosecution and (d) resulted in conviction; and of the anomalies, how many arose from cases where people were simultaneously working and claiming.

(120859)

112
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many CSA inspectors are in post and operating in the Lancashire and Merseyside region.

(120863)

113
   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the hon. Member for Poplar and Canning Town of 11th April, Official Report, column 144W, on the state pension, what assumptions underlay his Answer regarding future rates of increase in prices and earnings and increases in take-up of income support.

(121194)

114
   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer on 18th April, Official Report, column 439W, on pensions, what the National Insurance Fund balance would be, and how far above the minimum level recommended by the Government Actuary, at the end of each of the years (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03 and (d) 2003-04, if the basic pension and linked benefit rates remained at their present level in 2000-01 and were uprated in line with prices thereafter.

(121195)

115
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many new occupational pension schemes were set up in (a) 1979 to 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998 and (d) 1999.

(121018)

116
N   Mr Michael Portillo (Kensington and Chelsea):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what has been the percentage change in the value of UK pension funds since May 1997.

(120993)

117
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set up an independent review of the workings of the appeals system against refusal and downgrading of disability living allowance applications; and if he will make a statement.

(121196)

118
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the total costs for (a) each of the past two years, (b) the current year and (c) projected for each of the next two years, broken down into administrative and non-administrative costs and including the cost of the telephone helplines.

(121043)

119
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what powers OFGEM has with regard to monitoring and regulating the supply of bottled liquid petroleum gas; and if he will make a statement.

(121084)

120
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what are the (a) start-up and (b) annual running costs to business of (i) the working families tax credit, (ii) the recoupment of the student loan and (iii) stakeholder pensions.

(121071)

121
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his policy on the future of the second class post.

(121267)

122
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if Zenith Milk will be permitted to process milk.

(120807)

123
   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 25W, concerning Companies House, what the results were of the systematic evaluation carried out of Capita's performance in the years (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99; what percentage of their targets Capita reached; and in what areas.

(121125)

124
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the grants to TRW/Lucas Varity Filtronics, mentioned on page 59 of Cm 4611, have been delayed in payment.

(121004)

125
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of potential job losses at Dagenham if Ford ceased car manufacture there.

(120822)

126
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what his policy is on proposals to take over car manufacture at Dagenham.

(120994)

127
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason the planned expenditure on regional selective assistance for 2000-01 given on page 62 of Cm 4611 differs from total provision given on page 201.

(121002)

128
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the regional selection assistance originally proposed for BMW/Rover will be available for new projects in the West Midlands to replace Longbridge employment.

(120855)

129
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, under which programmes he plans to pay grant to the coal industry in the next two years.

(120817)

130
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the Government has sought EU approval for paying rescue aid to a bidder for Rover.

(120826)

131
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the policy of (a) the EU and (b) the United Kingdom Government towards paying grant for trading losses by manufacturing businesses.

(120860)

132
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he has received a grant application from Ford for its Dagenham plant.

(120815)

133
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many of the offers of regional selective assistance cited on page 59 of Cm 4611 have been delayed by the absence of a legal regional selective assistance map.

(121005)

134
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what payments have been made in 1999-2000 under the Enterprise Fund announced in the 1998 White Paper.

(121007)

135
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to announce the changes required in motor car distribution following the Competition Commission Report.

(120814)

136
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the Government's policy is towards the (a) Alchemy and (b) Towers consortium bids for Longbridge.

(120827)

137
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he will announce the amount of grant that is available for the coal industry over the next two years; and what factors will determine the level of grant to be paid.

(120819)

138
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the (a) grants and (b) grant aid he has promised (i) the car industry and (ii) the coal industry since May 1997; from which budgets they will be drawn; what they are for; and for which he has EU approval.

(120856)

139
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason total provision for the Enterprise Fund given on page 198 of Cm 4611 differs from estimated outturn given on page 41.

(121006)

140
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much of the difference between total provision of, and estimated outturn spending on, regional selective assistance in 1999-2000 results from the delay in agreeing a legal regional selective assistance map.

(121003)

141
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason the estimated outturn spending on regional selective assistance given on page 62 of Cm 4611 differs from the total provision given on page 201.

(121001)

142
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he (a) has had in the last two months and (b) plans in the next three months with the EU over the block exemption of motor distribution from the competition regime.

(120811)

143
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assurances the Government has received from BMW about (a) the future of the Rover plant at Cowley and (b) the timing of the sale or closure of the Longbridge plant.

(120825)

144
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the amount of money needed from (a) all sources and (b) public funds to continue Rover production at Longbridge.

(120857)

145
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he plans to discuss grants to the coal industry with the EU.

(120818)

146
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the level of financial backing possessed by the Tower bid for Rover.

(120854)

147
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent estimate he has made of the extent of job losses (a) under the Alchemy bid, (b) under the Tower bid and (c) in the event of closure of the Rover plant at Longbridge.

(120853)

148
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the output of cars at Ford's Dagenham plant in the last 12 months.

(120996)

149
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with Ford about the ending of car making at its Dagenham plant.

(120816)

150
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has (a) to aid and (b) make grants to Dagenham in the event of car manufacture ceasing there.

(120824)

151
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions he has had with Ford concerning competitiveness in car manufacturing in (a) Germany and (b) the UK.

(120995)

152
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the regional selective assistance offered to BMW/Rover was intended to cover revenue losses.

(120821)

153
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what rescue aid the Government is prepared to offer for Rover.

(120858)

154
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many prosecutions there have been to date for the non-payment by a company to their workforce of the national minimum wage.

[Transferred] (121123)

155
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to receive the money from the sale of the radio spectrum; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (121198)

156
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) men and (b) women from ethnic minority communities living in the Greater London area have benefited from the New Deal.

[Transferred] (121122)