Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 8 May 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 8 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.

MONDAY 8th MAY

1
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many primates are kept in research laboratories in the UK funded through the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

(121306)

2
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 88W, what is the guidance concerning the carrying of Ministerial Red Boxes on trains; and of what breaches of that guidance she has been notified in the last six months.

(121135)

3
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the application of the £1 single entry charge to institutions which offer composite ticketing arrangements which allow entry to more than one institution on the same ticket.

(121368)

4
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action he has taken since June 1999 to promote the inclusion of the Forth Rail Bridge as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; what progress has been made with preparing a management plan as required by UNESCO for such sites; and if he will make a statement.

(120865)

5
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations he has received regarding the cancellation of sporting and charitable events due to the imposition of charges for road closures; and if he will make a statement.

(121358)

6
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from the Midland Counties Athletic Association concerning the provision of athletics facilities at Much Wenlock.

(121354)

7
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from the Wenlock Olympian Society concerning funding for improvements for facilities for athletics; and when he will respond to them.

(121356)

8
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if it is the policy of the Sports Lottery Council not to grant-aid athletics tracks of less than 400 metres in length; and if he will make a statement.

(121357)

9
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding is available from his Department for facilities for the provision of athletics in the area of Bridgnorth District Council.

(121355)

10
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason religious groups are prohibited from applying for local digital radio licences.

(121320)

11
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many letters have been received by his Department since 1st May 1997 supporting greater religious freedom in broadcasting.

(121323)

12
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of (a) eggs and (b) egg products purchased for the armed services in the last year for which figures are available were of British origin.

(121352)

13
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if, in relation to the refitting and refuelling of Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines at Devonport Royal Dockyard, he will provide the Reference, MDA or Design Basics Accidents (a) applicable to periods (i) when the boat is under repair in the dry dock facility, other than when refuelling, (ii) when the boat is being defuelled in preparation for refuelling for the nuclear reactor, including the transition of the irradiated fuel to the dockyard storage locality and (iii) when the boat is out of commission and awaiting decommissioning without and with irradiated fuel in the reactor core and (b) relating to the treatment, packaging and storage of past and present arisings of radioactive waste undertaken and held at the Dockyard; and if he will make a statement.

(121348)

14
   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the maximum design accidents assessed by the Nuclear Powered Warships Committee following a near instantaneous loss of primary circuit coolant which are in place for the 'Swiftsure' and 'Trafalgar' nuclear powered submarines in operation near and in the Devonport Royal Dockyard; what is the anticipated frequency of MDA per reactor year; what is the core inventory in terms of the fission products Kr, Xe, I, Te, Cs, Sr, and Ru for the nominated MDA for a reactor that (a) is at Plant State A and (b) has recently been derated to Plant State B on the basis of the Standard Core History for the average reactor in-core life for the currently operational Core Z fuel charge; if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's BR1, BR 3018, BR 3019, BR3020, BR 3025 and BR 3030 documents and where appropriate the documents that have superseded them; and if he will make a statement.

(121412)

15
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is his Department's policy regarding the supply of British beef for consumption by members of Her Majesty's armed forces.

(121073)

16
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the three garrison churches in Aldershot.

(120932)

17
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many claims for compensation by British nuclear test veterans have been (a) made and (b) settled to date.

(121304)

18
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will publish the latest updated timetable for the transition plan for changes in delivery of post-16 years education.

(120829)

19
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what response he has made to the National Disability Council's report on Human Rights and Disability.

(120832)

20
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many extra full-time places in higher education have been created in each of the last five years.

(120834)

21
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what institutions are currently designated under Section 28 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; and which of these have (a) been designated and (b) have had their designation withdrawn during the last three years.

(120830)

22
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will introduce the national arrangements for issuing individual learning accounts; who is the contractor selected; how many people have applied to individual TECs and remain on a waiting list; and what criteria will be applied for entitlements, including those in connection with transport and childcare costs.

(120833)

23
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many vacancies were notified to the Chelmsford jobcentre in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(120347)

24
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to include barristers; and if he will make a statement.

(120781)

25
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what recent representations he has received regarding the exclusion of barristers from the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

(120782)

26
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will call for reports from Rigblast and Railtrack about the use of blasting techniques on the Forth Rail Bridge.

(120866)

27
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which EU member states have privatised their air traffic control facilities in the last five years.

(121295)

28
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when all the air traffic controller posts in NATS will be filled.

(121296)

29
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set national guidelines for road user charge exemptions and concessionary discounts.

(121277)

30
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he took to notify district and parish councils about the GM crop trials in (a) St. Osyth and (b) Wivenhoe in Essex.

(121276)

31
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make regulations listing the classes of vehicles which will (a) receive discounts and (b) be exempt from road charging schemes.

(121278)

32
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received regarding the operation of the Rent Service Agency in the last 12 months.

(121204)

33
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what statutory powers are available to him in respect of the operation of the Rent Service Agency.

(121205)

34
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions on rent controls he has had with the Chief Executive of the Rent Service Agency in the last 12 months.

(121208)

35
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which Minister in his Department is taking lead responsibility for the proposals contained in The Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

(121206)

36
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what external legal advice he has sought in respect of the use of his powers under section 31 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

(121207)

37
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will instruct the Highways Agency to add to the list of possible noise mitigation schemes, published in the Offical Report on 11th November 1999, (columns 681-3), (a) the A46 at Harvington and (b) the M5 at Whittington.

(121313)

38
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will review the criteria for potential road noise mitigation schemes published on 22nd March 1999 to include roads built or widened after 1988.

(121314)

39
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Tunbridge Wells to the Prime Minister of 13th March regarding enforcement of the Ministerial Code, which has been passed to him for reply.

(121210)

40
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the differences between DVLA's procedures for processing applications for vehicles purchased from (a) car importers and (b) traditional dealers.

(121316)

41
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers he has to recover the cost to the community of site clearance and waste disposal caused by unauthorised camping.

(121297)

42
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance (a) his Department and (b) NHS Estates gives to health service bodies tendering for refrigeration equipment.

(120418)

43
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many meetings have been held at the Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee since its establishment; who attended them; what subjects were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

(120419)

44
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with fire safety experts about the implications of installing (a) hydrocarbon and (b) ammonia-based refrigeration as part of air conditioning systems in public places; and if he will make a statement.

(120420)

45
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the extent of the United Kingdom's compliance to date with the terms of the Montreal Protocol; and when he expects full compliance to be achieved.

(120421)

46
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many incidents have been reported in each of the last five years for which figures are available of (a) deaths and (b) injuries caused by uncontrolled releases of (i) hydrocarbons, (ii) ammonia and (iii) HFCs.

(120422)

47
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his policy on the storage and use of (a) hydrocarbons, (b) HFCs and (c) ammonia in (i) refrigeration and (ii) air conditioning systems used by health service bodies.

(120423)

48
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what safety guidance is issued in respect of the storage or use of volatile organic compounds (a) in and (b) near NHS premises; and if he will make a statement.

(120426)

49
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of converting air conditioning and refrigeration equipment from using HFC refrigerants to using (a) hydrocarbons and (b) ammonia.

(120427)

50
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his estimate of the quantity of hydrocarbons in industrial use in the UK (a) in total and (b) by each standard industrial sector classification.

(120428)

51
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his estimate of the quantity of (a) HFC, (b) HCFC, (c) ammonia, (d) hydrocarbons and (e) CFCs in use in the UK in (i) refrigeration, (ii) air conditioning, (iii) aerosols, (iv) metered dose inhalers and (v) other applications.

[R] (120429)

52
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total gross domestic product in 1999.

(121411)

53
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the aggregate burden of additional taxes on trade, industry and commerce since May 1997.

(121351)

54
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the proposed reduction in the employers' national insurance contribution rate financed by the climate change levy.

(121211)

55
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of families with dependent children are headed by (a) married couples, (b) cohabiting couples and (c) a lone parent by each type.

(121365)

56
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of households is headed by a person who is (a) married, (b) cohabiting, (c) single, (d) widowed, (e) divorced, (f) separated and (g) cohabiting with someone of the same sex.

(121367)

57
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the usual gross weekly household incomes as referred to in table 3.8 of Living in Britain 1998, of households headed by a person who is (a) married with dependent children, (b) married with no children or non-dependent children, (c) cohabiting with dependent children, (d) cohabiting with no children or non-dependent children, (e) a lone mother with dependent children, (f) a lone mother with no children or non-dependent children, (g) a lone father with dependent children, (h) a lone father with no children or non-dependent children, (i) a single person, (j) a same sex couple and (k) not in any of the categories above.

(121319)

58
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of dependent children live in families which are headed by (a) a married couple, (b) a cohabiting couple, (c) a parent who has never married, (d) a widowed parent, (e) a divorced parent and (f) a separated parent.

(121366)

59
   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to respond to the submission made by the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in respect of the current annual pay review for its seagoing officers and ratings.

(121363)

60
   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that future submissions made by the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in respect of annual pay reviews will be responded to in time for the annual pay negotiations to be concluded by the agreed anniversary date.

(121364)

61
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many civil servants over the age of 60 years employed by the Contributions Agency have been required to retire following its transfer from the Benefits Agency to the Inland Revenue; and at which centres they were based.

(121322)

62
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what changes have been made in the past year by the Contributions Agency in its policy on employment of civil servants between the ages of 60 and 65 years.

(121321)

63
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the deployment of Zimbabwean forces in protecting mining interests in the Congo; and who owns those interests.

(120868)

64
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 3rd May, if he will list the dates of his meetings with the previous Secretary-General of the Commonwealth to discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe.

(121202)

65
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what communication he has had with the Iranian Foreign Minister regarding the timing of his visit to Iran; and if he raised the issue of legal proceedings concerning members of the Jewish community in Shiraz in the course of that communication.

(121213)

66
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 17th April, Official Report, columns, 396-97W, what assessment he has made of recent developments in the legal proceedings concerning members of the Jewish community in Shiraz, Iran, with particular reference to the case of Hamid Teflin; what representations have been made to the Government of Iran about the decision to hold the trial in camera and about the proceedings in general; what steps have been taken by the Government to monitor the trial; and if he will make a statement.

(121141)

67
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Iranian authorities over the banning of newspapers and magazines.

(121136)

68
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations at the UN to allow sanctions against (a) Serbia and (b) Iraq to be lifted on goods relating to bona fide scientific and technological work essential to food testing and civil manufacturing industry.

(121079)

69
   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of unallocated land which the Government of Zimbabwe currently holds.

(121349)

70
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will have completed the licensing process for the use of Remicade in rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will be referring this to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

(120831)

71
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to reduce deaths resulting from (a) Dothiepin and (b) other anti-depressants.

(120929)

72
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who authorised the television advertisement stating that the average nurse earns over £20,000 per year.

(121131)

73
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average income is of a nurse, excluding allowances.

(121129)

74
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement about the future of the television advertising campaign to recruit nurses.

(121133)

75
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of the television advertising campaign which described the average nurse as earning over £20,000 per year.

(121128)

76
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how his Department estimated the average income of a nurse for inclusion in the recent television advertising campaign; and if he will make a statement.

(121132)

77
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received regarding the television advertising campaign which described the average nurse as earning over £20,000 per year.

(121130)

78
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many slimming clinics have closed as a result of the implemention by the Medicines Control Agency of the ban on the use of products containing Amfepramone and Phentermine; and how many jobs have been lost through such closures.

(121109)

79
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many members of the General Osteopathic Council have been drawn from (a) the General Council of Registered Osteopaths, (b) the College of Osteopaths, (c) the Guild of Osteopaths, (d) the London Counties and Shires Physicians, (e) the SMAE Institute, (f) the British and European Osteopaths Association and (g) the NTOS; how the members of the council were chosen and by whom; and if he will make a statement.

(121105)

80
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what reports he has received of the commercial interests of the members of the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products.

(121107)

81
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many trained osteopaths have been compelled to cease practising since the introduction of the provisions of the Osteopaths Act 1993; what assessment he has made of the operation of the personal and professional profile process; and if he will make a statement.

(121111)

82
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make enquiries concerning the commercial interests of all members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines; and if he will publish the results of those enquiries.

(121106)

83
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, purusant to his Answer of 20th April, Official Report, column, 624W, on slimming drugs, upon what grounds the urgent advice of the Committee on the Safety of Medicines has been sought concerning the drug Amfepramone.

(121112)

84
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the cost to the NHS of treatment for obesity that will arise from the withdrawal from the market of the drug Phentermine and related products; and if he will make a statement.

(121108)

85
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received regarding additional funding for research into the causes of, and cure for, (a) ME and (b) MS; and if he will make a statement.

(121353)

86
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 44W, on hospital beds, if he will list the acute and community based beds available across Worcestershire broken down by the categories in paragraph 3.8.8 of annexe C of Sources, Notes and Definitions, Department of Health Statistical Bulletin NHS Hospital Activity Statistics.

(121293)

87
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the locations of the defibrillators to be placed in public locations in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire.

(121292)

88
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's people management standards document issued to staff.

(121291)

89
N   Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the board members of each NHS trust in the London NHS region with responsibility for (a) corporate governance and (b) maintaining a register of interests for (i) all senior staff and (ii) consultants.

(121203)

90
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the use of ozone-friendly refrigerants in air conditioning in NHS premises; in and what guidance is given on this in respect of purchasing new equipment.

(120417)

91
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of migrating all recipient patients from metered dose inhalers to alternative pharmaceutical delivery systems.

(120424)

92
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussion he has had with safety experts and clinicians concerning the use of (a) ammonia and (b) hydrocarbons in hospital theatres.

(120425)

93
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many clandestine illegal entrants have been discovered in vehicles arriving at United Kingdom ports in each month for the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(121289)

94
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the stowaways he witnessed being discovered at Dover on Wednesday 26th April (a) have claimed asylum and (b) remain in the UK.

(121286)

95
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the incidence of crimes of violence in (a) Gwent, (b) other Welsh Police Authority areas and (c) English Police Authority areas.

(120935)

96
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will recommend that remission of sentences granted to sick prisoners because of their illnesses be reviewed when the prisoner has recovered.

(120928)

97
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the (a) minimum and (b) maximum penalty for (i) violent demonstration and (ii) destruction of private property.

(121347)

98
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the (a) mimimum and (b) maximum penalty for dousing a person in petrol and setting fire to them.

(121345)

99
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the (a) minimum and (b) maximum penalty for breaking and entering for the purpose of (a) theft and (b) an offence against the person.

(121346)

100
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list for the period between the commencement of the home detention curfew scheme on 28th January 1999 and 30th April 2000 inclusive, (a) the total number of prisoners released on the scheme, (b) the number of prisoners convicted of each specific offence who were released on the scheme, broken down by offences committed, including the specific offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person, (iii) drug offences, (iv) assaults and (v) other offences, (c) the average sentence (i) received and (ii) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each specific offence, (d) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, broken down by offences committed, who (A) breached the conditions of the curfew, (B) disappeared and were recaptured, (C) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (D) had their licences revoked, and for what reasons, (e) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme and (f) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence whilst on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted; and if he will make a statement.

(121288)

101
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the Right honourable Member for Maidstone and The Weald of 2nd May, Official Report, column 75W, on the home detention curfew scheme, what offences were committed by the prisoners released before the requisite period; and what was the (a) sentence received, (b) requisite period and (c) sentence served in each case.

(121074)

102
   Sir Nicholas Lyell (North East Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average waiting period in the last 12 months for which figures are available between charge and commencement of trial in cases of (a) murder and (b) rape; and what were the equivalent figures at 1st May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(121290)

103
   Sir Nicholas Lyell (North East Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 7th March, Official Report, column 886, on the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill, on what basis he calculated that the removal of the right to elect trial by jury in either-way cases will produce savings of more than £120 million per year.

(121294)

104
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ensure the safety of British football fans travelling to European Football Championship matches.

(119875)

105
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what preparations, at what cost, Government departments made for celebrating St. George's Day this year.

(120867)

106
N   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminals were caught as a direct result of the use of police helicopters by the South Wales Police in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000; and how much stolen property was recovered as a direct result of the use of helicopters.

(120835)

107
N   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much it cost to operate the police helicopter tracker car recovery system used by the South Wales Police in the financial years (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000 broken down by the cost of (i) hire of helicopters, (ii) cost of staff and (iii) other costs.

(120864)

108
N   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what statues and buildings were vandalised during the disorder in central London on 1st May; what lasting damage was done; how many people have been (a) arrested for and (b) charged with damaging the statues and buildings; and if he will make a statement.

(121044)

109
N   Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans were drawn up in respect of the protection of (a) the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and (b) the Cenotaph prior to the disorder of 1st May; for what reasons, and on whose authority, it was decided not to protect them; how many persons have been (i) arrested and (ii) charged with vandalising the statue and the Cenotaph; what steps the police are taking to arrest other such persons; and if he will make a statement.

(121075)

110
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will provide accounts regarding the distribution of United Kingdom public money to Zimbabwe in the 1980s and 1990s to fund the acquisition of white-owned farms; and if she will set out the number of such farms acquired, the approximate acreage of each farm, the cost of acquiring each farm, to whom ownership of each farm was subsequently transferred, and how much of the original acreage acquired remains in productive operation.

(120933)

111
   Mr Piara S. Khabra (Ealing, Southall):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance her Department has given to the victims of the disaster in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India.

(121318)

112
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what arrangements have been made to allow archaeological research to be undertaken at the Amphitheatre, Chester, before construction commences on a new court building on any part of that site.

(121272)

113
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if a binding contract has been signed for the construction of a new court building on any part of the Amphitheatre site in Chester.

(121271)

114
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the timetable for the Government's response to the recommendations of the Advisory Board on Family Law's Children Act Sub-Committee on (a) good practice guidelines for courts in relation to parental contact in cases where there is domestic violence and (b) training for the Court Welfare Service and the judiciary in understanding the effects of domestic violence on children and parents.

(121317)

115
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what were the total sums spent in each financial year, up to 30th April in the current year, on the Saville Inquiry into the events in Londonderry on 30th January 1972, broken down into (a) salaries of staff, (b) travel and subsistence, (c) accommodation, (d) hearing and witness costs, (e) fees to solicitors representing those killed and others, (f) fees to barristers representing those killed and others, (g) IT and communications and (h) miscellaneous, including general office expenditure.

(121359)

116
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Prime Minister, what contacts he has had with the Mayor-elect of London; and if he will make a statement.

(120934)

117
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many letters have been received by his office since 1st May 1997 supporting greater religious freedom in broadcasting.

(121324)

118
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on his responsibilities for ensuring the compliance of Ministers with the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

(121273)

119
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 4th April, Official Report, column 390W, on correspondence, (a) whether the advice from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has been received and (b) when the letter to him of 13th March from the honourable Member for Tunbridge Wells will receive a reply.

(121212)

120
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the Ministers who are in receipt of financial support from a trade union, indicating the nature of that support.

(121209)

121
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Prime Minister, which Minister in the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions has been invited to reply to the letter sent to him on 5th April by the honourable Member for Tunbridge Wells concerning the Ministerial Code; and when a reply will be sent.

(121201)

122
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of reducing the tariff income from capital from the present rate to £1 per week for every £500 over £6,000 for people aged over 60 years.

(121275)

123
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate how many pensioners would benefit financially and what the average benefit would be from reducing the tariff income from capital from the present rate to £1 per week for every £500 over £6,000 for people aged over 60 years.

(121274)

124
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he will respond to the letter from the honourable Member for North Thanet dated 11th April concerning non-payment of widows' payment to Mrs Corrina Smith and similar cases.

(121110)

125
N   Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what percentage of appeals against decisions to refuse disability living allowance were successful in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) England in the last year for which figures are available.

(120931)

126
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the distribution of child benefit expenditure according to (a) the gross income bands, (b) the equivalised gross income bands and (c) the equivalised net income bands of recipient families using (i) each band of £5,000 up to £40,000 and (ii) over £40,000.

(121104)

127
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claims for war pensions by British nuclear test veterans have been (a) made and (b) awarded to date.

(121303)

128
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 7th March to the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency regarding a constituent. (Ref. E24618).

(121260)

129
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultations Her Majesty's Government has had with the authorities responsible for airport radar systems in respect of the distribution of new frequencies for mobile phones.

(121360)

130
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when new licences for mobile phones will be issued; and what effect the distribution of frequencies will have on the optimal use of the spectrum.

(121362)

131
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria are used by Her Majesty's Government to prioritise the use of radio frequencies for emergency transmissions.

(121361)

132
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the value of goods exported to other EU countries in 1999; and what proportion of those goods were trans-shipped in continental ports to go on to non-EU destinations.

(121410)

133
N   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 13th April, Official Report, column 273W, which British banks are included in the lending syndicate for the Ilisu Dam project.

(121019)

134
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will send copies of the interim report from the Rover Task Force to honourable Members with West Midlands constituencies; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(121134)

135
   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many UK patents have been granted for (a) human genes, (b) animal genes and (c) plant genes.

(121305)

136
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his Department's support for shipbuilding (a) on the River Clyde and (b) in the United Kingdom as a whole.

(121315)

137
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent meetings he has had with Corus; and if he will make a statement.

(120930)

138
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the percentage of women with a child aged (a) four years or under, (b) between five and nine years and (c) between 10 and 15 years who (i) work full-time, (ii) work part-time, (iii) are unemployed and (iv) are economically inactive.

[Transferred] (121325)

139
   Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will take measures to ensure that ex-directory telephone numbers are not commercially available;and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (121350)

140
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many home carers there are in (a) Great Britain and (b) Scotland.

[Transferred] (121326)