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 10 May 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 10 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.

WEDNESDAY 10th MAY

1
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what consultation the European Commission have had with Her Majesty's Government on consolidation of the European regulations relating to fisheries; what steps the Government has taken to consult user and operator interests in respect of the Commission's intentions; what steps he will be taking to ensure that in such consolidation no disadvantage will accrue to United Kingdom fishing interests; and what timetable is envisaged for publication of a draft revised regulation.

(121632)

2
   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in respect of the proposed decision to add the genetically-modified maize variety Chardon LL to the United Kingdom National List, how much money those making representations have in total paid him for so doing.

(121514)

3
   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the viability of his Department's timetable for the switching off of analogue television transmitters.

(121486)

4
   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria will be used to assess the performance of BBC News 24 in the Government's review; and if he will make a statement.

(121487)

5
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what failure rates for cluster bomb submunitions are assessed as acceptable.

(121693)

6
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many BL755 cluster bombs were used in the Falklands Islands by Her Majesty's Armed Forces; how many submunitions from these weapons have been cleared; and what estimates have been made of the number of submunitions remaining.

(121667)

7
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the targets against which cluster bombs were deployed by the Royal Air Force during Operation Allied Force were selected by (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) by NATO multilateral targeting arrangements.

(121668)

8
   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the (a) advertised and (b) actual number of days on which army live firing took place within each of the three ranges in the Dartmoor National Park for the year ended 31st December 1999.

(121515)

9
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the relationship between deprivation and pupil performance in primary and secondary schools.

(121228)

10
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to provide schools with three year budgets in order to match the forward expenditure plans as set out in the comprehensive spending reviews; and if he will make a statement.

(121229)

11
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the average per pupil education standard spending assessment for 2000-01 in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) England and (ii) Somerset; what is the reason for the difference between (i) and (ii); and if he will make a statement.

(121235)

12
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the additional cash which would be available for education in Somerset if the average per pupil standard spending assessment for primary and secondary schools in Somerset was the same as the average for England; and if he will make a statement.

(121221)

13
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is his estimate of real spending per pupil in secondary schools in Somerset for each year from 1992-93 to 2000-01, expressed in 1998-99 prices; and if he will make a statement.

(121223)

14
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is his latest estimate for real spending on secondary schools in Somerset for each year from 1992-93 to 2000-01; and if he will make a statement.

(121222)

15
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the 20 education authorities with (a) the poorest record of pupil performance in GCSE examinations and (b) the highest administration costs (i) per pupil and (ii) as a proportion of their total education budget; and if he will make a statement.

(121224)

16
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list in date order mergers between further education corporations since April 1993, specifying whether each amounted to a transfer or merger of undertakings.

(121301)

17
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the outcome of the Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 8th May; and if he will make a statement.

(121570)

18
   Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many New Deal places have been (a) offered, (b) taken up and (c) completed within Sheffield City Council since the start of the New Deal initiative.

(121492)

19
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans the Government has to alter the rail franchise which covers the Exeter to Waterloo Line; and if he will make a statement.

(121225)

20
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the standard spending assessment per head of population for each English local authority for the most recent year for which information is available, ranked in descending order of allocated expenditure per head; and if he will make a statement.

(121307)

21
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what weighting the Geographical Access to Services domain has been given in the compilation of the new Index of local deprivation.

(121576)

22
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on what date he plans to publish the new Index of Local Deprivation; and if he will make a statement.

(121573)

23
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those local authorities who have risen over 10 places in the latest Index of Local Deprivation and are now in the top 65 places.

(121574)

24
   Mr Iain Coleman (Hammersmith and Fulham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of those regeneration funds allocated in England and Wales on the basis of the Index of Local Deprivation were allocated to London Boroughs in 1999-2000; and if he will estimate what percentage would have been allocated to London boroughs if the new Index had been used as the key determinant of the allocation of those resources.

(121575)

25
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to make the installation on buses of safety equipment designed to alert drivers to faults in bus wheels mandatory.

(121491)

26
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the documents and publications produced by his Department and Agencies that are available at sub-post offices.

(121627)

27
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the number and quality of green transport plans produced by private sector businesses.

(121481)

28
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representation he has received on the implementation of the Integrated Prevention of Pollution and Control Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(120453)

29
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what communications he has received from (a) the European Commission and (b) other sources concerning the compatability with the public ownership and funding of those agencies now operating in the United Kingdom of European Commission proposals to create a single European Airspace and European Air Safety Agency.

(121638)

30
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which Treaty Articles, Regulations and Directives relating to the control of air traffic within the European Union will (a) permit and (b) prohibit, a continuation of the current ownership of and mode of control in the airspace of the United Kingdom.

(121630)

31
   Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent research he has undertaken on the impact of upward-only rent reviews on town centre property markets.

(121483)

32
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the operation of the procedures and the timescale for the introduction of the Cabinet system of government in local councils.

(121485)

33
N   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of trends in motor insurance premiums since 1996; and if he will make a statement.

(121300)

34
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the (a) level of public funding, (b) purpose and (c) United Kingdom-sponsored activities of the European Institute of Public Administration.

(121503)

35
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the financial consequences to date of exchanging UK gold bullion reserves for Euros.

(121498)

36
   Mr William Cash (Stone):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the proposed merger of the London Stock Exchange and the Deutsche Bo�rse; and if he will make a statement.

(121671)

37
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total quantity of reserves held in (a) gold and (b) euros on 31st March 1999 and 31st March 2000.

(121692)

38
N   Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he is taking to encourage better access to financial services for low income households.

(120452)

39
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 8th May; and if he will make a statement.

(121571)

40
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list documents and publications produced by the Treasury, Bank of England and associated public bodies that are available at sub-post offices.

(121629)

41
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what request for consultation he has received from the Commission of the European Union concerning (a) its intention to consider future strategy for changes to (i) pan-community taxation, (ii) the Customs Union and (iii) changes to the current system of value added tax and (b) the views of the Government on the need for such changes.

(121634)

42
   Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the withdrawal of British banks from the Eurocheque system on the cost and ease of transferring small payments within the European Union by (a) small businesses and (b) private individuals.

(121484)

43
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many copies of A New Idea for Europe: The Schuman Declaration 1950-2000 have been published by the European Union; for what purpose; and how many will be distributed in the UK.

(121496)

44
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the (a) publications and (b) events funded by the European Union to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Schuman declaration.

(121512)

45
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what level of response was anticipated to the questionnaire on the Your Britain, Your Europe campaign; and what plans he has to issue further questionnaires.

(121513)

46
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason the Your Britain, Your Europe, campaign includes visits to schools; and what legal advice he took prior to such visits taking place.

(121500)

47
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Government policy towards China and human rights discussions in the United Nations.

(121501)

48
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many copies of the postcard, 50 years of solidarity, property and peace have been printed by the European Union; for what purpose; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

(121495)

49
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Government policy towards human rights in Belarus; and what representations he has made to the Government of Belarus on this issue.

(121494)

50
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will second staff to work for the Government Joint Environmental Markets Unit.

(121490)

51
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on Government policy in relation to the demand made by Mr Denktash for recognition of Northern Cyprus as a precondition to discussions on the future of Cyprus.

(121474)

52
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will assess the benefits of reconvening the conference which led to the Treaty of Montreaux to reconsider the provisions of that Treaty.

(121473)

53
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department is making to contribute to the UN Millennium Summit in September.

(121516)

54
   Alice Mahon (Halifax):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the health of the Serbs held by KFOR in Kosovo who are on hunger strike.

(121578)

55
   Mr Michael Trend (Windsor):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the Sri Lankan Government's imposition of emergency regulations on 3rd May.

(121581)

56
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what checks are undertaken to ensure that NHS employed consultants who also work in private practice are able properly to account for their time.

(121455)

57
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what checks are undertaken on the expense claims submitted by consultants working for the NHS.

(121456)

58
   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is (a) the total cost to date and (b) the total budgeted cost on completion of the Strategic Services Review being undertaken by South Staffordshire Health Authority.

(121579)

59
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people had waited 26 weeks for an outpatient appointment at Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust on (a) 31st March 1997 and (b) 31st March 2000.

(121459)

60
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people had waited 13 weeks or more for an outpatient appointment at Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust on (a) 31st March 1997 and (b) 31st March 2000.

(121458)

61
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people had been waiting (a) in total and (b) for 12 months or more for hospital treatment at Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust on (i) 31st March 1997 and (ii) 31st March 2000.

(121460)

62
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued to NHS trust and social services departments on the care to be offered to those suffering from new variant CJD.

(121137)

63
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that general practitioners are aware of the presenting symptoms of new variant CJD.

(121138)

64
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average cost of caring for a patient suffering from new variant CJD.

(121139)

65
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish the survey of IVF provision throughout the country undertaken by his Department.

(121482)

66
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what actions her Department is taking to educate the public regarding the dangers of skin cancer.

(121521)

67
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions she has had with manufacturers of sun protection products, as part of the campaign to prevent skin cancer, on the prices charged for these products.

(121520)

68
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if an Office of Veterinary Services contract has been awarded by the Meat Hygiene Service in respect of the new meat plant at Merthyr Tydfil; and if he will make a statement.

(121218)

69
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason the Meat Hygiene Service inspector, Mr Yogarathnam, was suspended from his duties at the Mead and Webber Abattoir at Eardisley and replaced on 10th April 2000 by Mr Turner of the St. Davids Veterinary Practice at Exeter.

(121215)

70
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what costs were incurred by the Meat Hygiene Service through the employment of Mr Turner to inspect the Eardisley meat plant.

(121216)

71
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Meat Hygiene Service veterinary meat inspectors were employed from 1995 to 10th April 2000 in the Mead and Webber plant at Eardisley.

(121217)

72
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will instruct the Food Standards Agency to conduct an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Mead and Webber Abattoir at Eardisley, with particular reference to the conduct of the Meat Hygiene Service.

(121219)

73
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure a new licence is issued to the Eardisley Abattoir.

(121220)

74
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to continue and develop further research into prostate-related illnesses.

(121471)

75
   Mr Gerry Steinberg (City of Durham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 8th May, Official Report, columns 324-5W, on transfer of work, how many of the bodies listed in (a) (i) and (ii) have been transferred since 1992 or are planned to be transferred to and from the Northern Region.

(121624)

76
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of police numbers in Somerset in March 2001; and if he will make a statement.

(121227)

77
N   Mr Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conclusions about the adequacy of central government support for policing in Somerset he has reached on the basis of recent research commissioned by his Department into the costs of policing in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

(121226)

78
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the recommendations for improvements made by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in his unpublished report on Lowdham Green are to be implemented before the publication of the report.

(121466)

79
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will review his decision not to make contracts between his Department and private prison operators public; and if he will make a statement.

(121464)

80
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial penalties have been incurred at HMP Altcourse since the prison opened; if he will list the reasons for each penalty; how many of the recommendations for improvements made by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in his report were implemented before the publication of the report; what conclusions were drawn from the recent security audit; by what date recommendations for improvement were implemented; and what penalties were incurred by Group 4 as a result of that audit.

(121468)

81
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will commission a full independent evaluation of the methodology of, and conclusions arrived at, in the Comparative Costs of and Performance of Privately and Publicly Operated Prisons 1998-99; what plans he has to issue a qualification of the conclusions arrived at; and if he will make a statement.

(121467)

82
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial penalties have been incurred at HMP Lowdham Grange since the prison opened; and what were the reasons for each penalty.

(121465)

83
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the report of the Chief Inspector of Prisons following the inspection of HMP Lowdham Grange.

(121489)

84
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will deposit in the Library a copy of the Metropolitan Police Service's Report on Policing during the Chinese State Visit; what input Government Departments had to the report; and if he will make a statement.

(121497)

85
N   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the reclassification of Gammahydroxybutyrate as a drug rather than as a medicine.

(120437)

86
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 8th May, Official Report, columns 310-11W, on persons served with notice as clandestine illegal entrants, if he will indicate in each case how many of such persons have claimed asylum.

(121572)

87
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what account he has taken in implementing the Government's anti-drugs strategy of the relationship between drug-related offending by women and the number of women sentenced to imprisonment.

(120439)

88
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 24th November, Official Report, column 119W, on Operation Care, as a result of the police investigations into child abuse, how many people who were convicted pleaded not guilty; how many (a) suspects and (b) offenders there were; how many separate complaints of child abuse were received; how many people were acquitted after trial; how many people were arrested but had no further action taken against them; how many persons have been charged and are awaiting trial and how long they have been waiting; how many persons are on police bail; with respect to each investigation how many victims have applied for compensation; how much each individual has received; and how many victims have not applied for compensation.

(121698)

89
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 21st December, Official Report, column 416W, on rape and sexual assault, when the Sexual Offences Review will report; and when the proposals will be published for consultation.

(121694)

90
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 24th November, Official Report, column 119W, on Operation Care, if he will list the forces that (a) have carried out and (b) are carrying out investigations into institutional child abuse; what is the name of each investigation and its terms of reference; when each investigation (i) commenced and (ii) ended; which are continuing; what period of time is covered by each investigation; how many people have been (A) charged, (B) arrested and (C) convicted and sentenced; and how many people who have been convicted and sentenced have appealed.

(121697)

91
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 21st December, Official Report, column 478W, on rape and sexual assault, what organisations have provided submissions to the Review of Sex Offences relating to the law and rape including psychological and physical impact of rape on victims.

(121695)

92
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 21st December, Official Report, column 484W, on domestic violence, if the improvements in systems which will allow the information on domestic assaults to be collated have been made; and if the Office Court Proceedings Database is available on line or in a format available to the public.

(121696)

93
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of claims in the Police Foundation's report on the results of cannabis decriminalisation in the Netherlands.

(120448)

94
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is regarding corpus juris; and if he will make a statement.

(121670)

95
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on mutual recognition in relation to corpus juris.

(121666)

96
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action his Department has taken to ensure that policies regarding Roma, gypsies and travellers are included in action plans following the Macpherson Report.

(121518)

97
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanism he has established to collect data concerning human rights abuses documented against Roma, by country; how many Roma (a) sought asylum in the United Kingdom, by country of origin and (b) had their asylum claims (i) upheld and (ii) denied in the United Kingdom in the last five years.

(121519)

98
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 4th May, Official Report, column 209W, on the Schengen Information System, what part that system can play in the fight against crime, fraud and drug trafficking in the European Union; and what constraints exist in the use of this system by member states not within the Schengen arrangements.

(121639)

99
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has received from the European Commission in respect of powers exercised by virtue of any convention or treaty article, concerning the standardisation of tests for accepting asylum applications to governments of member states.

(121631)

100
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces in England and Wales have the Crown as part of the (a) crest and (b) cap badge.

(121462)

101
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd May, Official Report, column 152W, on animal experiments, who funds the programmes looking into the development of treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

(121488)

102
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what subsidies were paid by the Government to the Pitcairn Islands in each year from 1989-90 to 1999-2000; what is the estimated expenditure for 2000-01; what control the Government exercises over how such subsidy is spent by the Pitcairn authorities; what is the Government's policy towards the level and maintenance of subsidy and bilateral aid to the Pitcairn Islands; and if she will make a statement.

(121140)

103
   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what preparations her Department is making for the UN Millennium Summit in September.

(121517)

104
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is the remit of the Community Humanitarian Aid Office; what public reports it has issued; and what are the (a) percentage and (b) total of United Kingdom Overseas Development funds that are channelled through the European Union.

(121637)

105
   Sir George Young (North West Hampshire):    To ask the President of the Council, what plans she has to introduce mechanisms to oversee the use of statutory instruments to amend primary legislation under the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998.

(121505)

106
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he has received from the European Federation of Retired and Elderly Persons on (a) the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference and (b) developments in European Union policy since 1997.

(121502)

107
N   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement about the work of the Social Exclusion Unit.

(120434)

108
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he expects to publish the Performance and Innovation Unit Report on the Post Office.

(120480)

109
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 10th May.

(121230)

110
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many police forces in Scotland have the Crown as part of their (a) crest and (b) cap badge.

(121463)

111
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will assess the success of the New Deal in creating opportunities for employment and training in Glasgow and across Scotland.

(121472)

112
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what has been the total amount of money paid by way of compensation payments by the Child Support Agency.

(121476)

113
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what has been the highest compensation payment paid to date by the Child Support Agency.

(121475)

114
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) men and (b) women are in receipt of a war pension.

(121477)

115
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list those sub-post offices that (a) he and (b) other ministers have visited since May 1997.

(121626)

116
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the documents and publications produced by his Department and Agencies that are available at sub-post offices.

(121625)

117
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what co-operation the European Commission is seeking from the Government in respect of (a) its objective of modernising the system of pensions and social protection in member states, and if such modernisation is to extend to applicant member states and (b) its intention to establish a legal framework for supplementary pensions.

(121635)

118
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what improvements he plans for statutory entitlement to paternity leave; and when he intends to propose them.

(121580)

119
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the areas within his Department and its agencies where functions have been contracted out, listing (a) the cost involved, (b) date of contract with expiry term, (c) the name of the company and (d) the area within the DTI from which the functions have been taken since May 1997.

(121619)

120
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the small firms who will directly benefit from the Government's Enterprise Fund (a) nationally and (b) in the Crosby constitutency.

(121660)

121
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans his Department has to act on the recently published consultation document on reform of insolvency legislation.

(121661)

122
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what incentives for collaboration between business and universities are to be offered to Welsh and Scottish universities.

(121664)

123
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how the Partnership Fund will achieve its aims of fostering new attitudes and approaches to partnership at work; and how much money is to be made available for the Fund.

(121663)

124
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the universities awarded funding for research infrastructure as part of the Joint Infrastructure Fund Competition, indicating how much funding each will receive.

(121665)

125
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the way that assistance is given to small firms in the regions.

(121662)

126
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the procedure for recruiting the Government Chief Scientific Adviser following the retirement of Sir Robert May.

(120431)

127
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list those documents and publications produced by his Department and its Agencies, including the Royal Mail but excluding The Post Office, that are available at sub-post offices.

(121628)

128
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what will be the objectives of the Union in respect of its initiating a further new world trade round; and what problems the Commission seeks to resolve in respect of specific market problems referred to in paragraph 1.2 of its work programme.

(121636)

129
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will ensure that Shipbuilding Intervention Fund money will remain available to UK shipbuilders for the remainder of this year.

(121470)

130
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on (a) perceptions of the effectiveness of the home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme and (b) the plans the Government has to alter the scheme.

(121469)

131
   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish for each company of solicitors involved in the claims for miners' compensation for chest disease in South Wales (a) the total number of claims questionnaires sent to date, (b) the total number of completed questionnaires returned to date and (c) the percentage of those sent that have been returned.

(121524)

132
   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish for each medical assessment centre set up by Healthcall Services Ltd. for handling miners' compensation claims for chest disease (a) its location and whether it is a hospital, (b) the number of chest consultants employed at the centre in full-time equivalents, (c) the capacity of the centre in terms of the number of medical assessment procedures per month and (d) the total number that have to date undergone medical assessment procedures at the centre.

(121522)

133
   Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in the action for miners compensation for chest disease, how many claims questionnaires have been sent out by her Department's solicitors; and how many of them have been returned by miners' solicitors in each week from 1st January to the present.

(121523)

134
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to the Answer of 11th April, Official Report, column 112W, on Mr Richard Hudson, whether drivers working on behalf of KFOR other than Mr Hudson have been prosecuted for (a) road traffic offences and (b) other offences in Macedonia; and if NATO has offered assistance in their cases.

[Transferred] (121577)

135
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what support his Department gives to the eco-schools scheme.

[Transferred] (121672)

136
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what communications he has received on the proposed establishment of a European research area; and how much money the Community has spent in the United Kingdom for research projects chosen by the European Community.

[Transferred] (121633)

137
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of pensioners who will receive basic state pension increases (a) above and (b) below 70 pence a week when the next uprating of pensions takes effect.

[Transferred] (121504)

138
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what categories of reports are funded under the Call for Proposals for indirect research and technological development actions in the framework of the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration in the field of improving the human research potential and the socioeconomic knowledge base, referred to in European Community Document (2000/c 74/08); and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (121493)

139
   The Reverend Ian Paisley (North Antrim):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, for what reason a non-molestation order is treated as a criminal case and an access order is treated as a civil case.

[Transferred] (121499)

140
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will deposit in the Library a list of all the (a) current and (b) temporarily suspended working groups of the European Union, listing in each case (i) the mandate of and (ii) the grade of participants in each group; what is on the agenda of each group; which groups have been attended by a United Kingdom minister for at least one meeting since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement on his policy on openness in such groups.

[Transferred] (121511)

141
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultation the Government has had on the proposed reform of the Investment Services Directive.

[Transferred] (121669)