Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 11 May 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 11 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.

THURSDAY 11th MAY

1
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, which anti-viral drugs are available to honourable Members and staff at the Palace of Westminster to treat influenza.

(121972)

2
   Mr Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement about the outcome of his negotiations at the March Council Meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in respect of export refunds for the UK spirit industry.

(121971)

3
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the environmental impact caused by the cut in grant in aid for the Environment Agency for fisheries work.

(121734)

4
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what initiatives he is pursuing to aid migratory salmonid fisheries.

(121733)

5
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the effects on the Environment Agency's fisheries work as a result of the cuts in their grant in aid.

(121758)

6
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent representations he has received requesting monetary compensation to farmers as a result of the change in values of the pound and euro.

(121765)

7
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the number of imported carcasses over the last two years; and what are his projections for next year.

(121764)

8
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will introduce a scheme to compensate pig farmers in the United Kingdom for the disposal of specified material on the same basis as that which applies in the Netherlands.

(121770)

9
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK pig slaughterings per week over the last two years; and what are his projections for next year.

(121763)

10
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he will take, with regard to the recently announced aid package for United Kingdom pig farmers, to ensure that the complexity of meeting the scheme's requirements does not deter the industry from accessing the funds available.

(121767)

11
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will introduce a scheme to compensate pig farmers for the disposal of specified material on the same basis as that which exists for beef farmers.

(121769)

12
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will take measures to ensure that the £26 million package for United Kingdom pig farmers, aimed at restructuring the industry, will enable UK pig farmers to retain their export capacity.

(121768)

13
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122024)

14
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if she will make a statement.

(122010)

15
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122022)

16
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of television viewers in Wales have access to Channel Four television; and what plans he has to increase the availability of Channel Four in Wales.

(121930)

17
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proposals he has to increase the availability of Channel Five in Wales, other than via pay-for-access satellite.

(121928)

18
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the availability of Channel Four in Wales following the implementation of digital television.

(121929)

19
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ranger anti-personnel mines have been cleared from the Falkland Islands.

(121977)

20
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the Lynx helicopters that have been grounded due to serious technical faults will be back in service within (a) six months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months and (d) 24 months.

(121602)

21
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the target dates for the completion of the information systems for Sea Harriers are; and if they will be met.

(121605)

22
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent by each service and Ministry of Defence agency on new buildings and land in each of the past three years.

(121597)

23
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the remaining Lynx helicopters have been converted to Mark 8 standard.

(121600)

24
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to order a new class of ships for the Fisher Patrol Squadron.

(121609)

25
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many further deliveries of Merlin operators are anticipated during the next (a) six months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months and (d) 24 months.

(121607)

26
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Lynx helicopters are in reserve.

(121601)

27
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the number of frigates and destroyers that are operating without the Lynx helicopter.

(121603)

28
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost per annum is of operating (a) Type 23 frigates, (b) Type 22 frigates, (c) SSNs, (d) Hunt Class minehunters and (e) Sandown Class minehunters.

(121608)

29
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Merlin operators have been accepted into service.

(121606)

30
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea Harriers are available to the Royal Navy; how many are in service; of these how many are in reserve and how many Sea Harriers (a) have been converted to FA2 standard, (b) are undergoing conversion and (c) will be converted in due course.

(121596)

31
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the number of Royal Navy Lynx helicopters has been decreased to 59.

(121599)

32
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the target dates for the completion of the information systems for Sea Kings are; and if they will be met.

(121604)

33
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 27th March, Official Report, column 27W, on property procurement, if he will list the new buildings, with a value greater than £100,000, procured by his Department in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99, indicating their cost and location.

(121610)

34
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Project Allenby Scoping Study Executive Summary.

(121942)

35
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the terms of reference for the Scott review of regional brigades; when it will be complete; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(121941)

36
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the new locations and structures of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations; and if he will make a statement.

(121939)

37
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the terms of reference for the review of the non-deployable estate; when he expects it to be complete; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(121940)

38
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will extend the remit of the technology transfer managers established by the Defence Diversification Agency to cover large firms.

(120643)

39
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when all three of the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers will be operationally available.

(121707)

40
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the two new LPD class ships to enter service with the Royal Navy.

(121703)

41
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS 'Fearless' and HMS 'Intrepid' were commissioned.

(121701)

42
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the annual running cost of a Type 22 frigate.

(121705)

43
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to withdraw HMS 'Fearless' and HMS 'Intrepid' from service.

(121700)

44
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the planned service life of (a) HMS 'London', (b) HMS 'Beaver', (c) HMS 'Boxer' and (d) HMS 'Brave'; and what was the forecast date for withdrawal from Royal Navy service, prior to the decision in the Strategic Defence Review to dispose of them.

(121704)

45
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the annual running costs of HMS 'Fearless' and HMS 'Intrepid'.

(121702)

46
   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what have been the running costs of each of the Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyers for each of the past five years.

(121706)

47
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122017)

48
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to extend the remit of the National Radiological Protection Board's study of the incidence of multiple myeloma among veterans of the UK's atmospheric nuclear test programme in the 1950s.

(121980)

49
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that, for future years, the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls includes full information on the number and type of weapons exported.

(121925)

50
   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what functional modifications will be made to the Mauser 27 mm cannon to be installed in the first 55 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to be delivered to the Royal Air Force.

(121755)

51
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what air interception capability will exist for Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft upon the exhaustion of the aircraft's air to air missile armament.

(121676)

52
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Mauser 27 mm cannon specified for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft will be installed in aircraft of Tranche One of the production programme for the Royal Air Force.

(121683)

53
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Royal Air Force will procure Mauser 27 mm cannon to fit to its Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft with a corresponding stock of spares and ammunition.

(121677)

54
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what instruction he gave to the Defence Sales organisation of his Department on the inclusion of Mauser 27 mm cannon in Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for sale to the Greek Air Force.

(121679)

55
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of one (a) Mauser 27 mm shell, (b) advanced short range air to air missile and (c) advanced medium range air to air missile.

(121681)

56
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment was made of the cost effectiveness of Mauser 27 mm cannon armament for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the Royal Air Force in (a) airspace policing in peacetime and (b) ground attack missions.

(121678)

57
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the benefits of commonality of armament and interoperability for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft in the four nation production programme.

(121682)

58
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what combat advantages will be derived for Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft from the elimination of the Mauser 27 mm cannon not possessed by the equivalent gun equipped aircraft in service with the Italian, German and Spanish air forces.

(121684)

59
N   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many claims for compensation for damage to health by British nuclear test veterans have been made; and how many have been settled.

(121613)

60
N   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met ex-British service personnel nuclear test victims to discuss compensation for damage to health; and if he will make a statement.

(121614)

61
N   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports he has received about compensation paid by the New Zealand Government for damage to health of servicemen as a result of nuclear tests.

(121616)

62
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, for what reason changes were made to the calculations for parental income in assessing liability for student support contributions whereby MIRAS relief was disapplied in 2000-01; and for what reason life assurance premiums were similarly disapplied.

(121339)

63
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children living in the Greater London area were receiving free school meals on 1st April.

(121973)

64
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people resident in the Cheltenham constituency have (a) applied for, (b) been accepted into and (c) graduated from full-time courses in higher education in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(122004)

65
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much was spent per pupil in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) England and Wales, in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

(122005)

66
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the contribution that the eco-schools scheme makes to the teaching of curriculum subjects.

(121933)

67
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what recent representations he has received from schools which are having to fund the use of supply teachers in place of teachers who are on jury service; and if he will make a statement.

(121730)

68
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of pupils achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C at (a) Blakelaw school, (b) Earl Marshall school and (c) Regis school in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998.

(121969)

69
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, in how many schools the video, Beyond a Phase: A Practical Guide to Challenging Homophobia in Schools, is available.

(121968)

70
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on progress at each of the Fresh Start schools.

(121970)

71
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122021)

72
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the driving test centres in South London.

(121974)

73
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will introduce licensing legislation in respect of houses in multiple occupation in England and Wales.

(121776)

74
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of total aircraft movements in the United Kingdom were handled by National Air Traffic Services on the most recent date for which figures are available.

(121751)

75
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many passengers used licensed airports in the United Kingdom during 1999; in how many of those airports National Air Traffic Services was provider of air traffic control; and where such airports were.

(121750)

76
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the providers of flight information air traffic control services to the aircraft in the open flight information regions.

(121752)

77
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with Gloucestershire County Council regarding proposals to remove through traffic on the A40 through Cheltenham.

(122007)

78
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what payments have been (a) made and (b) agreed as part of a management licence to British Waterways for operating the Tees Barrage.

(121480)

79
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he [his ministers or his officials] (a) approved and (b) were informed of the wording of the instructions to voters on the supplementary vote system used in the election for Mayor of London that were (i) printed on ballot papers, (ii) displayed in polling stations and (iii) to be given orally to voters; what discussions he [his ministers or his officials] have had with, and what representations he has received from (1) the Greater London Returning Officer, (2) ministers and officials in the Home Department and (3) other persons regarding the wording of the instructions used at the election for Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement.

(121814)

80
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent representations he has received regarding the transportation of hazardous loads by road in tunnels.

(121724)

81
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what initiatives are being pursued to introduce fire-resistant materials in new tunnels.

(121722)

82
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will restrict the transportation of dangerous and hazardous goods to rail; and if he will make a statement.

(121723)

83
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the police authorities of England in order of their Band D council tax precept for the financial year 2000-01.

(122009)

84
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122011)

85
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the Government's policy is on bringing in new legislation to give local authorities control over jet skis and wet bikes; and if he will make a statement.

(121926)

86
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many accidents there have been on the A40 over the last three years (a) in total and (b) between Witney and Oxford.

(121817)

87
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of growth in housing in West Oxfordshire over the next 20 years.

(121816)

88
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his policy on permitting discrimination between consumers by the insurance industry on the grounds of gender.

(121510)

89
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how individual companies in the horticulture sector may apply for rebates for the Climate Change Levy; and on what basis such rebate will be made.

(121774)

90
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the arrangements whereby rebate on the Climate Change Levy will be made available to the horticulture industry.

(121773)

91
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government will announce the kind of financial incentives they propose to make available to those companies that agree to take on binding emission targets.

[R] (121772)

92
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the authority is for payment of the UK's contribution to the EU; and how the amount is calculated.

(121810)

93
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date and in which forum the decision was taken to proceed with a national changeover plan.

(121809)

94
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the estimates covering expenditure on the national changeover plan; and the dates on which they were approved by the House.

(121811)

95
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from the National Assembly for Wales in relation to Objective One match funding and the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(121736)

96
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from the (a) First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales and (b) Secretary of State for Wales with relation to (i) the Comprehensive Spending Review and (ii) this year's Comprehensive Spending Review and Objective One match funding.

(121737)

97
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he received from the National Assembly for Wales in relation to this year's Comprehensive Spending Review.

(121735)

98
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings his Department has had with the (a) National Assembly for Wales and (b) Office of the Secretary of State for Wales in relation to the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(121738)

99
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the cancellation of third world debt is on the agenda at the G8 Summit in Okinawa.

(121766)

100
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122018)

101
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on tax revenues to the Exchequer of the banana dispute between the EU and the US.

(121710)

102
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place a copy of the document entitled, The simulation of indirect tax reforms: The IFS simulation model for indirect taxation, in the Library.

(121741)

103
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make available to the National Assembly for Wales, for capital expenditure projects in the industrial and social infrastructure, a population-based share of the sum the Treasury receives as a result of the sale of mobile telephone franchises.

(121924)

104
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 68W, on British embassy vehicles, what the (a) cost, (b) make and (c) model was of the motor vehicles leased for use by British diplomatic representatives in Germany since 1st May 1997.

(121508)

105
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many women there are in his Department in the top three senior management grades; and what these figures were 10 years ago.

(121775)

106
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many women graduates recruited into his Department in 1980 are still serving in his Department.

(121715)

107
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 8th May, if he raised the issue of legal proceedings concerning members of the Jewish community when he spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Kharrazi on 28th April regarding the postponement of his visit to Iran; and what factors underlay his decision to postpone the visit.

(121674)

108
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Turkish Prime Minister on his recent statement about Cyprus; and if he will make a statement on that statement.

(121932)

109
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the use of Ranger anti-personnel mines in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(121979)

110
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the prospects for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.

(122003)

111
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had regarding independent monitoring of elections in Zimbabwe with (a) the Commonwealth, (b) the European Union, (c) the United Nations and (d) other organisations.

(122002)

112
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received from the Bulgarian and Romanian governments on (a) removal of obstacles on the Danube and (b) the rehabilitation of ports on the Danube.

(121757)

113
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department met the Metropolitan Police to discuss the security arrangements for the state visit of Emperor Akihito of Japan in May 1998.

(121718)

114
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will release the minutes of discussions his Department held about the security arrangements which were taken for the state visit of Emperor Akihito of Japan in May 1998.

(121719)

115
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what factors underlay the decision taken at the Lisbon Summit to involve commissioners Solana and Patten in implementation of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.

(121976)

116
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when and at what level the EU consultation and co-operation mechanism with NATO will be set up.

(121753)

117
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposal was made by the Regional Funding Conference on 30th March to reopen the Danube for international and local traffic.

(121830)

118
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) clearance of the Danube and (b) building a new bridge on the Danube in Novi Sad.

(121771)

119
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how and at what stage non-EU members will be involved with the shaping and implementation of EU decisions concerning European Security and Defence Identity and ESDP.

(121754)

120
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, where responsibility lies for ensuring democratic oversight of the Europen Security and Defence Identity and ESDP.

(121756)

121
   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what grant the European Commission has given to finance removal of obstacles in the Danube.

(121831)

122
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122019)

123
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what evidence has been provided since May 1994 to governments of states against which British nuclear weapons were hitherto targeted that they are no longer so targeted.

(121931)

124
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library each of the documents (a) produced by Her Majesty's Government or (b) referring to United Kingdom nuclear and non-proliferation policy, distributed by official delegations to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York on 24th April to 19th May.

(121944)

125
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals he has to work with other countries to block the sale on the world market of diamonds illegally mined in Sierra Leone.

(121833)

126
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he has taken to persuade (a) Israel, (b) India, (c) Pakistan and (d) Cuba to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

(121945)

127
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance his Department provides to the Indonesian Government on security sector reform.

(121588)

128
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received concerning military attacks on the Nuba population of Sudan.

(121582)

129
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the reduction has been in the number of London-appointed British Council staff serving overseas since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the impact of these reductions on the work of the British Council.

(121823)

130
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to increase the programme funds available to British Council offices in developing countries.

(121822)

131
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on changing in the funding of the British Council when it is required to operate in additional countries.

(121828)

132
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what has been the (a) percentage reduction in the value of the British Council's DFID-funded contract work since 1996-97 and (b) impact of this reduction on the British Council's work in developing countries.

(121821)

133
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will restore the British Council's grant-in-aid to its real terms level before 1995-96.

(121827)

134
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what has been the percentage reduction in the number of UK-based staff at the British Council since 1996-97; and if he will make a statement on the impact of the reduction on the Council's work.

(121820)

135
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what has been the percentage reduction in corporate overheads at the British Council since 1995-96.

(121826)

136
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the British Council country directorates which have no full-time London-appointed staff.

(121824)

137
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what has been the percentage increase in the number of countries in which the British Council is represented since (a) 1979 and (b) 1997, and the percentage change in real terms of the Council's grant-in-aid over the same periods.

(121825)

138
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that vulnerable at-risk groups, including elderly people in nursing homes, have rapid access to antiviral treatment and protection in the early stages of influenza outbreaks in their communities.

(121962)

139
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to recommend the wider use of antiviral drugs to help control influenza outbreaks.

(121961)

140
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to communicate to health professionals and the public information about influenza protection and treatment measures other than vaccination, with particular reference to established antivirals.

(121966)

141
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that general practitioners are aware of the extent to which (a) flu antivirals used in other countries and (b) new antivirals being considered by NICE are available, effective and safe.

(121960)

142
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the average cost to the NHS of (a) a hospital admission caused by influenza, (b) a doctor taking a day off work as a result of influenza, (c) an influenza vaccination and (d) a course of antiviral treatment and protection for influenza.

(121963)

143
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is his policy on taking power to issue statutory guidance to local authorities concerning their social services charging policies.

(121612)

144
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assumptions are made by his Department in the social services standard spending assessment for the recoupment of costs by means of charges.

(121611)

145
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cancer units have a medical oncologist.

(121691)

146
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the National Register for Clinical Trials has been established.

(121690)

147
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cancer units are related to each cancer centre.

(121642)

148
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cancer units and cancer centres fully comply with the Calman--Hine cancer guidelines.

(121643)

149
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which cancer centres are without (a) a clinical oncologist and (b) a medical oncologist.

(121641)

150
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cancer centres there are in the UK; and if he will list them.

(121640)

151
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his plans are for the future of Harefield Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

(121708)

152
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of the adult population in Cheltenham are registered with an NHS dentist.

(122006)

153
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if implant surgery for people with Parkinson's Disease is available throughout the country; and what the waiting times for such surgery are in each health authority area.

(120642)

154
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on extending the advocacy system for disabled people to the disabled in hospital; and if he will make a statement.

(121725)

155
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps each health trust in Shropshire is taking to reduce the incidence of violence against NHS staff; and if he will make a statement.

(121761)

156
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the health risks of asthma sufferers drinking soya milk.

(121760)

157
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122016)

158
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risks from man-made insulin; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (121777)

159
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for additional capital expenditure in relation to the handling of asylum claimants in the vicinity of Gatwick Airport.

(121509)

160
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers in each force area are currently being employed using funding through the (a) single regeneration budget and (b) discretionary local authority funds.

(121712)

161
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the (a) transgenic pigs and (b) monkeys killed in the last four years died at Huntingdon Life Sciences; and if he will make a statement.

(121506)

162
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many animals broken down by species were allowed into the United Kingdom for use in experiments for each year from 1990 to date; and if he will make a statement.

(121507)

163
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what has been the clear-up rate for criminal offences in the Metropolitan Police area in the last 12 months.

(121975)

164
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial and other assistance is available at the time of release for prisoners freed by the Court of Appeal on grounds of wrongful conviction; and if he will make a statement.

(121937)

165
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners have been released by the Court of Appeal on grounds of wrongful conviction since the Criminal Cases Review Commission was set up; and how many cases are awaiting consideration.

(121938)

166
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the case of Mr Johnny Kamava and the formal quashing of his conviction by the Court of Appeal on 9th May following consideration by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

(121943)

167
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of experiments aimed at increasing voter turnout in elections.

(122008)

168
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact of pension payments on police and fire authorities' budgets in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

(121479)

169
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the police in post on an average day in 1999 were available for duty on that day.

(121675)

170
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) written and (b) oral instructions were given to voters on how to vote using the supplementary vote system at the election for Mayor of London; whether voters were explicitly informed at any stage that they were not obliged to indicate more than one preference; and if he will make a statement.

(121815)

171
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he, his ministers or his officials (a) approved and (b) were informed of the wording of the instructions to voters on the supplementary vote system used in the election for Mayor of London that were (i) printed on ballot papers, (ii) displayed in polling stations and (iii) to be given orally to voters.

(121959)

172
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances (a) asylum seekers, (b) persons granted asylum, (c) persons granted exceptional leave to remain and (d) other persons subject to immigration control may lawfully work in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(121812)

173
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies are currently on gardening leave.

(121813)

174
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he, his ministers or his officials have had with, and what representations he has received from (a) the Greater London Returning Officer, (b) ministers and officials in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and (c) other persons regarding the wording of the instructions used at the election for Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement.

(121832)

175
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the instruction to voters on the ballot paper and in polling booths to indicate two preferences in the election for Mayor of London with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights; for what reason voters were not informed (a) on the ballot paper, (b) in the polling booth and (c) by staff at polling stations that they were not obliged to indicate two preferences; and if he will make a statement.

(121818)

176
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of racial abuse were recorded in (a) each police authority and (b) each constituency in the past five years.

(121720)

177
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were (a) charged and (b) convicted of racially motivated crimes in each of the past five years (i) in England and (ii) in Wales.

(121726)

178
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on Humberside Police's bid for funding for extra officers from the Crime Fighting Fund.

(121936)

179
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in the Humberside Police area.

(121935)

180
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the disbanding of Humberside Police's Drug Squad.

(121934)

181
   Mr George Mudie (Leeds East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether 1st October will be the commencement date for appeal rights for visitor visa refusals.

(121713)

182
   Mr George Mudie (Leeds East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will announce (a) the implementation date for and (b) the level of financial bonds for overseas visitors.

(121714)

183
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122025)

184
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were given a community service orders in each of the last five years; how many of such orders were breached in each year; and how many people who breached those orders were benefit claimants.

(121525)

185
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she estimates Zambia will reach its (a) decision point and (b) completion point in the highly indebted poorer countries initiative.

(121779)

186
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of progress in the establishment of community schools in Zambia.

(121778)

187
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if she will make a statement.

(122012)

188
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent representations she has received on bonded labour in Pakistan; and if she will make a statement.

(121587)

189
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on her Department's support for security sector reform in Sierra Leone.

(121584)

190
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what percentage of the United Kingdom's assistance for security sector reform in Sierra Leone is paid for by (a) her Department and (b) other government departments.

(121583)

191
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the projects her Department supports in Sierra Leone, indicating the financial support provided to each.

(121585)

192
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions he has had with BP Amoco concerning their investment in Petro China in relation to its plans to operate in Tibet.

(121586)

193
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, for what reason at the launch of the new Community Legal Service an actress was used to portray the legal needs of poor women on video.

(121673)

194
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the whole of the Family Law Act 1996 will be operational; and what additional costs the Government will incur as a result.

(121721)

195
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122020)

196
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, on how many occassions since May 1997 he has had cause (a) to reprimand or (b) take other action about the length of time taken by a judge to deliver judgement following the end of the trial.

(121716)

197
   Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what response the Secretary to the Advisory Council on Public Records has made to those honourable Members who have asked the Council whether Public Records Act Instrument 12, 1996, permits the Keeper of Public Records to allow constituents to inspect and copy the 1911 decennial census returns for England and Wales; and on which dates since January 1998 the full Council has met under the Chairmanship of the Master of the Rolls to consider similar requests from honourable Members.

(121836)

198
   Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many honourable Members have written since January to the Chairman of the Advisory Council on Public Records, requesting the Council to consider whether Public Records Act Instrument 12, 1996, permits the Keeper of Public Records to allow their constituents to inspect and copy the 1911 decennial census returns for England and Wales; and what advice the Chairman has given to those honourable Members on the legal issues involved.

(121835)

199
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what actions he has recently taken to help retain shipbuilding on the Clyde.

(121807)

200
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122013)

201
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the estimated number of British citizens who have emigrated overseas and are in receipt of a state retirement pension which has been frozen because they are living in countries without a reciprocal pension upgrading agreement with the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(121981)

202
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if pensioners qualify for winter heating allowance if living abroad for all or part of the year; and if he will make a statement.

(121808)

203
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list each item of IT procurement with a value over £10,000 agreed with Electronic Data Systems by his Department since 1st May 1997; when each contact was agreed; when the delivery began; when the system became fully operational; and if the system is still in use.

(121622)

204
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, of those pensioners who are excluded from gaining the mimimum income guarantee because of (a) ownership of excess capital, (b) receipt of an occupational pension and (c) both ownership of excess capital and an occupational pension, however many and what proportion have a total income or calculated income (i) £0-£5 above, (ii) £5 to £10, (iii) £10 to £15 and (iv) £15 to £20 above the minimum income guarantee.

(121621)

205
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122023)

206
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many representations he has received from honourable Members with regard to constituents who had been awarded disability benefit for life but have subsequently had it withdrawn or downgraded; and if he will make a statement.

(121927)

207
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if stakeholder pensions are intended for (a) moderate and high earners and (b) low earners.

(121527)

208
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will place in the Library a copy of his recent speech to the Association of British Insurers.

(121526)

209
N   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many former service personnel who participated in the nuclear tests programmes in Australia and the South Pacific have been awarded war pensions after they developed (a) leukaemia, excluding chronic lymphatic and (b) multiple myeloma; when was the first time that former service personnel were awarded war pensions after developing these illnesses; and if he will make a statement.

(121615)

210
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the motor retail franchised dealers (a) he and (b) his officials have visited in the United Kingdom since July 1999.

(121595)

211
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) Rover franchised dealers and (b) BMW franchised dealers there are in the United Kingdom; and how many people are employed in each.

(121592)

212
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses provide services and components to vehicle manufacturers in the United Kingdom; and how many people are employed in these businesses.

(121591)

213
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people are employed in the retail, after sales and repair of motor vehicles in the United Kingdom.

(121589)

214
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses there are which conduct retail, after sales and repair of motor vehicles in the United Kingdom; and how many of them employ fewer than 50 people.

(121590)

215
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussion his Department has held with the retail motor industry representatives since the publication of the Competition Commission Report into the sale of new cars.

(121593)

216
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what powers he has to (a) amend and (b) withdraw the Block Exemption Regulations relating to the sale of new cars before September 2002.

(121594)

217
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will refer the BUPA takeover of Community Hospitals Group to the Competition Commission in respect of the implications of vertical integration in the supply of private medical services.

(121598)

218
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions the Government has undertaken with the Inter Parliamentary Union about organising the representation of parliamentarians at future WTO ministerial meetings.

(121965)

219
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to establish UK representation in a WTO parliamentary body to meet alongside future WTO ministerial meetings.

(121964)

220
N   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps his Department is taking to promote e-commerce; and if he will make a statement.

(120507)

221
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the basis of his policy for cooperating with the Wellcome Foundation and its board of trustees in funding scientific research.

(121759)

222
N   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to encourage future inward investment into the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(120504)

223
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Competition Act 1998 in respect of local authorities.

(121478)

224
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations he has received on the controls on licensed production and brokerage of arms for export; and if he will make a statement.

(121732)

225
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals he has to ensure that applications for export licences were published in advance allowing, for proper public and parliamentary debate before decisions are made.

(121717)

226
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what initiatives he is pursuing for greater control of licensed production and brokerage of arms for export; and if he will make a statement.

(121731)

227
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what initiatives he is pursuing to safeguard jobs in the motor components industry which may be under threat from the sale of Rover; and if he will make a statement.

(121728)

228
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the numbers of jobs which would be lost in (a) Shrewsbury and (b) Shropshire if Rover were to close; and if he will make a statement.

(121762)

229
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122015)

230
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is his latest estimate of the number of British jobs lost as a result of the banana dispute between the EU and the US.

(121711)

231
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the Council of Ministers will next meet to discuss the banana dispute between the EU and the US.

(121709)

232
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what quantities of (a) Canadian-owned and (b) Spanish-owned plutonium are in store at Sellafield.

(121982)

233
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what meetings he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in relation to this year's Comprehensive Spending Review.

(121740)

234
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what initiatives he is pursuing to safeguard jobs in the motor components industry which may be under threat from the sale of Rover; and if he will make a statement.

(121727)

235
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has made on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales in relation to this year's Comprehensive Spending Review.

(121739)

236
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement.

(122014)

237
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by Castle Transmission International in respect of increasing the availability of digital terrestrial television in Wales.

(121834)

238
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what Government department is responsible for assessing the tendering of contracts within each European member country to ensure that each government complies with EU law.

[Transferred] (121620)

239
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many newly-issued national insurance numbers have gone missing and how many missing national insurance numbers have been traced to (a) asylum seekers and (b) other persons subject to immigration control in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what estimate he has made of the extent to which national insurance numbers are misappropriated (i) generally, (ii) by asylum seekers and (iii) by other persons subject to immigration control; what action he is taking to investigate this; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (121829)

240
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Annual Report of the Department for International Development, Cm 4610, para 4.22, relating to the part of DFID's budget spent through EC programmes, what procedures were used in accounting for this money by her Department.

[Transferred] (121837)

241
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the supply of (a) food and (b) medical supplies to the Kambia region of Sierra Leone.

[Transferred] (122026)

242
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of State, the honourable Member for Neath, of 3rd May, Official Report, column 84WH, on what dates each of the UK's nuclear reprocessing plants, including those used to process military nuclear materials, were (a) put under Euratom safeguards and (b) made liable to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

[Transferred] (121978)

243
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd May, Official Report, column 168W, concerning the carcinogenicity of fibre glass products, what advice his Department gives to local authorities about the safest materials that should be used for house insulation; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (121967)

244
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proposals he has to reimburse schools who have to engage supply teachers temporarily to replace teachers who are absent on jury service; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (121729)