Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 23 May 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 23 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.

TUESDAY 23rd MAY

1
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many cases there have been of hunts being (a) prosecuted, (b) given a verbal warning and (c) given a written warning over feeding specified risk material to packs of hounds in each of the last three years.

(123472)

2
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he plans to introduce to deal with third party contamination of GM-free seed.

(123388)

3
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent discussions he has had with the United States (a) Department of Agriculture and (b) Food and Drugs Administration on comprehensive risk analysis relating to BSE.

(123391)

4
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will establish an inquiry into the feeding of specified risk material to the hounds of the Exmoor Foxhounds.

(123471)

5
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on flood relief, and how this will be funded in future.

(123390)

6
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions have taken place between his Department and the United States Department of Agriculture on the Montreal Bio-Diversity Protocol.

(123387)

7
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what access he has to the work of the Harvard University Center for Risk Analysis and United States Department of Agriculture on risk analysis relating to BSE.

(123392)

8
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the BSE Inquiry's report will be completed.

(123393)

9
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what changes took place in the value of agricultural land between (a) 1989 and 1995 and (b) 1996 and 1999.

(123474)

10
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what funds the Government has made available for retraining and reskilling farmers and agricultural workers in each of the past 10 years through the Agricultural Training Board and Lantra.

(123464)

11
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he is taking to promote diversification within farming.

(123463)

12
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many farmers have left farming in each of the past 10 years.

(123462)

13
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee, what account his Committee takes of animal welfare issues in determining purchasing policy.

(122917)

14
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what action the Government is taking to increase the level of sporting opportunity in areas of high deprivation and social exclusion.

(123524)

15
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to promote tourism in East Lancashire.

(123523)

16
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions coalition aircraft patrolling (a) the northern and (b) the southern no-fly-zone in Iraq hit targets other than the intended target between (i) 1st April 1991 and 16th December 1998 and (ii) 20th December 1998 to date, stating what percentage this formed of overall attacks during those periods.

(122848)

17
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total tonnage of ordnance released by coalition aircraft in operations to maintain (a) the southern and (b) the northern no-fly-zones in Iraq between (i) 1st August 1992 and 16th December 1998 and (ii) 20th December 1998 to date; and what is the monthly average in each of these periods.

(122844)

18
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of Iraqi civilians killed as a result of coalition aircraft responding to threats in (a) the northern and (b) the southern no-fly-zone in Iraq between (i) 1st April 1991 and 16th December 1998 and (ii) 20th December 1998 to date through (A) collateral damage, (B) attack on an unintended target and (C) malfunction of ordnance; and what percentage of attacks in the no-fly-zones resulted in civilian casualties in those periods.

(122845)

19
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions coalition aircraft patrolling the northern no-fly-zone in Iraq released ordnance between 1st April 1991 and 16th December 1998 and (b) 20th December 1998 to date, stating in percentage terms (i) the nature of the threat, (ii) the category of the target attacked and (iii) the tonnage of ordnance released on each category of target in proportion to the overall tonnage released in those periods.

(122846)

20
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions coalition aircraft patrolling the southern no-fly-zone in Iraq released ordnance between (a) 1st August 1992 and 16th December 1998 and (b) 20th December 1998 to date, stating in percentage terms (i) the nature of the threat, (ii) the category of the target attacked and (iii) the tonnage of ordnance released on each category of target in proportion to the overall tonnage released in those periods.

(122847)

21
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions the Commander for British Forces in charge of (a) Operation Bolton, (b) Operation Warden and (c) preceding operations to maintain the no-fly-zones in Iraq has requested authority from his Department to attack a target between (i) 1st April 1991 and 16th December 1998 and (ii) 20th December 1998 to date, stating in each case (A) the date of request, (B) the category of the target, (C) whether authority was given and (D) whether the target was attacked.

(122849)

22
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will make an announcement on the question of a gratuity for former Far East prisoners of war.

(123529)

23
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the RAF of age group (i) 16 to 24, (ii) 25 to 29, (iii) 30 to 34, (iv) 35 to 44, (v) 45 to 49 and (vi) 50 years and over have changed from Maristat One in each year between and including 1989 and the current financial year, stating in each age category the (1) proportional change from strength, (2) proportional change from married strength, (3) proportional change from married to divorced from the national population as a whole and (4) proportional change from married to divorced from the national married population; and if he will make a statement.

(123242)

24
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter D/Min(AF)/JS PQ2803J/99 of 18th December 1999, if he will list the (a) names, (b) date of commencement in position, (c) formal employer and line manager, (d) responsibilities of and (e) salary of the Families Association representatives based at (i) HMNB Portsmouth, (ii) HMNB Devonport, (iii) Faslane/Clyde, (iv) HMS Collingwood, (v) HMS Raleigh, (vi) BRNC Dartmouth, (vii) RMTC Lympstone, (viii) HMS Excellent and (ix) RNAS Culdrose; and if he will make a statement.

(123243)

25
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the married strength of the (a) Army, (b) RAF, (c) Royal Navy and (d) all services, are married to a serving member of the Armed Forces not including Reserve Forces; and if he will make a statement.

(123159)

26
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date permission was granted to conduct surveillance of the Labour Committee on Ireland; and for what period this surveillance was conducted.

(122763)

27
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) documents and (b) photographs are held relating to the activities of the Labour Committee on Ireland; and how many files on the Labour Committee on Ireland are currently being maintained.

(122764)

28
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th February, Official Report, column 648W, on Bloody Sunday, if he will make a further statement about the destruction of self-loading rifles.

(122765)

29
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he has asked the Metropolitan Police Special Branch to conduct an investigation into Mr Liam Clarke.

(122757)

30
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whom he consulted before seeking an injunction against the Sunday Times and others preventing publication of information obtained from the person known as Martin Ingram.

(122758)

31
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he was consulted about the issue of an injunction against the Sunday Times and others preventing publication of information obtained from the person known as Martin Ingram.

(122759)

32
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the cost of the 1998 Ministry of Defence police search of the home of journalist Tony Geraghty; how many hours this search lasted; how many personnel and of what rank were present; what items were removed from the premises; what items have been retained by the Ministry of Defence police; what items have been passed onto other agencies; what items have been returned to the owner; what charges were brought against Mr Geraghty; what considerations led to charges being dropped; and what compensation has been offered to Mr Geraghty.

(122760)

33
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the service record of Andrew Timothy Lea.

(123557)

34
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what his policy is in respect of the practice of dissecting animals for educational purposes in (a) maintained and (b) independent schools.

(122941)

35
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list (a) the membership and qualifications, (b) the activities and (c) the reports of the Skills Taskforce since its inception.

(123459)

36
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what additional help has been provided to small and medium-size enterprises since May 1997 to help them tackle skills shortages.

(123460)

37
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the winding-up of the Astra Group Pension Scheme.

(123324)

38
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the impact of the New Deal on employment in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West Region and (c) Burnley.

(123556)

39
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many applications have been made to industrial tribunals under the Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975; and what percentage of such applications were successful through being settled with an award (a) before a hearing and (b) following a hearing.

(123466)

40
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Equal Pay Act 1970 in reducing disparities in pay between males and females in the last five years.

(123465)

41
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he takes to ensure Chinese herbal medicines on sale do not contain ingredients derived from endangered species.

(122921)

42
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the contribution which replacing HFCs in refrigeration and air conditioning with non-global warming alternative technologies could make in helping the UK reach its Kyoto targets.

(122855)

43
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of the Government's plywood timber procurement originated in (a) Indonesia and (b) the Brazilian Amazon in the last three years.

(123160)

44
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what contribution to the cost of the Jubilee Line Extension has been made by the developers of Canary Wharf.

(122632)

45
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what contributions by the developers of Canary Wharf towards the cost of the Jubilee Line extension remain outstanding; and when they are expected to be paid.

(122633)

46
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the contribution of the developers of Canary Wharf towards the cost of the Jubilee Line extension was increased to meet the cost overrun.

(122634)

47
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 485W, on housing, what plans he has to include guidance to local authorities and fire authorities on the standard of fire safety provision for houses in multiple occupation, in the guidance documents that accompany the draft legislation; and whether that guidance will include reference to the installation of residential automatic fire sprinkler systems.

(123532)

48
N   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will call for a report from London Underground on how long St John's Wood underground station has been without two functioning escalators; what the cost is of the replacement of the two escalators; what additional cost has been incurred as a result of delays in the installation of the second escalator; how many dates have been announced for the completion of the work; for what reason London Underground supplied him with inaccurate information about the completion date for installation of the second escalator; and what action has been taken in respect of the London Underground employees responsible for this situation.

(123456)

49
N   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he was consulted or informed in advance by London Underground about its plans to place restrictions for several hours per day on use of St. John's Wood Underground Station during the test match at Lords and on 10th June; if he will call for a report from London Underground on the cost of (a) additional staff at that station during this period and (b) buses used to provide alternative transport; what action has been taken in respect of the London Underground employees responsible for this situation; and if he will ensure that closures of this nature are not repeated.

(123455)

50
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the Government's criteria are for the siting of new incinerators.

(123500)

51
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what are the maximum toxic emission levels permitted for incinerators, broken down by individual toxic substances.

(123488)

52
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the Government's target is for the amount of residential and commercial waste disposed of through incinerators by 2005.

(123501)

53
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent research the Government has commissioned on dioxin levels in the environment.

(123489)

54
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has held with the Greater London Authority regarding the future of the Dagenham Ford plant.

(123513)

55
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has held with the West Midlands Development Agency on the future of the Longbridge Rover plant.

(123477)

56
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what part was played by West Midlands RDA in connection with the recent negotiations over the Longbridge Rover plant.

(123478)

57
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent guidance the Government has given on the disposal of ash produced in incinerators.

(123487)

58
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with building contractors about the future construction of incinerators in the United Kingdom.

(123485)

59
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the five largest producers of dioxin emissions in the UK.

(123484)

60
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the Government's policy is on the importation of rubbish from outside the United Kingdom to be disposed of in incinerators.

(123486)

61
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason Figure 19 on page 13 of the Environment Agency's document, Environmental Snapshot for the East of England, does not include landfill sites in Basildon and Thurrock; and if he will make a statement.

(123385)

62
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the cost was of the production of the Environment Agency's document, Environmental Snapshot for the East of England; and who its author was.

(123271)

63
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on how many occasions this year a mixture of landings and take-offs on the same runway has been allowed at Heathrow Airport because of congestion.

(123259)

64
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason figure 1 on page 2 of the Environment Agency's document, Environmental Snapshot for the East of England, does not include the Unitary Borough of Thurrock.

(123270)

65
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the County Councils and Unitary Councils ranked in order of the volume of waste disposed of in each of their areas.

(123384)

66
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list in order of the quantity of waste dealt with the main waste disposal facilities in the East of England.

(123383)

67
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed Terminal 5 on the number of air traffic movements at Heathrow Airport.

(123260)

68
N   Mr Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for West Derbyshire, dated 16th March, regarding Mr. D. Williams of Kirk Ireton.

(123306)

69
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will verify the accuracy of Virgin Trains' commercial study of the electrification of the North Wales mainline by using external consultants.

(123458)

70
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the statement by Advanta that cross-pollination between GM and non-GM crops in Canada led to the contamination of rape oil seed planted in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to separation distances between GM and non-GM crops in the UK.

(123267)

71
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will instruct SCIMAC to revise separation distances between GM and non-GM crops growing experimentally in the United Kingdom following the disclosure of new information on cross-pollination of oil seed rape plants in Canada.

(123268)

72
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the independent environmental trusts which have benefited the proceeds of the landfill tax in each of the last five years in each local authority area in England and Wales.

(123482)

73
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the proceeds have been from the landfill tax in each of the last five financial years; how much of this has gone to (a) the exchequer and (b) community projects; and what figures are estimated for the current year.

(123481)

74
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has been raised from (a) tax and (b) VAT on road fuels in each of the last five financial years.

(123479)

75
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) recipients of working families tax credit and (b) partners of the recipients of working families tax credit who earn within (i) 5 per cent. and (ii) 10 per cent. of the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement.

(123069)

76
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the impact of the fall in the value of the euro on the cost of the UK's contributions to the EU; and if he will make a statement.

(123272)

77
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will provide support for the Indonesian administration in order to reduce fighting between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia.

(122853)

78
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government regarding religiously motivated violence in Indonesia.

(122852)

79
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received concerning the arrival of Jihad warriors in the Moluccas Islands.

(122851)

80
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received concerning religious violence in the Moluccas Islands.

(122850)

81
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what UK expertise he will provide for training the Indonesian police force in managing conflict.

(122854)

82
N   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for the British legal systems of the incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights into the Treaty of European Union.

(121896)

83
   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he and the Ministers in his Department last had a meeting with the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(123528)

84
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when Peter Penfold left his post as High Commissioner in Sierra Leone; and what his last day was in Sierra Leone.

(123269)

85
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd April, Official Report, column 284W, concerning officials who met Mr Roger Crooks, which official they have been unable to contact; and what the reason is for the delay.

(123386)

86
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department made to President Kabbah regarding accepting Foday Sankoh into the Sierra Leonean Government.

(123313)

87
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations were made to his Department regarding Foday Sankoh's inclusion in the Sierra Leone Government by (a) President Kabbah, (b) the Nigerian Government and (c) the United States Government.

(123312)

88
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what part the Government played in negotiating the Lome� agreement of 7th July 1999.

(123321)

89
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to (a) the US Administration and (b) his European counterparts regarding the freezing of bank accounts of leading members of the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone and their families.

(123320)

90
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of illegal arms shipments going through Burkina Faso to the Sierra Leone rebels.

(123317)

91
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role the Commonwealth has played in finding a peaceful solution to the latest crisis in Sierra Leone.

(123316)

92
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Lome� peace accord.

(123310)

93
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guidance he received on the decision to include Foday Sankoh into the Sierra Leonean Government.

(123315)

94
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what factors underlay the decision to include Foday Sankoh in the Government of Sierra Leone.

(123314)

95
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received from the US administration on the situation in Sierra Leone.

(123323)

96
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the US administration on the situation in Sierra Leone.

(123322)

97
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what factors influenced the decision to offer amnesty to all the Sierra Leone Revolutionary United Front's members, as part of the Lome� peace accord.

(123319)

98
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he was first informed about the worsening situation in Sierra Leone after January.

(123318)

99
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations were made by the Government on Foday Sankoh's inclusion in the Government of Sierra Leone.

(123311)

100
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what year the first vaccine was used on humans which may have utilised bovine material from BSE-infected cows in the early stage of manufacture.

(122973)

101
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each month from March 1997 until the latest available period the total number of people (a) waiting for hospital treatment and (b) waiting more than 12 months for hospital treatment in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area.

(122797)

102
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list for each quarter since March 1997 until the latest available quarter the total number of people waiting (a) 13 weeks or more and (b) over 26 weeks for an outpatient's appointment at the Mid Essex Hospital Trust.

(122796)

103
N   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list (a) the level of expenditure in each year since 1997 allocated to projects designed to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and (b) the actual and forecast impact of this expenditure on reducing teenage pregnancies.

(123158)

104
N   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which organisations were sent copies of the consultation paper of 14th April on preserved rights income support and residential allowance.

(123473)

105
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research has been undertaken or evaluated by his Department to establish the health risks to the public posed by dioxins in the environment.

(123510)

106
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if links have been established between dioxins and cancer in humans.

(123511)

107
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent research the Government has commissioned to assess dioxin levels in meat and dairy products (a) produced in and (b) imported into the United Kingdom.

(123490)

108
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the incidence of illnesses in the United Kingdom linked to dioxins (a) currently and (b) in 1995.

(123480)

109
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS walk-in centres have been established; how many are in the North West Region; and if he will make a statement.

(123526)

110
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate has been made of the effect on the cost of ambulances of the recent EU Directive relating to ambulances; and which European producers make ambulances consistent with the Directive.

(123326)

111
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement setting out the implications of the EU Directive on ambulances; what the object of the Directive was; and what was the policy of Her Majesty's Government on it.

(123325)

112
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ambulances in the United Kingdom are consistent with the requirements of the EU Directive.

(123327)

113
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines exist in respect of the use of DNA from pets for future cloning purposes; and if he will make a statement.

(122920)

114
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is in respect of experiments involving animals where the primary objective is to obtain information concerning human medical conditions which can reasonably be assumed to be self-inflicted.

(122918)

115
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate he has made of the number of animals used in entertainment other than in circuses; and if he will make a statement.

(122919)

116
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to establish a Royal Commission into animal experimentation.

(122940)

117
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is in respect of animal experiments where the sole or primary purpose is one of commercial gain.

(122916)

118
N   Mr Ian Cawsey (Brigg and Goole):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if any of those appointed to the Burns Inquiry secretariat have been (a) members and (b) supporters of (i) fox, deer, hare or mink hunts and (ii) other pro-field sports organisations, or have participated in hare coursing events.

(123516)

119
N   Mr Ian Cawsey (Brigg and Goole):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he sought to determine if those appointed to the Burns Inquiry secretariat had views on hunting with dogs prior to their being selected.

(123515)

120
N   Mr Ian Cawsey (Brigg and Goole):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visits have been undertaken by each member of the Burns Inquiry team in the course of the inquiry to events and functions organised by (a) anti-hunting groups and (b) pro-hunting groups.

(123514)

121
N   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what meetings he has had with the Law Society over the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill.

(121897)

122
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many teaching staff have been employed in prisons and other custodial institutions in each of the last five years.

(123496)

123
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the procedure is for prisoners receiving educational publications from relatives.

(123492)

124
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what educational facilities are available in the Aylesbury Young Offenders Institution.

(123493)

125
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conclusions he has drawn about the impact of pilot voting schemes in the 4th May local elections.

(123483)

126
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to bring forward legislation regarding the role of trustees.

(123499)

127
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners undertake distance-learning courses at their own expense.

(123498)

128
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many suicides there have been by prisoners in each of the last five years.

(123491)

129
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent on educational facilities in prisons and other custodial institutions in each of the last five years.

(123495)

130
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what educational facilities are available to sex offenders in prisons held in accommodation separate from other prisoners.

(123497)

131
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what separate educational facilities are available for sex offenders in the Aylesbury Young Offenders Institution.

(123494)

132
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many former members of the group known as the Force Reaction Unit have been interviewed by the Metropolitan Police Special Branch in the past 12 months.

(122761)

133
N   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what legal action will be taken in the United Kingdom against those English football fans recently arrested in Copenhagen.

(123414)

134
N   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action will be taken to prevent those English football fans recently arrested in Copenhagen from travelling to football matches overseas during Euro 2000.

(123476)

135
N   Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the English football fans recently arrested in Copenhagen have restriction orders against them prohibiting them from travelling abroad to football matches.

(123475)

136
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers are available to him to control the ownership and use of crossbows; and what plans he has to extend them.

(123469)

137
N   Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the criteria by which police forces charge for providing security at (a) folk festivals and (b) other cultural events.

(123468)

138
N   Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his policy that police forces should have discretion as to (a) the amount of security that they provide at public and private events and (b) how much they charge for such services.

(123467)

139
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of incorporation of the European Convention of Human Rights into United Kingdom law.

(121906)

140
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for what reasons a further study has been commissioned on the feasibility of an air strip on St. Helena.

(123328)

141
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when the study on the feasibility of an air strip on St. Helena will be completed; and if she will ensure it is published.

(123413)

142
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, who will have responsibility for paying the cost of the air strip feasibility study on St. Helena.

(123470)

143
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures have been taken to ensure that there is public confidence in the ability of officers in Oldpark RUC barracks to treat all individuals and sections of the community equally.

(123560)

144
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officers were questioned in connection with the investigation of complaints made by Mr Bernard Griffin; what issues of fact were established during the criminal proceedings; and how many disciplinary cases are still pending.

(123558)

145
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the criminal convictions in which statements by or evidence of RUC Officers Darren James Neill and Michael Magowan was given or taken into account; how many individuals are currently serving a custodial sentence as a result of such convictions; what mechanisms he will establish to ensure that those individuals who may be eligible to have their convictions reviewed are informed of their rights; and how many individuals are so affected.

(123574)

146
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the convictions of Darren James Neill and Michael Magowan.

(123559)

147
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the President of the Council, if she will propose to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons that it examine changes to the House's voting procedures which would allow abstentions to be recorded.

(121915)

148
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 18th April, Official Report, column 475, what representations he has made to the Rail Regulator to ensure that Railtrack complies with its obligations under the Railways (Safety Cover) Regulations 1994, with particular reference to the Forth Railway Bridge.

(121874)

149
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 14th March, Official Report, column 147W, on the Single Room Rent, when the Single Room Rent was introduced (a) what was the methodology used to estimate the yearly savings, (b) whether these savings have been achieved and (c) what estimate has been made of the likely cost of abolishing the single room rent.

(123531)

150
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners in Crosby received winter fuel payments in (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000; and how much was paid in total.

(123530)

151
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to make the ISMI mechanism more quickly responsive to changes in interest rates.

(123235)

152
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people were in receipt of ISMI in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(123239)

153
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment his Department has made of the arrears that have accrued in mortgages taken out by income support and income-based jobseekers allowance recipients in the most recent year for which information is available.

(123233)

154
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate his Department has made of the average time between changes in the ISMI rate being triggered and higher payments being made to those in receipt of ISMI, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(123237)

155
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on inclusion of reform of ISMI in the Urban White Paper.

(123241)

156
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate his Department has made of the average difference between bank and building society mortgage interest rates over the past 12 months.

(123236)

157
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many repossessions of homes of those in receipt of ISMI there were in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(123240)

158
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to revise the index for calculating the ISMI rate to make it more representative of the mortgage lending market.

(123234)

159
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proportion of those entitled to ISMI have had their homes repossessed within nine months of starting to receive (a) income support and (b) income-based jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(123238)

160
N   Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what recent representations his Department has received on the current ISMI mechanisms.

(123244)

161
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Solicitor General, for what reason the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions dropped charges against Mr Bernard Griffin.

(123561)

162
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Solicitor General, if he will make a statement on his request for a High Court Order requiring Mr Nick Davies to hand over computer disks and files; and on what date the High Court issued such an order.

(122762)

163
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much his Department spent on opinion research in the financial year 1999-2000.

(123309)

164
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list opinion research projects undertaken on behalf of his Department in the financial year 1999-2000, broken down into (a) focus group research, (b) quantitative surveys and (c) other market research surveys; and if he will list in each case where and when the results were published.

(123308)

165
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many press officers were employed by his Department in (a) March 1997 and (b) March 2000.

(123304)

166
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many regulations have been repealed by his Department since May 1997; and what estimate he has made of the resulting cost savings.

(123302)

167
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to submit an application to the European Commission for the approval of £25 million of regional selective assistance for the proposed new Marconi site at Ansty; and if he will make a statement.

(123307)

168
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the total cost to (a) business and (b) the public sector of regulations introduced by his Department since May 1997.

(123303)

169
N   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will utilise part of the share of surpluses, generated by the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, taken by the Government, to help regenerate coalfield community areas.

(123461)

170
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action the Government is taking to support manufacturing industry in the North West; what related discussions he has had in the North West during the last year; and if he will make a statement.

(123527)

171
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has held with the First Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales about the implications for Wales of the implementation of recommendations in the Cabinet Office report on the Review of the Organisation of Public Sector Ombudsmen in England.

(123522)

172
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the implications for Wales of the implementation of the recommendations in the Cabinet Office report on the Review of the Organisation of Public Sector Ombudsmen in England.

(123521)

173
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)�bj536�pursuant to her Answer of 18th April to the honourable Member for Aberdeen North, Official Report, column 476W, if she has visited the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to discuss Scottish experience in applying the European Convention on Human Rights since devolution.

(121889)

174
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he proposes to set a rate of return under section 1 of the Damages Act 1996; and if he will make a statement.

[Question Unstarred] (121902)

175
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proposals he is evaluating for introducing product liability for GM food.

[Transferred] (123389)

176
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will make it her policy to undertake an annual audit of the cost to business of regulations and to publish the result.

[Transferred] (123305)

177
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new jobs have been created in (a) Lancashire and (b) Burnley in the past year.

[Transferred] (123525)