Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 24 May 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 24 May, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

WEDNESDAY 24th MAY

1
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the number of small incinerators used on farms.

(123653)

2
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123421)

3
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will reply to the letter dated 21st February from the honourable Member for Stafford concerning Alex Nixon.

(123773)

4
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement on GMOs and conventional crops of 18th May, Official Report, column 473, whether any of the genetically-modified seeds contained the terminator gene.

(123543)

5
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will list the (a) research and (b) initiatives related to rural issues being undertaken by her Department.

(123398)

6
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff employed by her Department specialise in rural issues; and what percentage this represents of the total number of staff in her Department.

(123396)

7
N   Dr David Clark (South Shields):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average percentage increase in salaries of members of the senior Civil Service was for 1999-2000; and to what extent the pay awards were staged.

(123415)

8
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff from her Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if she will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123430)

9
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the report of the Performance and Innovation Unit on the pursuit and seizure of criminal assets, following the recommendation of the Third Report of the Home Office Working Group on Confiscation was completed; what action she proposes to take following the report; what discussions (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) her officials have had with (i) the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (ii) the honourable Member for Norwich South, (iii) the Prime Minister and (iv) officials in the Home Department regarding the report; if she will place a copy of the report in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

(123790)

10
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the occasions in each of the last five years on which English Heritage gave grants to (a) members of the board of English Heritage and (b) organisations with which board members had connections.

(122635)

11
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123429)

12
   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 513W, if he will state the reasons why RAF Feltwell is designated an RAF base.

(123778)

13
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123428)

14
   Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th May, Official Report, columns 162-3W, on the projected costs of reconstructing his Department's building in Whitehall, which five buildings are to be disposed of; and what will be the savings per annum resulting from these disposals.

(123586)

15
   Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 17th May, Official Report, columns 162-3W, on the projected costs of reconstructing his Department's building in Whitehall, how many staff are to be relocated as a result of the disposal of the five buildings; and to which locations.

(123585)

16
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the objectives of the youth element of the Socrates Programme in the UK concerning the Building of Europe and Strengthening of Sense of Solidarity; what specific European (a) social and (b) political model is envisaged; and if he will make a statement.

(123603)

17
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the (a) mandate and (b) activities to date of the European Community Working Group on Education and the Euro, with particular reference to its planned activities in the UK.

(123614)

18
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the average cost, per pupil, of OFSTED inspections in (a) secondary schools and (b) primary schools in the last year for which figures are available.

(123793)

19
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the average amount paid per day to OFSTED inspectors, and what was the average profit made by organisations carrying out inspections in (a) secondary and (b) primary schools, in the last year for which figures are available.

(123787)

20
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what studies he has carried out of the problem of measurement assessment and evaluation of learning conducted on-line.

(123161)

21
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what studies he has carried out of the incidence of autistic conditions among the school population; and what guidance he has issued to local education authorities in connection with these conditions.

(123162)

22
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what recent research he has commissioned on the performance of the upper quartile of 15 year old pupils in (a) comprehensive schools and (b) selective schools; and if he will make a statement.

(123503)

23
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many secondary schools have sixth forms with (a) 0 to 50, (b) 51 to 100, (c) 101 to 150, (d) 151 to 200 and (e) 201 to 250 pupils.

(123502)

24
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received calling for the official recognition of British Sign Language; and if he will make a statement.

(123770)

25
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of specialist nursery provision for children who are deaf; and if he will make a statement.

(123772)

26
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to grant official recognition to British Sign Language.

(123783)

27
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123427)

28
N   Mr Terry Lewis (Worsley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Worsley dated 14th September 1999, 4th November 1999 and 4th April 2000, regarding a constituent's inquiry about student grants and higher education fees.

(123400)

29
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received from pet crematoria in relation to the proposed EU Waste Incineration Directive.

(123777)

30
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what his policy is with regard to encouraging the use of non-global warming alternatives to HFCs in refrigeration and air conditioning systems which are commercially available.

(122857)

31
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the mechanisms for ensuring the accountability of housing associations for their decisions; and if he will make a statement.

(123771)

32
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what his policy is on displaying registration numbers on plates marked with the European Union sign and GB; and if he will make a statement.

(123726)

33
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123426)

34
   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what investigations the Environment Agency has made into irregular emissions from the incinerator at Northwick Park Hospital; and if enforcement action has been commenced.

(123581)

35
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the environmental criteria to be applied in assessing the Ilisu Dam project.

(123827)

36
   Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to publish the White Paper on leasehold reform; and if it will contain the draft Bill.

(123660)

37
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the place of incineration in the Government's hierarchy of waste management options.

(123517)

38
   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which sites in the UK are under consideration for building new incinerators.

(123713)

39
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has (a) to appeal to the House of Lords in relation to the judgement of the Court of Appeal on the Rent Act Order 1999 and (b) to introduce primary legislation relating to the matters in the Order.

(122856)

40
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the average increase in fair rents upon re-registration since 1995 in (a) the Lambeth Rent Office area and (b) London.

(123541)

41
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the average increase in fair rents since 1992 in (a) the Lambeth Rent Office area and (b) London

(123542)

42
N   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the average scarcity discount used by the London Rent Assessment Committee in calculating fair rents using market rent comparables since 1998 for (a) re-registered rent appeals in London and (b) re-registered rent appeals from the Lambeth Rent Office area.

(123540)

43
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much has been invested in social housing in the Colchester constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how much will be provided for the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(123656)

44
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what EU funds are distributed to the Christians for Europe Foundation; what assistance has been provided to the organisation by Community organisations for hosting conferences; what is the United Kingdom's share of the costs of such assistance; and if he will make a statement.

(123618)

45
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his policy towards continuation of European Community budget line A-3022, European Integration Activities; and if he will make a statement.

(123617)

46
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list those UK companies which receive financial support from the European Investment Bank; for what reason such assistance is provided; and if he will make a statement.

(123623)

47
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the long-term consquences of EMU on further European integration in economic areas not presently covered by (a) QMV and (b) European activities; and if he will make a statement.

(123621)

48
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which areas have been identifed by (a) member states and (b) European Community instititions as requiring additional pooling of sovereignty for the better functioning of the single currency zone.

(123613)

49
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123416)

50
   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the annual cost of (a) a 10 per cent., (b) an 8 per cent. and (c) a 5 per cent. rate of VAT on restoration work for listed buildings.

(123723)

51
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the tax yield has been from financial instruments or products whose taxation is subject to the I-E formula in each of the last eight financial years.

(123394)

52
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list (a) the financial (i) instruments and (ii) products whose taxation is subject to the I-E formula, (b) the relevant composite rates of tax applied to each such instrument and product and (c) the rates of tax used in each of the last eight financial years in respect of each such instrument and product.

(123395)

53
   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the revenue implications of allowing for (a) partial concurrency and (b) full concurrency of the proposed new stakeholder pension regime with other existing occupational and personal pension products or schemes; and if he will make a statement.

(123721)

54
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what economic and tax information he will need to offer the EU prior to seeking to join the Euro.

(123829)

55
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which environmental taxes he approves under EU proposals for Common EU environmental taxes.

(123792)

56
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his policy on the application of the EU Stability Pact to the UK.

(123830)

57
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received about the requirement that the Royal British Legion must pay value added tax on the supply of poppies produced at its Poppy Factory; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (123659)

58
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of children which his policies have lifted out of poverty between 1997-98 and 2000-01, based on a poverty line of (a) 50 per cent. of mean income before housing costs, (b) 50 per cent. of mean income after housing costs, (c) 60 per cent. of median income before housing costs and (d) 60 per cent. of median income after housing costs, indicating in each case the cash value of each threshold.

(123716)

59
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 18th May, Official Report, column 262W, on tax rates, where income tax rates are included in the Table 4.2 on marginal deduction rates in the Budget Red Book (HC 346).

(123583)

60
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the single currency games shown in InfEuro Number 14, the Commission newsletter, were created with the assistance of the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

(123619)

61
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he made during discussions on the agreement of the Lome� Peace Accord on Sierra Leone, with respect to the (a) freeing of, (b) participation in politics of and (c) rescinding the death penalty passed on Foday Sankoh.

(123608)

62
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) gender balance and (b) budget and (c) role of the Women's Information Section in the Information Director-General at the European Commission.

(123624)

63
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) role and (b) current activities of the Head of Sector, Information for Women, in DGX (Information) in the European Commission.

(123650)

64
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which three member states, referred to in the document, Treaty of Amsterdam: What has Changed in Europe, have indicated a preference for extension of QMV before enlargement.

(123616)

65
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his Answer of 15th May, Official Report, column 30W, on EU working groups, if he will make it his policy to ensure the maximum transparency for (a) draft documents without negotiating position commentary and (b) issues under discussion at European Union working group level.

(123631)

66
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if it is his policy to endorse the funding from European Community funds of organisations which exist to lobby the European Community; and if he will make a statement with particular reference to budget line A-3021.

(123607)

67
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 15th May, Official Report, column 48W., if he will define Management of European Integration, with reference to the inclusion or otherwise of political education on the future shape of the EU.

(123630)

68
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those opinion formers who received free copies of Cm 4595; if they were sent copies without requesting them; what (a) deputations and (b) correspondence he received from opinion formers following receipt of Cm 4595; and if he will make a statement.

(123612)

69
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his Answer of 11th May, Official Report, columns 452-3W, on Friends of Europe, if the Friends of Europe event charged for admission; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards the subsidising of fund raising events by such bodies.

(123633)

70
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will deposit copies of European Commission DG newsletters in the Library in a readily-accessible format.

(123627)

71
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the (a) activities and (b) public funding arrangements of Informer et Enseigner l'Europe et la Democratie, with particular reference to its role in the UK.

(123620)

72
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his role in the establishment of the Lome� Peace Accord on Sierra Leone.

(123606)

73
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many questionnaires have been compiled by his Department since 1st May 1997 for public distribution; and what has been the response rate for each.

(123611)

74
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is his policy on India's gaining a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council; for what reasons this policy has changed; and if he will make a statement.

(123727)

75
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123425)

76
   Mr Jim Marshall (Leicester South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 22nd and 23rd May; and if he will make a statement.

(123722)

77
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the policies adopted following the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Advisory Group on screening for chlamydia trachomatis; what has been the outcome of the two pilot studies which were set up; and if he will make a statement.

(123779)

78
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123424)

79
   Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what reasons underlay the decision to sell the waste incinerator plant at Northwick Park Hospital.

(123580)

80
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he has taken to ensure that surgical instruments used in NHS hospitals are sterile.

(123724)

81
N   Mr Terry Lewis (Worsley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Worsley of 17th November 1999 and 4th April 2000, regarding his constituent Lucy Darwell.

(123401)

82
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice he has given the National Health Service on the implications for the NHS of the coming into force of the Human Rights Act 1998.

(123255)

83
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the percentage of cancers in the United Kingdom which were caused by infections in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(123795)

84
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many diabetics registered in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire have received prescribed pen needles; and if he will make a statement.

(123794)

85
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will give the number of cochlear implants for children which have been undertaken in each health authority area for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(123657)

86
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children are waiting for cochlear implants in each health authority area; how many have been waiting for more than a year; and if he will make a statement.

(123658)

87
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to collect statistics on the reason why individuals leave (a) inpatient waiting lists and (b) outpatient waiting lists, separately identifying those who opted for private sector provisions.

(123720)

88
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received from the European women's lobby on gender-sensitive asylum policy; and if he will make a statement.

(123615)

89
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact of Greek participation in the Schengen Agreement on the future level of illegal immigration to Western European states by Albanian nationals; and what recent representations he has made on this issue.

(123629)

90
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will compile a list of those (a) elements of acquis, (b) working documents and (c) reports, pertaining to Schengen, to which his Department has to date not had access.

(123622)

91
   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the outcome of his review of the Pedlars Act 1871.

(123582)

92
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 76W, on intelligence records, if he will make a statement on the timetable for reviewing and releasing historical records relating to the (a) inter-war period and (b) Second World War, with special reference to film stars of that era.

(123825)

93
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on ending specific skill shortages by permitting economic migration; and if he will make a statement.

(123728)

94
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what detailed programmes the Government (a) has in place and (b) has planned, to improve the education, skills and qualifications of asylum seekers; what are the costs of these programmes; and if he will make a statement.

(123729)

95
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123423)

96
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will make decisions on applications for (a) extensions of leave to remain and (b) asylum, made by Kosovans who went to Scotland on the Humanitarian Evacuation programme and whose exceptional leave to remain expired on 9th May; and if he will make a statement.

(123330)

97
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial and other assistance is to be given to those Kosovan families returning to Kosovo from Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

(123332)

98
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, during the period prior to an appeal being assessed Kosovans residing in East Lothian and Renfrewshire will be allowed to remain in their current local authority rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

(123331)

99
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial assistance will be made available to Kosovans who wish to appeal against a refusal of extension to exceptional leave to remain; and if he will make a statement.

(123329)

100
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in each of the last five years, how many people were recorded as being detained who had sought asylum at some stage, broken down by stage of application and immigration status; at which institutions these individuals were detained; what was the age range and nationality of those detained; and if he will make a statement.

(123163)

101
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the backlog of cases awaiting examination at the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and what was the backlog on the same date in each year since its establishment.

(123602)

102
   Ms Fiona Jones (Newark):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to restrict the rights of fans to travel abroad to football matches in cases where they have been identified as being involved in incidents of hooliganism but have not been successfully prosecuted.

(123717)

103
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central of 2nd February, Official Report, column 600W, on criminal assets, when he plans to publish the White Paper on financial crime.

(123774)

104
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date his Department first learned of Mike Tyson's proposed visit to Scotland.

(123567)

105
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what account he took of the possibility of subsequent judicial review when making his decision on whether to admit Mike Tyson to the UK.

(123566)

106
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from Kosovo came to the United Kingdom under the United Nations humanitarian and medical evacuation programmes; how many are still in the United Kingdom; how many have claimed political asylum; and if he will make a statement.

(123791)

107
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assurances he sought from Mike Tyson that while in the United Kingdom he would refrain from public appearances other than his boxing match; what assurances he has received; and if he will make a statement.

(123571)

108
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultations he has had on the impact on police resources of Mike Tyson's proposed visit to the United Kingdom.

(123572)

109
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he received the report of the Performance and Innovation Unit on the pursuit and seizure of criminal assets, following the recommendations of the Third Report of the Home Office Working Group on Confiscation; what action he proposes to take following the report; what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with (i) the Minister for the Cabinet Office, (ii) the honourable Member for Makerfield, (iii) the Prime Minister and (iv) officials in the Cabinet Office regarding the report; if he will place a copy of the report in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(123788)

110
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, between which dates his Department carried out its assessment of the financial and commercial impact of a decision to refuse permission for Mike Tyson to enter the United Kingdom.

(123569)

111
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many representations he has received about the proposed visit of Mike Tyson to Scotland; how many (a) supported and (b) opposed the visit; and if he will make a statement.

(123568)

112
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which persons and organisations he consulted about the financial consequences of a decision to refuse permission for Mike Tyson to enter the United Kingdom.

(123570)

113
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what responsibilities for policy on the confiscation of criminal assets have been transferred to the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement.

(123789)

114
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he made of (a) the financial cost to British business and (b) the number of companies which would have suffered financially, if he had refused Mike Tyson permission to enter the UK for his proposed boxing match.

(123565)

115
N   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the current backlog is of cases being dealt with by the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and what the expected timescale is for considering the application in respect of Mr Nasir Abbas Choudhry made on 5th April.

(123504)

116
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will review the variation of the contract of employment of Metropolitan Police Security Officers stationed at the House in relation to their compulsory retirement age; what consultations took place prior to the change; and if he will make a statement.

(123274)

117
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is (a) the average national police precept and (b) the Humberside police precept; and how many additional police officers could be employed if the difference between the Humberside and the national average police precept were employed for that purpose.

(122798)

118
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for clearance to the United Kingdom there were in each of the last three years; and, of these, how many were (a) granted, (b) rejected on the grounds of Rule 320(18) of the UK Immigration Rules and (c) accepted despite the individual having relatively serious criminal convictions which would normally result in the application being rejected under Rule 320(18) of the UK Immigration Rules.

(123584)

119
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, who is writing the report on the measures needed to implement the Action Programme on Forests to be considered by G8 Foreign Ministers at their meeting prior to the next summit in Okinawa; when the report will be ready; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

(123164)

120
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff from her Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if she will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123422)

121
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to assist developing countries improve the quality of their cancer care services; and if he will make a statement.

(123796)

122
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123420)

123
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what progress has been made with the statute law database; and if he will make a statement.

(123598)

124
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123419)

125
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to which (a) individuals and (b) political parties he has (i) shown and (ii) given draft copies of the proposed Police Bill for Northern Ireland, indicating what undertakings he has given relating to incorporating (A) the name of the RUC in the name of the new police service and (B) part or all of the present insignia of the RUC or the George Cross in the insignia of the new service.

(122799)

126
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will break down the appointments to the House of Lords, by party affiliation, since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(123626)

127
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will place the responses received by his Department to the Performance and Innovation Unit's report, Rural Economies, in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

(123397)

128
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 24th January, Official Report, column 4W, on confiscation of criminal assets, what decisions have been taken following the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the pursuit and seizure of criminal assets; how the decisions are to be (a) made public and (b) reported to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

(123776)

129
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 24th May.

(123070)

130
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123418)

131
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list those research projects funded by his Department at the (a) Bologna Centre, (b) College of Europe and (c) European University Institute; and what the cost of each such project is.

(123605)

132
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123417)

133
   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what advice leaflets have been issued to (i) DSS offices and (ii) the general public in relation to the operation of the winter fuel scheme as revised by the announcement of 11th April.

(123718)

134
   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which categories of women aged 60 or over during the week ending 24th September 2000 who are living in their own houses and are not subject to immigration control will not be included in the winter fuel scheme.

(123719)

135
   Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the cost of exempting all persons who have already reached pensionable age from the reduction in SERPS entitlements contained in the provisions of the Social Security Act 1986.

(123575)

136
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his policy towards promoting gender balance in research, with particular reference to those areas funded by European Community monies, following the ETAN Report of the European Parliament.

(123649)

137
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received in response to his proposals relating to regulation of Temp to Perm in the private recruitment industry as contained in his Department's draft regulation of 16th March; what assessment his Department has made of (a) the potential effect of these proposals on the permanent recruitment market and (b) the extent to which the proposals may create a disincentive to recruitment firms to train and develop their temporary workers; and if he will make a statement.

(123399)

138
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Twickenham of 28th February, Official Report, column 49W, on ECGD, what types of goods are covered, broken down by category of equipment, by ECGD guarantee issued in respect of a defence-related contract with Saudi Arabia in 1997-98 and 1998-99.

(123828)

139
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate how many businesses have benefited from the provisions of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

(123562)

140
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses with more than (a) one employee and (b) 10 employees used the Business Link Service in each region in (i) the most recent available year and (ii) 1997-98.

(123535)

141
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the booklet, Creating a Great Place to Work, has been distributed to business.

(123563)

142
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what progress has been made in extending the People Skills Scoreboard to a wider range of sectors.

(123554)

143
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses in each region have received expert advice on the use of information and communications technologies from Local Support Centres associated with Business Links.

(123539)

144
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the impact of the Queen's Awards to Industry.

(123547)

145
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the growth in the number of business start-ups since the launch of the Public Service Agreement.

(123533)

146
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the ratio of (a) sales and (b) profit to Departmental grant under the SMART and SPUR schemes in each year since the inception of the schemes.

(123537)

147
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list his (a) national and (b) regional competitiveness objectives.

(123545)

148
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans there are to integrate the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme into the Enterprise Fund.

(123551)

149
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Enterprise Fund on (a) (i) local and (ii) regional provision of equity on smaller amounts to growing businesses and (b) finance for a wider range of new products and services.

(123550)

150
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the (a) number of additional jobs created, (b) increase in turnover, (c) increase in profits, (d) growth in net assets and (e) growth in exports, as a result of Business Links since 1994.

(123536)

151
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which Business Links Partnerships have developed centres of enterprise, and which business areas are covered by each centre.

(123544)

152
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the members of the group developing a best practice model for large businesses to work with suppliers and customers to improve the skills of their workforce.

(123564)

153
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many small loans have been guaranteed by region and as a percentage of all businesses in each region in each year since the inception of the Small Loans Guarantee Scheme.

(123549)

154
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Enterprise Fund on (a) the availability of venture capital for very early stage high technology firms and (b) the delivery of the small firms loan guarantee scheme.

(123548)

155
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses used Business Links during 1998-99 in each region, counting each business only once.

(123534)

156
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many small and medium-sized enterprises have gained the ability to buy and sell over the Internet with the help of Local Support Centres associated with Business Links in each year since 1997 (a) in each region and (b) as a percentage of all businesses.

(123538)

157
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the progress of the National Campaign for Enterprise.

(123546)

158
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the departments which are involved and the nature of their involvement in developing a national strategy for the delivery of management training and development.

(123553)

159
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many partner organisations and champions have been recruited to the Fit For The Future campaign.

(123552)

160
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

(123457)

161
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed Ilisu Dam on the built heritage in the area to be inundated.

(123826)

162
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, against what environmental consideration the Ilisu dam will be assessed in relation to ECGD support.

(123775)

163
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what decisions have been taken on the applications that were pending on 7th March for the export of RDX in its raw form to (a) Oman, (b) Spain and (c) Turkey.

(123725)

164
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the reasons are for the delay in the completion of the Review of the Petrol Undertakings; when the review will be completed; and if he will publish the results of the review.

(122942)

165
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he, his officials and the Office of Fair Trading have held with (a) the major oil suppliers, (b) the United Kingdom Oil Producers Association and (c) the Institute of Petroleum, to discuss the Review of the Petrol Undertakings since January 2000; and what the outcome of those meetings was.

(122943)

166
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who has responsibility for ensuring that fairness and reasonableness pertain in the contractual relationship between oil suppliers and retailers in respect of non-competition issues.

(122944)

167
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the size of the road transportation retail fuels market in England and Wales for (a) diesel and (b) petrol in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999.

(122945)

168
N   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what evidence he has of smuggled petroleum products being offered to petrol retailers in the North West of England since 1999.

(122946)

169
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he next plans to meet trade unions to discuss the use of the surplus in the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

(123126)

170
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will break down the £1 billion provided to assist regeneration in former and existing coalfield communities by principal heads of expenditure.

(123127)

171
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received concerning the Foyle Airline's involvement in carrying arms to Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

(123555)

172
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures he will take to offset the losses to Angus if the the revised assisted area boundaries proposals are introduced.

(123576)

173
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason the four Angus wards were included on the original assisted area map submitted in July 1999; and what economic factors have changed in the meantime to form the basis for their exclusion from the revised map.

(123579)

174
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what analysis he has made of the impact on the local economy of the loss of assisted area status to the four Angus wards.

(123577)

175
N   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with chief constables about funding of police forces in Wales.

(122175)

176
N   Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary and the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator about the prevalence of soft drugs in Wales.

(122176)

177
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the impact on farm costs of the implementation of the proposed EU waste incineration directive.

[Transferred] (123652)

178
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to promote the proximity principle for waste disposal in agriculture.

[Transferred] (123654)

179
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will arrange for the South Atlantic Medal to be awarded to those residents of the island of St. Helena who served on board RMS 'St. Helena' in the war zone during the Falklands War.

[Transferred] (123655)

180
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) funding of the European Young Consumer Competition 2000.

[Transferred] (123604)

181
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the next phase of the information strategy for the euro, with particular reference to (a) sensitive groups, (b) opinion formers, (c) information multipliers and (d) children.

[Transferred] (123628)

182
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which Middle East countries have informed him of their support for Turkey's planned Ilisu Dam project.

[Transferred] (123797)

183
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what EU funding is awarded to the European Federation of Retired and Elderly Persons.

[Transferred] (123651)

184
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many European Community documents were examined by EU working groups in the last 12 months; and, of these, how many were advanced as draft legislation.

[Transferred] (123610)

185
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his policy on democratic accountability within European Community working groups.

[Transferred] (123609)

186
   Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the unemployment rate in each of the areas covered by the pre-1997 travel-to-work areas in Scotland.

[Transferred] (123578)