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 7 June 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 7 June, 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 7th JUNE

1
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her Answer of 30th March, Official Report, column 249W, concerning contracts, if she will list the companies concerned; and whether these contracts were subject to a competitive tendering process.

(124815)

2
   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd May, Official Report, column 139W, on live animal exports, what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of sheep originating from Kent which need to be removed by his staff at Dover port from consignments of slaughter/further fattening sheep; and if he will make a statement.

(124888)

3
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will pay the commoners on Holne Moor, Dartmoor, who are signatories to the Environmentally Sensitive Area Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

(124755)

4
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on progress made to date in the negotiations to reform European support arrangements for flax and hemp.

(125072)

5
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her Answer of 19th January, Official Report, column 443W, concerning contracts, if she will list the companies concerned and whether these contracts were subject to a competitive tendering process.

(124825)

6
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her Answer of 11th January, Official Report, column 134W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124816)

7
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the attainment of a target for visitor figures for the Millennium Dome will be a factor in deciding to award a bonus to Pierre-Yves Gerbeau.

(124394)

8
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 28th February, Official Report, column 100W, concerning secondments, if the secondee listed was appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124823)

9
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to sell the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement.

(124940)

10
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to extend the period of the Designated Museums Challenge Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(125075)

11
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 8th February, Official Report, columns 109-10W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124829)

12
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost has been so far of UK involvement in Sierra Leone; if any of that cost will be claimed from the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.

(124886)

13
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the extent is of joint working with Slovenia on miltary matters; how many UK personnel work in Slovenia on training and related matters; and if he will make a statement.

(124884)

14
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost to his Department was of the supply of 226 LH-40C hand-held laser range-finders to the Army; how many units have been purchased; which companies bid for this contract; if the bid by the Eloptro Division of Denel Company was the lowest; and if he will make a statement.

(124883)

15
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the extent of joint working with Latvia is on military matters; how many UK personnel work in Latvia on training and related matters; and if he will make a statement.

(124887)

16
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reasons underlay the length of time taken to procure the successor Identification Friend or Foe system for the Royal Air Force; what the original cost was; if the contract is to be signed at that original cost; and if he will make a statement.

(124885)

17
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to ensure the effectiveness in the air defence role of Type 42 destroyers prior to all Type 45 destroyers entering into service; and if he will make a statement.

(124995)

18
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned in-service date is for the first Type 45 destroyer; and if he will make a statement.

(124996)

19
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will announce the placement of a contract for the Defence Electronic Commerce Service IT system.

(124797)

20
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to (a) issue invitations to tender in respect of and (b) place the order for, the production of the first Type 45 destroyer; and if he will make a statement.

(124915)

21
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the planned in-service dates for follow-on Type 45 destroyers; and if he will make a statement.

(124993)

22
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the planned date by which the Principal Anti Air Missile System will be available to install in the first Type 45 destroyer; and if he will make a statement.

(124994)

23
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what obligations Raytheon has in respect of industrial participation and offsets in respect of the current order for AMRAAM missiles for the RAF; and if he will make a statement.

(124991)

24
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what obligations he plans to place upon Raytheon in respect of industrial participation and offsets in respect of the additional AMRAAM order announced on 16th May; and if he will make a statement.

(124990)

25
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the differences in the (a) legal powers and (b) effectiveness of (i) his Department's police and (ii) the military police of the three services.

(124932)

26
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of (a) the cost and (b) the length of time required to upgrade RAF Fylingdales in the event of a request from the United States for United Kingdom assistance in the deployment of the proposed National Missile Defence System.

(125077)

27
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions in the past three months UK military or diplomatic personnel have been confronted in Sierra Leone by persons purporting to be United Nations personnel but who were not; if he will give details of such instances where United Nations insignia or colours were being worn; and if any such incidents involved the discharge of firearms.

(124837)

28
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what instructions are given to United Kingdom service personnel when they are required to communicate or collaborate with soldiers of the Sierra Leone Army whom they suspect are below 18 years of age; if those instructions provide specifically for cases where the child soldier is armed; and if he will make a statement.

(124832)

29
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what compensation is available to former service personnel for work-related asbestosis.

(124988)

30
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the level of compensation paid to civilian dockyard workers for work-related asbestosis contracted while working (a) on Royal Navy vessels and (b) in Royal Naval dockyards.

(124934)

31
N   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the net effect on school budgets of the new Fair Funding arrangements for schools during the financial year 1999-2000 for (a) England and (b) each local education authority; and if he will make a statement.

(124689)

32
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many applications for specialist school status have been received for the current bidding round (a) nationally and (b) in the Eastern Region.

(124891)

33
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 21st December, Official Report, column 554W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124817)

34
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many places under the National Childcare Strategy Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership have been provided in the Colchester constituency; what plans he has to extend the scheme in the Colchester constituency; and if he will make a statement.

(125074)

35
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many Key Stage 2 English markers were removed last year on grounds of unsatisfactory performance.

(124892)

36
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many end of Key Stage 2 (a) mathematics and (b) science test papers were returned for a review of marking in each of the past four years.

(124894)

37
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many schools returned end of Key Stage 2 English test papers for a review of marking last year.

(124893)

38
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the correlation between the year-on-year increase in the number of end of Key Stage 2 English test papers returned for a review of marking and exam marking standards.

(124895)

39
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what inter-marker reliability data are available for end of Key Stage 2 English tests.

(124896)

40
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason the publication of proposed changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, relating to the conservation of fuel and power, has been delayed from Autumn 1999; when he intends to publish the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement.

(124331)

41
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 9th February, Official Report, columns 158-9W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124830)

42
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 25th May, Official Report, columns 569-70W, concerning the main waste disposal facilities in the East of England, if he will list the quantity of waste dealt with at each facility in 1998-99 or the nearest available year.

(124804)

43
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assurances have been given to the Government by (a) BAA, (b) British Airways and (c) British Midland in the five years prior to the recent submission by British Airways to his Department concerning a third runway that they would not seek additional runway capacity at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement.

(124845)

44
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions his Department has had with Central Railway in relation to the company's plans for a high speed freight rail-link with particular reference to the part of the route adjacent to or in the vicinity of the M25; and if he will make a statement.

(124844)

45
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce a mandatory operating scheme for vessels carrying bulk hazardous cargoes through the Pentlands Firth.

(124685)

46
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he takes to ensure that government subsidies to privatised railway companies are not passed on to shareholders.

(124805)

47
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd May, Official Report, column 436W, which external consultants the Franchising Director used to satisfy himself of the validity of the Virgin rail study on electrification of the North Wales main line; and what their terms of reference were.

(124802)

48
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to ensure that rail passengers are not overcharged when buying tickets.

(124800)

49
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to improve the accuracy of measures of a vehicle's emissions as part of the MOT test; and if he will make a statement.

(124942)

50
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the percentage changes in grants to local authorities, including revenue support grant, in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) London boroughs, (b) Metropolitan councils, (c) counties, (d) unitary authorities and (e) shire districts.

(124989)

51
   Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce his decision on the planning application for the Stone Lodge Leisure Complex in Dartford.

(124935)

52
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many local authorities granted relief under the Local Government Act 1988 in each year since 1990-91.

(125070)

53
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the amount of hardship relief granted under the Local Government Act 1988 in England in each year since 1990-91.

(125069)

54
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on progress in the reopening of the Welsh Highland Railway in Gwynedd.

(125071)

55
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd May, Official Report, column 323W, on road accidents, how many fatalities due to road accidents there have been on the A40 over the last three years (a) in total and (b) between Witney and Oxford.

(124420)

56
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what initiatives the Government is putting in place in Oxford to tackle rough sleeping.

(124395)

57
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proportion of rough sleepers in the UK are from ethnic minority groups.

(124396)

58
N   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of rough sleepers in Oxford in 1999.

(124397)

59
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of recipients of the childcare tax credit in WFTC who do not use eligible childcare.

(124937)

60
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the childcare tax credit will relate to the reformed employment tax credit and integrated child credit.

(124938)

61
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families are in receipt of the childcare tax credit in the working families' tax credit and disabled person's tax credit in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority.

(124986)

62
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what initiatives he has launched to attract new sources of finance, including pension funds to the risk investment sector.

(124758)

63
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the benefits of introducing a system of tax allowances for entrepreneurial new companies.

(124760)

64
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the increase in capital gains tax on share options in each year since 1996.

(124759)

65
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much is invested in venture capital in the UK as a percentage of all pension funds; and what are the comparable figures for the USA.

(124757)

66
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much is spent annually on the working families tax credit; and how much would be spent if the national minimum wage were raised to five pounds per hour.

(125111)

67
   Mr Clive Efford (Eltham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects the Financial Services Authority to publish its response to the consultation on the Single Ombudsman Service; and if he will make a statement.

(124944)

68
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 27th March, Official Report, column 47W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124818)

69
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received in favour of the restoration of zero rating for value added tax on (a) new scout hall buildings, (b) scout hall extensions and (c) other community youth organisations; when the decision was taken that VAT should be levied; if he will rescind that decision; and if he will make a statement.

[R] (125073)

70
N   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with financial organisations on the (a) viability and (b) acceptability of the Tobin Tax initiative.

(123179)

71
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 11th February, Official Report, columns 337-8W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124822)

72
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which Overseas Territories' legislatures' have e-mail addresses; and which of these can be used to contact individual members of those legislatures.

(124842)

73
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department will make an up-to-date list of members of all Overseas Territories' legislatures, together with their point of contact, available in the Library; and if he will make it his Department's practice for this to be updated regularly.

(124841)

74
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the proposals outlined in the recent White Paper on Overseas Territories; and if he will make a statement.

(124843)

75
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the visits made to each Overseas Territory by Ministers in his Department since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(124840)

76
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library the speeches and press releases and documents pertaining to the United Kingdom's bilateral and EU relations with Spain which have related to Gibraltar, since the recent agreement was reached with Spain on Gibraltar.

(124835)

77
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Sierra Leone citizens have had their fares paid to Britain by his Department since the entry of the Parachute Regiment into Sierra Leone; how many of these cases relate to asylum applications; what the circumstances were of the others; and how many were arranged on the initiative of the United Kingdom High Commission.

(124836)

78
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information he has collected relating to the average time of waiting at the Spain-Gibraltar border for motor vehicles entering or leaving Gibraltar since the recent agreement reached with Spain on Gibraltar.

(124834)

79
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list, for each day since the recent agreement with Spain about Gibraltar, the (a) longest and (b) average waiting time for vehicles entering or leaving Gibraltar.

(124833)

80
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if there has been a diminution of delays at the border between Gibraltar and Spain as a result of the recent Anglo-Spanish agreement.

(124798)

81
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role his Department will play in respect of matters covered by the recent Anglo-Spanish agreement.

(124812)

82
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the visits made by himself or his ministers to Gibraltar within the last two years, stating the (a) purpose and (b) outcome of the visit.

(124799)

83
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has commissioned into the fluoridation of water and the intake of fluoride from sources other than water; and if he will make a statement.

(124882)

84
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the members of the (a) Committee on Safety of Medicines, (b) Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and (c) Medicines Control Agency, indicating which members have registered links with pharmaceutical companies.

(124753)

85
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 506W, what are the benefits and risks that are considered and constantly reviewed for each individual vaccination.

(124762)

86
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 506W, what are the serious adverse reactions to vaccination; and how rare they are.

(124761)

87
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children have suffered brain damage following a routine vaccination in each year since 1990; and if he will break this figure down by the vaccine given in each case.

(124763)

88
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce legislation to allow complainants to the General Medical Council a right of appeal other than to the Privy Council in the event that they are dissatisfied with the response from the General Medical Council; and if he will make a statement.

(125113)

89
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is his Department's estimate of the extra cost to the NHS of (a) interpretation services and (b) other costs resulting from providing services for patients who do not speak English in each of the last five years.

(124398)

90
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is his Department's estimate of the annual savings resulting from the location of NHS Executive staff in Quarry House, Leeds rather than in London.

(124399)

91
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to tackle the problems of the hepatitis C infection in Norwich amongst intravenous drug users; and if he will include hepatitis C infection in a general programme on blood-borne viruses.

(124889)

92
N   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients are waiting for admission to hospitals in each health authority in England for (a) child health treatment, (b) cancer treatment, (c) cardio-thoracic treatment, (d) treatment of the elderly, (e) general medical treatment, (f) general surgery and urology and (g) neurosurgery and neurology; and if he will make a statement.

(124419)

93
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he gives to hospitals regarding the definition of waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

(124943)

94
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 27th January, Official Report, column 334W, to the honourable Member for Richmond Park, when he will publish the results of the appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence of the drug Relenza; and if he will make a statement.

(125110)

95
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make additional funds available to support the work of the Air Ambulance Service.

(125076)

96
   Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 507W, concerning accommodation for public health care staff in South East England, what estimates the National Housing Coordinator for the National Health Service has made of the provision of residential accommodation required for public healthcare staff in (a) the South East Region and (b) Oxfordshire.

(124803)

97
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the average cost per police officer for each police force in England in the last financial year.

(124400)

98
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements his Department has made for identifying suitable accommodation for asylum seekers under the Government's dispersal policy.

(125116)

99
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the result of consultations with (a) the North West Consortium and (b) Liverpool City Council prior to the decision to award contracts to place asylum seekers in The Landmark and The Inn on the Park in Everton, Liverpool; and when these consultations took place.

(125114)

100
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the arrangements are for assessing the suitability of individual retail outlets for receiving vouchers allocated to asylum seekers; what criteria are applied in the assessment; and what monitoring arrangements are in place.

(125119)

101
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements have been made to monitor contracts entered into in respect of the Government's dispersal policy for asylum seekers.

(125115)

102
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many contracts have been entered into with (a) local authorities, (b) the private sector and (c) the voluntary sector in relation to the Government's scheme for the dispersal of asylum seekers.

(125118)

103
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are applied in assessing the suitability of (a) contractors and (b) accommodation in relation to the Government's dispersal policy for asylum seekers; and what weight is given in that assessment to factors concerning management arrangements and care of the asylum seekers.

(125117)

104
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Answer of 21st December 1999, Official Report, column 492W, concerning contracts, if she will list the companies concerned; and whether these contracts were subject to a competitive tendering process.

(124814)

105
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he will take following the criticism made in the judgement of Mr Justice Burton on the actions taken by police during the visit of the President of China; and if he will make a statement.

(124890)

106
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid is being given towards the preservation of mangrove swamps in (a) the West Indies and (b) the Indian Ocean.

(123245)

107
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 8th February, Official Report, columns 89-90W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124827)

108
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to his Answer of 8th February, Official Report, column 119W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124828)

109
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will give details of the visits made to each Overseas Territory by Ministers in her Department since 1st May 1997

(124831)

110
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of the aid to St. Helena in (a) cash and (b) constant terms was spent on the island itself in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(124811)

111
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 23rd May, Official Report, columns 408-9W, if the comparative study of air and sea access to and from St. Helena will consider emergency medical evacuations.

(124801)

112
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what are the terms of reference of the inquiry by Sir Andrew Leggatt into the tribunal system.

(124879)

113
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many responses he has received to his consultation document CP3/00 on the discount rate for levels of damages; how many were from (a) honourable Members, (b) the general public, (c) the legal profession and judges and (d) the insurance industry; in each case, how many favoured (i) a rate of return of 2 per cent., (ii) a rate of return of 3 per cent. and (iii) a rate of return of 4 per cent. or more; and when he plans to publish his proposals in response to the consultation.

(124846)

114
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, in respect of reserved judgments in the High Court for each of the last three years, (a) what was the longest period of time between conclusion of submissions and delivery of judgment, (b) what was the average period and (c) in how many cases judgment was reserved for over one month; what guidance he issues on the length of the period between the conclusion of submissions and the delivery of judgment in the High Court; what plans he has to introduce systems to ensure the prompt delivery of judgment; how much has been paid, earmarked, or is estimated as likely to be paid in compensation due to delayed judgments; and if he will make a statement.

(124880)

115
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his Answer of 8th February, Official Report, column 132W, concerning secondments, if the secondee to the Law Commission listed was appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124826)

116
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his Answer of 29th February, Official Report, column 203W, concerning contracts, if he will list the companies concerned; and whether these contacts were subject to competitive tendering.

(124824)

117
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 17th April, Official Report, column 361W, on ministerial meetings, how many formal meetings he has had over the last two years with representatives of (a) farming unions, (b) the Country Landowners' Association, (c) the Country Sports Organisation and (d) pensioners' groups.

(124577)

118
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will assess the benefits of introducing a written constitution and bill of rights.

(124914)

119
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th June.

(124330)

120
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his Answer of 10th February, Official Report, columns 279-80W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124819)

121
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the (a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries, in each of the next five years, of raising the upper age limit to (a) 70, (b) 75 and (c) 80 years for the disability living allowance mobility component.

(124688)

122
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the (a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries in each of the next five years, of removing the upper age limit for the disability living allowance (i) mobility component and (ii) lower rate care component.

(124687)

123
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to review the imputed rate of return on savings used in calculating entitlement to means-tested benefits.

(124939)

124
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what action he is taking to improve the quality and accuracy of postcode data with the Analytical Services Division within the Benefits Agency.

(124686)

125
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many liability orders were sought by the Child Support Agency from courts in Scotland during the last calendar year for which figures are available; how many were (a) granted and (b) granted and subsequently registered in each relevant judicial area in Scotland; and what the average waiting time between submission of papers to the court and the granting of liability orders was (i) in total and (ii) in each judicial area.

(125112)

126
N   Mr Frank Dobson (Holborn and St. Pancras):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is his Department's estimate of the annual savings to the social security budget of the disposal of non-local offices from London in each of the last five years.

(124401)

127
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 9th February, Official Report, column 213W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124820)

128
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current level of the bridging allowance; and if he will make a statement.

(124881)

129
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the number of income support claimants by constituency in the county of Devon, Torbay Unitary Authority and Plymouth Unitary Authority for each year from August 1998 to the latest date for which figures are available.

(124987)

130
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people were in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in each constituency in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth, broken down by age group for the period from August 1998 to the latest date for which figures are available.

(124992)

131
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Solicitor General, if the report by His Honour Gerald Butler QC concerning the handling of the case of R v Doran and others has been delivered; what information concerning it will be published; and what action the Government plans to take in response.

(124941)

132
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the budget of the Staffordshire CPS.

(124912)

133
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Solicitor General, if he will accelerate the programme for modernising the information technology of the Crown Prosecution Service to match the introduction of the new police IT for managing casework.

(124913)

134
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Solicitor General, by what formula the funding of the Crown Prosecution Service nationally is distributed to the area offices.

(124911)

135
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Solicitor General, what was the funding of the Crown Prosecution Service (a) in real terms and (b) as a proportion of GDP for each year of its existence.

(124910)

136
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 11th February, Official Report, columns 313-6W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.

(124821)

137
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the Government intends to introduce (a) legislative and (b) other steps to meet the United Kingdom's treaty obligations in respect of prosecuting British businesses and individual business personnel who offer bribes and other unlawful inducements to obtain contracts abroad; and if he will make a statement.

(124839)

138
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations Her Majesty's Government has received from other governments about United Kingdom action to combat the offering by British businesses and individual business personnel of bribes and other unlawful inducements in order to obtain contracts abroad; and if he will make a statement.

(124838)

139
N   Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact on the level of service to residential telephone subscribers of the operation of call centres.

(124813)

140
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the members of the panel from which boards are drawn to determine cases under the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme; what are their qualifications; and which members have registered links with pharmaceutical companies.

[Transferred] (124754)

141
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the minimum funding requirements for pension funds with reference to venture capital.

[Transferred] (124756)

142
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the differences between the methods of funding the provision of public services in rural areas.

[Transferred] (124933)

143
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason his Department's police officers were disembarked from their aircraft on the tarmac at Stansted on 4th June, instead of flying to Kosovo; when the detachment will now fly to Pristina; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (124936)