Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 8 June 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 8 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.

THURSDAY 8th JUNE

1
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125159)

2
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many UK vessels have satellite monitoring equipment on board which is not operational; and in which fleet segment these vessels are concentrated.

(125134)

3
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many UK vessels are obliged under EU regulations to carry operational satellite monitoring equipment; and how many UK vessels comply.

(125133)

4
   Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, column 286W, on live animal exports, how many sheep were rejected by local veterinary inspectors from 31st May to 31st December 1999 as unfit to travel, broken down by county in England and Wales.

(125135)

5
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to minimise skip lorry movements of animal products for final disposal between farms.

(125167)

6
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he expects to announce the results of the consultation on the future of the agricultural wages boards.

(125170)

7
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he intends to reply to the letter of 18th October 1999, from the honourable Member for Rochford and Southend East, in respect of which a reminder letter was sent on 17th February.

(124807)

8
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of her Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of her Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125160)

9
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if all the design and construction contracts awarded by the New Millennium Experience Company complied with EU competition rules.

(125029)

10
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects the New Millennium Experience Company to publish its next accounts; and what period they will cover.

(125030)

11
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the (a) contingency draw down, (b) £60 million cash flow facility and (c) £29 million additional cash flow facility made available to the New Millennium Experience Company will be repaid.

(125023)

12
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which Millennium Commission projects have received funding additional to their original grants; for what purposes; and to what value in each case.

(125024)

13
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the New Millennium Experience Company has made of its ability to meet its published commercial income target.

(125027)

14
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the revised business plan and budget of the New Millennium Experience Company.

(125026)

15
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many board meetings of the New Millennium Experience Company have taken place since 1st January; when they took place; and which directors were in attendance at each meeting.

(125028)

16
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact on (a) employment at, (b) profitability of and (c) other aspects of other individual tourist attractions in the United Kingdom, of the Millennium Experience exhibition at the Millennium Dome.

(124947)

17
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many beds have been available for (a) residents and (b) convalescents (i) in each of the five years from 1989 to 1993 and (ii) in 1999 at King Edward VII Convalescent Home at Osborne

(125132)

18
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the average bed occupancy rate was at King Edward VII Convalescent Home at Osborne (a) in each of the five years between 1989 and 1993 and (b) in 1999, broken down between (i) residents and (ii) convalescents.

(125131)

19
   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate how many direct debits for paying licence fees currently set up with the BBC by visually-impaired customers will have to be cancelled because of the evidence requirements contained within the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998; what guidance his Department has given the BBC to ensure that visually-impaired customers have equal access to this method of paying bills; and if he will make a statement.

(125347)

20
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 25th May, Official Report, column 581W, if he will place copies of all unpublished results of market and opinion research relating to the work of the Millennium Commission and the operation of the Dome in the Library.

(124905)

21
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 25th May, Official Report, column 581W, on opinion research, what steps have been taken to ensure that his Department makes such results publicly available as required by paragraph 19 of the Cabinet Office May 1999 Guidelines on Research into Public Attitudes and Opinions.

(124903)

22
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125157)

23
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the (a) health and (b) education projects that have been funded from the National Lottery in each of the last two years; and how much each has received.

(123634)

24
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department requires manufacturers to provide complete flight reference cards prior to releasing an aircraft into operational service; if the Chinook Mk2 had a complete set of flight reference cards at the time of the fatal crash of ZD576 in June 1994; and if these included drills covering the possibility of FADEC malfunctions.

(125300)

25
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what commercial tanker ships his Department has chartered to move fuel between British naval bases in the past 12 months.

(125085)

26
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation for the Army Technical Support Agency is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125097)

27
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the Exocet missile launcher has been removed from HMS 'Sheffield'; what plans there are to replace it; and what similar work has been undertaken on other ships of this class.

(125083)

28
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation for the Defence Communication Services is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125086)

29
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what live-fire training exercises are planned to take place in the next 12 months using Sea Eagle missiles.

(125005)

30
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the sailings of each of the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, 'Brambleleaf', 'Bayleaf', 'Orangeleaf', 'Oakleaf', 'Fort Victoria' and 'Fort George' in the past year.

(125084)

31
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation for the Army Training and Recruitment Agency is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125096)

32
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation for the Army Base Repair Organisation is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125095)

33
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training exercises involving the live firing of Sea Eagle missiles have taken place in each of the past 10 years.

(125081)

34
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the closure of HMS 'Cambridge'.

(125010)

35
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training exercises involving the live firing of Exocet missiles have taken place in each of the past 10 years.

(125008)

36
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what replacement air to surface ship strike capability he plans to procure for Sea Harrier aircraft.

(125082)

37
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what stocks of (a) Exocet, (b) Sea Eagle and (c) Sea Dart missiles are retained by the Royal Navy.

(125011)

38
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the programme of work that is being undertaken by his Department in relation to ballistic missile defence.

(125009)

39
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which ships have been withdrawn from the Meet Your Navy programme running from 26th May to 9 July.

(125058)

40
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125093)

41
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to procure further stocks of Exocet missiles for use by the Royal Navy.

(125006)

42
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation for the Defence Aviation Repair is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125091)

43
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation for the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125094)

44
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if Exocet missiles are routinely carried by Type 22 Frigates in service.

(125007)

45
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation of the Defence Bills Agency is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125092)

46
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation is for the Defence Dental Agency for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125088)

47
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation for the Army Training and Recruitment Agency is for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125087)

48
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation is for the Defence Housing Executive for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125089)

49
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many submariners are allocated to crew each decommissioned nuclear submarine.

(125057)

50
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what upgrade and refurbishment work is planned to take place on the Royal Navy's stock of (a) Exocet and (b) Sea Dart missiles in the next 12 months.

(125012)

51
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget allocation is for the Defence Analytical Services Agency for the financial year 2000-01; and when the agency received its budget allocation.

(125090)

52
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what savings will accrue from the closure of HMS 'Cambridge'.

(125056)

53
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made in purchasing track for Challenger II to a new design.

(125315)

54
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about structural and metallurgical defects on Warrior fighting vehicles in Kosovo.

(125316)

55
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department will issue invitations to submit outline proposals for Project Aquatrine; and if he will make a statement.

(125317)

56
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the TRACER-FSCS programme.

(125318)

57
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on United Kingdom participation in the United States' Future Combat System programme.

(125319)

58
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125158)

59
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department's officials last met their Croatian counterparts; and what discussions were held on the Partnership for Peace initiative.

(125003)

60
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the role Britain has played in Partnership for Peace activities with Croatia.

(125004)

61
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) further education college principals and (b) sixth form college principals are (i) in post and (ii) from ethnic minorities.

(124690)

62
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the outcome was of the Social Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 6th June; and if he will make a statement.

(125171)

63
N   Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many New Deal placements have been offered this year by local authorities.

(123350)

64
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to expand the availablity of training places for classroom teaching assistants in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England.

(125146)

65
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125156)

66
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 25th May, Official Report, column 606W, on instructors, where information on basic qualifications or subject taught is held.

(124767)

67
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what measures are in place to replace supply teachers from Australia and New Zealand.

(125130)

68
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many bus monitors have been employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate in each year from 1997 to date.

(124909)

69
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent assessment he has made of the sufficiency of the personnel available to the Traffic Commissioner within the South Eastern and Metropolitan traffic areas.

(124908)

70
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Government expects the South East Regional Airports study into runway capacity in the South East to report.

(125122)

71
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 483W, on London Underground, if he will list (a) train, (b) signal and (c) track failures in each financial year for each line of the London Underground.

(125281)

72
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the CAA (a) requires manufacturers and operators to provide complete checklists, including emergency checklists, before granting an airworthiness certificate and (b) considers full authority digital engine control systems as flight safety critical.

(125301)

73
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the local authorities which do not include in their codes of conduct the 15 principles of conduct set out in the White Paper, Local Government: In Touch with the People.

(125101)

74
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the local authorities which have not yet established formal whistleblowing arrangements in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

(125103)

75
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list (a) those local authorities which have transferred some or all of their housing stock to registered social landlords, (b) the name of the registered social landlord to which the stock has been transferred, (c) the average rent increase or decrease determined by the registered social landlord in each financial year since the transfer and (d) the rent collected by the registered social landlord as a percentage of the total rent due in each financial year since the transfer.

(124258)

76
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those registered social landlords to which local authority housing stock has been transferred which have failed to satisfy the performance indicators set by the Housing Corporation, for each financial year since the stock was transferred, and in each case give details of the specific performance indicators they failed.

(124259)

77
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what contacts have taken place between (a) officials, (b) special advisers and (c) Ministers in his Department and representatives of the Central Railway.

(125062)

78
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125155)

79
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 17th May, Official Report, column 135W, on penalty clauses, if he will list the payments made by contractors in respect of each of the 17 contracts.

(125363)

80
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of small farm incinerators in each EU member state.

(125166)

81
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the dangers to human health posed by small farm incinerators.

(125165)

82
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd May, Official Report, column 430W, on marine surveyors, what plans he has to ensure that practising marine surveyors operating in the private sector are professionally qualified and covered by professional indemnity insurance.

(125136)

83
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects the report of the public inquiry into the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow Airport to be published.

(124486)

84
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding projected passenger numbers and numbers of flights into airports in the South East of England.

(124488)

85
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent information he has given the inspector at the public inquiry into the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow Airport concerning revised projected passenger and flight numbers for the next 10 years at Heathrow.

(124489)

86
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received regarding new runways in the South East of England.

(124490)

87
N   Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many representations he has received in respect of the possible demolition of houses in Broad Lane, Liverpool; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement.

(125106)

88
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he plans to take to compensate those contributors who were wrongly advised to continue to pay the married women's option in the national insurance scheme.

(125102)

89
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 25th May, Official Report, column 585W, on opinion research, what steps have been taken to ensure that his Department makes such results publicly available as required by paragraph 19 of the Cabinet Office May 1999 Guidelines on Research into Public Attitudes and Opinions.

(124904)

90
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Luxembourg on 5th June; and if he will make a statement.

(125123)

91
N   Mr Michael Jack (Fylde):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 24th May, Official Report, column 524W, on Taxation (I-E Formula), in respect of each rate of tax shown in the table, what is his estimate of a 1 per cent. reduction in each of the rates shown for tax years 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

(125120)

92
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125148)

93
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions have taken place on the rebate of the contribution of the United Kingdom to the EU Budget at the Inter-Governmental conference considering the prospective Treaty of Nice; and what has been the percentage change in the UK's (a) gross and (b) net contribution to the EU (i) taking into account and (ii) not taking into account the rebate in the last five years.

(125252)

94
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the reduction in tax paid by a limited company with a revenue of £50 million per year by converting into a limited liability partnership under the Government's Limited Liability Partnerships Bill.

(125344)

95
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to reply to the letter of 21st October 1999, from the honourable Member for Rochford and Southend East, in respect of which a reminder letter was sent on 17th February.

(124806)

96
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Pristina and its effect on the safety of returning refugees.

(124906)

97
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125154)

98
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many regulations and directives were printed in the Official Journal of the European Community, having effect for (a) 1970 to 1972, (b) 1973 to 1982, (c) 1983 to 1992 and (d) 1993 to 1999; and how many pages of the Journal were devoted to such publication in each of these periods.

(125253)

99
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Step Change Project, listing its aims, objectives and methods.

(124332)

100
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the rules concerning use of British embassies overseas by (a) Ministers and (b) honourable Members for party political activities.

(124333)

101
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is his Department's policy on producing briefing documents giving information about senior businessmen, politicians and other public figures in overseas countries; and if he will place in the Library copies of all such documents.

(124334)

102
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the rape of eight Christian girls in Pakistan on 7th May.

(125143)

103
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indian Government on the rise of Hindu militancy in India.

(125162)

104
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the frequency of attacks against the Christian population of India in each of the last four years.

(125144)

105
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage the administration in Pakistan to eradicate religious intolerance.

(125145)

106
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received concerning attacks on Christians in India.

(125164)

107
   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support he is giving the Indian Government to reduce Hindu militant attacks on the Christian population of India.

(125163)

108
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when (a) he, (b) other Foreign Office ministers and (c) officials were informed of statements made by Mr Ahmad Behbahani, in respect of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103.

(124946)

109
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will obtain and assess the text of the statement made in the USA on 4th June by Mr Ahmed Behbahani in relation to the Lockerbie bombing; and if he will make a statement.

(124897)

110
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the United States counterparts concerning the use of Fusarium Oxysporum in drug eradication strategies in Colombia and Peru.

(124999)

111
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made with the return of East Timorese refugees from West Timor.

(125016)

112
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the implementation of the 1999 EU resolution on combating the excessive and uncontrolled accumulation and spread of small arms.

(125021)

113
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his UN counterparts about the effectiveness of the UN Drugs Control Programme's drug reduction strategy for drug-producing regions.

(125017)

114
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government plans to ratify the protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibiting states from allowing children under the age of 18 years to fight in armed conflicts.

(125022)

115
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 17th April, Official Report, column 394W, if he will make a statement on progress made in the hosting of an international gathering to discuss the details of Plan Colombia before the donors conference in July.

(125013)

116
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will make a decision on the future provision of acute services by the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust.

(124945)

117
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many responses to his consultation on the future of the NHS made reference to the medical needs and extra costs of patients aged over 85 years.

(125370)

118
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when and in what way he expects to announce a summary of the responses to the recent questionnaire on the NHS.

(125374)

119
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many responses to his consultation on the future of the NHS made reference to mental health or to mental illness.

(125369)

120
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what way NHS mental health patients were included in the consultation on the future of the NHS.

(125372)

121
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the relative priorities accorded to mental and physical health in the Government's health policies.

(125371)

122
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many responses he received (a) in time and (b) out of time to his recent consultation on the future of the National Health Service.

(125368)

123
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue questionnaires to 12 million people relating to his top three priorities for mental health reform.

(125367)

124
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate (a) the present and (b) the projected number of sufferers from mental illness in the UK.

(125373)

125
   Dr Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish the new mileage payment rates for nurses working in the community.

(125282)

126
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients (a) of Weston General Hospital, (b) of Avon Health Authority and (c) nationally have died of an illness for which they were awaiting treatment in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(125366)

127
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of urgent referrals by general practitioners of patients with suspected cancer he estimates were seen by cancer specialists in the most recent period for which figures are available.

(125256)

128
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received over the number of acute beds for the new Hereford hospital; and if he will make a statement.

(125128)

129
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the current prescribing status is of Etanercept as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

(125137)

130
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter of 1st February from the honourable Member for Aylesbury about the case of Mrs Sylvia Morgan.

(125063)

131
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125153)

132
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to institute a screening programme to tackle prostate cancer in men.

(125127)

133
N   Mrs Gillian Shephard (South West Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many intensive care beds there were at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital or (a) 1st June 2000 and (b) 1st April 1997.

(125059)

134
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if metal on metal resurfacing of hip joints is available on the NHS.

(124487)

135
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what inquiries he proposes to undertake about housing conditions in Kosovo for those refugees expected to return from the United Kingdom by 25th June.

(124907)

136
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates HM Inspector of Prisons last inspected HMP Blantyre House; on what date his report was submitted to his Department; and on what date it is expected to be published.

(125065)

137
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 25th May, Official Report, column 623W, concerning market and opinion research, if he will list the title and purpose of each item of research, stating in each case whether the results will be published.

(124899)

138
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to what extent Her Majesty's Government's policy on removals to Zimbabwe of failed asylum seekers has changed in response to the civil unrest and political repression in that country.

(125125)

139
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if asylum seekers from Zimbabwe are liable to be fast-tracked through the asylum determination process.

(125126)

140
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) failed asylum seekers and (b) others have been (i) deported and (ii) removed to Zimbabwe in each month since May 1999.

(125124)

141
   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has had about the future status of the city of Hereford; and if he will make a statement.

(125129)

142
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is concerning the burden of proof in cases of alleged racial discrimination.

(125053)

143
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have claimed asylum at each relevant port in the United Kingdom in each month since 1st May 1997.

(125105)

144
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people the National Asylum Support Service (a) has dispersed and (b) plans to disperse to each of the cluster areas listed in the letter to all honourable Members of 25th May from the honourable Member for Hornsey and Wood Green.

(125055)

145
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the people aboard the Afghan airline hijacked to Stansted are still in the United Kingdom; what is the status of each of their asylum claims; and if he will make a statement.

(125032)

146
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers and dependants sent to Oakington detention centre have (a) been granted refugee status or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, (b) been dispersed to other accommodation in the United Kingdom, (c) left the United Kingdom, (d) been detained elsewhere and (e) absconded from Oakington.

(125050)

147
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are employed and at which grades in (a) the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and (b) the Immigration Service.

(125044)

148
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on whether the implementing powers under the Eurodac Regulation should be exercised by (a) the Commission or (b) the Council.

(125049)

149
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers and dependants have been sent to the Oakington detention centre since it was opened; and how many of those people have had their cases decided while at Oakington.

(125052)

150
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which organisations he has consulted on the impact of the draft EU Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin.

(125042)

151
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which secure training centres are unable to accept inmates sentenced to a detention and training order; and if he will make a statement.

(125025)

152
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) British businesses and (b) other organisations of implementing the proposed EU Directive on the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin.

(125054)

153
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average length of time that an asylum seeker sent to Oakington resides there.

(125051)

154
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to bring forward further amendments to the Race Relations (Amendment) Bill [Lords] in respect of the EU Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or national origin.

(125041)

155
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to open further detention or reception centres to house asylum seekers; how many people these centres will accommodate; what will be the start-up costs and running costs of each new centre; and if he will make a statement.

(125098)

156
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which aspects of education will be covered by the draft European Union Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin; what assessment he has made of the compatablity of the draft Directive with the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 relating to duties imposed on educational bodies; and if he will make a statement.

(125031)

157
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to have information available on the number of asylum seekers being supported by each local authority.

(125034)

158
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is towards the proposal that the European Court of Justice should have jurisdiction over asylum matters in accordance with Article 68.

(125046)

159
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the proceedings and conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 29th and 30th May.

(125040)

160
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the local council areas to which asylum seekers have been dispersed by (a) local authorities and (b) his Department; and how many dispersed asylum seekers are resident in each such area.

(125064)

161
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the proposed EU Directive against racial discrimination with existing British race relations legislation as it affects the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

(125080)

162
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the Commission Working Paper, Revisiting the Dublin Convention.

(125048)

163
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the locations where members of the Immigration Service are employed, indicating in each case the number of staff and their grades.

(125043)

164
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many units of accommodation for asylum seekers are (a) being provided and (b) planned to be provided by each regional consortium; how many asylum seekers have been dispersed to such accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

(125061)

165
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library copies of the quarterly statistics on the Dublin Convention exchanged between member states under the terms of decision 1/97.

(125047)

166
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is the Government's policy to seek to replace the Dublin Convention with a system which allocates responsibility for an asylum applicant to the last known transit country within the EU.

(125045)

167
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125152)

168
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of front-line firefighters do not hold a current first aid qualification; and what plans the Government has to increase the number who do hold such a qualification.

(125002)

169
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the estimated (a) number of person hours and (b) cost to date of the Metropolitian Police investigation in to the allegation of perjury made against Lord Archer of Weston Super Mare.

(125313)

170
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 17th May, Official Report, column 168W, on penalty clauses, what (a) was the financial compensation and (b) were the damages which were recovered from the private sector companies listed.

(125364)

171
N   Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the level of funding granted by her Department for reproductive health projects in 2001-02 will be set at 70 per cent. for the entire duration of such projects.

(124902)

172
N   Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 23rd May, Official Report, column 408W, on sexual and reproductive health projects, what proportion of the UK bilateral aid contributions for sexual and reproductive health projects for the years (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 were general primary care components.

(124900)

173
N   Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the level of funding granted by her Department for reproductive health projects in 2000-01 will be set at 85 per cent. for the entire duration of such projects.

(124901)

174
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of her Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of her Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125161)

175
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the withdrawal of her Department's emergency and conflict funds for Kosovo.

(125000)

176
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of the United Kingdom's assistance to Kosovo is paid from her Department's conflict and emergency fund; and how much is met from Her Majesty's Treasury's central reserve.

(125001)

177
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made with the weapons for development project in the Granish region of Albania; and if she will make a statement.

(125014)

178
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the humanitarian impact of the drought affecting the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

(125018)

179
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made with the implementation of the EU's initiative on prevention of trafficking of light weapons in southern Africa launched in 1998.

(125020)

180
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian effects of the recent earthquake in Sumatra.

(125019)

181
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many times her Department has accessed the Treasury's central reserve to fund humanitarian emergencies this year; and if she will make a statement.

(124998)

182
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the (a) capital value of assets charged to the Legal Aid Board and (b) the interest which accrued in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

(125359)

183
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the cost of administering the system of ex post facto taxation of counsels' fees in the Crown Court in each of the last 10 years.

(125357)

184
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what estimate he has made of the savings in administrative costs which would result from replacing the present system of the ex post facto taxation of counsels' fees in the Crown Court with a combination of an extended graduated fees scheme and individual case contracts.

(125358)

185
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what targets he has set magistrates' courts for the number and duration of adjournments.

(125039)

186
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125151)

187
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his Answer of 16th May, Official Report, column 16W, on penalty clauses, what penalty payments were made by CSL Group Limited.

(125360)

188
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125150)

189
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her reply of 29th February, Official Report, column 633W, on the Appointments Commission, what expenses were incurred in recruiting the Appointments Commission and what were the advertising costs.

(125362)

190
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her reply of 2nd February, Official Report, column 633W, on the Appointments Commission, how much time was spent by PricewaterhouseCoopers in helping to recruit the Appointments Commission.

(125361)

191
N   Mr Richard Shepherd (Aldridge-Brownhills):    To ask the President of the Council, if she will list (a) the bills since May 1997 that have been subject to a guillotine and (b) the date of each guillotine motion, indicating which were all-party programme motions.

(124847)

192
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Prime Minister, what recent contacts have taken place between his policy unit and representatives of Central Railway; and if he will make a statement.

(125060)

193
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Prime Minister, when he will publish the Performance and Innovation Unit report on the Post Office.

(125314)

194
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125168)

195
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the local authorities that do not have a serving inspector appointed under section 110 of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997.

(125099)

196
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list those local authorities that have not introduced penalties for fraud under the Social Security (Fraud) Act 1997.

(125100)

197
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 25th May, Official Report, column 619W, concerning market and opinion research, if he will list the title and purpose of each item of research.

(124848)

198
   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what changes he intends to make to the mechanism for cash payments of benefit following the transfer to automatic credit transfer in 2003.

(125255)

199
   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the percentage of benefit payments which will still be made in cash following the transfer to automatic credit transfer in 2003.

(125254)

200
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what reciprocal agreement exists between the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia over the payment of social security benefit; which benefits it covers; if it applies to asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

(125033)

201
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125149)

202
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of abolishing housing benefit non-dependant deductions.

(125290)

203
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the gross discretionary Social Fund Budget for 2000-01 will be, broken down by (a) the community care grant (b) budgeting loans and (c) crisis loans.

(125287)

204
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the effect of the nine months income support mortgage interest payments waiting period on the level of arrears and repossessions.

(125299)

205
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the level at which a family premium for families with one or more children under the age of five years could be introduced into the child benefit system by the expenditure of £600 million (a) assuming no changes to levels of mean-tested benefits and (b) assuming corresponding changes to levels of mean-tested benefits.

(125284)

206
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out for each of the last three years before its abolition (a) the total amount spent on the single payments scheme and (b) the amount spent on each major category of item for which such grants were available.

(125285)

207
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of not imposing housing benefit non-dependant deductions where this would leave non-dependants with an income below income support level.

(125293)

208
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many housing benefit recipients have been assessed under the 6th October 1997 scheme.

(125296)

209
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many housing benefit recipients are still assessed under the pre-January 1996 rules on rent restrictions for private sector tenancies.

(125294)

210
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will esimate the administration cost of recovering (a) budgetary loans and (b) crisis loans for each year from 1996-97 to 2001-02 shown as (i) total expenditure and (ii) percentage of total expenditure on those benefits.

(125288)

211
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many housing benefit recipients are assessed under the Local Reference Rent (January 1996) scheme.

(125295)

212
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the savings from extending the waiting period for income support mortgage interest payments from nine to 14 months.

(125297)

213
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of making income support mortgage interest payments available, after a two months' wait to homeowners who had taken out mortgage payment protection insurance but had suffered an uninsurable event.

(125298)

214
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claimants are subject to each level of housing benefit non-dependant deductions.

(125289)

215
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the additional administration cost of every (a) budgeting loan and (b) crisis loan if they were repaid over a period of (i) 78 weeks, (ii) 104 weeks, (iii) 130 weeks and (iv) 156 weeks.

(125286)

216
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of removing the top two bands of housing benefit non-dependant deductions and capping the maximum non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due.

(125292)

217
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the value of additional detected fraud and overpayments if the National Fraud Initiative scheme was extended to all councils in the UK.

(125283)

218
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of capping the maximum housing benefit non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due.

(125291)

219
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many Crown Prosecution Service inspectors have undergone race awareness training; what the training consisted of; and if he will make a statement.

(125079)

220
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to his Answer of 14th February, Official Report, column 369W, on the Crown Prosecution Service, if the Crown Prosecution Service has completed its consideration of how the recommendations of the Employment Tribunal in its decision in the case of Bamieh v. CPS (Case No. 2202655(98)), concerning temporary acting-up posts should be met; and if he will make a statement.

(125104)

221
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Solicitor General, if all Chief Crown Prosecutors have received race awareness training; if the Equality Committee of the Crown Prosecution Service has completed its review of training; and if he will make a statement.

(125107)

222
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many Crown Prosecution Service inspectors there are; how many (a) are women, (b) are from ethnic minorities, (c) have disabilities and (d) were formerly Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors, and in what grades; and if he will make a statement.

(125078)

223
   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many contested cases were conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service in (a) magistrates' courts and (b) Crown courts and (c) in total, in each of the last five years and in the current year to date; and if he will make a statement.

(125312)

224
   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Solicitor General, what was the total expenditure by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last five years; what is the planned total expenditure for the current year and subsequent two years; what is the total and percentage real terms change in each year; and if he will make a statement.

(125311)

225
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Solicitor General, what targets he has set the Crown Prosecution Service in respect of the number and duration of adjournments in magistrates' courts proceedings.

(125038)

226
   Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if it is his policy that the legal framework of Internet transmission and caching services for new technologies, with particular reference to Wireless Application Protocol and web TV, will be protected in the UK legislation incorporating the EU Electronic Commerce Directive by ensuring that, in addition to the limitations specified in Articles 12 to 15, the intermediary only becomes liable for illegal material selected or modified during the transmission process when the said transmission alters the integrity of the material in question, in line with recital 43 of the Directive.

(125365)

227
N   Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he will reply to the letter of 2nd February from the Right honourable Member for North East Hampshire regarding a constitutent, Mr Kelbie.

(124997)

228
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effect the Competition Commission recommendation on car pricing would have on the independent car retailers.

(124898)

229
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

(125147)

230
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the consultation on the good faith provisions of the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill will be completed.

(125346)

231
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultation he had with the Federation of Small Businesses about the opportunities for small businesses to become limited liability partnerships before the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill was introduced.

(125345)

232
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the decision of the European Court of Justice on the German Post Office's entitlement to make additional charges for re-mailed letters; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this decision on the Post Office.

(124766)

233
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the decision of the European Commission to initiate enquiries into the handling of UK mail by the German Post Office, indicating the powers which the Commission possesses.

(124764)

234
N   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the Government of Germany about the handling of mail from the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(124765)

235
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which representatives of the UK Government will be attending the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary this month.

(125015)

236
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.

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