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 13 July 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 13 July, 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 13th JULY

1
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make it his policy that (a) 30 per cent. of agricultural land will be organic and (b) 20 per cent. of food consumed will be organic, by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

(130485)

2
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many cases of pig products being sold in a way which misleads the consumer into believing they contain pig meat of British origin have been identified by the verification officer in the last three years; and how many staff are employed to assist the officer in fulfilling his duties.

(130752)

3
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the visits outside Britain made by his Department's Permanent Secretary on official business since 1st January 1999, indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case.

(130491)

4
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what costs have been incurred, in each of the most recent three years for which figures are available, by his Department in approving and supervising the use of organophosphate sheep dips; and what is his estimate of the cost of training, certification and protective clothing to sheep farmers during the same periods.

(130399)

5
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have held meetings with the United States Special Envoy for Cryptography since 20th October 1999 on (i) encryption and (ii) other issues; what the dates and locations were of each meeting; and what other (A) British and (B) United States government departments took part in each meeting.

(130515)

6
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, from which sections of the US Departments of Justice, Defense and State officials were drawn attending each of the meetings which took place since 1st January 1998 between her departmental representatives and Ambassador David Aaron.

(130514)

7
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when she will publish statistics on progress towards reducing sickness absence in the Civil Service in 1998 and 1999; and if she will make a statement.

(130715)

8
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what account the Church Commissioners take of allowances paid to bishops by the House of Lords in setting their pay and allowances.

(130404)

9
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what remuneration Ruth Day receives; and what her official duties are.

(130405)

10
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason the signed-off accounts of the NMEC relating to the period ended 31st December 1999 have not been placed in the Library.

(130395)

11
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the percentage increase in direct Exchequer funding for sport was in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland between 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

(130519)

12
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will provide a breakdown of the basis on which Sport England forecasts the Lottery draw-down for 2000-01.

(130520)

13
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much direct Exchequer funding per head was spent on supporting sport in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in 1999-2000; and what the planned figures are for 2000-01.

(130518)

14
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what basis Sport England estimates the percentage increase in the Lottery drawn-down for 2000-01 over the figure for 1999-2000.

(130517)

15
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria he uses in deciding whether a museum is eligible (a) for government funding and (b) to reclaim VAT.

(130677)

16
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the visits outside Britain made by his Department's Permanent Secretary on official business since 1st January 1999, indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case.

(130488)

17
   Mr Martin Bell (Tatton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress is being made in fitting flight data recorders to Lynx, Puma and Sea King helicopters.

(130472)

18
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of complaints to the Army Board and Her Majesty the Queen was upheld in the last five years for which figures are available.

(130746)

19
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average length of time for the processing of complaints to the Army Board and Her Majesty the Queen.

(130745)

20
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints to the Army Board and Her Majesty the Queen are being processed.

(130744)

21
   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of complaints rejected by the Army Board and Her Majesty the Queen were pursued in the civil courts in the last five years for which figures are available; and what percentage of the complaints so pursued were (a) successfully defended by his Department, (b) settled out of court, (c) won by the complainant and (d) dropped.

(130747)

22
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what investigations his Department's police fraud squad is conducting into allegations of accounting irregularities and financial malpractice on the Tornado maintenance programme; when the investigations began; when they will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(129043)

23
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the proposed Centre for Defence Medicine will be sited; when the centre is due to open; and if he will make a statement.

(130092)

24
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will quantify the amount of work potentially available to yards other than those of BAE Systems and Vosper Thorneycroft under the modular procurement system to be used for the purchase of Type 45 destroyers.

(130632)

25
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are (a) the roles for which the Typhoon is specified, and (b) aircraft types which it will be replacing in the RAF.

(129318)

26
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which ships have fulfilled the role of the West Indies guard ship in the past 18 months; and if he will list the dates during which the ships have been on station.

(130447)

27
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to fit HMS 'Sheffield' with the Harpoon missile system.

(130443)

28
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 current industrial dispute involving the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

(130448)

29
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to disband university Royal Navy units.

(130445)

30
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral Answer of 3rd July, Official Report, column 11, concerning the proportion of the Army's clothing orders which go to British firms, what percentage of these orders was made up by clothing manufactured in the United Kingdom.

(130441)

31
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons HMS 'Orkney' has been towed to Devonport from Portsmouth; and which organisation or department paid for the towing.

(130442)

32
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which training exercises in the past 12 months within British waters have involved foreign submarines.

(130446)

33
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the future role of HMS 'Sheffield' will be.

(130444)

34
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which vessels have been sold by his Department since 1st May 1997; and to which countries.

(130449)

35
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that the five million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and the 4,081 mm mortar bombs provided to Sierra Leone by the UK Government are only used by the legitimate Government of Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

(130481)

36
   Mr Malcolm Savidge (Aberdeen North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the nuclear weapons capability of (a) Iraq and (b) Israel.

(130679)

37
   Mr Malcolm Savidge (Aberdeen North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to recycle plutonium from dismantled redundant nuclear warheads as civilian MOX fuel.

(130678)

38
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 27th June, Official Report, column 434, on Porton Down, if it is the assessment of the Chemical Defence Establishment that the nerve agent GF is more toxic to humans than sarin (GB)

(130528)
39
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer on 27th June, Official Report, column 435, on Porton Down, for what reasons the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has compiled since 1970 an alphabetical list of individuals who took part in the service volunteer programme; and when this list was compiled.

(130529)

40
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average period of time is between the completion of a full business case and signing of the final contracts for private finance initiative contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(130276)

41
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average cost to public funds is of external advisers in the negotiation of private finance initiative projects in his Department, expressed as a proportion of each contract's value.

(130259)

42
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the net present cost is of each project undertaken in his Department under the private finance initiative; what the value is of their public sector comparators in (a) pre-risk and (b) risk-adjusted terms; what risks have been identified as having been transferred; and if he will place information on other relevant costs for each private finance initiative project in the Library.

(130250)

43
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer on 27th June, Official Report, column 435, on Porton Down, if he will list the dates on which the Health and Safety Executive visited the Porton Down site between 1996 and 2000 in order to discuss specific issues.

(130530)

44
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from the Irish Government with regard to his Department's Electronic Test Facility, formerly sited at the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd site at Capenhurst, Cheshire since 19th October 1999; when these were received; and from which departments of the Irish Government.

(130531)

45
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer to the Right honourable Member for Penrith and The Border of 1st March, Official Report, column 313W, on the New Deal for Lone Parents, if he will place in the Library a copy of the invitation letter issued to 443,700 lone parents.

(130753)

46
   Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what action his Department is taking to provide vocational training courses in building and allied trades for non-academic school leavers; and if he will make a statement.

(130643)

47
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average class sizes were in Suffolk for (a) primary schools, (b) middle schools and (c) upper schools in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000.

(130749)

48
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time nursery places there were in the Suffolk Local Education Authority area in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98, (iii) 1998-99 and (iv) 1999-2000 for (A) three year-olds, (B) four year-olds and (C) all children aged under five years.

(130521)

49
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the visits outside Britain made by his Department's Permanent Secretary on official business since 1st January 1999, indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case.

(130489)

50
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average length of time is between (a) the completion of the outline business case and the signing of the final contract and (b) the publication in the Official Journal of the European Community and the signing of the final contract, where applicable, of private finance initiative contracts for schools.

(130253)

51
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what clawback mechanisms exist under private finance intiatives within his Department in respect of contingencies other then refinancing; and if he will place copies of each private finance initiative contract in the Library.

(130263)

52
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what monitoring is undertaken of private finance initiative contracts for schools, further education colleges and higher education; and if he will make a statement.

(130278)

53
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what use of equity finance has been made in his Department's private finance initiative projects; and if he will make a statement.

(130256)

54
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the net present cost is of each project undertaken in his Department under the private finance initiative; what the value is of their public sector comparators in (a) pre-risk and (b) risk-adjusted terms; what risks have been identified as having been transferred; and if he will place information on other relevant costs for each private finance initiative project in the Library.

(130251)

55
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he is taking to meet the aim published in the UK Biodiversity Habitat Action Plan for Lowland Raised Bogs, of achieving 90 per cent. replacement of the total market requirement for peat with alternatives by 2010.

(130681)

56
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to remove Crown exemption from the planning system.

(130680)

57
N   Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he proposes to introduce to assist motorists in rural areas with fuel costs.

(130406)

58
   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what directions he is making to the Strategic Rail Authority to ensure that all new rail franchises require the operators to make adequate flexible space for bicycles available on their trains.

(130532)

59
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidelines he has given local authorities about the frequency with which they should collect household waste; and if he will make a statement.

(130527)

60
N   Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list by administrative region for each of the last five years the number of (a) MOT centres that have lost their certification, (b) nominated testers that have lost their accreditation in these centres, (c) nominated testers that have lost their accreditation in centres that have not closed, (d) complaints investigated about MOT centres and the percentage which led to the withdrawal of (i) MOT centre certification and (ii) nominated tester accreditation and (e) routine inspections carried out and the percentage which have led to the withdrawal of (i) MOT centre certification and (ii) nominated tester accreditation.

(130021)

61
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what projection he has made of the level of housing investment in 2001-02; what the figure was in 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

(130484)

62
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will review the operation of the Disabled Facilities Grant, with particular reference to the needs associated with childhood and adolescence; and if he will make a statement.

(130482)

63
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the level of local authority spending on the management and maintenance of their dwellings differs from the amount provided through the housing subsidy system; and if he will make a statement.

(130487)

64
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish (a) the minutes of his meeting with Regional Development Agency heads in Birmingham in June and (b) each of the business plans subsequently presented by those heads.

(130438)

65
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the future role is of the Government offices of the regions; and what (a) are their proposed budgets and (b) were their budgets in each of the last five years.

(130437)

66
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what urban regeneration funds have been made available from agencies under the control of his Department for the Millennium Dome and its environs; how such funds have been used; and what estimate he has made of the sale proceeds which will be recredited to his Department.

(130439)

67
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when, and in what form, the Government will respond to the recent vote by SERPLAN rejecting his housebuilding numbers for the South East.

(130440)

68
   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Government will ratify the Aarhus Convention on the Environment.

(130637)

69
   Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans his Department has to (a) strengthen and (b) enforce the legal requirement for changes of vehicle ownership to be registered; and if he will make a statement.

(130644)

70
   Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assistance his Department is giving to councils which, because changes of vehicle ownership have not been registered, are (a) unable to recover the cost of removing abandoned vehicles and (b) cannot take action to prosecute; and if he will make a statement.

(130645)

71
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those local authorities which trade in electricity; and if he will make a statement.

(130628)

72
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if RDAs are notified by the British Railways Board of its intention to dispose of former railway land; if their consent for disposal is needed; and if he will make a statement.

(130627)

73
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will make a decision on the control of Leylandii and other hedges.

(130631)

74
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many new homes are currently projected to be built in (a) St. Edmondsbury Borough Council and (b) Mid-Suffolk District Council area between 2000-01 and 2015-16; and what corresponding projections were used by his Department in 1997-1998.

(130739)

75
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal road accidents were recorded as taking place on the A14 between Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98, (iii) 1998-99 and (iv) 1999-2000.

(130740)

76
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the visits outside Britain made by his Department's Permanent Secretary on official business since 1st January 1999, indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case.

(130490)

77
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what monitoring his Department undertakes of private finance initiative contracts undertaken by local government; and if he will make a statement.

(130277)

78
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the net present cost is of each project undertaken in his Department under the private finance initiative; what the value is of their public sector comparators in (a) pre-risk and (b) risk-adjusted terms; what risks have been identified as having been transferred; and if he will place information on other relevant costs for each private finance initiative project in the Library.

(130255)

79
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what clawback mechanisms exist under private finance initiative contracts within his Department in respect of (a) refinancing and (b) other contingencies; and if he will place copies of each private finance initiative contract in the Library.

(130210)

80
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the average cost to public funds is of external advisers in the negotiation of private finance intiative projects for roads projects expressed as a proportion of each contract's value.

(130258)

81
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of allowing duty on fuel products to be paid at the terminal instead of at the point at which they leave the refinery.

(130717)

82
N   Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will investigate the feasibility of introducing different fuel duties in rural and urban areas.

(130407)

83
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 18th May, Official Report, column 268W, on VAT, how many people qualify to receive zero-rated continence pads.

(130091)

84
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 18th May, Official Report, column 268W, what criteria are used to classify people as incontinent.

(130124)

85
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what approaches (a) he and (b) the Financial Services Authority have made to individual firms requesting the numbers of 25 year endowment contracts (A) with-profits and (B) unit linked purchased (i) one year ago, (ii) five years ago, (iii) 10 years ago, (iv) 15 years ago and (v) 20 years ago which are still in force today; and if he will publish the data received.

(130635)

86
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times in each year since 1994 his Department has been notified of a ministerial direction as provided for in the procedures set out in paragraphs 12 to 15 of the Treasury document, entitled The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer; and if he will make a statement.

(130312)

87
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 4th July, Official Report, column 178W, if he will list his Department's targets for answering (a) named day parliamentary questions, (b) ordinary written parliamentary questions and (c) Lords written questions; and if he will make a statement.

(130279)

88
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the level of (a) public sector net worth and (b) public sector gross worth in financial year 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

(130275)

89
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action is being undertaken to implement the recommendations of the Performance and Innovation Unit report entitled Adding It Up; and if he will make a statement.

(130314)

90
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which stakeholders will be involved in decisions made on allocations of resources from the Evidence Based Policy Fund; when he will announce the detailed use of the first tranche of funding; and if he will make a statement.

(130315)

91
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria he uses to decide whether the Monetary Policy Committee members have knowledge and experience which is likely to be relevant to the Committee's functions; and on what grounds he decides whether to renew their membership.

(130313)

92
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 19th April, Official Report, column 588W, what estimate he has made of total expenditure on the employment tax credit under the illustrative system outlined in the Treasury paper, Supporting Work Through an Employment Tax Credit, including that part which is currently included in the working families tax credit; and if he will make a statement.

(130647)

93
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the net revenue yield over the next five financial years of reintroducing a system of indexation of capital gains from 6th April 2001 and simultaneously abolishing taper relief from the same date; and if he will make a statement.

(130274)

94
N   Mr Alan Williams (Swansea West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated surplus will be at the end of 10 years on the Civil List, assuming an average price increase of 2.5 per cent. per annum and a yearly 3 per cent. rate of return on the invested surplus.

(130316)

95
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those British ambassadors and high commissioners who are (a) women and (b) members of an ethnic minority; and if he will express the number in each category as a percentage of the total number of ambassadors and high commissioners.

(130401)

96
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the countries on which his Department gives travel advice to the general public.

(130525)

97
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will estimate the cost savings for (a) his Department as a whole and (b) embassies and high commissions, of the use of IT, including e-mail, in the past year.

(130123)

98
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list for each British embassy or high commission the (a) staff numbers, (b) salary costs and (c) running costs for the financial years (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-2000 and the projected levels for (iv) 2000-01 and (v) 2001-02.

(130122)

99
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the visits outside Britain made by his Department's Permanent Secretary on official business since 1st January 1999, indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case.

(130492)

100
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, where the UN Drugs Control Programme field trials using Fusarium Oxysporum have been conducted.

(130452)

101
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which UN-sponsored fungal herbicide field trial projects his Department supports to combat (a) coca, (b) opium and (c) marijuana.

(130453)

102
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 8th June, Official Report, column 309W, on drugs control, for what reason Her Majesty's Government is not funding research into Fusarium Oxysporum; and if he will list the fungal herbicides for which Her Majesty's Government is providing research funding via the UN Drugs Control Programme.

(130454)

103
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with members of the UN Drugs Control Programme concerning the criteria used to decide where field trials of fungal herbicides to combat coca, opium and marijuana crops take place.

(130456)

104
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the question tabled by the honourable Member for Lewes on 21st February, for Answer on 1st March, about bovine offals, reference 111898, has not been answered.

(130396)

105
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to produce a national service framework for lung and respiratory diseases.

(130729)

106
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will exempt patients suffering from respiratory diseases from charges for ongoing prescriptions for inhalers, steroids and water tablets.

(130730)

107
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the incidence of tuberculosis among homeless and poorly housed people.

(130728)

108
   Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the proportion of the total number of HIV transmissions which occurred in the UK are through sex between men in the last 12 months.

(130474)

109
   Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of HIV prevention budgets (a) spent by his Department and (b) spent through health authorities are targeted at men who have sex with men.

(130473)

110
   Mr David Borrow (South Ribble):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations his Department has received on the regulations governing the provision of pharmacies; and if he will make a statement.

(130641)

111
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people receive continence pads through the NHS.

(130093)

112
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised clinical trials of drugs and medicines involving children in residential care since 1970.

(130636)

113
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the services provided by St George's Hospital, Tooting, London.

(130524)

114
N   Mrs Ann Cryer (Keighley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many reports he has received from the Social Services Inspectorate about the implementation of Circular HSC1999/162:LAC(99)28; and how many of them indicate that the circular is not being properly implemented.

(130403)

115
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the meeting between the Minister of State and the honourable Member for Linlithgow on 19th June, what discussion he has had with EU trade organisations concerning the labelling of medicines tested on animals.

(128966)

116
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons his Department promotes the morning after pill as a way to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies; and if he will make a statement.

(130692)

117
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what follow-up care is available to women prescribed the morning after pill; and if he will make a statement.

(130684)

118
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions of the morning after pill there were in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will provide a breakdown by age.

(130727)

119
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has held with the All Party Pharmacy Group on the morning after pill; and if he will make a statement.

(130688)

120
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are in place to ensure that a woman's medical history is known before she is issued with the morning after pill; and if he will make a statement.

(130683)

121
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he defines the morning after pill as an abortifacient; and if he will make a statement.

(130691)

122
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Manchester, Salford and Trafford Health Action Zone has supplied the morning after pill to girls under the age of consent; and if he will make a statement.

(130685)

123
   Mr John Gummer (Suffolk Coastal):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons his Department encourages increased use of the morning after pill as part of its National Sexual Health Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

(130693)

124
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which health authorities limit free IVF treatment to patients who have become infertile due to errors by the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

(130478)

125
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what NHS guidelines are issued to health authorities on funding of fertility treatments; and if he will make a statement.

(130477)

126
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which health authorities in the UK provide a full range of fertility treatments; and if he will make a statement.

(130479)

127
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's target of reducing admissions to hospitals of people suffering from asthma on the health of asthma sufferers; and if he will make a statement.

(130480)

128
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many EU countries do not publicly fund the treatment by beta interferon of people with MS.

(128938)

129
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the UK with MS currently receive beta interferon; what this represents as a percentage of MS sufferers; and what the equivalent figure is in (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) the US.

(128939)

130
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it remains his policy to ban the spouses of honourable Members from non-executive directorships in National Health Service trusts.

(130534)

131
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new biopsy-proven cases of prostate cancer there were in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000.

(130750)

132
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prostate-specific antigen blood tests were performed in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000

(130743)

133
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost is to the NHS of treating a case of metastatic prostate cancer from the time of diagnosis of bone metastasis to the time of death from that disease.

(130751)

134
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pre-registration diploma and degree recruits to nursing there have been in each of the past two years; and what the target is for each of the next two years, in the Suffolk Health Authority area.

(130741)

135
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) radical prostatectomy surgeries, (b) external beam radiation therapy courses and (c) radioactive seed implants (brachytherapy) for prostate cancer were performed in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000.

(130748)

136
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the surplus or deficit in the (a) Suffolk Health Authority and (b) West Suffolk NHS Trust for health care in each of the financial years (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000.

(130742)

137
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time is between (a) the completion of the outline business case and the signing of the final contract and (b) the publication in the Official Journal of the European Community and the signing of the final contract, where applicable, of private finance initiative contracts for hospitals.

(130254)

138
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if private finance initiative was considered for the Rochdale, Royal Berkshire, Central Sheffield and the Guys and St. Thomas hospital projects.

(130249)

139
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what clawback mechanisims exist under private finance initiative contracts within his Department in respect of (a) refinancing and (b) other contingencies; and if he will place copies of each private finance initiative contract in the Library.

(130211)

140
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the average cost to public funds of external advisers in the negotiation of private finance initiative projects for hospitals, expressed as a proportion of each contract's value.

(130260)

141
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were waiting to be admitted as in-patients to Eastbourne District General Hospital in (a) June 1997 and (b) June 2000.

(130633)

142
   Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the right of a patient to obtain a second opinion is ensured under the out-of-area treatments scheme.

(130646)

143
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 7th July, Official Report, column 356W, regarding lords lieutenant, if he will make a statement on the selection procedure which applies to the appointment of (a) lords lieutenant and (b) deputy lieutenants.

(130402)

144
   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners are aged over 60 years; and what arrangements are made to meet their needs.

(130642)

145
   Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his review of section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 will be completed.

(130533)

146
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment the Government has made of the extent of trafficking in women and girls; from which areas of the world this trafficking is most extensive; and what measures Her Majesty's Government is supporting to tackle this.

(130694)

147
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is taken against constabularies that are reported as failing to comply with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 by withholding unused material from defence lawyers in criminal cases.

(130537)

148
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure the full implementation of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, with particular reference to full disclosure of evidence by police to defence lawyers.

(130639)

149
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received about non-disclosure of information to defence lawyers; and if he will make a statement.

(130640)

150
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the implementation of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 is being monitored; and if he will make a statement.

(130638)

151
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there have been within the Greater London area for the offence of cycling on pavements during the last 12 months.

(130536)

152
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much revenue was received from fines imposed for motor speeding offences in 1999.

(130523)

153
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average number of hours of useful activity each week is in each British prison.

(130020)

154
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the progress of the inter-departmental working party on penalties for causing death by dangerous driving and related driving offences; and when he expects to produce a report.

(130435)

155
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have applied under the regularisation scheme set up under section 9 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; what their nationalities are; how many applications (a) have been granted, (b) have been refused and (c) are still pending; and how many applicants had been in the United Kingdom (i) more than and (ii) fewer than seven years at the time of application.

(130535)

156
   Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the number of serving police constables in the Suffolk Constabulary in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000.

(130761)

157
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each of the last four years for which figures are available, (a) how many persons under the age of 18 years have been detained with their parents in Tinsley House Reception Centre, (b) what was the average length of time for which they were detained and (c) how many of those persons were (i) 0 to 5, (ii) 6 to 11, (iii) 12 to 16 and (iv) 17 to 18 years old.

(130737)

158
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in each of the last four years for which figures are available, (a) how many people were detained for more than 24 hours under immigration powers who (i) were and (ii) claimed to be under the age of 18 at the time of their detention, (b) what the average length of time was for which they were detained and (c) what the longest period of time was for which any such person was detained.

(130734)

159
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in each of the last four years for which figures are available, (a) how many asylum applicants detained for more than 24 hours under immigration powers, were subsequently accepted to be under the age of 18 at the time of their detention, (b) what the average length of time was for which they were detained and (c) what the longest period was for which any such person was detained.

(130735)

160
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons under the age of 18 have been detained with their parents in Oakington Reception Centre since 20th March; and how many of those persons were (a) 0 to 5, (b) 6 to 11, (c) 12 to 16 and (d) 17 to 18 years old.

(130736)

161
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in each of the last four years for which figures are available, (a) how many asylum applicants detained for more than 24 hours under immigration powers (i) were and (ii) claimed to be under the age of 18 at the time of their detention, (b) what was the average length of time for which they were detained and (c) what was the longest period of time for which any person was detained.

(130738)

162
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in each of the last four years for which figures are available, (a) how many people were detained for more than 24 hours under immigration powers who were subsequently accepted to be under the age of 18 at the time of their detention, (b) what the average length of time was for which they were detained and (c) what the longest period was for which any such person was detained.

(130733)

163
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the progress made by police forces since 1997 in reducing sick days per officer; and if he will make a statement.

(130714)

164
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial assistance his Department provides for the UN Drugs Control Programme; and what this assistance is earmarked for.

(130450)

165
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there were in Sussex in May 1997; and how many there are now.

(130634)

166
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the establishment of the East Downs Division of Sussex Police was in May 1997; and what it is now.

(130516)

167
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance her Department provides for the UN Drugs Control Programme; and what this funding is earmarked for.

(130451)

168
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance her Department provides for research by the UK Institute of Arable Crops.

(130455)

169
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the current composition and role is of the Advisory Committee on Public Records; who appoints its members and for how long they remain on the Committee; how frequently the Committee meets and when it last met; who decides which matters are on its agenda; how its activities will be affected by the implementation of the Freedom of Information Bill; and if he will make a statement.

(130686)

170
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what public records concerning (a) the Royal Family and (b) other matters, relating to events prior to the First World War, have not been made publicly available; and for what reasons.

(130687)

171
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what research his Department (a) has commissioned and (b) intends to commission to assist him in evaluating the effectiveness of the introduction of (i) the new civil court rules and (ii) the Community Legal Service in widening access to justice.

(130731)

172
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make it his policy for Queen's Counsel who have not practised at the bar for five years to be examined to establish their fitness to return to practise as a Queen's Counsel; and if he will make a statement.

(130629)

173
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the President of the Council, what definition of ethnicity the Appointments Commission will use in taking forward the proposals by the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords to make the House of Lords more representative of the United Kingdom population.

(130630)

174
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what areas Lord Birt will focus on in his role of adviser on crime.

(130320)

175
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if Ministers who receive severance payments following resignation or dismissal are required to repay such payments on being reappointed to Ministerial office.

(130397)

176
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, how he will ensure the accountability to Parliament of Lord Birt in his role as crime adviser; and to what categories of information in respect of crime Lord Birt will be allowed access.

(130398)

177
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the qualifications held by Lord Birt relevant to his role as adviser on crime.

(130318)

178
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) expenses, (b) transport arrangements and (c) office facilities Lord Birt will be eligible to claim in his role as adviser on crime.

(130321)

179
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what factors underlay his decision to appoint Lord Birt as his adviser on crime; whom he consulted before making that appointment; and for what period the appointment has been made.

(130317)

180
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what remuneration was offered to Lord Birt in respect of his role as crime adviser.

(130319)

181
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, when Lord Levy will next be meeting the Israeli Prime Minister.

(130460)

182
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the overseas trips which have been planned for Lord Levy acting as his personal envoy.

(130459)

183
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what the cost to public funds was of Lord Levy's last visit to Syria.

(130458)

184
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, whom Lord Levy briefed following his visit to Syria.

(130457)

185
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, in which regions of the world Lord Levy acts as a Prime Ministerial envoy.

(130469)

186
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he has received from the Irish Government with regard to the Ministry of Defence's Electronic Test Facility formerly sited at the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd site at Capenhurst, Cheshire, since 26th July 1999; when they were received; and from which Irish Government departments.

(130494)

187
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when Fresco Interiors will receive payment of their invoice of 14th May for flooring work undertaken at his Department's offices at Quarry Hill in Leeds.

(130461)

188
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what his Department's policy is regarding prompt payment of sub-contractors used by contractors responsible for the maintenance of his Department's buildings; and if he will make a statement.

(130463)

189
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the contract for the maintenance of his Department's premises at Quarry House in Leeds contains a clause requiring the contractor, and any sub-contractors, to make prompt payment to suppliers for work undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

(130462)

190
   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people have moved to sustained unsubsidised employment from the New Deal for Lone Parents; and what percentage he estimates would have found employment without the New Deal for Lone Parents.

(130682)

191
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what, in each European Union country, the (a) average pensioner income and (b) average state pension, is on a comparable basis; and what each of these figures was at the beginning of 1997.

(130690)

192
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will place a copy of his Department's study of remote access terminal usage in the Library.

(130713)

193
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the net present cost is of each project undertaken in his Department under the private finance initiative; what the value is of their public sector comparators in (a) pre-risk and (b) risk-adjusted terms; what risks have been identified as having been transferred; and if he will place information on other relevant costs for each private finance initiative project in the Library.

(130248)

194
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what clawback mechanisms exist under private finance initiative contracts within his Department in respect of contingencies other than refinancing; and if he will place copies of each private finance initiative contract in the Library.

(130262)

195
N   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which pilot projects undertaken by his Department since 1997 have involved random assignment elements; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness in promoting more effective policy making.

(130311)

196
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what costs have been incurred, in each of the most recent three years for which figures are available, in making payments for industrial injury benefits to those suffering organophosphate poisoning from sheep dips.

(130400)

197
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what help he is giving to the shipbuilding industry.

(130760)

198
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 4th July, to the honourable Member for Leeds, North East, Official Report, columns 137-8W, concerning tests to assess the medical benefits of cannabis, from what source the cannabis extracts will be obtained.

(130689)

199
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to help developers of agriculture-related projects obtain access to venture capital.

(130732)

200
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which companies manufacturing cars in the United Kingdom have received (a) offers and (b) indicative offers of regional selective assistance since May 1997.

(130309)

201
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what grants the coal industry has received as a result of the measures announced in his oral statement of 17th April, Offical Report, columns 697-99.

(130307)

202
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the amount of (a) offers and (b) indicative offers of regional selective assistance made since May 1997 to companies manufacturing cars in the United Kingdom.

(130310)

203
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what undertakings the Government gave to Govan Shipyard when it was bought by BAe Systems with regard to environmental liabilities.

(130306)

204
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which companies manufacturing cars in the United Kingdom have received regional selective assistance since May 1998.

(130308)

205
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to uprate the national minimum wage.

[Question Unstarred] (128952)

206
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much public funding through English Partnerships has been spent on the Millennnium Dome and its environs.

[Transferred] (130436)

207
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to reduce the number of experiments on dogs conducted in UK research laboratories and breeding centres; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (130476)

208
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to prohibit experiments on dogs that do not provide researchers with new information; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (130483)

209
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many zoos within the UK use (a) electric goads and (b) other weapons to discipline animals; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (130486)

210
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many firms operating in the Greater London area have a labour force of fewer than (a) 50 people and (b) 25 people.

[Transferred] (130522)

211
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the relative costs of and levels of taxation on fuel products transported by (a) pipeline, (b) rail and (c) road; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (130716)

212
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the National Treatment Agency will include the treatment of persistent solvent abusers who need residential treatment.

[Transferred] (130475)

213
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British nationals were in prison overseas on 1st July; and if he will list the country and the offence committed in each case.

[Transferred] (130526)

214
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Irish Government since 1998 on recruiting and training staff from Ireland to work in local authority secure units for juveniles in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (130493)