Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 25 July 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 25 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.

TUESDAY 25th JULY

1
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131440)

2
N   Mr David Curry (Skipton and Ripon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the date was of the most recent meeting of the Veterinary Products Committee at which the availability of organophosphate sheep dips was discussed.

(132450)

3
N   Mr David Curry (Skipton and Ripon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when Ministers intend to meet to discuss the availability of organophosphate sheep dips.

(132451)

4
N   Mr David Curry (Skipton and Ripon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the most recent advice to Ministers was from the Veterinary Products Committee concerning the date on which organophosphate sheep dips should become available again.

(132449)

5
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many ducks on UK farms have access to water in which they can swim.

(132690)

6
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of ducks swan-neck on entering the waterbath stunner in UK slaughterhouses.

(132694)

7
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the main diseases are which affect intensively reared ducks in the UK; and what percentage of ducks is affected by each disease.

(132688)

8
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many ducks on UK farms have access to facilities which enable them to immerse their heads in water.

(132691)

9
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the UK will adopt the Council of Europe's June 1999 recommendation made by the Standing Committee of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes.

(132695)

10
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the pre-slaughter mortality rate is of ducks (a) reared for the meat and (b) kept for breeding purposes in the UK.

(132689)

11
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132779)

12
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132764)

13
N   Mr Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will reply to the letters from the honourable Member for West Derbyshire, dated 6th June and 17th May, regarding Mr Ian Cannon and Armillatox.

(132444)

14
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list his Department's figures for the profitability of (a) sugar beet production, (b) other arable production and (c) total farm enterprises for each of the years from 1989 to 1999.

(132523)

15
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the UK sugar support prices were, expressed as intervention price plus storage cost levy, in (a) nominal and (b) real terms for each year since 1980.

(132526)

16
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the contribution of sugar beet production to total farm income in each of the years from 1989 to 1999; and what was the gross margin for sugar beet in each of these years.

(132524)

17
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the retail price indices were for (a) soft drinks, (b) confectionary and (c) biscuits for each of the years 1980 to 1996 and for each month from May 1996 to date.

(132527)

18
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if, in his review of separation distances, he will take account of Advanta's statement concerning the distance between their GM rape seed crop and their conventional rape seed seed crop which was contaminated.

(132653)

19
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make available to the honourable Member for Totnes the list held by his Department's Strategy and Policy section of farmers working in the Totnes constituency, used by his Department for mail-shots; and if he will answer the letter from the honourable Member for Totnes of 4th July on this subject.

(132443)

20
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of written parliamentary questions tabled by honourable Members to his Department for answer on a named day in this session have received a holding answer.

(132442)

21
N   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the farms that form his Estate of Farms, indicating for each (a) the projects undertaken, (b) the operator of the farm, (c) the acreage, (d) the grade of the land, (e) the number of his Department's employees employed on the farm, (f) how long it has been in his Department's ownership and (g) the dates on which (i) he and (ii) other Ministers from his Department have visited the farms.

(132441)

22
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff her Department has; what percentage of staff positions in her Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to her Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff her Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much her Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much she expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131439)

23
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her Answer of 18th July, Official Report, column 155W, if she will list all departmental initiatives between May 1997 and 18th July 2000 requiring bids from voluntary organisations and local authorities for funding, together with the total resources allocated to these initiatives, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data she collects on the average cost of preparing the bids for funding through each initiative.

(132669)

24
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what her most recent estimate is of the total cost of the Knowledge Network computer system.

(132687)

25
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will estimate the cost of regulations (a) introduced and (b) repealed since May 1997 to the (i) private and (ii) public sectors.

(132773)

26
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many sunset clauses have been included in regulations since May 1997.

(132693)

27
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many press releases were issued by her Department in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year.

(132745)

28
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will list the regulations (a) introduced, (b) amended and (c) repealed since May 1997.

(132770)

29
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the management and administration expenses of (a) Northern Arts and (b) North West Arts in each of the last three years.

(132654)

30
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131438)

31
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what date the Minister for Sport wrote to the Football Association seeking information on the cost of England's World Cup 2006 bid.

(132521)

32
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132763)

33
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many press releases were issued in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year.

(132750)

34
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations have been received from foreign governments about the return of (a) aboriginal human remains and (b) artifacts removed from aboriginal tombs and graves that are held in United Kingdom museums, government departments and agencies, and learning and research institutions; and if he will make a statement.

(131838)

35
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list those art, cultural and folk artifacts that foreign governments have requested be returned to their country of origin and which are currently held in (a) public institutions and (b) private collections within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(131837)

36
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what inventory has been made of (a) aboriginal human remains and (b) artifacts removed from aboriginal tombs and graves, held in museums, government departments and agencies, and learning and research institutions within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(131839)

37
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131437)

38
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current deployment is of British service personnel in the Republic of Cyprus.

(132702)

39
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British service personnel are involved in landmine destruction, indicating the countries in which they are deployed.

(132701)

40
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the extent of the military overstretch faced by the UK's armed forces.

(132696)

41
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list all UK/NATO shared assets (a) nationally and (b) by UK region for the most recent year for which figures are available.

(131635)

42
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people of Scottish birth are currently serving in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) RAF.

(131595)

43
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel by rank are currently working for the (a) British Army Education Service and (b) Army Training Service in the education of service personnel children.

(131633)

44
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the total cost to public funds of service pensions (a) nationally and (b) by region for the most recent financial year, indicating the number of ex-service personnel to which these are paid.

(131593)

45
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will give a breakdown of the cost of potential claims resulting from Gulf War related illnesses for (a) the UK and (b) Scotland, indicating for each the estimated numbers of claimants.

(131596)

46
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list by service, corps and regiment, recruitment levels nationally and by region of the UK for the most recent year for which figures are available.

(131592)

47
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people claiming to be suffering from Gulf War related illnesses there are in Scotland; and how many of these are in receipt of (a) pensions and (b) benefits as a result of these illnesses.

(131637)

48
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total value of assets belonging to his Department (a) nationally and (b) by UK region; and if he will break down the assets by (i) estates, (ii) kit and (iii) plant and machinery for the same areas for the most recent financial year.

(131634)

49
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out by service, rank, length of service and education and professional qualifications the total number of service personnel nationally and by region of the UK for the most recent year for which figures are available.

(131636)

50
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list all (a) current and (b) recently disposed of MoD lands that require environmental decontamination (i) nationally and (ii) by region of the UK.

(131594)

51
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel by rank are currently working for the Defence Procurement Agency.

(131632)

52
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the projects undertaken at the DERA Eskmeals Range in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 2000.

(132160)

53
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people by (a) rank and (b) grade are employed at the DERA Eskmeals Range.

(132158)

54
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of (a) land contamination and (b) risk from unexploded or degraded ordnance (i) on land, (ii) on beaches and (iii) offshore at the DERA Eskmeals Range.

(132161)

55
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been (a) the client income and (b) the cost of the DERA Eskmeals Range in each year since 1996.

(132159)

56
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132762)

57
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132776)

58
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if Boscombe Down was satisfied that the FADEC software for the Chinook Mk2 (a) met aviation software standard RTCA Do. 178A or JSP 188 in June 1994 and (b) was verifiable and suitable for its intended purpose in June 1994.

(132455)

59
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if Textron Lycoming was required to demonstrate it had validated the design of FADEC software for the Chinook Mk2 prior to its release into operational service; and if he will make a statement.

(132454)

60
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to eliminate the slippage in defence contracts with particular reference to slippage in Nimrod; when it is estimated that all Nimrod 4 aircraft will be operational; and how many are currently available for operation.

(131591)

61
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Korean War veterans and (b) former Japanese prisoners of war there are in Scotland; how many are in receipt of forces pensions; and what the total expenditure is on these in Scotland.

(131589)

62
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people in the UK served at (a) Porton Down and (b) other chemical and biological warfare establishments; how many of these are suffering illnesses that they claim are attributable to exposure to chemical and biological warfare experiments; how many are in receipt of pensions for these illnesses; how many of these are in Scotland; and what the total expenditure is on these in Scotland.

(131590)

63
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a list of memoranda of understanding which have been agreed between his Department and the United States Government since 1st May 1997, indicating the title and date of each memoranda of understanding and the name of the United States department or agency with whom the memoranda of understanding was signed in each case.

(132784)

64
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the overall cost of defence attaches in each financial year since 1993-94.

(132788)

65
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence attaches were employed by his Department in each financial year since 1993-94.

(132787)

66
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the functions of defence attaches; and if he will make a statement.

(132786)

67
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at how many British embassies defence attaches were stationed in each financial year since 1993-94.

(132785)

68
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 23rd May concerning lock purchasing.

(132445)

69
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that the quality of graduates is not impaired by policies of wider access.

(132531)

70
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to expand maximum allowed student numbers for higher education institutions to accommodate the planned expansion of student numbers towards a participation rate of 50 per cent. of young people.

(132665)

71
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much additional funding will be made available to higher education institutes through HEFCE to facilitate access between 2000-01 and 2003-04.

(132532)

72
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, which organisation will consider the pay and remuneration of further education lecturers including any matters related to their performance.

(132537)

73
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will project against annual Government spending plans to 2004 the real unit of resource per student in higher education on the assumption of (a) no increase in student numbers and (b) steady progress towards a target of 50 per cent. participation by young people.

(132530)

74
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the criteria for performance-related pay for further education lecturers are intended to be identical for those teaching in state schools; and what steps he will take to secure this alignment or broad equivalence.

(132535)

75
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to consult representatives of higher education institutions on the criteria for access plans to be acceptable for additional funding.

(132533)

76
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how, in the absence of a statutory payment framework, he will secure performance-related payment to further education lecturers.

(132536)

77
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to amend Section 68 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 in order for the Higher Education Funding Council for England to provide financial help for universities submitting plans for year-on-year improvements in the widening of access.

(132529)

78
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how he proposes to consult the further education sector on matters connected with performance-related pay.

(132534)

79
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131436)

80
N   Mr John Gunnell (Morley and Rothwell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, under what circumstances the services to be operated by the proposed joint venture company in Leeds will be returned to the sole control of the LEA.

(132513)

81
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 19th July, Official Report, column 200W, if he will list all departmental initiatives between May 1997 and 18th July 2000 requiring bids from voluntary organisations and local authorities for funding together with the total resources allocated to these initiatives, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data he collects on the average cost of preparing the bids for funding through each initiative.

(132670)

82
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132777)

83
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to reform the (a) role, (b) powers and duties and (c) resourcing of local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

(132397)

84
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what provisions there are in PFI contracts for schools and LEAs on the control of and charging for out of school hours use of school buildings and facilities by the contractors in relation to (a) IT facilities, (b) sports facilities, (c) music facilities and (d) use of meeting rooms.

(132742)

85
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on the implications of the High Court judgement of 14th July on the standards for the teachers' performance-related pay scheme on the structure of teachers' salaries and terms of employment in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(132792)

86
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to take forward the recommendations of the Review of Byelaws for the Coast published in 1998.

(132645)

87
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131435)

88
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 17th July, Official Report, column 54W, on Connex South Central, what plans he has to introduce requirements for train operators to provide for a well planned and smooth changeover period between franchises in future franchise contracts.

(132291)

89
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will advise the Environment Agency during its review of Sellafield discharge authorisations, that it should consider dry storage technologies in addition to the use of magnox fuel and the addition of a head-end plant to THORP.

(130874)

90
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Government plans to implement the justification requirements of Euratom Directive 96/29 on radiological protection; and if he will make a statement.

(130875)

91
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will issue advice on the observance of the justification principle including the needs (a) to carry out full cost-benefit analyses of practices giving rise to radiation exposures, (b) to discuss available alternatives to such practices and (c) to estimate global untruncated population doses from such practices.

(132292)

92
N   Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the progress of and prospects for the proposed new junction on the A63 at Melton.

(132652)

93
N   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to publish proposals for amendments to Part H of the Building Regulations which deals with drainage and solid waste; and if he will make a statement.

(132575)

94
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he proposes to publish the Rural White Paper.

(132157)

95
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when his plans to publish (a) a consultation draft and (b) a final draft of the proposed safety code for fishing vessels under 12 metres in length.

(132155)

96
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the need for new safety measures for under 12 metre fishing vessels.

(132154)

97
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to publish the Urban White Paper.

(132156)

98
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the extraction of minerals other than aggregates.

(131923)

99
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the constituent elements are of the average environmental cost of £1.80 per tonne associated with the extraction and transport of aggregates quoted in HM Customs & Excise press release Number 5 of 21st March.

(131915)

100
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research he has commissioned to identify the environmental cost and benefits of the supply of minerals other than aggregates.

(131921)

101
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the environmental costs per tonne are for each of the 16 crushed rock and sand and gravel quarries surveyed in the London Economics' report into the supply of aggregates.

(131916)

102
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason the report he commissioned from London Economics into the supply of aggregates does not include a valuation of benefits.

(131920)

103
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the research he commissioned from London Economics into the supply of aggregates included survey questions designed to value the cost of aggregate supply from areas of outstanding natural beauty.

(131922)

104
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132783)

105
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, who will have responsibility and over what timescale for taking forward the proposals on Crossrail contained in his Department's 10 year transport plan; and if he will make a statement.

(132516)

106
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if it is his policy that the proposed Crossrail link should connect with the Chiltern Line; and if he will make a statement.

(132517)

107
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, who will be responsible for taking forward the capacity enhancements on the Chiltern Line mentioned on page 47 of his Department's 10 year transport plan; what works will be included in these enhancements; over what timecale this will be; at what cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

(132518)

108
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what his policy is towards Central Railway plc in the context of his Department's 10 year transport plan.

(132519)

109
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will instruct the Highways Agency to resurface the A46 at Harvington, Worcestershire, with a low-noise road surface.

(131835)

110
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will instruct the Highways Agency to resurface the M5 at Whittington, Worcestershire, with a low-noise road surface.

(131834)

111
N   Mr Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the nature was of the test carried out on the A30 before the decision was taken to resurface it on account of noise nuisance; and how much the resurfacing work will cost.

(132650)

112
N   Mr Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will carry out noise tests on the A50 at Doveridge, Derbyshire; what estimate he has made of the cost of resurfacing that section of the road; and if he will instruct the Highways Agency to carry out this work.

(132651)

113
N   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, columns 3-4W, on seat belts, what plans he has to publish the results of the public consultation exercise, being conducted by his Department, on draft regulations to require seat belts to be fitted to minibuses, coaches and buses which do not carry standing passengers.

(132393)

114
N   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent representations he has received about the provision of seat belts in buses carrying more than 16 passengers seats but incapable of exceeding 60mph when they are used for school trips.

(132392)

115
N   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what grants are available in the UK to enable coach operators to fit seat belts in minibuses, coaches and buses used in transporting children to and from school; and if he will make a statement.

(132394)

116
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what end use or uses are planned for the 250 hectares of GM herbicide-tolerant maize being produced annually in UK field trials.

(132647)

117
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the recent deliberations of the informal gathering of Environmental Ministers on GMOs in Paris.

(132648)

118
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects funding to be allocated for the upgrading of the A11 from Barton Mills to The Ford; and when he expects construction work to begin.

(132539)

119
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on varying the Cranford agreement at Heathrow to create more slots for fragile routes in the UK.

(132528)

120
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the creation of public service obligations on internal UK air routes between Heathrow and fragile rural locations.

(132522)

121
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much of the additional resources for rail transport, announced in the Spending Review 2000, will be ear-marked for railway services in Wales.

(132793)

122
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many tenants in local authority and housing association accommodation are lone parents; what proportion of the total they constitute; and what proportion of new tenancies in the past year have been given to lone parents.

(132399)

123
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131426)

124
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the level of stamp duty payable on transactions at the stock exchanges in (a) London, (b) New York, (c) Frankfurt, (d) Amsterdam, (e) Zurich, (f) Milan, (g) Madrid and (h) Paris.

(131918)

125
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason he is not proposing to introduce a tax on the extraction of non-aggregate minerals.

(131917)

126
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132766)

127
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132780)

128
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the UK's contribution to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Trust Fund is (a) from the Treasury budget and (b) from the Department for Interrnational Development budget.

(132290)

129
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the UK's unilateral debt cancellation initiative has been paid by (a) the Treasury and (b) Department for International Development.

(132289)

130
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on his taxation policy in respect of the developmentof non-polluting methods of powering motor cars.

(132791)

131
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide a breakdown by region of the number of recipients of the working families tax credit.

(132700)

132
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many recipients of the working families tax credit work in the (a) public and (b) private sectors.

(132698)

133
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if it is his policy that, when the disabled persons tax credit is replaced in 2003, the employment tax credit will be paid to childless disabled people.

(132697)

134
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families were eligible for family credit in the year immediately preceding its replacement by working families tax credit; and how many families received it.

(132699)

135
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 4th July, Official Report, column 176W, how many families have been in receipt of the working families tax credit in each month since April this year.

(132401)

136
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 23rd May concerning lock purchasing.

(132448)

137
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131434)

138
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on human rights; and what specific cases were discussed.

(132704)

139
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132761)

140
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132782)

141
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with Moldova and his Department's assessment of the political situation in that country.

(131836)

142
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will discuss with the Papal Nuncio the inclusion of the Pope's Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei in Clause 49 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill.

(132391)

143
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times officials in the Communications Electronic Security Group have held meetings with members and officials of the United States Government since 1st January; what were the dates and locations of each meeting; and which United States Government departments took part in each meeting.

(132743)

144
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library a list of bilateral treaties and agreements which have been agreed with the Government of the United States of America since 1st January 1997, listing the title of each treaty and agreement, the date on which it was signed and the names of the British and US departments which signed each one.

(132744)

145
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she plans to issue the consultation document on the implementation of the COMA recommendations on the addition of folic acid to flour.

(132646)

146
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131433)

147
N   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for the Ministerial Sub-committee on Health Strategy to consider the long-term effect of high-alcohol-content drinks on young people.

(130620)

148
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to strengthen the regulation of private care homes for the elderly.

(132705)

149
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce an early warning system for clinical errors.

(131505)

150
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he is making on the National Plan for Health; and if he will make a statement.

(131503)

151
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hernia operations were carried out by the NHS last year (a) in Coventry South, (b) in the West Midlands and (c) nationally.

(131506)

152
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) hip replacement and (b) cataract operations were carried out by the NHS last year (i) in Coventry South, (ii) in the West Midlands and (c) nationally.

(131538)

153
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce variation in health provision between the poorest and the best-off areas across the UK.

(131504)

154
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many press releases were issued in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year.

(132748)

155
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132759)

156
N   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the nature is of the feeding trials in which animals are being fed GM herbicide-tolerant forage maize treated with glufosinate ammonium.

(132649)

157
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review the findings of the Colorado research project on neo-natal hearing screening.

(131337)

158
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department will establish an advisory group to advise on the launch and national roll-out of its pilot project for neo-natal hearing screening; and when it will announce the composition of the group.

(131339)

159
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Education and Employment about developing the provision of language and education support for children from zero to two years in preperation for (a) the launch and (b) the national roll-out of its pilot project for neo-natal hearing screening.

(131341)

160
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has invested in neo-natal hearing screening for each of the last five years.

(131332)

161
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department plans to spend on (a) the launch and (b) the national rollout of the neo-natal hearing screening pilot project in each of the next three years.

(131333)

162
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what cost to benefit analysis his Department has carried out of introducing universal neo-natal hearing screening.

(131334)

163
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what studies his Department has carried out into the benefits of neo-natal hearing screening.

(131335)

164
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's timetable is for the national roll-out of the neo-natal hearing screening pilot project; when an announcement about a timetable will be made; and what factors will inform the timing of an announcement of the timetable.

(131336)

165
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultations his Department has had with disability organisations of and for deaf and hard of hearing people about the launch of the neo-natal hearing screening pilot project.

(131338)

166
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what process his Department will establish (a) the criteria, (b) the selection procedure and (c) the timetable for the establishment of the 20 neo-natal hearing screening pilot sites.

(131340)

167
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department (a) has had and (b) plans to have with (i) health authorities and NHS trusts, (ii) paediatric audiologists, (iii) ENT consultants, (iv) speech and language therapists and (v) cochlear implant centres about (A) the launch and (B) the national roll-out of the neo-natal hearing screening pilot project.

(131342)

168
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will open for public inspection the file DT 33/2055 at the Public Record Office.

(132752)

169
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, 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.

(132751)

170
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 23rd May concerning lock purchasing.

(132447)

171
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the (a) date, (b) nature and (c) action he has taken as a result, of each infringement of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 since 1st January 1995 relating to xenotransplantation research; and if he will make a statement.

(130708)

172
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) benefits and (b) objectives were outlined in the first applications for clinical trials of xenotransplantation procedures; and how many of the pig-primate procedures failed to achieve such objectives and benefits.

(130709)

173
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research his Department has undertaken concerning the fate of the wild-caught baboons imported from Kenya to the UK in May 1999; and if he will make a statement.

(130710)

174
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures his Department has taken to ensure that imported primates for use in xenotransplantation procedures are used for the purposes stated in applications for such procedures; and if he will make a statement.

(130711)

175
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department's policy is regarding the killing of imported primates not subjected to xenotransplantation procedures; and if he will make a statement.

(130712)

176
N   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors are taken into consideration when making the cost benefit analysis under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and to what extent these include (a) healthcare costs, (b) corporate profitability and (c) status of the individuals carrying out the procedures.

(132576)

177
N   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to revise the operation of the cost/benefit test contained in section 5(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

(132577)

178
N   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the permit system and the restrictions on the numbers of Eastern European students legally working as fruit pickers.

(132578)

179
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131432)

180
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many representations he has received from victims of crimes of violence in the last 12 months.

(132703)

181
N   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the sexual offences review report will be published.

(132520)

182
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement regarding the rate of successful convictions obtained in magistrates' courts in Staffordshire in the last 12 months.

(130597)

183
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many press releases were issued this year to date; and what the total cost of production and issuing of these press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date each year.

(132772)

184
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on measures to bring existing statute law into compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.

(130604)

185
N   Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the safeguards his Department plans to introduce to protect personal privacy following the enactment of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill.

(132525)

186
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 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.

(132746)

187
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 23rd May concerning lock purchasing.

(132446)

188
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff her Department has; what percentage of staff positions in her Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to her Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff her Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much her Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much she expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131431)

189
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance is being provided from (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the EU and (c) UN sources, to assist with rehousing victims of the earthquake in the Quindio region of Columbia on 25th January 1999.

(131919)

190
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132778)

191
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many press officers were employed in her Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132760)

192
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the visits outside Britain made by her Department's Permanent Secretary on official business since 1st January 1999, indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case.

(132753)

193
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of her Department's increased expenditure for 2000-2003 is earmarked for (a) unilateral debt cancellation and (b) the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Trust Fund.

(132288)

194
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with members of the (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Office (b) Ministry of Defence and (c) Department of Trade and Industry concerning the AIDs epidemic in Africa; and how often she had discussed AIDs with them.

(132287)

195
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131430)

196
N   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on access to justice in Cheshire.

(130600)

197
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131429)

198
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he expects to decide on holding a public inquiry under section 44 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 into the circumstances surrounding the death of Robert Hamill.

(132538)

199
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many press releases were issued in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year.

(132756)

200
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132769)

201
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 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.

(132754)

202
N   Mr William Thompson (West Tyrone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consultations he has had with the Human Rights Commission about bringing into force parts of the Human Rights Act 1998 before 2nd October for the purposes of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998; and what advice he has received on this matter.

(132432)

203
N   Mr William Thompson (West Tyrone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consultations he has had with the Royal Ulster Constabulary about bringing into force parts of the Human Rights Act 1998 before 2nd October for the purposes of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998; and what advice he received.

(132580)

204
N   Mr William Thompson (West Tyrone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to bring parts of the Human Rights Act 1998 into force before 2nd October for the purposes of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.

(132433)

205
N   Mr William Thompson (West Tyrone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consultations he has had with the Parades Commission about bringing into force parts of the Human Rights Act 1998 before 2nd October for the purposes of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998; and what advice he received.

(132579)

206
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the situation in Kosovo.

(132514)

207
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Prime Minister, what is the cost in the current financial year of the (a) salary bill and (b) general running costs of the Research and Information Office in 10 Downing Street.

(132692)

208
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many press releases were issued by his Office in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year.

(132755)

209
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132765)

210
N   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the matters discussed at and the outcome of the G-8 Summit in Okinawa.

(132025)

211
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers to ministers indicating when each adviser was appointed.

(132794)

212
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131428)

213
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many press releases were issued in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year.

(132747)

214
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132768)

215
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many Benefits Agency claimants were overpaid (a) benefit and (b) income support in each of the last 12 months; how many of these claimants have repaid that (i) benefit and (ii) income support in full; how much (x) benefit and (y) income support was overpaid in each of the last 12 months; how much of this (1) benefit and (2) income support was recovered from claimants; what estimate he has made of the annual administrative costs of recovering unpaid (A) benefit and (B) income support per claimant; and how much was spent by the Benefits Agency recovering overpaid (I) benefit and (II) income support in each of the last 12 months.

(132286)

216
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131427)

217
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 5th April, Official Report, column 447W, on benefit overpayments, if he will estimate, in relation to the overpayments which took place on 17th and 18th January, the total (a) value of the benefits recovered so far, (b) number of customers who have repaid the overpayment in full and (c) number of customers who have paid none of the overpayment; and if he will estimate the total cost in administration and in unreturned benefit of the overpayment.

(132360)

218
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132767)

219
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132771)

220
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) former service personnel and (b) members of their families have made appeals to the Pensions Appeals Tribunal since 1970 for compensation arising out of their participation in experiments at the chemical defence establishment Porton Down; how many have been awarded compensation; and how many are awaiting adjudication.

(132775)

221
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, 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.

(132774)

222
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much his Department is planning to spend on preparing for the euro in the period to March 2004, broken down between years.

(132396)

223
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he will publish his new public service agreements.

(132395)

224
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if the anti-fraud targets announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review are (a) in addition to or (b) instead of, the existing Benefits Agency Security and Control Programme.

(132400)

225
N   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how he plans to measure the success of the anti-fraud measures announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(132398)

226
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many court days have been occupied in hearing extradition cases in 2000.

(130603)

227
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Solicitor General, how many press releases were issued in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year.

(132757)

228
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131441)

229
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the size is of the major package for the Post Office network provided for in the 2000 Spending Review, paragraph 15.12.

(132456)

230
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the planned net profit is of the ECGD for each year of the 2000 Spending Review (2001-2004); and how this figure would differ if loans by the ECGD were required to earn a 6 per cent. return.

(132452)

231
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the net profit or loss for the ECGD in the last three years; and how this would have varied had the agency been required to record returns below 6 per cent. as a loss.

(132457)

232
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the size is of the joint DTI-FCO budget for export promotion referred to in paragraph 15.2 of the Spending Review 2000; and how much was spent by these two departments on export promotion in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999.

(132453)

233
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals in the report of the UK Competition Commission on car pricing in the UK published on 10th April (a) have been and (b) will be implemented.

(132515)

234
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 19th July, Official Report, column 174W, if he will list all departmental initiatives between May 1997 and 18th July 2000 requiring bids from voluntary organisations and local authorities for funding together with the total resources allocated to these initiatives, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data he collects on the average cost of preparing the bids for funding through each initiative.

(132668)

235
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date.

(132781)

236
N   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the implications for marine science in Scotland of the closure of the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences at Dunstaffnage.

(132361)

237
N   Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what share of the Government's programme of capital investment for science will be allocated to the National Environment Research Council to fund programmes which were developed by the Scottish Association for Marine Science at the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory.

(132362)

238
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many unfilled vacancies for permanent staff his Department has; what percentage of staff positions in his Department are vacant; what the monthly cost would be to his Department of employing civil servants in these positions; how many and what percentage of staff his Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; how much his Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the last 12 months; and how much he expects to pay employment agencies to supply temporary staff in each of the next 12 months.

(131425)

239
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned.

(132758)

240
   Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many press releases were issued in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year.

(132749)

241
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is his Department's budget for the current financial year for ministers' chauffeurs and travelling costs.

(132790)

242
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the files compiled by his Department on the activities of Plaid Cymru between 1958 and 1973 which are filed as restricted in the Public Record Office, file reference BD-25/59; and if he will lift this restriction.

(132789)

243
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor regarding the future of Scottish bank notes if the UK joins the euro zone.

[Question Unstarred] (130581)

244
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the President of the Council, what proposals she has to increase parliamentary scrutiny of legislation.

[Question Unstarred] (130619)