Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 26 July 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 26 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.

WEDNESDAY 26th JULY

1
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, if the Committee will review water metering arrangements in non-metered buildings and set a maximum level of water consumption in them.

(131933)

2
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, if the Committee will ensure (a) that the House uses appropriate risk management techniques when undertaking work in buildings where asbestos could be present, (b) that asbestos materials are removed and disposed of safely and (c) asbestos-free materials are used for new work and for replacing existing asbestos materials.

(131926)

3
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the future of small abbatoirs; and if he will make a statement.

(132889)

4
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if his Department's regional centre at Northallerton will continue to take queries in person from local farmers.

(133108)

5
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent representations he has received on (a) the future of small abbatoirs and (b) the level of meat hygiene charges.

(132891)

6
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has had to merge the role of vets and meat inspectors on overseeing the slaughter of animals.

(132890)

7
N   Mr Ian Pearson (Dudley South):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will revise her guidance on ministerial travel to include the Rover 75 series in the makes and models of car available to the Government Car Service.

(132293)

8
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many written parliamentary questions tabled to her Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason commercial or other confidentiality.

(132463)

9
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which pilot projects undertaken by her Department since 1997 have involved random assignment elements; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness in promoting more effective policy making.

(133036)

10
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if all (a) Government and (b) other papers relating to the New Millennium Experience will be released under the proposed Freedom of Information Act.

(132547)

11
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of Lottery ticket receipts has been spent in Wales through the National Lottery Charities Board.

(131030)

12
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money has been spent by people in Wales on lottery tickets.

(131031)

13
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many projects have unsuccessfully applied for grants to the National Lottery Charities Board; and if he will list the amount of each of these grants.

(131032)

14
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list for (i) museums and galleries, (ii) libraries, (iii) the arts, (iv) sport, (v) historic buildings, monuments, and sites, (vi) royal parks, (vii) tourism, (viii) broadcasting, and (ix) his whole Department, the budgets for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c)1999-2000, stating for each year, by category, the funds budgeted for but not spent, and where those funds went.

(132038)

15
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will support the recruitment of volunteers to assist in extra-curricular sporting activity amongst young people.

(132898)

16
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason commercial or other confidentiality.

(132464)

17
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much of the increase in his departmental expenditure on the arts and culture in the next three years arising from the comprehensive spending review will be an activities in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

(133121)

18
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many nuclear submarines carrying conventional weapons are currently operational.

(132710)

19
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) men and (b) women serving in the UK armed forces on 1st July were from ethnic minorities.

(132842)

20
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British service personnel were deployed in Kosovo on 1st July.

(132816)

21
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) quantity, (b) strength and (c) type of CR gas was deployed on 16th October 1974 at HM Prison Maze.

(131390)

22
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many inmates of HM Prison Maze gave blood samples for analysis following the use of CR gas at HM Prison Maze in October 1974; what the results of blood analysis were; where the data is stored; and what follow-up studies have been made.

(131388)

23
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what evaluation he has been made of (a) the effectiveness of CR gas in keeping public order and (b) the circumstances in which CR gas may be deployed.

(131389)

24
   Mr Martin O'Neill (Ochil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a detailed description of the simulator used by the Defence Research Agency during the Board of Inquiry investigation into RAF Chinook ZD576.

(133035)

25
   Mr Martin O'Neill (Ochil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a detailed description of the simulator used by Boeing as part of the Board of Inquiry investigation into RAF Chinook ZD576.

(133034)

26
   Mr Martin O'Neill (Ochil):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Boeing simulation undertaken as part of the Board of Inquiry investigation into the crash of RAF Chinook ZD576 was able to determine the precise (a) speed and (b) height of the aircraft prior to the last five seconds before impact.

(133038)

27
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered (a) citing disproportionate cost, (b) stating that the information is not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested and (c) citing commercial or other confidentiality.

(132468)

28
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will break down the capital allocations to school in (a) Westminster and (b) Kensington and Chelsea since May 1997.

(132886)

29
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for Bury MBC in each of the last four years (a) the total revenue allocation for education from non-SSA budget headings, (b) the total capital allocation for education and (c) the annual percentage change for (a) and (b).

(131387)

30
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average (a) primary and (b) secondary school class size was for each school year in the Ribble Valley since 1994.

(132720)

31
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of students leaving secondary school in Ribble Valley (a) went straight to university and (b) deferred university entrance for one or two years between 1994 and 2000.

(132728)

32
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of students continued into the sixth form in the Ribble Valley between 1994 and 2000.

(132721)

33
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the net revenue yields would be for the next 10 financial years if those students taking out student loans in the academic year beginning September were to pay a real interest rate of (a) 1 per cent., (b) 2 per cent., (c) 3 per cent. and (d) 4 per cent. on their debt.

(133103)

34
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average level of debt per student was in the different cohorts leaving higher education each year over the last five years; what proportion of it is owed to (a) the state and (b) the private sector; and on what terms debts to the state are owed.

(133116)

35
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, of the money announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review for higher education, what the money not specifically allocated for access and academic staff is to be used for.

(133110)

36
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the amount of funding per student in higher education is to be in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04.

(133113)

37
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the cost of career development loans in terms of (a) interest rate subsidies, (b) administration costs and (c) other costs; and what default rate exists.

(133118)

38
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what extra expenditure announced in the comprehensive spending review is to be made available for early years provision in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04.

(133115)

39
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how the use of the money allocated in the Comprehensive Spending Review to recruit and retain higher education academic staff will be decided; if it will be ringfenced for that purpose; and how its distribution between institutions will be decided.

(133112)

40
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what are his Department's projections for the expansion of higher education places in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04; and what proportion of this is accounted by (i) foundation degrees and (ii) traditional degrees delivered in higher education institutions.

(133114)

41
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) mature students and (b) non-mature students who are (i) employed, (ii) unemployed and searching for work and (iii) not searching for work during university vacations.

(133104)

42
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the cost to public funds has been of student loans provision in terms of (a) interest rate subsidies and (b) administration costs; and what default rate exists on that debt.

(133117)

43
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how the money announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review for summer schools and measures to widen access for higher education will be allocated between institutions; and who will be responsible for the provision of those measures.

(133111)

44
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much funding is to be available for higher education in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04 which will be additional to sums announced before the current year.

(133119)

45
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the number of term-time only workers who are (a) women under 45, (b) women over 45, (c) men under 45 and (d) men over 45; and what is the average per capita annual income of each group.

(132713)

46
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when his Department was first notified of concerns over the use of European Social Fund money by Global Business Dimensions Ltd.; to whom these concerns were reported; and what action was subsequently taken.

(132458)

47
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when his Department began its investigation into Global Business Dimensions Ltd.; what the result of that investigation was; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

(132460)

48
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 20th July, Official Report, column 291W, if he will quantify the contribution of each of the three stated causes of the increase in the estimated cost in net present value of the Birmingham LEA schools rebuild package PFI scheme between the outline business case and final business case; and what reasons underlay the reduction in the discount rate used.

(132844)

49
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the net present cost is of the Birmingham LEA schools rebuilding project under the Private Finance Initiative; what the value is of the public sector comparators in (a) pre-risk and (b) risk-adjusted terms; and what risks are identified as having been transferred at (i) outline and (ii) final business case stage; and if he will make a statement.

(132836)

50
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure that all local education authorities provide state school primary aged children with the choice of a hot school meal, with particular reference to the implementation of the Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations 2000.

(132716)

51
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make it his policy to prohibit the importation of waste for use in energy-from-waste plants.

(131663)

52
N   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will arrange for a transcript of the final report of the public inquiry into the operation by Stagecoach of Licence PC3233 to be placed in the Library.

(132294)

53
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library the ward level data on ranks and scores for the Index of Deprivation 1999, already given to individual authorities, in (a) hard copy and (b) electronic format.

(132892)

54
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when a full underlying data set for the Index of Deprivation 1999 will be made available.

(132893)

55
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many letters he has received in each of the last three years requesting an elected North West regional government.

(132718)

56
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many miles of new roads were built in the Ribble Valley constituency in each year from 1994 to 2000.

(132719)

57
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he proposes to reply to the letter of 11th April, sent by the Right honourable Member for Alyn and Deeside, concerning Mr Davey of Deeside, CH5.

(133130)

58
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he proposes to answer the letter sent by Right honourable Member for Alyn and Deeside of 2nd June, regarding Mr Herbert of Mold, Flintshire, CH7.

(133129)

59
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how his 10 year transport plan relates to the work of the West Midlands to North West multi-modal study.

(132847)

60
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the proposals for improving road safety contained in, Tomorrow's Roads--Safer for Everyone, according to whether (a) implementation (i) commenced before the strategy was published, (ii) will commence in 2000 and (iii) will commence in 2001 and (b) they will require parliamentary time.

(132850)

61
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he proposes to take to relieve congestion on the M6 motorway between junctions 6 and 10.

(132848)

62
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what impact the 10 year transport plan will have on the proposal to widen the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and 16.

(132846)

63
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason one eastbound lane has been removed on the West Cromwell Road A4.

(133168)

64
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many new sets of traffic lights have been placed on the A316 from the M3 to the A4 in the last three years.

(133165)

65
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reasons a narrow lane on the outside lane of the two lane dual carriageway A316 eastbound east of the junction with the B358 has been painted on, to narrow the two lanes cars can use.

(133170)

66
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the hourly change in capacity of the A316 eastbound from the M3 to the A4 as a result of all the traffic management measures taken in the last three years.

(133167)

67
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reasons the speed limit has been reduced on the A316 Country Way three lane dual carriageway.

(133166)

68
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reasons three lanes have been reduced to two on the A4 at Queens Gate and Exhibition Road junctions.

(133169)

69
N   Mr John D. Taylor (Strangford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Marine Accident Investigation Branch will publish its report on the sinking of the Portavogie trawler, the 'Amber Rose', in October 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(132717)

70
   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 the Tower Hamlets Housing Trust project under the Private Finance Initiative; what the value is of the public sector comparators in (a) pre-risk and (b) risk-adjusted terms; what risks are identified as having been transferred; and if he will make a statement.

(132837)

71
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will analyse the increase in expenditure on rail transport in each of the next three financial years, arising from the recent comprehensive spending review, between the expenditure he anticipates will be undertaken in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

(133120)

72
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many bridges there are in England on recognised public highways; how many of these were strengthened to current standards by 31st December 1999; and what is the estimated cost of strengthening the remainder of these bridges to the new standard of weight which will come into force next year.

(133122)

73
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money was available to ENTRUST for distribution in the last year for which figures are available; how much was actually distributed; and how much was spent on overheads.

(131664)

74
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure best use of public money by ENTRUST.

(131666)

75
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) funding distribution policies of ENTRUST.

(131665)

76
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to abolish ENTRUST and redirect landfill tax monies to local authorities.

(131667)

77
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Financial Services Authority submitted its response to the Cruickshank Report.

(132802)

78
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to charge tax on the gross profit of bookmakers rather than on their turnover.

(133039)

79
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he proposes to reply to the letter of 4th April, sent by the Right honourable Member for Alyn and Deeside, concerning Mr Marguson of Deeside.

(133131)

80
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he proposes to answer the letter of the Right honourable Member for Alyn and Deeside, of 6th June, concerning Mr Collard of Deeside, Flintshire.

(133132)

81
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he proposes to answer the letter sent by the Right honourable Member for Alyn and Deeside, regarding Mr Peck of Deeside, Flintshire, on 9th June.

(133128)

82
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which studies his Department has (a) commissioned, (b) reviewed and (c) undertaken that examine the cost to (i) UK businesses and (ii) euro zone business of preparing for introduction of the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(132901)

83
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 21st July, Official Report, column 346W, on employment tax credit, what estimate he has made of total expenditure on the (a) adult component and (b) other components of the working families tax credit in each month since it has been introduced; and if he will make a statement.

(133037)

84
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which studies his Department has (a) commissioned, (b) reviewed and (c) undertaken that examine the cost to (i) UK businesses and (ii) euro zone business of preparing for introduction of the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(132899)

85
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the countries in respect of which the UK Government has a policy of sanctions.

(132843)

86
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what criteria are used by the UN Drugs Control Programme when developing their environmental impact assessments for fungal herbicide field trials.

(132545)

87
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the imposing of an arms embargo in Indonesia.

(132541)

88
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 13th July, Official Report, column 653W, on drugs control, what environmental impact assessment of pleospora papaveracea took place before the field trial project in Uzbekistan began; and what environmental impact assessments are taking place during the field trial project.

(132544)

89
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which chemical herbicide field trial projects his Department supports to combat (a) coca, (b) opium and (c) marijuana.

(132546)

90
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 13th July, Official Report, column 653W, on drugs control, what evidence he has received which shows that pleospora papaveracea is a control agent specific to opium poppy.

(132543)

91
N   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement concerning plans for the restoration of the joint electoral system in Sudan.

(132162)

92
   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies exist within the National Health Service for persons qualified to carry out medical testing on (a) analytical investigation of blood, (b) tissue sampling, (c) virology, (d) microbiology and (e) immunology histopathology.

(132813)

93
   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the present salary structure for graduates who will carry out medical tests on behalf of the NHS on recruitment and retention; and if he will make a statement.

(132815)

94
   Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many trained staff capable of carrying out medical testing within the National Health Service left in each of the last three years.

(132814)

95
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he issues to health authorities or trusts about employment contracts of senior administrative and managerial personnel employed by the NHS; and where they are published.

(132708)

96
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce legislation to require the General Medical Council to hold its inquiries in public and to put the conclusions of its inquiries into the public domain

(132706)

97
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he issues on non-judicial inquiries into events in the NHS; how many of such inquiries have been conducted; how many reports of such inquiries have been put in the public domain; and how many such inquiries have been carried out by employees of the NHS since May 1997.

(132707)

98
   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the extra costs (a) per patient and (b) in aggregate, in prescription charges per year to patients using commonly prescribed generic drugs as a result of the price increases resulting from the introduction of patient packs; what action he has (i) taken and (ii) plans to minimise the costs to patients; and if he will make a statement.

(132885)

99
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time is for (a) a body scan and (b) a bone scan following prostate cancer diagnosis.

(132722)

100
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Ribble Valley waited (a) between six and 12 months, (b) between 12 and 18 months and (c) over 18 months for an in-patient appointment.

(132723)

101
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Ribble Valley waited (a) between three and six months, (b) between six and nine months and (c) over nine months for their first out-patient appointment.

(132724)

102
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people from the Ribble Valley died while on an NHS waiting list between 1994 and 2000.

(132727)

103
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he proposes to answer the letter of 1st June, sent by the Right honourable Member for Alyn and Deeside, regarding Mrs Griffiths of Hope, Flintshire.

(133126)

104
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy that all private air ambulances used to transfer patients by the NHS should have full nursing back-up within the air ambulance; and if he will make a statement.

(132459)

105
N   Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provision is made in relation to prepayment prescription charges for payment to be made in instalments by direct debit instalments.

(132364)

106
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many medical retirements from the police there have been in the last 10 years as a result of periodontal deformities which exceed three mm.

(132801)

107
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department's approved medical standards for police recruitment were last approved (a) in total and (b) in respect of periodontal conditions.

(132800)

108
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will refer to the Law Commission the question whether the restrictions on the use of DNA to be found in section 643(B) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 should be maintained.

(131478)

109
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there have been in the Metropolitan Police Area for violation of bus lanes in each of the last three years.

(132840)

110
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he proposes to answer the letter of 16th May, sent by the Right honourable Member for Alyn and Deeside, regarding Ms Fenwick of Deeside.

(133125)

111
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set a target time for dealing with all new travel document applications.

(132895)

112
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time taken to process a travel document application was in the last 12 months.

(132897)

113
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many post-September 1999 travel document applications have still not been processed; and if he will set a date for clearing the backlog.

(132894)

114
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will assign additional staff to the Travel Document Section as a temporary measure to help clear the backlog of applications.

(132845)

115
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the backlog of travel document applications left over from the period January to August 1999 have not been processed.

(132896)

116
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress he has made in settling on a figure to compensate Ms Elaine Moore following her wrongful arrest and imprisonment in July 1998.

(131362)

117
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which police forces are not equipped with CS gas; and if he will make a statement.

(132887)

118
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage of police officers were injured on duty in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by police force.

(132888)

119
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what disciplinary rules apply to the senior officer in a police car that is driven by a junior officer in contravention of traffic regulations.

(133040)

120
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will establish a target for the House to (a) recover a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. coming from recycling or composting, in 2000-01, (b) to increase the amount recovered and recycled by 10 per cent. each year to achieve 70 per cent. recovery or recycling in 2003-04 and (c) to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated.

(131931)

121
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will establish a target for the House of Commons (a) to buy electricity from renewable sources and (b) to switch from hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorobutane and sulphur hexafluoride to environmentally-preferable substitutes.

(131841)

122
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will establish targets for the House to (a) reduce paper use, (b) buy 100 per cent. recycled paper comprising at least 80 per cent. genuine post-consumer waste and to use this for all work not requiring specialist papers, (c) ensure that any virgin pulp used in paper purchased comes from sustainably-managed woodlands and that both the pulp and the recycling process is chlorine free and (d) ensure that only water-based varnish is used.

(131924)

123
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will establish targets (a) to reduce energy use by 20 per cent. from 1990-1991 levels by 2010 and (b) to buy a minimum of 10 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources by March 2002.

(131927)

124
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will improve the House's environmental performance in relation to energy use by measuring and reporting on emission levels from buildings and transport.

(131929)

125
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will establish a target for the House (a) not to buy products which contain ozone-depleting substances, where there are suitable alternatives, (b) to control leaks through regular servicing of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment containing ozone-depleting substances and (c) to reduce emissions which occur through regular servicing of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.

(131930)

126
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will establish a target for the House to achieve a maximum level of water consumption equivalent to an average of 7.7 cubic metres per person by April 2002.

(131932)

127
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will introduce a workplace parking charge scheme.

(131842)

128
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will establish a target for the House (a) to reduce the use of hazardous substances and techniques, (b) for the use of building materials and furnishings which are low emitters of formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds and other potentially-hazardous substances, (c) for the use of recycled batteries, (d) for limiting the use of products containing potentially-harmful solvents, (e) to the increase in use of biodegradable substances, (f) to comply with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and (g) for noise reduction.

(131925)

129
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will improve energy efficiency by (a) promoting best practice, (b) buying energy-efficient equipment, (c) introducing more energy-efficient techniques and technologies and (d) increasing the amount of the House's electricity that comes from internal combined heat and power.

(131928)

130
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will introduce measures and set targets to ensure the House of Commons improves its environmental performance by (a) conserving (i) energy, (ii) water, (iii) wood, (iv) paper and (v) other resources, (b) reducing waste, (c) phasing out substances damaging to health and the environment, (d) encouraging contractors to develop environmentally-preferable goods and services, (e) purchasing wood from sustainable sources, (f) drawing up emergency procedures for dealing with significant environmental risks, (g) ensuring buildings achieve a good standard of environmental performance, (h) following the Government's Green Claims Code and (i) ensuring staff work in an environmentally responsible manner.

(131840)

131
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to implement the issues paper on disability, poverty and development; and if she will require a disability equality checklist to be available before proposals are funded by her Department.

(133107)

132
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to ensure that the 1999 Annual Report of her Department is made available to blind and visually impaired people.

(133105)

133
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many projects in support of disabled people and their organisations have been supported by her Department in 1999-2000; and at what cost.

(133106)

134
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to her Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason that the information is (a) not held centrally, (b) not held in the form requested and (c) not available.

(132469)

135
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, on how many occasions since May 1997 his Department has (a) authorised and (b) refused requests for funding in exceptional individual cases, under section 6(8)(b) of the Access to Justice Act 1999, for representation before (i) a tribunal, (ii) an inquest and (iii) a public inquiry.

[R] (132709)

136
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered (a) citing disproportionate cost, (b) stating that the information is not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested and (c) citing commercial or other confidentiality.

(132461)

137
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken to investigate which institutions, organisations and individuals have the necessary expertise to conduct an independent study to find an alternative to the plastic baton round.

(131024)

138
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the terms of reference will be for the independent study to find an alternative to the plastic baton round.

(131025)

139
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what changes have been made to police training programmes concerning use of plastic baton rounds since publication of the Patten Report.

(131026)

140
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what (a) organisations and (b) individuals have been consulted in order to implement the Patten Commission proposal for a research programme to find an alternative to the plastic baton round.

(131027)

141
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the cost of a research programme to find an alternative to the plastic baton round; and if he will make a statement on how he will ensure best value is achieved and evaluated.

(131028)

142
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proposals he has to invite tenders from those with the expertise to conduct a research programme to find an alternative to the plastic baton round.

(131029)

143
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the standard procedures are for removing a firearms licence following misuse of a firearm.

(132657)

144
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what conditions are placed on the use of firearms by licence holders who have criminal records.

(132656)

145
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is (a) the longest, (b) the shortest and (c) the average number of days taken by his Department to acknowledge receipt of letters requesting information under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information at its (a) London and (b) Belfast office.

(131361)

146
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when Mr Richard Monteith first applied for a licence to carry a firearm.

(132655)

147
   Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate the security services have made of the number of arms dumps the IRA have in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Irish Republic.

(132838)

148
   Mr Peter Robinson (Belfast East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of when IRA arms dumps in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic will be inspected by the international inspectors.

(132839)

149
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April which requested information pursuant to his previous answers.

(132462)

150
   Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    To ask the President of the Council, if she will list the honourable and Right honourable Members who have initiated debates in Westminster Hall since its inception, stating the number of debates initiated by each Member.

(132841)

151
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April.

(132465)

152
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 26th July.

(132363)

153
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April.

(132466)

154
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people in Ribble Valley (a) were eligible for, (b) claimed and (c) applied for social security benefits in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by type of benefit.

(132726)

155
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the cost of social security fraud in the Ribble Valley was in each of the years between 1994 and 2000, broken down by type of benefit.

(132725)

156
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what representations he has received in relation to the payment of jobseeker's allowance to term-time only workers; and if he will make a statement.

(132714)

157
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many jobseeker's allowance cases, resulting from refusals to claims based on regulations 51(2)(c) and 51(2)(b)(i) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996, are being stayed; and how many of the claimants involved are (a) men and (b) women.

(132711)

158
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of restoring the entitlement to jobseeker's allowance for term-time only workers.

(132715)

159
N   Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of (a) men and (b) women affected by (i) regulation 51(2)(c) and (ii) regulation 51(2)(b)(i) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 for each of the last four years.

(132712)

160
   Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he proposes to answer the letter of 25th May, sent by the Right honourable Member for Alyn and Deeside, regarding Mrs Boaden of Deeside, Flintshire.

(133127)

161
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage by volume of Parcelforce's (a) domestic and (b) international mail is (i) under 10kg and (ii) between 10 and 20kg in weight; and if he will breakdown the above categories into (1) business to business post, (2) business to customer post and (3) non-business post.

(132796)

162
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects the Review of the ECGD to be published.

(132795)

163
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what role the proposed Universal Bank within the Post Office will play in relation to the sale of financial products, with particular reference to (a) ISAs and (b) stakeholder pensions.

(132799)

164
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason total managed expenditure for the Export Credits Guarantee Department is planned to fall from £0.9 billion in 1999-2000 to zero in 2003-04; and if he will reconcile this planned fall with the figures provided in the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review.

(132797)

165
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to increase Post Office Counters investment in commercially viable sub-post offices in urban areas which are not areas of social deprivation.

(132798)

166
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to improve the process of risk assessment for arms exports at the licensing stage; what further steps are being considered; and if he will make a statement.

(133109)

167
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason his Department is seeking to have documents relating to the Astra case destroyed.

(131507)

168
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the organisation Killing Secrets on the question of Astra documents.

(131509)

169
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what public interest justifications for the retention of documents relating to the Astra case he considered in making the decision not to retain them.

(131508)

170
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will require the Official Receiver to retain documents relating to the Astra case.

(131510)

171
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will amend the law to prevent private sector companies from cutting pay and downgrading the working conditions of staff through the termination of existing contracts of employment coupled with an offer of re-employment on less favourable terms with particular reference to employees transferred from the public to the private sector.

(132849)

172
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list for each year since 1995 (a) the installed United Kingdom wind generation capacity and (b) the electricity it generated; and if he will make a statement.

(132581)

173
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library the assessment made by the UKAEA of the potential routes by which radioactive particles could have reached the beaches on and near Dounreay, Caithness.

(132037)

174
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many written parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19th October 1999 and 20th April; and how many have not received substantive answers citing disproportionate cost as the reason.

(132467)

175
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which studies his Department has (a) commissioned, (b) reviewed and (c) undertaken that examine the cost to (i) UK businesses and (ii) euro zone business of preparing for introduction of the euro; and if he will make a statement.

(132900)

176
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects the full environmental impact assessment report on the Ilisu Dam to be complete.

(132540)

177
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd May, Official Report, column 27W, on the Ilisu Dam, what direct contact he has had since May with the Turkish Government concerning consultations with those directly affected by the Ilisu Dam.

(132542)

178
N   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on manufacturing industry in Wales.

(130879)

179
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, by what means he intends to report to Parliament on his use of resources other than those which are by way of payments to the National Assembly for Wales.

(133124)

180
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff are employed directly by his Department; how many were employed on 1st July 1999; and how he expects these figures to vary in coming years.

(133123)