Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 19 November 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 19 November 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.

FRIDAY 19th NOVEMBER

1
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the effect of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin on the use of amoxycillin and penicillin in poultry.

(98443)

2
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed, including its effect on the use of therapeutic antibiotics used in human medicine in animals; and if he will make a statement.

(98444)

3
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his assessment of the effect of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed on the incidence of necrotic enteritis and cholangiohepatitis in poultry.

(98445)

4
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what advice the Government has received from the British Veterinary Poultry Association on consequences for public health of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed.

(98446)

5
   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his assessment of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed on the use of therapeutic antibiotics of importance in human medicine in animals.

(98447)

6
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his estimate of the numbers of overseas produced turkeys that will be imported into the UK during the Christmas period.

(98451)

7
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what information he has received from the Commission about a possible substantial reduction in the catch levels of sand eels.

(98628)

8
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 15th and 16th November; and if he will make a statement.

(98506)

9
   Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith (Wealden):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what forecasts he has made for the economic prospects of the pig farming sector over the coming year.

(98579)

10
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what negotiations he has had with (a) Bulgaria, (b) Latvia, (c) Lithuania, (d) Malta, (e) Romania and (f) Slovakia over lifting their bans on British beef; and if he will make a statement.

(98738)

11
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on progress in the Randomised Badger Culling trial.

(98736)

12
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what negotiations he has had with (a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Estonia, (e) Slovenia and (f) Cyprus over lifting their bans on British beef; and if he will make a statement.

(98737)

13
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment his Ministry has made of the potential impact of the proposed climate change levy on the agricultural sector.

(99049)

14
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will take steps to ensure that all departments and public sector agencies require that pigmeat supplied under their catering contracts be produced according to UK welfare standards.

(99057)

15
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers can determine the country of origin of pigmeat products at the point of sale through correct labelling.

(99048)

16
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what progress he has made in obtaining approval from (a) the European Union and (b) the Treasury for financial assistance to the pig industry with regard to the extra costs of offal disposal resulting from the BSE problem in cattle.

(99047)

17
   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many day-old chicks were imported into the UK from (a) within and (b) outside the EU in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) 1999 to date.

(98590)

18
   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what health checks are carried out on day-old chicks imported into the UK from (a) within and (b) outside the EU.

(98591)

19
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what motor mileage allowance rates her Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98724)

20
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much her Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98718)

21
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much her Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98719)

22
   Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what powers he has to compel Camelot to reveal the number of lottery tickets sold in each parliamentary constituency; what plans he has to use such powers; and if he will make a statement.

(98448)

23
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98700)

24
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98701)

25
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98702)

26
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress is being made towards a code of practice for clay pigeon shooting.

(98827)

27
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proposals for the content of the Millennium Experience were received by ministers and the New Millennium Experience Company from the National Book Committee; and what response was given.

(98824)

28
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what arrangements have been made in the Millennium Experience to enable visitors to purchase the Bible and the sacred literature of other faiths.

(98825)

29
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if any zones in the Millennium Dome will not be fully functioning by (a) 10th December, (b) 24th December and (c) 31st December.

(98822)

30
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what was the total cost of focus group research carried out by the New Millennium Experience Company; and if he will publish the names of the organisations which carried out the research, the questions put to participants and the results of the research.

(98823)

31
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that foreign military forces stationed in the United Kingdom do not store land mines in the United Kingdom.

(98594)

32
   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent in (a) legal fees, (b) travel costs and (c) other expenses in opposing the application at the European Court of Human Rights by former servicemen and servicewomen challenging the ban on homosexuals joining Her Majesty's Forces.

(98587)

33
   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on (a) legal fees, (b) special security measures and (c) other expenses in supporting former members of the Parachute Regiment in connection with the Saville Inquiry.

(98588)

34
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98721)

35
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98720)

36
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98722)

37
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) the original in-service date, (b) the current in-service date, (c) the actual or estimated cost, (d) the years of peak expenditure and (e) the prime contractor for the Endorsed Staff Targets for (1) Future Offensive Air System, (2) Bowman, (3) Barmine Replacement, (4) Area Weapon Effects Simulator, (5) Future Short and Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (SHORADS/VSHORADS), (6) Combined Arms Tactical Trainer, (7) Terrier, (8) Range Extension for Tactical Trunk Communications, (9) Future Engineer Tank, (10) Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System (LIMAWS), (11) Next Generation Light Anti Tank Weapon (NLAW), (12) Formation Battle Management System, (13) Theatre Wide Area Communications Network (TWACN), (14) Future Carrier-Borne Aircraft, (15) Future Amphibious Support Helicopter, (16) SCOT Capability Upgrade (SCUG), (17) Naval EHF Satellite Terminal (NEST) Communication Programme, (18) Electronic Warfare Database and Rapid Reaction Facility, (19) Sonar 2087 and (20) EW 2000.

(98481)

38
   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (i) the original in-service date, (ii) the current in-service date, (iii) the estimated and actual costs, (iv) the years of expected peak expenditure and (v) the prime contractor for all the endorsed staff requirements.

(98583)

39
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in respect of how many service personnel the cause of illness sustained during the Gulf War campaign has still not been identified.

(98580)

40
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what equipment is included in table 1.13 of the UK Defence Statistics 1999.

(98484)

41
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the Boeing C-17 airlifter as a potential solution to the heavy lift requirement of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

(98726)

42
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to review the entitlement to attributable forces family pension.

(98748)

43
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of further education students received help with childcare costs through access funds in 1999-2000 and 1998-99.

(98671)

44
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many places with registered forms of childcare there have been for each quarter of 1999 in England.

(98664)

45
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has for the strengthening of early years development and child care partnership plans to ensure a comprehensive network of childcare provision.

(98727)

46
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much was spent per pupil in maintained schools in each year for each of the last 20 years.

(98630)

47
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what (a) performance indicators and (b) output measures are used to measure the (i) absolute and (ii) relative performance of Merseyside TEC.

(98569)

48
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what level of funding is received by Merseyside TEC per head of population.

(98570)

49
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on his initiatives to develop the potential of above-average ability children, with particular reference to Sefton.

(98602)

50
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of the total education budget of Sefton Metropolitan Borough was spent on administration in each year from 1992 to 1998.

(98597)

51
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much funding is realised by the Merseyside TEC from the private sector.

(98476)

52
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what level of funding was received by each TEC in the North West and North East in the last financial year.

(98515)

53
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people in (a) Don Valley, (b) Doncaster and (c) South Yorkshire will benefit from the extended New Deal.

(98455)

54
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the outcome of the Labour and Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 12th November; and if he will make a statement.

(98507)

55
   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if she will set out in respect of each education authority area the percentage of three year olds whose pre-school learning is being funded by her Department in the current financial year under the scheme announced in December 1998.

(98589)

56
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(99145)

57
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(99146)

58
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98689)

59
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will place in the Library a list of the schools and local education authorities which made representations to his Department or to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (a) supporting, or (b) opposing a revision of the test dates for Key Stages 2 and 3 in 2000.

(98728)

60
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many civil servants are employed at his Department's offices in Darlington; and how many he expects to be employed there in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

(99054)

61
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many civil servants were employed by his Department in (a) 1999, (b) 1998 and (c) 1997.

(99052)

62
   Mr Tom Pendry (Stalybridge and Hyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much of the Further Education Standards Fund will be allocated to training in the hospitality and tourism sectors in the next 12 months.

(98495)

63
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when his Department will give its considered response to the Equal Opportunities Commission's proposal for reform of equal opportunities legislation.

(98680)

64
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the value of EU-funded programmes to schools, colleges, training boards and students in (a) Southampton, (b) Newcastle, (c) Hull, (d) Sheffield, (e) Manchester, (f) Rotherham, (g) Dover, (h) Bristol, (i) Bath, (j) Sunderland, (k) Birmingham and (l) Leicester.

(98575)

65
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the proposed date for implementation of section 37 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

(98631)

66
   Mr Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to make an announcement on the proposed parish council for Frankley in Birmingham.

(98821)

67
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to ensure that the Rail Regulator requires Railtrack to improve its safety standards.

(98667)

68
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to replace the current Code of Practice on Technical Aspects of the Fluoridation of Water Supplies.

(98666)

69
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the primary reasons were for families becoming homeless within Merseyside in each year since 1993.

(98601)

70
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the primary reasons were for homelessness on Merseyside in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by gender.

(98598)

71
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many children formed part of families made homeless in Sefton in each year since 1996.

(98600)

72
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to introduce the possibility of requiring people to re-take driving tests as a way of improving driving standards.

(98599)

73
   Mr Stephen Day (Cheadle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many transport consultation documents have been issued since May 1997; and how many are currently in consultation.

(98629)

74
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to extend the MOT test to include checks on (a) the safety and security of children's restraints and children's seats when fitted in motor vehicles and (b) the suitability of such devices for their purported purpose; and if he will make a statement.

(98514)

75
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98690)

76
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(99147)

77
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(99148)

78
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    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 the use of road trains in town and city centres.

(98633)

79
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance his Department (a) gives and (b) proposes to give to local authorities on the basis for (i) the use of windfall calculations in residual requirements and (ii) the role of flexibility allowances in the preparation of structure plans.

(98581)

80
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to amend the guidance given in Circular 1/93 from his Department to local highway authorities about local speed limits; and if he will make a statement.

(98729)

81
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many complaints have been received each year by the Rail Regulator against Central Trains; and if he will make a statement.

(98504)

82
   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the source is of the traffic figures used in calculating highway standard spending assessment; and what action he takes if they are disputed by the local authority concerned.

(98723)

83
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the progress made in developing the National Land Information Service.

(98746)

84
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he or any of his ministers last met the Executive Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham; what the date was of that meeting; what was discussed at the meeting; and who else was present at the meeting.

(98665)

85
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the impact of EU environmental directives in (a) Southampton, (b) Newcastle, (c) Hull, (d) Sheffield, (e) Manchester, (f) Rotherham, (g) Dover, (h) Bristol, (i) Bath, (j) Sunderland, (k) Birmingham and (l) Leicester.

(98576)

86
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the average tax, VAT and AMLD on different types of cash prize machines in (a) 1997 and (b) 1999.

(99164)

87
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the ratios of tax to turnover on (a) £6 jackpot machines, (b) 2p/10p coin pusher machines and (c) higher prize machines in (i) 1997 and (ii) 1999.

(99163)

88
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take 2p and 10p stake machines out of licence duty.

(99165)

89
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons he intends to exempt kerosene as an industrial fuel from the climate change levy.

(98584)

90
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if it is his policy that the price differential between liquid petroleum gas and hydrocarbon oils should not be widened to the disadvantage of liquid petroleum gas as a result of the climate change levy.

(98585)

91
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of introducing a tax credit scheme for carers and care recipients on the same basis as the working family tax credit.

(98459)

92
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of reintroducing the dependent relative's tax allowance.

(98460)

93
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out the costs of introducing the free television licence for those persons aged over 75 years in each of the next 10 years.

(98510)

94
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of disregarding the basic state pension for the purposes of tax.

(98512)

95
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will publish definitive and complete rules for the transitional arrangements involved with the new construction industry scheme rules.

(98623)

96
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received regarding the Contractors Helpline for the construction industry scheme.

(98624)

97
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the final report of the EU Code of Conduct (Business Taxation) Group.

(98735)

98
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the tax measures affecting the UK and Crown dependencies which have been identified as requiring amendment by the EU Code of Conduct (Business Taxation) Group.

(98734)

99
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98688)

100
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98687)

101
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98686)

102
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) inquiries have been received by the Working Families Tax Credit Inquiry Line and (b) successful claims for working families tax credit have been made by residents of (i) Brighton Pavilion constituency and (ii) Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority area.

(98826)

103
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the compliance by the Turkish Government with each article of the United Nations Convention on Human Rights.

(98596)

104
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 15th and 16th November; and if he will make a statement.

(98505)

105
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98693)

106
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98692)

107
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98691)

108
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the prospects for displaced Kurds to return to their villages in Turkey.

(98819)

109
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the security situation in Sierra Leone.

(98742)

110
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what negotiations he has had with the Government of Bulgaria over possible closure dates for the four nuclear power station units at its Kozlodny power plant; and if he will make a statement.

(98741)

111
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress in clearing land-mines in Mozambique.

(98743)

112
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Turkey over the Kurdish problem.

(98820)

113
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures Her Majesty's Government has put in place to ensure the freezing of funds and financial resources of senior UNITA officials and adult members of their immediate families to comply with UNSC Resolution 1173 (1998).

(99157)

114
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions Her Majesty's Government has had with leading British diamond purchasers, with particular reference to De Beers, as to what controls they have put in place to ensure that they are not purchasing Angolan diamonds without a certificate of origin.

(99158)

115
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action Her Majesty's Government has taken to expel the chief UNITA representative in the United Kingdom to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1127 (1997).

(99160)

116
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the current whereabouts of the chief UNITA representative in the United Kingdom.

(99161)

117
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what involvement Her Majesty's Government will have in the new United Nations Office in Angola to be established pursuant to UNSC Resolution 1268 (1999).

(99162)

118
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures Her Majesty's Government has put in place to ensure the prohibition of direct and indirect imports from Angola to the United Kingdom of diamonds that are not controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime of the Angolan Government to comply with UNSC Resolution 1173 (1998).

(99156)

119
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance Her Majesty's Government has given to the work of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Angola sanctions with regard to their investigations into (a) UNITA arms purchases, (b) UNITA oil purchases and (c) UNITA diamond sales.

(99159)

120
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the average waiting time to see an orthopaedic consultant at the latest date for which information is available for each hospital trust in England.

(98480)

121
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice his Department issues to health authorities who have a blanket policy not to offer gender reassignment surgery on the National Health Service.

(98632)

122
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cumulative annual savings in publicly-provided formal care if morbidity rates are reduced by (a) 0.25 per cent. per annum, (b) 0.5 per cent. per annum, (c) 0.75 per cent. per annum and (d) 1 per cent. per annum by (i) 2005, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2021 and (iv) 2031.

(98509)

123
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many psychiatric units in the Greater London area have mixed sex wards.

(98452)

124
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the contribution that Merseyside made to the health impact assessment; and what the principal outcomes were of the objectives set.

(98593)

125
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve protection of the public from bogus, dangerous and unethical health professionals covered by the Council for the Professions Supplementary to Medicine.

(98493)

126
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what rules cover the sale of non-moulded hearing aids in retail outlets.

(98619)

127
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list medical procedures and treatments which are not included in the compilation of published NHS waiting list figures.

(98616)

128
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were waiting for a first appointment with a consultant in the West Sussex Health Authority area on (a) 1st April and (b) 1st October.

(98618)

129
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were on the NHS waiting list for treatment in the West Sussex Health Authority on (a) 1st April and (b) 1st October.

(98620)

130
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if waiting times for hearing aid installations are included in official NHS waiting list figures.

(98617)

131
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to order a study to be made on the effect of CS spray on detained persons who are apparently mentally ill; and if the Government will ensure that the use of CS spray on detained persons in such circumstances is suspended pending such a study.

(98450)

132
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98694)

133
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98695)

134
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98696)

135
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Chief Medical Officer's investigation into the post-mortem removal and retention of organs at children's hospitals, with particular reference to Alder Hey, will be completed; and if it will be made public.

(98625)

136
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the mortality rates for each category of operations at each NHS hospital in the latest year for which figures are available.

(98498)

137
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how, by whom and over what time period hospitals will be reimbursed for patients receiving out-of-area treatment.

(98503)

138
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the length of wait for a first outpatient appointment for each consultant currently supplied to the National Waiting List Helpline.

(98502)

139
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of births were delivered by Caesarian operation in each (a) maternity unit, (b) health trust and (c) health authority in England in the last year for which figures are available.

(98499)

140
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many citizens from countries outside the EU received treatment from the NHS in the most recent year for which the information is available; how much that treatment cost the NHS; and how much foreign patients' governments reimbursed the UK for their treatment.

(98501)

141
   Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many citizens of each EU member state received treatment from the NHS in the most recent year for which the information is available; what was the cost to the NHS of that treatment; and what was the amount reimbursed to each member state for treatment of its citizens in the UK.

(98500)

142
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses were employed at (a) York Health Services NHS Trust, (b) Northallerton Health Services NHS Trust and (c) Harrogate Health Care in (i) 1999, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1997.

(99053)

143
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase funding for prostate cancer research.

(99099)

144
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the financial impact that (a) the national minimum wage, (b) the working time directive and (c) the increase in registration fees will have on nursing and residential homes.

(99050)

145
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that local authorities abide by the requirements of the Competition Act 1998 as it affects their purchasing role in relation to private nursing and residental homes.

(99051)

146
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to extend immunisation against meningitis to young people on industrial placements prior to university entry.

(98725)

147
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what payment is made by the Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust and the Southampton Community Hospitals NHS Trust to undertakers for the removal of bodies out of hours under the existing contractual arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

(99103)

148
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on medical negligence claims in the years (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997 and (d) 1998.

(98749)

149
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) professional care workers, (b) care assistants and (c) registered nurses there are in England who are exclusively occupied with the elderly.

(98470)

150
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints his Department has received in the last five years about (a) care workers, (b) care assistants and (c) registered nurses dealing with the elderly.

(98472)

151
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a minimum time ban for registered nurses struck off the national register held by the UK Central Council for Nurses and Midwives.

(98471)

152
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered nurses have been struck off the national register held by the UK Central Council for Nurses and Midwives and subsequently reinstated, and in what time period this reinstatement occurred, since the creation of the UK Central Council for Nurses and Midwives for (a) all disciplinary issues and (b) cases involving care of the elderly.

(98469)

153
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will establish a national register for (a) care workers and (b) care assistants dealing with the elderly.

(98513)

154
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will assess the responses to the consultation on the paper, Compensation for Victims of Violent Crime.

(98678)

155
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to review the guidelines for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in the light of Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

(98677)

156
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women were in prison in England and Wales for the non-payment of fines on 1st November.

(98454)

157
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial aid was given by his Department in the last 12 months to organisations that assist victims of domestic violence.

(98453)

158
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will conduct a national review of the care of vulnerable young prison inmates in young offenders centres.

(98673)

159
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the training of prison officers in order to combat bullying in young offenders centres.

(98674)

160
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for privatisation of prisons in Britain.

(98672)

161
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what national initiatives are being introduced to reduce drug-related crime in each year since 1992.

(98595)

162
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the individuals convicted as a result of Operation Care, how many have made applications to the Court of Appeal or the Crown Court.

(99100)

163
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the initiatives taken between 1992 and 1997 on Merseyside to reduce drug-related crime.

(98592)

164
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have brought complaints against more than one person in Operation Care.

(98684)

165
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the (a) longest, (b) average and (c) median length of wait for (i) a criminal injuries compensation scheme review, (ii) a Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel oral appeal hearing and (iii) a Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel paper appeal result in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what were the figures for each of the previous two years.

(98496)

166
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will take to ensure guidance is consistent on the treatment of calculation of loss of pension; and if he will make a statement.

(98483)

167
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements will be put in place to ensure old Criminal Injuries Compensation Board cases are considered by legally qualified persons after the CICB ceases to exist next year; and if he will make a statement.

(98485)

168
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will issue guidance on the justified exceptional risk rule; and if he will make a statement.

(98482)

169
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of criminal injuries compensation (a) remain to be concluded under the previous scheme and (b) are outstanding under the current scheme; and, of the latter, how many are (i) awaiting review, (ii) awaiting a written appeal determination and (iii) waiting on oral appeal determination; and if he will make a statement.

(98486)

170
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his proposals for the electoral register.

(98621)

171
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the general regime at the high-security disruptive prisoner unit at HMP Woodhill; and whether there are facilities, including treatment facilities, for prisoners detained in that unit who have significant mental health problems.

(98449)

172
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many new asylum applications were received in each year since 1990; for each year what proportion were port applications; what proportion came from (a) former Yugoslavia, (b) Somalia, (c) Sri Lanka, (d) former USSR and (e) Afghanistan; and from which country the most applicants arrive.

(98682)

173
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98699)

174
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98698)

175
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98697)

176
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his reasons were for not changing the formula for police funding relating to sparsity factor.

(99055)

177
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will assess the impact of his funding policies on the number of police officers there will be in Gloucestershire in the financial year 2000-01; and how many additional police officers he estimates there will be in Gloucestershire in 2000-01.

(99056)

178
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the advantages of abandoning British summer time in England and Wales.

(98582)

179
   Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish his recommendations following the Home Office Working Group report on additional costs associated with the policing of sparsely populated rural areas.

(98586)

180
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the European Council to consider the Commission's proposals to transfer to the Commission competence for the implementing provisions of the Eurodac Regulation.

(98732)

181
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to make it easier for individuals to use reasonable force to prevent burglars entering their property or removing items from it.

(98490)

182
   Mr Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of UK citizens resident elsewhere than in London who have died whilst temporarily out of the country have been dealt with by the London Coroner's Office in the past 12 months.

(98627)

183
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the rates of (a) suicide and (b) self-harm for each young offenders' institution in each of the last five years.

(98478)

184
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the number of officers employed at each grade at HMP Ashfield; and if he will list how many at each grade have previous experience of working in the Prison Service.

(98477)

185
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is the policy of her Department on consulting NGOs when considering giving financial aid and assistance to countries.

(98442)

186
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with the governments of which countries she has discussed the issue of child labour during the last 12 months.

(98441)

187
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what was the outcome of the Development Council held in Brussels on 11th November; and if he will make a statement.

(98508)

188
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on her Department's assistance to Mozambique.

(98611)

189
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance she is giving to Mozambique to tackle the problem of HIV/Aids.

(98612)

190
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on her Department's assistance to Malawi.

(98613)

191
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance she is giving to Malawi to tackle the problem of HIV/Aids.

(98614)

192
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funds have been allocated to rehabilitation and development in Angola in each of the last five years, broken down by major programme.

(99153)

193
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funds or other resources Her Majesty's Government has contributed to emergency assistance outside the United Nations 1999 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola.

(99151)

194
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funds or other resources Her Majesty's Government has (a) pledged and (b) disbursed to the United Nations 1999 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola by (i) appealing organisation and (ii) sector; and if she will make a statement.

(99149)

195
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what further commitments Her Majesty's Government plans to support rehabilitation and development in Angola; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to the provision of rehabilitation and development assistance to Angola.

(99154)

196
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what further commitments Her Majesty's Government plans to make to the United Nations 1999 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola.

(99152)

197
   Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is the current shortfall for the United Nations 1999 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola.

(99150)

198
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, for the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available (a) in what percentage of cases where a grandparent was given leave to apply for a contact order in relation to a grandchild a contact order has been granted by the courts and (b) in what percentage of such cases the grandparent's application was opposed by the child's parent.

(98479)

199
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, for what period his committee on appointments of General Commissoners of Taxation in the London area has been without a chairman.

(98615)

200
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the most recent meeting of the Parent/Carer Child Abduction Co-ordinating Group took place; and what subjects were discussed.

(98730)

201
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the consideration being given to the Parent/Carer Child Abduction Co-ordinating Group to the question of what information should be included on children's passports.

(98731)

202
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98703)

203
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98704)

204
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98705)

205
   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what moratorium was implemented with regard to spending on through-floor lifts in the North and West Trust area in the current financial year; and when it is likely to be lifted.

(98473)

206
   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the average waiting time between the occupational therapist's recommendation of a through-floor lift and the installation of the lift in (a) the South and East and (b) the North and West Trust areas in the last 12 months.

(98474)

207
   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many requests for through-floor lifts in (a) the South and East and the (b) North and West Trust areas were made in the last 12 months; and in which areas such lifts are still to be installed.

(98475)

208
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much was spent per pupil in maintained schools in Scotland in each year for each of the last 20 years.

(98578)

209
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98708)

210
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98706)

211
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98707)

212
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the (a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries of making home responsibilities protection automatic for all recipients of invalid care allowance.

(98457)

213
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of increasing the capital threshold for income support entitlement from £8,000 to (a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £50,000 and (f) £60,000.

(98466)

214
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of increasing the earnings limit for invalid care allowance from £50 to (a) £75, (b) £100, (c) £125 and (d) £150.

(98463)

215
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of continuing to pay invalid care allowance after care ends for (a) four weeks and (b) eight weeks.

(98464)

216
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of paying the carers' premium to pensioners who (a) provide at least 35 hours of care, and (b) provide care for a recipient of attendance allowance.

(98462)

217
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of creating two levels of invalid care allowance, one at a lower rate, set at the level of short-term NI benefits and paid to all carers for the first three months and thereafter to carers giving fewer than 35 hours of care a week; and one at a higher level set at the level of the basic retirement pension available after three months to all carers giving more than 35 hours of care a week.

(98461)

218
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate (a) the current number of people in receipt of residential allowance and the projections for (i) 2005, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2015 and (b) the cost in each case, assuming uprating continues as before.

(98458)

219
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of extending the entitlement to invalid care allowance to all people of pensionable age who provide more than 35 hours a week of care (a) at its current level and (b) if it were set at the same level as the minimum income guarantee.

(98465)

220
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of people with non-child care responsibilities (a) who are entitled to and (b) who claim home responsibilities protection.

(98511)

221
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the Child Support Agency's policy is in respect of the enforcement of maintenance orders against former partners now residing overseas, with particular reference to the case of Mrs J. Basu of Formby.

(98603)

222
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98717)

223
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in 1995-96 and 1996-97.

(98716)

224
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in 1995-96 and 1996-97.

(98715)

225
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to encourage manufacturing industry in the North West Region.

(98669)

226
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received relating to paid parental leave.

(98668)

227
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to introduce legislation to give utility regulators a duty to protect the interests of low-income consumers.

(98491)

228
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to ensure that price reductions on prepayment meters are passed on to the consumer.

(98492)

229
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will set out the respective ministerial responsibilities for the engineering profession and the engineering industry within his Department.

(98622)

230
   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how long the current allocation to the partnership fund under the Employment Relations Act 1999 is projected to last.

(98467)

231
   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the closing date will be for the second round of bids for resources from the partnership fund established under the Employment Relations Act 1999.

(98468)

232
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98710)

233
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98711)

234
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98709)

235
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what were the amounts of export credit guarantees issued in each year since 1979 for which records are available.

(98739)

236
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what were the amounts of export credits which were paid to UK companies following non-payment of bills in each year since 1979 for which records are available.

(98740)

237
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the list of equipment which might be used for internal repression of terrorism in Annex 1 of EC Council Regulation No. 2158/99 of 11th October regarding Indonesia will be used generally in respect of countries where there are human rights concerns.

(98488)

238
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of visible exports were accounted for by identified military equipment, including aerospace equipment, in each year from 1995 to 1998.

(98489)

239
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims have been made for respiratory disease where the claimant has since died.

(98685)

240
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims his Department has received in respect of respiratory disease; and in respect of how many claims spirometry has been completed.

(98744)

241
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list by county of residence the numbers of (a) claims received in respect of respiratory disease, (b) interim and expedited awards in respect of respiratory disease, (c) claims in respect of vibration white finger and (d) interim and general damage awards in respect of vibration white finger.

(98681)

242
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the locations, dates of opening or proposed dates of opening are of centres for medical assessment of claims for vibration white finger.

(98683)

243
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he has reached agreement with the European Commission on the definition of enterprise grant areas in England; and if he has defined aid measures to which these areas might be entitled.

(98679)

244
   Mr Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects the second commencement order under the Employment Relations Act 1999 to be made; and if the order will include section 18(1-5).

(98626)

245
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many firms from EU member states operate in each of the English regions.

(98577)

246
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many firms based in (a) Southampton, (b) Newcastle, (c) Hull, (d) Sheffield, (e) Rotherham, (f) Manchester, (g) Dover, (h) Bristol, (i) Bath, (j) Sunderland, (k) Birmingham and (l) Leicester exported goods and services to the EU; and what was the value of goods exported to the EU from each town or city.

(98573)

247
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what percentage of households in Wales were workless at the latest date for which figures are available.

(98494)

248
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years.

(98714)

249
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years.

(98713)

250
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.

(98712)

251
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many female members of the (a) RUC and (b) RUCR were perceived to be (i) Protestant and (ii) Roman Catholic in 1996 to 1998; what proportion these were of the total number of female members; and what ranks they held.

[Transferred] (98456)

252
   Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the value of EU-funded programmes in (a) Southampton, (b) Newcastle, (c) Hull, (d) Sheffield, (e) Manchester, (f) Rotherham, (g) Dover, (h) Bristol, (i) Bath, (j) Sunderland, (k) Birmingham and (l) Leicester.

[Transferred] (98574)

253
   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he recognises the rights of the Crown dependencies to set their own tax rates, structure and allowances without reference to the UK Government.

[Transferred] (98733)

254
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what actions he will take to prevent mortgage advisers charging non-returnable arrangement fees on loans not proceeded with.

[Transferred] (98747)

255
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the role of local authority social services departments in inspecting the conditions under which children are kept on remand in secure accommodation.

[Transferred] (98676)

256
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who is responsible for producing and monitoring care plans for children remanded into secure accommodation.

[Transferred] (98675)

257
   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the average spending on childcare per week being claimed via the working families tax credit.

[Transferred] (98670)

258
   Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what equipment is included in table 9 of the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls.

[Transferred] (98487)

259
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what percentage of households in Wales were in receipt of (a) income support and (b) family credit at the most recent date for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (98497)