Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 22 November 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 22 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.

MONDAY 22nd NOVEMBER

1
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the 18 month study on fisheries discards which commenced in June was put out to tender.

(99409)

2
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what are (a) the individual regional areas and (b) the management structures within these individual areas in relation to the zonal/regional fisheries management under the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement on the ability of those areas to comply with the principle of equal access.

(99408)

3
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received in the last six months on the performance of the Meat Hygiene Service.

(99291)

4
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many statutory notices have been issued under Article 18 of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997.

(99290)

5
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the enforcement of animal welfare legislation for farm animals.

(99289)

6
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Business Advice Service.

(99212)

7
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what money is currently available for compensating UK farmers for the problems caused to them by the strength of sterling.

(99213)

8
N   Mr Tom King (Bridgwater):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate has been made by his Department of the likely value of the hill farm allowance scheme for the South West Region on his present proposals; and how much he estimates the hill livestock compensatory allowances will be in the current year.

(98604)

9
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the disposal of Covent Garden market; and what plans he has to bring forward legislation to permit this disposal.

(99462)

10
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the extra costs per pig imposed on pig breeders which arise from animal welfare arrangements in Britain which are not imposed in other EU countries; and if he will provide compensation for these costs.

(99292)

11
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what has been the change in the amount of land under organic conversion since the start of the Organic Farming Scheme.

(99214)

12
N   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimates his Department has made of the losses incurred by British farmers as a result of French and German import restrictions on British beef since 1st August.

(98750)

13
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons the list of ministerial responsibilities has not been published since the changes to the Government in the summer; and if she will set a target date for its publication.

(98640)

14
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications of seating capacity options at the new National Stadium for the likely success of a future bid to host the Olympic Games in the United Kingdom.

(98650)

15
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on what seating capacity options for the new National Stadium have been considered by his Department.

(98652)

16
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what consultation process will apply in relation to any proposals for new BBC childrens' television channels.

(98645)

17
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish a list of assets sold by his Department and the value realised in each case, in each year from 1991-92 to 1998-99, together with an estimate of the value of asset sales planned in the (a) current and (b) next financial year.

(98646)

18
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who was responsible for authorising the original design brief for the new National Stadium.

(98647)

19
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations he has received from (a) the British Olympic Association and (b) other sporting bodies regarding the proposed capacity of the new National Stadium; and what response he has made.

(98648)

20
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Sport England Lottery grant for the development of the new National Stadium was conditional on the inclusion of an athletics facility.

(98649)

21
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what requirements regarding seating capacity for track and field events were contained in the original design brief for the new National Stadium.

(98651)

22
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from (a) Greece and (b) academic instititutions in the UK regarding the Elgin Marbles.

(99174)

23
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the Government's policy is regarding the introduction of admission charges at new national museums and galleries.

(99172)

24
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has held with the Tate Gallery regarding the introduction of admission charges at its new London gallery.

(99171)

25
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to review TV licence concessions available for blind people and those in residential and sheltered accommodation below the age of 75 years.

(99173)

26
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which hospices have received National Lottery funding; and how many bids each of them had previously submitted for National Lottery funding.

(99382)

27
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has for the development of children's radio.

(99215)

28
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is his estimate of the cost of the Medium Range Trigat missiles to be delivered in 2003.

(99417)

29
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of adding the Raven 2V frequency-hopping digital radios and the ROVIS digital harnesses to the Scimitar and Sultan command vehicles.

(99413)

30
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the use of equipment supplied to Indonesia's armed forces by United Kingdom suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

(99297)

31
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long the troops assigned to the Saffron Sands exercise will be in Jordan; and when they are expected to return.

(99415)

32
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for instituting battle management systems and digitisation testbed configurations within the Royal forces.

(99416)

33
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many United Kingdom soldiers are participating in the international peacekeeping force in East Timor.

(99301)

34
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Indonesian pilots have been trained in the UK in each of the last five years; and how this training has been funded.

(99299)

35
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of fitting the British Army units in Kosovo with platform level digitisation systems; and how many units will be refitted.

(99414)

36
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on his proposals to revise the terms of D notices.

(98759)

37
   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what recent guidance he has given to education authorities about the extent and nature of support to be given to pupils affected by dyslexia.

(99419)

38
N   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will provide estimates for (a) Shropshire County Council, (b) Telford and Wrekin Council and (c) the Wrekin constituency in respect of the impact of additional government funding since 1997-98 on the number of (i) additional teachers appointed, (ii) infant school class sizes reduced to 30 pupils or fewer, (iii) children who have benefited from smaller class sizes, (iv) schools which have benefited from new buildings or major repairs and (v) extra books for schools.

(99109)

39
N   Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what grants have been made by his Department in addition to revenue support grant for each of the years 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 to date to (a) Telford and Wrekin Council and (b) Shropshire County Council.

(99058)

40
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list all the schools in the West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency that have benefited from the Government scheme to improve the structure of school buildings; and how much each school received which has benefited from the scheme.

(98516)

41
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list all primary and secondary schools in the West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency.

(98517)

42
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many times over the last five years he has used statutory powers to take direct action to close schools.

(99272)

43
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to assist single parents with the costs of further education.

(99273)

44
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to require universities to conduct research in respect of their compliance with Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights and relevant sections of the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

(98524)

45
N   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance he provides regarding inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools.

(98762)

46
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he expects to publish his proposals for the education of children with special needs.

(98635)

47
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people completing the New Deal for 18-24 year olds in the West Sussex Coastal Plain unit of delivery have secured unsubsidised employment.

(98637)

48
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what measures his Department is taking to raise the profile of the special educational needs of children with autistic disabilities.

(98636)

49
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when the annual audited accounts of each education action zone in Round 1 were due to be submitted to his Department.

(99231)

50
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what were (i) the total number of contracts covered by his Answer of 23rd July, Official Report, column 692, (ii) the number and total value of those contracts that have been put out to competitive tender, (iii) the number and total value of those contracts that have not been put out to competitive tender and (iv) the names of all companies with which contracts not put out to competitive tender have been concluded.

(99116)

51
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will state for each financial year to 2001-02, how much of the money announced for capital expenditure on schools (a) amounts to additional spending above the level included in expenditure plans announced before May 1997 and (b) is included in the additional expenditure announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011).

(98644)

52
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each of the education initiatives launched since May 1997 and for each financial year, the amount of departmental expenditure which has been identified as additional to that which would have been incurred as part of normal operational activity.

(98835)

53
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what analysis he has made of the reasons for the real terms fall in education expenditure in 1998-99, as compared with 1997-98, shown in his Department's Statistical Bulletin 10/99.

(98641)

54
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list, for contracts concluded by his Department since May 1997 with external consultants and advisers not covered by his Answer of 23rd July, Official Report, column 692, (a) the total number of contracts concluded, (b) the number and total value of those contracts that have been awarded following a competitive tendering process, (c) the number and total value of those contracts that have been awarded without a competitive tendering process and (d) the names of all companies with which contracts not put out to competitive tender have been concluded.

(98643)

55
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list separately for each financial year covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) for all capital expenditure on schools (a) the amounts to be spent in the form of cash grants to local education authorities and schools, (b) the amounts to be spent in the form of credit approvals and (c) amounts to be spent by other means.

(98653)

56
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made in respect of the funding application for the Seaham Regeneration Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(99207)

57
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the extent of (a) improvements in regularity and punctuality of service and (b) compliance with bus lane regulations, as the result of the pilot enforcement measures being tested on bus route 32 on the A5/Edgware Road corridor.

(99277)

58
N   Mr Clive Efford (Eltham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what options are being considered for the long-term use of the Millennium Dome park and ride sites.

(98966)

59
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he has taken to ensure that the economic strategies of the regional development agencies are consistent with emerging regional planning guidance in each region.

(98528)

60
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he has taken to ensure that the regional development agencies have given due regard to the views of their designated voluntary regional chambers.

(98531)

61
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will require regional development agencies to publish a list of changes that were made to each of their draft strategies as a result of the findings of a sustainability appraisal.

(98526)

62
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the regional development agencies which have published an appraisal of how their economic strategy will foster effective protection of the environment, as required by the statutory guidance to the regional development agencies.

(98525)

63
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what sanctions may be applied to the regional development agencies if they fail to act in accordance with the commitments made in their (a) published strategies, (b) action plans and (c) corporate plans.

(98530)

64
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he has taken to ensure that the regional development agencies have, in their strategies, properly addressed their responsibilities in relation to rural areas.

(98532)

65
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he has taken to ensure that the regional development agencies' duty to promote sustainable development is adequately reflected in their strategies.

(98529)

66
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the information technology projects undertaken by his Department and agencies responsible to his Department, including (a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) expected completion date, (d) planned costs and (e) the expected costs; and if he will make a statement.

(98642)

67
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what obligations the regional development agencies are under to act in accordance with the commitments made in their (a) published strategies, (b) action plans and (c) corporate plans.

(98527)

68
   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what area of land was developed on (a) greenfield sites and (b) brownfield sites, in the City of Worcester, in the years 1979 to 1998.

(99394)

69
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what provision has been approved by the Health and Safety Executive for the evacuation of the London Eye in the event of an emergency; and if he will make a statement.

(98634)

70
N   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the savings which could be made in the management and maintenance of public sector housing by a programme of installing energy efficiency measures in order to end fuel poverty in public sector housing.

(99115)

71
N   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the Government's definition of fuel poverty.

(99110)

72
N   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set a target year by which fuel poverty in the UK will be eliminated.

(99114)

73
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures the Government is taking to improve the quality of bathing water.

(99211)

74
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning (i) low emission zones and (ii) the National Air Quality Strategy from (a) road haulage organisations, (b) motoring organisations and (c) motor manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.

(99107)

75
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the backlog of unopened post at the DVLC; and what operational problems exist at the DVLC.

(99106)

76
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations have been made on behalf of the Goverment to the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning (a) their policies towards UK haulage firms seeking to flag out their vehicles by registering them in the Irish Republic and (b) the enforcement of their policies; and if he will make a statement.

(99108)

77
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the current waiting time is for driving licence applications; and if he will make a statement.

(99105)

78
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Green Ministers Committee last met; if he will publish the minutes of the last meeting of the Green Ministers Committee; and if he will publish the agenda for the next meeting of the Green Ministers Committee.

(99201)

79
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what his targets are for the amount of waste recycled in each of the next five years from (a) residential homes and (b) businesses.

(99200)

80
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he has revised the domestic recycling targets for 2000.

(99199)

81
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what projections he has made of road miles travelled on UK roads for each year between 1999 and 2010 by (a) domestic cars, (b) commercial vehicles, and (c) public transport vehicles.

(99184)

82
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the effect on road congestion of increases in road fuel duties since May 1997.

(99166)

83
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what projections he has made of the number of vehicles on UK roads in each year between 1999 and 2010.

(99183)

84
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what sources of public finance are available to assist in the scheme to re-open the Droitwich Junction and Droitwich Barge canals.

(99463)

85
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to introduce legislation to protect SSSIs; what plans he has to legislate for the protection of peat reserves; what plans he has to encourage the commercial production of peat alternatives; and if he will make a statement.

(99228)

86
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce his Department's decision on the funding of noise mitigation measures along the A404M.

(99233)

87
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to introduce the system of commonhold for leaseholders in blocks of flats.

(99217)

88
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to announce the decision on Part 2 of the second stage consultation on options for changes to the preferential use of Heathrow Airport's runways at night.

(99218)

89
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will review his policy on denying insulin-dependent diabetic sufferers occupational driving licences; and if he will take into account in doing so the current inquiry by the Science and Technology Committee.

(99278)

90
N   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission and other European Union member states concerning the introduction of lower rates for VAT on energy-saving materials and installation.

(99104)

91
N   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the Government's projected spending levels over the planning period for (a) income subsidies aimed at assisting people with fuel bills and (b) investment programmes aimed at improving energy efficiency for the fuel poor.

(99112)

92
N   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate in which year fuel poverty will be eliminated at the present levels of government expenditure and resource commitment and under current policies; and what plans he has for further steps which could bring this date forward.

(99113)

93
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many fireworks imported into the United Kingdom have been seized by HM Customs as unsafe in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(99295)

94
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost of converting UK slot machines and coin handling machines to accept euro currency.

(98761)

95
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he is considering for encouraging a greater take-up of ISAs.

[R] (99179)

96
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what changes have taken place in total private building society deposits since (i) April 1998 and (ii) April 1999.

[R] (99176)

97
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what forecasts his Department has made of stamp duty revenue from securities in the years ending (a) April 2000, (b) April 2001 and (c) April 2002.

[R] (99182)

98
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new savers there have been since the start of ISAs; and what criteria are used by his Department in calculating the number of new savers.

[R] (99175)

99
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of a 5 per cent. real terms rise in tobacco duty on (a) the number of smokers in the United Kingdom and (b) the level of cigarette sales per head in the United Kingdom.

(99198)

100
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which real-terms increases in fuel duty will be ring-fenced in a fund for public transport and road modernisation, as set out in his pre-Budget Report.

(99188)

101
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what basis the climate change levy will be revenue neutral for the private sector, as set out in his pre-Budget Report.

(99170)

102
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the change in the figures for carbon emission savings from fuel duties, set out in the pre-Budget Report, relies on (i) reduced mileage travelled by vehicles and (ii) reduced emissions resulting from technological improvements in car engines.

(99187)

103
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his revised figure for carbon emission savings due to fuel duty increases between 1996 and 2010, set out in the pre-Budget Report, takes into account ending the automatic fuel escalator; and from what year.

(99186)

104
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received regarding the future charging structure of stamp duty on securities.

[R] (99181)

105
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has for concessionary rates of climate change levy on liquid petroleum gas.

(99167)

106
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he is considering for overhauling the current range of ISA accounts available.

[R] (99178)

107
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has for streamlining the existing forms of PEP investment.

[R] (99195)

108
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will define good-quality combined heat and power plants, as set out in his pre-Budget report for exemption from the proposed climate change levy.

(99192)

109
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the projected two million tonnes of carbon emissions saved as a result of the proposed climate change levy, as set out in his pre-Budget Report, is constituted.

(99168)

110
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will define new renewable sources of energy, as set out in his pre-Budget report for exemption from the proposed climate change levy.

(99191)

111
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what basis he described the proposed climate change levy as revenue neutral between manufacturing and services in his pre-Budget report.

(99193)

112
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has for the introduction of a pesticides tax.

(99190)

113
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received calling for the simplifying of ISAs.

[R] (99177)

114
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what basis he has increased his estimates for carbon emissions savings due to increases in fuel duties between 1996 and 2010, as set out in the pre-Budget Report.

(99185)

115
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures he will take to ensure that ring-fenced revenues from real-terms increases in fuel duties can be identified as additional to normal departmental spending on public transport and roads.

(99189)

116
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the anticipated net loss to the Exchequer from his proposed changes to capital gains tax on treatment of business assets.

[R] (99196)

117
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has for concessions in respect of the climate change levy for businesses which have invested in energy efficiency measures over the last five years.

(99169)

118
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has for changes to the charging of stamp duty on securities.

[R] (99180)

119
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proposals he has for the simplification of the capital gains tax system for private investors.

[R] (99194)

120
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the capital gains tax payable when companies formed by residents of blocks of flats entend the leases of those residents who are the shareholders of the company.

(99216)

121
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what actions his Department has taken to implement the measures outlined in his speech of 28th July 1997 on action taken to ban the export of electro-shock weapons.

(98543)

122
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department takes the United Nations' Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners into account before approving the grant of export licences for oversize cuffs, jumbo cuffs and other restraining equipment.

(98541)

123
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications for entry clearance to enter the UK under the terms of the EC Association Agreements were made at British embassies in (a) Bratislava, (b) Bucharest, (c) Prague, (d) Sofia and (e) Warsaw, in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; and how many were issued and how many refused in each of these years.

(99286)

124
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Government's position on the FCO Policy Document 148, 1986, in relation to NATO intervention in Kosovo.

(98534)

125
   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of correspondence addressed to the Migration and Visa Correspondence Unit is responded to within the 20 working days target set by the Department.

(99230)

126
   Mr James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he will reply to the letter of 15th September from the honourable Member for Orkney and Shetland to the Home Secretary and transferred to his Department on 22nd September for the visa application for Amra Jabeen.

(99229)

127
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts concerning paid adoption leave for NHS staff.

(99404)

128
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received seeking the merger of the Christie NHS Trust with any other NHS trust.

(98834)

129
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria are used by his Department to determine if the chairman of an NHS trust should be appointed for (a) three years and (b) a shorter period.

(98833)

130
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS trust chairmen have been reappointed for a second term of office of (a) three years and (b) two years in the last six months.

(98832)

131
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have had to sleep in beds in accident and emergency bays at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, overnight in the last 36 days.

(98521)

132
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have had to sleep on trolleys in the Accident and Emergency Department of Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, overnight in the last 36 days.

(98520)

133
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action is being taken to ensure no patients have had to sleep (a) on trolleys or (b) in beds in the Accident and Emergency Department of Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

(98523)

134
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what has been the (a) longest time and (b) average time patients have had to sleep (i) on trolleys or (ii) in beds in the Accident and Emergency Department at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, in the last 36 days.

(98522)

135
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will seek to eliminate existing regional variations in standards of care and create a national minimum standard of continence care.

(99305)

136
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will remove the existing ambiguity over the rights of people in residential care to receive a full NHS continence service.

(99304)

137
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, under what circumstances NHS policy determines whether an individual is entitled to continence services.

(99306)

138
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will ensure that health authorities (a) promote local continence services to the public and (b) receive funds to safeguard that promotion.

(99307)

139
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the accountability of general practitioners; and to whom they are accountable.

(99275)

140
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to authorise the use of chelation therapy in the National Health Service.

(99274)

141
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will investigate claims that children's organs were removed following their deaths without informed parental consent, and retained by medical staff at Alder Hey Children's Hospital on Merseyside.

(99402)

142
   Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when a Minister in his Department will answer the letter of the honourable Member for Harborough dated 29th September addressed to the honourable Member for Dulwich and West Norwood dealing with certain inquiries from a constituent, Mrs Constance Foreman of Leicester.

(99461)

143
N   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effects of fuel poverty and cold-related illnesses on (a) overall NHS spending, (b) winter admission rates, (c) public health and (d) death rates.

(99111)

144
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which officials in his Department have overall responsibility for malnutrition and nutrition in primary and secondary care and for the interface between public health, hospital and community directorates.

(99283)

145
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what responsibility the Food Standards Agency will have for the health aspects of nutrition.

(99282)

146
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase awareness of prostate cancer in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(98547)

147
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made in (a) reducing the incidence of prostate cancer, (b) shortening the timescale for detection and (c) shortening the timescale for quantitive analysis since May 1997.

(98549)

148
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of prostate cancer in the United Kingdom relative to that in (a) the United States of America and (b) other European countries; and if he will make a statement.

(98548)

149
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if, in the proposed Mental Incapacity Bill for England and Wales, nutrition and hydration by artificial means will be defined as medication.

(99267)

150
   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what concentrations of uranium have been measured in the tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes of people in (a) West Cumbria and (b) other regions of England in each of the last three years.

(99284)

151
   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the health effects of the concentrations of uranium measured in the tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes of people in West Cumbria.

(99285)

152
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what evidence the Government has based its conclusion that drivers using insulin are less safe than others.

(98828)

153
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his policy on the treatment of ME/CFS in young people and the principle of parental consent to their removal from their home for such treatment.

(99453)

154
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the provision of specific treatment centres for ME/CFS and on the system of inspection for the centres.

(99452)

155
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what experiments are taking place on young patients suffering from ME/CFS; and if he will make a statement.

(99450)

156
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department is (a) undertaking and (b) funding into the causes of ME/CFS; and what assessment he has made of the prospects for the success of such research.

(99449)

157
   Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list those health authorities that finance the use of chelation therapy for patients.

(99232)

158
   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the current arrangements for disposing of embryos.

(99265)

159
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to make Carisolv gel available to NHS dental patients; and if he will make a statement.

(99389)

160
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what date the Food and Drink Federation has told him that it expects to complete its review of the purpose and usage of sodium; and what timetable the Government has set for the food and drink industries to achieve a considerable reduction in the salt content of processed food.

(99460)

161
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department changed its advice given in paragraph 24.4.5 of the 1996 advice booklet, Immunisation Against Infectious Diseases, that local reactions and pyrexias occur less often after acellular pertussis vaccine than after whole cell vaccine.

(99446)

162
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the large scale vaccine trials of the pertussis whole cell vaccine were carried out in Sweden and Germany; and if he will place a copy of the report of the trials in the Library.

(99447)

163
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what government funding is available for HIV and AIDS research; and how this is distributed between the NHS regions.

(99388)

164
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department is spending in the current financial year on the treatment and care of patients with AIDS; what is the mean expenditure for each patient diagnosed as HIV positive; and what is the mean expenditure on each HIV patient in each NHS region.

(99387)

165
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will extend the period of consultation on the national required standards for residential and nursing homes.

(98752)

166
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received regarding the length of the consultation period on the national required standards for residential care.

(98751)

167
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many intensive care beds and high dependency beds there were within the NHS in each of the last three years; and how many of each category he expects to be maintained over the next two years.

(98755)

168
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the drugs for which he proposes to set a maximum price using powers under the Health Act 1999; and if orders will be preceded by a period of consultation.

(98753)

169
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of the Statutory Instruments introduced by his Department since May 1997 have had the EU as their legislative source.

(98754)

170
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many copies of the consultation document, Fit for the Future, have been (a) printed, (b) applied for, and (c) distributed.

(99303)

171
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will extend the period for consultation on the document, Fit for the Future.

(99302)

172
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what percentage of cases where a defendant has opted for trial by jury the defendant has subsequently pleaded guilty before the case was heard for each year since 1980.

(99403)

173
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each year since 1980, in respect of defendants who have opted for trial by jury and then changed their plea to guilty before the case was heard, what percentage of such defendants had no previous criminal conviction.

(99405)

174
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers are stationed for duty in (a) Chelmsford town and (b) West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency; and how many there were in 1996-97.

(98518)

175
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has to (a) increase or (b) decrease the number of police officers stationed for duty in (i) Chelmsford town and (ii) West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency.

(98519)

176
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the claim by Mr. R. Knappe of Ferndown, Dorset, for firearms surrender compensation in respect of firearms surrendered over two years ago has not yet been paid.

(99455)

177
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims for firearms surrender compensation have been received by the Firearms Compensation Section from Dorset Constabulary; how many have been completed; how many are still outstanding; and how many have been closed in error.

(99451)

178
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims for firearms surrender compensation are still outstanding; and on what date he expects all cases to be completed.

(99456)

179
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the UK police or prison services use oversize cuffs; and what research and policy guidelines the Police Scientific Development Branch has issued on the standards of handcuffs, oversize cuffs and other restraining equipment.

(98540)

180
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he proposes to take any action over the parading this year by extreme right-wing groups at the Cenotaph, and over the possibility of such parades in the future.

(99276)

181
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the Passport Agency concerning changes to the fees it charges to the general public.

(99383)

182
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from organisations representing tourism and the travel industry (a) supporting and (b) opposing an increase in fees charged by the Passport Agency for issuing passports.

(99401)

183
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what date councils which incurred costs in respect of Kosovan refugee reception centres (a) will receive details of the revised format for the submission of costs, (b) be expected to make their submissions and (c) receive reimbursements; if reimbursements to councils will include loss of interest; and if he will make a statement.

(98533)

184
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for the sale of fireworks to children; and if he will make a statement.

(99293)

185
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for selling unsafe fireworks; and if he will make a statement.

(99294)

186
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his planned timetable for the revision of the Immigration Rules and the publication of revised rules following the passing of the Immigration and Asylum Act.

(98757)

187
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library the conclusions of his consideration of the financial implications of the Government's proposals to change the right of defendants to elect trial by jury.

(99059)

188
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the net cost savings which will be made if the Government's proposals to limit the right to elect for trial by jury were implemented.

(98760)

189
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what services are provided for asylum seekers for help with shopping; and at what cost to public funds.

(98638)

190
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have been under consideration for (a) less than six months, (b) six months to a year, (c) one to two years and (d) more than two years.

(99219)

191
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to implement the recommendations resulting from his Department's research into the cost of policing in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

(99224)

192
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total compensation paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each of the last seven years.

(99223)

193
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total number of claims dealt with by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each of the last seven years; and how many of these resulted in compensation being awarded.

(99220)

194
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to announce details of the police funding formula for 2000-01.

(99227)

195
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost of his Department's research into the sparsity element of the police funding formula.

(99226)

196
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the main conclusions of the recent research into the cost of policing in rural areas.

(99225)

197
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the projected total compensation to be paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

(99222)

198
   Mr David Maclean (Penrith and The Border):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the average time waited by successful applicants for criminal injuries compensation in each of the last seven years.

(99221)

199
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many exclusion orders have been made under paragraph 320(6) of the Immigration Rules for each nationality, in each of the past five years; and how many people have (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully contested such exclusion orders.

(99411)

200
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which measures have been adopted, or are under consideration, in respect of Title IV of the Treaty of the European Community; and which measures he has announced that he does not intend to adopt in future, together with reasons in respect of each measure.

(99407)

201
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which bodies have been consulted concerning relevant draft legislative proposals on mutual recognition of judicial decisions; what will be the purpose of the measures in the programme proposed by the European Council relating to this subject; and if he will list the purpose of each measure of primary legislation, and its title, required to put the programme into effect.

(99410)

202
   Mr John Gunnell (Morley and Rothwell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what reports she has received of the effects of Hurricane Lenny in the Bahamas.

(99205)

203
   Mr John Gunnell (Morley and Rothwell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance was (a) sought from and (b) given by her Department to the Bahamas as a result of Hurricane Floyd.

(99203)

204
   Mr John Gunnell (Morley and Rothwell):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what was the (a) loss of life and (b) estimated value of the damage caused by Hurricane Floyd; and which islands were particularly affected.

(99204)

205
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the decision of some county courts to charge fees to litigants for the staying of cases in accordance with the guidance of Sir Michael Scott after Dimond v Lovell.

(98544)

206
   Mr Michael Foster (Worcester):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what guidance the Lord Chancellor's Department issues to courts on whether a person who has legally changed his or her name by (a) statutory declaration and (b) deed poll is required to reveal any former name when appearing in court as a witness, defendant or civil litigant, or when standing surety for bail.

(99393)

207
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he expects the Chief Executive of the Courts Service to respond to the letter of 5th October from the honourable Member for Aylesbury about the case of Ms Lorna August, which was referred to the Chief Executive on 11th October.

(98756)

208
   Mr Stephen Hesford (Wirral West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has for investment in the National Health Service infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

(99381)

209
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will undertake an inquiry into the safety of the railway system in Northern Ireland.

(99279)

210
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to increase investment in the railway system outside the Belfast to Dublin line.

(99280)

211
   Mr Robert McCartney (North Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to improve the state of the Northern Ireland Railway's rolling stock.

(99281)

212
   The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the cost of hotel accommodation for children in care in the North and West Belfast Trust in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

(99266)

213
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the President of the Council, what representations she has received concerning the appointment of two persons from the Parliament of the United Kingdom to participate in the body charged with the task of elaborating a draft European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights; and what action she has taken in that respect.

(99406)

214
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he or his office have made to (a) the Department of Health, (b) Christie Hospital NHS Trust and (c) NHS Executive North West relating to the future designation of the Christie Hospital as a regional cancer centre.

(98830)

215
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Prime Minister, what representations he or his office have made to (a) the NHS Executive North West or (b) the Department of Health recommending the merger of the Christie NHS Hospital Trust with another NHS trust.

(98831)

216
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the reforms that have been made to national insurance as mentioned in the Gracious Speech.

(99412)

217
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he has appointed a representative to serve on the body to draft a European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, as agreed at the European Council in Tampere; and what guidance he plans to issue to that person.

(99444)

218
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of extending the minimum income guarantee to carers who provide at least 35 hours of care a week.

(98546)

219
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the cost of disregarding invalid care allowance in assessments for means-tested benefits

(98545)

220
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what facilities are available for the submission of completed benefit claim forms over the Internet.

(99197)

221
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what level of disregard is offered for claimants in receipt of war disablement or war widows pensions against income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

(99385)

222
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what sum will be expended on disregarding war pensions when calculating income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(99384)

223
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what sum was expended on disregarding war pensions when calculating income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales over each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

(99386)

224
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners are entitled to means-tested benefit in 1999; and how many will be so entitled after the implementation of the increases in the basic state pension and the minimum income guarantee for pensions announced in his up-rating statement, when broken down between the different benefits.

(99448)

225
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the Government's review of the capital limits for (a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit will be concluded.

(99445)

226
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of pensioners entitled to receive the minimum income guarantee (a) in the current year and (b) in each of the next five years, assuming it is uprated by earnings each year.

(99398)

227
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much extra cash income would need to be received by low-income households in the latest year for which figures are available in order to ensure that all children are in households with at least half average income (a) as the half average is at present and (b) as half average income would be after the extra transfers.

(99395)

228
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners aged over 75 years live with adults of below pension age; and what proportion that is of all pensioners aged over 75 years.

(99397)

229
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what meetings there have been between officials from his Department and the Defence Manufacturers Association Export Licensing Group over the last two years; if these meetings discussed export licence controls relating to restraint equipment; and if he will publish the minutes of these meetings.

(98537)

230
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if his Department takes the United Nations' Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners into account before granting export licences for oversize cuffs, jumbo cuffs and other restraining equipment.

(98542)

231
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will provide details of the export licences his Department has issued for the export of handcuffs listed in the two Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls.

(98539)

232
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if companies that export oversize handcuffs and other such restraining equipment are required to keep records of serial numbers, destinations and end-users as part of the export licensing process; and what reports he has received about the sale of leg cuffs, manufactured in the United Kingdom.

(98536)

233
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what exports there have been by (a) the Crown Agents and (b) other export licence exempt agencies of oversize cuffs, Big Brutus cuffs or jumbo cuffs since 1991.

(98538)

234
N   Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the licences his Department has granted for the export of oversize cuffs, Big Brutus or Jumbo Cuffs since 1991; and if he will provide in each case details of the destinations, amounts, supplier companies and end-users.

(98829)

235
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list by age and number the claimants who have received a settlement in relation to (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema for each month since April; and if he will make a statement.

(99209)

236
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures he is taking to promote the textile industry; and if he will make a statement.

(99206)

237
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims have been submitted in respect of (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger; and when he expects all claims to be settled.

(99210)

238
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures he is taking to promote ship building and repair in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(99208)

239
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received in the last 12 months on the sale of fireworks.

(99287)

240
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many accidents involving fireworks have been recorded in the last 12 months.

(99288)

241
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many companies have gone out of business since May 1997.

(98639)

242
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will put forward legislation relating to the sale of fireworks in order to ensure that fireworks cannot be bought directly or indirectly by young children; and if he will make a statement.

(99392)

243
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received in relation to cause-related marketing techniques; and if he will introduce legislative provisions to prevent the abuse of such techniques.

(99391)

244
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people will benefit from the free licence fee for those persons aged over 75 years, announced by him; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (98535)

245
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects the Independent Tribunal Service to provide the honourable Member for Aylesbury with the clarification of the case of Mr David Reader (references D04 048 1999 00512 and D04 048 1999 00981) which was promised by the Regional Chairman of the Independent Tribunal Service in his letter of 13th August.

[Transferred] (98758)

246
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many export licences for the sale of (a) BAe Hawks, (b) Alvis Scorpion vehicles and (c) Tactica water cannons have been issued in 1999.

[Transferred] (99300)

247
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many SIEL and open individual export licence applications have been made in 1999; and how many of them have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected.

[Transferred] (99298)

248
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on how many heavy goods vehicles vehicle excise duty was paid in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98 and (d) 1998-99.

[Transferred] (99418)

249
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to Table B12 on page 156 of the pre-Budget report, if he will provide a breakdown of the revisions to forecast social security spending in each of the financial years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 by (i) category of benefit and (ii) the factors leading to the revised figures.

[Transferred] (99399)

250
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his statement on page 157 of the pre-Budget report, if he will give figures for the effect on social security spending in each of the years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 as a result of (i) the revised assumption for unemployment, (ii) the reassessment of future rents and (iii) lower projected disability benefit caseloads.

[Transferred] (99400)

251
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many reports he has received in each of the last five years of accidents caused by unsafe fireworks; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (99296)

252
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many members of pension schemes in administration have had their guaranteed minimum pensions calculated by his Department in the last six months; and in respect of how many such members calculations have not yet been made.

[Transferred] (99458)

253
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications for the calculation of guaranteed minimum pensions are awaiting decision by his Department; how many of these have been outstanding for more than (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years and (d) over four years; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (99459)

254
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the administrators of the Management Systems Development Limited pension scheme applied to his Department for the calculation of the guaranteed minimum pensions of the members of the scheme; in respect of how many members of the scheme the calculations have been completed; how many calculations are not yet completed; and by what date he expects the task to be completed.

[Transferred] (99457)

255
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to social service departments on parental consent to the removal of young people from their home for treatment for ME/CFS.

[Transferred] (99454)

256
   Mr Ian Stewart (Eccles):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to extend the survivor benefits under public service pensions schemes to persons other than widows, widowers or children.

[Transferred] (99390)

257
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if households comprising pensioners aged over 75 years living with adults of below pension age will be eligible for the free television licence announced in the pre-Budget statement.

[Transferred] (99396)

258
   Valerie Davey (Bristol West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the accessibility to benefit recipients of (a) post offices and (b) banks; and if he will estimate the average distance from home in each case.

[Transferred] (99270)

259
   Valerie Davey (Bristol West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the extent of fraud when benefits are paid (a) through bank accounts and (b) through post offices.

[Transferred] (99268)

260
   Valerie Davey (Bristol West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what investigation the Benefits Agency has conducted of the effects of its decision to pay benefits through banks by 2003 on (a) benefit recipients, (b) banks and (c) post offices, with particular reference to smaller post offices; and what the results were.

[Transferred] (99271)

261
   Valerie Davey (Bristol West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, in his discussions with the banks about paying benefits through bank accounts, if the banks have agreed to (a) handle the cash necessary for all benefit recipients and (b) issue bank accounts to all benefit recipients.

[Transferred] (99269)