Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 24 November 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 24 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.

WEDNESDAY 24th NOVEMBER

1
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to increase consumer confidence over food safety.

(99631)

2
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many cases of BSE have been confirmed in each of the last 12 months (a) in each of the Government office regions and (b) in total.

(99845)

3
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99480)

4
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what guidance his Department has issued to meat producers on the labelling of meat products for sale (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

(99721)

5
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 22nd November; and if he will make a statement.

(99748)

6
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to ensure that the sale of meat produced by illegal means, with particular reference to the use of human sewage or animal sludge, is declared illegal and that such meat is unavailable for circulation throughout the European Union.

(99506)

7
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will ensure that pork imports from countries where standards of animal welfare are lower than in the UK carry information to this effect.

(99756)

8
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make representations to the European Commission calling for French and Belgian beef imports to be labelled with the country of origin as a guide to consumers.

(99753)

9
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what total allowable catches are recommended by ICES for (a) pout and (b) sand eels; and what were the catches of these fish in each of the last two years.

(99755)

10
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will request that the European Commission allows the country of origin labelling required for British beef sold in Europe to contain a promotional message.

(99747)

11
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has for the reduction of industrial fishing in the North Sea.

(99746)

12
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what response he has made to the suggestion by the European Commission representative in the UK that national fishing quotas could be abolished after 2002.

(99752)

13
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to change the level of spending on sea defences in East Sussex.

(99717)

14
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Guide to Better European Regulations was compiled; and what guidance it replaced.

(99625)

15
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will list the occasions in the last two years when Government departments have pressed the European Commission to carry out impact assessments; and if she will list the directives, regulations and decisions concerned.

(99626)

16
N   Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the rules are governing the taking and keeping of minutes of meetings between Ministers and people outside the Government.

(99507)

17
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what has been spent by her Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) her Department's programme provision and (ii) her Department's running costs.

(99481)

18
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many targets have been agreed between her Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from her own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99470)

19
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will make a statement on the constitution of the Council of the Isles.

(98789)

20
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidelines determine the prominence or otherwise of sponsors' branding within the Millennium Dome.

(99319)

21
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many parking spaces are currently allocated for very important persons at the Millennium Dome.

(99320)

22
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list those individuals and companies who have expressed an interest in (a) purchasing and (b) leasing the Millennium Dome after the end of the Millennium Experience.

(99321)

23
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many representations he has received (a) in favour of and (b) against the suggested supplement to the licence fee for digital television purposes.

(99322)

24
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99490)

25
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many golf courses have been completed in the UK in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of those are courses offering open access to the public; what financial support was given to assist the provision of such facilities; and if he will make a statement.

(99637)

26
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to how many questions for written answer he replied by means of a letter placed in the Library rather than by a substantive answer in the Official Report in (a) Session 1998-99, (b) Session 1997-98 and (c) Session 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

(99840)

27
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99478)

28
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99488)

29
   Alice Mahon (Halifax):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) advice and (b) help is given to civilians in Yugoslavia who might have been exposed to contamination by the radioactive dust left by depleted uranium munitions.

(99719)

30
   Alice Mahon (Halifax):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what protection and advice is provided for British ordnance officers engaged in dealing with depleted uranium munitions in Yugoslavia.

(99718)

31
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the nature of the assurance given by DSE(i) Ltd that companies exhibiting at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition would comply with the Government's policies and UK legislation; and what check was made to see that this was achieved.

(99513)

32
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what checks and controls will be established for arms exhibitions held in the UK to ensure that exhibitors and organisers comply with the Landmines Act 1998.

(99510)

33
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects his Department's police investigation into alleged sales of anti-personnel mines at the Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition in Chertsey, Surrey, to be completed.

(99512)

34
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what checks were made of products for sale at Defence Systems and Equipment International for compliance with the Landmines Act 1998; and who was responsible for carrying out such checks.

(99511)

35
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99472)

36
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what discussions he has had with the representatives and operators of proprietorial schools about the impact on them of the decisions of the DETR not to issue permits under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985.

(99838)

37
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many proprietorial schools there are in England and Wales.

(99837)

38
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the level of staff turnover amongst personal advisers in the New Deal programme since its inception in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Greater London and (c) Leaside District; and if he will make a statement.

(99641)

39
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in class sizes of more than 30 in January 1993 and January 1994.

(99580)

40
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the population of ruddy duck in the United Kingdom.

(99599)

41
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the direct cost is to his Department of each ruddy duck shot this season as part of the Central Science Laboratory's culling programme.

(99592)

42
   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many ruddy duck have been shot by the Central Science Laboratory this season.

(99598)

43
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what new proposals have been submitted to his Department by the company seeking to develop the Central Railways project; and if he will make a statement.

(99630)

44
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has produced of the cost of establishing an independent safety authority covering maritime, rail and aviation sectors of transport.

(99618)

45
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he received a report on the Louth District Coroners Court hearing into the death of coastguard John Harrison; and what action he has undertaken.

(99621)

46
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, who has responsibility for search and rescue on the River Thames in the event of an emergency.

(99624)

47
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the definition of a cluster used in planning regulations relating to supermarkets.

(99745)

48
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on what date the Marine Coastguard Agency achieved its Charter Mark.

(99612)

49
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on how many occasions in the last 12 months the automatic data retrieval system has failed to function at (a) Oban, (b) Shetland and (c) Pentland Coastguard stations.

(99615)

50
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set out the division of responsibilities between the Marine Coastguard Agency, the River Police (Thames Division), the Fire Brigade and the Port of London Authority for safety on the River Thames.

(99622)

51
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will instigate an inquiry into charges of bullying and intimidation of coastguard officers by the Marine Coastguard Agency Management.

(99613)

52
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what experiments have been carried out to establish the response times necessary to respond physically to emergency calls at present covered by Oban Coastguard.

(99617)

53
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if the digital computer system for the new Marine Coastguard Agency communications system is operational.

(99614)

54
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to create an independent safety authority to cover road transport.

(99619)

55
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99483)

56
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99475)

57
   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what information has been provided for local residents on the proposed reduction in rail services between Nunhead and Victoria.

(99586)

58
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what central Government support the Tube will continue to receive in 2000-01 and 2001-02; and what continuing support he estimates will be required in subsequent years.

(99571)

59
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has with the Department for Education and Employment concerning the impact on proprietorial schools of his decision not to issue permits to such schools under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985.

(99760)

60
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many proprietorial schools have registered as public service operators following a decision not to grant them permits to operate a mini-bus under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985.

(99761)

61
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what performance targets have been set arising from projected expenditure of £1,190 million on the Piccadilly line and (b) £900 million on the Victoria line of the London Underground over the next 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

(99638)

62
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to publish the Government's strategy for waste management.

(99611)

63
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he is making to his counterparts in the EU concerning the enforcement of a Biodiversity Protocol to be discussed in Montreal next January.

(99495)

64
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the abolition of duty free sales within the countries of the European Union on employment in the UK.

(99607)

65
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to prevent IMF support for South Korea being used to subsidise South Korean shipyards; and if he will make a statement.

(99844)

66
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99491)

67
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the national minimum wage on inflation.

(99633)

68
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many financial services company staff have been disciplined by the regulator in each of the last 10 years; how many of those staff lost their employment as a result; and if he will make a statement.

(99640)

69
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Private Finance Initiative contracts have been agreed in each year since its inception; how much was spent on such contracts in each of these years; what is the latest estimate of expenditure under the Private Finance Initiative in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

(99639)

70
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations have been made to HM Customs and Excise regarding alleged sales of anti-personnel mines at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in Chertsey, Surrey; and if he will make a statement.

(99509)

71
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which British Council offices have opened in each of the last three years.

(99582)

72
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99489)

73
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99479)

74
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in Algeria; and what action is being taken to assist in the resolution of the divisions in that country.

(99636)

75
   Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he has met leaders of the Pakistani community in the United Kingdom to discuss the situation in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

(99722)

76
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made recently to (a) the EU and (b) the UN concerning the effect of the oil fields in southern Sudan on the continuing civil war there.

(99502)

77
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the EU and IGAD concerning the role of oil in the war in the Sudan.

(99503)

78
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from the Government of South Africa concerning the effect of United Kingdom gold sales on the South African economy.

(99608)

79
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry concerning export licences to Sudan.

(99504)

80
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government concerning the return of East Timorese, at present in West Timor, to their own country.

(99498)

81
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to investigate the case of Lt. Colonel Tharcisse Muvunyi.

(99497)

82
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the use of 6 ML1 SIELS and 1 ML1 OIEL exported to Bahrain this year.

(99505)

83
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from the Rwandan Government concerning Lt. Colonel Tharcissi Muvunyi.

(99496)

84
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry concerning a British company's involvement in the supply of equipment and training to the Sudanese for the extraction of oil in southern Sudan.

(99501)

85
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from (a) the Secretary General of the UN and (b) states which have signed the Ottawa Convention, in relation to the alleged sales of anti-personnel mines at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in Chertsey, Surrey.

(99508)

86
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects the UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights violation in East Timor to begin its work.

(99500)

87
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to seek to extend the EU arms embargo and suspension of military assistance to Indonesia beyond January 2000.

(99499)

88
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Welsh language obtains maximum support from the EU under its scheme to aid lesser-used languages; and if he will make a statement.

(99595)

89
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans Her Majesty's Government has to propose legislatation to prevent the setting up of commercial establishments purporting to select the sex of a baby by embryology.

(99751)

90
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will implement the recommendations of the NHS Health Technology Report entitled A Systematic Review of the Role of HPV Testing in the Cervical Screening Programme.

(99750)

91
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria were used to appoint members of the expert advisory group on human cloning.

(99754)

92
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has in place to contain a potential outbreak of a lethal infectious disease as a result of pig-to-human transplants.

(99324)

93
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the scale of the risks and hazards posed by pig-to-human transplants.

(99325)

94
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to make additional funding available to Childline; and if he will make a statement.

(99581)

95
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimates he has made of the expected deficit in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area for healthcare in financial year 1999-2000.

(98555)

96
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimates he has made of the expected deficit in the North Essex Health Authority area for healthcare in financial year 1999-2000.

(98556)

97
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99473)

98
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99485)

99
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the NHS Health Technology Report, A Systematic Review of the Role of HPV Testing in the Cervical Screening Programme.

(99720)

100
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the health authorities in England, showing in each case (a) the amount of money to which they would be entitled in 1999-2000 if every health authority were paid at capitation, (b) the actual amount allocated in 1999-2000, (c) the amount of money by which each authority is either above or below capitation, and (d) the percentage of each health authority's allocation which that capitation under-payment or overpayment represents, ranked by the percentage figures in (d).

(99803)

101
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what clinical trials have been carried out on the use of Irinotecan in colo-rectal cancer treatment; if the chemical use of this drug will be approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement.

(99642)

102
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in each health authority are awaiting (a) heart transplants and (b) other organ transplants; and if he will make a statement.

(99763)

103
   Mr Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average expenditure is per patient on the treatment of epilepsy.

(99764)

104
   Mr Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the prevalence of epilepsy is in each health authority area.

(99839)

105
   Mr Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements are in place in each health authority area to provide a specialised service to patients with epilepsy.

(99759)

106
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on pension entitlement and the court decision concerning QA2 in respect of those whose employment was affected by the take-over.

(99716)

107
   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions incapacitant sprays have been used in each month in each metropolitan police division in the past 12 months; and what records are maintained of each use of the spray.

(99601)

108
   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what rules, guidelines or other instructions are given to officers of the Metropolitan Police concerning the circumstances in which they may use incapacitant sprays; and what precautions officers must take to avoid danger to (a) members of the public, (b) the person being targeted and (c) fellow officers.

(99602)

109
   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training is given to police officers on effecting an arrest on board a bus, and what factors must be taken into account by the arresting officers.

(99605)

110
   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints have been received in the last year concerning the use of incapacitant sprays by the Metropolitan Police; on how many occasions disciplinary action has been taken against officers for misuse or other incidents involving an incapacitant spray; how many officers charged with such an offence were disciplined; and what sanctions were applied.

(99603)

111
   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date divisions of the Metropolitan Police were issued with incapacitant spray; what type of spray is available to them; how many canisters have been purchased and at what cost; how many officers have been trained in the use of spray; how many hours of such training are set as the minimum training for an officer; and how many officers routinely carry canisters.

(99604)

112
   Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions in the past year and in what circumstances police have been called to deal with incidents on buses in the police district covering Hackney; on how many occasions police have made an arrest; and what offences were alleged to have been committed by those arrested.

(99600)

113
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions have been instigated under the Human Fertilisation Act 1990 on embryos experimented on in advance of 14 days.

(99749)

114
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the total prison population in England and Wales as of 1st November, and the corresponding figure on (a) 1st November 1998, (b) 1st November 1997, (c) 1st November 1996 and (d) 1st November 1995.

(99584)

115
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the number of (a) men and (b) women serving a life prison sentence for murder as of 1st November.

(99583)

116
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers and boats were available to the Metropolitan Police Thames Division (a) at the time of the 'Marchioness' disaster and (b) in 1999.

(99623)

117
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99476)

118
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99486)

119
   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what staffing levels will be in operation in each of the police stations within the Metropolitan Police Service Hillingdon division on (a) 25th December, (b) 26th December, (c) 31st December, (d) 1st January 2000 and (e) 2nd January 2000.

(99610)

120
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of Part V of the Police Act 1997.

(99597)

121
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial aid was given by her Department to Kenya in the last year for which figures are available, indicating the projects for which aid was given.

(99585)

122
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many targets have been agreed between her Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from her own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99471)

123
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what has been spent by her Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) her Department's programme provision and (ii) her Department's running costs.

(99482)

124
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimates she has made of the effect of UK gold sales on employment in South Africa.

(99609)

125
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many targets have been agreed between the Lord Chancellor's Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from the Lord Chancellor's Department's own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99477)

126
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what has been spent by the Lord Chancellor's Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) the Lord Chancellor's Department's running costs.

(99487)

127
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the financing of students domiciled in Northern Ireland studying at Scottish universities.

(99437)

128
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99494)

129
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on midwifery services in Northern Ireland.

(98772)

130
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with (a) France and (b) Russia on the operations of Kfor designed to protect the remaining Serb populations in Kosovo.

(99436)

131
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many times he has met Her Majesty the Queen for his regular weekly audience in each quarter since May 1997.

(98557)

132
N   Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will publish in the Official Report the reply he gave to the letter from Amnesty International, the Free Tibet Campaign and Mr. Wei Jingsheng of 21st October, requesting an official statement from Her Majesty's Government on human rights and Tibet.

(99435)

133
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99493)

134
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to change the present system of benefits payments by requiring all recipients to receive payment by automated credit transfer.

(99632)

135
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99492)

136
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to reduce scope for error and fraud in the housing benefit system; and if he will make a statement.

(99635)

137
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the title of research studies, audits and surveys (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned by his Department for completion in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, stating in each case when the results are due to be published.

(99629)

138
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the information technology projects being undertaken by his Department and agencies responsible to his Department, including (a) the start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned cost and (e) the current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

(99628)

139
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the titles of official departmental reports he is preparing with a view to publication in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000, stating in each case the planned date of publication.

(99627)

140
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will take steps to ensure that student loans taken up by mature students undertaking university degree courses are not considered as income for the purposes of determining their eligibility for social benefits, including housing benefits, for themselves and for any dependent children.

(99596)

141
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will support a reference to the Competition Commission in respect of the policy of Safeway to require a £20,000 contribution per product line from suppliers in return for guaranteed shelf space.

(99323)

142
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the post offices that have opened in England and Wales in the last 12 months.

(99606)

143
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisors since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs.

(99484)

144
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997.

(99474)

145
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how equipment confiscated from pirate radio stations following convictions in relation to illegal broadcasting is dealt with.

(99833)

146
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many pirate radio stations have been prosecuted in each of the last three years.

(99831)

147
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will assess the benefits of (a) paying compensation and (b) giving refunds to community radio stations which are unable to take full advantage of their broadcasting licences because of the actions of pirate radio stations.

(99758)

148
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what has been the average fine imposed on pirate radio stations where a conviction has been obtained in relation to illegal broadcasting in each of the last three years.

(99832)

149
   Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what action is taken against organisations which (a) advertise on and (b) sponsor pirate radio stations.

(99834)

150
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to encourage the insurance industry to provide more information to customers about its practice of premium-loading after claims.

(99593)

151
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with the UK insurance industry about promoting plain English in insurance policies.

(99594)

152
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the applications made for licences to export (a) military explosives or additives and (b) equipment for the production of military explosives to (i) India, (ii) the Republic of Korea, (iii) Pakistan or (iv) Singapore, indicating their outcome in each case.

(99744)

153
   Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on making National Health Service patient data available to industry for the purposes of research.

(99757)

154
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list those areas of the west coast of Scotland not covered for mobile phone reception.

[Transferred] (99616)

155
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on how many occasions the Regional Marine Safety Committee has met; who are the members; what recommendations it has made on safety on the Thames; and how many recommendations have not been acted on.

[Transferred] (99620)

156
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what criteria the Local Government Boundary Commission must follow in the creation of local authority ward boundaries.

[Transferred] (99762)

157
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many lone parents have been contacted under the New Deal in (a) Greater London and (b) Leaside District; how many have attended an initial interview; and what proportion has been successfully placed in the employment option.

[Transferred] (99634)

158
   Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to respond to the recommendations contained in the Royal Commission Report on long-term care for the elderly; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (99723)