Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 25 November 1999

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

.
THURSDAY 25th NOVEMBER

1
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, how much the refurbishment of the Parliamentary Estate has cost in each of the past five years.

(100034)

2
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, if he will provide a breakdown of expenditure on Portcullis House.

(100024)

3
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, if he will estimate construction expenditure on the Parliamentary Estate in each of the past five years.

(100032)

4
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, if he will estimate expenditure on Portcullis House (a) during the next year and (b) before the next comprehensive spending review.

(100025)

5
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, if he will list the intended expenditure on the refurbishment of the Parliamentary Estate (a) during the next year and (b) before the next comprehensive spending review.

(100026)

6
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he is putting into effect to contain bee diseases in 2000.

(99441)

7
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on flood defences in Edgware and Burnt Oak, Hendon.

(98854)

8
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to use his powers to revoke any national list entries in respect of GM varieties as a result of the farm-scale GM evaluations.

(99986)

9
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the compensatory payments to which maintainers of GM varieties on the national list may be entitled upon revocation of their listing after farm-scale evaluations.

(99987)

10
N   Mr William Thompson (West Tyrone):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent discussions have taken place between the Government and SEAC in relation to the use of pig meat and bonemeal in the feed of other farm animals.

(99260)

11
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what date the scheme to provide free television licences to pensioners over the age of 75 will be introduced.

(99860)

12
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what was the outcome of the Culture/Audiovisual Council held in Brussels on 23rd November; and if he will make a statement.

(99847)

13
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if pensioners over 75 years who are to receive free television licences will also be exempt from a future digital licence fee supplement.

(100048)

14
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to respond to the report by the Independent Review Panel on the future funding of the BBC.

(100045)

15
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what projections his Department has made of the number of households with digital television in 2006 (a) with a digital licence fee supplement as proposed by the Independent Review Panel into the future funding of the BBC and (b) without such a supplement.

(100046)

16
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many households have digital television in (a) the UK and (b) each other EU country.

(100047)

17
   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the financial health of Britain's orchestras.

(99902)

18
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current programme for the industrialisation and production phases of the TRIGAT-MR ATGW; what changes have been made to the programme since 1st January; and if the project is on schedule.

(99440)

19
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which countries have signed an agreement to participate in the industrialisation phase of the TRIGAT-MR ATGW programme; which countries he expects to sign; and on what date.

(99438)

20
N   Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) the cost and (b) the delivery programme of the TRIGAT should (i) the Netherlands, (ii) Belgium and (iii) both these countries withdraw from the programme.

(99439)

21
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the armed forces are currently committed to the defence of the Falkland Islands.

(100018)

22
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which posts in the Infantry and Royal Armoured Corps women are excluded from; and by what criteria his Department makes decisions as to which posts are open only to men.

(99326)

23
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to ensure that the current terms of service of young people in the armed forces are compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998.

(100122)

24
   Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the tender documents for the site at the Old Ranges, Shoeburyness, have to be lodged with Donaldsons of 70 Jermyn Street, London SW1; and when the tender documents will be available to possible bidders.

(100055)

25
   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list by local education authority the number of additional nursery school places created since May 1997.

(100007)

26
   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what advice since May 1997 he has given to local education authorities on funding early years' provision (a) at school and (b) at pre-school nurseries.

(100008)

27
   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, which local education authorities provide school transport (a) free of charge to all school pupils travelling a distance of over (i) three miles, for secondary pupils, and (ii) two miles, for primary pupils, and (b) free of charge as in (a) to pupils below the age of 16 years, but charge pupils when they become 16 years; and what savings on such travel costs those local education authorities that charge post-16 year olds to travel make.

(100005)

28
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to include disability awareness in the Investors in People standards.

(99327)

29
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure that a child counselling service is available for all schools in England and Wales.

(100187)

30
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make the proposed Special Educational Needs Bill available in simple text and pictures to enable children with learning difficulties to comment on it.

(99765)

31
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many parents in the last academic year undertook a judicial review of non-admission of a pupil to a preferred school after they had lost their appeal to the relevant LEA; and in how many cases those judicial review applications were successful.

(99862)

32
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many parents lodged appeals with LEAs in England for reconsideration of pupils' admission to schools in the last academic year.

(99864)

33
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the outcome of the Youth Council held in Brussels on 23rd November; and if he will make a statement.

(99846)

34
   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what representations he has received in the last 12 months on the question of providing musical instrument teaching in schools as part of the curriculum; and what plans he has to increase the provision.

(99899)

35
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each education action zone the total amount of private sector resource included in the original bids broken down by (a) cash support, (b) equipment, (c) consultancy and (d) other.

(100066)

36
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure that British teachers working in the European Schools are eligible for the promotion on pay scales to which they are entitled under the European Schools Statute.

(100065)

37
   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he plans to take to secure an extension of the length of contracts of British teachers working in the European Schools beyond the current nine-year maximum.

(100064)

38
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) drivers, (b) riders, (c) passengers and (d) others have been killed in crashes where one or more driver or rider has exceeded the legal alcohol limit in each of the past five years, for (i) urban and (ii) rural areas; what the average figures were for 1981 to 1985; and if he will make a statement.

(100041)

39
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to extend priority red routes (a) in London and (b) to other cities.

(100070)

40
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assesssment he has made of the effect of priority red routes in London on carbon dioxide emissions.

(100069)

41
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the effect of priority red routes on the number of accidents on (a) red routes and (b) other roads.

(100071)

42
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the effect of priority red routes on local air quality in each London borough.

(100068)

43
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the effect of priority red routes, in each London borough, on (a) the volume of motorised traffic and (b) traffic speeds on (i) red routes and (ii) other roads.

(100067)

44
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the railway accidents in each year between 1989 and 1999, giving the numbers of fatalities and those injured in each accident.

(100188)

45
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the outcome, by region, of the review of the General Needs Index for Housing Investment, indicating what percentage increase each region will receive in 2000-2001; and if he will make a statement on the impact on (a) the constituency of Heywood and Middleton and (b) Rochdale Metropolitan Borough.

(99861)

46
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to introduce regulation for bus services.

(99866)

47
   Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the risk involved in children (a) travelling as car passengers and (b) travelling as motorcycle pillion passengers; and if he will make a statement.

(100011)

48
   Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many children aged under 16 years regularly travelled as motorcycle pillion passengers in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(100012)

49
   Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many children have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured whilst riding as a passenger on a motorcycle, in each of the last 10 years.

(100010)

50
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what percentage of road accident deaths in each of the last 10 years involved (a) excess alcohol, (b) drugs and (c) both.

(100043)

51
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list for each year since 1979 for which figures are available the number of maintenance staff who were (a) killed and (b) injured on the railway network.

(100058)

52
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what technology (a) exists and (b) is under development to warn maintenance staff on the railway network of the approach of trains; and if he will make a statement on the train approach warning system.

(100059)

53
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages in terms of rail safety of changing the system of track identification from the current up and down system to numbering each track.

(100060)

54
   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he has assessed the level of dependence of people living in rural areas on the use of (a) the car and (b) public transport.

(99900)

55
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if commercial benefits may accrue to any affiliated or associated companies of consent holders in relation to commercial growing of GM crops.

(99918)

56
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will describe the nature of the unacceptable effects on the environment which he would consider sufficient to prevent commercial exploitation of GM crops.

(99907)

57
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the research data he has received to date on the horizontal spread of marker genes and other transgenic DNA via pollen and dust; and what assessment he has made of this research.

(100166)

58
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what his policy is on using his powers, following the farm-scale evaluations, to revoke consents (a) deliberately to release or (b) to market GM crops.

(100002)

59
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if consent holders will be entitled to seek direct commercial benefit after the farm-scale evaluation period in respect of the cultivation of and the produce from GM crops during the evaluation period.

(99906)

60
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the compensatory payments to which GM consent holders and national list maintainers may be entitled upon revocation of their consents and licences after the farm-scale evaluations.

(100001)

61
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which persons will be entitled to seek commercial benefit from the growing of GM crops before 2003.

(99919)

62
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research he is currently undertaking into the role that the cauliflower mosaic viral promoter may play in enhancing horizontal gene transfer.

(100169)

63
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the advice he has received from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment in response to applications for marketing consent under EU Directive 90/220 for (a) Plant Genetics Systems oil seed rape C/BE/96/01, (b) LF Trifolium A/S, Monsanto Europe, SA Danisco Seed fodder beet C/DK/97/01 and (c) Hoechst Schering, AgrEvo GmbH oilseed rape C/DE/96/5; and when the final decision will be made by the EU.

(100000)

64
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the effect the horizontal spread of antibiotic resistant marker genes from GM crops will have on the treatment of life-threatening infectious diseases.

(100165)

65
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if consent holders will be able to seek direct commercial benefit from the cultivation of GM crops in field-scale and other plantings, other than the farm-scale evaluations.

(99905)

66
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the specific restrictions placed on the cultivation of GM crops.

(99916)

67
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will explain the difference between GM farm-scale evaluations and other GM field-scale plantings.

(99904)

68
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the commercial benefits to which the voluntary agreement announced on 5th November on the commercial growing of GM crops does not apply.

(99917)

69
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received on the damage to Holy Trinity Primary School in Richmond caused by a block of ice falling from an aircraft on 19th November; and if he will make a statement on the action his Department takes to prevent such incidents.

(99647)

70
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate how many additional council houses have been built as a result of his decision to release for use by local authorities, part of the capital receipts from previous council house sales.

(100021)

71
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the cost to the Treasury of exempting (a) the police, (b) the Fire and Rescue Service and (c) the Ambulance Service from the effects of the fuel duty escalator.

(100061)

72
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are in receipt of working family tax credit in the (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Stoke-on-Trent South parliamentary constituencies.

(99876)

73
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average gross weekly income was in (a) the North Staffordshire travel-to-work area and (b) Stoke-on-Trent for the last year for which data are available.

(99878)

74
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the likely cost to the British exchequer of the debt cancellation package agreed at the recent G7 Cologne summit.

(100044)

75
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects the Inland Revenue to conclude its examination of income drawdown and annuities.

(100022)

76
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of family expenditure in each income decile of households is represented by cigarette consumption.

(99908)

77
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of expenditure of different types of households in the lowest income decile goes on cigarette consumption.

(99910)

78
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been the effect on the post-tax distribution of income, by decile, of the increases in tobacco duty in the budgets of 1997, 1998 and 1999 combined.

(99909)

79
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost to UK embassies and high commissions of the appeal system for family visits in each of the last five years.

(99897)

80
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent estimate he has made, in respect of each of the five posts overseas that deal with the greatest number of visitor applications, of the need for further entry clearance officers to deal with family visit appeals.

(99898)

81
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made about ensuring the safety of Ahmadiyya followers in Pakistan in the last two months.

(99849)

82
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on opening negotiations with Argentina regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

[R] (100017)

83
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he intends to have further discussions with the Argentine Government regarding a common fisheries agreement for the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

(100019)

84
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will request a contribution from Argentina towards the cost of clearing land mines in the Falkland Islands.

[R] (100616)

85
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of the number of Argentine land mines remaining in the Falklands Islands.

[R] (100015)

86
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the security situation in Turkey following the announcement by the PKK of its withdrawal from armed struggle.

(100009)

87
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received about the contribution of BBC World Television to the promotion of British interests internationally; and if he will make a statement.

(99997)

88
   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he plans to provide grant-in-aid from his Department's budget for BBC World Television; and if he will make a statement.

(99996)

89
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on the need for further regulation of body piercing.

(99889)

90
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for further regulation of body piercing.

(99890)

91
   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce testing for the Human Papillomavarius for the triage of borderline smears, as recommended by the NHS Health Technology Report entitled A Systematic Review of the Role of HPV Testing in the Cervical Screening Programme.

(100185)

92
   Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the research on which the consultation document, Fit for the Future, was based.

(99850)

93
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurse vacancies exist in West Surrey Health Authority.

(99911)

94
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the standard spending assessment for social services in each health authority area in (a) the last year for which figures are available and (b) 1997.

(99913)

95
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses, (b) community psychiatric nurses, (c) district nurses, (d) health visitors and (e) midwives there are per capita in each health authority area; and what was the total health spending per capita in each area in (i) the last year for which figures are available and (ii) 1997.

(99912)

96
   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the total spending on mental health services in (a) 1999 and (b) 1997 for each health authority area.

(99887)

97
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase funding for research into the (a) causes and (b) treatment of prostate cancer.

(99870)

98
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of regional variations in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement.

(99872)

99
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to encourage a greater awareness of the early signs of prostate cancer in men.

(99871)

100
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on progress made on the setting up of (a) primary care groups and (b) primary care trusts.

(99869)

101
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he proposes to announce his response to the Consultation Document on National Care Homes Standards.

(99989)

102
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many physiotherapist posts are unfilled in the NHS at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many physiotherapists (a) left and (b) joined the NHS during the latest full year for which figures are available.

(99995)

103
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of community pharmacies expected to close during the year 2000.

(99882)

104
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of sufferers of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis live in areas where the relevant health authority will not pay for Beta-Interferon for them.

(99993)

105
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the inquiry into the use of hospital beds to report.

(99992)

106
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what impact the EU directive on pharmaceutical packaging, which came into force on 1st January, has had on the availability and cost of generic drugs to the NHS.

(99994)

107
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of control of infection procedures in hospitals in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the standards set for such procedures in hospitals in other EU member states.

(99892)

108
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of heart attack patients receive thrombolytic drugs within the target time of 30 minutes proposed by his Department.

(99988)

109
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will increase government funding for research into prostate cancer to the level of government funding for research into breast cancer.

(99893)

110
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of nurses working in NHS hospitals on 2nd November were (a) supplied by agencies and (b) employed on short-term fixed-length contracts.

(99874)

111
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the cost to public funds in the last year for which information is available of publishing NHS Magazine.

(99894)

112
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what are the (a) maximum and (b) minimum per capita management allowances for 1999-2000 paid to primary care groups in England.

(99875)

113
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions were tracked for the purposes of charging to primary care group budgets during the first six months of operation of primary care groups; and how many invoices were issued by NHS trusts and health authorities to other NHS bodies during the last six months of the period in which the fundholding and extra-contractual referrals systems were in operation.

(99896)

114
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken and what discussions he has held, with a view to increasing the percentage of urgent breast cancer referrals that are included within the two week consultation pledge.

(100004)

115
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to make general practitioners aware of the need for urgent referrals of patients with suspected breast cancer to be received by the hospital within 24 hours in order to be covered by the guarantee that they will be seen by a specialist within two weeks.

(100003)

116
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government has a long-term target figure for the percentage of gross domestic product that it wishes to see devoted to healthcare spending.

(100006)

117
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department has provided to the Patients Association in each of the last five years.

(99990)

118
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of serving NHS consultants intending to retire (a) before the age of 65 years and (b) before reaching the age of 60 years.

(99888)

119
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to establish a task force to monitor the number of patients who wait on trolleys for treatment in A & E departments.

(99998)

120
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the compliance of current arrangements for appeals against recommendations of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence with the requirements of Article 2, paragraph 2 of the EC Council Directive of 21st December 1988.

(99880)

121
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the (a) effect to date and (b) likely effect during the remainder of the current financial year of primary care group budget overspends on the prescribing patterns of those primary care groups.

(99991)

122
N   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase the supply of anaesthetists and theatre staff in cardiac surgery.

(99328)

123
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the basis for his policy for free prescriptions for those, not otherwise exempt, with certain medical conditions.

(100014)

124
   Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of the reports of the National Screening Committee enquiries into (a) diabetic screening, (b) pre-natal screening for cystis fibrosis and (c) neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis.

(100013)

125
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what initiatives are being pursued to provide a suitable environment for pregnant students prior to the birth of their babies.

(100120)

126
   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement regarding the funding of research into prostate cancer.

(99903)

127
   Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are waiting for (a) 12, (b) 18 and (c) 24 months for hospital treatment; and how many people were waiting for hospital treatment on 1st March in each year from 1990 to 1999 in the North Staffordshire Hospital Trust area.

(99881)

128
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which dental practices in Stoke-on-Trent North are currently accepting new NHS patients.

(100182)

129
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the waiting time between registration of new NHS patients and earliest appointment in Stoke-on-Trent North; and if he will make a statement.

(100183)

130
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he will take to ensure emergency NHS dental services are available in Stoke-on-Trent North.

(100184)

131
N   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to letters to the Asylum Directorate from Powell and Co., dated 17th May, 17th June, 8th July, 17th September and 19th October, concerning a constituent (Home Office reference D282723) of the honourable Member for Erith and Thamesmead; and if he will make a statement.

(99771)

132
N   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the (a) target response time and (b) average response time for written inquiries to the Asylum Directorate.

(99770)

133
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will arrange for regular surveys of the police and other public services to monitor progress towards equal satisfaction with those services among black and other minority ethnic groups.

(100027)

134
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long was the last request by Gurpal Virdi for postponement of the Metropolitan Police discipline hearing; how long the postponement was; and whose availability caused the extra delay.

(100031)

135
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will authorise Gurpal Virdi to meet the police inspectorate before the resolution of the outstanding employment and discipline hearings involving the Metropolitan Police Service.

(100029)

136
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Metropolitan Police Service first received notice of the employment claim by Gurpal Virdi; and what the reasons have been for the delay in the tribunal hearing.

(100030)

137
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will authorise the police inspectorate to meet Gurpal Virdi before the resolution of the outstanding employment and discipline hearings involving the Metropolitan Police Service.

(100028)

138
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when it became the practice for immigration officers to vet passengers as to the status of their visas and passports prior to leaving aeroplanes arriving in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(99848)

139
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effect of the fuel duty escalator on the budgets of (a) the police, (b) the Fire and Rescue Service and (c) the Ambulance Service.

(100062)

140
N   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 12th August, 16th September and 14th October from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms L M Mtato.

(99767)

141
N   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 4th August, 10th September and 14th October from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Cleveland Savory.

(99768)

142
N   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 15th July and 16th September from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Y. Belarbi.

(99769)

143
   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many bodies have been cremated in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years; and, in each year, what percentage cremations constituted of the number of deaths.

(99915)

144
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid programmes her Department is supporting in Pakistan; and what criteria she is adopting in determining which aid programmes to support.

(99895)

145
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement concerning the breakdown of the RMS 'St. Helena' and the future arrangements for transportation of goods and people to and from St. Helena, Ascension Island and the United Kingdom.

(100118)

146
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement concerning progress made on the extention of the jetty to form a breakwater in Jamestown Harbour, St. Helena.

(100119)

147
   Mr John Cummings (Easington):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will estimate the costs of consultants' reports for proposed schemes on the Island of St. Helena in each year since 1995.

(100117)

148
   Mr Nigel Jones (Cheltenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she expects the £10 million assistance to Sierra Leone announced by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to be available to improve health facilities in the Kambia region; and if she will make a statement.

(100063)

149
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance is given by her Department to British companies to win contracts from governments in receipt of aid from her Department.

(100050)

150
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what amounts were paid by her Department to the British Council in respect of work carried out overseas in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99; and what is the estimated figure for the current financial period.

(100054)

151
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how often she meets her French counterpart; and if she will make a statement.

(100049)

152
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department has given in the past six months to Chechnya by way of humanitarian aid.

(100052)

153
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what annual assessment her Department makes of private aid and development assistance to the developing world from the United Kingdom.

(100051)

154
N   Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he plans to implement Part II of the Family Law Act 1996.

(98869)

155
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, which factors are considered by the Official Solicitor in considering whether or not to draw to a court's attention a possible risk that a child may be abducted and taken outside the jurisdiction of the UK courts.

(99725)

156
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to amend the law to enable the Official Solicitor, when acting as (a) guardian ad litem, to initiate applications to a court seeking an Order to prevent the removal of a child from the jurisdiction, and (b) to bring application in overseas courts under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

(99726)
157
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the value is of debts to the Legal Aid Board that are secured against (a) domestic property and (b) vacant domestic property.

(100125)

158
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the average length of time between debts to the Legal Aid Board being secured against domestic property and being settled.

(100124)

159
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the Legal Aid Board's policy is on seeking possession of vacant properties when an outstanding debt to the Board is secured against the property.

(100123)

160
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 18th November.

(99851)

161
   Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will establish an inter-departmental task force on problems facing the farming industry in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

(100057)

162
N   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the President of the Council, if she will make a statement on progress in dealing with the millennium bug.

(99724)

163
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Prime Minister, what consultation the Lord Chancellor had with him about the newspaper reports that officials in the House of Lords were asked by him to make untrue statements; and what advice he gave to the Lord Chancellor.

(100186)

164
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Prime Minister, what is the budget of the Social Exclusion Unit for the current financial year and for each future year for which a budget has been set for it.

(99588)

165
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the title of each report published to date by the Social Exclusion Unit, stating the cost implications of the recommendations made in each report.

(99644)

166
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the title, purpose and work programme of all policy action teams led (a) by the Social Exclusion Unit and (b) by departments with Social Exclusion Unit involvement, indicating in each case (i) the date when they were set up and (ii) the date when their work is due for completion.

(99587)

167
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Prime Minister, how many staff were employed in the Social Exclusion Unit in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and what plans he has for staffing levels in 2000 to 2002.

(99643)

168
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Prime Minister, what the current work programe is of the Social Exclusion unit, including (a) the titles of all reports in preparation, (b) their expected publication dates and (c) any further subjects due to be examined by the unit during the period 2000 to 2002.

(99645)

169
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to improve the representation of pensioners on the trustee boards of pension schemes.

(99999)

170
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which national organisation monitors and investigates performance in processing housing benefit claims within target periods.

(99867)

171
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to bring the housing benefit service within the Best Value Framework.

(99868)

172
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what statistics are collected (a) nationally and (b) by region, on the time it takes to process housing benefit.

(99865)

173
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to allow unmarried members of personal pension schemes to buy annuities where the rate is determined on the member's life only.

(99891)

174
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to allow people with severe and enduring mental illness, who have been discharged from hospital and whose circumstances remain unchanged, to claim disability living allowance and severe disablement premium without having to complete any additional forms.

(99877)

175
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what recent representations he has received on the provision of milk tokens to (a) pregnant students and (b) all women on a low income.

(100037)

176
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what benefits are available to students who are (a) pregnant and (b) single mothers.

(100121)

177
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what recent representations he has received on the incomes of students and their ineligibility to receive benefits; and if he will make a statement.

(100036)

178
   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the timetable for bringing forward his proposals for housing benefit reform.

(99901)

179
   Mr John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many and what proportion of claimants expressed as a percentage of all claimants had their disability living allowance withdrawn in (a) the Vale of Glamorgan, (b) Wales and (c) the UK in (i) June, July and August 1998 and (ii) June, July and August 1999.

(100164)

180
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list all the social security helplines, with the number of calls received over the latest 12 month period.

(99914)

181
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people receive the carer's premium in income support; how many of these are pensioners; and at what ages these pensioners first became entitled to the benefit.

(99920)

182
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what would be the cost of allowing pensioners who become carers to receive the carer's premium in income support; how many new claimants he estimates would become eligible each year; and how long their entitlement would last on average.

(100042)

183
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many recipients of invalid carer's allowance are estimated to have earnings per week of (a) 0-£10, (b) £10-£20, (c) £20-£30, (d) £30-£40 and (e) £40-£50; and how many carers who would otherwise be entitled to invalid carer's allowance are estimated to have earnings per week of (i) £50-£60, (ii) £60-£70, (iii) £70-£80, (iv) £80-£90 and (v) £90-£100 or earnings in other ranges for which estimates are available.

(99921)

184
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Solicitor General, what steps he is taking to monitor and improve the performance of the Crown Prosecution Service.

(98875)

185
   John Austin (Erith and Thamesmead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact on the development of e-commerce of separate charges made by banks for internet purchases; and if he will make a statement.

(99879)

186
   Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the report by the Select Committee on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs on Reducing the Environmental Impact of Consumer Products (HC149), what further regulatory measures he intends to take in respect of on-pack claims about the environmental impact of products.

(100040)

187
   Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the report by the National Consumer Council entitled, The Green Claims Code: Is it Working? (reference PD53/B2/99).

(100039)

188
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what quantitative assessment the Government has made of the benefits and costs to the United Kingdom of a comprehensive multilateral trade round involving far-reaching liberalisation of trade in (a) agriculture, (b) manufacturing and (c) services.

(99873)

189
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many post offices there are in each parliamentary constitutency; and how many of them transact more than 40 per cent. of their work volumes on behalf of the Benefits Agency.

(99766)

190
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the meetings his Department has held with Balfour Beatty plc about the Ilisu Dam Project since 1st January 1998.

(100170)

191
N   Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what initiatives his Department is undertaking to test the medicinal benefits of cannabis.

(99646)

192
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the Government's current investment in the Ilisu Dam, Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

(100056)

193
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee, if he will estimate the total cost of the new kitchens in the Parliamentary Estate during (a) the past two years and (b) the next year.

[Transferred] (100033)

194
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what evidence he has received as to whether transgenic plant DNA is broken down in commercial processing and treatments in animal feed.

[Transferred] (100167)

195
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what analysis has been made of the propensity of bacteria in the human mouth and respiratory tracts to take up antibiotic resistance marker genes and other transgenic DNA.

[Transferred] (100168)

196
   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list by country the value of the outstanding debts on (a) United Kingdom aid loans and (b) loans guaranteed by the British Government through the Export Credits Guarantee Department, showing separately the amount that is classified as (i) pre-cut-off date and (ii) post-cut-off date, for each of the countries defined by the World Bank as developing countries.

[Transferred] (100020)

197
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what timetable he proposes for the publication of the draft legislation on the International Criminal Court.

[Transferred] (100180)

198
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which interested parties will be consulted about the draft legislation on the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (100181)

199
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the payment of national insurance contributions within the student grant system.

[Transferred] (100038)

200
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent representations he has received on the use of alternative fuels for the production of cement.

[Transferred] (100023)

201
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what initiatives he is pursuing to help concrete manufacturers search for alternative fuels.

[Transferred] (100035)

202
   Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to forgive the export credit guarantee debt of the world's poorest countries.

[Transferred] (100053)