Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 29 November 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 29 November of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

MONDAY 29th NOVEMBER

1
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, what categories of persons it is proposed will be allocated accommodation at Portcullis House.

(99883)

2
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, if he will make it his policy to prohibit the provision of accommodation to civil servants at Portcullis House.

(99863)

3
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what progress has been made by the Environment Agency in respect of its action plan following the Easter 1997 floods and the subsequent report of Sir Peter Bye.

(100784)

4
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his policy on vessels from the Republic of Ireland fishing in the British sector of area VIIa and south west of the Isle of Man.

(100728)

5
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in respect of vessels from the Republic of Ireland fishing in area VIIa and South West of the Isle of Man, what (i) surveillance and (ii) boardings have been carried out in the last 12 months; what conservation measures must they comply with; to what extent they are obliged to comply with conservation measures introduced by the UK; how many vessels from the Republic of Ireland have licences to fish these waters; and how these licences were acquired.

(100729)

6
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received in the last six months suggesting changes in the legislation on animal welfare for farm animals.

(100763)

7
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to promote meat products produced from animals raised to high standards of animal welfare.

(100761)

8
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement regime for animal welfare legislation for farm animals.

(100762)

9
N   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will ensure that all imported bacon is labelled so as to indicate if it was raised in accord with UK levels of animal welfare.

(100101)

10
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in which EU member states animal remains are used as a fuel in cement kilns; and if he will make a statement.

(100576)

11
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the freehold sale price by English region of grade 1 agricultural land for the most recent year for which figures are available.

(100579)

12
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which non-departmental public bodies were (a) established and (b) abolished in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999.

(100622)

13
   Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which executive agencies were (a) established and (b) abolished in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999.

(100623)

14
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many pensioner households will not benefit from the introduction of a free television licence for the over-75s.

(99072)

15
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many more pensioners would benefit if the free television licence concession was extended to all households comprised only of people of state pensionable age; and how much this would cost in each of the next 10 years.

(99670)

16
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if it is the policy of the Government that households with one or more people aged over 75 years should be able to enjoy free access to the digital services of the BBC.

(100317)

17
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many households comprising one or more people aged over 75 years are currently in receipt of a concessionary television licence.

(100316)

18
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many households with members over the age of 75 years will receive free television licences from August 2000; and how many households with members between the ages of 60 and 75 years will not receive free television licences.

(100785)

19
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many tickets have been sold to date for entry to the Millennium Dome, broken down on a geographical basis.

(100786)

20
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what government funding is made available for research into (a) materials used and (b) safety procedures for clay pigeon shooting.

(100667)

21
   Mr Gerry Steinberg (City of Durham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the cost of making television licences available at no cost to all pensioners.

(100572)

22
N   Mrs Betty Williams (Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assistance his Department has provided to paraplegic athletes in their preparations for the Sydney Paralympics in 2000.

(99843)

23
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on policy with regard to the Memorandum of Understanding on mutual communications support between the United Kingdom and the United States of America, signed at Washington on 22nd and 28th November 1988.

(100345)

24
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date war widows will be able to keep their armed forces pension on remarriage.

(99094)

25
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what account he will take of allegations about unfair subsidies to South Korean shipyards using IMF loans when determining the outcome of the MOD competition for roll-on, roll-off ferries; and if he will make a statement.

(100573)

26
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many goats have been killed as a result of experiments conducted on them in the last six months by the MoD.

(100748)

27
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the first vessel of the Type-45 destroyer programme will be delivered; and when he expects the last one to be completed.

(100757)

28
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what talks have occurred this year between the Ministry of Defence and BAe regarding the future of ammunition sales; and if he will make a statement.

(100752)

29
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the value of surplus land disposals by the Royal Navy in each of the last three years.

(100747)

30
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the value of the contract for Rapier Mk 2 surface-to-air missiles that was awarded to Matra BAe Dynamics.

(100760)

31
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Rapier Mk 2 surface-to-air missiles have been ordered from Matra BAe Dynamics in addition to the original order.

(100759)

32
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what he estimates the cost of the British Army recruitment programme in Fiji was in the last financial year.

(100754)

33
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel went as part of the British Army recruiting team to Fiji.

(100756)

34
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many shelter kits have been sent to Kosovo for relief aid; and what is the cost of the kits.

(100750)

35
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the second round of interviews for Fijian applicants to the British Army will take place.

(100755)

36
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many interviews for Fijian applicants to the British Army have taken place in the last three weeks; and if he will make a statement.

(100753)

37
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what he estimates the typical cost of the Type-45 destroyer will be.

(100751)

38
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the collapse of the Common New-Generation Frigate programme on future European collaborative naval projects.

(100758)

39
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British soldiers are participating in the British Army Himalayan Kayak Expedition.

(100749)

40
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what targets he has for the recruitment of ethnic minorities into Her Majesty's forces.

(100570)

41
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy have changed from Maristat One in each year between and including 1989 and the current financial year; into which marital category they have changed; what proportion of each service this represents for each year; and if he will make a statement.

(99928)

42
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if, for the RAF, the Royal Navy and the Army, he will list (a) the number of aircraft crashed in each of the past five years to November 1999, (b) their value, (c) the age and type of each aircraft, (d) the fate of the pilots and (e) the attributed cause of each accident.

(100311)

43
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) the budget for the National Employers Liaison Committee for the Reserves of the Armed Forces and (b) the Territorial Army Recruiting Budget for each year from 1994.

(99930)

44
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the current pay scales for (a) non-regular permanent staff staff-sergeants and (b) MoD Civil Service executive officers.

(99932)

45
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the value of redundancy payments made to non-regular permanent staff replaced by executive officers as Territory Army financial systems administrators; and how many NRPS FSAs over 50 years of age have been pensioned off.

(99934)

46
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions ministers or his officials have held with the Department of Social Security in respect of war pensions for widows; and if he will make a statement.

(100310)

47
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what would be the cost of war widows retaining for life attributable pensions awarded under his Department's armed forces pension scheme.

(100313)

48
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason Territorial Army financial systems administrators have each received substitution pay of £10 per day; and what has been the total cost to his budget.

(99929)

49
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the cost of repairing and refitting the Joint Services Adventure Sail Training vessel 'Broadsword' in the past year; and what would be the cost of purchasing an equivalent new boat.

(99931)

50
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Territorial Army financial systems administrator posts are being civilianised; what is (a) the average and (b) the maximum number of training weeks required to train executive officers as FSAs; what is the cost of that training; what is the cost of (i) subsistence and (ii) travelling expenses per person per day for that training at Worthy Down; and whether overtime will be payable to civilianised FSAs.

(99933)

51
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the recruitment campaign for the Royal Army Medical Corps; and if he will make a statement.

(100722)

52
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the advantages of (a) the Meteor missiles made by Matra BAe Dynamics and (b) its US rival; and if he will make a statement.

(100597)

53
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the cost of fees incurred by the Air, Army and Sea Cadets in using the Criminal Records Bureau will be met by his Department; and if he will he make a statement.

(100610)

54
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of school funding by local education authorities came through the (a) standard spending assessment and (b) the Standards Fund for (i) 1997-98, and (ii) 1998-99; and what are the projected figures for (A) 1999-2000, and (B) 2000-01.

(100092)

55
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he takes to ensure children in primary schools are not subject to commercial pressure by pop music bands performing in those schools.

(100346)

56
N   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the inspection system for early years services.

(99096)

57
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many Commonwealth students are studying in the United Kingdom; and which countries have received financial help from his Department in relation to them.

(100767)

58
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teaching vacancies there are in (a) maintained schools and (b) colleges of further education in the Bolton Local Authority area; and into which categories of subject the vacancies fall.

(100606)

59
N   Mr John Greenway (Ryedale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the proposed disability rights commission will have power to review the performance of social security appeals tribunals.

(99091)

60
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will issue guidance to local authorities on advising architecture students to apply for funding for their entire course at the start of the course.

(100629)

61
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many classes of 30 and over for five to seven year olds were recorded for schools in Shropshire in (a) May 1997 and (b) the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

(100592)

62
   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what arrangements he will put in place to ensure that local authorities' adult education services are funded by the local authorities in 2001 at or above the level of the relevant standard spending assessment sub category.

(100602)

63
   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much each local education authority in England spent on adult education in the financial year 1998-99.

(100612)

64
   Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the level of adult education funding that will be transferred from the budgets of each English local education authority to the Learning and Skills Council in the financial year 2001-02.

(10613)

65
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he proposes to introduce to improve road safety and reduce road fatalities.

(100656)

66
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what research his Department has conducted into the effectiveness of traffic (a) road humps, (b) speed cameras, (c) traffic lights, (d) coloured lines and (e) other safety devices in reducing road fatalities.

(100655)

67
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has to increase traffic flow during the current road works on the A31 in the New Forest particularly during weekends; when he expects the road works to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(100522)

68
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will review the operation of the disabled facilities grant to ensure that it provides prompt and sympathetic treatment for those with degenerative conditions.

(99063)

69
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those local authorities which have negative housing subsidy; and if he will set out in respect of each authority the sum being transferred this year from the Housing Revenue Account to the General Fund and the value of the transfer as expressed in Band D Council Tax per taxpayer.

(100318)

70
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list in respect of each local authority area in England and Wales the projected yield of the Uniform Business Rate in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 1999-2000.

(100741)

71
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he next plans to review the structure of local government in England; and if he will make a statement.

(100787)

72
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made in enabling scooters to be conveyed on trains since February 1997.

(100727)

73
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has for introducing democratically-elected regional chambers in England.

(100520)

74
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what involvement Regional Development Agencies will have in monitoring social exclusion in the regions.

(100518)

75
   Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to issue guidance on future funding criteria for Regional Development Agencies; and if he will make a statement.

(100519)

76
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in how many coastguard stations in the UK auxiliary coastguards have operated digital selective calling in the last 12 months; for what period the emergency has lasted; how many auxiliary coastguards have been trained in the last year; and where they are located.

(100665)

77
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many training courses have been given to auxiliary coastguards in the operation of digital selective calling.

(100664)

78
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what funding has been made available to the Marine and Coastguard Agency for training auxiliary coastguards to operate digital selective calling in case of an emergency involving the failure of radio equipment.

(100663)

79
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of EU transport ministers.

(100499)

80
N   Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for Woking concerning the law on abandoned vehicles, dated 17th September, forwarded to him by the Home Office in October.

(100419)

81
   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many signals passed at danger were recorded for each train operating company since 1990.

(100662)

82
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many flights there were (a) into and (b) out of Inverness airport, in each of the last three years.

(100307)

83
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to protect high-grade agricultural land from development; and if he will make a statement.

(100578)

84
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the response to the consultation on the revised draft PPG 3 on Housing; and when he expects to publish the new guidance.

(100577)

85
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many disused railway lines have been re-opened since 1969; and what was the cost to public funds in each case.

(100580)

86
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to change the rules and financial arrangements of the large-scale voluntary transfer scheme for council houses; and if he will make a statement.

(100096)

87
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his policy on large-scale voluntary transfer of council houses; what assistance his Department gives to councils considering such a scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(100094)

88
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to synchronize secured and assured tenancy regulations in connection with the large-scale voluntary transfer scheme of council houses; and if he will make a statement.

(100095)

89
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to review the local authority capping system in relation to housing benefit.

(100093)

90
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many suicides have taken place on the London Underground in each of the last 10 years.

(100624)

91
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the standard reference rent established by the Rent Officer Service for each locality within Greater Manchester and Cheshire for four room and five room accommodation in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(100768)

92
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what evidence he has received to date, in respect of the forthcoming review of housing benefit, of the impact of fluctuations in standard reference rents on the ability of tenants to take up and retain tenancies.

(100770)

93
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he has taken to monitor the performance of the Greater Manchester Rent Officer Service in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(100769)

94
   Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is his policy on the construction of the rail link between the Land Rover plant in Solihull and the West Coast main line; and if he will make a statement.

(100521)

95
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many representations he has received (a) in favour of and (b) in opposition to a reduction in the rate of VAT on energy saving materials in the last year.

(100775)

96
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what rates of VAT are charged in each of the other European Union countries on (a) energy saving materials and (b) domestic fuel.

(100776)

97
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he has taken in the last year to pursue with other European Union countries a wider reduction in the rate of VAT charged on energy-saving materials.

(100773)

98
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the employment implications of reducing the rate of VAT on energy saving materials.

(100774)

99
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which European Union countries which have varied the rate of VAT charged on energy saving materials since May 1997, indicating the change to the rate charged; and what representations he has made to (a) the European Commission and (b) other bodies on these changes.

(100771)

100
   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the reduction of VAT on energy saving materials in France.

(100772)

101
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the instances in which sums required for fulfilling guarantees made by the Government were charged on and issued out of the Consolidated Fund in each of the last five years.

(100745)

102
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost to the Inland Revenue of providing the support for small firms' payroll operations outlined in the Inland Revenue press release of 11th November.

(100740)

103
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if it is the policy of the Government that sums required for fulfilling guarantees given by the Export Credits Guarantee Department are charged on and issued out of the Consolidated Fund.

(100744)

104
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for a body to be set up under Clause 15 of the Government Resources and Accounts Bill to undertake projects outside the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(100743)

105
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the reduction of VAT on energy saving materials in (a) France and (b) Italy; and what plans he has for similar reductions in the United Kingdom.

(100601)

106
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will reduce VAT on energy saving materials to 5 per cent.

(100603)

107
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the fuel duty increases in table B9 of the Pre-Budget Report make provision for hypothocated revenue for transport.

(100498)

108
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to publish the new framework document for the Office for National Statistics.

(100731)

109
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultations he has had with representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities about the provision of registrars' services between Christmas and the end of the Millennium holiday.

(100584)

110
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to ensure adequate provision of registrars' services during the period between Christmas and the end of the Millennium holiday.

(100585)

111
   Mr Jim Marshall (Leicester South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the outcome of the Budget Council held in Brussels on 25th-26th November; and if he will make a statement.

(100571)

112
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting the Highlands and Islands of Scotland from air passenger duty.

(100305)

113
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting Inverness from air passenger duty.

(100306)

114
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on exempting the Highlands and Islands of Scotland from air passenger duty.

(100309)

115
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on exempting the Highlands and Islands of Scotland from air passenger duty.

(100308)

116
   Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the net and gross contributions by the United Kingdom to the EU in 1997 and 1998, indicating the source of the date.

(100621)

117
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what policy options are available to him to dampen house price increases.

(100575)

118
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) inquiries have been received by the Working Families Tax Credit Inquiry Line and (b) successful claims for working families tax credit have been made by residents of Pendle.

(100626)

119
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of new pensioner couples who will be affected by the withdrawal of married tax allowances.

(99085)

120
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the timetable for publication of the draft legislation on the International Criminal Court; and what consultation he will hold about this legislation.

(100657)

121
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the markets which have been selected by Trade International for special promotion; and what plans he has to develop British trade in each of these.

(100654)

122
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government intends to ratify the International Criminal Court Treaty.

(100652)

123
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the timetable for publication of the draft legislation on the International Criminal Court.

(100653)

124
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the working of the agreement relating to co-operation in mapping, charting and geodesy signed at Feltham and Washington on 4th and 18th July 1985.

(100344)

125
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had with President Jiang Zemin during his recent visit regarding protecting the environment (a) nationally and (b) globally.

(100635)

126
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the work of the British Council in China in the last 10 years.

(100640)

127
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he discussed with President Jiang Zemin during his recent visit the situation in Hong Kong since its handover in 1997.

(100639)

128
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had with President Jiang Zemin during his recent visit regarding China's role in the UN Security Council.

(100634)

129
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had with President Jiang Zemin during his recent visit regarding China's role in South East Asian security.

(100636)

130
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to encourage further academic exchanges with China.

(100637)

131
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what agreements he signed with President Jiang Zemin during his recent visit.

(100633)

132
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Iranian Government, and with what response, over the arrest and detention of those who took part in pro-democracy demonstrations in July.

(100471)

133
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last discussed the imprisonment of Mrs Leyla Zana with the Turkish authorities.

(100764)

134
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) officials in his Department, (b) officials in other departments and (c) others are currently working on the bill to restore British citizenship to the people of British Dependent Territories.

(100312)

135
   Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Iranian authorities regarding the political trial of Abdollah Nouri; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the trial for (a) United Kingdom-Iran relations and (b) the parliamentary elections promised for February.

(100617)

136
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what written record was kept of the (a) proceedings and (b) conclusions reached at meetings between the Metropolitan Police and his Department's officials in relation to the Chinese President's State Visit.

(100420)

137
N   Mr John Maples (Stratford-on-Avon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to what extent the costs of the Your Britain Your Europe campaign and the Minister of State's tour of the UK are being met from public funds.

(100319)

138
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received concerning the killings in Madhu Church, Manar, Sri Lanka.

(100134)

139
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what issues of human rights and democracy he raised with the Amir of Bahrain during his recent visit to Britain.

(100666)

140
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the six ML1 SIELS and one ML1 open individual export licences for exports to Bahrain this year.

(100135)

141
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has evaluated regarding the role of paramedics currently involved in conveying people to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983; and what training will be provided to enable the police to convey people appropriately.

(100780)

142
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will encourage other police forces to adopt the arrangements which exist between the Metropolitan Police and the London Ambulance Service regarding the transport to hospital of people with excited delirium and people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

(100781)

143
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about the removal of tooth whiteners from sale following its change of status from a medical device to a cosmetic.

(100661)

144
   Mr Martin Caton (Gower):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve governmental supervision of the work of the General Medical Council.

(100738)

145
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total expenditure on all national health services in the Borough of Barnet in each of the last five years.

(100215)

146
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made by Northamptonshire Health Authority in meeting the Government's targets to reduce waiting lists within the NHS.

(100783)

147
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he is taking in response to the report published by MIND in November into social exclusion among people with mental illness.

(100642)

148
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of Avon Health Authority's scheme to reduce outpatient waiting times by guaranteeing a number of outpatient appointments for each primary care group.

(100641)

149
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the estimated cost to the NHS in treating people suffering from illness as a result of smoking in each of the last five years.

(100765)

150
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children have been immunised with the meningitis vaccine since the current immunisation programme was introduced.

(100605)

151
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce more flexible and family-friendly employment policies in the National Health Service.

(100618)

152
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to recruit nurses to, and retain nurses in, the National Health Service.

(100607)

153
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what right NHS patients have to access to information on the length of consultants' waiting lists before they are referred for treatment by their general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

(100643)

154
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many health authority mergers have occurred since May 1997.

(100779)

155
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if all products containing St. John's wort are deemed medicinal by the Medicines Control Agency.

(100777)

156
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the hospital and community NHS trust mergers that have occurred since May 1997.

(100778)

157
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all antenatal clinics have in place a procedure for identifying mothers at risk of postnatal depression.

(100098)

158
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, by region, the number of psychiatric beds available in mother and baby units for the treatment of women suffering from postnatal depression.

(100099)

159
N   Helen Jones (Warrington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women were admitted to psychiatric hospitals and units as a result of postnatal depression by region, for each of the past five years: what proportion of those women were treated in (a) mother and baby units and (b) in general psychiatric wards.

(100100)

160
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many emergency admissions (a) to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and (b) in total for Shropshire Health Authority there were in each year from 1992 to date; and if he will make a statement.

(100723)

161
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to receive the report by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on taxanes for ovarian and breast cancer; and if he will make a statement.

(100593)

162
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in assessing the report on the level of oncology drug expenditure in the United Kingdom by the Campaign for Effective and Rational Treatment; and if he will make a statement.

(100596)

163
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the full patient satisfaction survey results for (a) Shropshire Health Authority and (b) all the NHS trusts in Shropshire; and if he will make a statement.

(100594)

164
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will begin to collate data from health authorities on their spending on oncology drugs; and if he will make a statement.

(100595)

165
N   Mr Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he intends to take to improve the wellbeing of children in care.

(99064)

166
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS dentists have required their patients to take out insurance with Denplan in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(100625)

167
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list those NHS trusts that are planning to cope with winter bed pressures by contracting with the private medical sector.

(100574)

168
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of charging a single prescription charge for HRT prescriptions which specify more than one hormone replacement.

(98763)

169
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he next plans to meet the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition to discuss the public health aspects of malnutrition.

(100632)

170
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the level of malnutrition among hospital patients in the United Kingdom.

(100630)

171
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost saving of early detection and treatment of malnutrition among hospital patients.

(100631)

172
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ensure that local authorities are able successfully to run pilot election schemes, as set out in the Representation of the Peoples Bill, by March 2000.

(100658)

173
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the extent to which the 30 year rule is proposed to be relaxed in the Freedom of Information Bill; and (a) what kind of records will be released which would otherwise have been held for 30 years and (b) on what grounds records will continue to be held for the 30 year period.

(100659)

174
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the conflict resolution manual, revised by ACPO's Self-defence and Restraint Committee, will contain information on dealing with a mental illness; if the revision has been completed; how beat officers will receive this information; and if the manual will be made available to members of the public.

(100718)

175
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is in respect of restraint of people with a severe mental illness by methods based on the infliction of pain.

(100719)

176
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what work is being undertaken by his Department to assess the additional training and other costs if, as a result of the introduction of community treatment orders proposed in the consultation people Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983, the police are increasingly engaged in conveying people to hospital.

(100720)

177
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action the Government proposes to take in response of the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee's (Fourth Report, Session 1998-99, HC 81) about enforcing a requirement that all custody officers receive training before commencing duties.

(100717)

178
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is being taken in response to the recommendations of the Police Complaints Authority on raising officers' awareness of the nature and impact of severe mental illness and about officers seeking advice and assistance when dealing with someone who is mentally ill.

(100716)

179
   Mr Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on (a) the function and (b) the remit of the Advisory Group on Openness in the Public Sector.

(100651)

180
N   Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the advantages of the introduction of national identity cards which include identification for entitlement to social security payments.

(99093)

181
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people living in England and Wales hold a shotgun licence.

(100766)

182
   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 28th July, 10th September and 14th October, from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, concerning Bulbur Begum.

(100638)

183
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date he plans to publish the Passport Agency's business plan 1999-2000 and its corporate plan 1999 to 2002.

(100210)

184
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultations he has had with representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities about the provision of coroners' services during the period between Christmas and the end of the millennium holiday.

(100586)

185
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date his advisory board considered the Passport Agency's business plan 1999 to 2000 and its corporate plan 1999 to 2002; and if his advisory board has now approved those plans.

(100208)

186
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to ensure the adequate provision of Coroners' services during the period between Christmas and the end of the Millennium holiday.

(100587)

187
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what policy changes the Government plans to implement following the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Hashman and Harrup.

(100588)

188
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on progress in his review of the future level of passport fees.

(100214)

189
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice he has issued to local authorities about emergency planning during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year period.

(100583)

190
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the Board of the United Kingdom Passport Agency considered its business plan 1999-2000 and its corporate plan 1999 to 2002; and if the plans have been approved.

(100209)

191
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the state of readiness of local authorities' emergency plans for the period by Christmas 1999 and New Year 2000.

(100582)

192
   Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used to assess the validity of marriages in cases where the husband has been allowed residence in the United Kingdom following marriage.

(100616)

193
   Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on co-operation between different government agencies to (a) track down and (b) deport illegal immigrants.

(100615)

194
   Mr Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many persons have been deported over the past 12 months; and on what grounds.

(100614)

195
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the progress of the police investigation of the murder of Jill Dando.

(100589)

196
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the total amount of the settlements made with the five employees of the Commission for Racial Equality with regard to their claims of racial discrimination against the Commission.

(100211)

197
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Criminal Records Bureau will come into operation; and if he will make a statement.

(100609)

198
   Bob Russell (Colchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the estimated cost of establishing the Criminal Records Bureau; how many staff will be employed when it commences operations; and what is the estimated annual cost of running the Bureau.

(100611)

199
   Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to amend the law relating to the registration of births of children conceived after the father's death; and if he will make a statement.

(100620)

200
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the health and safety of police officers of their exclusion from the Working Time Regulation.

(100628)

201
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he gives to magistrates on the criteria for releasing persons on bail charged with a serious assault rather than remanding them in custody; and if he has any plans to review this guidance.

(100347)

202
   Mr Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate he has made of the cost to the House of (a) the conducting of each division of the House (i) before and (ii) after 10 p.m. and (b) each hour of the House's sitting after 10 p.m., in each case including all costs relating to staff and the Parliamentary Estate.

(100746)

203
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on her support (a) for traditional medicine in treatment and management of HIV/AIDS and malaria in developing countries and (b) for the work of the Commonwealth Working Group on traditional and complementary health systems.

(100726)

204
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, under what circumstances and for what special reasons legal aid can be made available to enable bereaved families to be legally represented at inquests.

(100715)

205
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the average cost per day of a trial in a Magistrates Court (a) at which a stipendiary magistrate presides and (b) before lay justices.

(100315)

206
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what would have been the hourly rate for legal aid work in magistrates' courts had fees been raised annually in line with inflation, detailed by each year, in each of the last five years.

(100470)

207
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many vacancies for judicial appointments there were in the (a) House of Lords, (b) Court of Appeal and (c) High Court in each of the last three years.

(100418)

208
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when Sir Len Peach was commissioned to conduct his inquiry into the procedures for appointing judges and QCs; by what date he was asked to report; and when the Lord Chancellor expects to receive the Report.

(100446)

209
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to advertise for candidates for the eight new vacancies on the High Court Bench approved on 23rd November.

(100414)

210
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what assessment he has made of the research report Paths to Justice published by the Nuffield Foundation, in respect of public confidence in the judiciary.

(100445)

211
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, of the judicial vacancies filled since May 1997 in the (a) House of Lords, (b) Court of Appeal, (c) High Court and (d) Circuit Bench, how many were filled by (i) women, (ii) people from ethnic minorities and (iii) solicitors.

(100417)

212
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are registered on the DNA Register in Northern Ireland.

(100320)

213
   Mr John Hume (Foyle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the correlation between the geographical locations of industry and of universities.

(100644)

214
   Mr John Hume (Foyle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many students, normally domiciled in Northern Ireland, are enrolled in full-time first degree university courses; and how many full-time first degree places are available in Northern Ireland.

(100660)

215
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the average resettlement grant made to prisoners released under the early releases scheme in Northern Ireland; who is responsible for distributing this money; what criteria are used in determining the levels of awards; and if he will make a statement.

(100207)

216
N   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what effect the removal of widow's benefit will have on the widow's eligibility for the basic state pension.

(99075)

217
   Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will introduce legislation to prohibit companies from using existing pension funds to fund future pension responsibilities.

(100599)

218
N   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to amend section 6(1) of the Child Support Act 1991.

(100103)

219
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what recent discussions ministers or his officials have held with the Ministry of Defence in respect of war pensions for widows; what was the outcome; and if he will make a statement.

(100314)

220
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much the Government has so far paid in compensation for NIRS II delays; how much it expects to pay in future; and on what basis compensation is calculated.

(100645)

221
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the implications of NIRS II problems for the implementation of stakeholder pensions in April 2001.

(100646)

222
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much money the Government still owes pensioners affected by the problems with NIRS II in (a) unpaid benefits and (b) compensation.

(100647)

223
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many recipients of SERPS are receiving payments which have been estimated rather than calculated precisely because of NIRS II problems.

(100648)

224
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners are suffering unreasonable delays in receiving contributory benefits as a result of the NIRS II problems.

(100649)

225
   Mr David Willetts (Havant):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what provisions the Government has made to ensure that pensioners are not living in undue hardship because of the NIRS II computer problems and benefit payment backlog.

(100650)

226
N   Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the payment of the winter fuel allowance.

(99098)

227
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what representations have been made to him about the adequacy of the diagnosis procedures for asbestos-related diseases for qualifying for social security benefits; and if he will make a statement.

(99572)

228
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if it is his policy that all those claiming a social security benefit on the grounds of suffering from an asbestos-related disease should have undergone a CT scan to improve diagnosis.

(99573)

229
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what training is undergone by doctors serving his Department to enable them to distinguish between diseases having their origin in smoking and those having their origin in asbestos.

(99574)

230
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what proposals he has to claim from asbestos manufacturers, suppliers and their insurance companies for the cost to the public purse of asbestos- related illness.

(99575)

231
N   Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what arrangements he proposes to make to cover the anticipated time lag between the ending of the existing European structural funding on 31st December and the beginning of the transitional payments under the reformed system; and if he will make a statement.

(100343)

232
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimates have been made of the financial costs to Her Majesty's Government of promoting or providing financial cover for arms exports for the current financial year.

(100581)

233
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to change the home country principle contained in the draft e-commerce directive to amend private international law; and what plans he has to seek changes in the use of private international law to remove barriers to the completion of the EU internal market.

(100304)

234
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment his Department has made concerning (a) the potential impact of proposals for the regulation of the private recruitment industry on job seekers over the age of 50 years and (b) the potential effects of restrictions of the charging by recruitment agencies of fees; and if he will make a statement.

(99667)

235
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans his Department has to establish a code of practice for the private recruitment industry as an alternative to regulation.

(99669)

236
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he plans to accept the proposed Article 15 of the draft Brussels Regulation on e-commerce and Article 13 of the Regulation in their current form.

(100303)

237
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of his proposals on the regulation of the private recruitment industry on the ability of hirers to fill vacancies in a timely fashion.

(99668)

238
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many cases have been reported to his Department of individuals who remain unemployed as a result of temp to perm arrangements operating within the private recruitment industry.

(100302)

239
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library a copy of the environment assessment questionnaire which companies seeking cover from the ECGD will have to complete from 4th January 2000.

(100415)

240
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the impact upon the competitiveness of businesses in England and Wales of the increase in business rates for 2000-01.

(100742)

241
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will place in the Library a copy of the regulatory impact assessment which has been carried out in respect of the new requirement upon companies applying for credit insurance to the ECGD that they must provide an environmental impact assessment of projects in respect of which they seek cover.

(100413)

242
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who will judge and against what criteria whether an environmental impact assessment questionnaire completed by an applicant for ECGD cover meets the Government's requirements.

(100416)

243
   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, by how much the resources of the Small Business Service will be reduced as a result of his decision not to establish a payroll service as an integral part of the Small Business Service.

(100739)

244
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for what reason the announcement on 23rd November imposing a requirement upon companies applying for credit insurance to the ECGD that they must provide an environmental impact assessment of projects in respect of which they seek cover, was not made to the House.

(100411)

245
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what consultations were carried out with British industry and exporters prior to his announcement that applicants for credit guarantees to the Export Credits Guarantee Department will have to provide an environmental impact assessment of the projects in respect of which they seek cover.

(100412)

246
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make it his policy to prevent the display of fireworks for sale until 27th December.

(100608)

247
   Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people have sustained injuries as a result of accidents involving fireworks in 1999.

(100604)

248
N   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much of the provision he has made for the British Coal health liabilities in respect of compensation claims for (a) vibration white finger injuries and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema he estimates will be paid to lawyers in fees agreed under the scheme.

(100212)

249
N   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what will be the (a) maximum and (b) minimum fee received by lawyers for work on any individual claim for compensation for (i) vibration white finger injuries and (ii) chronic bronchitis/emphysema.

(100213)

250
N   Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what fees lawyers will receive under the scheme agreed for compensation for former miners suffering from (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis/emphysema in respect of claims which are unsuccessful.

(100206)

251
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate his Department has made of the final total cost to public funds of improving the approach roads to the National Grid Company's Lackenby to Shipton transmission line.

(100725)

252
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, which minister in his Department is a member of the Cabinet Committee on Agriculture.

(100102)

253
N   Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what was the number of special advisors working for the Secretary of State for Wales in each year from 1992-93.

(100097)

254
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the members of the Food Standards Agency appointed to date; and what criteria were used for their appointment.

[Transferred] (100788)

255
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the Government's policy on determining regional boundaries for the local delivery of services funded by central government departments; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (100627)

256
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures the Government is taking to strengthen the role of the corporate parent to ensure that looked-after children reach their full potential.

[Transferred] (100735)

257
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources the Government is planning to set aside to provide training for foster carers and residential care staff about the education system and on ensuring that children in their care are in appropriate education.

[Transferred] (100721)

258
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of this year's school leavers who are looked after by local authorities are in (a) further or continuing education, (b) employment and (c) training.

[Transferred] (100737)

259
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many looked-after children (a) have statements, (b) are placed in day special schools, (c) are placed in residential schools and (d) are in schools for children with educational and behavioural difficulties.

[Transferred] (100733)

260
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many local authorities have a designated post with responsibility for the education of looked-after children.

[Transferred] (100736)

261
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets including GCSE targets the Government is setting for looked-after children.

[Transferred] (100619)

262
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government plans to take to reduce the number of moves in care for looked-after children.

[Transferred] (100732)

263
   Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that local authorities have adequate data on the educational achievements attained and choices post-16 of looked-after children.

[Transferred] (100734)

264
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many homes in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire will benefit from the increase in maternity leave under the Employment Relations Act 1999 and its associated regulations; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (100598)

265
   Mr Tony Clarke (Northampton South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the 10 fastest growing towns and cities in England which were the fastest population growth.

[Transferred] (100789)

266
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many pensioners in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire will benefit from free television licences for those aged over 75 years; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (100591)

267
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action his Department plans to take following the publication of the reports by the Committee on Toxicity, Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment of September concerning the effects of CS spray.

[Transferred] (100782)

268
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire will benefit from the working families tax credit; by how much; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (100590)

269
   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the findings of the Charity Commission Inquiry into the Adlearn Foundation.

[Transferred] (100730)