Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 30 November 1999

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 30 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.

TUESDAY 30th NOVEMBER

1
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the total income received to date from the sale of tallow from rendered carcass material under the over thirty month scheme; and what estimate he has made of the income in each year for the expected duration of the scheme.

(100826)

2
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to approve further loans from the Intervention Board to companies for the purpose of converting existing incineration plants to take (a) meat and bone meal and (b) cattle carcasses.

(100828)

3
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on his policy on direct incineration of over thirty month scheme cattle.

(100827)

4
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the total value was of the loan made by the Intervention Board to Fibrogen Ltd. to fund the conversion of an existing incineration plant to take meat and bone meal.

(100832)

5
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the level of food surpluses in storage in each member state of the European Union, broken down by country and quantity involved.

(100836)

6
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent discussions he has held with (a) the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers on support for the British pig industry in respect of costs of BSE.

(100691)

7
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent representations he has made to (a) the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers on the subject of the British pig industry.

(100689)

8
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the National Pig Association; and if he will publish the outcomes of those discussions.

(100688)

9
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what meetings his Department has held with representatives of the European Parliament concerning the pig industry.

(100692)

10
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent discussions he has held with the Council of Ministers concerning pigmeat food aid exports to Russia.

(100690)

11
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for what reasons there have been delays in payments under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme; when he expects payments to resume; and if he will make a statement.

(100695)

12
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to improve the clarity and accuracy of country-of-origin labelling of food products in supermarkets.

(100794)

13
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of whether the additional sum he has allocated for organic conversion will provide for all those farmers who have already begun the investments required for certification.

(100792)

14
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd November, Official Report, column 59W, on how many occasions since 1st May 1997, the Commissioners have been informed of instances where paid commitments involved time which would otherwise have been spent on episcopal responsibilities; and on how many of these occasions a sum was deducted from the stipend.

(100505)

15
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish a list of those invited to attend the Millennium Dome on 31st December, other than those described as ordinary members of the public.

(99336)

16
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on his plans for securing access to the Internet through digital television.

(100136)

17
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the budgeted income was from ticket sales to the Millennium Dome for the first eight weeks for which tickets were on sale; and what the actual income from such sales was.

(99333)

18
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the breakdown is by region of the number of tickets to the Millennium Dome sold within the first eight weeks for which tickets were on sale.

(99334)

19
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many tickets to the Millennium Dome within the first eight weeks for which they were on sale were (a) sold at full single adult rate, (b) sold at full single child rate, (c) sold at full family rate, (d) sold at discounted rates, (e) given away to sponsors, (f) given away in competition and (g) otherwise disposed of.

(99335)

20
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 24th November on TV licence concessions for 60, 75 year olds and over, what assessment he has made of the number of households that will benefit in each of the next three years.

(100473)

21
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 24th November on concessionary TV licences for pensioners aged over 75 years, if he will estimate the cost, at current prices, of providing licences in each of the next three years.

(100472)

22
N   Mr Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he intends to write to the honourable Member for Cardiff Central concerning ticket sales for the Millennium Experience following his Answer of 11th November, Official Report, column 834.

(100677)

23
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons the Bournemouth Sinfonietta's funding has been ended.

(100791)

24
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that his Department's land is not used by the US Government for purposes which breach international treaties signed by that Government.

(99884)

25
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what tests were applied to clear each target engaged by British forces according to international law during the Kosovo conflict from March to June.

(98563)

26
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many, and what kind of, strike aircraft were redirected from combat air patrols to offensive operations as a result of the deployment of the HMS 'Invincible' Task Group to the Kosovo theatre of operations.

(98564)

27
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total replacement value of the ordnance expended by British forces during the Kosovo crisis to the end of August.

(98566)

28
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions (a) the United Kingdom and (b) all other NATO countries have exercised a national veto on proposed actions during a NATO operation since 1989.

(99466)

29
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current annual level of defence expenditure of each member state of the European Union.

(100834)

30
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the discussions taking place, the countries concerned, regarding the St. Malo declaration.

(100835)

31
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date DRA Boscombe Down carried out electron magnetic interference testing during the air-worthiness proving trials on Chinook HC2; and if recommendations were made as a result of that testing.

(100144)

32
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the longest amount of overtime worked by any MoD police officer at AWE Aldermaston in any period of (a) two weeks, (b) one month and (c) six months, since November 1998.

(100684)

33
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time equivalent MoD police officers were employed at AWE Aldermaston in each month from November 1998 to November 1999.

(100682)

34
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance he has issued to the MoD police in respect of overtime worked by officers at AWE Aldermaston.

(100686)

35
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the average number of days' sickness leave taken amongst MoD police officers at AWE Aldermaston in each month from November 1998 to November 1999.

(100685)

36
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the average amount of overtime worked by MoD police officers at AWE Aldermaston in each month from November 1998 to November 1999.

(100683)

37
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from the Defence Police Federation in respect of overtime worked by officers at AWE Aldermaston.

(100687)

38
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when his Department will inform Banstead Downs Lawn Tennis Club of its decision on the club's proposal to purchase land owned by Surrey County Council and lay new tennis courts.

(99576)

39
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the effect of the statutory restrictions on charging full-time students for the setting of fees for modules of instruction in higher education institutions.

(99937)

40
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to encourage the involvement of trades unions in employee development schemes.

(99938)

41
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of higher education tuition fees on student enrolments, broken down by (a) socio-economic class, (b) duration of course and (c) area of study.

(99936)

42
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what was the outcome of the Education Council held in Brussels on 26th November; and if he will make a statement.

(100829)

43
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list expenditure by each TEC (a) since the publication of the White Paper, Learning to Succeed--a New Framework for Post-16 Learning in June 1999 and (b) in the 12 months preceding its publication.

(99935)

44
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the monies each of the TECs is contributing to the legal fund controlled by the TEC National Council is listed as liabilities in their audited statutory accounts 1998-99; and if they are liabilities upon the Secretary of State's funds.

(100108)

45
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what steps he is taking to ensure that the level of liabilities reported in TEC accounts is accurate and based on a realistic appraisal of the future costs each is likely to incur.

(100106)

46
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what level of liabilities are reported in the accounts of each of the 72 TECs for 1998-99.

(100105)

47
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what level of provision each TEC has made for the severance packages of its chief executive.

(100109)

48
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what contingency plans he has prepared to deal with under-estimated liabilities in the same manner as reserves and assets upon the winding up of the TECs.

(100107)

49
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the honourable Member for Sutton and Cheam will receive a letter from the Chair of the Health and Safety Commission concerning signals passed at danger.

(100447)

50
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on government policy on out-of-town shopping development.

(99023)

51
N   Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has had from the IEA Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Programme on the technology of carbon dioxide capture and sequestration.

(99442)

52
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had with the British Railways Board concerning the planned disposal of the Board's land holdings.

(100679)

53
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the list of the responses he has received to the Government's announcement of new measures to help alleviate noise on motorways and trunk roads.

(100177)

54
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the arrangements whereby Railtrack receives revenue from advertising hoardings which were previously in the ownership of British Rail.

(100680)

55
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish the results of the current consultation upon the performance of the Environment Agency.

(100142)

56
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent discussions he has had with the train operating companies about facilities for bicycles on trains.

(100693)

57
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has had recently with (a) the European Commission and (b) other EU ministers with regard to a common system of road noise measurement, and methods of alleviating road noise.

(100172)

58
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on levels of noise nuisance to nearby residents which are caused by noise emanating from nearby motorways and trunk roads.

(100216)

59
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals the Government has for the future of the Environment Agency.

(100143)

60
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what are the (a) costs and (b) timescales of IT projects which are being undertaken by his Department; if he will list the (i) start date, (ii) planned completion date, (iii) expected completion date, (iv) planned cost and (v) current estimated cost of these projects; and if he will make a statement.

(100795)

61
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received in relation to the introduction of full passenger registration systems on small ferry services.

(98659)

62
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of how small ferry services will meet full passenger registration regulations.

(98660)

63
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the financial implications of the full passenger registration system for small ferry companies.

(98661)

64
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the London Borough of Enfield will receive compensation for the loss of a cedar tree in Pymmes Park as part of the compulsory purchase relating to the A406; what steps he will take to ensure that the Highways Agency pays compensation; and if he will make a statement.

(100821)

65
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive has taken to ensure that the medical records of former employees of Capper Pass and Son Ltd., working at the Capper Pass smelting plant, were retained by their parent company Rio Tinto.

(100104)

66
   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 number of homes each year which will be removed from fuel poverty by the Government's policies.

(100824)

67
   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 length of time required for the Government's programmes to end fuel poverty.

(100823)

68
   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 cost of eradicating fuel poverty.

(100825)

69
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the annual net migration into the South East Region from each of the other regions of England.

(99036)

70
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of income lost to the Treasury as a result of the use of off-shore tax havens.

(100851)

71
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the responses to the Inland Revenue's consultation upon IR35, listing those (a) for and (b) against the proposals.

(100141)

72
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the Government's strategy in respect of tax avoidance.

(100140)

73
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list (a) capital spending under the PFI in each year since 1997 and (b) planned spending for the next three years, for each Department; and if he will estimate the impact on revenue to the Government of these PFI projects for each of the next three years for each Government department.

(100848)

74
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of recipients of the working families tax credit who are benefiting from the childcare tax credit.

(100670)

75
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the decision was taken to withdraw the OSCE verifiers from Kosovo in March.

(98558)

76
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when, and in what form, he received the application that the OSCE verifiers were unable to do their job owing to the escalating violence in Kosovo before 19th March.

(98559)

77
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what forum, and in what form, the Greek Government agreed there was a legal base for military action against Yugoslavia between March and June 1999.

(98560)

78
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will set out the legal basis for NATO's military action in Yugoslavia between March and June 1999.

(98561)

79
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the status of Foreign Office Policy Document No. 148 (1986).

(98562)

80
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is his estimate of the number of Kosovo-Serbs killed in Kosovo (a) since 11th June and (b) between 23rd March and 10th June.

(98567)

81
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is his estimate of the number of Kosovo-Albanians killed in Kosovo between (a) 23rd March and 10th June, (b) 1st January and 22nd March and (c) since 11th June.

(98568)

82
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the information technology projects currently being undertaken by his Department and by agencies responsible to his Department, including (a) the start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned costs and (e) the current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

(99672)

83
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the title of research studies, audits and surveys (a) being undertaken and (b) commissioned by his Department for completion within (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, stating in each case whether and when the results are due to be published.

(99674)

84
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the titles of departmental reports being prepared with a view to publication in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000, stating in each case the planned date of publication.

(99673)

85
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he raised matters relating to the Russian military activity in Chechnya and compliance with the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and additional protocols of 1977 at the OSCE Istanbul summit; and if he will make a statement.

(100837)

86
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to answer parliamentary questions on the Echelon system; and if he will make a statement.

(100839)

87
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will provide quantification of exports in the next issue of the Strategic Export Control Annual Report.

(100506)

88
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications he has received from citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for visas to visit the United Kingdom in each of the past three years.

(100323)

89
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which British diplomatic missions in Europe are not allowed to issue visas to visit the United Kingdom.

(100321)

90
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the development of the United Kingdom's relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia since the conclusion of the war in Kosovo.

(100325)

91
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to allow the British Embassy in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to issue visitors' visas for the United Kingdom.

(100324)

92
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made in inhibiting the use of diamond sales for funding the war in Angola.

(100671)

93
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on improving access to Kosovo through the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

(100326)

94
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what procedure citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have to undertake in order to obtain a visa to visit the United Kingdom.

(100322)

95
N   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacant posts there are for Community Dental Service dentists.

(100501)

96
N   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many dentists have been employed in the Community Dental Service over each of the last five years.

(100500)

97
N   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where the new dental phone and go schemes will be based.

(100503)

98
N   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the budget for the Community Dental Service for each of the past five years.

(100502)

99
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have died of new variant CJD in each month since 1st May 1997.

(99467)

100
   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the results of the COMA inquiry into fortifying bread with folic acid will be announced.

(100822)

101
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when phase 1B of the re-development of Barnet General Hospital will be open.

(100217)

102
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what has been the level of increase in price of drugs prescribed generically by the NHS in each of the last three years, indicating the 10 drugs which have shown the highest rate of increase and what that rate has been in each case.

(100847)

103
N   Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will respond to a letter from the honourable Member dated 19th July concerning supplies of vaccine for childhood immunisation from Pasteur Merieux.

(100681)

104
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support has been provided by his Department to individual hospices in each of the last three years.

(100137)

105
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what role he proposes for hospices in health improvement programmes.

(100139)

106
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the advice he gave to health trusts on fundraising activities, indicating what controls he has put in place.

(100138)

107
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish his Department's latest advice on electro-convulsive treatment.

(100797)

108
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) babies born by in vitro fertilisation and (b) other babies, in each of the last 20 years, weighed (i) over 3,000g, (ii) over 2,500g but less than 3,000g, (iii) over 2,000g but less than 2,500g and (iv) less than 2,000g.

(100814)

109
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review current and future funding in respect of prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement.

(100793)

110
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many licence applications there were for medicines in each year since 1990.

(100816)

111
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total number of licence applications for medicines intended solely for the treatment of children in each year since 1995.

(100818)

112
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action the Medicines Control Agency is taking to (a) monitor and (b) implement the EU guidance on the licensing of medicines used in the treatment of children.

(100817)

113
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pharmaceutical companies in the United Kingdom comply with EU guidance on the licensing of medicines used in the treatment of children.

(100815)

114
   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total number of licence applications for medicines used in the treatment of children and adults in each year since 1995.

(100819)

115
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the relative cost effectiveness of treating cold-related illnesses through the eradication of fuel poverty via energy efficiency improvements.

(100820)

116
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent advice the Audit Commission has given to police authorities on the appropriate proportion of their budget to be held in reserve.

(100669)

117
N   Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on the basis of the most recent information available, what proportion of total budget police authorities in the UK hold as reserves.

(100668)

118
N   Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 1998.

(98565)

119
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received on the proposed restrictions on the use of the electoral register.

(100831)

120
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the compliance by the Metropolitan Police with his Department's circular on pre-inquest disclosure to families of persons who have died in police custody in (a) the Roger Sylvester case and (b) other cases; and if he will make a statement.

(100846)

121
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he issues to police authorities on the use of CLASSIC (Covert Local Area Sensor System for Intrusion Classification); and if he will make a statement.

(100845)

122
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions his Department has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers over the problems caused by rogue burglar alarms in commercial properties.

(100796)

123
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason no regulatory impact study of the financial and other effects of the Representation of the People Bill has been issued by his Department in advance of the publication of the Bill.

(100673)

124
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department intends to issue a regulatory impact study of the financial and other effects of the Representation of the People Bill.

(100674)

125
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his policy that use of the full electoral register by commercial and charitable groups should become a criminal offence.

(100675)

126
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what position will be taken by the Government when the European Commission's proposal to transfer to the Commission competence over the implementing provisions of the Eurodac Regulations is discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 2nd and 3rd December.

(100798)

127
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Southport, of 24th November, Official Report, column 125W, if he will place in the Library details of the options regarding passport fee levels which have been submitted for consideration.

(100799)

128
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much has been spent on works within the Parliamentary Estate since 1st May 1997; what further sums are anticipated to be spent; and if he will list the amounts broken down by project, indicating the original estimated budget per project.

(100504)

129
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the information technology projects currently being undertaken by her Department and by agencies responsible to her Department, including (a) the start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned costs and (e) the current estimated cost; and if she will make a statement.

(99671)

130
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to review the effect of trade agreements to which the UK is a party on developing countries.

(100423)

131
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent representations she has received on the effect of trade agreements to which the UK is a party on developing countries.

(100421)

132
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the gifts received by Her Majesty the Queen and registered as government property since 1969.

(100327)

133
N   Mr Don Foster (Bath):    To ask the Prime Minister, what reviews have taken place of the work of the Social Exclusion Unit since its inception; and what decisions have been taken on the long-term future of the Unit.

(100696)

134
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Prime Minister, if the Home Office has been given an exemption from his instruction to all departments to undertake and publish a regulatory impact study of the financial and other effects of all proposed government legislation, with particular reference to the Representation of the People Bill.

(100676)

135
N   Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Oral Answer of 24th November, Official Report, columns 613-4, who gave the advice to him and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which he referred and which led them to instruct the Bank of England to sell more than half of Britain's gold reserves.

(100523)

136
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how frequently the inter-departmental group that met to advise on the report from his Department, Opportunity for All, Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion (Cm 4455), will meet in future, with representatives of which departments, under what terms of reference, and with what involvement of representatives of voluntary and community organisations.

(100724)

137
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people have called the National Benefit Fraud Hotline in each of the 12 weeks for which he has the most recent data.

(100694)

138
N   Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he expects to introduce measures to reform housing benefit.

(99011)

139
   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations the Government will make at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Seattle to other industrialised countries concerning the implementation of agreements to reduce trade barriers to developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

(100813)

140
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials discussed the export of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia with representatives of British Aerospace between 23rd August and 16th September, indicating the dates; and if he will make a statement.

(100838)

141
   Mr Terry Davis (Birmingham, Hodge Hill):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing legislation for protecting customers against being sold cars for which the mileage has been altered.

(100812)

142
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received about the World Trade Organisation's Trade-Related Intellectual Property Agreement.

(100427)

143
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations he has received on export subsidies to developing countries in relation to the forthcoming World Trade Organisation Round.

(100422)

144
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to raise the issue of zero tariffs for developing countries at the World Trade Organisation Conference in Seattle.

(100425)

145
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received relating to the position adopted by the European Union on the labelling of genetically-modified foods in advance of the World Trade Organisation Conference in Seattle.

(100424)

146
N   Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will raise the matter of labour standards in developing countries at the Seattle Conference of the World Trade Organisation.

(100426)

147
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment his Department has made of the effects on e-commerce and user verification of the proposals restricting access to the electoral register contained in the Representation of the People Bill.

(100672)

148
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria were used in selecting wards eligible for assisted area status in Dumfries and Galloway; and what values were attached to each of the criteria for each ward.

(100849)

149
N   Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects to receive the Competition Commission's report into the ice cream industry; and if he will publish his Department's response.

(100678)

150
N   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the potential of photovoltaics to reduce carbon emissions.

(99029)

151
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) miners and (b) retired miners have died before receiving full compensation payments from public funds for chronic respiratory diseases in the last 12 months.

(99856)

152
N   Mr Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for what purposes his Department and its executive agencies require a birth certificate to be provided by (a) employees, (b) contractors and those applying for employment and contracts and (c) other persons.

(99332)

153
N   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures the Government is taking to limit pollution from motor vehicles.

[Question Unstarred] (99018)

154
N   Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, with which agency the responsibility to pursue the owners of untaxed cars lies; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (100790)

155
   Mr Cynog Dafis (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the total amount provided for grants to students for post-graduate research in the arts in Wales was in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000; and what proportion these sums constituted of the total allocated for the whole of the UK.

[Transferred] (100833)

156
   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the recommendations of the Edwards Report.

[Transferred] (100850)

157
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the work of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Young Carers Project.

[Transferred] (100830)