Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2000-01
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 16 March 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 16 March, 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.

FRIDAY 16th MARCH

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 21st December 2000, Official Report, column 330W, on animal welfare, if a date and agenda have now been set for the next meeting of the Interdepartmental Group on Animal Welfare.

(154245)

2
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions he has had with farmers and farm organisations over his Department's decision increasingly to restrict herds where inconclusive reactions to foot and mouth tests are found.

(154036)

3
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when a simplified verson of the husbandry report on bovine TB will be made available to farmers.

(154031)

4
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what methods his Department uses to restrict the spread of bovine TB during the foot and mouth epidemic.

(154035)

5
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when farmers will be compensated for the problems faced due to the foot and mouth epidemic.

(154030)

6
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he is introducing to remove dead badger carcasses from holdings.

(154032)

7
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research is being undertaken into the survival of M.bovis in (a) soil, (b) dust, (c) water and (d) other materials.

(154034)

8
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he is examining to help other rural businesses, besides farming affected by the foot and mouth epidemic.

(154029)

9
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what account his Department is taking of the threat of increased genetic susceptibility to bovine TB of cattle.

(154033)

10
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 482W, when he was first informed of the risks to animal health of meat imported from Africa.

(154213)

11
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which contractors he has engaged to provide fuel for on-farm incineration of animals put down as foot and mouth suspects.

(154214)

12
   Mr Martyn Jones (Clwyd South):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to change the capacity penalty arrangements applying to the transfer and aggregation of fishing vessel licences; and if he will make a statement.

(154475)

13
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 30th November 2000.

(154505)

14
   Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those countries in which foot and mouth disease is considered to be endemic, indicating in each case if importation of their meat into, the United Kingdom is prohibited.

(154429)

15
   Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those countries from which meat and dairy products cannot be legally imported into the United Kingdom and the reasons in each case.

(154430)

16
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what role tag markings play in tracing animal movements from auction marts to farms during the foot and mouth crisis.

(154284)

17
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how frequently his Department's website relating to the foot and mouth crisis is updated; and if he will make a statement.

(154282)

18
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what level of compensation he will give to farmers affected by the recent foot and mouth outbreak, with particular reference to (a) farmers having infected animals slaughtered, (b) farmers affected by the ban on movement and (c) farmers suffering loss of income through lack of bed and breakfast bookings; and if he will make a statement.

(154285)

19
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the level of prices for meat at abattoirs during the foot and mouth crisis.

(154283)

20
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list for each year since 1979 the total grants paid to farmers in Shropshire under the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement.

(154467)

21
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he has taken to reduce the transportation of carcasses and stock across country in the light of the current foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

(154394)

22
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has made to protect new areas of low foot and mouth infection from exposure to stock originating from areas with higher levels of infection; and if he will make a statement.

(154393)

23
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what arrangements he has made to ensure animals are being slaughtered at the closest possible abattoir to the point of origin of the stock; and if he will make a statement.

(154395)

24
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the total UK stocks of rendered over 30 month scheme material were at the latest available date; and for what sum of money the Government is eligible for reimbursement by the European Union when those stocks are incinerated.

(153921)

25
   Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what his policy is in relation to the endocrine disrupting pesticides listed by the European Commission and reported upon by the Royal Society in June 2000.

(154257)

26
N   Mr Derek Twigg (Halton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for what reason the Prosper De Mulder rendering plant in Widnes was chosen as the sole site to dispose of animals slaughtered as a result of foot and mouth disease; what plans he has to use other rendering plants in the United Kingdom; and if he will list the locations of other rendering plants.

(154074)

27
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many political advisers will resign when a general election is called; and what severance compensation they will be entitled to.

(154290)

28
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many tourism businesses have been directly affected by the issuance of form C notices under the foot and mouth procedures.

(154237)

29
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the budgeted figure was for the proceeds of the auction of the content of the Millennium Dome; and what figure was achieved.

(154235)

30
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Millennium Commission funding remains to be drawn down by the New Millennium Experience Company; and if he will make a statement.

(154238)

31
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what additional funding will be made available to English Heritage to take account of new responsibilties in relation to underwater archaeology.

(154233)

32
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on progress on applications for free television licences for people aged 75 years and over and the timetable for issuing licences and refunds.

(154274)

33
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 21st November 2000.

(154504)

34
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of British Waterways' Canal network on the long-term viability of canal-based tourism operators.

(154218)

35
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the impact of foot and mouth on (a) the British tourist industry and (b) tourism in the South West; and if he will make a statement.

(154301)

36
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the future budgetary needs of S4C to meet the demands of expanding programming required by converting to digital television.

(154255)

37
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the impact of the efficiency savings he asked the BBC to make on spending by the BBC on provision of digital services in Welsh.

(154256)

38
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the meteor missile programme indicating how many missiles each meteor partner is committed to purchase; what estimate his Department has made of the development costs; and if the timetable and supply of test aircraft has been agreed by all the partner nations.

(154163)

39
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the effect of a reduction of 40 planes in the German order of Eurofighter on (a) the unit cost and (b) the in-sevice date of the aircraft in the UK.

(154165)

40
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in what circumstances his Department will be reimbursed by the Treasury in the event of (a) a delay in and (b) cancellation of the New DERA flotation.

(154164)

41
N   Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations from the armed forces he has had regarding the proposed International Criminal Court; if he will place in the Library reports setting these out; and if he will make a statement.

(153845)

42
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 14th November 2000.

(154499)

43
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what regulations govern the payment of council tax by members of HM Forces serving (a) at home and (b) overseas; and if he will place them in the Library.

(154071)

44
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about military aid to the civil community in respect of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(153994)

45
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the pension provision for officers who were in service before their 21st birthdays but whose service before those dates is not counted for service pension purposes.

(154295)

46
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many candidates have entered for A level (a) mathematics, (b) physics and (c) chemistry in each of the last five years.

(154158)

47
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many schools are in receipt of funds in addition to standard spending assessment from (a) education action zones, (b) Excellence in Cities and (c) specialist school status, broken down by local education authority.

(154160)

48
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the net change in the number of specialist schools which will arise from the proposals in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill [Lords].

(154155)

49
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish the public service agreements made with local education authorities and list the factors which each local education authority has identified as inhibiting the achievement of educational targets.

(154157)

50
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assumption he made in setting the education standard spending assessment for each local education authority about the cost of the servicing and provision of school organisation committees in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02.

(154150)

51
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on school budgets for 2001-02.

(154152)

52
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance he has issued on proposals from the employers' organisation relating to financial penalties incurred by teachers not willing to provide cover for absent colleagues.

(154024)

53
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the number of specialist schools to 1,000 by 2004; and if this cost will be met from currently planned expenditure.

(154149)

54
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what estimate has he made of the number of local education authorities which will meet their target allocation of advanced skills teachers.

(154162)

55
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, on what basis the cost of hiring supply staff will be deducted from the salaries of teachers who do not cover for absent colleagues.

(154023)

56
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children currently in secondary education have been selected by (a) ability and (b) aptitude (i) in total and (ii) in each local education authority.

(154159)

57
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many child-days of education have been lost in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001 as a result of teacher shortages.

(154154)

58
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance has he issued to the Learning and Skills Council regarding the minimum size for a school sixth form to be considered viable.

(154156)

59
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what has been the total cost to public funds to date of education action zones.

(154151)

60
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) agency teachers and (b) teachers on contracts of one term or less are employed in schools in England and Wales.

(154153)

61
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teachers there were in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) nationally (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available.

(154462)

62
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much new (a) capital and (b) revenue funding has been made available to schools and colleges in (i) Liverpool and (ii) Liverpool, Riverside since May 1997; and what the total amount of government funding of education in Liverpool has been in these years.

(154427)

63
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what specific support his Department has provided to coalmining communities by (a) region and (b) local education authority area since 1997.

(154304)

64
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will take steps to enable young people above the age of 16 years to benefit from modern apprenticeships.

(154402)

65
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will take steps to encourage headteachers and careers and guidance staff to become more involved in placing suitable young people in modern apprenticeships.

(154401)

66
   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average level of Government funding was per student in higher education in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 2000-01.

(154392)

67
   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students were in higher education in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 2000-01.

(154391)

68
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 22nd November 2000.

(154503)

69
   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students graduated from a physical education teaching course in each year since 1995.

(154481)

70
   Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many physical education teacher vacancies there were in secondary schools, broken down by region, in each year since 1995.

(154480)

71
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the funding of a replacement playground for Sundorne Secondary School in Shrewsbury.

(154460)

72
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) black and (b) Asian people have taken part in the New Deal employment scheme; what percentages of (i) black, (ii) Asian and (iii) White unemployed people have found employment through it in each borough of Shropshire; and if he will make a statement.

(154507)

73
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what extra resources will be made available to the South Devon Employment Service as a consequence of the redundancies announced by Nortel Networks, Paignton.

(154292)

74
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teachers were recruited to serve in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the past 10 years.

(154390)

75
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the funding requirement indentifed by the final report from the Funding Options Review Group of Universities UK; and what plans he has to meet this requirement.

(154026)

76
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made towards selling the Dome; and if he will make a statement.

(154236)

77
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, with how many organisations he is currently discussing the sale of the Millennium Dome.

(154234)

78
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the specifications for use are of (a) corrugated steel crash barriers and (b) concrete crash barriers on (i) motorways and (ii) trunk roads; and what criteria were used in determining the specifications.

(154472)

79
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many crossover accidents on (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads there have been in each year since 1992-93.

(154470)

80
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many fatalities have resulted from crossover accidents on (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads in each year since 1992-93.

(154469)

81
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what his policy is for the use of concrete crash barriers; and if he will make a statement.

(154471)

82
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will estimate the annual cost to British industry of delays caused by repairs to corrugated steel barriers for the most recent year for which figures are available.

(154474)

83
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the costs per kilometre are of (a) installing and (b) the whole life maintenance of (i) corrugated steel crash barriers, (ii) steel wire barriers and (iii) concrete crash barriers.

(154473)

84
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd February, Official Report, column 315W, on London Underground, what proportion of the maximum capacity of London Underground train carriages was reached at peak periods during January and February on a line by line basis.

(154397)

85
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd February, Official Report, column 315W, on London Underground, what evidence his Department has obtained to show that the figures for the maximum capacity of London Underground train carriages are compatible with the health and safety of passengers.

(154399)

86
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much money has been provided by the Government since May 1997 to London Underground; and if he will make a statement.

(154450)

87
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 future role of the Strategic Rail Authority.

(153907)

88
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the terms of appointment of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and other board members of the Strategic Rail Authority.

(153908)

89
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 progress with regard to the awarding of new-rail franchises and the role being played by OPRAF.

(153909)

90
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the applicants for the Wessex Rail franchise; and when a decision is expected on the successful bidder.

(153910)

91
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 (a) Strategic Rail Authority, (b) Railtrack and (c) the train operating companies on new rolling stock.

(153911)

92
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what specific support his Department has provided to coalmining communities since 1997 by (a) region and (b) local authority area.

(154305)

93
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 17th November 2000.

(154497)

94
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance he has given the Highways Agency (a) generally and (b) specifically relating to Devon Way, Stafford, for consultation with residents before trees that screen trunk roads are removed.

(154259)

95
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many trees the Highways Agency removed from the land between the M6 motorway and Devon Way at Stafford on 8th March and for what reasons.

(154258)

96
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action is being taken by (a) the regional development agencies and (b) the Countryside Agency to help combat foot and mouth disease.

(154210)

97
N   Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the rates of recycling of household waste achieved by local authorities in England.

(154211)

98
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the progress made to build the Nesscliffe A5 road bypass and on the anticipated completion date.

(154466)

99
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the reason was for the time taken by (a) the Environment Agency to respond to the accident and spill on the A329M on 12th March and (b) the police to clear the road; and for what reason the police closed the road for most of that day.

(154278)

100
   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on (a) the traffic delays caused by the closure of the A329M on 12th March and (b) the Environment Agency's role in the closure.

(154277)

101
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 7th March, Official Report, column 248W, on travellers, what steps have been taken to recover the cost of measures taken, from those who occupied the site at Willington, Derbyshire; and what representations the Highways Agency has made to his Department concerning the legal framework available to prevent and to reduce the impact of occupations of this kind.

(154432)

102
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to divert resources from London and the South East to other parts of the country.

(154298)

103
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the memorandum written by the Prime Minister's principal private secretary in February concerning movement of resources from London and the South East to other parts of the country.

(154296)

104
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what evaluation he has carried out of the impact of the working families tax credit.

(154275)

105
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many British people died each year abroad in each of the past 10 years.

(153796)

106
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 6th November 2000.

(154498)

107
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to freeze national insurance and income tax payments for zoos closed due to the foot and mouth outbreak.

(154069)

108
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will reply to the letter dated 7th February from the honourable Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Mr R Foreman.

(154240)

109
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend VAT exemption to motorcycle helmets.

(154428)

110
   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will reply to the parliamentary question tabled by the honourable Member for Chichester on 30th January, reference 148435, on Treasury staff costs.

(154279)

111
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the level of fraud in the childcare tax credit element of the working families tax credit.

(154216)

112
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what checks are in place to ensure that the childcare expenditure covered by the childcare tax credit has actually been incurred by the claimant and continues to be incurred for the duration of the claim.

(154217)

113
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on prospects for the Turkish economy.

(154451)

114
N   Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the statements by the BBC's lobby correspondent concerning his use of a leaked draft of the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone.

(154148)

115
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what occasions the enfranchisement of citizens of Gibraltar for European parliamentary elections has been raised at meetings of the European Council in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

(153996)

116
N   Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Spain on the enfranchisement of citizens of Gibraltar for European parliamentary elections.

(153995)

117
N   Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons invitations to meet Canadian parliamentarians during their visit to London on 5th to 7th March were extended by his Department to Labour and Liberal Democrat honourable Members who took part in a visit to Canada in 2000, but not to the Right honourable Member for Bromley and Chiselhurst, the honourable Member for Buckingham and the honourable Member for Aldershot who were also part of the UK parliamentary delegation to Canada.

(153992)

118
   Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the conduct of the presidential election in Uganda.

(154299)

119
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if a draft press statement was prepared before 8 a.m. on 9th February 1999 based on the content of the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Sierra Leone.

(153999)

120
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if lines for use for briefing the press regarding the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Sierra Leone were prepared before 8 a.m. on 9th February 1999.

(154025)

121
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, at what time on 9th February 1999 (a) he, (b) his special advisers, (c) the Permanent Secretary, (d) the head of the news department and (e) the deputy head of the news department received a copy of the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Sierra Leone.

(153997)

122
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, from where and at what time he placed the telephone call on 9th February 1999 to the BBC journalist, Nick Jones, asking him to return his call.

(154001)

123
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he saw a Foreign Office summary briefing on the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Sierra Leone before 8 a.m. on 9th February 1999.

(154028)

124
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what telephone conversations (a) he and (b) his Office had with journalists (i) before and (ii) after 10 a.m on 9th February 1999.

(154000)

125
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his office first prepared a briefing on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report on Sierra Leone published on 9th February 1999; who was involved in writing the briefing; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

(154027)

126
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if (a) his special advisers and (b) John Williams spoke to the honourable Member for Dundee West concerning the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Sierra Leone in the week prior to 9th February 1999.

(153998)

127
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what duties he was carrying out, and where, at 8 a.m on 9th February 1999; and where he took the telephone call from BBC journalist, Nicholas Jones, that morning.

(154002)

128
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the honourable Member for Leicester East on the contents of the report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges relating to his conduct.

(154070)

129
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to whom his officials spoke about the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Sierra Leone before 10 a.m. on 9th February 1999.

(153986)

130
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish a list of Ministers and officials who spoke to Mr Nicholas Jones of the BBC before 10 a.m. on 9th February 1999.

(153990)

131
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date and at what time he first (a) received and (b) read a copy of the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Sierra Leone.

(153988)

132
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to whom he spoke on the telephone between 6 a.m and 10 a.m. on 9th February 1999.

(153987)

133
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish a list of Ministers and officials who saw leaked documents relating to the Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into Sierra Leone in 1998-99.

(153991)

134
N   Mr David Wilshire (Spelthorne):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many copies of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report on Sierra Leone were collected by his officials on 9th February 1999, at what time and from where.

(153989)

135
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the independent appointments commission for NHS boards will (a) be established and (b) take responsibility for appointments.

(154161)

136
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the setting of staffing levels in nursing, with particular reference to the DRAGON method

(153792)

137
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the impact of Project 2000 upon nurse recruitment.

(153793)

138
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had recently with representatives of higher education over (a) the impact of and (b) future implications to Project 2000 for nurse recruitment.

(153794)

139
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the role of nurse consultants with regard to their preceptor responsibility for newly qualified D grade nurses.

(153795)

140
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much new (a) capital, (b) revenue and (c) total funding has been invested in the National Health Service in Liverpool since May 1997.

(154465)

141
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what specific support his Department has provided to coalmining communities since 1997 by (a) region and (b) health authority area.

(154303)

142
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the funding will be provided for the medical assessment unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital; what the expected completion date is, and if he will make a statement.

(154461)

143
N   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much public money has been spent on the AD2000 Study of the effectiveness of donepezil in each of the years (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001, broken down by (i) the amount spent by individual health authorities on the trial, (ii) the amount allocated to the trial from regional research and development budgets, (iii) the amount allocated from the national research and development extra treatment costs fund and (iv) other NHS costs incurred as a result of the trial.

(154072)

144
   Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the level of blood donorship in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

(154396)

145
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the most recent statistical evidence on the response times of the Avon Ambulance Service; and if he will provide corresponding information for (a) one year and (b) two years ago.

(154215)

146
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the longest period of detention a person at present seeking asylum in the United Kingdom has been held in detention since arrival at a port of entry in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

(154453)

147
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women have been deported in each of the last three years for (i) criminal and (ii) immigration offences; and if he will make a statement.

(154459)

148
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of animals that were used for experimental purposes in England and Wales during the last 12 months.

(154458)

149
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the policy of his Department is on commercial selling of electoral registers to private and commercial organisations; and if he will make a statement.

(154454)

150
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were convicted of cruelty to animals in England and Wales in each of the last three years, who were sentenced to a term of imprisonment.

(154455)

151
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Metropolitan Police officers have been suspended from duty for a period of over 18 months due to allegations about their conduct in each of the last five years.

(154452)

152
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce legislation to treat sectarian motivated violence and harassment as a specific crime.

(154389)

153
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 30th November 2000.

(154496)

154
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply substantively to the letter of 24th September 2000 from the honourable Member for Hereford, ref. 1597/1; and if he will make a statement.

(154073)

155
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his policy with regards to ethnic Albanians from Presevo returning to that part of Serbia after being refused asylum in the United Kingdom.

(154260)

156
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the implications for government policy of the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Bajram Zeqiri.

(153993)

157
   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the criteria under which an immigration officer may grant (a) an asylum seeker and (b) an immigrant a 28 day permit to enter the United Kingdom.

(154297)

158
   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) immigrants were given temporary admission to the United Kingdom by immigration officials at Heathrow in each of the last six months.

(154308)

159
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 37W, under which circumstances the civil penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are pursued against the operator of a hired vehicle used by persons seeking to enter the United Kingdom clandestinely.

(154244)

160
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the trials of the Airwave public safety radio communications system; and if he will make a statement.

(154431)

161
   Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement about the impact of the proposed General Agreement on Trade in Services on basic services in developing countries.

(154302)

162
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Council of Europe to develop joint policies for the welfare and protection of children.

(154449)

163
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what checks her Department makes on goods imported into the United Kingdom to ensure that they are not made by child labour; and if she will make a statement.

(154457)

164
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the countries that her Department is in discussion with about combating the use by those countries of child soldiers in military conflicts.

(154456)

165
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what consultations are being undertaken on reforms of the Public Trust Office.

(154038)

166
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what progress has been made with the proposed reforms to the workings of the Public Trust Office.

(154037)

167
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 6th November 2000.

(154501)

168
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the President of the Council, what the percentage change has been in the money supplied to the Leader of the Opposition's office in each year since 1997.

(154400)

169
   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask the President of the Council, what has been the percentage increase in honourable Members' office cost allowances since 1997.

(154426)

170
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Council, how many (a) clauses there were in government bills as introduced and (b) government amendments were tabled, in sessions (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1999-2000; and if she will give a ratio between both figures for both sessions.

(154286)

171
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to exclude from membership of the House of Lords those persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes.

(154243)

172
   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what mechanism exists for investigating leaks of reports commissioned by him where the leaks occur before he receives them.

(154398)

173
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will set out the (a) terms of reference and (b) membership and (c) programme of the task force set up to consider the impact of foot and mouth disease on rural areas; when the task force is to report; if he will publish the findings of the task force; and if he will make a statement.

(154212)

174
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the measures in his welfare reform programme which will assist disabled people to take up work.

(154280)

175
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how changes in government spending since 1997 have affected the incomes of (a) poorer pensioners and (b) pensioners with low levels of savings.

(154281)

176
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many lone parents on income support there are in the Leeds Central constituency; and how many there were in May 1997.

(154287)

177
   Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what specific support his Department has provided to coalmining communities since 1997 by (a) region and (b) social security district.

(154306)

178
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will commission research into the practice of commercial operators paying out cash, subject to a substantial charge, for benefit and housing benefit cheques; and if he will take action on the findings.

(154508)

179
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will take steps to reduce the time it takes for unemployed people to receive contributions from the benefit system towards mortgage payments.

(154468)

180
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 22nd November 2000.

(154502)

181
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he will reply to the letter dated 29th December 2000 from the honourable Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Mrs M Innes.

(154239)

182
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the impact of 1,400 redundancies in Paignton, Devon, on benefit advice services.

(154294)

183
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the level of income support take-up among pensioners in Torbay.

(154291)

184
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has for clearing the backlog of Child Support Agency cases awaiting investigation by the Independent Case Examiner.

(154509)

185
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what basis it was decided to advertise the job of the Independent Case Examiner on a part-time rather than full-time basis.

(154511)

186
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many of the additional staff posts allotted to the Independent Case Examiner in September 2000 have been filled.

(154510)

187
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 6th March, Official Report, column 168W, on income support, if he will estimate (a) the number of children in all families, (b) the number of lone parent families and (c) the number of children in lone parent families on income support for one year or more.

(154231)

188
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Solicitor General, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 6th November 2000.

(154500)

189
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he expects OFTEL to publish its review on the pricing of conditional access; and if he will make a statement.

(154242)

190
   Mr Douglas Alexander (Paisley South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent representations he has received on the implementation of the national minimum wage.

(154289)

191
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what were the average annual domestic bills for (a) electricity and (b) gas in the UK for the year 2000 broken down by (i) direct debit, (ii) standard quarterly credit and (iii) pre-payment meter payment methods.

(154506)

192
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on what date his Department was informed of intelligence reports relating to the Hinduja brothers referred to in paragraph 8.4 of the report of the Hammond Inquiry.

(154232)

193
   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if an annual increase in pre-tax profit will cause operating aid to be terminated; and what recovery mechanism exists.

(154478)

194
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of self-regulation in the newspaper wholesaleing and retailing sectors; and if he will make a statement.

(154464)

195
   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent discussions he has had with the National Federation of Retail Newsagents about problems facing independent retailers; and if he will make a statement.

(154463)

196
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with Hyundai representatives on the market prospects for semi-conductor manufacturing.

(153614)

197
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will take steps to dissuade companies which offer credit facilities to customers from encouraging people to build up substantial debts.

(154425)

198
   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 20th November 2000.

(154495)

199
   Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the price paid for electricity and gas (a) by very large consumers in the United Kingdom steel industry and (b) by their competitors in Europe.

(154276)

200
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the effects of manufacturing redundancies at Nortel Networks, Paignton, on the South Devon economy; and if he will make a statement.

(154300)

201
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he will announce the outcome of the consultation on telecommunication mast development.

(154293)

202
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his policy that members of the Government should not brief in favour of particular options within the Hunting Bill.

[Transferred] (154241)

203
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will take steps to increase the number of trained people available to provide representation to appellants at employment tribunals.

[Transferred] (154424)

204
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to create a statutory UK system of registration for electrical contractors.

[Transferred] (154307)

205
   Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to promote the consistent use of the construction line system of registration for electrical contracting companies and to avoid duplication with the Health and Safety Executive's Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme.

[Transferred] (154388)