Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2000-01
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Monday 19 March 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Monday 19 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.

MONDAY 19th MARCH

1
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, if bespoke stationery provided for honourable Members' use is 100 per cent. recycled; and what the definition is of the term environmentally friendly, used in the House of Commons' stationery catalogue.

(154404)

2
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will investigate the administration mechanism which applies where agreement has not been reached as to the amount of compensation to be paid to stock owners for animals destroyed because of foot and mouth disease.

(154316)

3
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the procedures for compensating farmers whose stock have had to be destroyed because of foot and mouth disease.

(154315)

4
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what powers his officials have to speed up the destruction of livestock affected by foot and mouth disease, and in particular to deal with cases whereby owners have delayed settlement of compensation.

(154317)

5
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of controls over the importing of bushmeat hand-carried by visitors to the United Kingdom.

(154246)

6
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of controls over the importing of general meat and meat products hand-carried by visitors to the United Kingdom.

(154247)

7
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of controls over the importing of fruit and vegetables hand-carried by visitors to the United Kingdom.

(154248)

8
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the total annual volume of raw and cooked meats and other foodstuffs imported by visitors to the United Kingdom.

(154249)

9
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if abattoirs will be compensated for the reduction in the value of hides following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(153851)

10
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the Government will pay the additional cost to abattoirs of higher veterinary cost and those arising from the removal of (a) manure, (b) lorry solids and (c) guts and blood following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(153891)

11
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what equipment for handling carcasses of slaughtered livestock infected by foot and mouth disease was transported from Marsh Farm, Fambridge, Essex to Wick Farm, Layer-de-la-Haye, Essex; how and when was it transported; and what measures were taken to disinfect equipment before it was transported.

(154314)

12
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the value in 2000 was of agricultural exports from farms based in Shropshire, broken down by agricultural products; and if he will make a statement.

(154704)

13
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the risk of foot and mouth being spread throughout Shropshire by vehicles transporting infected carcasses, to the rendering plant at Widnes.

(154485)

14
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what evidence he has received indicating a linkage between foot and mouth disease and Welshpool market; and if he will make a statement.

(154557)

15
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of the consequential losses made by businesses in Gloucestershire due to (a) foot and mouth disease and (b) the cancelling of the Cheltenham Festival; and if he will make a statement.

(154310)

16
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what investigations he has carried out, with what results, into the sources of meat used in meals served by schools in (a) Sunderland and (b) Gateshead from which the outbreak of foot and mouth disease may have emerged; and if he will make a statement.

(154713)

17
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will grant a licence to Mr Leslie Barons of Beneknowle Farm, Diptford, South Devon, to bring back 130 in-lamb ewes, 140 couples and 110 ewe-lambs from Home Farm, Churstow, Devon, to Beneknowle Farm.

(154435)

18
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans are in place to use the rendering plant at Marsh Barton, Exeter for foot and mouth cases.

(154436)

19
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment has been made of the impact on the horticultural industry of the withdrawal of Dichlorvos; and if he will make a statement.

(154561)

20
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154531)

21
N   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will publish a list of suspected foot and mouth sites on his Departmental website at the time of signature of form C.

(154492)

22
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the plant protection products containing the active ingredient chlorpyrifos which have been granted approval under Regulation 5 of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 in the last 12 months.

(154250)

23
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the plant protection products containing organophosphate pesticides which have had approval revoked since September 1998, giving the reason for revocation in each case.

(154252)

24
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the plant protection products containing organophosphate pesticides which have been granted approval under Regulation 5 of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 since September 1998.

(154251)

25
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the weekly cost to the tourist industry in Shropshire of the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

(154486)

26
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154533)

27
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British soldiers are deployed abroad, and in which countries.

(154313)

28
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department's police officers subject to (a) complaints and (b) disciplinary procedures are investigated under (i) procedures made by statute and (ii) with punishments and appeals procedures set out in legislation.

(154407)

29
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what grounds the Armed Forces Bill Committee was told on 7th March that a complaint against a Ministry of Defence police officer would be processed by the Police Complaints Authority through exactly the same complaints procedure as with the Metropolitan Police and that the arrangements would be absolutely identical.

(154406)

30
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the statutory basis of the Ministry of Defence Police (Discipline) Regulations 1985 is; and if they mirror those of the Home Department forces.

(154409)

31
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what grounds he stated to the Armed Forces Bill Committee on 7th March that in the case of a complaint against his Department's police an MDP officer (a) would be subject to the responsibility of the chief constable of the area in question with whom he had made an agreement and (b) that police officer would be subject and accountable in precisely the same way as a police officer in the Metropolitan area.

(154410)

32
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154528)

33
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what financial incentives are being offered, as part of the European Year of Languages, to encourage individuals to improve their linguistic skills.

(154482)

34
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is.

(154263)

35
   Ann Coffey (Stockport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what discussions he has had with Treasury ministers about the extension of the child-care tax credit to cover formal child-care in the home; and if he will make a statement.

(154565)

36
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many children have benefited from the Sure Start programme in Birkenhead; how many children he expects to benefit over the duration of the Sure Start programme in Birkenhead; and what the Government expenditure on the Sure Start programme in Birkenhead will be in each year of its operation.

(154403)

37
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many accidents in school playgrounds have been recorded in each year from September 1997.

(154644)

38
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many specialist schools (a) have been and (b) are planned to be established in Norfolk.

(154645)

39
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teachers in Wales have not handed in the application form for performance related pay.

(154553)

40
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many childcare places there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham on (a) 1st May 1997 and (b) the latest available dates for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(154647)

41
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many young people in Shrewsbury and Atcham have benefited from the New Deal since last May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(154658)

42
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each primary school in Shrewsbury and Atcham the number of classes containing over 30 pupils on (a) 1st May 1997 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(154701)

43
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teachers in Shrewsbury and Atcham were employed in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools on (i) 1st May 1997 and (ii) the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(154660)

44
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what advice he gives to LEAs about the employment of teachers qualified in (a) EU and (b) non-EU countries, with particular respect to qualified teacher status; and if he will make a statement.

(154311)

45
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154534)

46
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 7th March, Official Report, column 253W, on cycling, when the Government expects to meet its interim target under the National Cycling Strategy for doubling the number of cyclists from 1996 levels.

(154411)

47
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what training was given to London Underground station staff between December 2000 and February 2001 inclusive on procedures to evacuate passengers from crowded station platforms in emergencies.

(154564)

48
   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if a risk assessment has been carried out on the likely severity of injuries to standing passengers in the event of an accident on the Circle and Hammersmith and City Line Underground.

(154559)

49
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will explain the reasons and apologise to the honourable Member for West Chelmsford, for breaching the Ministerial Code of Conduct by failing to give him advance warning of his visit to Chelmsford on Tuesday 13th March.

(154323)

50
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will circulate the Airport Operators' Association environmental guidance manual to airports in the UK.

(154526)

51
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures he has put in place to ease the financial pressure on local authorities implementing the Government's initiative relating to concessionary bus fares.

(153846)

52
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason district councils have been excluded from the local public service agreements pilot scheme; and if he will review this decision.

(153844)

53
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to simplify the local government grant system and to base it predominantly on population.

(153847)

54
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to ensure that a future grant system will reflect the importance of community consultation to local democracy.

(153848)

55
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he will take to reform the local government grant system to reflect the importance of the services provided by local authorities.

(153849)

56
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if future grant distributions will ensure that the specific needs of town and country authorities which have both urban and rural characteristics are adequately met through the SSA system.

(153850)

57
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will publish a White Paper on Local Government Finance.

(153852)

58
   Mr Patrick Hall (Bedford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to review the operation of the mechanisms available for the removal and disposal of abandoned vehicles from (a) public land and (b) certain categories of private land.

(154714)

59
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received on the impact of the proposed European Directive Access to Ports Services on ports; and if he will make a statement.

(154707)

60
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the temporary speed restrictions in force on railways within Scotland on 13th March, indicating (a) their location, (b) normal line speed, (c) temporary line speed, (d) length of track affected, (e) date of imposition and (f) planned date of lifting.

(154558)

61
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on his policy on flags printed on car number plates.

(154312)

62
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce a national scheme of concessionary bus fares for pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

(154309)

63
   Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce alcohol and drug testing for aviation personnel; and if he will make a statement.

(154540)

64
   Mr Robert Syms (Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what approval was required from the Government for the recent takeover of Bournemouth and East Midlands airports by the Manchester Airport Company.

(154710)

65
   Mr Robert Syms (Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what changes in the last 12 months the Government has made to the financial guidelines of Manchester Airport.

(154711)

66
   Mr Robert Syms (Poole):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the purchase of East Midlands Airport and Bournemouth Airport by the Manchester Airport Company.

(154709)

67
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154536)

68
   Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to take forward reform of the private sector housing renewal grants regime.

(154541)

69
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is.

(154267)

70
N   Dr David Clark (South Shields):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many claimants of family credit there were in South Shields constituency in 1997; what the average benefit for a (a) full-time and (b) part-time worker was; how many claimants of working families tax credit there are; and what the average benefit is for a (i) full-time and (ii) part-time worker.

(154441)

71
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many claims there were for post war credits in each of the last 10 years; what the total value was of those claims in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

(154563)

72
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) male and (b) female workers in Middlesborough South and East Cleveland constituency receive the national minimum wage; and how many workers in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency will benefit from the forthcoming uprating of the national minimum wage.

(154434)

73
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    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 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154433)

74
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the Treasury estimates that small and medium enterprises in Wales will have to pay under the climate change levy.

(154554)

75
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, by how much he estimates that costs to small and medium enterprises in Wales will decrease as a consequence of the reduction in employers' national insurance contributions.

(154556)

76
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations he has received on the level of fuel duties; and if he will make a statement.

(154708)

77
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have gained since 1st May 1997 in Shrewsbury and Atcham from the (a) reduction in VAT on fuel, (b) reduction in the basic income tax and (c) introduction of the 10 pence starting tax rate; and if he will make a statement.

(154659)

78
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154537)

79
   Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from interested organisations on the level of taxation on the over 65s.

(154702)

80
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent contacts have taken place between ministers and the President of Syria; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of such contacts.

(154330)

81
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is in respect of meetings between ministers and arms dealers.

(154329)

82
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in respect of the recent visit by the honourable Member for Hartlepool to Syria (a) whether the visit was initiated by his Department, (b) what briefing arrangements were put in place to ensure discussions held in Syria presented Her Majesty's Government's policy, (c) what the nature was of information obtained during the visit which was passed back to his Department, (d) if the visit was paid for solely out of public funds, (e) what discussions took place prior to the visit involving Lord Levy and (f) if he will list the persons met by the honourable Member for Hartlepool during his visit.

(154405)

83
   Mr Patrick Hall (Bedford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures he is taking to persuade the Israeli Government (a) to lift the restriction on movement it has imposed upon Palestinian towns and villages and (b) to comply with its obligations to uphold access to education and freedom of movement.

(154715)

84
N   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 1st March, Official Report, columns 735-6W, on arms exports, on what dates in 1998, at which locations, and at what levels contacts were made between his Department and MINURSO; which department of the UN told his Department that refurbishment could be considered as neutral; if this decision was confirmed in correspondence; and what specific role MINURSO was understood to play in the monitoring and the refurbishment of guns.

(154488)

85
N   Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions took place between his Department and (a) the United Nations and (b) MINURSO regarding the legality of permitting the refurbishment of Moroccan 105 mm guns situated in Western Sahara; on what dates these discussion took place; with which UN department; at what grades; and in which location.

(154489)

86
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to President Bush regarding the possible immunity from legal proceedings in New York for President Mugabe; and if he will make a statement.

(154322)

87
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if written material was prepared for use in briefing (a) the Press and (b) officials, arising from the copy of the draft Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report on Sierra Leone handed over by the honourable Member for Dundee West.

(154333)

88
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Deputy Head of his Department's News Department annotated a version of the copy of the draft Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report on Sierra Leone handed over by the honourable Member for Dundee West.

(154325)

89
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if (a) the Permanent Under-Secretary and (b) the Head of his Department's News Department, saw written briefing material for use in briefing (i) the Press and (ii) officials, arising from the copy of the draft Foreign Affairs Select Committee Reoprt on Sierra Leone handed over by the honourable Member for Dundee West.

(154326)

90
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if (a) the Permanent Under-Secretary at his Department and (b) the Head of his Department's News Department, (c) the Deputy Head of his Department's News Department and (d) the Head of his Department's Africa Department (Equatorial) were briefed on the contents of the draft Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report on Sierra Leone handed over by the honourable Member for Dundee West.

(154327)

91
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the explanatory statements relating to (a) Islamabad reference C4694 and (b) Dhaka reference 64550 will be dispatched.

(154491)

92
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ski-related accidents have been recorded for the last year for which figures are available; and of those how many relate to accidents which occurred outside the UK.

(154331)

93
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is.

(154261)

94
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to grant special payments to haemophilia sufferers who have contracted the hepatitus C infection as a result of treatment with the human derived blood product factor 8.

(154221)

95
N   Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to extend the provision of recombinant factor 8 to treat haemophilia patients of all ages.

(154220)

96
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the requirement for water in the (a) dietary needs and (b) intellectual achievements of young people in schools.

(154646)

97
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what degree of independence the National Cancer Institute will have from cancer charities.

(154642)

98
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if funding for the National Cancer Institute will emanate from government.

(154643)

99
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was allocated to the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority in each of the last 10 years; and if he will indicate the distance from target for health expenditure that each annual allocation represents.

(154543)

100
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) the status is and (b) how many patients are on, each of (i) live waiting lists, (ii) planned waiting lists and (iii) suspended waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

(154566)

101
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the selection of York as an intermediate frequency cancer centre; and if he will make a statement.

(154705)

102
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which intermediate frequency cancer centre will be intended for use by patients living in North Yorkshire.

(154706)

103
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total waiting list for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital was on (a) 1st May 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(154703)

104
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the capital projects and their value at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital which have been authorised since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(154487)

105
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pensioners have benefited from free eye tests in Shrewsbury and Atcham since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(154656)

106
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) consultants were employed by the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (i) on 1st May 1997 and (ii) for the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(154654)

107
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what savings in administration have been made by each NHS trust in Shropshire since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(154657)

108
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154529)

109
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors were investigated by the GMC in the last three years broken down by (a) sex and (b) racial origin.

(154542)

110
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances immigration-related enquiries are required to be referred to a Minister's private office.

(154328)

111
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is.

(154266)

112
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the absentee rates amongst police officers for (a) training and (b) sickness in the Essex Constabulary in each year from March 1997 to the latest date for which figures are available.

(154483)

113
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) funded and (b) actual police officers there were in the Essex Constabulary in each year from March 1997 to the latest date for which figures are available.

(154484)

114
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many extradition requests were (a) completed and (b) not completed, with non-completed cases, broken down by nature of reason for non-completion, in each of the last five years.

(154639)

115
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long it took from arrest to sentencing to process persistent young offenders in Shropshire (a) on 1st May 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(154663)

116
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the education budget for the Prison Service was for the 2000-01 financial year; and what it will be for the 2001-02 financial year.

(154525)

117
   Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the education budget for the Prison Service was for the financial years (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01; and what it will be for the 2001-02 financial year.

(154527)

118
   Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to deregulate the gaming industry.

(154562)

119
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason G. P. Hinduja's passport application was considered more rapidly than the average.

(154319)

120
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action Dr Goldstein took in relation to the '?Zola Budd' manuscript note written on the letter concerning G. P. Hinduja.

(154320)

121
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) adult females (b) adult males and (c) under 21 year old males were received on remand; and what percentage of each category (i) did not subsequently receive a custodial sentence and (ii) were subsequently acquitted in 2000.

(154652)

122
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what average time was spent on remand in 2000 by (a) females aged under 21 years, (b) males aged under 21 years, (c) adult females and (d) adult males, respectively.

(154653)

123
   Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many females under 21 years of age were received on remand; and what percentage (a) did not subsequently receive a custodial sentence and (b) were subsequently acquitted in 2000.

(154640)

124
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154535)

125
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the selection criteria operated by the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace for Stoke on Trent in relation to recruiting magistrates, with specific reference to applications from Labour Party supporters.

(153797)

126
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many libel actions arising from e-publications, web sites and list serve subscription services have been started in the past two years; what proportion were settled in advance of a hearing; and what proportion were found (a) for and (b) against the plaintiff.

(154539)

127
N   Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will place a copy of the Central Authority for England and Wales' working paper submitted to the Permanent Bureau for the forthcoming Special Commission to review the operation of the Hague Convention child abduction in the Library.

(154318)

128
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his Answer of 30th January, Official Report, column 135W, on terrorism, what his estimate is of (a) the cost of creating statistics on numbers of individuals who have been notified they are at risk as a result of personal files or information discovered in the possession of paramilitaries and (b) the cost of counting the files maintained at RUC headquarters.

(154638)

129
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the changes sought to the Police Act Northern Ireland 2000 of which he has been notified by (a) the Ulster Unionist Party, (b) the SDLP, (c) Sinn Fein and (d) others.

(154514)

130
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if the honourable Member for Hartlepool delivered a letter on his behalf to the President of Syria during his recent visit to that country.

(154332)

131
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer on 14th March if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of giving pensioners the freedom to choose to invest in products other than an annuity.

(154324)

132
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the rules in the Ministerial Code of Conduct governing Ministers visiting honourable Members' constituencies.

(154408)

133
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the undertakings he gave to the leaders of Sinn Fein in May 2000, indicating which have been (a) fulfilled and (b) remain outstanding.

(154321)

134
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many special advisers were employed by the Scottish Office in (a) 1995-96 and (b) 1996-97; and at what cost.

(154254)

135
N   Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many special advisers are employed by (a) him and (b) the Minister of State; and what the total annual cost was of these advisers for each minister.

(154253)

136
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is.

(154262)

137
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people in receipt of (a) pension, (b) income support and (c) both have had their payment delayed as a result of the income support computer software being unable to calculate payment due to increases in retirement pension; if any such problem in making payments had been anticipated; if any similar failures in processing payments are expected at the beginning of the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(154544)

138
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many and what percentage of people in receipt of (a) incapacity benefit, (b) severe disablement allowance and (c) income support with a disability premium are undertaking therapeutic work as provided for in regulation 17(1)(a)(i) of the Social Security (Incapaicty for Work)(General) Regulations 1995.

(154555)

139
N   Dr David Clark (South Shields):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many jobseeker's allowance claimants there are in (a) South Tyneside MBC and (b) South Shields constituency; how many there were in May 1997; and how many such claimants were continuous claimants of more than two years.

(154442)

140
N   Dr David Clark (South Shields):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners receiving the state pension there are in (a) South Tyneside and (b) South Shields constituency; how many there were in May 1997; and how many of those were aged over 75 years.

(154440)

141
N   Dr David Clark (South Shields):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners in (a) South Tyneside and (b) South Shields constituency were receiving income support in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 2000-01; and what their average benefit and average income were.

(154439)

142
N   Dr David Clark (South Shields):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of children in (a) South Tyneside and (b) South Shields constituency who were receiving child benefit in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2001; what the rates of benefit were; and what the average annual income from child benefit was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001 for those areas.

(154437)

143
N   Dr David Clark (South Shields):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many lone parents on income support there are in (a) South Tyneside and (b) South Shields constituency; and how many there were in May 1997.

(154438)

144
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners in Wales are eligible for the minimum income guarantee.

(154550)

145
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners in Wales (a) have applied for and (b) receive the minimum income guarantee.

(154549)

146
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many carers in Shrewsbury and Atcham will gain from the carer premium; and if he will make a statement.

(154651)

147
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of tackling benefit fraud in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire since 1st May 1997.

(154649)

148
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the cost of benefits, paid as a result of unemployment in Shrewsbury and Atcham was on (a) 1st May 1997 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(154662)

149
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many children lived in poverty in Shrewsbury and Atcham on (a) 1st May 1997 and (b) the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

(154655)

150
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people will benefit from the disability income guarantee in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement.

(154650)

151
N   Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if guaranteed minimum pensions are payable to women beneficiaries at age 60 years.

(154490)

152
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154532)

153
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Solicitor General, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154538)

154
   Mr Donald Anderson (Swansea East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what factors arising from the downsizing of CORUS will be taken into account in his current review of company law.

(154515)

155
N   Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is.

(154265)

156
N   Dr David Clark (South Shields):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many former miners in the South Shields constituency have (a) claimed and (b) received payments in compensation for (i) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (ii) vibration white finger.

(153299)

157
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims from ex-miners and their widows from the North East of Wales coalfield his Department has recevied in the last five years.

(154548)

158
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what timescale his Department has for processing claims for compensation from ex-miners and their families from the North East of Wales.

(154546)

159
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what arrangements his Department has made for undertaking further medical assessment procedures in the North East of Wales since the current office was refused planning permission by Wrexham County Borough Council.

(154545)

160
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many more claims for compensation his Department expects to receive from ex-miners and their families from the North East of Wales.

(154547)

161
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in what form his Department maintains records of prices of commodities and services (a) in different regions of the United Kingdom, (b) in urban and rural areas, (c) comparatively with other EU member states and (d) in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will list those categories of goods and services for which price information is monitored.

(154560)

162
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what financial support has been given to benefit manufacturing companies in Shrewsbury and Atcham since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(154648)

163
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to improve the consistency of the procedure for claiming compensation for vibration white finger between the Department for Social Security and his Department's schemes.

(153612)

164
N   Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the progress towards a settlement between British Coal and its canteen workers on equal value claims.

(153613)

165
N   Mr John D. Taylor (Strangford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the impact of foot and mouth disease has been on the Royal Mail postal service; when full postal service will be restored; and if he will make a statement.

(154219)

166
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154530)

167
   Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a decision in respect of sacked miners' eligibility for pensions; and if he will make a statement.

(154641)

168
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) total unemployed, (b) long term unemployed and (c) young unemployed there were in each ward of Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (154712)

169
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received on the grant to churches awarded in the recent Budget; how churches can apply; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (154567)

170
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families in Wales are eligible for the working families tax credit.

[Transferred] (154552)

171
   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Wales have (a) applied for and (b) receive the children's tax credit.

[Transferred] (154551)

172
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people in Shrewsbury and Atcham have benefited since 1st May 1997 from the (a) New Deal 25 plus, (b) New Deal 50 plus, (c) New Deal for disabled people, (b) New Deal for lone parents and (e) New Deal for partners; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (154661)