Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2000-01
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Tuesday 20 March 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 20 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.

TUESDAY 20th MARCH

1
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what personnel resources are available within his Department to monitor compliance with United Kingdom legislation in respect of animal exports.

(154665)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what his departmental policy was during 2000 in respect of the disinfecting of lorries used for movement of animals, between such movements.

(154666)

3
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he expects the Environment Agency to identify a costed preferred scheme to improve flood defences in Lewes.

(154334)

4
N   Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if, for the duration of the foot and mouth restrictions, he will delay the implementation of the EU scheme for sampling all bovine carcasses of animals more than 30 months old; what modifications have been made to the scheme following his discussions with farming, trade and hunt kennel representatives; and if he will make a statement.

(154716)

5
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if distance of travel is a relevant criterion in assessing the case for granting movement licences to slaughter; and where such movements cover local authority boundaries whether all relevant authorities are consulted by the issuing authority.

(154079)

6
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what changes have taken place in each of the past 15 years in the number of farming bankruptcies; what percentage such changes represented in each year of the total number of farmers; and what the percentage change in each year was.

(154075)

7
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what recent assessment he has made of the result of the changes made in the quarantine laws; and what further changes he proposes.

(154084)

8
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when his Department was first notified of a possible outbreak of foot and mouth disease at Wick Farm, Laye-de-la-Haye, Essex; when the outbreak was confirmed; when the slaughter of livestock was (a) commenced and (b) completed; when the destruction of carcasses was (i) started and (ii) completed; and if he will make a statement.

(154720)

9
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what methods of slaughter were used for killing livestock at Wick Farm, Laye-de-la-Haye in Essex; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the methods used complied with the required animal welfare standards.

(154719)

10
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will give a substantive reply to the question tabled by the Right honourable Member for North West Cambridgeshire for answer on 26th February.

(154727)

11
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152983)

12
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will request the suspension of non-essential maintenance work by utility companies which involves work on farm land during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

(154789)

13
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154568)

14
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will award the Driving Standards Agency a Charter Mark.

(154740)

15
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of her Office's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152984)

16
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures he proposes to take to ensure that Culture On Line's activities do not infringe intellectual copyright.

(154758)

17
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he had with the Arts Council for England concerning the future role of the regional arts boards prior to the Council's announcement of 15th March; and if he will make a statement.

(154756)

18
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with (a) the Arts Council for England and (b) the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions regarding the Council's commitment to integrating the regional art boards.

(154755)

19
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from non-charging university musuems regarding the repayment of irrecoverable VAT; what discussions he has had with HM Treasury regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement.

(154750)

20
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential cost of Culture On Line to public funds.

(154757)

21
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Regional Cultural consortiums regarding the Arts Council for England's commitment to integrating the regional arts boards.

(154754)

22
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total cost of advertising campaigns run by his Department and its predecessor and its agencies was in each year since 1992; and if he will give the projected advertising budget for the current year.

(154753)

23
   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the present term of office of the Chairman of the Arts Council for England expires; and when, and by whom, an announcement was made regarding his successor.

(154780)

24
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    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 Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152982)

25
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    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 Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154569)

26
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) establishment strength, (b) actual strength and (c) level of undermanning in percentage terms of establishment against actual strength was for the (i) Highlanders, (ii) Black Watch, (iii) Royal Scots, (iv) Royal Highland Fusiliers, (v) King's Own Scottish Borderers, (vi) Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, (vii) Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and (viii) Scots Guards on 1st March in each year from 1995 to 2001; what initiatives are underway in Scotland to address issues of recruitment and retention; and if he will make a statement.

(154086)

27
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the rates of pay are for Royal Logistics Corps (a) drivers, (b) supply specialists, (c) ammunition technicians and (d) chefs; and what plans he has to increase the rates of pay for those employed on explosive ordnance disposal.

(154582)

28
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Somme Barracks Restaurant (Building 35) at Episkopi on Cyprus was closed; for what reason; what alternative feeding arrangements were made; and when the restaurant will re-open.

(154003)

29
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) e-mail terminals, (b) telephones and (c) mail drops per week are available for Her Majesty's forces serving in Sierra Leone.

(154580)

30
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, under what statutory powers he appoints members of the MoD Police Committee.

(154579)

31
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the components are of the welfare package for forces serving in Sierra Leone.

(154581)

32
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will give a substantive reply to the letter from the Right honourable Member for North West Cambridgeshire on behalf of his constituent Mr Coakes, following preliminary responses on 22nd November 2000 and 6th January 2001.

(154724)

33
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152981)

34
N   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 13th March Official Report, column 509W, on nuclear submarines, where his Department plans to situate the land storage facility for redundant nuclear submarines.

(154494)

35
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154570)

36
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he requested Professor Peter Lachmann to subject to peer review his report into the zinc cadmium sulphide trials which was published in March 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(154792)

37
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 14th December 2000, Official Report, columns 22-3W, on Porton Down volunteers, if the research to establish the definitive numbers of Porton Down volunteers who have taken part in nerve agent studies will assess whether these studies breached the 1947 Nuremberg Code of ethics governing scientific research.

(154782)

38
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, columns 19-20W, on Porton Down, if staff from his Department have held other meetings with the Medical Research Council regarding advice on an independent epidemiological study for Porton Down volunteers since 14th November 2000; and on what dates each of these meetings took place.

(154785)

39
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he has received a report from the Operation Antler team of the Wiltshire police regarding its inquiries; and if he will make a statement.

(154796)

40
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the contracts awarded since 1st May 1997 under the MESAR radar trials Letter of Offer and Acceptance concluded under the 1985 Strategic Defence Initiative Memorandum of Understanding, along with the name of the contractor and the date of the award.

(154795)

41
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many studies have been undertaken since 1971 by the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down to establish the annual totals of service volunteers who have taken part in experiments at the establishment; and on what dates each of these studies were completed.

(154784)

42
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 6th March, Official Report, column 176W, regarding the US-UK Strategic Defence Initiative, which areas of research each of the Letters of Offer and Acceptance covers; and what the contract numbers are of each of the Letters of Offer and Acceptance signed since 1st May 1997.

(154794)

43
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will send a team of his staff to the United States to evaluate the system under which the US Government provides compensation to former military personnel who have developed illnesses as a result of taking part in chemical warfare experiments.

(154793)

44
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a list of technical reports which have been compiled by the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down to describe and record the results of its nerve agent studies involving service volunteers, specifying the title and date of each report.

(154783)

45
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 19W, on Porton Down, what plans his Department has to take on more staff in the Gulf Veterans Illnesses Unit to deal with issues relating to Porton Down volunteers.

(154786)

46
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he has requested the Medical Research Council to consult the Operation Antler team of Wiltshire Police regarding its advice on an independent epidemiological study for service personnel who took part in experiments at the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down.

(154768)

47
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list, by category, the schools which have won achievement awards for excellence and the local education authority area in which they are situated.

(154748)

48
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list by local education authority the total value of achievement awards made and the percentage of the national total budget which schools in each local education authority received.

(154749)

49
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list by education authority those special schools, pupil referral units, very small primary schools and nursery schools which were nominated for achievement awards.

(154745)

50
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how the difference between school results in 1997 and 2000 was calculated in assessing eligibility for improvement awards.

(154746)

51
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each school which has received an improvement award for 1997 and 2000 the key stage test or GCSE/GNV results and the ranking of the differences between the two years.

(154743)

52
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will relax the rules that prevent teachers who have taken retirement on the grounds of ill health from undertaking any employment in teaching, without forfeiting their entitlement to pension benefits.

(154668)

53
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to give recognition to schools with consistently high standards of achievement in both 1997 and 2000; and if he will make a statement.

(154741)

54
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list by constituency the number of achievement awards made to schools.

(154747)

55
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many different groupings schools have been divided into based on the proportion of pupils eligible for schools meals for the purpose of allocating school achievement awards; and if he will list the schools in the Christchurch constituency in each group.

(154744)

56
N   Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list by local education authority the number of (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools which have received achievement awards.

(154742)

57
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many adult long-term unemployed there are in Hendon; and how many there were in May 1997.

(154733)

58
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many long-term young unemployed there are in Hendon; how many there were in May 1997; how many have benefited from each of the New Deal options; and if he will make a statement.

(154734)

59
   Mr Martin Linton (Battersea):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the funding allocations, by scheme, to Wandsworth Local Education Authority in each year since 1996; and what his estimates are for the 2001-02 financial year.

(154791)

60
   Mr Martin Linton (Battersea):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many 18 to 24-year-olds in Battersea have entered (a) voluntary work, (b) work experience, (c) education and training and (d) unsubsidised employment through the New Deal in the last year.

(154790)

61
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    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 Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152980)

62
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    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 Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154571)

63
N   Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to (a) Stourbridge and (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley the effects on the area of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154730)

64
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to make a payment to Lewes District Council in respect of the application made under the Bellwin Scheme.

(154493)

65
N   Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what reports he receives from Railtrack about its approval of rail company timetables; and if he will make a statement about GNER timetables after 6th April.

(154664)

66
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much revenue was raised from motorcycle and moped vehicle excise duty in the last 12 month period for which figures are available, indicating the amount raised for each vehicle excise duty band; if he will estimate the rate of evasion, indicating the estimated number of untaxed motorcycles and mopeds used on public highways for each category; and if he will make a statement.

(154721)

67
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the policy of the Government is concerning the enforcement of the provisions of Part V of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which requires driving instructors teaching for money to hold an approved driving instructors' certificate; and under what circumstances exceptions are made to this policy.

(154735)

68
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, to what purpose financial surpluses from the Driving Standards Agency are put.

(154736)

69
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on what date construction work on the Barford bypass in Warwickshire is expected to start.

(154723)

70
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, by what process the Driving Standards Agency informs test applicants of a vehicle recall.

(154737)

71
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if Scottish and North of England en-route services will be provided from the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick; and if Oceanic services for the North East Atlantic will continue to be served from Prestwick.

(154717)

72
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the capability of the Prestwick air traffic control centre to pick up replica services in the event of a catastrophe at Swanwick.

(154722)

73
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason passengers from Tilbury Town Station were not invited by the Strategic Rail Authority to complete the UK Rail Travellers Survey on 15th March; in which stations (a) in the Borough of Thurrock and (b) outside Thurrock on the c2c line to Surrey the survey was distributed; and if he will make a statement.

(154667)

74
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    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 Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152979)

75
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    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 Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154572)

76
N   Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):    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 (a) Stourbridge and (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley the effects on the area of his Department's (i) local government and (ii) transport policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154731)

77
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to permit non-charging university museums to recover the value of VAT payments; and if he will make a statement.

(154751)

78
   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the rules on the conversion of tax supported money purchase pension funds into annuities and publish his conclusions.

(154777)

79
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated annual cost to the UK economy would be if foot and mouth disease became endemic.

(154083)

80
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out his reasons for limiting his new aid for drug addiction to those who are no longer using drugs.

(154082)

81
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the UK economy to date of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(154081)

82
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many days leeway are allowed before a fine is imposed for late submission of personal income tax returns after the due date.

(154584)

83
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will give a substantive reply to the question tabled by the Right honourable Member for North West Cambridgeshire for answer on 26th February.

(154726)

84
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Right honourable Member for North West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter on behalf of his constituent Mr Chilton forwarded to the Right honourable Gentleman by the Minister of State in the Department of Social Security in early January.

(154725)

85
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152973)

86
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the anticipated non-response rates in the forthcoming census are.

(154670)

87
N   Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the basis is for the statement on the census form concerning the voluntary completion of the question concerning religion.

(154669)

88
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154577)

89
N   Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will reply to the question tabled by the honourable Member for Chichester on 6th February (ref. 148435).

(154671)

90
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action was taken to enforce the provisions of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 concerning margins of solvency following the restructuring of Iron Trades Holdings Limited and the liquidation of Chester Street Holdings.

(154169)

91
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that insurance companies honour asbestos related claims.

(154269)

92
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the insurance industry about (a) the sufficiency of their funding for the Policyholders Protection Board to fully compensate those suffering from asbestos related diseases and (b) about safeguarding those suffering from asbestos related diseases who were in contact with asbestos before 1972 and who are not safeguarded under the terms of the present Policyholders Protection Board.

(154222)

93
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent contact he has had with the Association of British Insurers about Chester Street Holdings and compensation for asbestos sufferers.

(154166)

94
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to investigate the reasons underlying the decision by the Financial Services Authority to approve the restructuring of Iron Trades Holdings shortly before the collapse of Chester Street Holdings.

(154168)

95
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Government's powers of intervention under the Insurance Companies Act 1982 were not used in the case of the restructuring of Iron Trades Holdings prior to the liquidation of Chester Street Holdings.

(154170)

96
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the next meeting of the Policyholders Protection Board is.

(154268)

97
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that sufferers from an asbestos-related disease working in a publicly owned industry at the time of their contact with asbestos do not lose their rights to compensation following the liquidation of Chester Street Holdings.

(154080)

98
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what contact he had with the Financial Services Authority about the conduct of Chester Street Holdings in the period before liquidation; and what action is being taken as a result.

(154167)

99
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on holding an international conference on achieving peace, security and democracy in the Great Lakes Region.

(154776)

100
N   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what communications he has received from the Holy See concerning discussions with Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland on the future of the Police Service in Northern Ireland.

(154076)

101
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations were made to the UK by the Belgian Government regarding President Mugabe's recent meeting with the Belgian Foreign Minister.

(154673)

102
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations were made to the Government of Belgium regarding President Mugabe's recent meetings with it.

(154672)

103
N   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement about waiting lists in the Barnet Health Authority area.

(154739)

104
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what new measures he plans to introduce to reduce the incidence of (a) overuse and mis-use of medicinal drugs, (b) physical abuse, (c) sexual abuse and (d) neglect of residents of homes for the elderly.

(154077)

105
N   Mr Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will seek from the Chief Executive of the Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust an explanation for his failure to reply to the letters sent to him on 5th December 2000 and 15th January and 15th February 2001 by the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs Kathleen Smith.

(154586)

106
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of current bed availability in the Worcestershire NHS Acute Hospitals Trust; and if he will make a statement.

(154587)

107
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will reply to the letter from the Right honourable Member for North West Cambridgeshire of 19th January on behalf of his constituent Mr Ball.

(154728)

108
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152978)

109
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154573)

110
N   Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to (a) Stourbridge and (b) Dudley Metropolitan Borough the effects on the area of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154729)

111
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what purposes grants are paid to the British Fluoridation Society Ltd.

(152905)

112
N   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what processes and procedures he is planning to put in place to reimburse care homes for nursing care provided to residents in accordance with the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill.

(152906)

113
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 6th March, Official Report, columns 188-9W, on Porton Down, if he will place in the Library a list of the titles and authors of the authoritative reviews on which his Department's message was based.

(154762)

114
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make available summaries of information submitted to NICE on a commercial-in-confidence basis; and if he will make a statement.

(154779)

115
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if feature films, to which subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing people have been added, are required to be re-submitted to the British Board of Film Classification prior to being screened in cinemas.

(154752)

116
   Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 15th to 16th March was; what the Government's voting record at the Council was; and if he will make a statement.

(154788)

117
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will indicate, for each constabulary in Britain, the number of (a) police officers and (b) constables per 1,000 of population.

(154718)

118
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    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 Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152977)

119
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information he collects on the proportion of expenditure spent by the police in relation to fraud (a) in total and (b) by each police force.

(154585)

120
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    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 Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154574)

121
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he has received a report from the Operation Antler team of the Wiltshire Police regarding its inquiries into allegations relating to experiments on NHS patients for biological warfare purposes during the 1960s at the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down; and if he will make a statement.

(154763)

122
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of the Lord Chancellor's Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152976)

123
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the work programme for the Strategic Communications Unit for the year 2000-01.

(154335)

124
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Prime Minister, if all documents in his office relating to an official inquiry by the then Prime Minister in 1970 into allegations that the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, had experimented on old people for germ warfare purposes, have been placed in the Public Record Office; and if he will make a statement.

(154767)

125
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the (a) dates and (b) locations of his meetings with the Irish Prime Minister between 1st July and 31st December 1999.

(154766)

126
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many new claims for severe disablement allowance have been received each month since April 2000.

(154078)

127
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will ensure that when pensioners are written to they, as part of the implementation of the Social Security (Inherited SERPS) Regulations 2001, are notified of his Department's compensation scheme for financial loss as a result of misleading information supplied by his Department.

(154578)

128
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what legal advice his Department has received on the payment of pension credits to men and women at different ages; and if he will place that advice in the Library.

(154818)

129
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, at what age the pension credit will be payable for (a) men and (b) women.

(154775)

130
   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he will reply to the honourable Member for Ludlow's letter of 28th November 2000 regarding Mrs Lingard-Lane, a constituent.

(154781)

131
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152975)

132
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154575)

133
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the cost of insurance incurred by his Department was to cover its buildings and employees in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000 and (d) 2000-01 in Scotland.

(154443)

134
N   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the cost of pension contributions incurred by his Department was in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000 and (d) 2000-01 in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK.

(154444)

135
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will send a team from the War Pensions Agency to the United States of America to evaluate the system under which the US Government provides pensions to former military personnel who have experienced illnesses as a result of taking part in chemical warfare experiments.

(154764)

136
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will place in the Library copies of all the assessments conducted by the War Pensions Agency into the report produced by the US Institute of Medicine in 1993, 'Veterans at Risk--the health effects of mustard gas and Lewisite'.

(154765)

137
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Solicitor General, for what reasons the Attorney General requested further information from Her Majesty's Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon regarding his request for a fresh inquest into the death of Ronald Maddison; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the request from Her Majesty's Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon regarding this case.

(154769)

138
   Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what total new investment was in business in London in (a) 1996 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

(154778)

139
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment the National Radiological Protection Board has made of the study by Sir Richard Doll on a potential cancer link to overhead powerline transmission; if he will make it his policy to (a) apply the precautionary principle and (b) impose (i) a buffer zone around the houses or (ii) a rerouting to avoid houses built under the proposed Lackenby to Shipton powerline; and if he will make a statement.

(154787)

140
N   Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the impact of the Government's new funds for green energy on Thurrock.

(152935)

141
N   Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    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 Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(152974)

142
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many days leeway are allowed before a fine is imposed for late submission of company accounts after the due date.

(154583)

143
N   Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    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 Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and West Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154576)

144
N   Ms Debra Shipley (Stourbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to (a) Stourbridge and (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley the effects on the area of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(154732)

145
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent consultations he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on assistance to Corus workers.

(154085)

146
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the reduction in duty for road fuel gases announced in the Budget will be applied; and if he expects the reduction in price to be passed on to consumers.

[Transferred] (154738)