Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2000-01
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 28 March 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 28 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.

WEDNESDAY 28th MARCH

1
   Mr William Cash (Stone):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the powers which he is using in order to halt the spread of foot and mouth disease; which powers derive (a) from EU legislation and (b) from domestic law, with special reference to (i) slaughter, (ii) disposal of carcasses, (iii) movement of livestock (A) without and (B) with transport, (iv) compensation, (v) diagnosis and veterinary inspection, (vi) quarantine arrangements, (viii) limiting access to specified areas, (viii) use of animal byproducts not for human consumption, (ix) health and safety and (x) use of the armed services.

(156120)

2
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what measures he has in place to prevent the spread of the foot and mouth infection back from France to Britain.

(155991)

3
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 21st March, Official Report, column 259W, concerning industrial fishing for sand eels, how many industrial fishing vessels are allowed to fish for sand eels in the spawning cod closed areas; how frequently such vessels are inspected whilst fishing these grounds; and if he will make a statement.

(155881)

4
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how widespread is the practice of moving sheep from farm to farm in order to collect subsidy fraudulently; and if he will make a statement.

(156072)

5
   Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many producers within less favoured areas submitted IACS forms for the first time in 2000.

(156111)

6
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work her Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155667)

7
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155665)

8
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which units and agencies will be responsible for the provision of hot shower facilities and laundry facilities for deployed forces.

(155324)

9
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for how long (a) 20 minutes of free telephone calls each week, (b) free e-blueys and (c) free e-mail facilities have been available to service personnel on (i) operations and (ii) exercises lasting more than two months; and what the annual cost of each service is.

(155326)

10
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Jarrow, of 28th February, Official Report, column 665W, if the British seafarers referred to by the Chief of Defence Procurement are required to be sponsored reserves.

(155391)

11
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department intends to charge AWSR Shipping Ltd. for managing the subcontract with Harland and Wolff for two ro-ro ferries; and what safeguards his Department has put in place to ensure that when on his Department's business all six ro-ro ferries are manned by British seamen.

(155317)

12
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the members of the (a) Veterans' Forum and (b) Veterans' Task Force.

(155319)

13
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) new money and (b) new manpower his Department has allocated to the handling of veterans' affairs.

(155320)

14
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the establishment of a memorial to commemorate the service personnel killed on duty by terrorist attack since 1945.

(155321)

15
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list operational deployments where British forces do not have access to hot shower facilities and laundry.

(155322)

16
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on which exercises lasting for two months or more British forces have not had access to hot shower and laundry facilities.

(155323)

17
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) current and (b) proposed NAAFI retail facilities in (i) Bosnia and (ii) Kosovo.

(155325)

18
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons responsibility for veterans' affairs has been reduced from Minister of State to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State level.

(155327)

19
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to increase service pensions to the widows of servicemen who married after the serviceman's retirement and before 1978.

(156118)

20
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to review the levels of service pensions of men and women who retired before 1975.

(156116)

21
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to address the differences in widows' service pensions between the widow of a serviceman who retired in the period up to March 1973, and the widow of a serviceman that retired in April 1973 onwards.

(156115)

22
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will publish the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

(156114)

23
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assesment he has made of current recruitment to courses training career guidance professionals.

(155866)

24
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what action he is taking to ensure that careers guidance under his Connexions Strategy is given by advisers who have undergone full training in careers work.

(155867)

25
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if proposals for write-off of student loans for student teachers initiated by his Department are planned to extend to all shortage subjects.

(155870)

26
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what recent studies he has conducted into the impact of in-year changes in pupil numbers in the per capita funding of individual schools.

(155875)

27
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on progress in implementing changes in funding for external qualifications consequent on the coming repeal of Schedule 2 to the Further and Higher Education Act 1999.

(155876)

28
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if write-offs of student loan debts initiated by his Department for trainee teachers are planned to be taxable.

(155872)

29
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what account he will take in conducting the review of national training organisations employees of the coherence of the sector in question as well as its size defined by the number of employees.

(155865)

30
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if proposals for write-offs of student loans initiated by his Department (a) require extension to European students and (b) require approval by the European Union.

(155871)

31
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if comparable incentives to the proposed write offs of student loans for trainee teachers are planned for trainees without loan debt.

(155869)

32
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if the proposed scale revisions for contributions to fees under the music and ballet scheme will lead to greater proportional changes in contributions from parents with children at day schools than at boarding schools; and what representations he has received on this.

(155863)

33
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of parents are (a) expected to and (b) discharge their obligations to fund their children who are student under the student support arrangements.

(155874)

34
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will define (a) the future role of the Employment Service in providing work-based training for adults and (b) its relationship with the Learning and Skills Council.

(155864)

35
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of higher education students had independent status in each of the past five years.

(155873)

36
   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what amounts were made available in the last three years to education and business partnerships, under each of the six programmes of the Single Regeneration Budget; and what arrangements are being made to replace this funding.

(155868)

37
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much New Deal money has been received by Romsey constituents.

(155860)

38
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much Sure-Start money has been allocated to the Romsey constituency.

(155861)

39
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of full time students remained in education in the Romsey constituency after the age of (a) 16 and (b) 18 years in the last year for which figures are available.

(155851)

40
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many vacancies for teachers there were in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001 at (i) Key Stage 1, (ii) Key Stage 2 and (iii) Key Stage 3.

(155862)

41
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average class size was for key stage (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 in (i) 1992, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2001 in the Romsey constituency.

(155852)

42
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155666)

43
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what provision will be made to cover the shortfall in pension that the Astra Pension Scheme members are expecting; and if he will make a statement.

(156119)

44
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will ensure that the calculation by the State Pension Scheme Office of the Guaranteed Minimum Pension for members of the Astra Pension Scheme is completed as a matter of urgency.

(156109)

45
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he will publish the results of his most recent consultation on school governing bodies.

(155946)

46
N   Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set out the business experience of each member of the South East England Development Agency.

(155957)

47
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to receive a copy of the report of the Health and Safety Executive's study of employees' health at the National Semi-Conductor plant in Greenock; and if he will make a statement.

(155259)

48
   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many foreign-registered heavy goods vehicles were involved in road accidents in Britain in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999 and (e) 2000.

(155989)

49
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the GM maize plantings in Shropshire by Ordnance Survey grid reference; and if he will make a statement.

(155968)

50
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; andwhat was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155660)

51
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on what basis he set the limit of rateable value for businesses able to claim serious hardship as a result of foot and mouth disease.

(156117)

52
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to speed up the action taken against businesses which operate without planning permission.

(155947)

53
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to allow people who protest against a planning decision to appeal against favourable decisions by local councils.

(155948)

54
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the annual savings to the (a) quarry, (b) aviation, (c) farming, (d) manufacturing and (e) other industries arising from the rebated rates of duty on red diesel.

(154699)

55
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the annual savings to industry from using red diesel instead of ultra low sulphur diesel.

(154700)

56
N   Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21st March, Official Report, column 236W, regarding annuity reform, what his estimate is of the costs to the Exchequer involved in introducing the recommendations of the McDonald Report, with particular reference to the (a) minimum income requirement and (b) continued investment and management of the remaining pension funds available.

(155963)

57
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work Her Majesty's Treasury has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155661)

58
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 19th March, Official Report, column 34W, on VAT, if he will extend VAT exemption on motorcycle helmets to vital replacement parts and to the safety clothing worn by motorcyclists.

(156112)

59
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he has received a formal response from the Turkmen authorities to the demarche issued in February concerning the continuing incarceration of Shageldy Atakov.

(156086)

60
   Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Turkmen authorities about their obligations in respect of the Shageldy Atakov case under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

(156087)

61
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure consistency in the outcome of court proceedings maintained in more than one EU member state.

(156101)

62
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has held with EU colleagues in relation to legislation against holocaust denial; and if he will make a statement.

(156113)

63
   Mr Ivan Lewis (Bury South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what efforts he has made to ensure that arms sales to Syria do not fall into the hands of (a) Hizbullah, (b) Hamas and (c) Islamic Jihad.

(155995)

64
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe on behalf of UK citizens whose Zimbabwean pensions have been frozen.

(155882)

65
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155662)

66
   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his European colleagues regarding the inter-ballistic missile capability of Iran; and if he will make a statement.

(156068)

67
   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to Chairman Arafat about the actions which he has taken against the Tanzim.

(156067)

68
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to (a) the European Commission and (b) the Government of Spain regarding the handling of internationally-dialled telephone calls routed through Spain destined for Gibraltar.

(156134)

69
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received regarding using the Gibraltar International Direct Dialling Code prefix 350.

(156131)

70
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom Government's relations with Spain regarding the freedom of movement of trade and services in relation to Gibraltar.

(156132)

71
N   Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for North East Derbyshire will receive replies to his letters concerning a constituent, dated 13th November 2000, 18th December 2000, 13th February, 20th February and 21st February.

(155604)

72
N   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the areas concerned, the effects on each London health authority of his Department's policies and actions since May 1997.

(155344)

73
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce a statutory code of practice governing the sale of mobility products for elderly people; and if he will make a statement.

(155880)

74
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has treat ambulance operational staff as an emergency service.

(155993)

75
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the North Merseyside Health Action Zone.

(155969)

76
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nursing homes there were in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

(155859)

77
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS dentists there were in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

(155853)

78
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients there were per GP in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1987, (b) 1992, (c) 1997 and (d) 2001.

(155854)

79
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the standard spending assessment allocation for social services and the expenditure per head of population in Hampshire was for each year from 1996-97 to date.

(155857)

80
N   Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made on controlling the import of oral tobacco products with particular reference to gutkha.

(155883)

81
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155664)

82
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about recommendations in the Food Standard Agency's HACCP and Food Safety in Slaughter Houses report concerning the replacing of independent Government meat inspection with industry inspection; and what response he has made.

(154690)

83
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had (a) at the Council of Ministers and (b) with the European Commission on Commission proposals to replace independent Government meat inspection with industry inspection; and if he will make a statement.

(154691)

84
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will seek independent advice on the impact of European Commission proposals to replace independent Government meat inspection with industry inspection.

(154692)

85
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to ensure that European Commission proposals to replace independent Government meat inspection with industry inspection are introduced by means of an EU directive; and if he will make a statement.

(154693)

86
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the benefits of the European Commission proposals to replace independent Government meat inspection with industry inspection by EU directive; and if he will make a statement.

(154694)

87
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with (a) EU representatives and (b) Food Standards Agency officials on the impact on animal welfare of European Commission proposals to replace independent Government meat inspection with industry inspection.

(154695)

88
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it is Government policy to transfer responsiblity for (a) animal welfare and (b) BSE controls in abattoirs and meat plants to the meat industry.

(154696)

89
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with European Union partners on the issue of replacing independent Government meat inspection with industry inspection; and if he will make a statement.

(154697)

90
N   David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the EU countries which have indicated (a) support and (b) opposition to EU proposals to replace independent Government meat inspection with industry inspection.

(154698)

91
   Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police authorities are conducting sex abuse inquiries.

(155970)

92
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will open a dedicated facility for asylum seekers in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

(155877)

93
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    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 Romsey constituency, the effects on Romsey of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(155856)

94
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) policemen and (b) police women there were in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

(155858)

95
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the review into the workings of the asylum support system will be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

(156092)

96
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the (a) nature and (b) duration of delays to casework in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate caused by (i) installation of new computer systems and (ii) organisational and accommodation changes.

(156093)

97
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are being supported by NASS in each area of the country; and if he will make a statement.

(156089)

98
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what organisational and accommodation changes have taken place in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate since 1st April 2000; what further changes are planned for the financial year 2000-01; and if he will make a statement.

(156088)

99
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department received an application from Mrs Thouria Zaghali (reference B469820-2) for leave to settle in the United Kingdom as the spouse of a British citizen; and when he will take decision on the application.

(156085)

100
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what new computer systems (a) have been and (b) are planned to be installed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in (i) the current financial year and (ii) the financial year 2001-02.

(156084)

101
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on the use of asylum support vouchers for the purchase of (a) cigarettes, (b) petrol and (c) items beyond basic necessities; and if he will make a statement.

(156091)

102
   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the fraudulent use of vouchers will be part of the review of the working of the voucher support system; and if he will make a statement.

(156090)

103
   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the number of Jewish cemeteries that have been desecrated in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

(156071)

104
   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the activities of Al-Muhajiroun and Khalifah.

(156070)

105
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action her Department is taking to share British expertise in handling disability issues with the governments and peoples of developing countries.

(155671)

106
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what action her Department is taking to encourage British local authorities to share their expertise with counterparts in developing countries.

(155672)

107
   Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will place copies in the Library of (a) European Union and (b) United Kingdom assessments of the effectiveness of aid given to the Palestinian Authority since 1995.

(156069)

108
   Mr William Cash (Stone):    To ask the Prime Minister, what emergency powers he has to take action to halt the spread of foot and mouth disease; and which such powers he has exercised.

(156121)

109
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Office has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155670)

110
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work her Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155668)

111
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the total annual cost to public funds if, on the death of a spouse, the surviving widow or widower were to receive their deceased spouse's full state pension for a period of 90 days following bereavement.

(155878)

112
N   Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has to classify cancer of the larynx as an industrial disease; and if he will make a statement.

(155443)

113
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155659)

114
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Solicitor General, for what reason the Treasury Solicitor has not provided the substantive reply promised on 6th January 2000 in the case of Chesswood Harris v Ministry of Defence; when the Treasury Solicitor will provide the reply; and if he will make a statement.

(156066)

115
   Mrs Liz Blackman (Erewash):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he will publish the draft Export Control and Non-Proliferation Bill.

(156094)

116
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what evidence he has collated on the use of pressurised sales methods in relation to the sale of mobility products for elderly people.

(155879)

117
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what provision will be made for parliamentary scrutiny of lists of acceptable destinations for exports under the framework agreement concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry.

(155487)

118
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if exports with significant United Kingdom participation, agreed under the framework agreement concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry, and exported from and licensed by another of the parties to the agreement, will be included in the United Kingdom annual report on strategic export controls.

(155489)

119
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what process will be used to draw up a list of acceptable destinations for exports under the framework agreement concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry; and what role industry will play in this process.

(155486)

120
N   Mr Menzies Campbell (North East Fife):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the (a) range, (b) quantity of items and (c) eventual end-users covered by a global project licence will be clearly identified in the annual report on strategic export controls under the framework agreement concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry.

(155488)

121
   Mr Eric Clarke (Midlothian):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to re-instate the miners sacked in 1984-85 into the Miners' Pension Fund.

(156110)

122
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many (a) sub and (b) main post offices there were in the Romsey constituency in (i) 1992, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2001.

(155855)

123
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many claims have been registered by ex-miners suffering from respiratory disease who are resident in the constituencies of (a) Caerphilly, (b) Llanelli, (c) Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, (d) Neath, (e) Clwyd South, (f) Wrexham and (g) Pontypridd.

(155645)

124
N   Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the average settlement figure for those ex-miners who have settled their claims under the fast track procedure.

(155644)

125
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155663)

126
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the arrangement set in place to handle internationally-dialled telephone calls to Gibraltar using the Gibraltar International Direct Dialling Code prefix 350.

(156133)

127
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has received regarding using the Gibraltar International Direct Dialling Code prefix 350.

(156129)

128
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the handling of internationally dialled telephone calls routed through Spain and destined for Gibraltar.

(156130)

129
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1st May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned.

(155669)

130
   Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what dicussions he has had with ministers at the National Assembly for Wales on legislative initiatives designed to ensure a co-ordinated approach to policy in Wales relating to HIV and on the provision of sex education guidance for students.

(155967)

131
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many vacant domestic dwellings there are in the UK.

[Transferred] (155990)

132
   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the local authorities with the worst record for (a) injuries and (b) death due to fireworks in the UK.

[Transferred] (155994)

133
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in re-siting the Meteorological Office.

[Transferred] (155992)

134
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the decision to re-site the Meteorological Office.

[Transferred] (156019)