Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2000-01
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 29 March 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Thursday 29 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.

THURSDAY 29th MARCH

1
   Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received from the retail and wholesale meat trades about the effect on their financial situation of foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement on possible temporary relief.

(156143)

2
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many zoos in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland have been temporarily closed since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(156329)

3
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will allow livestock markets to open as collection centres for slaughter stock.

(156003)

4
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will undertake studies of the causes of floods since October 2000 in Colnbrook, Slough.

(156238)

5
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156243)

6
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, from which countries where standards of animal (i) welfare and (ii) health and hygiene are lower than those in the UK, (a) meat, (b) meat products, (c) poultry and (d) poultry products are imported; and what plans he has to prohibit such imports.

(156404)

7
   Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the countries where farm animal diseases are widespread from which (a) meat, (b) meat products, (c) poultry and (d) poultry products are imported, indicating the country and disease together with the amount imported over the last year for which figures are available; and what plans he has to ban such imports.

(156409)

8
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment has been made of the risk of the spread of the foot and mouth virus in smoke from pyres used to incinerate infected carcasses; and what research has been carried out on the minimum temperature needed to kill the virus during incineration.

(156375)

9
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions have taken place with the Environment Agency at (a) national and (b) local level in respect of the merits of (i) burying and (ii) incineration of animal carcasses arising from the slaughter of animals due to foot and mouth disease.

(156374)

10
   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to ensure that meat and bonemeal is not fed to pigs; what enforcement measures exist; and if he will make a statement.

(156157)

11
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what regulations are in place concerning the import of (a) meat and (b) livestock from countries where foot and mouth disease is prevalent.

(156369)

12
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will investigate the prices being paid to farmers by abattoirs; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that abbatoirs do not exploit their monopoly position.

(156135)

13
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the application by Bristol Zoo for a licence to move animals on welfare grounds was given priority over other similar applications by farmers in South Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement.

(156136)

14
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will request the Regulatory Impact Unit to carry out a study of ways in which the level of regulation on businesses in the tourism industry can be reduced.

(156330)

15
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people are employed in (a) the British Film Commission, (b) the Arts Council of England's Lottery Film Department, (c) the British Film Institute's Production Department, (d) British Screen Finance and (d) the British Film Institute; and how many were employed in April (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000.

(156149)

16
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning the occuption by Inland Revenue of premises at Somerset House; and if he will make a statement.

(156148)

17
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the cost of giving free TV licences to all pensioners aged over (a) 65 and (b) 70 years.

(156239)

18
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which overseas countries are being targeted most extensively with Come to Britain publicity since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(156333)

19
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the budgeted expenditure in 2000-01 was for each (a) regional arts board and (b) regional tourist board.

(156229)

20
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) male and (b) female members there are on each regional tourist board.

(156232)

21
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156244)

22
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the (a) budgeted running costs and (b) staff numbers were in 2000-01 for each (i) regional arts board and (ii) regional tourist board.

(156231)

23
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) male and (b) female members there are on each of the regional cultural consortia.

(156230)

24
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Luton South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156164)

25
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    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 Hazel Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156175)

26
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on paragraph 9 of the ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed Events, regarding live transmission coverage of listed events.

(156240)

27
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on reports of recent incursions into the northern no-fly zone in Iraq by military aircraft from the Turkish air force.

(156407)

28
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he is making to the US Administraton to ensure that the US maintains its commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter project.

(156335)

29
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the US Defense Secretary on the Joint Strike Fighter project.

(156334)

30
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of UK jobs which will be created by the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft project.

(156336)

31
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the prospects for continuing with the Joint Strike Fighter project without US support.

(156337)

32
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what alternatives to the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft project his Department has assessed.

(156338)

33
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd March, Official Report, column 298W on Ministry of Defence police, in what way the proposals in Clause 32 of the Armed Forces Bill are designed to restore parity between his Department's police and Home Department forces in respect of disciplinary procedures.

(156103)

34
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of the 'Snoopy' Hercules W Mark II aircraft at Boscombe Down.

(156004)

35
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the report by Chief Inspector Reid into the complaint against the Ministry of Defence Police by Mr E. McHugh was forwarded to the Police Complaints Authority.

(156002)

36
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement between the Secretary of State for Defence and the Police Complaints Authority signed on 23rd June 1988.

(156005)

37
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in which locations nuclear warheads withdrawn from active service are stored; and if he will make a statement on the use to which nuclear material recovered from redundant warheads is put.

(156376)

38
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many bases which are (a) operational, (b) closed and (c) leased to the United States in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) British overseas territories are contaminated with pollutants; and what action has been taken to remediate and restore contaminated areas.

(156401)

39
   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 5th March, Official Report, column 3W, on Shakespeare, what plans he has for the examining at GCSE of the required study of Shakespeare and the other literary figures referred to in his Answer.

(156147)

40
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many full-time academic staff are currently also engaged in supply teaching in schools; what qualifications they require to do so; and if he will make a statement.

(155676)

41
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, which local education authorities are currently reviewing their provision of special schools.

(155677)

42
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to help young people over the age of 16 who are studying in school or college towards the cost of travelling expenses to their place of education.

(156195)

43
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich have benefited from (a) disabled students' allowances, (b) the New Deal for Lone Parents, (c) the New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People, (d) the New Deal for people aged 25 plus, (e) the New Deal for Young People, (f) jobseeker's allowance and (g) jobfinder's grant since May 1997.

(156227)

44
N   Sandra Gidley (Romsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will estimate the cash resources to be paid directly to schools in the Romsey constituency, by sector, in 2001-02; and if he will list the sums to be allocated to each school.

(155884)

45
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156248)

46
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Luton South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156162)

47
N   Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what further financial incentives he plans to introduce to encourage 16 year olds to stay on in school.

(154618)

48
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teachers left the profession in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(155646)

49
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of those who applied for teacher training courses started a teacher training course within 12 months in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(155647)

50
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many applicants there were for teacher training courses in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(155648)

51
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of those who completed a teacher training course were full-time teachers three years later in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(155649)

52
N   Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what proportion of those who started a teacher training course completed that course within the original timetable in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(155650)

53
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many vacancies for teachers there were in the Hazel Grove constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

(156176)

54
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of full-time students stayed in education in the Hazel Grove constituency after the age of (a) 16 and (b) 18 years in (i) 1992, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2001.

(156177)

55
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average length of time is for processing an application under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 at the Disability Rights Commission.

(156353)

56
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the backlog of applications under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is at the Disability Rights Commission; and if he will make a statement.

(156354)

57
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if grammar schools are permitted to object to appeal panels which consider issues other than those defined by the school's admission policy; and if appeal panels are able to consider levels of prior and projected academic attainment of pupils.

(156001)

58
N   Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the cost is of recruitment, training and management of the Threshold Assessment; and what the cost is of delivery of the assessment as a service to schools.

(156099)

59
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what provision he is making for the testing of roadside emissions equipment and for the training of its operators.

(155673)

60
   Mr Colin Burgon (Elmet):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Lead Shot Legislation (England) Review Group will report; and what plans the Government has to take forward the Group's recommendations.

(156402)

61
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many projects submitted to the Merseyside Objective 1 programme have been approved; what is the total value of those projects; how many projected jobs are related to them; and if he will make a statement.

(156233)

62
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much funding has been made available to Liverpool for regeneration purposes since 1997.

(156235)

63
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer of 21st December 2000, Official Report, column 312W, how many of the Merseyside Objective 1 projects referred to the State Aid Unit at the Department of Trade and Industry have been assessed by the unit; when the Government Office North West was informed about those decisions; which projects have been cleared; what their total value is; how many projected jobs relate to them; and if he will make a statement.

(156371)

64
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what specialist advice the Highways Agency used in reaching its decision to cut down trees between the M6 motorway and Devon Way at Stafford on 8th March.

(156327)

65
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will instruct the Highways Agency to consult with local residents over its plans for planting trees and shrubs at Devon Way, Stafford.

(156328)

66
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will include Stafford Borough Council in the list of authorities able to give relief from business rates to rural businesses affected by the foot and mouth outbreak.

(156255)

67
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many (a) male and (b) female members there are on each of the regional chambers and assemblies.

(156254)

68
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156242)

69
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the (a) budgeted running costs, (b) staff numbers and (c) expenditure were in 2000-01 for the regional offices of the Highways Agency.

(156228)

70
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Luton South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156165)

71
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidelines he issued and responsibilities he has for ensuring that roadway drainage systems and ditches are maintained, particularly in relation to to rural roads in England, Wales and Scotland.

(156074)

72
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has received from the European Commission for motorists to retake driving tests at the age of 50 years.

(156370)

73
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many responses were received to the public consultation on proposals to permit technetium-99 radioactive discharges from licensed nuclear reprocessing sites.

(156398)

74
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations his Department has received concerning the European Union Cowam project on the decision-making process for radioactive waste repository siting.

(156373)

75
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what discussions he has held with (a) MAFF and (b) the Environment Agency, in respect of the environmental hazards posed by the burial of animal carcasses arising from the animal slaughter undertaken because of the spread of foot and mouth disease.

(156403)

76
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent representations his Department has received in respect of the safety standards at, and hazards posed by, the high activity radioactive waste storage tanks at Sellafield.

(156397)

77
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the application by BNFL to open a MOX plutonium fuel production plant at Sellafield.

(156399)

78
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    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 Hazel Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156178)

79
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning the impact on a company's ability to plan and invest for the long term of his proposal relating to a time limit on water abstraction licences.

(156344)

80
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the chemical content is of (a) ultra-low sulphur fuels and (b) other types of fuels used in UK garages.

(156351)

81
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on what grounds he based his proposal for a time limit on water abstraction licences.

(156346)

82
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much of Great Britain's waste has been recycled in each of the last five years.

(156348)

83
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning the environmental effects of his proposed time limit on water abstraction licences.

(156345)

84
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the underground railway being built at Heathrow Airport between Terminal Four and the proposed Terminal 5.

(156170)

85
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the reduced rate of VAT on energy saving materials is not applied to such materials sold direct to the public; and if he will make a statement.

(156405)

86
N   Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will hold an inquiry into Chester Street Insurance Holdings and associated companies.

(155894)

87
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich have been awarded (a) disabled person's tax credit and (b) working families' tax credit since May 1997.

(156257)

88
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reduce VAT permanently on tourist accommodation and visitor attractions.

(156331)

89
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the numbers of (a) men and (b) women due to retire in each of the next 10 years.

(156104)

90
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list in respect of each tax credit (a) the number of successful claims and (b) the average size of each tax credit payment.

(156100)

91
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he has taken to encourage compliance with the Census by people from ethnic minorities.

(156226)

92
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research he has undertaken on the likelihood of (a) those with insecure immigration status and (b) those in breach of immigration control of complying with the requirements of the Census.

(156225)

93
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156241)

94
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Luton South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156159)

95
N   Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date the Resource Accounts for each Class for 1999-2000 were laid before Parliament; and from what date in each case copies were available to honourable Members in the Vote Office.

(155444)

96
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average savings to Welsh (a) vehicle owners and (b) hauliers, introduced by the pre-Budget statement will be in the next financial year.

(156350)

97
N   Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will order an inquiry by his Department into the conduct of Chester Street Insurance Holdings and related companies prior to liquidation.

(155895)

98
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Chinese Government about its attitude towards practitioners of Falun Gong.

(156408)

99
   Mr Bruce George (Walsall South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the green paper on mercenaries will be published; and what are the reasons for the delay.

(156151)

100
   Mr Bruce George (Walsall South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contacts officials in his Department have had with representatives of private military companies since guidelines were introduced as a result of the Legg Inquiry.

(156152)

101
   Mr Bruce George (Walsall South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of private military companies that are operating out of the UK.

(156153)

102
   Mr Joe Benton (Bootle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure the early appointment at a new chief executive at University Hospital Aintree, Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust.

(156150)

103
N   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will respond to the letter dated 8th February from the honourable Member for Altrincham South West regarding the case of Josh Galloway, a constituent.

(156098)

104
   Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to reduce the retirement age of operational staff in the Ambulance Service.

(156168)

105
N   Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what local pilot schemes he funds in relation to (a) congestive heart failure and (b) asthma in London; and when he will receive reports on their progress.

(156102)

106
   Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of recent reports on the numbers of mastectomy operations in (a) London and (b) the north east and north west regions of England.

(156236)

107
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156245)

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

(156161)

109
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the reason for the variation in the number of mastectomies carried out in different parts of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

(156252)

110
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received concerning Child Maltreatment in the UK: A Study of the Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect, published by the NSPCC; and if he will make a statement.

(156146)

111
   Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has carry out research at regular intervals into the prevalence of child maltreatment.

(156145)

112
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies for general practitioners there were in the Hazel Grove constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

(156179)

113
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS registered dentists there were in the Hazel Grove constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

(156180)

114
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies for NHS doctors and nurses there were in the Stockport Health Authority area in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

(156181)

115
   Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice has been issued to (a) health authorities and (b) NHS trusts regulating requirements for disaster recovery strategies in the event of massive computer failure; and if he will make a statement.

(156142)

116
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the current level of teenage pregnancy in the UK.

(156169)

117
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost of employing police officers as a percentage of the total force budget for each police force in England for each year since 1990.

(156174)

118
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each police force area in England, what was the force's budget in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms for each year since 1990.

(156173)

119
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners were (a) aged over 65 years, (b) required major surgery and (c) had significant impairments or disabilities in each of the past five years; and what plans he has to make special arrangements for prisoners in these categories.

(155674)

120
N   Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he is taking to speed the assessment of discretionary life prisoners and to ensure greater consistency in approach, with particular reference to (a) sentence length and (b) treatment programmes for sex offenders.

(155675)

121
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many attachment of earnings orders have been issued by each magistrates' court covering the Greater London area during the last 12 months.

(156192)

122
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women prisoners have died in prison in England and Wales during the last 12 months.

(156188)

123
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women were sent to prison by courts in England and Wales during the last 12 months.

(156189)

124
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the mother and baby units in women's prisons in England and Wales, indicating the number of places in each prison.

(156194)

125
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women were sentenced to imprisonment by courts in England and Wales during the last 12 months for shoplifting.

(156193)

126
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women have been sentenced to imprisonment by courts in England and Wales during the last 12 months for trading in illegal drugs.

(156191)

127
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent incidents against members of the public have taken place at (a) Wandsworth Town railway station and (b) Wandsworth Common railway station in the last month; and what action the Metropolitan Police have taken to deal with such incidents.

(156172)

128
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the robbery/burglary squad at Wandsworth Police was abolished; and for what reason.

(156171)

129
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if Mr S. P. Hinduja was physically present in the United Kingdom on 22nd October 1993; and if he will make a statement.

(156007)

130
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156246)

131
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Luton South constituency of the Lord Chancellor's Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156166)

132
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints in relation to allegations of racism (a) were made, (b) were investigated by the police, (c) resulted in prosecutions and (d) resulted in successful prosecutions in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000.

(156076)

133
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners use wheelchairs.

(156249)

134
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if all prisons can accommodate prisoners in wheelchairs.

(156251)

135
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many vacancies there were for police officers in the Greater Manchester Constabulary in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

(156182)

136
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    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 Hazel Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156184)

137
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passports have been lost in the post and re-issued as a result in the last 12 months.

(155999)

138
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to establish a more secure method of delivering passports to UK citizens who have had their passports renewed.

(156000)

139
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with the Passport Office regarding the security of passports by the post office.

(155998)

140
   Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will increase her Department's funding for NGOs working in southern Sudan.

(156155)

141
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of grants to commercial organisations for humanitarian mine clearance in Kosovo has been taken as profit.

(155996)

142
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what Government expenditure was on humanitarian mine clearance for each year since 1996, broken down by country.

(155897)

143
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much was spent by Government on (a) humanitarian mine clearance, (b) commercial mine clearance, (c) military initiative mine clearance, (d) mine awareness, (e) victim assistance and (f) research and development for mine clearance in each year since 1996.

(155893)

144
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of funds made available through the UN Mine Action Service to support the work of the Croatian Mine Action Centre in 1999 to 2001 was expended on UNMAS administrative costs.

(155896)

145
N   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the organisations to which the Government has given money for the purpose of mine clearance in each year since 1996, and, in each case, the amount received by each organisation.

(155997)

146
N   Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans the Lord Chancellor has to appoint more women judges.

(155973)

147
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Luton South constituency of the Lord Chancellor's Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156158)

148
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what discussions he has had with the judiciary on sentencing guidelines, with particular reference to convicted offenders in wheelchairs.

(156250)

149
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what requests he has received to provide information to the independent commission of inquiry established by the Irish Government into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and what has been his response.

(155971)

150
N   Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what requests he has received to provide information to the independent commission of inquiry established by the Irish Government into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and what has been his response.

(155972)

151
   Mr Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the result was of his inquiry into an attempt to poison Mr Johnny Adair in Maghaberry Prison; and what actions have been taken as a result.

(156154)

152
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the President of the Council, how many cases are under consideration by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council concerning the possible use of the death penalty; and if she will list the countries to which they relate.

(156190)

153
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her Answer of 22nd March, Official Report, column 314W, on government bills, what measures she has put in place to monitor the effectiveness of her policy to reduce the number of government amendments tabled to government bills; and if she will make a statement.

(156156)

154
   Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich have been awarded (a) attendance allowance, (b) back to work bonus, (c) business start up, (d) child benefit, (e) child maintenance bonus, (f) child support maintenance, (g) cold weather payment, (h) community care grants, (i) council tax benefit, (j) disability living allowance, (k) incapacity benefit, (l) income support, (m) industrial injury disablement benefit, (n) invalid care allowance, (o) maternity allowance, (p) severe disablement allowance, (q) social fund crisis loans, (r) stakeholder pensions, (s) statutory maternity pay, (t) statutory sick pay and (u) winter fuel payments since May 1997.

(156256)

155
   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 26th March, Official Report, Column 481W, on the state second pension, if he will express the table in terms of future pension entitlement in today's prices.

(156253)

156
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list his Department's responsibilities in respect of (a) the national insurance scheme and (b) other aspects of national insurance in (i) 1979 and (ii) at present.

(156096)

157
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list in respect of each major benefit (a) the number of national insurance claimants and (b) the average size benefit payment made for the latest period for which figures are available.

(156095)

158
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156247)

159
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Luton South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156160)

160
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out the strategy implemented by the Appeals Service in order to reduce waiting times for all appellants; and what assessment he has made of its success.

(155887)

161
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many appeals were lodged with the Appeals Service following refusal of benefit in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000.

(155889)

162
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what has been the average clearance time for appeals against benefit assessments in each of the last four years.

(155885)

163
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many appeals were made during the last 12 months against benefit assessments; and how many of these appeals are outstanding.

(155886)

164
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many appeals were heard by the Appeals Service in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and how many of the appeals in each of these years were successful.

(155888)

165
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Hazel Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156183)

166
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what representations he has received concerning the late payment of back-dated winter fuel allowance.

(156342)

167
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the average length of time is from the receipt of application for back-dated winter fuel allowance to be paid.

(156343)

168
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what efforts are being made to ensure that pensioners entitled to back-dated payments for winter fuel allowance are (a) made aware of their entitlement and (b) given guidance on how to claim.

(156341)

169
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the effect of the repeal of Regulation 100 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 on the ability of local authorities to seek recovery of overpayment of housing benefit.

(156339)

170
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the procedure is for appealing against the decision of a rent officer regarding the amount of housing benefit to be paid to an individual.

(156340)

171
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what plans he has for the phasing in of existing CSA cases when the new method of calculating maintenance liabilities is introduced; and what plans he has to cushion large rises and falls in maintenance liabilities in such cases.

(156137)

172
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Solicitor General, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Hazel Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156185)

173
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will refer the decision by Daimler Chrysler UK to serve termination notices to all Mercedes-Benz dealers in the UK to the Director-General of Fair Trading.

(156406)

174
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions directors of insolvent companies have been disqualified under section 6 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986; and what this is as a percentage of the total number of directors.

(156006)

175
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what new proposals he has to protect and promote British intellectual property.

(156075)

176
   Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what targets he has set for the recruitment of engineers in the next 10 years; and what account he has taken of the current level of UCAS acceptances for engineering degrees.

(156167)

177
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the terms of reference are of the review of the initial impact of NETA on smaller generators; and when he will publish its conclusions.

(156237)

178
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to ensure that NETA does not prejudice combined heat and power schemes.

(156234)

179
   Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Luton South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156163)

180
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on UK-US collaboration on Mox fuel development.

(156372)

181
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the nuclear sites operated by (a) BNFL, (b) the UKAEA and (c) British Energy which contain areas of radioactively contaminated land; and what steps have been taken to remediate contaminated areas on each respective site.

(156400)

182
   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    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 Hazel Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156186)

183
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the performance of the contractor managing British Coal's employment records in relation to mineworkers' compensation claims.

(156224)

184
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the findings of the Prince's Trust report, 'Mapping Disadvantage: Young People who need help in England and Wales'; and if he will make a statement.

(156352)

185
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much of Wales' waste has been recycled for each of the last five years.

(156349)

186
N   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the first year take-up in the North West of the 150 per cent. advance payable tax credits for contaminated land.

[Question Unstarred] (154612)

187
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the average time is before (a) all types of appeals and (b) appeals relating to war pension disability orders are heard by appeal tribunals; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (155890)

188
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he expects the Appeals Service to hear the complaint of Mr P. R. Manifield.

[Transferred] (155891)

189
N   Mr Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the ability of the War Pension Appeal procedure to deal efficiently and effectively with the cases of ex-service personnel.

[Transferred] (155892)

190
N   Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd March, Official Report, column 358W, on foot and mouth, what cost benefit analysis has been undertaken on the foot and mouth cull.

[Transferred] (156097)

191
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the dates on which the (a) operational and (b) policy making divisions dealing with national insurance were transferred from his Department to the Treasury.

[Transferred] (156073)

192
   Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the landfill tax credit has been delivered to community projects.

[Transferred] (156347)

193
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to delay the introduction of supplementary business rates on businesses in the tourism industry.

[Transferred] (156332)

194
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will amend the National Insurance Act 1946 to prevent companies from exercising their powers to take account of a person's basic state pension.

[Transferred] (156326)

195
   Mr Denzil Davies (Llanelli):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which proposals by the European Commission relating to the regulation of the securities market will require legislation in the UK to be implemented.

[Transferred] (156144)

196
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will introduce legislation to ban the use of hand-held mobile phones by drivers while their vehicles are moving.

[Transferred] (156187)