Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2000-01
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 30 March 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 30 March, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

FRIDAY 30th MARCH

1
   Mr David Amess (Southend West):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make it his policy that disposal of pet carcasses by cremation should be exempt from the Animal Waste Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(156554)

2
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what average time his Department takes to reply to letters received from (a) honourable Members and (b) members of the public regarding the foot and mouth outbreak.

(156213)

3
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what average time it takes to answer callers to the foot and mouth helplines; and how many callers (a) were disconnected and (b) hung up before their call was answered.

(156214)

4
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what (a) advice, (b) proposals and (c) recommendations he has received from the European Commission on measures to contain foot and mouth disease; and what response he has made.

(156200)

5
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the regulations which govern on-farm burial of animal carcases.

(156202)

6
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the risks of subsequent infection which arise from burial of animals carrying the foot and mouth virus and the precautions to be taken in order to minimise such risks in the event of burial being carried out.

(156211)

7
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what his policy is on the use of vaccination (a) as an alternative to and (b) as a supplement to the policy of mass slaughter as a method of combating the foot and mouth epidemic.

(156212)

8
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the countries from which the import and sale of beef is considered unsafe on animal health grounds; and if he will make a statement.

(156382)

9
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if beef over 30 months old from (a) Argentina, (b) Australia, (c) Botswana, (d) Brazil, (e) Mauritius, (f) Namibia, (g) New Zealand, (h) Paraguay, (i) Poland, (j) South Africa, (k) Switzerland, (l) Uruguay, (m) the USA and (n) Zimbabwe is considered safe for importation into and sale in the UK on animal health grounds; and if he will make a statement.

(156381)

10
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what financial support has been given to farmers in Shrewsbury and Atcham affected by foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

(156561)

11
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on what date (i) an official and (ii) a Minister in his Department first informed (a) an official and (b) a commissioner in the European Commission that the UK had its first (1) suspected and (2) confirmed case in the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

(156386)

12
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on what date (i) an official and (ii) a Minister in his Department first informed (a) an official and (b) a Minister in another EU member state that the UK had its first (1) suspected and (2) confirmed case in the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

(156387)

13
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will match for the British industry the operating support given to the fishing industries of other EU countries.

(156460)

14
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what discussions he has had with (a) the fishing industry and (b) fish processors about the financial state of the industry and their need for public support.

(156459)

15
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has for decommissioning British fishing vessels; and when he intends to announce them.

(156457)

16
   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will provide a package of aid for the English fishing industry in similar terms to that operated in Scotland.

(156461)

17
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will publish his Department's internal memoranda produced since 1st September 2000 concerning the shipments of sheep by Mr Hugues Inizan of Plymouth from the UK to France on dates after 1st September 2000.

(156431)

18
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make available the communications between his Department and the French authorities since 1st November 2000 concerning compensation and indemnity for animals slaughtered in France originally emanating from Mr Hugues Inizan of Plymouth.

(156424)

19
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make available, in relation to animals slaughtered in France emanating originally from Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth, test results and allied papers in the (a) possession and (b) control of his Department's (i) centrally and (ii) regionally since 1st November 2000.

(156428)

20
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the frequency was of contact between his Department, including its regional offices, and suppliers of materials required to deal with the current foot and mouth epidemic in the last 30 years.

(156416)

21
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under what certificates and permits Mr Hugues Inizan of Plymouth was allowed to export sheep from the UK to France after 1st September 2000; and if he will publish this documentation.

(156430)

22
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the vaccine manufacturers, stockists and distributors (a) currently supplying (i) advice, (ii) services and (iii) materials and (b) working (A) for and (B) on behalf of (x) his Department and (y) agents of government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (I) by his Department and (II) on his Department's behalf before 19th February.

(156410)

23
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make available the communications between Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and his insurers copied (a) direct to his Department and (b) indirectly via the French authorities since 1st November 2000, concerning compensation and indemnity for animals slaughtered in France originally emanating from Mr. Inizan.

(156425)

24
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which of his Department's centres were responsible for the sheep exported from the UK by Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and subsequently slaughtered by the French authorities after 1st November 2000.

(156429)

25
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those who attended contingency planning meetings in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth attended by (a) the Parliamentary Secretary, (b) the Minister of State, House of Lords and (c) the Minister of State in this House, since 1st May 1997.

(156417)

26
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those who attended contingency planning meetings in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth in the United Kingdom attended by (a) his Department's officials and (b) himself.

(156419)

27
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make available the communications, including notes of telephone conversations (a) between his Department centrally and regionally and the French authorities and (b) between Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and his Department centrally and regionally since 1st November 2000 concerning animal shipments by Mr Inizan from the UK to France.

(156427)

28
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make available the communications, including notes of telephone conversations in his Department's (a) possession and (b) control between Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and the French authorities since 1st November 2000, concerning animal shipments by Mr. Inizan from the UK to France.

(156426)

29
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if his Department's regional offices have been involved in contingency planning in the event of a foot and mouth outbreak in the UK since 1st May 1997.

(156423)

30
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the stockists and merchants of straw currently (a) supplying and (b) working (A) for and (B) on behalf of (i) his Department and (ii) agents of government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (y) by his Department and (x) on his Department's behalf before 19th February.

(156415)

31
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many meetings (a) he and his predecessor, (b) the Minister of State in this House, (c) the Minister of State in the House of Lords, (d) officials in his Department and (e) the Parliamentary Secretary have attended for contingency planning in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth in the UK since 1st May 1997.

(156420)

32
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the manufacturers, stockists and distributors of protective clothing currently (a) supplying and (b) working (i) for and (ii) on behalf of (A) his Department and (B) agents of government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (x) by his Department and (y) on his Department's behalf before 19th February.

(156412)

33
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if a contingency planning committee in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth in the UK has been (a) established and (b) maintained since 1st May 1997.

(156422)

34
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make available the communications between Mr Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and (a) his Department and (b) the French authorities since 1st November 2000 concerning compensation and indemnity for animals slaughtered in France originally emanating for Mr Inizan.

(156418)

35
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the manufacturers, stockists and distributors of (a) firearms and (b) firearms ammunition suitable for animal culling purposes currently (i) supplying and (ii) working (x) for and (y) on behalf of (A) his Department and (B) agents of government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (I) by his Department and (II) on his Department's behalf before 19th February.

(156414)

36
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the contractors and suppliers contacted by his Department centrally or regionally in the 36 months before 19th February in relation to a possible outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK.

(156421)

37
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the (a) vets, (b) hauliers, (c) renderers, (d) valuers and (e) slaughtermen, marksmen and contracting firms making available the services thereof currently (i) supplying services and (ii) working (A) for and (B) on behalf of (I) his Department and (II) agents of government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (x) by his Department and (y) on his Department's behalf before 19th February.

(156413)

38
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the (a) hardcore stockists and merchants, (b) timber stockists and merchants, (c) coal stockists and merchants, (d) diesel fuel stockists and distributors, (e) concrete slab stockists and merchants, (f) disinfectant stockists and merchants and (g) stockists and merchants of disinfectant sprayers currently (i) supplying and (ii) working (x) for and (y) on behalf of (A) his Department and (B) agents of government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (I) by his Department and (II) on his Department's behalf before 19th February.

(156411)

39
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when the sheep exported to France by Mr H. Inizan on 31st January were slaughtered and subsequently tested for foot and mouth antibodies.

(156435)

40
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the source was of the British sheep which were confirmed as having foot and mouth disease in France.

(156432)

41
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if sheep confirmed as infected with foot and mouth in France spent time (a) in the same vehicles or premises as those exported by Mr H. Inizan on 31st January and subsequently identified as antibody positive and (b) in the proximity of Mr Inizan's sheep.

(156434)

42
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the consignments of live sheep exported from the UK between 30th January and 23rd February.

(156433)

43
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the average sums are paid in compensation for each class, type and age of livestock slaughtered as a consequence of the present outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(156557)

44
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what formula is used to determine the amount of compensation payable for farm livestock slaughtered as a consequence of the present outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(156555)

45
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will issue guidance on restocking to farmers whose stock have been culled as a result of foot and mouth.

(156489)

46
N   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the estimated cost is to each British family of the measures taken to eradicate (a) foot and mouth disease and (b) BSE in Britain.

(156268)

47
N   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the financial contribution the agricultural industry made to the British economy in each year from 1996 to 2000.

(156265)

48
N   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the average state subsidy per job is in the agricultural industry.

(156267)

49
N   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what level of (a) government and (b) EU subsidy the agricultural sector received in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999 and (e) 2000.

(156266)

50
N   Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what contribution the export of (a) cattle and (b) sheep has made to the British economy over the last five years.

(156269)

51
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to assist farmers who are running out of fodder who would normally turn out their cattle in April and may be prevented from doing so by movement restrictions.

(156218)

52
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make it his policy to ban the import of meat from countries outside the EU where there is foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

(156217)

53
N   Mrs Teresa Gorman (Billericay):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will estimate the number of drug addicts in the UK.

(156203)

54
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what arrangements are in place to ensure that issues of (a) NHS News and (b) NHS Plan News, distributed during a General Election campaign comply with requirements for government publications during General Election campaigns.

(156445)

55
   Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will place in the Library details of the requirements with which government publications must comply during General Election campaigns.

(156446)

56
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions she has had with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) other Cabinet colleagues on whether the foot and mouth epidemic would justify declaring a state of emergency; and if she will list the dates of such discussions.

(156205)

57
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding was available for the arts in Liverpool (a) since 1997 and (b) between 1993 and 1997.

(156458)

58
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 20th March, Official Report, column 170W, on the Arts Council for England, when, and by whom, an announcement was first made about the reappointment of Mr Gerry Robinson as Chairman of the Arts Council of England.

(156210)

59
   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 revised ITC code on sports and other listed events, regarding the Government's policy on listed sporting events.

(156566)

60
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what level of security clearance is required by the Global Operations Security Control Centre at RAF Rudloe for (a) servicemen and (b) civilian staff.

(156447)

61
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason Q8194578 Corporal S. A. Griffith has been posted to RAF High Wycombe for his final tour of duty.

(156451)

62
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what posts are available at (a) RAF Colerne and (b) RAF Rudloe that do not require high level security clearance and are not sergeant rank.

(156449)

63
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what factors contributed to the length of time Q8194578 Corporal S. A. Griffith was required to wait until receiving a final tour of duty.

(156448)

64
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what posts at RAF Colerne and RAF Rudloe Corporal S. A. Griffith is eligible.

(156450)

65
N   Mr Robert Key (Salisbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many places were available in (a) March 2000 and (b) March 2001 on courses for HM forces on (i) improvised explosive device disposal, (ii) explosive ordnance device driver courses and (iii) biological and chemical munition disposal; and how many (A) applied for, (B) were accepted to and (C) completed each course.

(156215)

66
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the sources were of the uranium used in the manufacture of depleted uranium-based ammunition used by UK forces.

(156209)

67
N   Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West):    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 borough, the effects of his Department's policies and actions on the metropolitan borough of Sandwell since 2nd May 1997.

(156378)

68
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many Jobcentre offices and premises there are in each constituency in Scotland.

(156570)

69
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will provide the most recent data on the outcomes of those people who had their initial New Deal interview in January 1998.

(156271)

70
   Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what consultations were held between his Department and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions about the content of best value performance plans required of local authorities.

(156444)

71
   Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to change the year of calculation for education targets in best value performance plans to a school year basis.

(156441)

72
   Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to change the year of calculation of education development plans to a financial year basis.

(156442)

73
   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department and its predecessors in each year from 1993 to 1998 inclusive.

(156520)

74
   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will include Reading in the list of pilot areas for Ambition IT.

(156525)

75
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each year since 1992 the average primary school class size for schools in Shropshire; and if he will make a statement.

(156568)

76
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list each school in Shrewsbury and Atcham that has been awarded Beacon status, indicating the size of grant given to each; and if he will make a statement.

(156513)

77
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each year since 1992 the average funding per student, for each sixth form college in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement.

(156490)

78
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many teachers were employed in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

(156493)

79
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the average pay was of teachers in maintained (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham in (i) May 1997 and (ii) on the most recent date for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

(156506)

80
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many secondary schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham were connected to the internet (a) in May 1997 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(156491)

81
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what percentage of 11 year olds in Shropshire attained marks above the national average in (a) English and (b) mathematics (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(156644)

82
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much was spent by schools on (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Shrewsbury and Atcham (i) in May 1997 and (ii) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(156492)

83
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many students in Shrewsbury and Atcham have benefited from the disabled students' allowance; how much has been spent in total on these students; and if he will make a statement.

(156507)

84
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    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 North Cornwall constituency, the effects on North Cornwall of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156124)

85
N   Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West):    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 borough, the effects of his Department's policies and actions on the metropolitan borough of Sandwell since 2nd May 1997.

(156379)

86
   Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library his Department's response to the Environment Agency's consultation document, 'Pathfinder'.

(156646)

87
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in what ways the region by region allocation of this Department's funds for economic and physical regeneration initiatives is influenced by the availability of previously developed land and buildings.

(156197)

88
   Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what monitoring his Department carries out of the level of public inquiries received by local authorities about the indicators and targets in local best value plans.

(156443)

89
   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will reach a decision on the future of the Sellafield MOX Plant.

(156643)

90
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will publish a summary of the measures he is taking to promote economic recovery from the effects of foot and mouth disease.

(156201)

91
   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department and its predecessors in each year from 1993 to 1998, inclusive.

(156521)

92
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Minister of State for the Environment will answer the letter of 14th March, from the honourable Member for North Essex, concerning discretionary powers for highway authorities to close roads to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease.

(156276)

93
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the cost to public funds was of (a) the Railway System in the last year of public ownership and (b) the subsidy paid each year since privatisation (i) in total and (ii) to Virgin Trains Ltd.

(156725)

94
   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in the forthcoming review of the EU Groundwater Directive, if he will apply for derogations for (a) the burying of fallen stock in the event of the present foot and mouth crisis and (b) general disposal of fallen stock; and if he will make a statement.

(156439)

95
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many homes have benefited from the home energy efficiency scheme in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement.

(156511)

96
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the ways in which the Strategic Rail Authority proposes to improve the (a) frequency and (b) quality of train services between Shrewsbury and London.

(156567)

97
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many bus services were operated from Shrewsbury (a) in May 1997 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(156508)

98
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many sites of special scientific interest there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

(156510)

99
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many people lived in fuel poverty in Shrewsbury and Atcham (a) in May 1997 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(156509)

100
   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent assessment he has made of the health and safety implications connected with the use of asbsestos in the brake systems of London Underground trains.

(156559)

101
   Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent assessment he has made of the quantity of asbestos utilised in the brake systems of London Underground trains.

(156560)

102
   Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much of the budget from his Department for the home energy efficiency scheme in 2000-01 has been allocated; and what difficulties have been encountered by managers of the scheme in meeting the target number of homes due to be assisted.

(156558)

103
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    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 North Cornwall constituency, the effects of North Cornwall of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156122)

104
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of variations in the level of members' allowances in local authorities with a population of over 100,000; and if he will publish this information.

(156687)

105
   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he proposes to take following delays by SEEDA in its appraisal of SRB Round 6 projects; and if he will make a statement.

(156686)

106
N   Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will answer the Question tabled by the honourable Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton for Answer on 9th March (Ref 153381).

(156436)

107
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the annual change in the cost to an average low user of variations in fuel duties between 1992 and 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(156504)

108
N   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Doncaster Central of 20th March, Official Report, column 109W, on the Treaty of Nice, if he will define the term uniting of Europe; and if he will indicate to which previous generations he refers.

(156274)

109
N   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of the honourable Member for Horsham of 20th March, Official Report, column 112W, for what reason the responsibilities of the Minister of State for Europe were expanded to include entry clearance.

(156355)

110
N   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer for the honourable Member for Bury St. Edmunds, of 22nd March, Official report, column 317 W, on visas, how many of the cases in which the Minister for Europe intervened related to (a) his constituency and (b) the Indian sub-continent.

(156356)

111
N   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those occasions since 1st May 1997 on which his Department has used outside agencies for (a) rebranding and (b) advertising purposes; what the costs were; and if he will make a statement.

(156272)

112
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his policy on the deaths of newsmen in Balibo, East Timor in 1975.

(156198)

113
   Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Lebanese Prime Minister on the planned conference by the Institute of Historial Review on 31st March regarding Holocaust denial.

(156440)

114
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date (i) an official and (ii) a Minister from his Department first informed (a) an official and (b) a minister in another EU member state that the UK had its first (1) suspected and (2) confirmed case in the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

(156384)

115
N   Sir Brian Mawhinney (North West Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date (i) an official and (ii) a Minister in his Department first informed (a) an official and (b) a commissioner in the European Commission that the UK had its first (1) suspected and (2) confirmed case in the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

(156385)

116
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many visa applications the Minister for Europe (a) reviewed and (b) overturned since he took office.

(Notice originally given for Monday 9th April) (156105)

117
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which honourable Members have made representations to the Minister for Europe regarding visa refusals; and how many of these refusals have been overturned.

(156199)

118
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many visa applications were (a) received and (b) overturned by ministers responsible for entry clearance between May 1997 and October 1999.

(Notice originally given for Monday 9th April) (156126)

119
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) present and (b) former (i) employees and (ii) directors of Mapesbury Communications have served as political aides or advisers to the Minister for Europe.

(Notice originally given for Monday 9th April) (156077)

120
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the Government's negotiations with the British Medical Association for new contracts for health professionals.

(156452)

121
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the disposal by Hyder of its PFI contracts with George Eliot and South Warwickshire hospitals to IBA; and if he will make a statement.

(156216)

122
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what PFI contracts have been awarded to IBA by South Manchester and Kettering hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

(156263)

123
N   Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department has taken steps to ensure the accuracy of information published by IBA on its website regarding the awarding of NHS PFI contracts.

(156264)

124
N   Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 26th March, Official Report, column 451W, on the General Osteopathic Council, if he will report back to those honourable Members who have raised concerns about the implementation of the Osteopaths Act 1993.

(156270)

125
   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department each year from 1993 to 1998, inclusive.

(156522)

126
N   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue guidance to local authority social services departments on the (a) residence and (b) family circumstances under which a local authority is financially responsible for a child whose mother has been murdered by his father.

(156008)

127
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the countries from which the import and sale of beef is considered unsafe on human health grounds; and if he will make a statement.

(156383)

128
N   Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if beef over 30 months old from (a) Argentina, (b) Australia, (c) Botswana, (d) Brazil, (e) Mauritius, (f) Namibia, (g) New Zealand, (h) Paraguay, (i) Poland, (j) South Africa, (k) Switzerland, (l) Uruguay, (m) USA and (n) Zimbabwe is considered safe for importation into and sale in the United Kingdom on human health grounds; and if he will make a statement.

(156380)

129
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the impact of his approval of an acute ward at Shelton Hospital.

(156514)

130
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average GP budget was in (a) May 1997 and (b) in the most recent financial year for which figures are available in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement.

(156498)

131
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners there were in Shropshire (a) in May 1997 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(156563)

132
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of those aged over 65 years received flu vaccinations in Shrewsbury and Atcham this winter; and if he will make a statement.

(156497)

133
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many community health workers worked in Shropshire (a) in May 1997 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(156565)

134
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when it was originally planned that the cobalt radiotherapy unit would be phased out at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital; when he expects the new linear accelerator unit to be treating patients at the hospital; and if he will make a statement.

(156495)

135
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients (a) in May 1997 and (b) on the most recent date for which information is available were treated at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in mixed-sex wards; and if he will make a statement.

(156500)

136
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people will benefit from the planned free nursing care in nursing homes in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement.

(156496)

137
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what factors underlay the Government's estimate of the number of lives that will be saved from the Government's 10 year Cancer Plan target; and if he will make a statement.

(156564)

138
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the effects have been in Shrewsbury and Atcham on mental health patients of the introduction of the Mental Health National Service framework.

(156494)

139
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of people who have received vaccination against group C meningitis in Shrewsbury and Atcham in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(156499)

140
   Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying the length of time between the decision by NICE on the approval of the Thin Prep Pap Test and its planned implementation.

(156551)

141
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Cornwall constituency, the effects on North Cornwall of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156123)

142
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to ensure continued free access to food supplements; and if he will make a statement.

(156693)

143
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the proposed EU Food Supplement Directive; and if he will make a statement.

(156690)

144
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of differing regulatory structures present in the European food supplements market; and what assessment he has made of the level of restriction imposed in EU member states.

(156692)

145
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action his Department has taken to re-evaluate the current regulatory structure relating to food supplements; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure the proper communication to the consumer of the health benefits of food products.

(156695)

146
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received relating to the proposed EU Food Supplement Directive and its impact on the free access to food supplements.

(156688)

147
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the proposed EU Directive for traditionally used medicinal products; and what representations he has received on the matter.

(156689)

148
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to maintain safety as the basis for free access to food supplements, regulated under food law.

(156694)

149
   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his Department's approach to the harmonisation of the food supplement market; and on what basis of definition harmonisation is to be achieved.

(156691)

150
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on anti-Semitic incidents in the last six months; and what representations he has received on the causes of such incidents.

(156562)

151
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on progress made by his Department in considering the report evaluating the Norfolk and Greater Manchester pilot schemes for community penalties for fine defaulters and persistent petty offending published on 29th February 2000; and when he will make an announcement on bringing these measures into effect throughout England and Wales.

(156483)

152
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are applied in deciding whether to declare a state of emergency.

(156204)

153
N   Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional powers a declaration of a state of emergency gives to permit the Government to delay (a) county council elections and (b) a general election.

(156206)

154
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effectivness of banning handguns on reducing crime in the Shrewsbury Division of West Mercia Constabulary.

(156515)

155
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the use of anti-social behaviour orders in the Shrewsbury Division of West Mercia Constabulary.

(156505)

156
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have lodged complaints with the Data Protection Registrar concerning information from the change of address database sold by the Post Office to third parties.

(156456)

157
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to require the Data Protection Registrar to obtain the consent of an individual before information from the change of address database is sold on to third parties.

(156454)

158
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Government departments pay to access information on the National Change of Address Database.

(156453)

159
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to public funds of accessing the National Change of Address Database was in each year since 1995.

(156455)

160
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Isho judgement.

(156519)

161
   Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will make a decision in the application for leave to remain made by Mrs Farmer of Babbacombe Road, Torquay (Ref. D 2599777).

(156518)

162
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers are available to (a) the Police, (b) local authorities and (c) landowners in order to control dogs in the countryside; and if he will undertake a review of these powers.

(156712)

163
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to give additional powers to (a) the Police, (b) local authorities and (c) landowners in order to control dogs in the countryside during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

(156711)

164
   Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers are available to restrict the movements of travellers during an outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and if he will review these powers.

(156713)

165
N   Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall):    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 North Cornwall constituency, the effects on North Cornwall of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

(156125)

166
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list the assistance programmes her Department is funding in (a) Romania and (b) Albania.

(156704)

167
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department provides for each project it supports in Kenya.

(156703)

168
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list those countries for which her Department provides aid for the development of policies relating to the accessibility of clean water supplies.

(156702)

169
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance her Department has provided to UNICEF for its work in the protection of young refugees from (a) Romania and (b) Albania.

(156705)

170
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the average time taken between the receipt of (a) an asylum appeal and (b) an immigration appeal to the Independent Appellate Authority and an appeal decision, for the latest period for which figures are available.

(156261)

171
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the average annual cost is of employing (a) a full-time adjudicator and (b) a part-time adjudicator to hear immigration and asylum appeals.

(156262)

172
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the President of the Council, if the Government will seek to increase the powers of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (a) to provide independent advice to Ministers on their responsibilities under the Ministerial Code, (b) to appoint independent investigators of alleged breaches of the code and (c) to report to the Prime Minister and the House.

(156207)

173
N   Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    To ask the Prime Minister, when the Government will respond to the recommendations of the Third Report of the Select Committee on Public Administration, 'The Ministerial Code: Improving the Rule Book'.

(156208)

174
N   Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he discussed at the Stockholm European Council the effects of the UK's obligations under EU treaties and directives on the UK's scope to make decisions, with particular reference to the environment and vaccination, in relation to the foot and mouth outbreak in the United Kingdom.

(156377)

175
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, what consideration was given to consulting more widely than the local authority associations on the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations.

(156715)

176
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer on 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, on single room rent, what plans his Department has to commission research into the impact of the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations.

(156707)

177
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, what consultations have taken place between his Department and Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in relation to the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations.

(156718)

178
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what recent representations his Department has received in relation to review of the definition of the single room rent.

(156706)

179
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, what advice his Department sought from the Rent Service in relation to the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations; and if he will place this advice in the Library.

(156719)

180
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) young people have ceased to claim housing benefit for private sector accommodation since the introduction of the single room rent and (b) more young people are likely to claim housing benefit for private sector accommodation under the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations.

(156708)

181
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, what assessment has been made of (a) the number of young people who will be unable to find accommodation matching the definition in the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations, and (b) the number of young people who will be forced to move away from their local authority area to find accommodation matching the definition in the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations.

(156722)

182
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March 2001, Official Report, column 370W, what assessment has been made of (a) the likely impact of the proposed Younger Person's Rent regulations in areas where there is a shortage of shared accommodation available to young people, (b) the number of additional units of accommodation that may become available in England as a result of the proposed Younger Person's Rent regulations and (c) the likely impact of the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations on shortfalls faced by young people between rent due and housing benefit paid.

(156721)

183
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, how much has been saved in housing benefit payments since the introduction of the single room rent; and what costings his Department have undertaken in relation to the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations.

(156720)

184
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of (a) changes in the behaviour of young people following the introduction of the single room rent; and (b) the likely impact of the proposed new younger person's rent on the behaviour of young people; and what plans he has to monitor the behaviour of young people under the proposed new younger person's rent.

(156709)

185
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, how many organisations commented in response to the proposals in the Government's Housing Green Paper, Quality and choice: a decent home for all, on the single room rent; how many of these responses (a) supported abolition, (b) favoured abolition in preference to a broadening of the definition, (c) supported broadening the definition and (d) supported no change to the current definition; and if he will place these responses in the Library.

(156714)

186
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer on 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, what consideration was given to providing additional exemptions from the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations for (a) young pregnant women, (b) young people in receipt of the disability working allowance and incapacity benefit, (c) young people considered vulnerable under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, (d) care leavers under the age of 25 years and (e) young people rehoused through resettlement programmes operated by the Rough Sleepers Unit and others.

(156723)

187
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, what representations the Social Security Advisory Committee have received on the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations.

(156716)

188
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, on single room rent, how many exceptional hardship payments have been awarded to young people subject to the single room rent in each of the last three years.

(156710)

189
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, if correspondence from his Department to the Social Security Advisory Committee concerned possible consultations on the proposed new Younger Person's Rent regulations; and if he will place a copy of that correspondence in the Library.

(156717)

190
   Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W, what consideration was given to including accommodation in which a small kitchen is provided within the definition of the proposed new Younger Person's Rent.

(156724)

191
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he last reviewed the application forms for benefit claims.

(156701)

192
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what changes have been made since 1997 to help pensioners with small occupational pensions.

(156645)

193
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what role the pension credit will play in encouraging people to save for retirement.

(156569)

194
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what assessment he has made of the impact of changes to the regulations governing inherited SERPS.

(156572)

195
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what progress is being made in reforming the regulations in the social security system governing capital limits for pensioners.

(156573)

196
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what changes have been made since 1997 to pension and social security provision for pensioners living in poverty.

(156575)

197
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the role of the basic pension is in overall pension provision in the UK.

(156552)

198
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what progress is being made with the introduction of the pension credit.

(156553)

199
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what discussions he has had with pensioner organisations in Scotland about initiatives to inform older people of their rights.

(156571)

200
   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department each year from 1993 to 1998, inclusive.

(156523)

201
   Mr David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 23rd March, Official Report, column 370W on single room rent, what representations he has received concerning the impact of the single room rent in Brighton and Hove; what assessment he has undertaken of the likely impact of the proposed new young person's rent regulations in Brighton and Hove; and what consideration was given in drafting the proposed new young person's rent regulations to the submission sent to him by the honourable Member for Brighton Pavillion on behalf of various agencies in Brighton and Hove.

(156647)

202
   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what his estimate is of the percentage of farmers who have had their farm livestock slaughtered as a consequence of foot and mouth disease who will be entitled to claim unemployment benefit.

(156556)

203
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the role, powers and funding of Postwatch.

(156275)

204
N   Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the total expenditure by the Post Office Users' National Council was in the financial years (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000; what the total budgeted expenditure by the Post Office Users' National Council was in 2000-01; and what the total expenditure requested by Postwatch is for 2001-02.

(156273)

205
N   Mr David Drew (Stroud):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in what ways the region by region allocation of his Department's funds for economic and physical regeneration initiatives is influenced by the availability of previously developed land and buildings.

(156196)

206
   Jane Griffiths (Reading East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department each year from 1993 to 1998, inclusive.

(156524)

207
N   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what criteria are used to evaluate bids from community finance initiatives for Challenge Fund support from the Phoenix Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(156258)

208
N   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what financial targets are to be set for community finance initiatives funded from the Phoenix Fund by the Small Business Service; and if he will make a statement.

(156259)

209
N   Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what priority is given to community finance initiatives that are national in scope within the Challenge Fund element of the Phoenix Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(156260)

210
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the number of new businesses in each industrial category started in Shrewsbury and Atcham since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(156512)

211
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will estimate the average change in prices for (a) gas and (b) electricity to the average consumer in Shrewsbury and Atcham since May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(156501)

212
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the effects of abolishing Advantage West Midlands on businesses in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

(156502)

213
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the arrangements formulated to protect employees' jobs in the Corus firm can be applied to employees' jobs in the former BSK factory in Llanidloes; and if he will make a statement.

(156517)

214
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to ensure that sub-postmasters have the right to have Paypoint terminals on their premises.

(156516)

215
   Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to review the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) Regulations 1996; and if he will list the countries from which over 30 month beef may be imported.

[Transferred] (156484)

216
   Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress is being made to combat fuel poverty amongst pensioners.

[Transferred] (156574)

217
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much European Union Regional Funding Aid has been made available to London since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (156700)

218
   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will estimate how many regulations affecting businesses have been repealed since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (156503)