Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2000-01
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The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Wednesday 9 May 2001

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 9 May, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

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

.
WEDNESDAY 9th MAY

1
N   Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of the national stock of (a) pigs, (b) sheep and (c) cattle have been slaughtered as a result of measures related to foot and mouth disease since the start of the outbreak.

(160349)

2
N   Mr John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what the cost is of the burial ground being constructed at Petrockstow, Devon.

[R] (160655)

3
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement about the proposed reduction in the rates payable to farmers under the Welfare Disposal Scheme.

(160700)

4
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who the key official in the Intervention Board is who deals with Wales; and what his or her contact number is.

(160698)

5
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to make interim payments of compensation to farmers affected by foot and mouth disease.

(160702)

6
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will meet the Minister for Rural Affairs in the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the operation of the Welfare Disposal Scheme in Monmouthshire.

(160701)

7
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to review the operation of the Intervention Board.

(160699)

8
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proportion of claims for compensation for stock slaughter as a result of foot and mouth disease have been paid within 21 days of the cull.

(160703)

9
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will provide a substantive answer to the question from the honourable Member for Ludlow tabled for answer on 6th April (Ref. 157364).

(160505)

10
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what services are offered by the Farm Business Advice Service; and what funds have been allocated to it.

(160529)

11
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what livestock has been slaughtered in North Essex constituency in the past seven days due to foot and mouth disease.

(160609)

12
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on (a) the potential of deer to catch foot and mouth disease, (b) the potential of deer to act as carriers of the disease and (c) plans he has to control deer suspected of (a) and (b).

(160644)

13
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the laboratory samples taken from stock at Eirianfa Farm, near Ardleen in Powys indicated (a) the existence of the foot and mouth virus or (b) an unreadable or other result; and if he will make a statement.

(160741)

14
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the reliability of the different kinds of test for foot and mouth disease carried out at his Department's laboratories at Purbright.

(160742)

15
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the destruction of a herd of fallow deer at Charlcote Park under tuberculosis regulations.

(160672)

16
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what impact the foot and mouth outbreak has had on (a) regular tuberculosis testing of cattle, (b) the culling of badgers for the triplet studies of TB and (c) the validity of the triplet studies of TB.

(160671)

17
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to table proposals for reform of the EU's methods for tackling foot and mouth, following the recent UK outbreak.

(160623)

18
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to tighten the rules concerning animal movements in the UK and the wider EU market.

(160624)

19
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans the Government has to table proposals for reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

(160622)

20
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to fund schemes for mature students to study veterinary medicine.

(160713)

21
   Mr Peter Brooke (Cities of London and Westminster):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the standard time is for turning round export licence applications made to his Department.

(160791)

22
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list the dates of the meetings between his Department and the recruitment company, Manpower (a) prior to June 1999 and (b) after June 1999 and the matters discussed at them.

(160656)

23
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many meetings ministers attended with Manpower to discuss the Millennium Dome.

(160657)

24
N   Jackie Ballard (Taunton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of (a) the number of people affected and (b) the cost to the Exchequer on re-instating Army widow pensions to those widows who lost their pension on remarriage, prior to the change of policy.

(160528)

25
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many appointments he has made since May 1997 in accordance with the Nolan criteria; how many appointees were aged over 60 years at the time of appointment; and how many declared a political affiliation for (a) the Conservative party, (b) the Labour party and (c) the Liberal Democrats.

(160630)

26
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent in each year since 1990 on upgrading the communications monitoring bases at (a) Menwith Hall and (b) Fylingdales; and from what budget line the money has been drawn.

(160711)

27
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many, and what percentage of children in secondary education were in private schools (a) in each English local education authority and (b) in England as whole in (i) the latest year for which figures are available and (ii) each of the two preceding years.

(160618)

28
   Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many (a) nursery and (b) after-school childcare places were available in Slough in (i) April 1997 and (ii) April 2001.

(160787)

29
N   Alice Mahon (Halifax):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the total value of the monies clawed back from further education colleges was in the year 2000-01; how much of this money was re-allocated to further education; and if there is a plan to use it to increase the value of the units for 2001-02 by a fixed amount..

(160523)

30
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each school in Shrewsbury and Atcham the value of grants given directly by his Department to purchase books since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(160522)

31
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what the funding per student for Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology has been in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

(160507)

32
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham that have received new computer suites since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(160509)

33
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the allocations for literacy and numeracy funding for each school in Shewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement.

(160514)

34
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the Sure Start Programme in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

(160516)

35
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much it cost to replace a demountable classroom for the Bayston Hill Music and Arts Centre in Shrewsbury; and if he will make a statement.

(160518)

36
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the pass rates for GCSE examinations for pupils in Shropshire for each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(160519)

37
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list the capital projects and their value at Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology since 1st May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(160506)

38
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many school classes of five to seven year olds with over 30 pupils there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

(160508)

39
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list for each nursery school in Shrewsbury and Atcham (a) the funding received and (b) the number of free nursery places created since 1st May 1997 for (i) three year olds and (ii) four year olds; and if he will make a statement.

(160521)
40
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will list which schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham will benefit from the special Educational Needs Standards Fund; and if he will make a statement.

(160515)

41
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much it cost to provide additional classrooms at (a) Sundome Infants, (b) Greenfields Primary and (c) Springfield Infants schools in Shrewsbury and if he will make a statement.

(160517)

42
N   Mr Martin Salter (Reading West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how much the Government spent on education in the Reading West constituency in each of the financial years from 1995-96 to 2000-01, indicating the specific areas on which the funding has been spent.

(159614)

43
N   Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what action he is taking to ensure that the Government complies with Article 9.1(c) of Council Directive (79/409/EEC) on the conservation of wild birds with respect to the possession of live and dead birds; and what measures are taken to differentiate between those birds of captive origin and those which are not.

(160631)

44
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance he has issued on the selection of options in multi-model shares and their consistency with the Transport White Paper, A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone.

(160526)

45
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the number of homeless acceptances resulting from the termination of support by NASS following a positive decision on claims for asylum; what future plans he has to monitor the number of households who are accepted as homeless in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

(160660)

46
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the support needs of homeless refugees and those given exception leave to remain in the UK once they been given a positive decision on their asylum claims; what guidance will be given to local authorities in this area under the proposed new duty on local housing authorities to produce homelessness strategies set out in the Homes Bill; and if he will make a statement.

(160662)

47
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance is available to local authorities about the needs of refugees who are (a) victims of rape or torture and (b) suffering from post-traumatic stress; what plans he has to ensure that local housing authorities consider such needs in assessing whether a person is in priority need under the homelessness legislation; and if he will make a statement.

(160661)

48
N   Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how the principle of reputational externalities is applied to the assessment of bidders for the London Underground PPP.

(160530)

49
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list capital profits in Shrewsbury and Atcham since 1997 aimed at improving the environment; and if he will make a statement.

(160520)

50
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the capital projects agreed in Shrewsbury and Atcham to improve (a) bus services, (b) train services, (c) cycle routes and (d) other public transport investments since 1st May 1997 and their cost; and if he will make a statement.

(160511)

51
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make it his policy to review the Bellwin rates to allow local authorities to claim for increased expenditure on flood emergency works.

(160513)

52
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if his Department will incorporate the text of paragraph 9 to the annexe to Circular 2/92 in the final wording of the paper on 'Safeguarding Aerodromes, Technical Sites and Military Explosives Storage Areas'; and if he will make a statement.

(160710)

53
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what measures his Department proposes to take to ensure the continued protection of (a) gliding sites and (b) other unlicensed aerodromes provided for in paragraph 9 of the annexe to Circular 2/92; and if he will make a statement.

(160709)

54
   Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans his Department has to change its policy on the unofficial safeguarding of gliding sites; and if he will make a statement.

(160708)

55
N   Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will make an announcement on the action he will take on the voluntary code of practice on commercial property leasing.

(160619)

56
N   Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's estimates are of the number of people who have benefited from the national minimum wage in (a) Plymouth, Sutton constituency, (b) Plymouth, Devonport constituency, (c) South West Devon constituency and (d) Plymouth unitary authority area.

(160242)

57
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the usual gross weekly household incomes as referred to in table 3.8 of Living in Britain 1998, of households headed by a person who is (a) married with dependent children, (b) married with no children or non-dependent children, (c) cohabiting with dependent children, (d) cohabiting with no children or non-dependent children, (e) a lone mother with dependent children, (f) a lone mother with no children or non-dependent children, (g) a lone father with dependent children, (h) a lone father with no children or non-dependent children, (i) a single person, (j) a same sex couple and (k) not in any of the categories above.

(160736)

58
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the percentage of women with a child aged (a) four years or under, (b) between five and nine years and (c) between 10 and 15 years who (i) work full-time, (ii) work part-time, (iii) are unemployed and (iv) are economically inactive.

(160737)

59
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of households are headed by a person who is (a) married, (b) cohabiting, (c) single, (d) widowed, (e) divorced, (f) separated and (g) cohabiting with someone of the same sex.

(160735)

60
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the average gross weekly income in 2000-01, or the latest year for which figures are available, by decile group for (a) all households, (b) one adult retired households mainly dependent on state pensions, (c) one adult retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions, (d) one adult non-retired households, (e) one adult households with children, (f) two adult households with children, (g) one man, one woman non-retired households, (h) one man, one woman retired households mainly dependent on state pensions and (i) one man, one woman retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions.

(160738)

61
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of (a) families with dependent children are headed by (i) married couples, (ii) cohabiting couples and (iii) a lone parent by each type and (b) dependent children live in families which are headed by (1) a married couple, (2) a cohabiting couple, (3) a parent who has never married, (4) a widowed parent, (5) a divorced parent and (6) a separated parent.

(160734)

62
N   Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give, in cash and real terms, the expenditure in (a) Scotland and (b) England on (i) education, (ii) health and personal social services, (iii) roads and transport, (iv) housing, (v) law, order and protective services, (vi) trade, industry, energy and employment, (vii) agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry and (viii) total expenditure in the form set out in Chapter 8 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (Cm 5101) in each year from 1979-80 to 1999-2000.

(160629)

63
N   Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the level of funding apportioned per head of population by Government under the Barnett Formula in Scotland and in the North West of England, broken down by spending on (a) transport, (b) education, (c) health and social services, (d) trade and industry and (e) tourism.

(160626)

64
N   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the Government is taking to help protect the Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo from vandalism and destruction.

(160664)

65
N   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received concerning damage to Serbian Orthodox churces in Kosovo.

(160665)

66
N   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Pakistani Government concerning the persecution of members of the Ahmadiyya Islamic Movement.

(160625)

67
   Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if information given to an entry clearance officer during an informal assessment of a visitor's visa application is retained and used in a later fresh application by the same applicant.

(160682)

68
   Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what procedures are in place for an applicant to challenge the contents of an entry clearance officer's notes taken during an informal assessment of the prospects of the award of a visitor visa on the grounds of the applicant's statements being misunderstood.

(160697)

69
   Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures he will take in response to the UN report on Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(160679)

70
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of increased annual expenditure on (a) the CAP and (b) the total EU budget as a result of admitting the 12 applicant countries negotiating to join the EU.

(160621)

71
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of the impact on the UK's financial contribution to the EU if the 12 applicant states join, as a result of their membership.

(160620)

72
N   Mr John Redwood (Wokingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of increased annual expenditure on the CAP as a result of admitting (a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Bulgaria and (e) Romania into the EU.

(160627)

73
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterparts in Turkmenistan regarding the imprisonment of Shageldy Atakav; and if he will make a statement.

(160714)

74
N   Mr Michael Trend (Windsor):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will accommodate Gibraltar's telephone system within the UK 0044 code.

(160676)

75
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to address the incidence of stroke in ethnic minority groups, to identify and raise awareness amongst those at greatest risk and to provide accessible, culturally sensitive and appropriate prevention information.

(160539)

76
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will investigate the effectiveness of introducing blood pressure screening programmes.

(160540)

77
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the development of a national service framework for patients with kidney failure.

(160628)

78
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to combat the incidence of stroke in women.

(160541)

79
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made towards the target set in 'Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation' of reducing stroke in those under 75 years.

(160537)

80
N   Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he will be issuing on the development of stroke registers to identify those at greater risk of stroke; and when that guidance can be expected.

(160538)

81
N   Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the honourable Member for West Chelmsford will receive a reply to his letter of 3rd January concerning Mr Clive Mortimore; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in replying.

(160632)

82
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses there are per 1000 patients in each NHS trust in Greater Manchester.

(159782)

83
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of spending on mental health services in the NHS was allocated to eating disorders in the last financial year.

(160785)

84
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what incidence of cancer there has been, on a postcode basis, for the Severn Estuary region for the most recent three year period for which figures are available.

(160788)

85
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of health spending was allocated to treatment and research into mental health in the last financial year.

(160784)

86
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of Government funding for mental health services was used for or (a) alternative treatments therapies, (b) promotion of alternative treatments ortherapies and (c) research into alternative treatments or therapies in the last financial year.

(160786)

87
   Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's policy is on the vaccination of children against TB.

(160743)

88
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will require the Medicines Control Agency to re-examine research findings by Professor Dick Van Velsen into medicines used in the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

(160707)

89
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will meet Professor John Dodge of the University of Wales, to discuss his concerns about research undertaken by Professor Dick Van Velsen into the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

(160706)

90
   Mr Nick Harvey (North Devon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he plans to allow pathology laboratory services to be operated by private sector companies; what plans he has to consolidate pathology services into regions; what representations he has received on this subject; and if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of the NHS pathology services.

(160681)

91
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to regulate the piercing of bodyparts other than ears; and if he will make a statement.

(160666)

92
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the capital projects for Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury agreed since 1st May 1997 and their value; and if he will make a statement.

(160510)

93
   Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Immigration and Nationality Department will complete consideration of the case relating to the wife of Mr G. A. Officer, a constituent.

(160733)

94
   Mr Peter Brooke (Cities of London and Westminster):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the number of asylum seekers dispersed throughout the UK, (b) the number who are locating in London and (c) the number being offered accommodation by the Refugee Council on behalf of the NASS.

(160793)

95
   Mr Peter Brooke (Cities of London and Westminster):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the effect asylum seekers opting for support by voucher only are having on the housing shortage in London.

(160794)

96
   Mr Peter Brooke (Cities of London and Westminster):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seeker applicants opted for vouchers only, including dependants; and how many have accepted disperal.

(160790)

97
   Mr Peter Brooke (Cities of London and Westminster):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to take full financial responsibility for asylum seekers and their dependants in place of local authority responsibility.

(160792)

98
N   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (a) when Tibetans were first classed as Chinese nationals for asylum purposes in the UK, (b) by which Government department the decision was taken and (c) if Tibetans are classified as Chinese nationals by other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

(160504)

99
   Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 28th February, to the honourable Member for Gravesham, Official Report, columns 708-9W, on terrorist organisations, what assessment he has made of the impact of proscribing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam on the Norwegian peace initiative between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government; what representations he has received from Tamil organisations in the United Kingdom since the proscription of the LTTE; what representations he has received from the Norwegian Government since the proscription of the LTTE; and what criteria he will use to consider the de-proscription of the LTTE.

(160712)

100
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will meet the Prison Service Union to discuss the regime for prisoners and staffing at HMP Blakenhurst.

(160705)

101
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact on local authority housing services of the maximum 14 day notice period within which people housed under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 must leave their accommodation after they receive a positive decision on their asylum claims; what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues about the Audit Commission's recommendation that this period should be reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

(160663)

102
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people, broken down by type of drug, were (a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against in a magistrate's court and (c) tried at the Crown Court for possession of a proscribed drug in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998, (iv) 1999 and (v) 2000, in each police authority in England and Wales.

(160740)

103
   Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was (a) spent and (b) allocated by his Department on tackling problems relating to drugs in respect of (i) improving international co-operation to reduce supplies from abroad, (ii) increasing the effectiveness of police and Customs enforcement, (iii) maintaining effective deterrents and tight domestic controls, (iv) developing prevention publicity, education and community action and (v) improving treatment and rehabilitation in (1) 1997, (2) 1998, (3) 1999 and (4) 2000.

(160739)

104
N   Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the capital improvement projects in the Shrewsbury Division of West Mercia Constabulary since May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(160512)

105
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if payments to horserace tracks from Horserace Betting Levy Board money can be withdrawn other than by breach of the conditions of these payments.

(160674)

106
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received regarding threats to deprive horserace tracks of payments made from Horserace Betting Levy Board money if such tracks sign media rights agreements not agreed by the British Horseracing Board.

(160675)

107
N   Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if it is his policy that the Horserace Betting Levy Board will not be abolished until alternative funding arrangements are agreed by both the racing industry and the betting industry.

(160673)

108
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to assist the preparations for the Rio + 10 conference; what contributions she intends to make at the conference; and if she will make a statement.

(159783)

109
N   Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list those public organisations which are responsible for the maintenance of their own public records and exempt from supervision by the Public Record Office; and what powers he has to ensure that such bodies keep proper records to the standards applied by the Public Record Office.

(160542)

110
N   Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the timescale is for the proposed disbandment of the full-time RUC Reserve.

(159866)

111
N   Mr William Ross (East Londonderry):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on the decommissioning of terrorist weapons since 1st May 2000.

(159865)

112
N   Mr William Thompson (West Tyrone):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he proposes to take to halt the rising crime rate in the Province.

(159867)

113
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Prime Minister, what his policy is on United States' plans to develop a ballistic missile shield and to seek changes to the ABM treaty.

(160633)

114
   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many (a) initial applications, (b) renewal claims, (c) reviews and (d) appeals for disability living allowance were cleared outside the target clearance times in each month of 1998; and how many (i) initial applications, (ii) renewal claims, (iii) reconsiderations, (iv) supersessions and (v) appeals for disability living allowance were cleared outside the target clearance times in each month of 2000.

(160684)

115
N   Mr Tony Colman (Putney):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when the honourable Member for Putney will receive a reply to his letter of 17th April about the reclaiming of benefit from the war disablement pension of his constituent, Mr Roland Riggs.

(160527)

116
   Mr Brian Cotter (Weston-Super-Mare):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he will reply to the letter of 29th March, from Mrs Mary McCreadie Harrison, a constituent, concerning her pension entitlement.

(160789)

117
   Julia Drown (South Swindon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what the (a) earliest and (b) latest date is on which the new CSA rules will be applied to existing CSA cases; and if he will make a statement on how the new CSA arrangements will be phased in for existing cases.

(160683)

118
N   Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will calculate the outstanding liability to the state second pension for each of the next 40 years, in current price terms, and if all workers turning 25 years were from 2002 automatically contracted out of the state second pension at the standard occupational pension rate.

(160524)

119
   Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what discussions he has had with the Irish Government concerning pension clawback.

(160680)

120
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many companies which offer temporary to permanent products his Department met to discuss the effect of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on temporary to permanent contracts (a) before and (b) after the final draft was published.

(160652)

121
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the recruitment companies other than REC he met to discuss Regulations 8 and 9 prior to the final draft of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations being published.

(160658)

122
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have held with Manpower regarding the changes to temporary to permanent contracts contained in the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations.

(160651)

123
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the impact of Regulations 8 and 9 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on those recruitment companies who operate with a dual role as agency and business.

(160659)

124
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings his officials held with Manpower (a) before and (b) after the publication of the consultation document on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and on what dates.

(160646)

125
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he held with (a) recruitment companies and (b) REC relating to the impact of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on work experience to permanent products before the final draft was published.

(160653)

126
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have held with Keith Faulkner to discuss the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and on what dates.

(160648)

127
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he made of the impact of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on work experience to permanent products before the final draft was published.

(160654)

128
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd April, Official Report, column 103W, what discussions he has had with (a) women's groups, (b) representatives of ethnic minority groups and (c) student groups regarding the implications of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations.

(160649)

129
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many meetings Ministers held with Manpower relating to the consultation document on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and on what dates.

(160647)

130
N   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd April, Official Report, column 103W, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on recruitment bureaux products.

(160650)

131
N   Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research he has commissioned on the technical modifications necessary to the Sellafield MOX plant to enable the plant to process plutonium for immobilisation.

(159784)

132
   Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will ask CORUS plc for a written assessment of the proposals submitted by the ISTC to restructure steel production at each plant in England and Wales.

(160704)

133
N   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions he has had with advertising regulators with regard to the Stop Now Orders (Injunctions Directive) Regulations 2001; and if he will place copies of all relevant correspondence in the Library.

(160616)

134
N   Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what impact he expects the Stop Now Orders (Injunctions Directive) Regulations 2001 will have on the self-regulatory system in advertising.

(160617)

135
N   Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he has received the draft of the new BNFL Corporate Plan referred to in evidence by his officials to the Trade and Industry Select Committee, published in its Ninth Report, Session 1999-2000; and if he will place copies of the most recent draft he has received in the Library.

(160543)

136
N   Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the price of inspection for small and medium-sized abattoirs.

[Transferred] (160645)

137
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what hourly payment rate has been agreed for veterinary surgeons engaged to deal with the foot and mouth problem; how many hours on average each vet has worked; how many vets have been detailed to work specifically on foot and mouth since the outbreak began; and which budget is being used to pay the additional vets' charges

[Transferred] (160678)