QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
[Tabled on the dates shown]
10th March
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 or any other legislation, they have a duty to assess the risk of genetically modified animals escaping from captivity, cross-breeding or entering the food chain; what is their current practice in this respect; and whether there are adequate penalties for anyone accidentally or intentionally releasing genetically modified animals, including fish. (HL1474)
25th March
The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government how often the Prime Minister has met Isabel Allende; and what comments he has made in her presence about Salvador Allende. (HL1784)
12th April
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been the cost of NATOs military operations against Yugoslavia since 24th March and how, in the long run, the costs of these operations are to be divided up between the members of NATO, particularly the costs of the provision of equipment and services to NATO members forces by the United States. (HL1940)
14th April
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are refusing licences for the export of arms and military equipment (including dual-use) to both Ethiopia and Eritrea, until such times as their border disputes are satisfactorily resolved; and whether they will ask the members of NATO, the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Commonwealth to adopt similar policies. (HL2001)
15th April
The Lord Wallace of SaltaireTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man are formally territories of the United Kingdom. (HL2045)
19th April
The Lord JuddTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, in view of the support already being mobilised by the Social Development Fund of the Council of Europe for emergency assistance to Kosovo refugees and the preparations being made by the Fund for assistance with resettlement, they will reconsider their position and take immediate steps to participate fully in the Fund. (HL2052)
The Earl of CarlisleTo ask Her Majestys Government what measures they are taking to assist Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fully to meet their obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and to respect the jurisdiction of the Court; and what further assistance they are contemplating. (HL2054)
20th April
The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government why they think that BBC Radio 1 should be in public ownership. (HL2088)
The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the reasons that they would give for not privatising BBC Radio 2. (HL2089)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have obtained any information on the effects of low dose alpha radiation on the morbidity and mortality rates in Iraqi children as a result of contamination from depleted uranium ammunition used in Iraq during the Gulf War. (HL2096)
21st April
The Lord Pearson of RannochTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the reference numbers of any present or proposed European Union legislation which might affect waste disposal in the United Kingdom; what is the state of play of that legislation; and what is their estimate of its cost and benefit to the United Kingdom. (HL2114)
The Lord Pearson of RannochTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the reference numbers of any present or proposed European Union legislation which might affect working time in the United Kingdom; what is the state of play of that legislation; and what is their estimate of its cost and benefit to the United Kingdom. (HL2117)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will provide details of Sudanese ex-servicemen in receipt of British military pensions. (HL2123)
The Lord EamesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether present guidelines for television and radio companies are sufficient to protect the more vulnerable in society from explicit scenes of sex and violence. (HL2134)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the provisions of the Treaty on the Peaceful Uses of Space cover the need for Environmental Assessments in the case of the launching of satellites from sea-based platforms on the High Seas, close, and therefore possibly damaging, to the Exclusive Economic Zones of States Party to the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and in areas where fish stocks may be vulnerable to exhausts. (HL2138)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether depleted uranium shells are being used by any NATO forces in Serbia and Kosovo. (HL2139)
22nd April
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the report on the results of the enquiry, published on 22nd April, into the air accident which occurred near Schipol airport involving an El Al cargo aeroplane carrying nerve agents. (HL2145)
The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will provide the numbers of farm businesses receiving total Integrated Administration and Control System related subsidies in the following bands: (a) over £5 million; (b) £5 million to £1 million; (c) £1 million to £500,000; (d) £500,000 to £200,000; (e) £200,000 to £100,000, (f) £100,000 to £75,000, (g) £75,000 to £50,000, (h) £50,000 to £40,000; (i) £40,000 to £30,000, (j) £30,000 to £20,000, (k) £20,000 to £15,000, (l) £15,000 to £10,000, (m) £10,000 to £5,000 and (n) less than £5,000. (HL2149)
The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will provide the numbers of farm businesses receiving subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy, including Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances, in the United Kingdom. (HL2150)
The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the average expenditure from Government funds to support a family with two children when neither parent works. (HL2151)
The Lord TebbitTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the cost in the year 1988-89 of military action taken overseas by British armed forces acting other than as part of the United Nations forces. (HL2169)
26th April
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 31st March (WA 77), what is their estimate of the resources likely to be required by Government Departments in preparing for the right of individual petition under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and in responding to any complaints which may be brought under those procedures. (HL2175)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the timetable for the current programme of judicial training about the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998; and when the programme is likely to be completed. (HL2176)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish the budget for the current programme of judicial training about the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998, showing how the moneys allocated to the programme are to be spent. (HL2177)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government on how many occasions since the Human Rights Act 1998 received Royal Assent on 9th November 1998 have Ministers discussed collectively when to bring the provisions of the Act fully into force. (HL2179)
The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposals have been made by the European Commission to amend the existing asbestos directive; what comments have been made by the United Kingdom Health and Safety Commission on those proposals; and what is their policy on amending the directive. (HL2182)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will make representations, and whether they will ask other Member States of the European Union to make representations, to the Israeli Government about
(a) the demolition of Palestinian homes by the Israeli authorities;
(b) the confiscation of Jerusalem identity cards from Palestinian residents; and
(c) the placing of new Israeli settlements in the West Bank before and after the Wye Plantation Agreement. (HL2185)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what sanctions would be the most appropriate and effective response to any breaches of international law and agreements by Israel and any disregard by Israel of United Nations resolutions. (HL2186)
The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will specify, for each of the plantings of genetically-modified crops participating in the recently-announced farm-scale evaluations, the respective (a) crop; (b) planting company; (c) location of planting; (d) release consent date, nature and reference number; (e) national list application date and reference number; (f) date of plant breeders rights application and consent; and (g) date and nature of any pesticide approval. (HL2194)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the statement of the Prime Minister on 2nd September 1998 (HC Deb, cols. 708-709), whether they will automatically endorse any military attack by the United States against Sudan in the future. (HL2196)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government what assistance they are giving to Sudan to aid its preparations for the internationally-supervised referendum on the status of southern Sudan as envisaged in the 1997 Khartoum Peace Agreement. (HL2197)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 14th December 1998 (WA 133), whether the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Sudan, or any other of the sources used by Her Majestys Government, has figures detailing the carrying out of hudud punishments in the Sudan in the 10 years prior to 1989 compared with the past nine years. (HL2198)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government what information they have about the current numbers of political detainees in Sudan. (HL2199)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their assessment of the human rights situation in Sudan; and what has been the effect on human rights there of British and European Union policy. (HL2200)
27th April
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many arrests have been made under the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998; and how many prosecutions have been brought. (HL2206)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Wales showing, for state primary and secondary schools separately, the amount of money spent per pupil, the total amount of money spent and the percentage of the total budget spent on
(a) pupils with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need; and
(b) pupils with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
in each of the years 1983 to 1998 showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the number of schools and the number of pupils on roll. (HL2213)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Scotland showing, for state primary and secondary schools separately, the amount of money spent per pupil, the total amount of money spent and the percentage of the total budget spent on
(a) pupils with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need; and
(b) pupils with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
in each of the years 1983 to 1998 showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the number of schools and the number of pupils on roll. (HL2214)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Northern Ireland showing, for state primary and secondary schools separately, the amount of money spent per pupil, the total amount of money spent and the percentage of the total budget spent on
(a) pupils with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need; and
(b) pupils with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
in each of the years 1983 to 1998 showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the number of schools and the number of pupils on roll. (HL2215)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Northern Ireland showing, for secondary schools, grammar schools and all state schools, the percentage of all 14 year-old pupils in 1998 passing National Curriculum tests at levels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 together with the average level attained per pupil in the following subjects: mathematics, English and science, showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the numbers of schools and the number of 14 year-old pupils. (HL2216)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Northern Ireland showing, for secondary schools, grammar schools and all state schools, the percentage of all 11 year-old pupils in 1998 passing National Curriculum tests at levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 together with the average level attained per pupil in the following subjects: mathematics, English and science, showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the number of schools and the number of 11 year-old pupils. (HL2217)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any Practice Directions on Civil Procedure in England and Wales, in force on 26th April, have not yet been published to members of the public and their legal advisers, and to the judiciary, so as to ensure legal certainty. (HL2219)
[As amended on 28th April]
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government how many refugees there are in the former Yugoslavia; what is (a) their official nationality and (b) their religion and/or ethnic origin; from where they have been expelled, and by whom; and whether it is NATOs intention that they should all be helped and escorted to return to their ancestral homes; and, if so, at whose expense. (HL2222)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of the destruction in Serbia and Kosovo has been caused by missiles and bombs, launched from United States, United Kingdom, French and other platforms; and whether the need and the costs of eventual reconstruction are kept in mind by the military authorities commanding operations. (HL2224)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are confident that none of the reports of the Kosovo Liberation Armys association with the drug trade is soundly based; and whether this is the view of the International Narcotics Control Board and the United Kingdom and other European police forces. (HL2226)
The Lord TebbitTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will set out the policy aims which, in their view, qualifies an organisation to be described as extreme right wing, which expression was frequently used by the Home Secretary in BBC broadcasts on 26th April. (HL2227)
28th April
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Wales showing for comprehensive schools, modern schools, grammar schools and all state secondary schools separately, the percentage of pupils on roll and the percentage of all 16 year-old pupils in each of the years 1983 to 1998
(a) with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need;
(b) with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the number of schools, the number of pupils on roll and the number of 16 year-old pupils. (HL2233)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Wales showing, for all state primary schools, the percentage of pupils on roll in each of the years 1983 to 1998
(a) with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need;
(b) with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including the number of schools and the total number of pupils on roll. (HL2234)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Scotland showing for comprehensive schools, modern schools, grammar schools and all state secondary schools separately, the percentage of pupils on roll and the percentage of all 16 year-old pupils in each of the years 1983 to 1998
(a) with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need;
(b) with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the number of schools, the number of pupils on roll and the number of 16 year-old pupils. (HL2235)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Scotland showing, for all state primary schools, the percentage of pupils on roll in each of the years 1983 to 1998
(a) with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need;
(b) with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including the number of schools and the total number of pupils on roll. (HL2236)
The Lord Shore of StepneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the surpluses and deficits on current account and what were the annual average unemployed percentages for the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Holland and Belgium in 1998 and in each year since 1990. (HL2237)
The Lord Harris of HaringeyTo ask Her Majestys Government when more detail will be provided of the proposals for a reinvigorated model of federated Community Health Councils in Wales announced by the Secretary of State for Wales in March; and what arrangements are to be made for consultation on the detail of these proposals. (HL2238)
The Lord Sefton of GarstonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will consider the introduction of a salaried system of legal aid especially in personal injuries cases. (HL2240)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 14th December 1998 (WA 134), and the recent killing of workers assisting with International Committee of the Red Cross activities, what action they are taking to protect aid workers in Sudan. (HL2241)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the August 1998 bombing by the American Government of the al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum, Sudan, has been discussed in the European Common Foreign and Security Policy working groups on Non-Proliferation, the Middle East/Gulf, Security, Africa and Global Disarmament. (HL2242)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have any evidence to support the claim (HL Deb, col. 902) that the Sudanese Government has as a policy the use of slavery on a widespread, systematic scale. (HL2243)
The Lord McNairTo ask Her Majestys Government what evidence they have that the Sudanese Government was involved in the bombing of the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August 1998. (HL2244)
The Lord IronsideTo ask Her Majestys Government how many shipbuilding yards capable of building and fitting out large vessels of 40,000 tonnes or more are currently operational in the United Kingdom; and who are the registered owners in each case. (HL2245)
The Lord IronsideTo ask Her Majestys Government how many United Kingdom-owned shipbuilding yards in the United Kingdom have the capability of building and fitting out the planned 40,000 tonnes replacement aircraft carriers. (HL2246)
The Lord NorthfieldTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made on the proposals to pedestrianise parts of Trafalgar Square; and when the work will begin. (HL2247)
The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what information they have, as a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, of a notification by Turkey under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter of the entry into Northern Iraq by Turkish forces; on what date the Turkish forces crossed the frontier; and on what date Turkey notified the Security Council. (HL2248)
The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have ordered Colonel Robert Stewart to comply with a summons issued by Trial Chamber 1 of the International Criminal Tribunal in the former Yugoslavia in the case of Blaskic; and what information they have about the compliance by the countries, whose nationals are mentioned in the summons, with their obligation to assist the Tribunal. (HL2249)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they can confirm the accuracy of the statement by the Romanian Miners Leader (Mr Miron Cozna) that the 35 per cent rise in miners wages will be financed by the European Union; and, if so, whether such use of European Union funds is legal. (HL2252)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether safeguards attached to European Union aid to the victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America will ensure that such aid reaches the victims rather than fraudsters and racketeers. (HL2253)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the annual amount of aid from the European Union to the Palestinian authority; how much is provided by the United Kingdom; and whether the aid is properly, honestly and efficiently administered. (HL2254)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the amount of aid given by the European Union annually to Algeria and Morocco; how much is provided by the United Kingdom; and whether the aid is properly, honestly and efficiently administered. (HL2255)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will consult Parliament about the terms of their next report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. (HL2257)
The Earl of HaddingtonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 9th July 1997 (WA 78), whether they will place in the Library of the House, copies of all documentation relating to the computerisation of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, the Document Reception Centre, the Public Enquiry Office and the case work programme, in particular in relation to the service provision contract awarded to Siemens Business Services under the Private Finance Initiative, including all pages of the contract with Siemens Business Services previously withheld in the Answer on 9th July 1997. (HL2259)
The Earl of SandwichTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the political situation in Burma has deteriorated since the beginning of the year. (HL2260)
The Earl of SandwichTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have responded to the recent calls by Aung San Suu Kyi for concrete action with regard to Burma. (HL2261)
The Earl of SandwichTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they support the global campaign to reach with micro-lending 100 million poor people by 2005, launched by the World Bank at the 1997 Micro-Credit Summit; and what progress has been made towards this objective. (HL2262)
29th April
The Lord ShepherdTo ask Her Majestys Government when the European Union oil embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) came into force. (HL2266)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Northern Ireland showing for comprehensive schools, modern schools, grammar schools and all state secondary schools separately, the percentage of pupils on roll and the percentage of all 16 year-old pupils in each of the years 1983 to 1998
(a) with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need;
(b) with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the number of schools, the number of pupils on roll and the number of 16 year-old pupils. (HL2274)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish data for Northern Ireland showing, for all state primary schools, the percentage of pupils on roll in each of the years 1983 to 1998
(a) with Special Educational Needs and with Statements of Special Educational Need;
(b) with Special Educational Needs but without Statements of Special Educational Need,
showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including the number of schools and the total number of pupils on roll. (HL2275)
The Earl KitchenerTo ask Her Majestys Government what specific action they are taking in Europe to further their policy objective of securing the continuing availability on general retail sale of safe higher dose vitamin and mineral supplements. (HL2277)
The Earl KitchenerTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will identify the authors of the three letters that they have received supporting the proposals outlined in the Medicines Control Agency Consultation Document, MLX249; and whether they will indicate what changes they intend to make to those proposals to take account of the 3,400 letters of opposition they have received to them. (HL2278)
The Earl of BradfordTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made in preventing unauthorised advertising in London telephone boxes. (HL2279)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their latest information on the conditions of confinement and state of health of Mr Abdullah Ocalan in Turkey; when they expect that his trial will start; and what they consider should be done, and by whom, to make possible a fair trial. (HL2280)
The Earl Baldwin of BewdleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will list the direct and indirect financial interests declared by members of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. (HL2281)
The Lord JoplingTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are satisfied with the effectiveness of United Nations trade sanctions against Iraq on that countrys border with Syria. (HL2282)
The Lord JoplingTo ask Her Majestys Government how many crossing places exist on the Iraq-Syria border capable of carrying heavy lorries and oil tankers; and which of them are monitored by the United Nations. (HL2283)
The Lord JoplingTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their estimate of the quantity of oil or other goods being illegally transported either into or out of Iraq across the Syrian border. (HL2284)
The Lord JoplingTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their estimate of the number of heavy lorries and oil tankers with Iraqi number plates, travelling each day either into or out of Iraq along the Euphrates valley or through Palmyra. (HL2285)
The Lord CraigmyleTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to bring up-to-date the McClements scale (which has been used to calculate net equivalised income since the 1970s). (HL2286)
The Lord Jenkins of PutneyTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the response by the Lord Gilbert on 28th April (HL Deb, col. 306), why they were unable to estimate the number of casualties to non-combatants resulting from the NATO air attacks on Yugoslavia; and whether they have since been able to make an estimate. (HL2287)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the hormones in hormone-treated beef, which are used to enhance growth, may contribute to human obesity. (HL2289)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by Mr Rooker on 11th March (HC Deb, WA 337), what were the grounds on which they decided not to accept the recommendations of English Nature concerning herbicide tolerance and insect resistant crops; whether they have since come to a different conclusion; and, if so, what is that conclusion. (HL2290)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will consider fining polluters proportionately to their annual British (or global) turnover. (HL2291)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether all members of the European Union are observing the provisions of the deliberate release directive, 90/220/EEC; and, if not, whether they will encourage the European Union to ensure that this directive is properly observed and enforced. (HL2292)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government how many new weapons or weapon systems (a) were used in operation Desert Fox by the joint United Kingdom/United States forces engaged in it, and (b) are being used by the NATO forces now operating in the former Yugoslavia; and whether the firms who have manufactured these weapons or weapon systems were or have representatives present alongside the forces using the weapons. (HL2293)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 26th April (WA 1), why they have not investigated the assertion by Mr Hugo Young that he had received a copy of the secret text of the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices own history of negotiations on United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community; and whether they will now make the secret text available to the public. (HL2294)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of the total United Kingdom overseas aid budget is now administered by the European Union; whether they are satisfied that it is efficiently administered without fraud; and whether the aid is being directed to Third World countries in greatest need of it and is not being targeted by the European Union for political reasons. (HL2295)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the assertion by the Highways Agency in the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 22nd April (WA 167) that the bus, coach and taxi lane between Junction 3 and the elevated section of the M4 motorway will reduce the operating costs of buses, coaches and taxis, what is their estimate of the reduction in car journeys arising from the provision of the bus, coach and taxi lane between Junction 3 and the elevated section of the M4 motorway. (HL2297)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the assertion by the Highways Agency in the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 22nd April (WA 167) that the bus, coach and taxi lane between Junction 3 and the elevated section of the M4 motorway will reduce the operating costs of buses, coaches and taxis, whether road safety will be improved or worsened by the provision of the bus, coach and taxi lane between Junction 3 and the elevated section of the M4 motorway. (HL2298)
The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 1st April (WA 98) on the sale of British Railways Board land holdings and in respect of sites authorised by them to be released for sale for transport use
(a) whether such sites remain designated for such use in perpetuity;
(b) whether, in the event of the transport project for which a site was released being subsequently cancelled, the site would revert to British Railways Board ownership; and
(c) whether, in the event of the site being subsequently used for a purpose other than transport, such as commercial development, the British Railways Board would benefit from the added value resulting from the change of use. (HL2299)
The Lord Campbell of CroyTo the Leader of the House whether the time allowed for an individual starred question and its associated supplementary questions is now limited to 10 minutes, as indicated by her on 28th April (HL Deb, col. 313), even if more time is available, within the 30 minutes allotted daily to starred questions, because of withdrawals or expeditious treatment of the other three questions. (HL2305)
The Lord Campbell of CroyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the state of negotiations within the European Union on the system that allows foreign fishing boats (quota-hoppers) to catch fish using quotas which have been allocated to the United Kingdom. (HL2306)
4th May
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, George Howarth MP on 27th April (HC Deb, WA 112) in which he stated that a Commonwealth citizen is eligible in the same way as a United Kingdom citizen to stand for the European Parliament wherever he or she is resident, whether residency means anywhere in the world and includes permanent as well as temporary residences. (HL2308)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will refrain from agreeing to proposals for a withholding tax or any compromise until the consent of the House of Commons has been obtained. (HL2309)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29th April (WA 64), whether one of the factors which they are taking into account in deciding when to bring the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 fully into force is the public expenditure involved where Government Departments and other public authorities are held liable to pay damages for breaches of Convention rights occurring once the Act is fully in force. (HL2310)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29th April (WA 64), whether any changes in United Kingdom laws have yet been identified as requiring new legislation to ensure compatibility with the Convention rights. (HL2311)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29th April (WA 64), what is their programme for training and preparation required in relation to the Human Rights Act 1998; and what is the timetable for this programme. (HL2312)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government how many refugees from Kosovo have been given asylum by each of the members states of the Council of Europe since the beginning of the NATO bombing campaign. (HL2313)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government how many refugees from Kosovo they are willing to admit to the United Kingdom during the NATO bombing campaign. (HL2314)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are willing to admit as many refugees from Kosovo during the allied bombing campaign as are admitted by the Federal Republic of Germany; and, if not, why they are unwilling to do so. (HL2315)
The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government why less than a calendar month was given for the consultation on the draft outline proposals produced by the mental health legislation scoping study review chaired by Professor Richardson; and whether they will extend the consultation period in the light of the difficulties experienced by the voluntary sector in responding within the original timescale. (HL2316)
The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the status of negotiations over the pay and status of speech and language therapists employed by the NHS; and when it is expected that they will be concluded. (HL2317)
The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will list the names of prisoners visited by staff of British diplomatic posts, and visits to prisoners abroad arranged by them for Ministers and Members of Parliament, during 1998. (HL2318)
The Baroness Williams of CrosbyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their estimate of the expenditure so far on sustaining refugees from the Department for International Development budget. (HL2319)
The Earl Baldwin of BewdleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they agree with the following arguments in the Opinion of Lord Jauncey of Tullichettle in the case of McColl v. Strathclyde Regional Council (Sessions Cases, No. 23, June 29, 1983)
(a) Section 130 (of the Medicines Act 1968) defines medicinal product and I am satisfied that fluoride in whatever form it is ultimately purchased by the respondents falls within the definition;
(b) there is no evidence that water with a natural fluoride content of 1 ppm is normal by world standards;
(c) to suggest as do the respondents that they are merely replicating nature by increasing the fluoride content of surface water is inaccurate; and
(d) fluoridation involves using water as a means of passing into consumers bodies substances which could be obtained aliunde;
and, if they dissent from any of these arguments, on what grounds. (HL2320)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Department for International Development will purchase relief supplies, medicines and food, to the maximum extent possible, from countries adjacent to and affected by war in Kosovo; and whether they will make a similar recommendation to voluntary organisations working in the Balkans. (HL2321)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many persons are currently detained under the Immigration and Asylum Acts; and how many have been in custody for
The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the total number of places in womens refuges available
(a) in England and Wales;
what proportions these figures represent
(a) of the number of places available on 1st May, 1997;
(b) of the number of places recommended by the Home Affairs Select Committee in 1975; and
how many of these refuges employ a specialist childrens worker. (HL2323)
The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are yet able to evaluate the effect of the 1996 Housing Act on the rehousing of women escaping domestic violence. (HL2324)
The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Ministerial Committee on Domestic Violence has been reconstituted since the election; if so, who are its members; and, if not, on what means they are relying for inter-departmental coordination of policy on domestic violence. (HL2325)
The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government what action the Judicial Studies Board is taking on issues involving domestic violence. (HL2326)
The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government how much they are spending to support 24 hour helplines for victims of domestic violence; and how this figure compares with the figure at 1st May 1997. (HL2327)
The Marquess of AilesburyTo ask Her Majestys Government which states of the European Union have second parliamentary chambers with a wholly nominated membership. (HL2328)
The Baroness StrangeTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the proposed addition to the European and international standards for lighters, of a requirement of traceability, will be effectively enforced thereby reducing the number of dangerous illegal lighters that are imported into the United Kingdom each year. (HL2329)
The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Film, Janet Anderson MP, on 22nd February (HC Deb, WA 46-48), what plans have been drawn up to establish a Film Marketing Agency as a result of the discussions held between representatives of the distributors and exhibitors; and when the Agency will be launched. (HL2330)
The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government when the Film Action Report, due to be published in April 1999, will be placed in the Library of the House. (HL2331)
The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Film, Janet Anderson MP, on 22nd February (HC Deb, WA 46-48), when they will make the announcement regarding the Skills Investment Fund; and whether the training made available by the Fund will be extended to acting and directing courses. (HL2332)
The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Film, Janet Anderson MP, on 22nd February (HC Deb, WA 46-48), when the Film Education Working Group will publish the report which was due to be published in April 1999. (HL2333)
The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government which British facilities and locations have been used directly as a result of the work of the British Film Office in Los Angeles that was established specifically to encourage Hollywood producers to use British facilities and locations. (HL2334)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) has been greened in the manner required of and described in Executive Agencies, The Governments Response to Environmental Audit Committee Report on the Greening Government Initiative; and, if greening requires Agencies to conduct environmental impact assessments of their activities as a matter of course, whether they will instruct the RPA to do so. (HL2335)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will initiate consideration in the appropriate international fora of rules to govern the launching of satellites from platforms on the High Seas so as to include environmental assessments. (HL2336)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have any objection to (a) North Korea, (b) Taiwan, (c) Iran and (d) Israel launching satellites; how such launches are to be distinguished from missile launches; and whether they consider launches of either load are acceptable for some countries and not for others. (HL2337)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they or any other party has any intention of discovering the whereabouts of the $76 billion which according to Russian Interior Minister, Sergey Stepashin, has been smuggled out of Russia in the last seven years; and, if so, whether they will help to return it. (HL2338)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is their intention that the Export Credits Guarantee Department should insure the dam that is to be built in Turkey from the headwaters of the Tigris, a transboundary waterway, despite the 1997 International Instrument requiring cooperation with other parties dependent on those waters. (HL2339)
The Lord BirdwoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any United Kingdom broadcaster is receiving any form of private information about its subscribers through their digital decoders without the knowledge of those subscribers. (HL2340)
The Earl of CarlisleTo ask Her Majestys Government on what day, month and year the current British Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia will relinquish his post; and on what month and year his replacement will be notified of his or her appointment, so that the latter will have sufficient time to prepare himself or herself for the mission to Estonia. (HL2341)
The Lord WaddingtonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will reconsider the proposal that voluntary organisations should be charged a fee for every request for a search to establish whether an applicant for a post has a criminal record. (HL2342)
5th May
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will take urgent steps to clarify the law regarding election expenses for parliamentary candidates so as to achieve reasonable certainty. (HL2347)
The Lord Janner of BraunstoneTo ask Her Majestys Government how they have exercised their duty under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to inform sentencers of the financial implications of their decisions. (HL2348)
The Lord Janner of BraunstoneTo ask Her Majestys Government, following the Community Sentence Demonstration Projects in Shropshire and Teesside, what are their plans for (a) extending the programme nationally; (b) publicising the research findings; and (c) taking any other action arising from the projects and the research findings. (HL2349)
The Lord Janner of BraunstoneTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the costs of running the Community Sentence Demonstration Projects in Shropshire and Teesside, excluding research costs. (HL2350)
The Lord Janner of BraunstoneTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the number of fine defaulters in prison for the last three years for which figures are available. (HL2351)
The Lord Janner of BraunstoneTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the number of TV licence fine defaulters in prison for the last three years for which figures are available. (HL2352)
The Lord Janner of BraunstoneTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the timescale for the national implementation of home curfews with electronic monitoring. (HL2353)
The Lord FreybergTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 22nd April (WA 165) on the British Museums display of prints and drawings, what number of visitors to the Students Room of the Department of Prints and Drawings are the staff able to deal with at any one time. (HL2354)
The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will give their latest estimate of the dates on which each section and each station of the Jubilee line extension is to be open for full use. (HL2355)
The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish in the Official Report an updated table showing the numbers of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy confirmed in Great Britain each week during 1999 to date, together with the moving annual total of cases reported in each 52 week period. (HL2356)
The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government how many prisoners have been released during each week since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement; and what are the cumulative figures of all prisoners released by the end of each week. (HL2357)
The Lord JoplingTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 19th April (WA 139), what is the cost to public funds of rectifying the design faults of the emergency telephone and hazard lights on the M74 road south of Glasgow; what compensation has been claimed from those responsible; and what reprimands or employment terminations have been applied to those who caused this added public expenditure. (HL2358)
The Earl of ClancartyTo ask Her Majestys Government what provision there is for members of the public to view the Millennium Dome at present; and whether there might be provision for the public to visit the inside of the Millennium Dome to view its preparation before the official opening. (HL2359)
The Earl of ClancartyTo ask Her Majestys Government what groups of people are being allowed in to visit the Millennium Dome site prior to the official opening; and how much is being spent on such visits. (HL2360)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their existing knowledge of, and what research they have or will commission into, sponsorship or encouragement by states (or factions within them) of rape during wars or internal violence or to intimidate opposition movements. (HL2361)
The Lord RixTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the statement by the Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 4th May (HL Deb, col. 545), what are their reasons for believing that the Social Security Act 1986 is compatible with Article I of the First Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights in changing spouses benefits under SERPS so as to cut back accrued rights. (HL2362)
The Lord Robertson of OakridgeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether United Christian Broadcasters have been prevented from applying for a licence to broadcast programmes in the United Kingdom; and, if so, why. (HL2363)
The Lord Robertson of OakridgeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will, as a contribution to the Millennium celebrations, arrange for United Christian Broadcasters to be given a licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom at least in the years 2000 and 2001. (HL2364)
The Lord Robertson of OakridgeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will review the present situation whereby a person aged 65 or over can neither be granted the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance for the first time nor can move to a higher level of the mobility component of the DLA. (HL2365)
The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government when they expect operators of goods and passenger vehicles to be able to make statutory notifications to the Licensing Authority via the Internet. (HL2366)
The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government when they expect operators of goods and passenger vehicles to be able to licence their vehicles via the Internet; and what changes would be required for this to be possible. (HL2367)
The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government when they expect operators of goods vehicles to be able to make the notifications in accordance with the Authorisation of Special Types (General) Order via the Internet; and what would be the advantages to both operators and the authorities. (HL2368)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government against what criteria written and oral English language skills of non-United Kingdom, European national veterinary surgeons are assessed; by whom they are assessed; what form the assessment takes; and what are the assessors qualifications. (HL2369)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government how many Official Veterinary Surgeons are employed by the Meat Hygiene Service; and how many of these carry out meat hygiene inspection tasks in abattoirs in person. (HL2370)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the results of the research conducted by scientists at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, and in particular by Dr A Maule, on the survivability of E-coli 0157 on grassland. (HL2371)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government in how many instances, where a British Official Veterinary Surgeon employed by the Meat Hygiene Service has been replaced by a veterinary surgeon trained in another European country, has the hourly rate charged for OVS services to the abattoirs been reduced. (HL2372)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of the hourly rate charged to abattoirs for the employment of Official Veterinary Surgeons of non-British origin is paid directly to the OVSs concerned; what proportion, where applicable, to the employing contractor; and what proportion is absorbed by the Meat Hygiene Service. (HL2373)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government how many veterinary surgeons employed by the company Eville and Jones are sub-contracted to the Meat Hygiene Service as Official Veterinary Surgeons; and, for the first quarter of 1999, what sum in excess of the salaries paid to those OVSs was paid to the company either as fees or as a percentage of the hourly rate for the supply of the veterinary surgeons. (HL2374)
The Lord Pearson of RannochTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the value in 1996 of the value-added component of British exports of goods and services (not including investment income) to the other 14 European Union countries. (HL2375)
The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government
(a) what are the maximum expenses per mile available for an applicant who attends a Social Security Tribunal and needs to use a car for the journey; and
(b) what are the maximum expenses per mile available for Tribunal Service staff in the same circumstances; and what are the reasons for the discrepancy. (HL2376)
The Lord HoyleTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made in developing targets for flood and coastal defence operating authorities and in developing the Environment Agencys general supervisory duty for flood defence. (HL2377)
6th May
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 28th April (WA 38), whether they will list the Articles in the Treaty of European Union which came into force on 1st May 1999 which permit, without unanimity or common accord, actions by police forces, including actions by joint teams, and the progressive adoption by judicial authorities of minimal rules relating to certain categories of criminal acts and penalties related thereto. (HL2378)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government whether primary schools have been told that pupils will be expected to reach level 2A or 2B in National Curriculum tests at Key Stage 1 this year and level 2C is no longer regarded as a satisfactory level of attainment for 7 year-olds; and, if so, whether this change in expectations has been reported to parents and governors. (HL2379)
The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is now their policy for two passport checks to be carried out on Eurostar passengers arriving from Brussels, one on the train and the other at Waterloo station (as occurred on the 17.56 train on 27th April); and what cost implications this change has for the Immigration Service. (HL2380)
The Lord BurtonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29th April (WA 63)
(a) why they have not added, and when they intend to add, Fraud to the Home Office National Police Objectives; and
(b) what incentive is given to Chief Officers of Police to direct manpower and financial resources to tackling fraud if it is not included in the Home Office National Police Objectives. (HL2381)
The Lord BurtonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29th April (WA 63), what steps they have taken to evaluate the Economic Crime Units set up by some European Police Forces (for example, Sweden) to tackle such subjects as fraud; and why they have not introduced such units into United Kingdom police forces. (HL2382)
The Lord BurtonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29th April (WA 63), whether they will ask Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabularies to evaluate and compare the amount of police resources used by each Chief Officer of Police in tackling the different categories of crime contained in the Home Office National Police Objectives with the resources used in tackling those categories of crime which do not appear in the Objectives. (HL2383)
The Lord BurtonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29th April (WA 63), when they will request Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabularies to evaluate and compare the resources (both financial and manpower) directed to the subjects on which Chief Officers of Police in some constabularies hold committee positions on the Association of Chief Police Officers Ltd.s Specialist Interest Committees, with the resources deployed by those Chief Officers of Police who hold no direct staff involvement in those Special Interest Committees. (HL2384)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will publish the results of their departmental audit of laws and practices that may be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998. (HL2385)
The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether their departmental audit has identified any laws or practices which should be changed before the Human Rights Act 1998 is brought fully into force; and, if so, what are those laws or practices. (HL2386)
The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government, following the decisions reached at the Berlin European Council, how much of the existing Objective 2 and 5b areas in England will lose their designation; and how much of that will be in the North West Region. (HL2387)
The Lord Pearson of RannochTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Simon of Highbury on 30th March (WA 32-33) on job creation in the Single Market, what are the organisations which have carried out the various calculations referred to; when those calculations were made; and in respect of which European Union Member States. (HL2388)
The Viscount ExmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government why an extension of normal public house licensing hours is permitted on St Patricks day but not on St Georges day. (HL2389)
The Lord AveburyTo ask Her Majestys Government what further steps they will take, bilaterally and with the European Union, in the light of the recent murder of a member of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan, and the arrest of the leader of the community and a colleague, to urge the Government of Pakistan to restore the human rights of the Ahmadiyya community, in accordance with their international obligations. (HL2390)
The Lord MancroftTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are planning to extend the role of the Firearms Consultative Committee beyond 31st January 2000; and, if not, why not. (HL2391)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government how they reconcile the statement by the Lord Donoughue on 19th April (HL Deb, col. 941) that ... no junior vet ... would be able to pursue the law against an abattoir owner with his replies to Questions for Written Answer from the Countess of Mar (HL2124 and HL2125) to the effect that Official Veterinary Surgeons, whether junior or not, who are individually authorised to carry out various enforcement responsibilities, are able to pursue the law against abattoir owners. (HL2392)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government what level of competence non-United Kingdom national veterinary surgeons are required to demonstrate in United Kingdom law enforcement practice before they commence their duties as Official Veterinary Surgeons employed by the Meat Hygiene Service; and how that competence is required to be demonstrated. (HL2393)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the closure of formerly profitable small and medium abattoirs, brought about solely by the inability of their owners to meet increased hygiene charges, can be attributed to market forces. (HL2394)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government whether increased veterinary surgeons hours, which are to be or have been imposed on abattoirs, will lead to any direct improvement in the hygiene standards of those abattoirs which are already producing Hygiene Assessment System scores of 95. (HL2395)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, in small and medium abattoirs where hygiene inspections are currently carried out by Meat Hygiene Inspectors under the supervision of Official Veterinary Surgeons and an increase in veterinary surgeons hours is proposed or has been implemented, they will require the OVSs to carry out meat inspection duties in place of Meat Hygiene Inspectors as a means of reducing the costs to the abattoirs concerned. (HL2396)
The Baroness Gould of PotternewtonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the guidelines on induced abortion currently being produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists include standards on the level of provision for abortion in each health authority in proportion to local need. (HL2397)
7th May
The Earl of ClancartyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the levying of the London Underground £10 penalty fare on an individual is a penalty incurred on account of that individuals intent to defraud. (HL2399)
The Earl of ClancartyTo ask Her Majestys Government how much revenue per annum has been obtained by London Underground directly from the levying of penalty fares from their introduction in 1994-95 up to the present. (HL2400)
The Earl of ClancartyTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of representations from members of the public received by the London Regional Passengers Committee relate to penalty fares. (HL2401)
The Earl of ClancartyTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of people paying London Underground penalty fares had an intent to defraud. (HL2402)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether there have been three incidents of a missile falling in Bulgarian territory during the past two weeks, as stated by the Bulgarian Interior Minister on 29th April. (HL2403)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are aware of reports by the independent Montenegrin news agency Montena-fax that Kosovar men entering Albania from Kosovo are being met by United States Marines ... and taken to training camps and that these hastily trained fighters are to be used in ground operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and whether such action would be in accordance with the relevant International Conventions. (HL2404)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether neighbouring states are intending to bill NATO for collateral and other damage which those states have suffered; and, if so, what steps they are taking
(a) to maintain a record of such damage; and
(b) to ensure that those responsible for targeting are aware of the economic, social and humanitarian values of the targets they decide should be attacked and that these values are taken into account. (HL2405)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether recent statements by Ministers that NATOs victory will be achieved however long it may take indicate a change of policy from that where the prevention of humanitarian catastrophe was paramount. (HL2406)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government what relative weight they give to the public interest and to commercial secrecy in decisions concerning genetically modified crops; and how the appropriate criteria are developed. (HL2407)
BILLS IN PROGRESS
[The date in brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]
Waiting for Second Reading
Genetically Modified Crops [HL]
Further and Higher Education (Scotland) (Amendment) [HL]
Parliamentary Government [HL]
European Tax Harmonisation Veto [HL]
Academic and Academic-Related Staff Pay and Conditions [HL]
European Community Legislation (Impact) [HL]
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty [HL] [21st May]
Time Zones and Summer Time (Devolution) [HL]
Employment Relations [10th May]
European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) [HL]
Protection of Children [21st May]
Road Traffic (Use of Mobile Telephones) [HL]
Greater London Authority [20th May]
Imperial College [12th May]
HFC Bank [18th May]
Committed to a Select Committee
City of Newcastle upon Tyne [HL]
Kent County Council [HL]
Committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee
Medway Council [HL]
Baxi Partnership Limited Trusts [HL]
United Reformed Church [HL]
University College London
Committed to a Grand Committee
Local Government [10th May]
Committed to a Committee of the Whole House
Freedom of Information [HL]
House of Lords [11th May]
Road Traffic Regulation (Cycle Parking) [HL] [12th May]
Waiting for Report
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) [HL] [18th May]
Pollution Prevention and Control [HL] [13th May]
Water Industry
Tax Credits
Rating (Valuation)
Obscenity [HL] [21st May]
Sent to the Commons
Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) [HL]
Trustee Delegation [HL]
Commonwealth Development Corporation [HL]
Access to Justice [HL]
Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence [HL]
Disability Rights Commission [HL]
Health [HL]
Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) [HL]
Criminal Cases Review (Insanity) [HL]
European Parliamentary Elections (Gibraltar) [HL]
Scottish Parliamentary Constituencies [HL]
Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) [HL]
London Local Authorities [HL]
Waiting for Royal Assent
MEASURE IN PROGRESS
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
AFFIRMATIVE INSTRUMENTS IN PROGRESS
Waiting for consideration by the Joint Committee
Draft Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 1999
Draft Army, Air Force and Naval Discipline Acts (Continuation) Order 1999
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft General Teaching Council for England (Constitution) Regulations 1999
Draft General Teaching Council for Wales (Constitution) Regulations 1999
Draft Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (Amendment) Order 1999
Draft Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations 1999
Draft Unfair Dismissal and Statement of Reasons for Dismissal (Variation of Qualifying Period) Order 1999
DEREGULATION PROPOSALS IN PROGRESS
Proposals laid under s.3(3) referred to the Deregulation Committee
Draft Deregulation (New Year Licensing) Order 1999 [21st June]
Draft Deregulation (Casinos) Order 1999 [27th June]
COMMITTEES
[Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords rooms
in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheets]
TUESDAY 11TH MAY