QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
[Tabled or amended on 27th July, or unanswered after 21 days]
27th May
The Lord Pearson of RannochTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the amount spent on entertaining at (a) No. 10 Downing Street and (b) No. 11 Downing Street in each of the years 1996 and 1998, and the breakdown between food, champagne, and other wines and spirits. (HL2746)
16th June
The Earl Baldwin of BewdleyTo ask Her Majestys Government, in the light of the Answers by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 19th May (HL Deb, cols. 294-296) and 7th June (WA 121), (a) whether the Minister for the Environment was correctly quoted in The Times of 12th April as saying Scientific opinion on genetically modified organisms is split and the new committee [Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment] will reflect this; and if he was, (b) how this principle can be reconciled with the Answers already given; (c) whether this principle has general application to other committees; and (d) how it relates to the recruitment of peoples judges to the main scientific advisory bodies to monitor GM developments. (HL3063)
The Lord HolmPatrickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will cause the total output of Improvement Notices served by Official Veterinary Surgeons to be subject to independent scrutiny with a view to determining how many non-statutory works have been required. (HL3084)
The Earl of NortheskTo ask Her Majestys Government what were the total costs to the Meat Hygiene Service in the last financial year, including bonuses and social security costs, in employing Official Veterinary Surgeons while carrying out inspection duties under EC Directive 91/497/EEC in slaughterhouses and cutting plants. (HL3090)
The Viscount ExmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government whether a slaughterhouse owner is entitled to refuse entry to a slaughterhall to any Meat Hygiene Service official who is incorrectly dressed or is wearing protective clothing which is contaminated or insufficiently clean. (HL3097)
The Viscount ExmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government whether slaughterhouse owners and operators are entitled to have access to the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual for the purpose of study and verification; and whether it will cause one copy of the manual to be supplied to each licensed premises for the exclusive use of slaughterhouse operators. (HL3100)
The Lord Stanley of AlderleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, owing to the difficulties experienced by the Meat Hygiene Service in recruiting official veterinary officers to service abattoirs in remote areas, it is fair that some small abattoirs should be required to pay a higher hourly rate for their Official Veterinary Surgeons, plus travelling time, than abattoirs in more accessible locations. (HL3102)
The Lord Stanley of AlderleyTo ask Her Majestys Government how many slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants they expect to close as a direct result of the increase in veterinary hours imposed on their operators; and whether this will represent, overall, an improvement in the hygiene of the meat supply. (HL3103)
The Lord Stanley of AlderleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether slaughterhouse owners and operators are entitled to ask for verbal directions and advice given to them or their staff by Official Veterinary Surgeons to be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable after they have been given; and whether they will instruct the Meat Hygiene Service to make arrangements to ensure that such directions and advice are so confirmed. (HL3104)
The Lord RowallanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether a slaughterhouse owner or operator is entitled to exclude from his premises any member of the Meat Hygiene Service staff who is so disruptive as to interfere unlawfully in the conduct of operations. (HL3109)
The Lord RowallanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether a slaughterhouse owner who, on being instructed to carry out works by way of an Improvement Notice served by an Official Veterinary Surgeon, carries out those works and then, subsequently, discovers that those works were not a statutory requirement, is entitled to claim compensation for the costs of those works; and to whom any claim should be addressed. (HL3110)
The Earl of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the relevant provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (section 40, Codes of Practice) apply to Meat Hygiene Service engaged in enforcement duties; and, if not, why not. (HL3115)
The Earl of LiverpoolTo ask Her Majestys Government how many hours of practical tuition, and practical experience in slaughterhouses under supervision, Official Veterinary Surgeons are required to have in post-mortem inspection of animals; and how much of that time is spent in carrying out the post-mortem inspection of animals. (HL3117)
The Lord GlentoranTo ask Her Majestys Government how many Regulation 10 Notices under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations were served by Official Veterinary Surgeons, employed by the Meat Hygiene Service, in the financial years 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99. (HL3119)
The Earl Alexander of TunisTo ask Her Majestys Government whether a slaughterhouse owner or operator is required to carry out a direction from an Official Veterinary Surgeon if compliance would lead to committing an illegal act. (HL3126)
21st June
The Lord BlythTo ask Her Majestys Government what the rates of total condemnation in bovine, ovine and porcine species have been for the financial years 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99. (HL3189)
The Lord BlythTo ask Her Majestys Government what arrangements are in force for liaison between the Meat Hygiene Service and local authorities, outside the periodic meetings with the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards. (HL3190)
The Lord BlythTo ask Her Majestys Government how many times in the last financial year representatives of the Meat Hygiene Service met with representatives of the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards. (HL3191)
The Lord BlythTo ask Her Majestys Government what formal system is in place for Meat Hygiene Inspectors employed by the Meat Hygiene Service to complain about the competence and performance of Official Veterinary Surgeons in slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants; and what measures exist to prevent Inspectors who complain from being victimised. (HL3192)
The Lord BlythTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will set up a telephone help-line to enable Meat Hygiene Inspectors to make complaints about the performance and competence of Official Veterinary Surgeons. (HL3193)
The Lord HolmPatrickTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the level of non-productive time booked by the Meat Hygiene Service working in slaughterhouses during 1997-98 and 1998-99, in terms of number of hours and as a proportion of the total hours available. (HL3200)
The Lord HolmPatrickTo ask Her Majestys Government how many Official Veterinary Surgeons employed by the Meat Hygiene Service have been subjected to disciplinary procedures, either formal or informal, for failure to follow the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual. (HL3201)
The Lord HolmPatrickTo ask Her Majestys Government where the responsibility for carrying out statutory duties in meat inspection lies; whether Meat Hygiene Inspectors are authorised specifically in writing to carry out these duties; and, if so, who signs the authorisations. (HL3202)
The Lord HolmPatrickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether an assessment of the health and safety of Meat Hygiene Service staff working in meat cutting plants and abattoirs has been carried out; and, if so, what recommendations have been made. (HL3203)
The Lord HolmPatrickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether asking Meat Hygiene Inspectors employed by the Meat Hygiene Service to sign the Official Secrets Act is an appropriate use of this Act. (HL3204)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is appropriate for an experienced Meat Hygiene Inspector to take instructions from a junior veterinary surgeon who holds the post of Official Veterinary Surgeon, as to the judgment of meat fitness during post-mortem inspections. (HL3206)
22nd June
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government how much the meat industry has contributed to the pension fund for Meat Hygiene Service staff in the last financial year; and how much it is estimated that it will contribute in the current financial year. (HL3227)
23rd June
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 16th June (WA 28), whether a Meat Hygiene Service operations manual is issued to owners or operators of every licensed slaughterhouse and cutting plant to enable them to follow the procedures for appeals against Hygiene Assessment Scheme scores. (HL3255)
The Lord BlythTo ask Her Majestys Government whether a slaughterhouse owner, who suspects that an animal presented for slaughter at his establishment may produce meat in which veterinary medicines residues may be above the statutory limits, may require a sample to be procured by an Official Veterinary Surgeon for transmission to and testing by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate; and whether he is entitled to receive a result in sufficient time to release the carcass, should residue levels be within acceptable limits. (HL3256)
The Lord BlythTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the trimming of carcasses in a slaughterhouse by Meat Hygiene Service personnel, to remove contamination, increases the risk of penetration of bacteria into deep muscle by way of the exposed, cut surfaces. (HL3257)
The Lord BlythTo ask Her Majestys Government what performance indicators are used to measure the performance of the Meat Hygiene Service. (HL3261)
24th June
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, in the interests of justice in the former Yugoslavia, they will discuss with Amnesty International the legal cases arising from the death in custody of Mr Sefik Mujkic in Croatia and the alleged miscarriage of justice in the case of the Zvornic Seven, heard in the Republika Srpska. (HL3289)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 16th June (WA 28), how many hours they estimate would be reasonable to allocate to the training of candidate Official Veterinary Surgeons in the Hygiene Assessment Scheme (HAS); and how they can be satisfied that the training of Official Veterinary Surgeons in the implementation of the HAS is adequate, since they are unable to state how many hours are devoted to the HAS in the conversion training for Official Veterinary Surgeons. (HL3299)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the total expenditure on offices and administration for the Meat Hygiene Service for the last financial year. (HL3304)
The Viscount LongTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Meat Hygiene Service requires any records to be kept as to the number of carcasses in slaughterhouses which have been recommended for condemnation by Meat Hygiene Inspectors, following post mortem inspections, where those recommendations have been rejected by Official Veterinary Surgeons. (HL3321)
The Viscount LongTo ask Her Majestys Government to whom, and in what manner, a Meat Hygiene Inspector may appeal in the event that his recommendation to condemn a carcass in a slaughterhouse, following his post mortem inspection, is rejected by his Official Veterinary Surgeon; and what arrangements are in force for the retention of such a carcass pending the determination of any appeal. (HL3322)
The Viscount LongTo ask Her Majestys Government, in the event that a Meat Hygiene Inspector determines, following a post mortem inspection in a slaughterhouse, that a carcass should be condemned, and his recommendation is rejected by his Official Veterinary Surgeon, whether the Meat Hygiene Inspector is obliged to apply his personal stamp; and who takes responsibility for the condition of the carcass in the event that the meat derived from it is subsequently found to be unfit. (HL3323)
The Viscount LongTo ask Her Majestys Government what training Official Veterinary Surgeons receive in the investigation of food poisoning; and how much time is allocated to this subject. (HL3324)
The Lord PalmerTo ask Her Majestys Government how many letters to slaughterhouse owners and operators were written and signed by the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service in the financial years 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99; and how many letters sent by slaughterhouse owners and operators, addressed to the chief executive, were received by the Meat Hygiene Service in the same periods. (HL3327)
The Lord PalmerTo ask Her Majestys Government why, if other European Union Member States are complying fully with the requirements for Official Veterinary Surgeon attendance in slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants, the Meat Hygiene Service, or its contractors, are able to recruit veterinary surgeons from those Member States, especially Spain which has large red meat and poultry industries of its own. (HL3328)
25th June
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government how many staff of the Meat Hygiene Service have been charged with, or convicted of, criminal offences which were committed at times when those staff were employed by the Meat Hygiene Service or its contractors. (HL3339)
The Countess of MarTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Meat Hygiene Service staff are required to comply with the instructions set out in the Meat Hygiene Service operation manual at all times; and what action is taken by the Meat Hygiene Service if they do not. (HL3340)
28th June
The Lord Shore of StepneyTo ask Her Majestys Government when the European Commissions Information Programme for European Citizens (Prince) was first introduced; what annual expenditures have been financed under it; and what is the Treaty Article on which the Commissions programme is based. (HL3359)
1st July
The Viscount LongTo ask Her Majestys Government whether for each employee of the Meat Hygiene Service who has visited countries outside the European Union in 1998 or 1999 they will list (a) the countries; (b) the date of the visit and its duration; (c) the grade of the employee; (d) the total cost of each visit; (e) whether these costs were met from the budget of the Meat Hygiene Service or the budget of a named Government Department; and (f) the purpose of the visit. (HL3452)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any areas are held definitely not to be in the Euro-Atlantic area; and whether all former member states of the Soviet Union are deemed to be within it. (HL3464)
27th July
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have considered the implications for the World Trade Organisation of the 13th July speech of Mr Dan Glickman, United States Secretary of Agriculture, in which he disclosed inadequacies in the current United States system for regulating biotechnologically modified crops and animals; and whether they will encourage the World Trade Organisation (a) to review the work of any panels using scientific research originating in the United States; and (b) to review any fines, etc., arising from these panels judgments. (HL3877)
The Lord Morris of Castle MorrisTo ask Her Majestys Government which post will be used as a trial for the tape recording of entry clearance interviews, as recommended in the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on entry clearance work on July 1998. (HL3978)
The Baroness MallalieuTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will provide an update on the future of the Cattle Health Scheme. (HL3979)
The Baroness MallalieuTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made in meeting the service delivery targets set out in the paper Commitment to Service. (HL3980)
The Lord Evans of WatfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether there have been any recent cases of spinal cord discovered in imported beef. (HL3981)
The Lord Hardy of WathTo ask Her Majestys Government when they expect to receive a report from the Veterinary Products Committee on the safety of veterinary medicines other than sheep dips which have an organophosphorus compound as the active ingredient. (HL3982)
The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, as part of their Health Impact Assessment, they will collect information showing what percentage of sufferers from malnutrition are
(a) on means-tested Social Security benefits; and
(b) disentitled to means-tested benefits to which their means would otherwise have entitled them. (HL3983)
The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will pay ex gratia compensation to homosexual partners bereaved in the bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub; and whether they will review the guidelines for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in the light of Article 14 of the European Convention of Human Rights. (HL3984)
The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government what meetings have been held, and with whom, to discuss proposals to display the Elgin Marbles in Athens under the auspices of the British Museum; and when they expect to make an announcement about the outcome of such meetings. (HL3985)
The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22nd July (WA 118-119), whether they will publish the terms and conditions of service which were agreed on the appointment of the present Chair of the British Council. (HL3986)
The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22nd July (WA 118-119), what further information they have on the question which has been raised by the Charity Commissioners regarding the payment of any honorarium to a trustee of a body with charity status. (HL3987)
The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22nd July (WA 118-119), why the details of the terms and conditions of previous Chairmen of the British Council prior to 1992 are not readily available. (HL3988)
The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it remains Government policy that the provision of aid should not be linked to compliance with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. (HL3989)
The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made on the institutional and financing reforms, including re-weighting of votes in the Council of Ministers, necessary for European Union enlargement. (HL3990)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government why the job description for a new Chief Executive of the Royal Parks emphasises the need for accountancy skills and an ability for income generation, with a proven ability to manage the care of large scale horticultural and landscape features and/or sensitive major visitor attractions is desirable but not essential; and how a performance related bonus is to be calculated. (HL3991)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government how many persons hold accountancy qualifications per head of population in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with figures for other European Union Member States. (HL3992)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government what meaning they currently attach in their policies to the phrase value for money. (HL3993)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have discussed with the United States Administration the possibility of the latter bombing, or otherwise destroying, North Koreas missile fabrication facilities, in the cause of pre-emptive counterproliferation; if not, whether they will now do so; and whether such an attack would be in accordance with international law. (HL3994)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend terminating the bombing of Iraq by the United Kingdom and the United States which was described by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean as an exceptional and limited use of force, as the only means to avert an immediate and overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe (16th November 1998, WA 140); and whether in the light of an objective assessment of the factual circumstances and currently developing opinions in the Security Council, they will now consult the Security Council concerning the usefulness of the bombing. (HL3995)
The Lord KennetTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been the British contribution to, and level of participation, in the United Nations space conference recently held in Vienna. (HL3996)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government why the Social Exclusion Unit Report Teenage Pregnancy quoted a number of research projects such as Kirby et al, Reducing the risk, 1991: and Vincent et al, School and community program for sexual risk reduction amongst teens, 1987, which had been described by the Social Science Research Unit as methodologically unsound. (HL3997)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government on what date the Institute of Public Policy and Research applied for charitable status; on what date it was granted; who was the original applicant; and who was the original treasurer. (HL3998)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government how much tax relief has been given on covenanted monies to the Institute of Public Policy and Research. (HL3999)
The Baroness BlatchTo ask Her Majestys Government which trustees of the Institute of Public Policy and Research
(a) have become Government Ministers; and
(b) have been given public appointments. (HL4000)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government, in relation to the registered charity Iran Aid, how many existing beneficiaries Iran Aid has (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) elsewhere; and what amount of funds Iran Aid is holding for its beneficiaries. (HL4001)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government, in relation to the registered charity Iran Aid, why no report has been produced by the Charity Commissioners on the affairs of the charity, despite investigations lasting over one year; what will be the cost, if any, to the charity of the investigation into its affairs; when they expect a report to be available; and whether it will be published. (HL4002)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government, in relation to the registered charity Iran Aid, whether they consider that the investigation into the affairs of the charity may have breached the rules of natural justice, or infringed the European Convention on Human Rights. (HL4003)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government, in relation to the genetically engineered hormone rBST, which stimulates IGF-I, a blood hormone which causes cells to divide, how many cows in the United Kingdom have so far been injected with such a modified hormone; whether the milk of such cows has been sold without special labelling or health warning; if so, in what quantities; and over what period. (HL4004)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government, in relation to the genetically engineered hormone rBST, which stimulates IGF-I, a blood hormone which causes cells to divide, whether women with relatively small increases in their blood-levels of IGF-I are up to seven times more likely to develop post-menopausal breast cancer. (HL4005)
The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government, in relation to the genetically engineered hormone rBST, which stimulates IGF-I, a blood hormone which causes cells to divide, what research has been carried out into the side-effects of rBST in cows, such as increased mastitis and higher antibiotic residues in milk; whether research has been, or will be, commissioned into related sterility, birth defects, cancer and immunological derangements in both cows and humans; and, if not, why not. (HL4006)
The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy on gathering performance data on routine audiology and hearing aid services; and whether they have any plans to enhance the information collected for performance management. (HL4007)
The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been the expenditure by the Department of Health on literature and publicity promoting hearing tests for each of the last five years. (HL4008)
The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government how many corneal, renal, liver and heart transplant operations have been carried out in each of the countries of the European Union in each of the last ten years; and what are the corresponding figures for road traffic accident deaths. (HL4009)
The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government which countries received subsidies under the European Union tobacco regime; and what was the total value of those subsidies for each of the years from 1988 to 1998. (HL4010)
The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have given any consideration to funding access to justice in clinical negligence cases by paying for expert reports and after-event insurance combined with a conditional fee agreement instead of paying for legal services. (HL4011)
The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their view of the operation of after-event insurance for clinical negligence cases funded by the conditional fee system. (HL4012)
The Lord McColl of DulwichTo ask Her Majestys Government why, if the number of junior doctors breaching the nationally agreed limits on hours worked is now rising, they are delaying implementing the Working Time Directive for juniors by agreeing to no upper limit on weekly working hours for the first four years and a sixty hour limit for the following three years. (HL4013)
The Lord McColl of DulwichTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the number of junior doctors working in excess of the nationally agreed limits on hours has risen by 78 per cent since September 1998; and whether one in four junior doctors now work in excess of the new deal arrangements. (HL4014)
The Lord McColl of DulwichTo ask Her Majestys Government whether patients have had the right to have their varicose veins, sebaceous cysts and lipomas operated on under the National Health Service; if so, whether that right still exists; and, if not, what is their attitude to the provision of private health case for these patients. (HL4015)
The Lord HigginsTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 22nd July (WA 116) concerning the A2, how it is that the Greenwich Borough Council were unaware that the traffic islands on the A2 at Blackheath were unlit at night for many weeks; why regular inspection was not carried out; whether the Department of Transport will now carry out a full inquiry into the way in which the road works on Blackheath have been carried out without safety inspections; what sub-contractors have been employed; and whether they are satisfied with the performance of Greenwich Borough Council in acting as a Highway Authority. (HL4016)
The Lord HigginsTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 23rd July (WA 134) concerning the A2 at Kender Street, what cost/benefit analysis has been carried out which suggests that the advantage of replacing the pedestrian zebra crossing with traffic lights at Kender Street outweighs the delay to traffic, congestion and pollution caused by the traffic lights; what evidence there is that the traffic lights will improve the traffic on the Red Route rather than slow it; and, in view of the congestion caused by switching on the lights ahead of the rest of the new system, whether they will now be switched off until it is completed. (HL4017)
The Lord HigginsTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 23rd July (WA 134) concerning the A2 at Kender Street, by how many weeks the work by Greenwich Borough Council has fallen behind schedule; and what penalties will be imposed for failure to complete on time. (HL4018)
The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will allow spouses to take out a marriage contract which permits divorce only on the grounds of fault in order to give legal force to their marriage vows. (HL4019)
The Earl of ClancartyTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 26th July (WA 154), on what grounds each of the relevant national museums and galleries operate a policy of no re-admission to temporary exhibitions which carry an entrance fee. (HL4020)
The Lord Robertson of OakridgeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they stand by the assurance given by the Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish on behalf of the then Government on 15th June 1995 (HL Deb, col. 1957) that the bill which became the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 covered all medical services. (HL4021)
The Lord Robertson of OakridgeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider that the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as regards the provision of health services to disabled people, especially those with Downs Syndrome, are properly understood. (HL4022)
The Lord Robertson of OakridgeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether a legal definition has been established for the term paedophile. (HL4023)
The Lord Sefton of GarstonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will give consideration to the possibility of a referendum being held on the question of the United Kingdom becoming a republic. (HL4024)
The Lord Shore of StepneyTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15th July (WA 55), on what occasions the Council of Ministers has considered the Resolution of 15th July 1998 of the European Parliament on common principles for elections to the European Parliament. (HL4025)
The Duke of Buccleuch and QueensberryTo ask Her Majestys Government how many deaths from new variant CJD in the past decade are known to result from eating beef. (HL4026)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will introduce legislation to prevent employers in Wales from discriminating against British subjects who cannot speak Welsh. (HL4027)
The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 22nd July (WA 115) concerning the costs to the National Health Service of smoking-related illness, how the estimates of such costs were arrived at. (HL4028)
The Lord KirkwoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are funding any development of personnel mine clearing devices; if so, what type of device they are supporting; and what level of reliability for clearance they require. (HL4029)
The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government what pesticide rules apply to the offshore farmed fish industry. (HL4030)
The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government what particular codes of conduct apply to the offshore farmed fish industry. (HL4031)
The Viscount ExmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22nd July (WA 118) and in light of the fact that a diplomatic passport does not provide proof of diplomatic immunity, whether they will
(a) outline the guidelines issued to the courts for deciding whether a claimant is entitled to immunity; and
(b) list the number and nationalities of those applications for diplomatic immunity which have come before the courts during the last three years. (HL4032)
BILLS IN PROGRESS
[The date in brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]
To be heard by the Examiners on Friday 30th July at 11.00 am
Transport Salaried Staffs Association (Amendment of Rules)
Waiting for Second Reading
Further and Higher Education (Scotland) (Amendment) [HL]
European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) [HL]
Food Standards [30th July]
Mental Health (Amendment) (Scotland)
Committed to a Select Committee
City of Newcastle upon Tyne [HL]
Committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee
Medway Council [HL]
Kent County Council [HL]
Committed to a Committee of the Whole House
Freedom of Information [HL]
Greater London Authority [29th July]
European Tax Harmonisation (Veto) [HL]
European Community Legislation (Impact) [HL]
Parliamentary Government [HL]
Immigration and Asylum [28th July]
Northern Ireland
Time Zones and Summer Time (Devolution) [HL]
Waiting for Report
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty [HL]
Welfare Reform and Pensions [11th October]
Waiting for Third Reading
House of Lords
United Reformed Church [HL]
Sent to the Commons
Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) [HL]
Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) [HL]
European Parliamentary Elections (Gibraltar) [HL]
Scottish Parliamentary Constituencies [HL]
Road Traffic Regulation (Cycle Parking) [HL]
Obscenity [HL]
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) [HL]
Academic and Academic-Related Staff Pay and Conditions [HL]
Road Traffic (Enforcement Powers) [HL]
Genetically Modified Crops [HL]
Road Traffic (Use of Mobile Telephones) [HL]
Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) [HL]
London Local Authorities [HL]
Baxi Partnership Limited Trusts [HL]
AFFIRMATIVE INSTRUMENTS IN PROGRESS
Waiting for Consideration by the Joint Committee
Draft Tax Credit (New Category of Child Care Provider) Regulations 1999
Draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1999
Draft Working Time Regulations 1999
Draft Financial Services Act 1986 (Restriction of Exemption) Order 1999
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft Courses for Drink-Drive Offenders (Experimental Period) (Termination of Restrictions) Order 1999
Draft Jobseekers Allowance Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1999
SPECIAL PROCEDURE ORDER IN PROGRESS
Referred to a Joint Committee
City of Stoke-on-Trent Tunstall Northern By-Pass Local Government Act Compulsory Purchase Order 1997
COMMITTEES
[Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords rooms
in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheets]
WEDNESDAY 28TH JULY