Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet
The Order Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on Friday 7 July 2000

Here you can browse the Written Questions for answer on Friday 7 July, of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

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

FRIDAY 7th JULY

1
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the progress of the scientific review of separation distances and their relationship with crop varietal purity.

(129807)

2
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her Answer of 23rd June, Official Report, column 306W, regarding the Agenda computer system, what the non-IT costs were with regard to the Agenda computer system in each year since it became operational in February 1998.

(129721)

3
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Southwark North and Bermondsey of 28th June, Official Report, column 564W, how many requests her Department has received from honourable Members for statistics compiled at constituency level since 1st May 1997; if she will state in each case (a) the name and party allegiance of the honourable Member, (b) the date the request was received, (c) the date the information was provided and (d) the subject matter; and what has been the total cost since 1st May 1997 of meeting such requests.

(129723)

4
   Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when she will publish the Fifth Annual Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment Report.

(129927)

5
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what percentage of the Church Commissioners' (a) total and (b) discretionary expenditure was spent on bishops emoluments, in each year from 1979 to date.

(129657)

6
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many bishops there were in (a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 2000; what the average cost was of supporting a bishop in each of those years at 2000 prices; and what the ratio was of bishops to the average Sunday congregation in each year.

(129656)

7
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what per capita Government spending on tourism was in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in this last financial year; and what the planned figures are for the current year.

(129724)

8
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the per capita Government spending was on the arts in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in the last financial year; and what his planned figures are for the current year

(129725)

9
N   Mr Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the total costs incurred on (a) travel, (b) entertainment and (c) wages, salaries and pensions in connection with the England 2006 World Cup bid; and if he will make a statement.

(129709)

10
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list those who have been formally invited to make submissions in respect of the forthcoming White Paper on broadcasting and telecommunications.

(129686)

11
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many visitors there have been to the Millennium Dome.

(129963)

12
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many sport action zones there are in the Greater London area.

(129790)

13
N   Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what reports he has received from English Heritage concerning whether the former Baltic Exchange building can be rebuilt; what conclusions were reached by English Heritage; and if he will place a copy of the reports in the Library.

[R] (129708)

14
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the National Lottery Commission concerning the Lottery Operator's policy on withdrawing Lottery contracts from post offices which do not meet sales targets.

(129660)

15
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what has been the value to date of National Lottery grant applications made by organisations in Gloucestershire; broken down by constituency.

(129517)

16
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many Lottery grant applications have been made by organisations in Gloucestershire, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

(129513)

17
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications for Lottery funding there have been from each constituency in the UK, ranked in descending order of the number of successful applications.

(129747)

18
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the Government's support for young tennis players in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom.

(129917)

19
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assistance his Department has offered to the United Kingdom football associations for (a) recent and (b) future bids to host international football competitions in Britain.

(129926)

20
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on progress with the Millennium Festival in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom.

(129931)

21
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th June, Official Report, column 135W, regarding RAF Feltwell, when an official of his Department last visited RAF Feltwell.

(129719)

22
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 19th June, Official Report, column 37W, regarding RAF Feltwell, how much notice it is necessary for RAF Commander Lakenheath to give prior to access to RAF Feltwell being granted by the US forces at the base.

(129716)

23
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 19th June, Official Report, column 37W, regarding RAF Feltwell, if there are areas of RAF Feltwell from which RAF Commander Lakenheath is excluded; and on how many days in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available RAF personnel other than RAF Commander Lakenheath visited RAF Feltwell.

(129717)

24
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 12th May, Official Report, column 513W, regarding RAF Feltwell, if he will make a statement on the support function afforded to RAF Lakenheath by RAF Feltwell.

(129718)

25
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 20th June, Official Report, column 135W, regarding RAF Feltwell, what plans ministers from his Department have to visit RAF Feltwell.

(129720)

26
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational purpose of RAF Lakenheath is; and how many (a) United Kingdom and (b) United States personnel are stationed there.

(129682)

27
N   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will derate, or otherwise downgrade, the performance specifications of the Eurofighter EJ200 power plants; and if he will make a statement.

(128480)

28
   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what sea-based training takes place at BRNC Dartmouth.

(129803)

29
   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in the past year on the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance programme.

(129804)

30
   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the location and operational status is of each of the Royal Navy's (a) Trafalgar class and (b) Swiftsure class submarines.

(129858)

31
   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Tornado GR4's capability to launch Sea Eagle missiles; how much has been spent on enabling the Tornado GR4 to launch Sea Eagle missiles; and if this element of the upgrade programme is planned to continue.

(129805)

32
   Mr Quentin Davies (Grantham and Stamford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational status is of HMS 'Orwell'.

(129857)

33
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reasons have been given by Heckler & Koch for the SA80 refit to be carried out in Germany.

(129665)

34
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current timescale is for phasing out the use of the general purpose machine gun.

(129667)

35
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what complaints have been made by the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency to Feuchter in relation to the fitness for purpose of the Mark II combat gloves they have delivered.

(129727)

36
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Mark III combat gloves were manufactured in the UK by Feuchter; and how many Mark II combat gloves manufactured (a) by Feuchter and (b) by other companies have been (i) held to be unusable and (ii) rejected as unfit for their purpose.

(129728)

37
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he anticipates that the repairs to HMS 'Tireless' will be complete.

(129671)

38
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 19th June, Official Report, column 30W, on visits to Zova, what capabilities for glove making, as distinct from other leather working, this company demonstrated.

(129729)

39
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the facilities (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) elsewhere which (i) manufacture the chain gun and (ii) are capable of manufacturing the chain gun.

(129669)

40
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many gloves were manufactured by Zova before expert glove cutting training was given to its staff.

(129730)

41
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the facilities (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) elsewhere which (i) manfacture the General Purpose Machine Gun barrel and (ii) are capable of manufacturing the General Purpose Machine Gun barrel.

(129668)

42
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the appointment of Mr Bill Finch as Product Development Manager at Feuchter went before the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments following his retirement as Contracts Branch Director of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency.

(129731)

43
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what experience Feuchter had in the manufacture of gloves prior to being awarded the contract for manufacture of the Mark II combat glove in 1998.

(129726)

44
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many general purpose machine guns (a) are in service and (b) were received into service in each of the last five years.

(129666)

45
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what facilities in the United Kingdom are capable of high volume production of small arms at short notice; and of these, which have test and range facilities.

(129664)

46
N   Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational availability is of each of the Royal Navy's Fleet submarines.

(129670)

47
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what environmental appraisal has been conducted regarding his Department's plans to secure planning permission for housing on Church Fenton airfield.

(129815)

48
   Mr John Grogan (Selby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what environmental and conservation bodies have been consulted by his Department in connection with its plans to secure planning permission for housing on Church Fenton airfield.

(129814)

49
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what work will be carried out on HMS 'Tireless'; when it is due to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

(129510)

50
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on the repair of HMS 'Tireless' in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

(129512)

51
N   Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what additional safety guidelines have been issued to staff at HM Naval Base in Gibraltar in relation to the repair of HMS 'Tireless'; and if he will make a statement.

(129511)

52
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the contract at BAE in Brough to build Nimrods.

(129945)

53
   Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many flights undertaken by (a) the Queen, (b) the Prince of Wales and (c) other members of the Royal family in aircraft of the Royal Squadron in each year since 1997 were unconnected with their royal duties; and if he will make a statement.

(129808)

54
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate has he made of the proportion of cluster munitions dropped by the RAF in Kosovo that failed to explode.

(129934)

55
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army reservists in total have served in Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania since the beginning of the conflict there last year.

(129935)

56
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists in total have served in former Yugoslavia since 1992.

(129933)

57
   Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what money has been allocated to the clearance of unexploded ordinance, with particular reference to cluster munitions dropped by the RAF in Kosovo.

(129936)

58
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much plutonium released from dedicated military-end use under the Strategic Defence Review has been placed under safeguards; what quantities remain to be so placed; and if he will list the current locations of the plutonium re-designated as non-military.

(129965)

59
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what arrangements exist to ensure that residential care establishments teach the National Curriculum.

(129770)

60
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, with what frequency residential care homes are subject to OFSTED inspections; and what the Chief Inspector's assessment is of the educational standards of residential care establishments.

(129771)

61
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what recent representations he has received on the use of Ritalin.

(129958)

62
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what guidance he issues to schools regarding the use of Ritalin.

(129957)

63
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress he has made in determining the division of responsibilities for planning matters between (a) county and unitary councils, (b) district councils and (c) the proposed South Downs National Park.

(129685)

64
   Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the planning policy guidance is regarding development of playing field sites.

(129795)

65
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will ensure that, where a new franchise is awarded by the Strategic Rail Authority, the performance standards in the new franchise agreement are applied during the unexpired period of the old franchise agreement.

(129687)

66
N   Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers the Strategic Rail Authority has to ensure a smooth and rapid transfer when it awards a new franchise to a company different from the one currently providing the service and the existing company decides to continue until its contract expires.

(129705)

67
N   Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what changes he plans to make to the location of intermediate and high level nuclear waste by the United Kingdom Government in the returns to the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2000; and what requests for environmental sampling have been received by the Government from the Agency since 15th May 1997.

(129135)

68
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) help regenerate coastal resorts and (b) improve bathing water quality.

(129951)

69
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what powers are available to local authorities to restrict the flying of EU flags on public buildings.

(129757)

70
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many companies have benefited from grants under the Powershift programme so far in financial year 2000-01.

(129819)

71
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many applications have been made for grants under the Powershift programme in financial year 2000-01.

(129818)

72
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will publish his findings on the responses to the consultation document, High Hedges; and if he will make a statement.

(129817)

73
   Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how much money was spent under the Powershift programme between 1st April and 30th June.

(129816)

74
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimates he has made of the number of new affordable homes required to meet demand; what plans he has to increase the provision of affordable houses; and if he will make a statement.

(129796)

75
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to increase the resources available to tackle the investment backlog in council housing; and if he will make a statement.

(129822)

76
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many changes he has made to the system of revenue grant distribution to local authorities since 1997; and if he will give details of the changes.

(129938)

77
N   Sir David Madel (South West Bedfordshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for what reason First Place Housing of Tavistock Street, Dunstable have been refused a further grant from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(129312)

78
   Mr Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what information has been supplied to him by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority on its plans for a Scottish office, with particular reference to the number of staff it will employ.

(129802)

79
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what amounts of (a) European Union and (b) United Kingdom funds were spent on each section of Trans-European Network roads in the United Kingdom in each year since 1994.

(129799)

80
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the Trans- European Network roads in the United Kingdom.

(129794)

81
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the benefits which have accrued from the global environmental change programme supported by the ESRC; what successor programmes are planned; and what steps are being taken to ensure widespread knowledge of, and access to, the Gecko data base.

(129971)

82
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, from which sources the United Kingdom accepts the import of toxic waste for (a) incineration and (b) landfill.

(129973)

83
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many methane explosions have taken place in the past 10 years arising from the operation of landfill sites.

(129975)

84
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment procedures are in place to monitor the spread of toxic leachate from landfill sites; and what remedial measures exist to combat public health threats from such leachate.

(129964)

85
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessments he has made of the increase in (a) heavy vehicle traffic, (b) vermin and (c) noise levels arising from the operation of a landfill site.

(129969)

86
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many landfill operators were prosecuted for breach of the site licence in the past 10 years; and what were the (a) largest and (b) smallest fines imposed for those found guilty.

(129974)

87
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what guidance he gives to landfill operators to reduce gas generation from putrescible materials deposited to their site.

(129970)

88
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the Austrian Government's blocking of the withholding tax proposal, with particular reference to the use of the national veto.

(129921)

89
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of UK goods exported to (a) Antwerp and (b) Rotterdam were for onward transit outside the EU in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999.

(129673)

90
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many, and what percentage of, 25 year endowment contracts (a) with profits and (b) unit linked purchased (i) one year ago, (ii) five years ago, (iii) 10 years ago, (iv) 15 years ago and (v) 20 years ago are still in force today.

(129952)

91
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research has been conducted in the last 10 years by (a) the Treasury and (b) the Financial Services Authority and its antecedent bodies, into long-term persistency rates on endowments, particularly linked to mortgages; and if he will publish figures for overall persistency for that period.

(129953)

92
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 13th June, Official Report, column 575W, on Public Sector Workers (Home Loans), whether a teacher employed in (a) a County school and (b) an independent school granted a preferential loan for housing by (i) the Department for Education and Employment, (ii) the Exchequer and (iii) the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, would be liable for tax and national insurance contributions on that loan.

(129713)

93
N   Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 13th June, Official Report, column 575W, on Public Sector Workers (Home Loans), whether a nurse (a) in the NHS and (b) employed in a private sector hospital granted a preferential loan for housing by (i) the Department of Health, (ii) the Exchequer and (iii) the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, would be liable for tax and national insurance contributions on that loan.

(129714)

94
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many days HM Customs and Excise road fuel testing units were operational within Dumfries and Galloway region during (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; how many prosecutions were brought for illegal use of red diesel during those years; and what the total value was of penalties and duty recovered during each of those years.

(129801)

95
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if EU funds for transport improvements in Scotland have been (a) paid in addition to or (b) included in, the Barnett Formula settlement in each year since 1997.

(129800)

96
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of bank closures on financial activities and investment levels in communities that have experienced bank closures; and if he will make a statement.

(129663)

97
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to encourage banks to make social impact assessments before announcing branch closures.

(129712)

98
N   Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the proportion of bank closures in the past year which have been in Objective 1 areas.

(129711)

99
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families he expects to benefit from implementation of the children's tax credit in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom.

(129925)

100
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd February, Official Report, column 998W, to the honourable Member for Northavon, if he will recalculate the figures using data from the 1998-99 Family Expenditure Survey.

(129806)

101
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) pagers are used by (i) the Minister for Europe and (ii) his officials; and what the cost was of (a) the mobile telephones and pagers and (b) calls made on the mobile telephones during the last year for which figures are available, identifying separately the figure for calls to non-UK telephone numbers.

(129251)

102
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) pagers are used by his Department; and what the cost was of (i) the mobile telephones and pagers and (ii) calls made on mobile telephones during the last year for which figures are available, identifying separately the cost for calls to non-UK telephone numbers and the persons to whom the facility is made available.

(129252)

103
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his role in formulating the first draft of the Charter of Fundamental Rights at the start of the German Presidency of the Council of Ministers; and if he will deposit the text of that draft in the Library.

(129821)

104
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he first was informed of the interest shown by the German Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the formulation of a Charter of Fundamental Rights.

(129922)

105
   Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received about physical attacks on the Chairman of the Hurryet conference in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

(129946)

106
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which other departments were sent copies of Sir Stephen Gomersall's telegram on Japanese investment in the UK.

(129756)

107
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he has ordered a inquiry into the leaking of Sir Stephen Gomersall's telegram on Japanese investment in the UK.

(129742)

108
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government's assessment of UK threat levels to, and protective measures for, UK diplomatic staff in Greece has changed since the date of its submission on this subject to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

(129758)

109
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the people in his Department who had access to the telegram on Japanese investment in the UK by Sir Stephen Gomersall.

(129746)

110
N   Mr Francis Maude (Horsham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department received Sir Stephen Gomersall's telegram on Japanese investment in the UK; and what action was taken after it was received.

(129743)

111
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Indian Government concerning the recent violence against Christians in India.

(129661)

112
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received of attacks on Christians and their places of worship in (a) Uttar Pradesh, (b) Andhra Pradesh, (c) Kharnataka and (d) Goa in India.

(129520)

113
N   Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the Bill in Uttah Pradesh introducing restrictions on the use and construction of places of worship in India; and what representations he has made to the Indian Government.

(129710)

114
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Iranian Government on human rights in that country; and if he will make a statement.

(129514)

115
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the work of his Department to counter the drugs trade.

(130025)

116
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the community forums held by his Department to encourage wider ethnic diversity in the Diplomatic Service.

(129929)

117
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the conduct of the recent elections in Mexico.

(129930)

118
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what talks he has had with human rights organisations regarding the sentencing of the Iranian Jews convicted of espionage.

(129675)

119
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he next plans to visit Iran.

(129676)

120
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contact he has had with other EU governments regarding the sentencing of the Iranian Jews for espionage.

(129677)

121
N   Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Iranian Government following the sentencing of the Iranian Jews.

(129715)

122
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of the report his Department commissioned the National Health Service Centre for Reviews & Dissemination at the University of York to prepare, into the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water; if the work being undertaken is (a) new research or (b) a review of existing research; and if animal testing forms a part of this research.

(129659)

123
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the British Fluoridation Society; and what contributions were made to the Society by the Government in each year since 1975-76.

(129658)

124
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects (a) to receive and (b) to publish the report which his Department commissioned the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York to prepare, into the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water; and if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the fluoridation of drinking water.

(129684)

125
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 28th June, Official Report, column 509W, if he will provide a breakdown by ethnic background of the children who died in care between April 1992 and March 1999.

(129773)

126
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 28th June, Official Report, column 509W, if he will break down the numbers of deaths of children being looked after by local authorities in children's homes from 1992-93 to 1998-99 in terms of (a) natural causes, (b) suicide, (c) accidents, (d) murder or manslaughter, (e) open verdicts and (f) other causes.

(129772)

127
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what standard procedures exist to initiate police investigations and search operations in cases where children go missing from children's homes.

(129765)

128
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 28th June, Official Report, column 509W, how many of the deaths recorded in children's homes from April 1992 to March 1999 resulted in (a) a formal inquiry as to the cause of death and (b) police investigations.

(129774)

129
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what protection exists for children in care in relation to corporal punishment.

(129778)

130
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the capacity of children's homes was in each year from 1992-93 to 1998-99; and what the average percentage utilisation of these homes was in each year.

(129776)

131
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provisions exist for the protection of privacy in children's care homes, with particular reference to uncensored mail.

(129767)

132
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to ensure that qualified former residents of children's homes are fully represented on the short lists for the post of Children's Rights Director on the National Care Standards Commission and among the Director's staff.

(129775)

133
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that victims of abuse in children's residential homes receive (a) an official apology and (b) compensation.

(129809)

134
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many residents of children's homes were officially recorded as missing in the period 1992-93 to 1998-99; and how many of these have subsequently been traced.

(129777)

135
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hernia operations have taken place in NHS hospitals in the Greater London area in the last 12 months.

(129791)

136
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what services are now available at Edgware Community Hospital; how many people used each of those services in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

(129948)

137
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what budget he has set for expenditure under the national changeover plan in anticipation of joining the single European currency; and how much has been spent to date.

(129739)

138
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by whom the decision was taken to incur expenditure in NHS hospitals in anticipation of joining the single European currency; and on what date.

(129740)

139
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the funding arrangements for hospices on the finances of children's hospices.

(130023)

140
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase funding specifically for children's hospices on a (a) national level, (b) regional level and (c) local health authority level.

(130024)

141
   Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the responsibility for the provision of hospices for children to ensure more equitable provision of (a) funding and (b) places between health authority regions and areas.

(129962)

142
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to make emergency contraception available over the counter at pharmacists.

(129943)

143
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the recent trials of over-the-counter prescribing of emergency contraception.

(129942)

144
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made on the impact on levels of abortion in the trial areas for emergency contraception; and if he will make a statement.

(129941)

145
   Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the availability of emergency contraception.

(129944)

146
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will appoint a commissioner for children; and if he will make a statement.

(129441)

147
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will (a) make a statement on the Government's proposals to encourage healthy eating amongst children and (b) ensure that the Government's efforts are co-ordinated across the United Kingdom with the devolved administrations.

(129928)

148
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received regarding the use of Ritalin.

(129960)

149
   Angela Smith (Basildon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions for Ritalin were issued in each year since 1991; and at what cost.

(129959)

150
N   Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting times are for NHS (a) cancer treatments, (b) cardiology and (c) transplant therapy in (i) the UK, (ii) England and (iii) Devon.

(129662)

151
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will answer the Question tabled by the honourable Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey on 13th June concerning carers' grant (Ref: 126247).

(129810)

152
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements there are for the inspection of hostels used by asylum seekers under the dispersal programme.

(129940)

153
   Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what environmental and health and safety legislation applies to hostels used by asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the ways in which such legislation differs from that applying to houses in multiple occupation.

(129939)

154
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money his Department has spent in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available on (a) lords lieutenant and (b) their deputies in England.

(129678)

155
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if police officers will operate (a) in national uniforms and (b) under a common code of practice under the provisions of the Feira Presidency proposals.

(129920)

156
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he intends to increase police numbers in order to provide the manpower indicated in Section C of the Feira Presidency conclusions.

(129923)

157
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the conditions under which police officers from other EU states would operate in the UK, as proposed in the Feira Presidency conclusions.

(129812)

158
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many 16 to 18 year old occupants of HM prisons or young offenders institutions in each of the last five years have been placed there because they were originally subject to a care order by a court until they were 18 years old, having committed no offence.

(129766)

159
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans exist for a co-ordinated police response in relation to (a) child abuse in care, (b) disappearances from children's homes and (c) child deaths in children's homes.

(129769)

160
   Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of missing children from children's homes have been investigated by the police since 1970; how many had led to the missing children being traced; and how many are currently under investigation.

(129768)

161
   Tom Cox (Tooting):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have attended training programmes at the Metropolitan Police training college at Hendon in the last 12 months.

(129823)

162
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers were employed by Cleveland Constabulary in each of the last five years.

(129519)

163
N   Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminal offences were recorded in the Cleveland Constabulary area by category in (a) 1999 and (b) 1986.

(129518)

164
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign prisoners serving sentences in England and Wales were repatriated in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(129313)

165
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British nationals who were sentenced abroad were repatriated to serve out their sentences in England and Wales in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

(129314)

166
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications were made in each of the past three years for repatriation for foreign prisoners in England and Wales; how many of those applications were (a) refused and (b) discontinued; and if he will make a statement.

(129315)

167
N   Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the re-offending rates following participation in an accredited programme run by the Probation Service in England and Wales were in each of the last three years; what were the re-offending rates for those sentenced to a probation order in the same period; and if he will make a statement.

(129316)

168
   Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on progress in reducing the incidence of domestic violence in England.

(129937)

169
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which organisations were paid grants in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01 (i) to assist work in support of the voluntary sector, (ii) to promote voluntary activity and community development and (iii) to support innovative projects; and how much money was paid in each such grant.

(129526)

170
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) organisations, (b) individuals and (c) projects have benefited from his Department's expenditure on community safety partnerships in (i) 1999-2000 and (ii) 2000-01.

(129527)

171
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library an analysis of how the Youth Justice Board plans to spend the budget and Development Fund set out on page 77 of the Home Office Annual Report 1999-2000.

(129523)

172
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of his Department's expenditure on the Research and Statistics Service supports (a) the preparation and publication of statistics and (b) research.

(129530)

173
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what grants and items of expenditure were included in the Crime Reduction Programme in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01.

(129522)

174
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which organisations and individuals received grants and payments in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01 for services in support of the work of (i) the Probation Service and (ii) local authority social services departments; and how much money was paid in each such grant.

(129521)

175
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the policy objective of his Department's annual payment to the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.

(129528)

176
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library an analysis for (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01 of the main items of expenditure included under reception and resettlement of refugees referred to on page 80 of the Home Office Annual Report 1999-2000.

(129529)

177
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the beneficiaries of (a) community support grant and (b) family support grant in (i) 1999-2000 and (ii) 2000-01, giving the sums of money paid in each grant.

(129525)

178
N   Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the beneficiaries in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01 of grants to assist organisations or projects working to reduce racial disadvantage, giving the sums of money paid in each such grant.

(129524)

179
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the haulage companies charged under the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000 have been charged on more than one occasion.

(129793)

180
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the haulage companies charged under the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000 were registered in Scotland.

(129792)

181
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness and (b) the effect upon the haulage industry of the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000.

(129797)

182
   Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hauliers convicted of transporting clandestine entrants into the United Kingdom since the implementation of the Carriers' Liability (Clandestine Entrants and Sale of Transporters) Regulations 2000 have been fined, for each particular incident (a) £2,000, (b) £4,000, (c) £6,000, (d) £8,000, (e) £10,000, (f) £12,000, (g) £14,000, (h) £16,000, (i) £18,000, (j) £20,000, (k) £22,000, (l) £24,000, (m) £26,000, (n) £28,000, (o) £30,000, (p) £32,000, (q) £34,000, (r) £36,000, (s) £38,000, (t) £40,000, (u) £42,000, (v) £44,000, (w) £46,000, (x) £48,000, (y) £50,000 and (z) £52,000 and over.

(129956)

183
   Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many primates have been used in the years since 1995 in research involving pig kidneys and pig hearts being transplanted into primates; and what percentage of these primates have rejected the transplanted organs.

(129961)

184
N   Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on outstanding pension commitments to former Rhodesian civil servants agreed at the time Zimbabwe became independent.

(129136)

185
N   Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury):    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with European commissioners about the EU's delivery of aid to developing countries; and if she will make a statement.

(129515)

186
   Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many applications were received in the last year for judicial appointments by (a) solicitors and (b) barristers for posts as (i) deputy district judge, (ii) assistant recorder and (iii) circuit judge; and in respect of how many of the applicants there were (1) no comments, (2) one comment and (3) two or more comments in relation to the informal consultation element in the selection process for each of (i) to (iii)

(129949)

187
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money his Department has spent in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available on (a) lords lieutenant and (b) their deputies in Northern Ireland.

(129681)

188
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to increase the accountability to Parliament of Lord Levy.

(129707)

189
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for South Cambridgeshire of 27th June, Official Report, column 455W, regarding the Strategic Communications Unit, for what reasons the number of permanent civil servants has increased from four to nine since January 1998.

(129722)

190
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the positions to which he is entitled to appoint inidivduals.

(129683)

191
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) discussions and (b) consultations took place between the Government and the board of trustees at Dorneywood before the recent refurbishment programme was agreed.

(129706)

192
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 17th May from the honourable Member for Welwyn Hatfield, Official Report, column 185W, if the decision to implement a national changeover plan was taken in Cabinet.

(129755)

193
N   Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow):    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for 16th May 1998.

(129738)

194
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 27th June, Official Report, column 455W, on the G8 Summit, what representations he has received on the funding of the Russian plutonium fuel programme; and what response he has made, indicating the dates of (a) representations and (b) replies.

(130022)

195
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much money his Department has spent in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available on (a) lords lieutenant and (b) their deputies in Scotland.

(129679)

196
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the recent Scottish trade mission to Saudi Arabia.

(129932)

197
   Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow, Govan):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the Government's policy is regarding distributing Civil Service posts more widely across Scotland.

(129916)

198
   Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what (a) number and (b) percentage of employees took early retirement on grounds of ill health related to back pain in the last five years for which figures are available.

(129820)

199
   Mr Matthew Taylor (Truro and St Austell):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate how many people in households in the bottom two deciles of household income whose hourly earnings were below the minimum wage level, deflated from the 1999 rate, were receiving each social security benefit, and in what combination, using data from the Family Resources Survey 1997-98; and if he will make a statement.

(129955)

200
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if, for each of the last 12 months, in respect of the minimum income guarantee, he will estimate (a) the number of applications, (b) the number of successful applications and (c) the average value of payments made.

(129744)

201
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his oral Answer of 15th May, Official Report, column 4, if he will set out the basis for his estimate that the Government is spending £2.5 billion more on pensioners than would have been spent by restoring the earnings link; and what the reasons are for the difference between this estimate and that given in his Answer of 11th April, Official Report, columns 143-4W.

(129741)

202
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if, for the minimum income guarantee take-up campaign, he will estimate (a) the total administrative costs to date, (b) the administrative costs for the project team and teleclaims service, (c) the cost of the televised advertising campaign, (d) the total number of calls to the MIG claimline and (e) the number of claim packs issued, and of that number (i) the number of completed claim forms so far returned, (ii) the number of successful applications, (iii) the number of those successful claims that have so far been paid and (iv) the value of those claims so far paid.

(129745)

203
N   Steve Webb (Northavon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 27th June, Official Report, column 480W, on the state pension, if he will estimate the cost of Option (a), linking the basic pension to earnings and introducing an age addition of £5 for pensioners aged 75 to 79 years and £10 for pensioners aged 80 years and above, on the basis that real earnings grow in line with the Government Actuary's Department's central assumption for long-term growth rates of real earnings.

(129516)

204
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will allow Post Office Counters to contract with parcel companies in the private sector.

(129672)

205
N   Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the acquisitions made by Royal Mail in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000.

(129674)

206
   Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many cases have been lodged to date by former miners living in Barnsley East and Mexborough for compensation for (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

(129798)

207
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proposals he has to help small businesses minimise the impact of regulations dealing with (a) parental leave and (b) working time regulations.

(129950)

208
   Mr Ronnie Fearn (Southport):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will introduce a small business employers' charter stipulating the rights of employers.

(129954)

209
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment (a) his Department, (b) consultants to his Department and (c) non-departmental public bodies responsible to his Department have made of electrometallurgical techniques to process spent nuclear fuel as developed in the (i) United States and (ii) Russia.

(129966)

210
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to publish information on the civil plutonium inventory.

(129968)

211
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of the respective stockpiles of reprocessed uranium from (a) magnox fuel, (b) AOR fuel, (c) SGHWR fuel and (d) fast reactor fuel have been re-cycled in new fuel to date; and if he will list the quantities and current locations of the reprocessed uranium stored to date.

(129967)

212
N   Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much money his Department has spent in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available on (a) lords lieutenant and (b) their deputies in Wales.

(129680)

213
   Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent):    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had in the past 12 months with Ministers at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions concerning the imports into Wales of toxic waste for (a) disposal and (b) treatment.

(129972)

214
   Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dogs were killed as part of experiments in British research laboratories in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (129947)

215
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Council's legal opinion on whether the Cologne and Helsinki councils' decisions regarding security and defence policy require treaty amendments.

[Transferred] (129924)

216
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will deposit the paper referred to in section II. A. 1 of the first annex of the Feira Presidency conclusions in the Library.

[Transferred] (129811)

217
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason, in Annex 1 of the Feira Presidency conclusions, DSACEUR rather than SACEUR will be consulted on the headline goal; and if he will make a statement on the proposed involvement of the United States Government.

[Transferred] (129919)

218
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the planned effect of Article 50 of the Feira Presidency conclusions on European Communities' legislation on sport.

[Transferred] (129918)

219
   Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the sanctions imposed by EU member states against the Austrian Government.

[Transferred] (129813)