Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the middle east peace process. [12358]
Bridget Prentice: I appreciate the answers that the Foreign Secretary has given already, but does he agree that both Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat deserve great praise for the continuation of the peace process? Does he share our concern about the shootings of Palestinian children by an Israeli settler at the weekend and will he do all that he can to urge both sides to do what they can to prevent any...
Bridget Prentice: The Prime Minister will be aware that one of the people murdered on Friday was my constituent, John Jefferies. John was a talented young musician, and extremely popular in his local community. I know that the Prime Minister will join me in sending our condolences to his family. Does he agree that we must ensure that John's life is not lost in vain and that everyone in the House and those...
Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to respond to the second report of the Social Security Committee on the performance and operation of the Child Support Agency (HC 50 of Session 1995–96). [14359]
Bridget Prentice: I thank the Minister. However, does he share the concern of the Public Accounts Select Committee that the CSA has set its target at 75 per cent. and that, in other words, it expects to get only three out of four cases right? Does he believe that that is an acceptable level of assessment and does he agree that the public will not have trust and confidence in the CSA until it sets its targets...
Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women are currently serving in the armed forces. [16842]
Bridget Prentice: Is the Minister aware that it is International Women's Week? Will he join me and my right hon. and hon. Friends in celebrating the work of women in the armed services, particularly their front line peacekeeping work in Bosnia? On behalf of the House, will he send a message of support to those women this week?
Bridget Prentice: Dunblane is a small, close-knit community and no doubt that closeness will stand it in good stead as it grieves over the appalling slaughter of innocent children and their dedicated teacher. Will the Prime Minister convey to the people of Dunblane that their grieving is shared by the whole country; every parent in the land is grieving with them? In particular, will he convey to the people of...
Bridget Prentice: I was shocked at the complacency of the Leader of the House in his response to my hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) about the Child Support Agency and a possible debate on the ombudsman's report. It was rather like the complacency this morning of Miss Chant on the "Today" programme. I do not, however, believe the Leader of the House to be a complacent person. I remind him that...
Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to top up the value of a nursery voucher for children with special educational needs. [20126]
Bridget Prentice: Is the Minister aware that parents of children with special educational needs will be more than disappointed by that answer and the answer that he gave in last night's debate on the subject? It is miserable and miserly. Does he agree with the right hon. Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker) that nursery education for such children will require extra funding? What is the Minister prepared to do...
Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Irish Government concerning an acceptable elective process leading directly to all-party negotiations. [20413]
Bridget Prentice: On those discussions, does the Secretary of State agree that, as well as the electoral system, there are other crucial elements on the road to 10 June and that having discussions with the Irish Government, and agreement with them, is the best way to ensure that those other elements are included?
Bridget Prentice: I particularly welcome the part of Sir Ron Dearing's report that refers to careers guidance, but was rather puzzled by the Secretary of State's reference to careers guidance and her use of the word "rigour". Can she assure us, despite the dogmatic way in which she has tried to privatise the careers service around the country, tumbling it into turmoil across England and Wales, that there will...
Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the chief executives of the national health service trusts to discuss market testing. [23465]
Bridget Prentice: Does the Minister acknowledge that market testing is forcing NHS clinical services, such as haematology, pathology, anaesthetics and radiography, into the private sector? Will he admit that market testing—alongside the private finance initiative—is part of the Tory Government's plan to privatise the NHS?
Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had concerning the financial position of the Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals HSS trust; and if he will make a statement. [26390]
Bridget Prentice: Is the Minister aware that the hospitals feel that they are in financial chaos? Is he further aware that those involved believe that they will no longer be able to carry out any casualty treatment and that all elective surgery is likely to be cancelled? Is it not time that the Minister worked with the hospitals to ensure that financial stability is returned? Those involved believe that this...
Bridget Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 2 May. [26406]
Bridget Prentice: Three times on Tuesday the Prime Minister failed to give a direct answer to questions about discussions he had had with the Deputy Prime Minister. I ask him now whether he has ever discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister the possibility—[Interruption.]