Written answers

Wednesday, 27 September 2000

  • House of Lords

    • Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What oversight mechanisms exist with regard to the distribution of food and humanitarian aid in Sudan.

    • Sudan: Demining Projects

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What funding they have made available for demining projects in eastern and southern Sudan.

      Reproductive Health

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How much was spent on reproductive health by the Department for International Development in each of the years 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999; and within that total how...

      Home Secretary's Driver: Prosecution Criteria

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What criteria govern the decision whether the Home Secretary's driver should be prosecuted for driving in excess of 100 miles per hour on the M.5 motorway.

      Lieutenant Governors: Appointment Criteria

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 24 July (WA 22), what steps are being taken when filling the position of Lieutenant Governors in the...

      Asylum Seekers

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many asylum seekers and how many illegal immigrants arrived and how many have been reported deported in each year since 1997.

      Criminals: Facial Identification Technique

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they have any empirical evidence that the use of photo-fits is effective in catching criminals; if so, whether this evidence compares such photo-fits with...

      Prisoners: Dietary Requirements

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the diet provided in HM prisons for insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent inmates is appropriate and properly forms part of an appropriate therapy.

      Prisons: Accessibility for Wheelchair Users

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether Agecroft and Ashfield prisons are fully accessible to (a) prisoners, (b) visitors, and (c) staff who are wheelchair users or who have sensory impairments;...

      Prisons: Accessibility for Wheelchair Users

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether all new houseblocks being added to the existing Prison Service managed prisons and contracted out prisons are fully accessible.

      Prisons: Building Regulations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether all prisons in England and Wales are subject to building regulations.

      Prisons: Responsibilities under Disability Discrimination Act

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What plans the Prison Service has to make all prisons comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

      Members of Parliament: Telephone Tapping Prohibition

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the prohibitions by Mr Harold Wilson, when Prime Minister, of tapping the telephones of Members of Parliament remains in force; and whether such a...

      Wandsworth Prison: Response to Board of Visitors

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What action has been taken following the annual report for 1999 of the Board of Visitors of HM Prison Wandsworth, and in particular their response to 'Questions to...

      Dangerous Dogs Act: Statistics

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many pit bull terriers have been registered under the provisions of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 in each of the last nine years.

      Dangerous Dogs Act: Statistics

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many incidents involving pit bull terriers have been reported in each of the last nine years.

      Government Bills in Current Session

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many government Bills have been before Parliament since the beginning of the present Session; how many of these have been sponsored by the Home Office; how...

      Immigration Policy

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How they will ensure that any change in Immigration Rules to allow into the United Kingdom greater numbers of people with skills needed in the United Kingdom...

      HGV Drivers: Overweight Convictions

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What was the average fine imposed on lorry drivers convicted for operating overweight lorries during the last five years; and For the last five years, how many...

      Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers: Consideration of Torture Claims

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 6 July (WA 150-151), whether they will specify the caseworkers' grounds for disbelieving the...

      Remands for Psychiatric Reports

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many defendants were remanded in custody for psychiatric reports in the most recent year for which figures are available.

      R18 Videos: Regulation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will publish the consultation paper on the British Board of Film Classification's Annual Report for 1999.

      Milk Production

      asked Her Majesty's Government: For the latest full year for which statistics are available, what is the maximum amount of milk which is allowed to be produced from British herds under the common...

      Timber Production

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will ask Forest Enterprise, which produces 60 per cent of United Kingdom coniferous timber, to reduce the volume they produce annually, in the...

      Arable Area Payments

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the new advice being given to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regional administrators...

      Arable Area Payments

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What arrangements they are making to pay farmers interest on arable area payments which were paid late in 1995.

      Organic Food Standards

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 12th July (WA 33-34), whether the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food relies only on the standards...

      Asian Longhorn Beetle

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 29 June (WA 104-105), whether they will list the expenditure budgeted by the Forestry Commission in the...

      Asian Longhorn Beetle

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 29th June (WA 104-105), when they expect, or hope, to find an appropriate, evironmentally sound method of...

      El Alamein Anniversary

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will support the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the battle of El Alamein in 2002.

      Defence Estates

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What action is being taken to reorganise the Defence Estates.

      Chinook ZD576

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether any legal advice was given to the senior Royal Air Force officers responsible for reviewing the conclusions of the Board of Inquiry into the accident...

      Chinook ZD576

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 12 July (WA 35) regarding the inquiry into the crash of a Chinook helicopter in the Mull of...

      Chinook ZD576

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 12 July (WA35) regarding the crash of the Chinook helicopter in June 1994, whilst it can be...

      EU Military Operations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the statement in Box 12.1 of the Spending Review 2000, which limits the area of deployment of future forces available to the European Union to "in and...

      Kosovo: Troops

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What are the current troop levels in Kosovo.

      Porton Down: Tests

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What was the cost of the testing carried out at Porton Down on various samples provided by the Baroness Cox in connection with the possible use of chemical weapons...

      Porton Down: Tests

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they can provide details of the various scientific tests carried out at Porton Down on the samples provided by the Baroness Cox in connection with the...

      MR TRIGAT Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Programme

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What progress had been made on the MR TRIGAT anti-tank guided weapon programme.

      Disposal Sales Agency

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What key targets have been set for the Disposal Sales Agency for the financial year 2000-01

      Civil Service: Industry and Commerce Secondments

      asked Her Majesty's Government: On a departmental basis, (a) how many staff are currently on secondment to government departments from commercial companies; (b) from which companies these...

      Good Friday Agreement Releases: Re-arrests

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether any persons granted early release from prison under the Good Friday arrangements have been re-arrested in connection with crimes of violence.

      Good Friday Agreement: Deaths and Injuries

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Waht are the number of (a) killings, (b) woundings, and (c) persons exiled by terrorists in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

      Millennium Dome

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What sum will be paid to English Parterships as a consequence of the sale of the Millennium Dome to Dome Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nomura; and When they...

      Millennium Dome

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the projected visitor numbers for the period up to and including 31 December 2000, set by the latest business plan published by the New Millennium...

      Millennium Dome

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What agreement has been reached between Nomura and the Government with regard to the warranties and indemnities which will form part of the contract of sale of the...

      Millennium Dome

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 29 June (WA 15-16), whether he will publish a table showing for each month of 2000 the percentage...

      Government Car Service

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 28 July, what weighting is given in purchasing of cars towards those manufactured in this country.

      Government Car Service

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6th July (WA 148), which of the cars listed are supplied to the Northern Ireland Office by the...

      Northern Ireland: Discrimination Law

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they intend to introduce measures to make it unlawful for public authorities in Northern Ireland to exercise their public functions in a way which is...

      Football: Funding of Competitions

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether through the Football Foundation, they will support and help to fund the establishment of a fourth division of the Football League from the existing...

      Tourism

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, in recognition of its importance to Britain's economy, they will add tourism to the title of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

      Unemployment

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their estimate of the impact upon the level of unemployment of the increased state spending recently announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

      Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Management Review

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they accept any or all of the recommendations of the Montagu review, the external investigation into management of the Department for Culture, Media and...

      Broadcasting: Regional Programmes

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What are their plans to require commercial broadcast companies to provide a minimum broadcast time of regional programmes.

      Sudden Deaths in Sport

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What estimate they have made of the incidence of sudden death in sport among (a) males and (b) females.

      Sports Dispute Resolution Panel

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What progress they have made in setting up the independent Sports Dispute Resolution Panel; what costs have been incurred by the Department for Culture, Media and...

      Hotels and Restaurants: Better Regulation Task Force Report

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When they will publish their response to the recommendations made in the Better Regulation Task Force Report, Tackling the Impact of Increasing Regulations--a Case...

      Supermarkets: Inquiry

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the Competition Commission inquiry into supermarkets has taken into account the effect on small publishing houses and independent newsagents of Tesco's...

      Incomes and Taxation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the current rate of tax on personal incomes in each country of the European Union, and whether they will indicate in respect of each threshold of income...

      Sudan: Exports

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What items appear in, and the exact nature of, the six Standard Individual Export Licences given for exports to Sudan as reported in the 1999 Annual Report on...

      Queen Mother's 100th Birthday

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will declare 4 August a public holiday to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen Mother's 100th birthday.

      Exports Promotion

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In the light of the global market for environmental technology and services, whether they will appoint a dedicated Export Promoter for Environmental Technology and...

      Iraq: Medical Equipment Supplies

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 29 June (WA 100), whether they accept that delays in the processing of applications for the...

      Eurosceptic Beliefs: EC Booklet

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether it is their view that Euroscepticism, as detailed in the European Commission's recent publication A Glossary of Eurosceptic Beliefs, discourages British...

      Sudan: Trade

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Which British Companies are currently doing business in Sudan.

      Solar Electricity

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their policy towards research into the conversion of solar radiation into electricity; and what resources they will devote to this in the next five years.

      Starter Home Initiative: Key Workers

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What criteria they intend to use in identifying key workers, as outlined in the Housing Green Paper, who may receive preferential treatment.

      Young Drivers: Penalty Points

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What proportion of car drivers under 18, 19, 20 and 21 have, in each case, had their licence endorsed with at least: (a) one penalty point; (b) two penalty points;...

      HGVs: Overloading

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What estimate they have made of the proportion of heavy goods vehicles operating over their weight limits; and what studies have been undertaken to support these...

      Rights of Way: Restrictions on Traffic

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will take early action to prevent rights of way, whether footpaths or bridleways, or other old routes established before the development of motor...

      Vehicle Inspectorate: Enforcement of HGV Regulations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many staff were employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate during each of the last five years and what proportion of these have been involved in enforcement duties...

      Vehicle Inspectorate: Enforcement of HGV Regulations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many lorry weight checks were carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate and other agencies during the last year for which figures are available between 18.00...

      Vehicle Inspectorate: Enforcement of HGV Regulations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many lorry weight checks were carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate and other agencies during the last year for which figures are available between 18.00...

      Vehicle Inspectorate: Enforcement of HGV Regulations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many sites in England and Wales would be involved if it were a requirement to weigh the axles of every HGV exceeding 30 tonnes leaving major road freight...

      HGVs: Damage to Roads and Bridges

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the damage impact on road infrastructure of lorry axles weighing 10.5 tonnes, 11.5 tonnes and 12.5 tonnes respectively compared with the average motor car.

      Special Educational Needs Regulations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, with regard to the proposed changes to the 1994 Special Educational Needs regulations and code of practice, there is any change in meaning or legal duty...

      Age Diversity in Employment

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What work has been completed, or is planned, to implement conclusion 5 of the Performance and Innovation Unit report Winning the Generation Game published in...

      Special Educational Needs and Disability Rights in Education Bill

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When they intend to publish the Special Educational Needs and Disability in Education Bill, as promised by Baroness Blackstone in the debate on the Queen's Speech...

      Sex Discrimination by Public Authorities

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they intend to introduce measures to make it unlawful for public authorities in the United Kingdom to exercise their public functions in a way which is...

      Equal Opportunities: Promotion by Public Authorities

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they intend to introduce measures to impose a duty on public authorities in Great Britain to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for both sexes...

      Seasonal Workers: Benefit Access

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What studies they have conducted into the difficulties seasonal workers experience in signing on and off benefit.

      Employment Service: Discretionary Powers

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Over what areas of provision of help to those seeking work the Employment Service has discretion.

      Sudan: Truck Export Licences

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the goods which were given Standard Individual Export Licences for Sudan were in contravention of the European Union arms embargo on Sudan; and Whether...

      European Convention on Human Rights: Protocol No. 12

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the final text of Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights; and when the Protocol will be opened for signature and ratification by the...

      European Convention on Human Rights: Protocol No. 12

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they intend to sign and ratify Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights.

      Sudan: the Gunboat "Melik"

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What representations they have made to the Sudanese Government about the possible temporary repatriation of and renovation of the gunboat "Melik".

      Sudan: Aerial Bombing

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What representations they have made to the government of Sudan about aerial bombings in the Nuba mountains.

      Sudan: Ballistic Missile Plant

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 10 April (WA 1), what evidence they have to support the allegation that a ballistic missile plant...

      Chinese Nationals: Visit Visa Applications

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In the present year and for the two previous years on a quarterly basis, how many applications for entry visas to visit the United Kingdom were made by Chinese...

      Indonesia: Use of British Military Equipment

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, in light of the identification of a British-made Saladin armoured vehicle being used by Indonesian soldiers and Muslim militia attacking a Christian area...

      Angola

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When Baroness Scotland of Asthal will write to Lord Lamont of Lerwick as she undertook to do on 29 June, following her answer about the International Criminal...

      Handcuffs

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What export controls they are planning to introduce on pairs of handcuffs and their individual component cuffs.

      Angola: Sanctions Violations

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether violation of the United Nations sanctions against the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is continuing.

      Visitors to UK: Proposed Bond

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What progress they have made in relation to the proposed pilot study for financial bonds for visitors.

      Council of the European Union: Forthcoming Business

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of European Union for August; and list the major European Union events for the next six months.

      Westminster Foundation for Democracy: Annual Report

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When they will publish the annual report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.

      Yugoslavia: Sanctions

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What sanctions the United Kingdom implements in relation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

      Diplomatic Missions: Unpaid Parking Fines

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will publish figures recording the number of outstanding parking and other minor traffic violation fines incurred by diplomatic missions and...

      Wilton Park Executive Agency

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How the Wilton Park Executive Agency performed against the targets agreed for 1999-2000; and what are the agreed targets for the current year.

      Mr Miroslav Filipovic: Trial

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they are able to arrange the independent observation of the trial of Mr Miroslav Filipovic, journalist, starting in Serbia on 25 July, before a military court.

      Trepca Mines, Kosovo

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether UNMIK has yet been able to bring the Trepca mines in Kosovo into production.

      Kosovo: Courts, Judiciary and Prisons

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In relation to Kosovo, under the authority of United Nations Mission in Kosovo--(a) whether the civil and criminal courts are now functioning throughout the...

      Alleged Croat Atrocities: Investigation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In the light of a film by Danish television called "Operation Panther" dealing with the atrocities by Croats in Stolac and Dretelj, what actions they have taken or...

      Irish Republic: Pro-British Community

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What advice, if any, they have offered to the Government of the Republic of Ireland about the treatment of those of its residents who consider themselves to be...

      Workplace Parking Levy

      asked the Chairman of Committees: Whether, when workplace parking is introduced by the Greater London Authority, an exemption for either Members of the House or officials will be sought; and, if...

      Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What has been the extent of outbreaks of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in National Health Service hospitals during each of the past five...

      NHS Hospitals: Standards of Cleanliness

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will publish performance standards of cleanliness in National Health Service hospitals and introduce effective means of securing compliance with those...

      NHS Hospitals: Cleaning Staff

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How the number of staff currently employed to clean National Health Service hospitals compares with the number so employed in 1983.

      Rabies Vaccines

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether any rabies vaccines available in the United Kingdom are prepared using nervous tissue from a species known to harbour a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

      Medicinal Products: Use of Animal Material

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether it would be a reasonable precaution against developments in the nvCJD outbreak for the Government to establish which injectible medical products in current...

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, when investigating the Leicestershire nvCJD cluster, particular attention will be paid to investigations of hospital and general practitioner records to...

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they are aware of any indications that the onset of nvCJD may be triggered by particular events.

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether those grandparents caring for their grandchildren because their child has died of nvCJD are receiving a uniformly good standard of support from the various...

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will fund a support network for the families of those diagnosed with nvCJD.

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they are conducting surveillance for asymptomatic nvCJD by means of tests on random human autopsies or otherwise.

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, in investigating the cluster of nvCJD cases in Leicestershire, they will make a reference to the collection of samples relating to the "unfit meat"...

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Which research proposals relating to nvCJD have been refused state funding within the latest 12 months for which records are available.

      Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What symptoms are associated, in a significant number of cases, with the early clinical manifestations of nvCJD; and whether they will bring this list of symptoms...

      Dental Strategy for England

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether section 12.8 (headed "Dentistry") in the Plan for the future of the National Health Service was intended as their promised statement on Dental Strategy;...

      Dental Services: Anaesthesia and Sedation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will carry out a survey on the use of general anaesthetics and sedations in general dental practice, both National Health Service and private,...

      Dental Services: Anaesthesia and Sedation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they intend to make any new funding available for the provision of sedation techniques in general dental practice; and whether some of this money will be...

      Dental Services: Anaesthesia and Sedation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, in view of the recent General Dental Council guidance on the use of general anaesthesia in dental practices, sufficient facilities are available in...

      NHS Expenditure on Smokers

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer to the Lord Laird on 11 July (WA 22), how much of the estimated amount of between £1.4 billion and £1.7 billion spent by...

      NHS Management Structure

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many layers of management exist in the National Health Service between a staff nurse in a hospital and the Secretary of State.

      NHS Commissioning Arrangements

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 29 February (WA 65-66), what steps they are taking to ensure that their advice on the structure...

      Men's Health

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will support and encourage a United Kingdom-wide men's health promotion awareness campaign; and What plans they have to address the widening mortality...

      Prostate Cancer

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What plans they have to address the differences in waiting times for men with suspected prostate cancer compared with patients with suspected breast cancer.

      Prostate Cancer

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will support and encourage a United Kingdom-wide screening trial for prostate cancer.

      Prostate Cancer

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What research effort is being devoted to the screening and treatment of prostate cancer; and how this compares with comparable research into breast cancer.

      Crawley Hospital

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Why it proposed to reduce essential services at Crawley hospital at the same time as over 5,000 new homes are intended to be built in that area.

      Smuggled Cigarettes and Teenage Smoking

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What research has been conducted into the increase in smoking among young people due to the smuggling of cheap cigarettes; and whether research can be conducted...

      Artificial Limbs: Expenditure

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What are the final figures for the artificial limb services for the years 1998-99 and 1999-2000; and what are the estimates for the years 2000-01 and 2001-02.

      Health Council, Luxembourg

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What was the outcome of the Health Council held in Luxembourg on 29 June.

What is this?

The parliamentary question is a great way for MPs and Peers to discover information which the government may not wish to reveal. Ministers reply via written answers, a list of which gets published daily.

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