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Dalai Lama
Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to promote dialogue between the Chinese and the Dalai Lama. [38252]
Mr. Hanley: We consider that the best way forward for Tibet is through dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, without preconditions. We have consistently urged both sides to enter into such a dialogue without delay.
BBC World Service
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the value for money of the new structures in the BBC in respect of World Service programming relative to those that they replaced. [38484]
Mr. Hanley: We are in consultation with the BBC about the implications for the World Service of the proposed reorganisation of the BBC, including the financial implications.
General Affairs Council
Mr. Michael Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council and the intergovernmental conference ministerial meeting of 15 and 16 July. [38630]
Mr. David Davis: The A points in documents 9021/96--add.1 and add.2--which will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are available, were approved.
The Council noted the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament in documents EP 8001/96 PE-RE45, 8162/96 PE-RE51 and 8751/96 PE-RE56.
The Council began with a televised debate on the Irish presidency programme. The President of the Council, Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring, presented
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his priorities, including preparation for European monetary union, employment, EU enlargement, the intergovernmental conference and work on the third pillar. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs highlighted the need to get down to discussion of specific IGC treaty language to press ahead with reform of the common agricultural policy and the structural fund which is necessary for enlargement, and the importance of progress in the middle east peace process.
The Council acknowledged Slovenia's letter of application for EU membership.
The Commission gave a progress report on relations with Switzerland. The Council reaffirmed the EU's wish to conclude negotiations as soon as possible.
The Council had a wide ranging discussion on the Former Yugoslavia, including an exchange of views on the future of the EU's presence in Mostar. The Council approved a joint action on Mostar and agreed the appointment of Sir Martin Garrod as EU special envoy in Mostar.
The President of the Council and Commissioner Van den Broek reported on their recent visit to the region.
The Council agreed conclusions on Former Yugoslavia which note among other things that the requirements of the Florence European Council declaration on the peace process, including that for the removal of Radovan Karadzic from the Republika Srpska political scene, had not yet fully been complied with.
The Council reached political agreement on the MEDA regulations on aid to countries in the Mediterranean.
The Council adopted conclusions on the US "Helms-Burton" legislation on companies trading with Cuba, calling on President Clinton to waive the provisions of title III of the Act and identifying possible counter measures.
The Council held an exchange of views on the political situation in Russia, and adopted conclusions welcoming the successful conclusion of the presidential elections. The Council also reaffirmed its readiness to continue to contribute to the reform process and to complete ratification of the partnership and co-operation agreement, but decided to convey its concern about the recurrence of violence in Chechnya to the Russian authorities.
The Council discussed the middle east peace process.
The Council declared its concern over the continuing deterioration of the political situation in Burma and urged the State Law and Order Restoration Council to restore democracy and respect human rights. The Council reiterated its call for a full and satisfactory explanation from the Burmese authorities of the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the death in custody of James Leander Nichols.
The Council agreed a declaration welcoming the 10 July resolution of the Organisation of African Unity Heads of State and Government on Burundi.
The presidency announced the appointment of Ambassador Kester Heaslip as the presidency's special representative on Cyprus.
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There was a general debate on preparation for the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Singapore in December. The presidency drew procedural conclusions: the Council will return to the subject in the autumn.
On 15 July there was an IGC ministerial meeting. Foreign Ministers had a brief discussion on handling of the IGC. The Irish presidency confirmed that there would be a special European Council in October, and that it would prepare a draft revised treaty text for the second European Council in December.
There was also the customary briefing session with representatives of the European Parliament.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to ensure that major publications from his Department are accompanied by a simultaneous electronic release of the text on the Internet. [37246]
The Attorney-General:
The Crown Prosecution Service makes press notices available to the public on the Internet via the Central Office of Information. The Department has commissioned an internal study to assess the benefits of developing a separate connection to the Internet.
The Serious Fraud Office is exploring with the Central Computer Telecommunication Agency the use of the Government information service website.
The Treasury Solicitor's Department will assess the appropriateness of simultaneously releasing on the Internet the text of future major publications.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish a list showing the number, nature and value of contracts awarded by his Department to Coopers and Lybrand, KPMG, Price Waterhouse, Ernst and Young, Deloitte and Touche, Arthur Andersen, Grant Thornton, BDO Stoy Hayward, Pannel Kerr Forster, and Robson Rhodes and their subsidiaries and associates, during 1995 and 1996. [37314]
The Attorney-General:
The information with respect to the firms used by the departments and agencies for which I am responsible is as follows. It related to the financial year 1995-96.
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Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how his Department plans to enforce legislation making it illegal for farmers to have outstanding stocks of banned feed on their premises when that legislation comes into force; and if he will make a statement. [37354]
Mrs. Browning:
On 29 March, the sale or supply of any mammalian meat and bone meal, MBM, for the purposes of feeding to farmed animals, including poultry, horses and farmed fish, was prohibited. From 4 April, it has also been an offence to use any MBM, or feed containing it, for feeding to farmed animals.
The 4 April ban was set around a fortnight after the feed compounders announced an immediate voluntary ban on the incorporation of MBM in farmed animal feed. Advice from the industry supported our understanding that little MBM would, accordingly, be left on farms by 4 April.
Our enforcement strategy in ensuring that the prohibition from farms, feed mills and feed merchants of MBM and feed incorporating it from 1 August has three primary strands.
First, on 10 June we launched the Government-funded feed recall scheme to give farmers, feed compounders and feed merchants every opportunity to dispose of MBM and feed containing it before its presence on their premises became illegal.
By the end of this month we shall have collected over 10,000 tonnes of this material, mostly, as we expected from feed compounders, with only small residual amounts to be collected from farms.
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Treasury Solicitor's Department
On behalf of clients:
Coopers and Lybrand: 41 (1)
KMPG: 1 (1)
Binder Hamlyn: 4 (1)
Administration:
Pannel Kerr Forster: 19 (1)
Government Property Lawyers: Nil
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers: Nil
Crown Prosecution Service
KPMG--for training: 44 (1)
Price Waterhouse--for consultancy: 8 (1)
Ernst and Young--for market testing/consultancy: 18 (2)
Touche Ross and Co.--for contract advice: 8 (1)
Serious Fraud Office
For fraud investigation and the secondment of accountants to the SFO:
Coopers and Lybrand: 335
KPMG: 170
Price Waterhouse: 1
Ernst and Young: 14
Arthur Andersen: 4
Grant Thornton: 85
Panel Kerr Forster: 66
Robson Rhodes: 541
Notes:
1. Figures before the brackets represent expenditure in £000, to the nearest £1,000, on contracts both new and continuing--new contract only in the case of the CPS--during the financial year 1995-96.
2. Figures in brackets represent the number of new contracts entered into during that financial year. Information about the number of new contracts entered into by the SFO is not available.
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