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EU Memoranda
Sir John Cope: To ask the Lord President of the Council how many explanatory memoranda on European Union matters have been submitted to Parliament by Ministers in each of the last three years. [38807]
Mr. Newton: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, the table gives the numbers of European Community documents deposited in Parliament in the last three years for consideration by the House of Commons Select Committee on European
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Legislation and the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities. Explanatory memoranda will have been produced on all but a small number of these documents and many will also have been the subject of supplementary memoranda updating Parliament on developments in negotiations or answering specific questions raised by either Select Committee. In addition, unnumbered explanatory memoranda are sometimes submitted to Parliament when a formal Community document is not available.
| Year | Documents |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 732 |
| 1994 | 769 |
| 1995 | 727 |
Water Consumption
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) what steps have been taken to promote water efficiency in phase 2 of the new parliamentary building; what will be the capacity of lavatory cisterns in the new building; and what is the projected average daily water use per regular occupant of the building; [39884]
- (2) what were the figures for overall water consumption on the parliamentary estate over the last five years; what are the figures for average daily water use per regular occupant of the estate; what water conservation devices are in place on the estate; and what plans there are (a) to improve the efficiency of and (b) to reduce water use; [39885]
(3) what steps have been taken to investigate the feasibility, costs and benefits of (a) reducing the flush volume of lavatories and (b) fitting automatic timers to urinal flushing systems on the parliamentary estate; [39886]
(4) what is the estimated annual volume of water use on lawns, plants and flowers on the parliamentary estate; and what studies have been made of the potential for using trickle or drop feed irrigation for such watering; [39887]
(5) what steps have been taken to investigate the feasibility, costs and benefits of fitting spray taps to basins on the parliamentary estate. [39888]
Sir Raymond Powell: I will ask the Director of Parliamentary Works to write to the hon. Member.
President Mandela (Brass Plaque)
Mr. Miller: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what plans he has to instal a brass plaque on the steps of Westminster Hall to commemorate the visit of President Mandela. [39731]
Mr. Michael J. Martin: I have seen my hon. Friend's early-day motion 1155 on President Mandela's speech in Westminster Hall which I note has attracted the support of hon. Members from many of the parties represented in the House.
The final decision on whether such a plaque should be installed is, of course, a matter for the authorities controlling Westminster Hall. I propose to put the matter
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before the Administration Committee at its first meeting in the new Session, with a view to formulating a possible recommendation to Madam Speaker.
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members have informed the Fees Office that they will be approving payment to a charity of the whole or part of the increases payable on the decisions taken by the House on 10 July. [39673]
Mr. Newton:
I am advised by the Fees Office that five "Give As You Earn" amendment forms have been issued since 10 July, but I am unable to say whether these forms have been requested as a result of the decision of the House that day.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list each occasion in the last two months in which his Department has consulted farmers directly about policy development concerning BSE and the beef crisis; and if he will make a statement. [37362]
Mr. Ancram: My noble Friend Baroness Denton will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Banned Feed
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [37355]
Mr. Ancram: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on 19 July, Official Report column 699.
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC officers arrived by helicopter in a field adjacent to Stonebridge roundabout, Rickhill on 9 July at approximately 1500 hours; how many of these officers had their services number openly displayed on their uniforms; how many plastic bullets were fired at the crowd at the roundabout; what warning was giving by the RUC offices that they intended to fire plastic bullets; what factors underlay the decision to use plastic bullets; if the principle of the use of minimum force was applied; and if he will make a statement. [373790]
Sir John Wheeler: Operational matters are issues for the Chief Constable of the RUC. However, plastic bullets are not in use in Northern Ireland.
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In general terms, during the very grave incidents of the 10-day period between 7 and 16 July the RUC undertook many security duties which put them in danger. At different times it became necessary to use plastic baton rounds against identified targets actively involved in attacking police officers.
Demonstration (Comber)
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons he estimates were involved in a protest at Bridge street, Comber on 10 July; if he will list the recorded incidents of attacks on (a) people and (b) property; how many Royal Ulster Constabulary officers arrived at the location by 2300 hours; what warnings the RUC issued to the protesters; what factors underlay the decisions of the RUC to use batons against protesters; and if he will make a statement. [37890]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the right hon. Gentleman.
Medical Equipment
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements for replacing X-ray and nuclear medicine equipment in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the provision of such equipment. [38228]
Mr. Moss: The replacement of X-ray and nuclear equipment in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of health service providers. Annual allocations of general capital made to these providers enables them to set their own local priorities and make any arrangements for the replacement of equipment including X-ray and nuclear medical.
Since October 1991 the contracting and purchase of diagnostic imaging equipment have been arranged centrally through the regional supplies service. The effectiveness of these procedures is demonstrated by the substantial discounts in excess of 20 per cent. which have been achieved since their introduction. Increasingly in the future I will be looking to the private finance initiative to help tackle some of the problems in equipment replacement.
Anglo-Irish Secretariat
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary visited the Anglo-Irish secretariat at Maryfield, Belfast between 1 June and 6 July; and if he will make a statement on discussions between RUC officers and members of the Anglo-Irish secretariat. [38920]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the right hon. Gentleman.
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Publicity
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the cost budgeted for staff employed full time or part time to provide information and publicity in 1996-97; [39449]
- (2) what is his Department's budget in 1996-97 for consultants to assist with information, publicity, press and media; [39342]
(3) how many staff are assumed in his Department's budget, employed (i) full time and (ii) part time, (a) to work on press and media and (b) to provide information and publicity in 1996-97; [39384]
(4) how many staff were employed full time or part time (a) to provide information and publicity and (b) on press and media in (i) 1995-96, (ii) 1994-95 and (iii) 1993-94; [39424]
(5) what was the cost of staff employed full time or part time (i) to provide information and publicity and (ii) to work on the press and media in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1994-95 and (c) 1993-94; [39406]
(6) what is the cost, assumed in the budget, of people employed full time or part time to work on the press and the media in 1996-97. [39978]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the hon. Member.
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