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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Freedom of Information
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish her Department's submissions relating to freedom of information legislation. [6036]
Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 4 July 1997 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, Official Report, column 294.
Montserrat
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the recent natural disasters in Montserrat. [6416]
Clare Short: The Soufriere Hill volcano has been active since July 1995. There was an escalation in volcanic activity on 25 June that resulted in the loss of 8 lives. My department immediately deployed the services of 4 helicopters, for search and rescue purposes. 17 people were rescued.
Following an on-the-spot assessment, my department gave immediate approval for vital emergency work such as setting up communications equipment and maintaining fuel and food supplies and sanitation. With the airport out of commission, a daily ferry service was set up operating from the Little Bay Jetty (recently constructed with DFID funds) to Antigua for the use of foot passengers and for the transportation of goods to ensure safe and sustainable conditions in the north of the island. HMS Liverpool was also sent to the scene and is assisting in the rescue effort. Further temporary shelter has been identified as the highest priority for immediate action and we are looking urgently at the best way of providing it.
7 Jul 1997 : Column: 314
HMG is fully committed to providing the people of Montserrat with a secure future, and we are planning a rapid consultation with them on the options.
Mr. Timms:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to secure the early implementation of Uganda's debt relief under the highly indebted poor countries initiative. [6816]
Clare Short:
The World Bank, IMF and Paris Club of government creditors have agreed that, on the basis of the government's continued implementation of its economic reform programme, Uganda will receive debt relief in April 1998. My Department is ready to help the African Development Bank meet some of its costs in giving debt relief in Uganda.
Investment (Sustainable Development)
Mr. Tony Colman: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she is taking to ensure that the OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment takes account of the principles of Agenda 21. [6391]
Mrs. Roche: The Government will work to ensure that its commitments to sustainable development and environmental protection are fully taken account of in the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. We are fully aware of the concerns raised by NGOs in this respect and support consultations with them as the negations continue.
Supervisory Bodies
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines govern the ethical conduct of the recognised supervisory bodies; and who ensures their compliance with such guidelines. [6468]
Mr. Ian McCartney: There are no specific guidelines on the ethical conduct of the Recognised Supervisory Bodies (RSBs). Complaints about their general conduct are a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
The standards which must be applied by the RSBs in their regulation of those auditors for whom they are responsible are set out in Schedule 11 to the Companies Act 1989. These include standards covering professional integrity and independence, procedures for the investigation of complaints and procedures for discipline. Section 37 of that Act gives my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade the power to require information from RSBs for the exercise of her functions under Part II of the Act. Reports which are received under this section are laid in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
Money Laundering
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions accountants and auditors have notified the banking, building societies and financial services regulators of suspicious transactions, (a) with and (b) without the knowledge of their audit clients. [6477]
7 Jul 1997 : Column: 315
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NICS) is the authority which, under the guidance supporting the money-laundering legislation, must be notified of suspicious transaction involving money-laundering. The number of such reports received in the past five years was as follows:
Figures for the sources of other notifications of suspicious transactions to the regulatory authorities are not held by the authorities concerned.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultation was undertaken with trade unions prior to her Department's announcement of a proposed private finance participation in the Quadrant Catering operation in the Post Office; and if she will make a statement. [6602]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
Consultations with trade unions on matters relating to the Post Office are the responsibility of Post Office management. The Department's approval of the proposed joint venture arrangement between Quadrant and a private sector partner is part of the process of granting greater commercial freedom to the Post Office in line with our Election manifesto commitment. A joint venture arrangement will open up wider job and career opportunities within the larger organisation to all Quadrant staff.
It is a criminal offence for the client to be informed that such a notification has been made.
Year
1996: 75
1995: 44
1994: 6
1993: 2
1992: 1.
Regional Aid
Mr. Fallon: To ask the Prime Minister which Department has primary responsibility for regional selective assistance and other forms of regional aid. [6297]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 1 July 1997]: My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, has primary responsibility for the Industrial Development Act 1982 which provides the powers for granting financial assistance to industry assisted areas.
WPC Yvonne Fletcher
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 677, what factors underlie the length of time to be taken over the police investigation into the contents of the Channel 4 programmes relating to the death of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. [6174]
The Prime Minister:
The Metropolitan police's review of the contents of the programme involves a good deal of detailed analysis of the extensive documentation already generated by their investigation.
7 Jul 1997 : Column: 316
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the letter written on his behalf by Mr. Philip Barton, Private Secretary at 10 Downing Street, to Mrs. Pamela Dix, Secretary of UK Families Flight 103, what is the result of the careful consideration he undertook to give to representations received about Lockerbie; and what is the result of the continuing discussion of the issues involved with the United States administration. [6143]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave him on 18 June, Official Report, column 309. The Lockerbie evidence is kept under continual review. The United Kingdom, along with the United States, will argue for the UN sanctions against Libya to be maintained until Libya complies with the UN Security Council resolutions.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister what response he has sent to the letter of 22 June to him from ex-police surgeon Dr. David Fieldhouse of Bradford, about the circumstances of the body count after the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [6652]
The Prime Minister:
Dr. Fieldhouse's letter is being studied carefully. A reply will be sent shortly.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister what response he has sent to the letter of 23 June to him from Peter Anderson of Simpson Marwick WS about the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie and the legal implications.[6653]
The Prime Minister:
Mr. Anderson's letter raises a number of points about the Lockerbie investigation. Those responsible for that investigation are currently studying the letter carefully. A reply will be sent shortly.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the proposal made to the UN Security Council by the Secretary General of the Arab League and the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity that the Libyans accused of the Lockerbie Pan Am bombing be tried by Scottish judges under Scottish law in a neutral country. [6654]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to him and the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir Teddy Taylor), on 18 June, Official Report, columns 309-10.
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