| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Disabled People (Harassment)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister what is the Government's policy on the harassment of disabled people; and which Department is responsible for the collection of statistics on such harassment. [6434]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 8 July 1997]: The Government deplore discrimination against disabled people and are committed to developing comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people against discrimination in society or at work.
All members of society including disabled people are protected from harassment under the new criminal and civil measures in the Protection of Harassment Act 1997. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 gives disabled people a personal right to protection from detrimental action taken against them on account of their disability in a wide range of areas of life. The DDA also protects disabled people from being victimised for asserting their right. Statistics have not been collated centrally on acts of harassment or victimisation in relation to these Acts.
Parliamentary Questions
Ms Abbott: To ask the Prime Minister if he will review the exclusion of the Minister without Portfolio from the rota for oral parliamentary questions. [7217]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 7 July, Official Report, column 324.
Departmental Advisers
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each person advising or assisting his Office who has (a) membership of and (b) involvement in (i) the European Round Table of industrialists, (ii) the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies, (iii) the Competitiveness Advisory Group, (iv) Transatlantic Business Dialogue, (v) the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe, (vi) Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, (vii) Europa Bio and (viii) the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. [5306]
The Prime Minister:
Membership of the European Round Table of industrialists, the Competitiveness Group and the Transatlantic Business Dialogue is on a personal basis. It is therefore not known whether any of the many people advising or assisting my office is either a member of, or has an involvement in, any of these bodies.
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 46
Membership of the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies, the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe, the Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, Europa Bio and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development is on a corporate basis. Representatives from companies and organisations involved with these groups may advise Government Departments from time to time.
Mr. Flight:
To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds of his air travel (a) to the G7 Economic summit and (b) between Denver and New York; and if he will make a statement. [6287]
The Prime Minister:
The cost of chartering a British Airways Concorde aircraft to transport me and the accompanying official delegation to Denver and New York amounted to £230,000. British Airways offered Concorde for a lower cost than a Boeing 767 which was the alternative aircraft we would otherwise have chartered. Part of the cost was met by the accompanying press.
Gazumping
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action his Department is taking to prevent gazumping. [8474]
Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply as responsibility for this topic lies with my Department.
Work will shortly be under way across a number of Government Departments co-operating together which will, amongst other things, look closely at the problem of gazumping and will lead to detailed proposals which will be in the interests of everybody involved in the sale and purchase of homes.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Bishops' Residences
41. Mr. Viggers: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what proposals the Church Commissioners have to change the amount of resources committed to bishops' residences.[6505]
Mr. Bell: The Commissioners have a duty to maintain the 44 See houses in their ownership. Houses occupied by suffragan bishops are the responsibility of their respective dioceses.
A budget for each house is prepared on a year by year basis, following detailed consultation with the bishop and the surveyor/architect. They are drawn up in the light of professional advice on the existing condition of the properties, the potential maintenance liability, and the scope for creating more economic and manageable accommodation, where appropriate. The budgets are the minimum the Commissioners feel is consistent with the proper maintenance of those properties and the costs are monitored closely.
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 47
42. Mr. Bayley:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement about the Church Commissioners' policy on public access to Hagg Wood, near York. [6506]
Mr. Bell:
The Commissioners are committed to protecting public rights of way over their land. Where appropriate, they are also prepared to enter into Access Agreements for specified permissive paths. In the case of Hagg Wood, discussions are in progress with York City Council and the leaseholder, the Forestry Commission, aimed at achieving a suitable Access Agreement.
National Audit Office (Staffing)
40. Mr. Jack: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what are the staffing implications for the National Audit Office of its role in validating the Chancellor's economic assumptions. [6504]
Mr. Sheldon: About twelve staff of the National Audit Office made a significant contribution to the Comptroller and Auditor General's recent report on the assumptions for the Budget projections, which had to be prepared in less than three weeks. The staffing implications of the National Audit Office's continuing role in auditing the public finances in future Budgets will be determined as the scale of the studies is defined.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Members' Interests
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those hon. Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8085]
Clare Short: The First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 2850) made it clear that, when Members are meeting Ministers or others on topics in which they have an interest, the onus is on the Member to declare that interest not the Minister to know (paragraph 63 of Cm 2850). It is not practicable for Ministers and officials to vet requests for meetings against the Register of Members' Interests. Should evidence of non-declaration emerge, or contravention of the Resolution of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, the matter would be brought to the attention of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will ensure that (a) Ministers and (b) officials of her Department refuse requests from hon. Members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those hon. Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8082]
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 48
Clare Short:
The First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 2850) recognised the value of enabling Members to retain interests outside the House, provided these were properly declared, both in the Register of Members' Interests and on other occasions. Subject to these requirements, and to the rules of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, Members are free to seek meetings with Ministers and officials, who will consider such requests alongside the many other approaches from individuals and organisations concerned to press their own interests or those of others.
Mr. Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what will be the cost of UNESCO membership in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99.[7869]
Clare Short:
I refer the right hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Richmond Park, (Dr. Tonge), Official Report, 2 June 1997, column 26, and to the right hon. and learned Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham, (Mr. Hogg), Official Report, 20 May 1997, column 37.
Mr. Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has made about establishing a human rights clause in the World Trade Organisation. [8014]
Clare Short:
The Government is firmly committed to ending abusive labour practices, including exploitative child and forced labour, world-wide. We are pursuing this objective in the ILO and through other international fora. We are also exploring how the WTO might be used to reinforce this work.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |