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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 15 July 1997

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Israel

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the case of Mordechai Vanunu with the Foreign Minister of Israel; when he next plans to discuss this case with the Foreign Minister of Israel; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to the conviction and imprisonment of Mordechai Vanunu. [6311]

Mr. Fatchett [holding answer 1 July 1997]: I have not yet had the opportunity to meet the Foreign Minister of Israel, and there is no meeting planned in the immediate future.

We have no formal standing to intervene in this case as there is no evidence of any illegality prior to Mr. Vanunu's departure from the United Kingdom. However, we do take opportunities to raise with the Israeli authorities the matter of Vanunu's solitary confinement: this was done most recently on 1 July, with the Israeli Ambassador.

Amsterdam Treaty

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 7 July, Official Report, column 330, what rules of procedure governed the (a) Amsterdam summit and (b) preceding IGCs in the last five years; what rules of procedure govern other international Heads of Government meetings attended by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [8536]

Mr. Doug Henderson: Intergovernmental Conferences to consider amendments to the treaties are governed by Article N of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and are conducted by consensus. Beyond this, there are no formal rules of procedure for European Council meetings. It is for the incumbent Presidency to decide how to conduct summits.

Other international heads of government meetings, such as meetings of NATO and the Commonwealth, are similarly not governed by formal rules of procedure.

Gibraltar

Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 7 July, Official Report, column 1331, on briefing the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, if he will make it his policy to consult the Gibraltar Government before matters of interest to Gibraltar are considered in any European Council. [8754]

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Mr. Doug Henderson: It is already the policy of Her Majesty's Government to consult the Government of Gibraltar on issues of interest to Gibraltar in the EU.

PRIME MINISTER

Budget

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister if a Minister authorised confirmation of any details of the Budget to the media in advance of the Chancellor's Budget statement. [8871]

The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the replies that I gave to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 2 July, Official Report, columns 288-89.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

"Mental Incapacity"

Mr. Berry: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for further consultation on the recommendations of the Law Commission's report "Mental Incapacity" (Law Com. No. 231); and over what period. [8696]

Mr. Hoon: The Government recognises the importance of clarifying the law in this area to provide a clear framework for those involved in making decisions on behalf of incapacitated adults and to ensure that the welfare and interests of the incapacitated person are adequately protected. It is hoped that progress will be made on the subject at an early opportunity.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what changes he plans to make to the qualifying criteria for legal aid as it affects asylum seekers. [8706]

Mr. Hoon: Sir Peter Middleton is currently reviewing all aspects of the provision of legal aid. He will produce a preliminary report in September. It would be premature to comment further. The Legal Aid Board is reviewing how the existing test is applied in practice, to make sure that legal aid reaches those, but only those, whose cases merit it.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Hendon Police Station

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the closure of Hendon police station; and if he will make a statement. [7546]

Mr. Michael: I have received no representations concerning the closure of Hendon police station. I understand that as long ago as 1992, the Metropolitan Police's building strategy identified the need for a new police station in the London Borough of Barnet and a new Area Headquarters for 2 Area. The investment of an

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£8.8 million new building was based on relinquishment of other now redundant police buildings, leading to a review of policing strategy and tactics in the Borough. The findings were published as "Policing Barnet 2000", which included recommendations to amalgamate the Golders Green and West Hendon Divisions and to close Hendon police station due to its age, running costs and usage.

I understand that the closure of Hendon police station has been set for 15 October. Colindale police station, which replaces Hendon and is a charging station as well as being the new 2 Area Headquarters, opened on 10 March.

Members' Interests

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [8089]

Mr. Straw: The First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 2850) made it clear that, when hon. Members are meeting Ministers or others on topics in which they have an interest, the onus is on the hon. Member to declare that interest not the Minister to know (paragraph 63 of Cm 2850). It is not practicable for Ministers and officials, amongst their other duties, 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 the Home Department if he will ensure that (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his 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. [8086]

Mr. Straw: The First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 2850) recognised the value of enabling hon. 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, hon. 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.

Commercial Lobbyists

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met commercial lobbyists to discuss matters relating to the business of his Department; and if he will introduce a register of such meetings; [8087]

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(2) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have attended meetings with organisations representing (i) commercial and (ii) non-commercial interests organised by commercial lobbying firms; and if he will introduce a register of such meetings. [8088]

Mr. Straw: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in response to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), on 2 June, Official Report, column 99, Ministers and officials in the Department receive deputations from many groups who are concerned to press their own interests or those of their clients, which Ministers and officials take due care to consider within the wider public interest and Government policy. It is not practicable to distinguish particular groups as lobbyists, not least because some reputable and representative bodies themselves use the services of commercial lobbyists to advise them on government relations. Ministers are however always ready to provide information on meetings held with outside bodies.

Closed Circuit Television

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the local authorities who applied for but failed to receive assistance for the installation of CCTV in (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96 and (c) 1996-97; [7914]

(2) if he will list the local authorities who received assistance for the installation of CCTV in (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96 and (c) 1996-97. [7915]

Mr. Michael: Closed circuit television (CCTV) Challenge Competitions have been held in 1994-95, 1996-97 and 1997-98. There was no competition in 1995-96 so I have given figures for the three years for which there have been competitions. In all three rounds, bids were invited from local partnerships. Bidding partnerships did not necessarily have local authority involvement. We are not able to identify bids which have local authority involvement but which have not been led by a local authority. There are some 760 bids which have not named a local authority as the lead partner. Numbers of successful and unsuccessful bids where a local authority was specified as the lead organisation are detailed in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

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