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Sustainably Produced Timber
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of timber from sustainably managed forests. [9536]
Mr. Chisholm [holding answer 21 July 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced at the recent UN General Assembly special session that the Government are preparing a new forest standard to provide a benchmark for the management of our forests. The Forestry Commission will monitor achievement against that standard. This initiative will help assure consumers that timber grown in Britain comes from sustainably managed forests. In addition, we are working to promote sustainable forestry abroad through our development assistance programme.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Public Order Offences (Londonderry)
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many illegal republican parades and demonstrations her Department assesses to have taken place in Londonderry city during the last year; and how many persons have been charged with public order offences as a consequence. [4062]
Mr. Ingram: During the past year, there was one illegal Republican parade in Londonderry city. To date, no persons have been charged with public order offences.
Killyleagh Community Hall
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates the central community relations unit received the outline design for the Killyleagh community hall from Down district council; on what dates the CCRU decided to appoint independent consultants to prepare an economic appraisal of the project; when the consultants were advised of their appointments by the CCRU; and when the CCRU received the economic appraisals from the consultants. [4785]
Mr. Worthington: The central community relations unit received the outline design for Killyleagh community hall on 21 February 1996; CCRU decided to appoint independent consultants to assess the proposal as a stand-alone project on 16 December 1996; the consultants were given written confirmation of their appointment on 21 March 1997; and the economic appraisal was received on 17 June 1997.
This application was unusual as a separate application for a capital project with a cross community dimension in the same area was also received in 1996. It was important to consider the relationship between both projects and to avoid duplication. Consequent on the economic appraisal, CCRU will recommend grant aid for the community hall and has informed Down district council accordingly.
Absent Voting Papers
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the number of absent voting papers issued in (a) each parliamentary constituency and (b) in Northern Ireland for the (i) 1992
22 Jul 1997 : Column: 546
and (ii) 1997 elections, and the percentage difference between 1992 and 1997 for each constituency; and if she will make a statement. [7722]
| Parliamentary constituency | Absent voting | Percentage difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1997 | ||
| North Down | 1,048 | 1,052 | 0.40 |
| Strangford | 938 | 1,271 | 35.50 |
| South Down | 5,359 | 3,504 | 34.61 |
| Lagan Valley | 1,104 | 1,443 | 30.71 |
| Upper Bann | 1,854 | 1,759 | -5.12 |
| Newry and Armagh | 3,580 | 3,960 | 10.61 |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 5,847 | 5,996 | 2.55 |
| Mid-Ulster | 3,638 | 5,047 | 38.73 |
| Foyle | 1,531 | 1,460 | -4.64 |
| East Londonderry | 2,409 | 2,128 | -11.66 |
| North Antrim | 1,032 | 1,467 | 42.15 |
| East Antrim | 1,002 | 793 | -20.86 |
| South Antrim | 962 | 884 | -8.11 |
| Belfast north | 615 | 847 | 37.72 |
| Belfast east | 638 | 912 | 42.93 |
| Belfast south | 856 | 886 | 3.50 |
| Belfast west | 757 | 1,104 | 45.84 |
| West Tyrone | -- | 4,372 | -- |
| Totals | 33,170 | 38,885 | 17.23 |
These figures show a significant rise in the numbers of absent votes in Northern Ireland over the last two general elections. Due to boundary changes which increased the number of Northern Ireland constituencies by one in 1995, there is no strict comparison between the two elections.
However, in just under a third of Northern Ireland parliamentary constituencies the number of absent votes issued was greater in 1992 than at the 1997 general election. In those constituencies which did see an increase in the absent votes issued, in a quarter of these cases the percentage increase was less than 5 per cent. It is the case that in just under half of the 17 constituencies there has been an increase of more than 30 per cent. in the numbers of absent votes issued.
The Government have made it clear that they are concerned at the increase in the numbers of absent votes issued at the last election, and that will study with interest the results of the study begun by the chief electoral officers into all absent vote applications in Northern Ireland for the last three elections.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the decision was taken to allow the Orange Order march down the Garvaghy road on 5 July; and what criteria were used in coming to that decision. [8481]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 18 July 1997, Official Report, column 338.
22 Jul 1997 : Column: 547
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [8113]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
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, among their other duties, to vet requests for meetings against the Register of Members' Interests.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [8110]
Dr. Cunningham:
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 that 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. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (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; [8111]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in his reply to my hon. Friend for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 2 June 1997, Official Report, column 99, Ministers and officials in my Department receive deputations from many groups which 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 and Government policy. As it is not practicable to distinguish particular groups as lobbyists, my Department cannot and does not keep a register of such meetings.
22 Jul 1997 : Column: 548
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations govern the transportation of poultry between farms and slaughterhouses. [8663]
Mr. Morley:
Welfare provisions for the transport of poultry, and other animals, are contained in the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the compliance of transporters with laws protecting animals during international transit. [8660]
Mr. Morley:
It has been stated in a European Commission report, and is widely acknowledged, that transporters commonly flout the rules on welfare in transit when transporting livestock over long distances on the continent. The Department has undertaken no research on this, but has arrangements in place with certain other member states to undertake spot checks on compliance with route plans declared in advance when animals are sent from Great Britain. These arrangements will continue, in support of the activities of local authorities in pursuit of their statutory responsibility to enforce the tougher controls we have now introduced in the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) inquiries and (b) applications have been received by his Department for licences for exporting animals under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1957; and how many licences have been granted. [8677]
Mr. Morley:
There is no requirement in the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 for exports of animals to be licensed. However, the order does require that, from 1 October 1997, anyone transporting cattle, sheep, pigs, goats or horses on a journey over eight hours must have a specific authorisation to engage in this activity. The process of receiving and processing applications for these authorisations is at an early stage: we have received 67 applications to date.
(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. [8112]
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