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CABINET OFFICE
Millennium Experience
Mr. Austin: To ask the Minister without Portfolio in respect of the millennium experience (1) what plans he has to ensure that the millennium experience is fully accessible to disabled people; and if he will make a statement; [12851]
- (2) what consultations he has had with disabled people regarding accessibility to the millennium experience by disabled people; [12852]
(3) what plans he has to ensure that the millennium experience is available to people with a sensory impairment. [12853]
Mr. Mandelson: The Government and the New Millennium Experience Company aim to ensure that all who wish to visit the Millennium Experience can do so, regardless of any disability an individual may have. An Advisory Group has been established by the NMEC to consider accessibility and special needs issues, reflecting the NMEC's concern to meet all relevant statutory requirements and to apply, wherever possible, voluntary codes, guidance and specifications.
The Advisory Group held its first meeting on 24 June. It is chaired by David Phillips, Chief Executive of Holiday Care Service, and its members are drawn from a range of voluntary sector organisations covering physical, sensory and learning disabilities, mental health issues, and the needs of older people. The group will provide best practice guidance to the NMEC on a wide range of accessibility issues including transportation, parking, the natural and the built environment, displays and facilities, on-site information and promotional materials, ticketing arrangements, and disability awareness training.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Border Controls
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of the opt-out from the general application of the treaties of the European Community and Union concerning control by (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the Republic of Ireland of their national borders, what rights will arise for (a) and (b), to (i) examine official identity documents carried by an entrant, (ii) search their person, (iii) examine their belongings, (iv) detain them temporarily for further inquiries and (v) detain them in custody; and if he will state for each of (i) to (v) the originating and authoritative national or Community-Union legislation providing such
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powers, and their manner of execution, in respect of (1) citizens of the European Union and (2) citizens of third nations. [12808]
Ms Quin:
The Treaty of Amsterdam contains a Protocol which recognises the right of the United Kingdom to exercise, at its frontiers with other member states, such controls on persons seeking to enter the United Kingdom as it may consider necessary for the purpose of:
The Protocol states that nothing in the Treaties, or in any measures deriving from the Treaties, prejudices the United Kingdom's right to exercise such controls.
No powers will arise as a direct result of the Protocol. The United Kingdom will, however, continue to maintain the controls provided for under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Order 1994 and the Immigration Act 1971. Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 provides powers for immigration officers to examine and identify documents of passengers arriving in the United Kingdom, to search their person and belongings and to detain them pending a decision to give or to refuse leave to enter.
The operation of immigration controls in the Republic of Ireland is a mater for the Irish authorities.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the British Aerospace employees who have been loaned to his Department to work on commercial projects setting out the embassies to which they are attached; whether they will work on (a) civil or (b) military projects; and if their function will be (i) executive or (ii) advisory. [12541]
Mr. Fatchett:
The Chairman of British Aerospace has given support to our programme of business attachments to overseas posts by committing his company to providing a member of staff for secondment. BAe is still in the process of identifying suitable candidates to put forward for the scheme. No specific Posts or projects have been identified at this stage.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many committees are appointed to assist the European Commission in implementing Community legislation; how often they meet; what is the nature of their (a) ministerial and (b) parliamentary supervision; and if he will make a statement. [12745]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The Council comitology decision of 13 July 1987 provides for certain types of committee to assist the Commission in the implementation of Council legislation. The European Community budget for 1997 provides for 374 such committees. They meet as
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and when their opinion is required for the implementation of Council legislation. The majority of these committees are made up of officials who represent the Member States. UK officials are under the supervision of Government Ministers, who in turn are answerable to Parliament.
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet representatives of the Kenyan Government to discuss human rights issues. [12549]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised human rights issues with the Kenyan Foreign Minister during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh. We shall follow this up vigorously in the run-up to the forthcoming Kenyan elections.
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting will include discussion relating to the Kyoto climate change conference. [12711]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I refer the hon. Member to the statement that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made to the House yesterday, Official Report, columns 707-19.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Rapson), of 28 July, Official Report, columns 65-66, on the export of certain types of equipment, what is the evidence that equipment designed primarily for torture, sold abroad by Britain, has in the past been used for torture; and if he will place a copy of the evidence in the Library. [12592]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We have received many reports of equipment being used overseas for torture from, for example, UN Rapporteurs, NGOs, the media and our Diplomatic Posts. Most of this information is publicly available.
We have decided on measures to prevent the export or transhipment from the UK of particular items of equipment where such reporting provides a clear pattern of abuse. These measures, announced on 28 July, Official Report, columns 65-66, are based on such reports of the use of similar equipment of any origin, not specifically the use of British equipment.
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms of reference of the review of the status of dependent territories. [12962]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 27 October 1997]: There are no formal terms of reference. However, a memorandum about the review has been submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support the Engineering Council received from her Department in developing its regulatory document, "Standards and Routes to Registration"; what is her Department's policy towards the document in respect of its application to the engineering profession and the engineering industry in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [12799]
Mr. Battle:
The Department of Trade and Industry has provided strategic advice to the Engineering Council during the drafting of the revised edition of Standards and Routes to Registration (SARTOR)--especially concerning the needs of industry. I support the requirements set out in the revised SARTOR in so far as they aim to raise standards within engineering to improve the UK's competitiveness.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate the monetary value of torture equipment, as defined under the Government's new arms export criteria, exported overseas, in each of the last five years. [12340]
Mrs. Roche:
The criteria that were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 28 July, Official Report, columns 26-29, do not include any definition of "torture equipment".
verifying the right to enter the United Kingdom of European Union and other nationals of the European Economic Area and their dependants; and
determining whether or not to grant other persons permission to enter the United Kingdom.
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