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Guyana Rainforest
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 October, Official Report, columns 700-02, what reports he has received relating to the activities of Asian-owned logging companies in the Guyana Atlantic rainforest; and what conditions have been set for the granting of United Kingdom aid. [13888]
The Prime Minister: In 1995, the Government of Guyana, in consultation with Britain and other donors, imposed a moratorium on logging concessions in order to allow time to improve its ability to manage its forests sustainability. We understand that some logging companies, including Asian-owned ones, have expressed interest in operating in Guyana but no logging concessions or exploratory permits have been awarded since then to any companies.
As a result of this, the UK has been working with the Government of Guyana to strengthen the Guyanese Forestry Commission. The £3 million contribution to the Commonwealth's Iwokrama Rainforest Programme in Guyana, announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, will help conserve and sustainably manage 360,000 hectares of forest in Guyana and support
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the efforts of the Guyanese Government to improve its forest management throughout the country. The specific conditions related to this grant are still under discussion.
Mr. Charles Kennedy:
To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to be able to announce his decision on a judicial inquiry into the BSE crisis. [13227]
The Prime Minister:
The Government is considering the Question of a public inquiry into BSE very carefully. We shall make an announcement when we have reached a conclusion.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Prime Minister what representations have been made to him proposing a different form of parliamentary Committee to monitor the security services instead of the present arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [13357]
The Prime Minster
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: From time to time, there have been suggestions that the Intelligence and Security Committee should be replaced by a Select Committee of Parliament.
The current oversight arrangements were introduced in the Intelligence Services Act in 1994, as a means of achieving the necessary balance between openness and accountability and the need to maintain the secrecy necessary for the efficient operation of the intelligence and security services.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Prime Minister what guidance is given to Ministers regarding the time involved in reply to letters from hon. Members; what is the average time currently taken; and what is the policy regarding such replies being signed by a Minister. [13201]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: Individual Ministers are responsible for determining how their departments' correspondence is handled, and for setting departmental targets in reply to letters from hon. Members. It has been customary for the Government to publish annual statistics showing departments' and agencies' performance against their targets for reply to ministerial correspondence. The 1996 figures were published on 17 June 1997, Official Report, columns 107-112.
National Audit Office
41. Mr. Bayley: What additional resources the Comptroller and Auditor General would require to enable the National Audit Office to respond to requests for studies from departmental Select Committees. [11776]
Mr. Sheldon:
In the event of departmental select committees requesting studies from the Comptroller and Auditor General and the National Audit Office, the matter would need to be discussed with the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts. The Comptroller and Auditor General and the National Audit Office wish to
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assist Parliament in any way possible, but it is important that any change should be consistent with the Comptroller and Auditor General statutory role.
The resource implications of any such arrangements would depend entirely on the scope of the work proposed. It would be for Parliament to decide what additional resources to provide to enable the Comptroller and Auditor General to support departmental select committees in this way.
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received concerning problems experienced by the Ulster folk and transport museum; and if she will make a statement on the steps her Department proposes to take. [12948]
Mr. Worthington: I have received representations from two Trustees of the Board of the Ulster Folk and Transport museum, who resigned in August, and from other Trustees. I am undertaking a series of meetings with these Trustees, including the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, to clarify the position and to determine what action, if any, is appropriate. In the meantime, I have appointed three new Trustees to fill vacancies which have arisen on the Board.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is she will review the composition of the board of trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport museum; and if she will make a statement. [12947]
Mr. Worthington: No. The composition of the Boards of Trustees of both the Ulster Folk and Transport museum and the Ulster Museum is laid down in the museum (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. Legislation, which is currently being prepared to merge these two institutions, will abolish the existing Boards of Trustees and create a single Boards of Trustees of the new merged institution.
Southern Health and Social Services Board
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date was the most recent meeting of the Southern area health and social services board at which a decision was made on the flying of the Union flag at the Board headquarters in Armagh city. [12871]
Mr. Worthington: A letter was sent to all Health and Social Services Boards on 1 May 1997 advising them of the days in 1997 on which the Union Flag should be flown on Central Government Buildings. There is, however no requirement for the Boards to fly the Union flag on these dates. It is at the discretion of each organisation whether the flag should be flown on those buildings occupied by their staff.
The issue of whether the Southern Health and Social Services Board should or should not fly the Union Flag has never been discussed at a meeting of the Board.
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Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the health effects of microwave radiation emitted from telecommunication masts. [12946]
Mr. Worthington:
No specific research has been commissioned in relation to Northern Ireland. However, the Department of Health is currently supporting the following initiatives:
In addition, a European Commission Expert Group has recommended a programme of scientific research to address the subject of mobile telephony and human health.
The Government obtains advice from NRPB on the risks to health of exposure to electromagnetic fields. Field strengths of electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phone transmitters, at locations to which the public would normally have access, are below the limits of exposure recommended by the NRPB published in "Documents of the NRPB, Vol. 4, No. 5, 1993", a copy of which is in the library.
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received concerning the health effects of telecommunication masts.[12945]
Mr. Worthington:
I have received representations from six MPs passing on concerns from 10 members of the public and two representations from local councillors.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how often (a) she has and (b) other Ministers at the Northern Ireland Office have had meetings during the past three months with representatives of (i) Safeways, (ii) Marks and Spencer, (iii) Sainsburys and (iv) Tesco in order to encourage purchases from local Northern Ireland manufacturers and producers. [12873]
Mr. Ingram:
During the past three months, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has not met representatives of Safeway, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury or Tesco to discuss local sourcing. I have held one such meeting with Tesco's Chief Executive and Lord Dubs has also highlighted the importance of local sourcing of foodstuffs during a meeting with Tesco on planning issues.
Meetings with Tesco and Sainsbury have been held at official level, a first meeting with Safeway is scheduled for early November and I am being kept informed of significant developments.
In addition, there is ongoing contact at official level with Marks and Spencer on matters of mutual interest, including local sourcing.
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1. the review of possible health effects of electromagnetic fields, including mobile phone (microwave) frequencies, being undertaken by the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation to the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB);
2. the World Health Organisation's study of electromagnetic fields; and
3. the Department's own radiation protection research programme.
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