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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Amsterdam Treaty
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances the principle of subsidiarity as set out in the Amsterdam Treaty is subordinate to (a) the 'acquis communautaire' and (b) EU law; and in what circumstances it could be used to repeal existing directives. [16964]
Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 20 November 1997]: The protocol on subsidiarity in the Treaty of Amsterdam is not subordinate to the acquis communautaire or EU law. All protocols have Treaty force and are fully justiciable before the European Court of Justice. Paragraph 2 of the protocol says that:
- "The application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality shall respect the general provisions and objectives of the Treaty, particularly as regards the maintaining in full of the acquis communautaire and the institutional balance."
- "Subsidiarity is a dynamic concept and should be applied in the light of the objectives set out in the Treaty. It allows Community action within the limits of its powers to be expanded where circumstances so require, and conversely, to be restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified".
EU Social Chapter
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Social Chapter will come into force in the United Kingdom. [16965]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer of 20 November 1997]: The provisions of the Agreement on Social Policy will be incorporated into the EC Treaty by the Amsterdam Treaty. They will thus enter into force in the UK when the Amsterdam Treaty enters into force. This will happen once the Treaty is ratified by all Member States.
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In the meantime, it was agreed at Amsterdam that the UK could take part in discussions under the Social Agreement and that our views would be taken into account. This is already happening.
Separately, legislation under the Social Chapter will be extended to the UK by new directives under Article 100. We have undertaken to implement the two existing directives within two years of their formal application to the UK.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the Commission's proposal to extend works councils to businesses employing 50 or more employees. [16963]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 20 November 1997]: There is no such proposal on the table, but the Commission is consulting the Social Partners about possible action in this area. We believe that it is good practice to inform and consult employees about matters which concern them. However, we are not convinced of the need for additional EU legislation on information and consultation arrangements for companies operating only in one Member State.
Mr. Shepherd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to publish the Bill to implement his devolution proposals. [17223]
Mr. McLeish:
The Bill will be published as soon as it is ready.
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps will be taken to eradicate the new areas of contamination in sea discharge tanks at the Dounreay nuclear plant. [14303]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: I have been asked to reply.
During routine monitoring of the Dounreay sea discharge tanks UKAEA discovered three small patches of low level radioactivity which they have now removed. I have been assured by the UKAEA that their monitoring arrangements will continue to ensure that there are no unauthorised discharges.
Legal Aid
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many representatives he has received concerning his legal aid proposals. [16469]
Mr. Hoon:
My officials and I have held a total of 22 meetings with individuals and organisations concerning the legal aid proposals announced by my noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor.
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Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal departmental guidance on the dissemination of information and if he will make a statement. [16288]
Mr. Hoon:
The Lord Chancellor's Department is required and committed to provide information in line with the principles laid down in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. A copy of our internal guidance, "Lord Chancellor's Department Guidelines on Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", which supplements Cabinet Office guidance, has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses today. Government Information Service members of the Department's Communications Branch use "A Working Guide for Government Information Officers" (produced by the Government Information Service in 1992 and currently being updated) as a handbook for working practices in disseminating information to the public.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment his Department has made of the rights of child litigants in personal injury cases where the parents or a potential next friend cannot afford to seek initial legal advice in order to prepare a claim in respect of the injury; and if he will make a statement. [16350]
Mr. Hoon:
No such assessment has been made. Under the current legal aid scheme, a parent or guardian may apply on behalf of a person under the age of 16 for Legal Advice and Assistance (Green Form scheme) on any matter of English law. The Green Form scheme provides for up to two hours help from a solicitor covering advice, writing letters and, where appropriate, obtaining counsel's opinion. For eligibility purposes, a child's means are assessed separately from their parents where it appears just and equitable to do so.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) public and (b) judicial appointments his Department has made since 1 May. [16468]
Mr. Hoon:
The Lord Chancellor has made a total of (a) 135 appointments to non-departmental public bodies and (b) 927 judicial appointments (including 686 appointments to the lay magistracy), since 1 May.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer 10 November 1997, Official Report, column 425, how many cases were awaiting hearing on (a) 1 May and (b) 1 October; and how many adjudicators have been appointed since 1 May. [16464]
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Mr. Hoon:
The number of adjudicator appeals awaiting hearing on 1 May was 34,048; this figure rose to 34,907 at the end of July and fell to 33,865 at the end of September. During October it fell further, to 32,692. Eight full-time and 35 part-time adjudicators have accepted appointment since 1 May 1997.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his policy in respect of the faxing of press releases on the day of release to Opposition party spokesmen; what changes have been introduced since 1 May; and if he will make a statement. [16287]
Mr. Hoon:
My Department does not automatically fax press releases to Opposition party spokesmen on the day of release. Departmental press releases are transmitted electronically by the Central Office of Information to both Houses at the same time as they are issued to the media and can be accessed by all Peers and Members of Parliament, including Opposition party spokesmen, via the Parliamentary On Line Information System (POLIS). No changes have been introduced since 1 May.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on equal opportunity employment practices within the House.[17020]
Mr. Kirkwood:
The Commission aims to provide equal opportunities for all its staff. We are currently reviewing our equal opportunities policy in order to ensure that it matches best practice elsewhere and that it meets the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee for what reasons it has been decided that mail should be delivered hourly to outbuildings; which committees and officials were consulted; if she will give the total added cost of such deliveries; and if she will make a statement. [17224]
Mrs. Roe:
Two of the conclusions of the survey of Members, their staff and Departments of the House, which has been used to shape the mail services, were that there was a demand both for more frequent mail deliveries and for a faster internal mail service. These have been met by hourly deliveries and collections in the outbuildings. The findings of the survey were reported to the Administration Committee at the end of the last Parliament.
Costs for delivery are included in the overall cost of the service provided by Royal Mail and it is not possible to disaggregate them. However, the total charge for the enhanced service is expected to be not more than that paid previously.
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