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Lord Sainsbury
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met Lord Sainsbury in an official capacity; and what subjects were discussed. [16897]
The Prime Minister: I have not met Lord Sainsbury in an official capacity.
Iraq
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 19 November, Official Report, column 323 in what circumstances the United Kingdom would consult (a) France, (b) Russia, (c) China and (d) Arab states prior to endorsing military action by (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the USA against Iraq. [17439]
The Prime Minister: Since the crisis with Iraq began, we have maintained close contact with the US, France, Russia, and China as permanent members of the Security Council, and a number of Arab states in our efforts to seek a diplomatic solution.
It is not sensible to speculate on the circumstances in which military action would be appropriate.
We are pleased that the solidarity of the Security Council has forced the Iraqi regime to resume full co-operation with UNSCOM United Nations Special Commission) without the need to resort to military action.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Prime Minister (1) which Minister is responsible for co-ordinating the work and outputs of (a) the Treasury's departmental spending reviews of current public expenditure and tax and benefits, (b) the Department of Social Security's review of the future of the welfare state, (c) the benefit-by-benefit review, (d) the benefits integrity programme and (e) the review of pensions; [17035]
The Prime Minister:
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is Chairman of the ministerial
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committee on public expenditure which is overseeing the Comprehensive Spending Review announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 11 June. It includes departmental and cross-departmental reviews and is expected to take about a year to complete.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security is conducting a wide-ranging review of the Social Security system within the framework of the Comprehensive Spending Programme. As a first step in the review, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Social Security and the Minister for Welfare Reform expect to publish a Green Paper on the framework for welfare reform around the turn of the year.
The Benefit Integrity Project, checking the correctness of Disability Living Allowance payments by means of postal inquiries and visits, is due to be completed by 31 March 1999.
The review of tax and benefits, headed by Martin Taylor, Chief Executive of Barclays Bank, and involving officials from the Treasury, the Department of Social Security, the Department for Education and Employment and the Inland Revenue will inform my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer's, Spring Budget.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1997, Official Report, column 3, on his role in the events surrounding the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, if he will list those from whom he sought advice. [17262]
The Prime Minister:
No. It has been the long-standing practice, enshrined in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, that the sources of advice to Ministers on such matters are not normally made public.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Prime Minister what will be the long-term role of the Ministerial Task Force on Child Care. [17535]
The Prime Minister:
In his statement in the House on 19 November 1997, Official Report, columns 327-29, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced that the first job of the Ministerial Task Force would be to prepare the full Government response to Sir William Utting's report. As part of that it will be asked to consider what, if any, its long-term role should be.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list those organisations and individuals which have made representations to him (a) in favour of and (b) against Manchester United's planning application to build on green belt land at Carrington Moss; [17190]
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(3) what discussions he has had with directors of Manchester United regarding its application to build on green belt land at Carrington Moss; [17189]
(4) what representations he has received from employees of Manchester United regarding the club's planning application to build on green belt land at Carrington Moss. [17330]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 21 November 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for London and Construction on 21 November, Official Report, column 336.
Mr. Terry Davis:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the latest information bulletin on the activities of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union covering the period May to September 1997. [17545]
The Prime Minister:
I have done so today.
Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Prime Minister what steps were taken to ensure that no conflict of interest arises in respect of Mr. Jonathan Powell's role as Chief of Staff as a result of his knowledge of contributions to the Leader of the Opposition's office fund. [17562]
The Prime Minister:
I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 26 June 1997, Official Report, column 611.
Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Prime Minister when he met (a) Lord Levy, (b) Lord Merlyn-Rees, (c) Baroness Dean of Thornton le Fylde, (d) Baroness Jay of Paddington, (e) Mr. John Mendleson, (f) Mr. Colin Lehmann, (g) Mr. David Goldman, (h) Mr. Gary Bond, (i) Mr. David Pitt-Watson, (j) Sir Emmanuel Kaye, (k) Sir Trevor Chinn, (l) Mr. Alex Bernstein, (m) Mr. Ashley Mitchell and (n) Mr. David Ward in an official capacity; and what was discussed. [17585]
The Prime Minister:
I have regular meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others.
Mr. Tyrie:
To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 13 November 1997, Official Report, column 617, who provided rooms in Canary Wharf free of charge, when he expects to have final figures for the cost of preparing and furnishing the rooms; and if he will place these figures in the Library. [17569]
The Prime Minister:
Canary Wharf Limited provided rooms in Canary Wharf free of charge. We expect to have final figures for the cost of preparing and furnishing the rooms shortly. The figures will be placed in the Library.
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Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Prime Minister who he met and what was discussed at his meeting with representatives from the British film industry held before the July budget. [17440]
The Prime Minister:
I have discussed the British film industry with ministerial colleagues and others prior to and after the Budget.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the President of the Council if she will introduce travel allowances for hon. Members using their bicycles on Parliamentary business. [16844]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
I have asked the Senior Salaries Review Body to consider the merits of a cycling allowance for MPs in its next report. The report will, if appropriate, make recommendations on a possible mechanism for reimbursing the cost of using bicycles on official business--for Members of both Houses--and recommend an appropriate figure for any allowance. The SSRB's report is due to be published in the New Year.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received the National Radiological Protection Board's report on the radiological significance of past dumpings of radioactive waste at (a) Beaufort's Dyke and (b) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [17615]
Mr. Rooker:
I have now received the results of the independent assessment which I asked the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) to undertake, and I have arranged for copies of NRPB's report to be placed in the Library of the House.
The report concludes that all the past dumpings which were identified during the searches of records would give rise to doses well within the International Commission on Radiological Protection's recommended dose limit for members of the public. Moreover, in all cases except one, the report states that the calculated doses were at a level considered trivial in radiological protection terms. Only in relation to the disposals in Liverpool Bay area were peak critical group doses estimated to have been above the 'trivial' level, and even these were well within the recommended dose limit. The NRPB conclude that, since estimated doses from the dispersion of radionuclides in marine waters are not significant in radiological protection terms, there is no need for additional environmental monitoring in connection with the disposals.
The NRPB consider that the only eventuality which could give rise to a significant calculated dose is if one of the two anti-static devices dumped off the Isle of Arran in 1958 were to be washed ashore or trawled up and handled by a member of the public. They conclude that the likelihood of this situation occurring is extremely low but advise that it may nevertheless be prudent to ensure
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that trawlermen and organisations responsible for dealing with material washed up on beaches are made aware of the possibility and advised to seek expert assistance if there is reason to suspect that one of these sources has appeared. In the light of this, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are exploring with the NRPB how such advice can effectively be provided.
(2) what are the anticipated time scales for (a) the Department of Social Security's review of the future of the welfare state, (b) the DSS benefit by benefit review, (c) the benefits integrity programme and (d) the Treasury's review of tax and benefits; and how and when the findings of each review will be reported to the House. [17038]
(2) what representations he has received regarding Manchester United's application for planning permission to build on green belt land at Carrington Moss; [17191]
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