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Tourism
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he intends to take to promote employment in the tourist industry. [18858]
Mr. Tom Clarke: We shall continue to work with the tourism, leisure and hospitality industry to ensure that this fast moving and exciting sector reaches its full potential for generating wealth and employment. With the Tourism Forum, we are developing a comprehensive strategy for sustainable growth of the industry. Working Groups of the Forum are also looking at ways to improve staff management practices and to encourage more young people to consider a career in the sector.
In addition, Sector Challenge funding will, for example, enable the Springboard Project to go nationwide with its promotion of positive information about careers in the hospitality industry to potential recruits, and is supporting the British Hospitality Association's development of a code of practice and awards scheme to encourage quality.
PRIME MINISTER
Social Exclusion Unit
Mrs. Golding: To ask the Prime Minister which estates will be targeted by the social exclusion unit; and which local authority areas they come within. [18359]
The Prime Minister:
The terms of reference for the social exclusion unit will be announced next week.
4 Dec 1997 : Column: 320
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Prime Minister what assessment Her Majesty's Government has made of the scope for future public support for the Royal Yacht Britannia after she is decommissioned. [18924]
The Prime Minister:
Seven proposals for preserving HM Yacht Britannia are being considered. Most of these claim extensive public support for a particular proposal. This is being taken in to account in the assessment of the options. I hope that the announcement can be made soon.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Prime Minister how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were (a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy in respect of making public prime ministerial announcements. [18903]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 3 December 1997]: Any policy announcement that should be made to the House has been made to the House.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister what is the function of, and what are the powers available to, the Joint Intelligence Committee; and if he will make a statement. [18693]
The Prime Minister:
The Joint Intelligence Committee is responsible, subject to Ministerial approval, both for setting the UK's national intelligence requirements and for producing for Ministers and officials regular intelligence assessments on a range of situations and issues of current concern.
The role of the Joint Intelligence Committee, including its terms of reference, is described fully in the booklet "Central Intelligence Machinery". The booklet was published in 1996, but there have been no significant changes to the arrangements relating to the Joint Intelligence Committee since its publication. A copy of the booklet is available in the libraries of the House.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister under what circumstances the Minister without Portfolio is required to gain clearance, and from whom, before holding meetings with persons about matters which relate to responsibilities of other members of the Government. [18920]
The Prime Minister:
My hon. Friend's role is to assist me and other ministerial colleagues in the strategic implementation and presentation of government policy. It is for him to hold meetings as necessary to enable him to fulfil that role.
Mr. Lilley:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will revise Questions of Procedure for Ministers to include recommendations relating to trusts in offshore tax havens. [19113]
4 Dec 1997 : Column: 321
The Prime Minister:
I have already revised Questions of Procedure for Ministers, which has been retitled as the Ministerial code, a copy of which was placed in the library of the House in July 1997. The Code advises Ministers that they should ensure that there is no conflict of interest between their official duties and their private financial interests. I see no need to include specific guidelines about offshore trusts.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister if assets held by (a) MI5, (b) MI6 and (c) GCHQ have been included in the National Asset Register. [18741]
The Prime Minister:
As stated in the introduction, no information is given in the National Asset Register on assets owned by the security and intelligence services on grounds of national security. However, like other departments, the agencies will review their assets as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). The CSR for the security and intelligence services was announced on 30 October and the terms of reference placed in the Library.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the limits of responsibilities of the Minister without Portfolio for food safety issues. [18907]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) on 28 November 1997, Official Report, column 668.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 30 October 1997, Official Report, column 861, and to the hon. Member for Lewes of 17 November 1997, Official Report, columns 17-18, on telephone tapping, if the policy applies to telephone interception and the use of electronic surveillance by MI6 and GCHQ. [18985]
The Prime Minister:
I can confirm that the policy described in my answers to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North on 30 October 1997, Official Report, column 861, and to the hon. Member on 17 November 1997, Official Report, columns 17-18, applies in relation to telephone interception and to the use of electronic surveillance by any of the three security and intelligence agencies.
33. Mr. Skinner:
To ask the Attorney-General what recent efforts his Department has made to contact Asil Nadir; and if he will make a statement. [17700]
The Attorney-General:
None. Asil Nadir remains a fugitive from justice. The Central Criminal Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Asil Nadir and Interpol
4 Dec 1997 : Column: 322
has been informed. The Serious Fraud Office intends to proceed against him on charges of theft when he returns or is returned to the jurisdiction.
34. Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Attorney-General what consultations his Department holds with victims before deciding whether or not to proceed with prosecutions. [17702]
The Attorney-General:
The police are required in certain cases and encouraged in others to pass to the Crown Prosecution Service information about the views of the victim and the effect of the crime upon that person. That information is an important factor in deciding whether it is in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Attorney-General what prosecutions have taken place of police officers and other related parties in connection with the overturning on appeal of criminal prosecutions proven to be unsound in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [17696]
The Attorney-General:
The Crown Prosecution Service does not keep statistics on particular offences it deals with. Consultation with relevant staff, however, suggests that there have been two cases, involving six defendants, in the last three years or thereabouts resulting in prosecutions, of which one case, involving four defendants, is still pending. There may be others.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Attorney-General how many matters have been reported for prosecution under the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 since 1967; and how many prosecutions have been undertaken. [18689]
The Attorney-General:
None. The Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 does not create any criminal offences.
Mr. Canavan:
To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the role of his Department in requests for extradition from the United Kingdom. [17699]
The Attorney-General:
Extradition from the UK is essentially a matter for the Home Office although the Crown Prosecution Service, which I superintend, is typically asked to act on behalf of the requesting State.
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