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Asthma
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the advantages of use in the NHS of the Buteyko breathing method for the treatment of asthma; and if he will make a statement. [58265]
Mr. Hutton:
The prevention and treatment of asthma are high priority topics within the Department's research programmes. We do not currently have any plans to carry out a trial of the Buteyko method. If a research proposal on it of sufficiently high scientific quality were submitted, in response to any future open calls for research in this
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area from the Departmental or National Health Service research and development programmes, such a proposal would be considered alongside all other competing bids.
A key agency through which the Government support bio-medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology. The Council is not funding any research on the Buteyko method at present but it is always willing to consider for support soundly based new scientific proposals, in competition with other applications.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of guidance on the compilation of NHS waiting lists issued by (a) his Department and (b) NHS regional executives since 1 May 1997. [58023]
Mr. Milburn:
No new guidance on the compilation of National Health Service waiting lists has been issued by the Department, including the regional offices of the National Health Service Executive since 1 May 1997. Health authorities and trusts were notified of the Department's plan to collect waiting list statistics on a monthly basis through HSC1998/152, copies of which are available in the Library.
Guidance is set out in the NHS Executive's Data Manual (published in January 1997), the "National Health Service Waiting Times Good Practice Guide" and "Guidelines for Good Administrative Practice" (both published in January 1996), copies of which are available in the Library.
Nolle Prosequi
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions he has intervened in a prosecution under the nolle prosequi rule in the last 12 months. [56340]
The Attorney-General: In the last 12 months I have acceded to requests for the entry of a nolle prosequi on 4 occasions.
Glidewell Report
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the Glidewell report; and if he will make a statement. [57887]
The Attorney-General:
The Glidewell Report recommended the appointment of a Chief Executive for the Crown Prosecution Service. That recommendation was accepted on publication of the Report (1 June 1998) when I announced the appointment of Mr. Mark Addison to the post. His top priority has been to take forward the work necessary to facilitate expeditious decisions on recommendations internal to the CPS. Those recommendations which also affect other criminal justice agencies are the subject of consideration within existing or specially established inter-Departmental groups as appropriate. The work is being carried forward under the auspices of the Strategic Planning Group which the Home
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Secretary, I and the Lord Chancellor established earlier this year to co-ordinate planning within the criminal justice system. A very great deal of work has been undertaken since the Report was published. I anticipate making an announcement shortly detailing the progress that has been made and how the Report will be taken forward.
Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Attorney-General if HM Treasury Solicitor acted on behalf of the former Secretary of State for Wales at any time after his resignation. [57957]
Israel
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by European Commission officials in their technical talks with Israel on the problems identified in the communication on EC/Israel trade and regional cumulation of origin whose recommendations were adopted at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 29 June. [57080]
Ms Quin: Following the conclusions of the 29 June General Affairs Council, European Commission officials have been pursuing the issues identified in the Communication in technical talks with Israel. A team of Commission officials visited Israel and the Occupied Territories on 14-20 September for a fact-finding mission. The Commission and Member States are now reflecting on follow-up to this mission.
Mrs. Lozidou
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the decision made by the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg regarding the case of Mrs. Lozidou v. Turkey. [57475]
Ms Quin: We are mindful of the obligation of all parties to the European Convention on Human Rights under Article 53 of the Convention to abide by European Court of Human Rights judgments. In the case of Mrs. Lozidou v. Turkey, and in line with Council of Europe procedure, the UK, along with other members of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, has invited Turkey to inform the Committee of the measures it proposes to take in consequence of the judgment.
Cyprus
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the number of (a) Greek and (b) Turkish fighter planes based in Cyprus; [57591]
- (2) what representations he has made concerning the stationing of foreign fighter planes in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [57593]
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Ms Quin: We are not aware that any Greek or Turkish fighter planes are permanently based in Cyprus. But recent deployments of fighter planes in Cyprus by both Greece and Turkey have shown how easily tension can be raised. In line with UNSCR 1178 of 29 June we continue to urge all parties to refrain from any action which would exacerbate tensions on the island.
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's role as a guarantor power for the Republic of Cyprus. [57592]
Ms Quin: The UK's role as a party to the 1960 Cyprus Treaty of Guarantee is, along with Greece and Turkey, to recognise and guarantee the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Cyprus.
We are committed to using the UK's position as a Guarantor Power to assist the people of Cyprus to achieve a political settlement in Cyprus.
Mr. Corbett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs over what period the EU has made funds of 12 mecu available to support progress towards a political settlement in Cyprus; how many applications have been made by organisations representing both main communities and for what purposes; and how the results of such grants are monitored and assessed. [57960]
Ms Quin:
The fourth Financial Protocol on financial and technical assistance between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus originally covered the period from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1998. This period has now been extended to 31 December 1999. Under this Protocol the EU set aside 12 mecu in grants for potential initiatives agreed jointly in Cyprus to promote a general settlement of the Cyprus question. So far 111,370 ecu has been committed to activities of the Cyprus All Island Trade Union Forum, although no money has actually been spent. Responsibility for monitoring funds spent under the fourth Financial Protocol lies with the Commission office in Nicosia. The Community and Cyprus will at least once during the period of implementation of the Protocol make an assessment of the implementation of the programme as a whole.
Mr. Corbett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will define the projects which can apply for grants from the five mecu allocated by the EU for bi-communal projects in Cyprus; over what period such funds are available; how many applications have so far been made; and by what process aided projects are monitored and assessed. [57961]
Ms Quin:
The fourth Protocol on financial and technical assistance between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus states that 5 mecu shall be for projects to promote the development of the whole island. These funds were initially made available from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1998. That period has now been extended for a period of one year to 31 December 1999. Three applications for funds have been approved (although to date no funds have been disbursed). These are:
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0.9 mecu for cleaning a river which crosses south-north in Nicosia;
1.3 mecu to restore Hala Sultan Teke, an Islamic shrine near Larnaca;
1.5 mecu support for the Institute for Neurology and Genetics, a clinic and research centre.
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