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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
New Forest Fox Hounds
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what authority the Parliamentary Secretary instructed Forest Enterprise to issue a formal warning to the New Forest Fox Hounds on 6 November. [65007]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 11 January 1999]: Forest Enterprise issued this warning to the New Forest Fox Hounds as a result of a breach of the conditions of their licence. Forest Enterprise will take appropriate action, which may include suspension of the licence, if there are further breaches of the licence conditions. The New Forest Fox Hounds have accepted this. The licence is enforced by Forest Enterprise and I have not at any time instructed Forest Enterprise, or the Forestry Commissioners, to issue
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a formal warning to the New Forest Fox Hounds. I expect Forest Enterprise to enforce all conditions and they have my full support in doing so.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to increase protection for the basking shark through the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement. [65272]
Mr. Morley:
Following pressure from the United Kingdom, new EC fisheries technical conservation rules coming into force on 1 January 2000 will ban the sale or offering for sale of marine species such as basking sharks caught using a harpoon or other projectile. From the same date, EC fishermen will be required to make logbook entries for all species caught in excess of 50kg. This should allow for the accurate monitoring of any accidental bycatches of basking sharks.
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Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Qatar about the raid on Iraq. [65376]
Mr. Fatchett:
We have kept in regular contact with the Qatari Government on Iraq. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a message to the Amir about the outcome of military action. I telephoned the Qatari Foreign Minister at the start of Operation Desert Fox. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Doha made several calls on the Qatari Foreign Minister and wrote to the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Chief of Staff and other senior figures on the effectiveness of military action.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries from which Her Majesty's Government have received letters or messages of protest concerning the bombing of Iraq. [65280]
Mr. Fatchett:
Operation Desert Fox gathered considerable international support and understanding. Some have criticised our action. Messages and letters received by HMG reflect a wide spectrum of views.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many prospective students on FCO scholarships or sponsorships were denied visas to visit the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available. [65278]
Mr. Fatchett:
These figures are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Sir Nicholas Lyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the case of Terence Arthur Indge concerning a road traffic accident in Abu Dhabi in 1991; and if he will make a statement. [65162]
Mr. Fatchett:
Since 1991, this Department has received representations from Mrs. Indge about her husband's case, and from the right hon. and learned Member.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Faroe Islands over its whaling policy; and if he will make a statement. [64838]
Mr. Fatchett:
Denmark is responsible for the whaling policy of the Faroe Islands. While I have made no representations to Denmark, we have made plain the widespread public concern about the humane treatment of all cetaceans. We will ensure that this issue is addressed at the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to be held in Grenada in May.
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Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the British Ambassador to Turkey wrote to the Maltese Government in respect of the extradition proceedings relating to the murder of Edgar Fernandes. [65105]
Mr. Fatchett:
The British Ambassador in Ankara has not written to the Maltese Government in respect of the case of Edgar Fernandes. As my previous answers on 29 October 1998, Official Report, column 271 and 10 December 1998, Official Report, column 281 show, our staff in Valletta are in regular contact with the Maltese Government in respect of the extradition proceedings.
My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State last raised the matter with the Turkish Ambassador to London on 7 January.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to ensure that the Maltese Government are acting expeditiously in respect of extradition proceedings relating to the murder of Edgar Fernandes. [65106]
Mr. Fatchett:
I refer my hon. Friend to my answers of 29 October 1998, Official Report, column 271 and 10 December 1998, Official Report, column 281. Our staff in Valletta continue to take every opportunity to remind the Maltese Government of our interest in the extradition of Mr. Mohammed Abdal Monem Abbas Aly. The Vice-Consul in Valletta regularly speaks to the Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He last called on the Maltese Assistant Attorney General to discuss the case on 7 January.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions there have been and on what date between the British Ambassador to Malta and the Maltese Government on extradition proceedings relating to the murder of Edgar Fernandes. [65159]
Mr. Fatchett:
The British High Commissioner in Valletta formally discussed the extradition proceedings with the Attorney General and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 7 October 1998. He has since seen members of the Maltese Government on many occasions and consistently takes the opportunity of reminding them of our interests in the extradition of Mr. Mohammed Abdal Monem Abbas Aly to Turkey.
12. Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish in the Government's annual report for 1998-99 an independent assessment of the progress of the Government in meeting each of the 1997 manifesto commitments. [63730]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The 1998 Annual Report of the Government included independent comments from members of the public on the Government's performance, though not on each and every one of the 177 manifesto commitments. Instead, all the commitments were subject
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to a full, factual assessment, prepared by civil servants. We expect that the 1999 Annual Report will be prepared in the same way.
15. Mr. Rhodri Morgan:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to publish the better government White Paper. [63734]
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what further measures are planned to advance the better government agenda. [63733]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
As my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office explained to the House on 21 October 1998, Official Report, columns 1267-68, the Government will publish a White Paper in the Spring, setting out their programme for modernising government and joining-up public services to respond better to the people who need them. We are keen to take account of as wide a range of views and ideas as possible in preparing the White Paper. That is why he recently launched a Modernising Government discussion forum on the Downing Street web-site, to allow more people to give us their views on the Government's vision for our public services. The Invest to Save Budget, which provides funding for public sector bodies to implement joint working and better co-ordination of service delivery, is another example of the Government's commitment to the Modernising Government programme.
16. Mr. Stott:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on his duties in relation to the Duchy of Lancaster. [63735]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
As Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, I administer the Duchy on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. My responsibilities include the administration of the Duchy's estates, finances, the appointment of magistrates in the Duchy area, appointments to Church Livings and several appointments in connection with the Duchy's historic duties.
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