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Devolution
Mr. Curry: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the draft concordats drawn up to govern relations between the Government and the Executives of (a) the Scottish Parliament and (b) the National Assembly for Wales. [66189]
The Prime Minister: Work is progressing on concordats both within the Scottish and Welsh Offices and in Whitehall Departments, as it is of course in Northern Ireland as well. None of them have yet been published.
Iraq
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he had with (a) leaders of the British Muslim community and (b) British Muslim academics before endorsing the bombing of Iraq. [65393]
The Prime Minister: The Government make every effort to ensure that they are aware of the views of the British Muslim community and that their policies are understood by that community. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary met members of the Muslim press before and after Operation Desert Fox, and gave an address to the Muslim Council of Britain. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) also holds regular meetings with representatives of the Muslim community at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 1999, Official Report, column 143, concerning military action against Iraq, by whom the reasons are well understood. [66493]
The Prime Minister:
I was referring to our European Union partners in my answer of 12 January. They know why we took military action against Iraq because we have briefed them fully on our reasons for doing so.
19 Jan 1999 : Column: 395
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 16 December 1998, Official Report, column 962, what steps he plans to take to reduce the discarding of edible fish under the quota system. [66114]
The Prime Minister:
Government policies which will reduce discarding of edible fish include reducing fishing effort, improving the selectivity of fishing gear and introducing fixed quota allocations.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 16 December 1998, Official Report, column 962, what steps he plans to take with other European countries to reform the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement. [66113]
The Prime Minister:
The Government will continue to work with other Member States and the European Commission to achieve more effective and consistent enforcement of fisheries rules across the Community; integrate environmental considerations more fully into the Common Fisheries Policy to make it a more effective instrument for conserving fish stocks and the wider marine environment; apply structural and conservation measures in a way that achieves a sustainable future for the fishing industry; and improve the regional dimension of the CFP so that it is more sensitive to local differences.
Financial Services
Ms Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what responses he has received to the draft Financial Services and Markets Bill; and if he will make a statement. [66812]
Ms Hewitt: The response to publication of the draft Bill in July 1998 showed strong support for the creation of a single statutory regulator. There is widespread interest in ensuring that the Financial Services Authority continues to operate a fair, open and accountable manner. The Government intend to clarify and, where necessary, to amend the Bill to meet valid concerns raised on consultation and in response to the current inquiry by the Treasury Committee and the intended pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses.
In the meantime, we have decided to strengthen further the openness and accountability of the new regulatory regime. We intend to include in the Bill a statutory requirement for the FSA to establish practitioner and consumer panels, underpinning the arrangements the FSA has already put in place. We also intend to include in the Bill a requirement for the FSA to hold an annual open meeting at which the Chairman and others can be questioned on the FSA's policy and performance. The Bill will also include a requirement that the non-executive members should form a majority on the FSA Board.
The statutory requirements in the draft Bill for the FSA to consult on rules will be improved and will include a requirement that proposed rules and rule changes be accompanied by an explanation of how they relate to the FSA's objectives. The consultation requirements will also be extended so as to apply to standing guidance of general application.
19 Jan 1999 : Column: 396
The draft Bill requires the FSA to have in place arrangements for independent investigation of complaints. The FSA will be required under the Bill to consult on these arrangements. We also intend that in addition to publishing the conclusions of his investigation the investigator should be able to report on the FSA's response to any recommendations made.
The FSA will be accountable to Ministers and through them to Parliament. Its annual report under the Bill will be a key aspect of that accountability. The draft Bill enables the Treasury to require the FSA to report on specific matters. We will begin discussions with the FSA with a view to publishing an agreed list of matters to be covered in the report. We also intend that the Treasury should be given new powers to commission and publish periodic independent value for money audits of the FSA.
The draft Bill provides the Treasury with a number of powers to make statutory instruments. Drafts of key orders will be published for public consultation shortly. We will also undertake appropriate consultation on the other orders.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he was first informed of the loan by the previous Paymaster General to the previous Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; [66457]
(3) what discussions he had about the loan by the previous Paymaster General to the previous Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with the Prime Minister; and on what date he first had such discussions; [66459]
(4) what discussions he had about the loan by the previous Paymaster General to the previous Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with his adviser, Mr. Charlie Whelan; and on what date he first had such discussions. [66458]
Ms Hewitt
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: This was and is a matter involving the former Paymaster General and the former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. It is not a matter for Treasury Ministers.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters or correspondence involving building societies were dealt with by the previous Paymaster General between 1 May 1997 and the date of his resignation. [66445]
Mr. Gordon Brown:
The previous Paymaster General had no ministerial responsibility for building societies.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contact he has had with the Inland Revenue regarding the taxation position of the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson), the hon. Member's business interests and those offshore trusts connected with the hon. Member. [66446]
Dawn Primarolo:
Treasury Ministers have no ministerial responsibility for or involvement in the tax affairs of individuals.
19 Jan 1999 : Column: 397
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to disclose what financial support he has received since 1 May 1997 for the development of his economic policies and the sources of that financial support. [66448]
Mr. Gordon Brown:
My policy is to act in accordance with the Ministerial Code and with the House of Commons rules for registration of interests.
Dr. Fox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the appointments of officials to the National Assembly made to date; and if he will estimate, in each case, their annual cost. [64503]
Mr. Michael:
In preparation for the National Assembly for Wales, the following appointments have been made to the Office of the Presiding Officer and the Executive Secretariat of the Assembly.
(2) if he will list the Ministers and officials in his Department with whom he discussed the loan by the previous Paymaster General to the previous Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the dates on which he had such discussions; [66461]
| Pay band (£) | |
|---|---|
| Counsel General | 77,840-113,680 |
| Office of the Presiding Officer | |
| Senior Director, Assembly Business | 71,250-107,300 |
| Director, Assembly Business (and project manager for the establishment of the Office of the Presiding Officer) | 54,230-90,400 |
| Assistant Director, Public and Research Services | 40,420-63,490 |
| Chief Translator | 27,043-41,935 |
| Deputy Head Translation Services (Interpretation) | 20,723-31,978 |
| Executive Secretariat | |
| Head of Executive Secretariat | 40,420-63,490 |
| Implementation Unit | |
| 2 x Pay Band F (G7) | 27,043-41,935 |
| 2 x Pay Band D (HEO) | 15,990-24,464 |
| 3 x Pay Band C (EO) | 12,240-18,360 |
| 2 x Pay Band B (AO and PS) | 9,536-13,700 |
The full year costs of the Implementation Unit would be £215,400 based on the 1998-99 projected average grade costs. The unit has a limited life span and will exist for 6 months.
A number of further appointments, for example for translators and for general administrative staff, are currently in train.
All of these costs are included in the estimated additional running costs.
Dr. Fox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of (a) the number of people who will be employed by the National Assembly and (b) the total cost of their employment to public funds. [64529]
Mr. Michael:
The bulk of the existing staff of the Welsh Office will transfer to work for the Assembly but the Assembly will require more staff than those currently employed in the Welsh Office; the Explanatory & Financial Memorandum to the Government of Wales Bill
19 Jan 1999 : Column: 398
estimated the number at about 100. The annual additional running costs of the Assembly have been estimated as £15 million to £20 million more than the costs of running the Welsh Office, which are currently some £70 million. These additional costs include the pay and allowances of Assembly members and the accommodation and information technology requirements of members and staff as well as the additional staff costs.
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