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Arms Decommissioning
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information she has obtained on public attitudes in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland towards (i) decommissioning of arms and (ii) punishment beatings. [71582]
Mr. Ingram: The Secretary of State is fully aware of the attitudes of the majority of people in Northern Ireland towards decommissioning and paramilitary attacks. The Government are committed to implementing all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement.
Obtaining information on public attitudes in the Republic of Ireland is a matter for the Irish Government.
National Lottery
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money from the National Lottery
16 Feb 1999 : Column: 626
Distribution Fund has been paid to (a) environmental, (b) educational, (c) health and (d) tourism programmes in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [70100]
Mr. Banks:
I have been asked to reply.
To date the Lottery distributing bodies have made 1,634 awards to the value of £497 million in Northern Ireland. The table shows a breakdown by Good Cause. Many of these projects are likely to contribute to the environment, health, education and tourism of Northern Ireland but these cannot be separately identified in the way requested.
The National Lottery Act 1998 created a new good cause allowing Lottery money to fund innovative projects in health, education and the environment. These initiatives will be run by a new distributor, the New Opportunities Fund (NOF). NOF has begun to invite applications and will be making its first awards this spring.
Details of Lottery awards for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are listed on the Department for Culture, Media and Sports website at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk.
16 Feb 1999 : Column: 627
| Distributing body | Number of awards | Value of awards |
|---|---|---|
| Arts Council for Northern Ireland | 426 | 27,142,851 |
| Sports Council for Northern Ireland | 406 | 30,455,505 |
| National Lottery Charities Board | 672 | 38,353,915 |
| Heritage Lottery Fund | 93 | 27,168,986 |
| Millennium Commission | 37 | 374,722,232 |
| Total | 1,634 | 497,843,489 |
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Gray: To ask the President of the Council if she will list the parliamentary constituencies which she has visited in an official capacity in the past 12 months. [71338]
Mrs. Beckett [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Both myself and the Parliamentary Secretary have undertaken a number of visits to regions since taking up office at the Privy Council. Records for official visits are not held on a constituency basis, and most will have taken in more than one constituency at a time. The following cities or regions were visited:
- East Midlands
- West Midlands
- Welwyn Garden City
- Lincoln
- Skegness
- Newcastle
- Doncaster
- Darlington.
Additionally, we have visited a number of constituencies in London as part of our official duties.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Norman Shaw Buildings
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how long the temporary arrangement is due to last for the provision of a passage between the House and the Norman Shaw buildings. [70996]
Sir Sydney Chapman [holding answer 15 February 1999]: As part of the agreement with London Underground Ltd. for the development of Westminster station and Portcullis House, they have built a new public subway under Bridge Street which opened last week. The next stage is for London Underground to refurbish the old subway, which will then provide a direct and private link between the Palace and the outbuildings to the north of the Street.
It is anticipated that the subway will re-open in the latter part of 2000.
16 Feb 1999 : Column: 628
ASSIST Programme
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs about the ASSIST programme. [71057]
Clare Short: I have discussed the ASSIST programme with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with a view to ensuring that we take a consistent approach across government to security sector issues.
Officials of my Department have also discussed the ASSIST programme with officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Arms Exports
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions the full interdepartmental working group on overseas development co-operation has met at ministerial level since 25 September 1998; and what discussions it has held on arms exports. [71043]
Clare Short: The Interdepartmental Working Group on Development (IDWG) last met on September 25 1998. A further meeting will be held in the spring.
The IDWG has discussed broad issues of security sector reform but has not specifically discussed arms exports.
Ministry of Defence
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence about the new Defence Diplomacy Mission; [71058]
- (2) what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Ministry of Defence's outreach assistance programme and the use of the British Military Assistance Fund. [71059]
Clare Short: There are close contacts at Ministerial and official level between my Department and the Ministry of Defence. These cover a wide range of Defence Diplomacy and related issues, including Outreach and the use of the Defence Military Assistance Fund.
Security Sector Reform
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on using the European Community Development Budget funds to finance security sector reform activities and initiatives to remove small arms from circulation. [71044]
Clare Short:
The possibility of using EU development funds to finance security projects is a difficult issue from a legal point of view. The Commission enjoys competence in the field of development co-operation under the EU's first pillar, competence on conflict prevention and resolution
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rests with Member States under the EU's second pillar (known as the Common Foreign and Security Policy). We are making progress, however, in advancing the principle that wherever possible, development assistance should contribute to the prevention of conflict; the November 1998 Development Council agreed conclusions to this affect.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by her Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71465]
Clare Short:
Rules governing the work of the Government Information and Communications Service (GICS) are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the Working Guide for Government Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House.
Since May 1997, the Department for International Development has issued 110 press releases. The total cost of these press releases is approximately £13,000. The costs include postage and wire service.
The Commonwealth Development Corporation has issued 42 press releases since May 1997. The total cost of these press releases is approximately £6,000. The costs include postage, wire service, photocopying and consultancy services.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many press releases have been issued by her Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71450]
Clare Short:
The Department for International Development has issued the following number of press releases in each of the years 1990 to 1998:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 114 |
| 1991 | 102 |
| 1992 | 111 |
| 1993 | 94 |
| 1994 | 106 |
| 1995 | 71 |
| 1996 | 50 |
| 1997 | 58 |
| 1998 | 74 |
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1990 | no figures available |
| 1991 | no figures available |
| 1992 | no figures available |
| 1993 | no figures available |
| 1994 | no figures available |
| 1995 | 9 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 1997 | 16 |
| 1998 | 28 |
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