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Talented Athlete Programme
Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been invested in Glasgow under the Talented Athlete Programme (a) in each sport and (b) as a proportion of the total spent in Scotland on the programme. [72264]
Mr. Galbraith: The information requested is set out.
Note:
Percentage of total TAP awards 6.4 per cent.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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PRIME MINISTER
European Union Fraud
Mr. Trend: To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to respond to the request dated 14 January from the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard), asking him to publish the letter he sent to Pauline Green MEP concerning the European Parliament's vote on EU fraud and the motion of censure. [70664]
The Prime Minister: I have not been able to identify any such request. However, I have replied in full to the letter of 18 December from the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) about the European Commission's vote not to accept the recommendations of its Budgetary Control Committee to grant discharge to the Commission for its implementation of the 1996 Budget. If the right hon. and learned Member wishes me to do so, I would be glad to put copies of the correspondence in the Library.
Sierra Leone
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 10 February 1999, Official Report, column 313, what is his policy towards each of the criticisms of the Civil Service set out in the second report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone (HC116 of Session 1998-99). [71687]
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister if he will review the guidelines for the management of Departments by Ministers following the publication of the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone (HC116 of Session 1998-99). [71828]
The Prime Minister: A formal reply to the Foreign Affairs Committee Report HC116 is being prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and will be submitted to Parliament in due course.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the statement by the Foreign Secretary that the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone uncovered no evidence which was not
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contained in the Legg report and if this statement will be included in the formal Government response to the report. [71826]
The Prime Minister:
I agree with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. As I told the House on 10 February 1999, Official Report, columns 313-14, the facts to which the Foreign Affairs Committee Report drew attention had already been covered by Sir Thomas Legg's inquiry, which confirmed that there was no conspiracy or cover up. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is preparing a formal reply to the Report which it will be submitting to Parliament shortly.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Prime Minister on what date and at what time (a) he, (b) other departmental Ministers and (c) his officials first had access to the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone. [72603]
The Prime Minister:
My Office received advance embargoed copies of the report from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at approximately 0830 hours on Tuesday 9 February 1999.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since 1979 permanent secretaries have filed a formal note of dissent registering their disapproval of a ministerial instruction. [71681]
The Prime Minister:
No central record is kept of any formal notes of dissent except where they lead to the issuing of a Ministerial instruction (or "Direction") as provided for in the procedures set out in paragraphs 12-15 of the Treasury document The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer. Under these procedures the Treasury is informed when a Ministerial Direction is issued. Until December 1994 Departments were required to inform the Treasury about Ministerial Directions concerning propriety and regularity only, and not those concerning value for money. From December 1994 Departments were required to inform the Treasury of both kinds of Directions. Treasury records show that since 1981 the Treasury has been informed of 28 Directions. No central record is held of notes (if there are any) recording an Accounting Officer's dissatisfaction at a Ministerial Direction.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future relationship between Ministers and parliamentary Select Committees. [71825]
The Prime Minister:
In their dealings with Select Committees, Ministers will continue to abide by the Resolution on Ministerial Accountability adopted by the House on 19 March 1997.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken to establish an international test day for the millennium compliance of computer systems; and if he will make a statement. [72156]
The Prime Minister:
It is clear that testing is the cornerstone of a successful Year 2000 programme. As such all Government Departments and agencies are required to have testing strategies in place. Testing is also
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highlighted in the advice on tackling the millennium bug that Action 2000 makes available to small businesses. We have also been encouraging other countries to take testing seriously. However, decisions on the appropriate level of testing are for individual organisations to make, whether they are in the public or private sector, depending on the business risks faced if a particular system, or the interfaces between that system and other organisations, fails. In a number of sectors, there has been a co-ordinated approach to testing.
However, organising an international test day would not only be extremely difficult but might risk diverting resources away from on-going work.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 1999, Official Report, column 521, concerning Iraq, if he will seek to have the work of the Security Council's panel on the humanitarian situation in Iraq expedited. [72503]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 22 February 1999]: The humanitarian panel is expected to start work on 1 March. In the interest of identifying measures to make the provision of humanitarian relief more effective and thereby improve the situation of the Iraqi people, the panel will wish to give full consideration to all the relevant issues. Meanwhile we are continuing to work with the United Nations to improve the present "oil for food" arrangements.
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his visits to Wales over the past four months, and the cost of these visits. [72254]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 22 February 1999]: I have visited Wales on three occasions over the past four months. These were:
It is not possible to give full costs for these visits as some of the invoices have not yet been processed.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the representations he has received during the last six months on genetically modified crops. [72206]
The Prime Minister:
In the last six months my office has received over 100,000 items of correspondence from members of the public. Of these approximately 1,000 have related to biotechnology issues and of these approximately 50 have related specifically to genetically modified crops.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Prime Minister if he has been present at meetings between members of the Government and representatives of the companies promoting genetically modified crops. [72235]
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The Prime Minister
[holding answer 22 February 1999]: I and my Ministers are in regular contact with representatives of all those with an interest in biotechnology--including environmental groups, consumer groups and biotechnology companies.
Friday 27 November--Cardiff
Friday 15 January--Mold and Clwyd
Wednesday 3 February--Cardiff.
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