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Brit Awards
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those Ministers in his Department who were present at the recent Brit awards in an official capacity, indicating the organisation acting as their sponsor or host. [76647]
Mr. George Robertson:
I was the only Minister from my Department to attend the Brit Awards this year, and was invited by the British Phonographic Institute. I have recorded my attendance with the Registrar of Members Interests.
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Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what gifts of weaponry have been made by the United Kingdom Government to (a) overseas Governments and (b) armed forces since 1 January 1990. [76044]
Mr. George Robertson:
According to central records, gifts of weaponry by Her Majesty's Government to overseas Governments and armed forces since 1 January 1990 are as follows:
Our records do not show whether an item listed as gifted to an overseas Government was destined for that Government's armed forces. Most of the larger items of equipment shown as gifted to overseas Governments were surplus and were destined for national museums or to museums having official status.
(a) Overseas Governments:
Australia--Gannet MkT5 aircraft
Belize--Harrier GR3, stores and equipment (which included ammunition)
Canada--FV 433 Abbott, 4 x Ferret scout cars, 2 x Chieftain main battle tanks, and other (unspecified) armoured vehicles
Chile--Harrier GR3 aircraft
Czechoslovakia--Phantom aircraft
Germany--Harrier, Phantom, Hastings aircraft, FV 432 armoured vehicle,
Ferret scout car, 2 x Centurion main battle tanks
Jordan--Hunter aircraft (and spares)
Luxembourg--25 pounder gun
Lebanon--500 x self loading rifles
Norway--Canberra aircraft
Nepal--70 x light machine guns, self loading rifles and light machine guns, ancillaries for light machine gun
Romania and Bulgaria (gifted through the Western European Union)--combat support boats,
Zimbabwe--1000 rounds of ammunition
(b) Armed forces:
Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion--anti-tank weapons
France--AR Martel missiles
Netherlands--rifle
Nepal--15 x Ferret scout cars, Ferret spares
Press Releases
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71474]
Mr. Kilfoyle
[holding answer on 16 February 1999]: Rules governing the work of the Government Information and Communication Service 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 these documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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The cost of press releases by the Cabinet Office and its agencies since May 1997 is approximately £42,500. Details relating to the Central Office of Information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71473]
Mr. Kilfoyle
[holding answer on 16 February 1999]: The total number of press releases issued by the Cabinet Office and its agencies between 1980 and 1998 was 1,449. This can be broken down as follows:
| Year | Number of press releases |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 305 |
| 1997 | 189 |
| 1996 | 218 |
| 1995 | 330 |
| 1994 | 272 |
| 1993 | 47 |
| 1992 | 43 |
| 1991 | 42 |
| 1990 | 3 |
| Total | 1,449 |
The Central Office of Information issued 28 press notices in its own right in 1998. However, records dating further back are not maintained.
Appointments
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list those people he has appointed to public bodies since 1 November 1998, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and if they receive remuneration. [76414]
Mr. Kilfoyle: The public bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster are: the Civil Service Appeal Board; the Better Regulation Task Force; the Advisory Committee on Advertising; and the Advisory Committee for Justice of the Peace in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The following appointments have been made since the 1 November 1998:
- The Better Regulation Task Force
- Members
- Ms Matti Alderson
- Ms Deidre Hutton
- Civil Service Appeal Board
- Deputy Chairperson
- Mr. P. D. Jones
- Member, Official Side Panel
- Ms S. Brown
- Mr. E. McGivern
- P. S. Draper
- Member, Trade Union Side Panel
- Mrs. A. Berney
- Mrs. P. Braby
No member of any Cabinet Office Public Body receives a salary. Members of the Civil Service Appeal Board receive a fee per daily attendance.
15 Mar 1999 : Column: 510
British Business
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the ambassadors for British business with whom she has met, the dates on which she met them, and the topics discussed. [74435]
Clare Short: I have met with the following "ambassadors for British business" on the dates and times indicated:
| Date | Topics discussed | |
|---|---|---|
| Sir David Barnes | 02.11.99 | Responsible business issues |
| Sir John Browne | 08.07.99 | Shared a platform at the speech I gave to the Institute of Directors |
| Anita Roddick | 17.12.97 | Fair and ethical trade |
| Sir Richard Sykes | 14.05.99 | 'Roll Back Malaria' |
| Adair Turner | 17.09.99 | Fairtrade |
| Lord Paul | on a number of occasions, most recently on 15 December 1998 | Charitable issues, including education |
Electronic Red Boxes
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will name the Ministers in her Department who are regular users of electronic red boxes. [76183]
Clare Short: We have no electronic red boxes.
Zimbabwe
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the organisational development project with the Zimbabwe Republic Police. [76281]
Clare Short: This project aims to provide efficient and accountable police services to the people of Zimbabwe, especially the poor and disadvantaged. Recent reviews indicate that it is making good progress. The Zimbabwe Republic Police are already working more closely with local communities in the planning and delivery of improved police services.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the total number of occasions when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76827]
Clare Short: Between 2 May 1997 and 28 February 1999, my Special Advisers have made visits overseas on 12 occasions in an official capacity. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.
Commonwealth Development Corporation
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what progress has been
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made in determining the tax treatment of future private investments in the Commonwealth Development Corporation; [76780]
Clare Short:
I intend to introduce amendments at Committee stage to the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill to cover tax provisions.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list those Ministers in her Department who were present at the recent Brit awards in an official capacity, indicating the organisation acting as their sponsor or host. [76655]
Clare Short:
Neither myself nor the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State attended the Brit awards.
(2) if the details of the tax treatment of future private investments in the Commonwealth Development Corporation will be available to the House before the second reading of the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill. [76779]
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