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ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Crown Prosecution Service
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the recommendations of the Glidewell review of the Crown Prosecution Service. [77020]
The Attorney-General: I refer the right hon. Member to my written answer on 30 November 1998, Official Report, column 67, to my hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson), which set out the interim response of the Government to the Review of the Crown Prosecution Service. On that day I placed in the Library of the House a chart setting out the position in relation to each recommendation.
The Crown Prosecution Service and other Departments with responsibility for criminal justice matters have continued work on consideration and implementation of the Report. The most significant recent steps have been the appointment by the Director of Public Prosecutions of Chief Crown Prosecutors and Area Business Managers for each of the proposed 42 areas of the Crown Prosecution Service, which will come into being in April 1999. As I told the House on 30 November 1998, I expect to put a full response to the Review of the CPS before the House by the end of June.
16 Mar 1999 : Column: 573
Security and Intelligence Service
Jacqui Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the Staff Counsellor for the Security and Intelligence Services. [76586]
The Prime Minister: Sir Christopher France GCB has served as Staff Counsellor for the Security and Intelligence Services since April 1995. He will retire from this post on 31 March 1999 and I express the Government's gratitude to him for the way in which he has fulfilled the duties of this very sensitive post. Sir John Chilcot, GCB who was Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office until 1997, will succeed him as Staff Counsellor from 1 April 1999.
Iraq (Medical Goods)
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 9 March, if he will examine the UN's procedures in relation to the distribution of medical goods to meet humanitarian needs which have arrived in Iraq since the end of 1996; and what assessment he has made of the memorandum from the Under Secretary of the Iraqi Foreign Office on this subject, a copy of which has been sent to him. [76781]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 15 March 1999]: According to the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Iraq and the United Nations on implementation of the "oil for food" programme, it is Iraq, not the UN, which is responsible for the distribution of medical supplies in central and southern Iraq. Iraq's record on distribution is woeful. According to the UN Secretary General's latest report of 22 February on the implementation of "oil for food", over half the medicines and medical supplies which have arrived in Iraq since the start of the "oil for food" programme have accumulated in warehouses. These supplies are worth over $275 million. The Secretary General also noted that the quantity of medical equipment in warehouses was "alarmingly high".
This issue is one which will no doubt be considered by the panel established by the UN Security Council on 30 January to assess the humanitarian situation in Iraq. We would support proposals from the panel to increase the role of the UN in distributing medical supplies in central and southern Iraq in the interest of getting these supplies to the Iraqi people.
It should be noted that in the northern governorates, where distribution is carried out by UN agencies, no problems in the distribution of medical goods were noted in the Secretary General's report.
The Iraqi Memorandum is an unconvincing attempt by Iraq to divert responsibility for the distribution problems in the centre and south onto others.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Prime Minister what communication he has had with the President-elect of Nigeria. [76964]
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The Prime Minister:
Following the elections on 27 February I sent a message of congratulations and a letter to President-elect Obasanjo.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met President Obasanjo in Nigeria on 10 March. We look forward to welcoming him to Britain soon.
Sir John Stanley:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 169, on leaked documents, if (a) he, (b) civil servants in his Department or (c) special advisers in his Department have (i) had sights of drafts of select committee reports in whole or in part, from any civil servant, special adviser or Minister or (ii) been informed of conclusions of Select Committee reports by any civil servant, special adviser or Minister prior to their publication by the select committees. [76743]
The Prime Minister:
In my answer of 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 169, what I say about members of Select Committees is equally true as regards civil servants, special advisers or Ministers.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1999, Official Report, columns 253-54, on leaded petrol, what estimate his Department has made of the costs of the (a) engine adjustments and (b) lead replacement petrol to motorists. [72327]
Dr. Reid:
Lead replacement petrol is expected to become widely available by the end of this year, enabling those motorists that currently use leaded petrol--estimated at approximately 5.3 million--to switch seamlessly to this fuel without any engine adjustments and, hence, no additional associated costs.
Indeed, of these 5.3 million motorists, it is estimated that some 0.7 million could make immediate savings on their fuel bills by switching to ordinary premium unleaded petrol now. A further 2.3 million could do so with timing adjustments to their engines costing in the order of £50.
The remaining 2.3 million vehicles will need lead replacement petrol or, alternatively, separate additives to provide lubrication to critical engine parts. However, most of these vehicles can have engine modifications that would permit them also to save on running costs by using premium unleaded petrol. Such modifications, which are typically £200-£400 for a small family car, but higher for more sophisticated or specialist vehicles, would be offset by subsequent savings on running costs.
Mr. Coleman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received since the introduction of the changes to the regulations relating to council tax benefit on 1 April 1998. [76268]
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Ms Armstrong:
We consulted on our detailed proposals for council tax benefit subsidy limitation on 2 December 1998. We received 129 representations. I have placed in the Library a list of those that responded.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implications for Sites of Special Scientific Interest of his access to the countryside proposals. [76275]
Mr. Meacher:
We do not expect a new statutory right of access on foot to have a significant impact generally on the scientific interest of the land concerned. Provision will be made to close land, or otherwise restrict access, on nature conservation grounds, where this is justified. Such land may include areas notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the application of his proposals for access to the countryside to Ministry of Defence property; what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals on (i) security and (ii) property prices; and what consultations he has held with Ministers in the Ministry of Defence on this issue. [76280]
Mr. Meacher:
The Government's proposal for a new statutory of access to open countryside will apply to mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land. Provision will be made for the Ministry of Defence to continue to close land, or otherwise restrict access, where necessary, in the interests of defence. Provision will also be made to close land, or otherwise restrict access, on grounds of conservation, land management and health and safety. The new right of access will not apply to developed land or to agricultural land other than that used for extensive grazing.
An economic appraisal study for the Government by independent consultants supports the view that the economic impact on property prices is likely to be limited.
In developing the Government's proposals, I have consulted Ministerial colleagues in all Departments with an interest, including the Ministry of Defence.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many home energy efficiency schemes have been introduced since 1 May 1997. [76435]
Mr. Meacher:
My Department funds the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme and a wide range of programmes which are run by the Energy Saving Trust to improve energy efficiency in the home. The Trust has introduced three new schemes since 1 May 1997. They are schemes to promote the development of energy services, encourage the installation of small scale Combined Heat and Power in residential premises and promote the installation of energy efficient boilers and heating controls. In addition a large number of schemes is run by others, including local authorities and electricity suppliers.
16 Mar 1999 : Column: 576
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