17 Mar 1999 : Column: 653
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 17 March 1999
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Genetic Modification
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Mr. Stan Greenberg of Greenberg Research; [72244]
- (2) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Dave Hill of Bell Pottinger; [72067]
(3) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Cathy McGlynn of Bell Pottinger. [72072]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 23 February 1999]: I and my officials are in regular contact with representatives of all those with an interest in biotechnology--including environmental groups, consumer groups and biotechnology companies.
Milk Marque
Mr. Beith: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the MMC report into the Milk Marque will be published. [76030]
Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry intends to publish the report as soon as is practicable.
Ministerial Flights
Mr. Terry Lewis: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) of 30 November 1998 concerning Ministerial flights, if he will list the flights on which his departmental (a) Accounting Officer and (b) Head of Information were passengers. [67363]
Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 25 January 1999]: My departmental Accounting Officer and Head of Information were passengers on the following flights:
| Date | Destination | Accounting officer | Head of information |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1997 | Luxembourg | Yes | Yes |
| July 1997 | Strasbourg and Bonn | No | Outward to Strasbourg only |
| October 1997 | Luxembourg | Yes | No |
| April 1998 | Luxembourg | Yes | Yes |
| June 1998 | Luxembourg | Yes | Yes |
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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Jury Service
Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has (a) to reform the selection process for jurors and (b) to avoid the repeated call of particular persons for jury service; and what representations he has received on this. [76745]
Mr. Hoon: Jury service is based on the principle of random selection and therefore it is possible for a person to be called more than once after a period of time. There are no plans to reform the legislation that governs the selection process. Occasionally representations are made by an individual to the Court Service about repeated calls for jury service, and these are referred to the local Crown Court for consideration.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he 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. [76826]
Mr. Hoon: Since 2 May 1997 there have been no occasions when either the Lord Chancellor or I have travelled abroad with a special adviser.
Working Time Directive
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many civil servants in his Department have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many civil servants in his Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76804]
Mr. Hoon: Five civil servants in the Lord Chancellor's Department Headquarters have signed waivers; we expect a few more to do so but none have refused. To date, there has been no cost incurred in complying with the Directive.
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Millennium Compliance
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has to organise nationwide test days for the millennium compliance of date-reliant computer systems, involved in (a) public utilities, (b) energy services and (c) local government (i) separately and (ii) together; and if she will make a statement. [76059]
Mrs. Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 231-32. The same concerns apply to the idea of national test days.
Mr. Mates:
To ask the President of the Council what simulations of millennium computer compliance failure in the areas of (a) health, (b) roads, (c) travel, (d) energy and (e) emergency services the Government have conducted. [75936]
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Mrs. Beckett:
Year 2000 preparations in each of these sectors are being independently assessed. These assessments will examine the quality of the testing and business continuity planning that has been carried out. The results of these assessments will be made available at the next meeting of the National Infrastructure Forum in April, and at subsequent meetings through the year.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Council if she will list those people she has appointed to public bodies since 1 November 1998, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and if they receive remuneration. [76466]
Mrs. Beckett:
The information requested is given below. None of the individuals listed is remunerated.
| Appointed | |
|---|---|
| Engineering Council: Senate | Dr. R. Hawley |
| General Medical Council | Mrs. R. Evans |
| General Optical Council | Ms M. Black |
| Ms G. Huka | |
| Dr. E. Page | |
| Ms D. Rookledge | |
| Ms M. Wang | |
| Mrs. R. Varley | |
| Independent Schools Tribunal: Educational Panel | Mr. K. D. Anderson Mr. D. Battye |
| Mr. J. T. Billington | |
| Mr. R. de Courcy Chapman | |
| Mr. R. L. James | |
| Mr. S. Jenkin | |
| Professor Margaret Maden | |
| Mr. J. M. Moore | |
| Ms J. M. Lawley |
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Millennium Compliance
Mr. Mates: To ask the President of the Council what simulations of millennium computer compliance failure in the areas of (a) health, (b) roads, (c) travel, (d) energy and (e) emergency services the Government have conducted. [75936]
Mrs. Beckett: Year 2000 preparations in each of these sectors are being independently assessed. These assessments will examine the quality of the testing and business continuity planning that has been carried out. The results of these assessments will be made available at the next meeting of the National Infrastructure Forum in April, and at subsequent meetings through the year.
TREASURY
Single Currency
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those benefits of membership of economic and monetary union which cannot be obtained by a
17 Mar 1999 : Column: 656
member state remaining outside the single currency; and what assessment he has made of the potential financial gain arising to the UK from those benefits. [73598]
Ms Hewitt:
The Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests published in October 1997 set out some of the benefits of monetary union. These include reduced transaction costs, the elimination of exchange rate uncertainty on trade and investment in the euro area and increased price transparency. The Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests concluded that membership of a successful single currency could enhance competition and improve prospects for trade and investment.
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has made for the reform of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. [74264]
Ms Hewitt:
At the Annual Meeting of the IMF/World Bank in the autumn, the UK secured agreement to a comprehensive review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, to take place in 1999.
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