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EU Political Committee
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the agenda for the forthcoming EU Political Committee meeting of 22 March. [77161]
The Prime Minister: The agenda for the 22 March Political Committee has not yet been decided. As has been the case since 1970, draft agendas for Political Committees are not usually circulated until a few days before the meeting takes place, and are often amended up to the last minute.
EU Special European Council
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the agenda for the forthcoming EU Special European Council of 24 to 25 March. [77159]
The Prime Minister: The timetable for the Agenda 2000 negotiations was agreed at the end of the UK Presidency when the Cardiff European Council concluded that there should be political agreement on the package no later than March 1999. The purpose of the Special European Council is to meet that timetable. The negotiations are being conducted on the basis of a Presidency paper which sets out the issues for discussion. The Presidency regularly updates this document as negotiations progress. A copy of the latest version was placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister how many representations he has received from the United States Government on genetically modified organisms since 1 May 1997; on what dates each representation was received; in what form each representation was made; and from which United States department each originated. [77113]
Commission for Racial Equality
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to meet the CRE's leadership challenge. [76963]
The Prime Minister:
I accepted the CRE's Leadership Challenge on 12 May 1998.
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 843
I have made clear my commitment to Britain being a beacon to the world on race equality. This Government are taking a clear lead in improving race equality.
The Lawrence inquiry has done much to identify the problems to which we must all face. With my full support, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary is developing a comprehensive response to the report. He announced to the House on 24 February 1999, Official Report, columns 389-93, his intention to extend the Race Relations Act 1976 to cover all public services. A wider action plan is also being developed.
In my role as Minister for the Civil Service, I am committed to ensuring that the Civil Service reflects at all levels the diversity of our society. I also commend the Charter for Action recently launched by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the head of the Home Civil Service and the Council of Civil Service Unions, to redress the under-representation of the ethnic minorities in the Civil Service.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 1999, Official Report, column 484, when he expects to issue an updated report on the results of military action against Iraq. [77589]
The Prime Minister:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence sent an updated report on the results of Operation Desert Fox to all Members of the House on 18 January 1999.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library his reply to the letter from K. M. Kirk of Paphos, Cyprus, of 20 December 1998, about Iraq. [77355]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 18 March 1999]: As far as I am aware, the most recent correspondence I have had from Mr. J. M. Kirk was a letter from him dated 3 March 1998.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to reply to the letters sent to him by the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe on 14 January and 3 March. [77662]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr. Trend) on 17 March 1999, Official Report, column 706.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that no information from the Patten Commission on policing which is not in the public domain will be shared with (a) any other Government and (b) any private group. [77583]
The Prime Minister:
The Commission on Policing is independent. Its terms of reference, set out in the Good Friday Agreement, require it to "consult widely and to report no later than Summer 1999". It is not for the Government to say what the Commission should discuss or with whom. The Commission's report will be made
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 844
public in its entirety and implementation of its recommendations will be discussed with the political parties and the Irish Government.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects the Patten report on policing in Northern Ireland to be published. [76739]
Mr. Ingram:
The Belfast Agreement states that the Independent Commission on Policing should report no later than the Summer of 1999. The Government look forward to receiving the report, which is expected within the timescale established by the Agreement.
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those Governments with whom the United Kingdom Government to Government service and contract agreements allow for payments in oil; and for what dates such agreements were made. [71811]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 16 February 1999]: Payments in oil to the UK Government for supplying goods or services are not precluded under existing rules provided they represent the most cost effective and practical method. It is a matter for individual Government Departments to negotiate appropriate contracts after considering each case on its merits. Because of this, no centralised records are kept of the agreements reached.
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she plans to hold with the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Consumer Committee on Electricity and the Regulator concerning the report published by Northern Ireland Electricity into the storm on 26 December 1998; and the implementation of the recommendations. [76642]
Mr. Ingram:
None at present. Consumers' interest are being pursued vigorously by the Director General of Electricity Supply who is considering the Northern Ireland Electricity report on the storms. He will be discussing his conclusions with both the company and the Chairman of the Consumer Committee for Electricity and then publishing a consultation paper seeking the views of consumers on the action programme proposed by Northern Ireland Electricity. Ministers have requested a further report from and discussion with the company later in the year on progress with the action programme.
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the report from Northern Ireland Electricity published on Thursday 4 February into the storm of 26 December 1998. [76643]
Mr. Ingram:
Protection of consumers' interests is primarily a matter for the independent Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland. He is considering the report by Northern Ireland Electricity on the recent storms; will meet with the company and the Chairman of the Consumer Committee for Electricity; and then publish a consultation paper.
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 845
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children have been born with (a) Downs Syndrome and (b) other abnormalities in each health and social services board in each of the last 10 years. [76641]
Mr. McFall:
The table provides figures for the number of births of babies with Downs Syndrome and other selected congenital malformations notified in Northern Ireland and each Health and Social Services Board area for the years 1986 to 1996 (the latest year for which figures are available).
| Year | Anencephalus | Hydrocephalus | Spina Bifida | Downs Syndrome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 17 | 8 | 37 | 41 |
| 1987 | 20 | 11 | 43 | 39 |
| 1988 | 9 | 8 | 27 | 27 |
| 1989 | 5 | (11)13 | 20 | (11)51 |
| 1990 | 5 | 12 | 21 | (11)32 |
| 1991 | 5 | 14 | 22 | 52 |
| 1992 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 29 |
| 1993 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 31 |
| 1994 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 29 |
| 1995 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 25 |
| 1996 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 38 |
(11) For 1989 and 1990 individual figures for health and Social Services Board areas do not sum to Northern Ireland figures due to additions to the Northern Ireland total being made by the Department of Medical Genetics. These amendments are not available at Board level.
Health Care
Mr. Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what impact the Chancellor's Budget statement will have on health care provision in Northern Ireland. [76744]
Mr. McFall: The Chancellor's Budget statement confirmed the Government's continuing commitment to modernise the NHS. I am equally determined that health services in Northern Ireland are equipped to provide a first class service, and am considering how this can best be achieved.
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