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PRIME MINISTER
Proportional Representation
Q15. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on proportional representation for Westminster parliamentary elections. [80336]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 14 April 1999, Official Report, column 238.
KLA
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of (a) the Europol report to European interior and justice Ministers on a connection between the KLA and Albanian drugs gangs and (b) the German Federal Police Agency report on KLA involvement in heroin trafficking for the acquisition of arms. [81418]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 19 April 1999]: There has been no such report from Europol to European Justice and Home Affairs Ministers. I understand also that the German Federal Police Agency have stated that they have not prepared any such report.
Gibraltar
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of his summit discussions with the Spanish Prime Minister in relation to Gibraltar during the weekend of 10 and 11 April. [81577]
The Prime Minister:
The Summit provided an opportunity to mark and formalise the step-change in our wider relationship with Spain, an EU partner with whom we have many common interests. I did discuss Gibraltar with Sr. Aznar. I set out, as I have before, British policy on Gibraltar. I also expressed our wish to see improved relations between Britain and Spain lead to material improvements in relation to Gibraltar.
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Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the membership and terms of reference of all ministerial committees dealing with European policy. [81432]
The Prime Minister:
The principal Committee for considering questions relating to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union is the Ministerial Sub-Committee on European Issues E(DOP). The Committee is chaired by the Foreign Secretary and reports to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy, which I chair. The composition and terms of reference of E(DOP) were last amended on 19 February 1999 and are as shown. The composition and terms of reference of DOP have not changed since I published an updated list of Cabinet Ministerial Committees on 21 October 1998, Official Report, columns 1123-35. European Union matters will be considered by other Committees from time to time.
Terms of Reference are:
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to achieve greater co-ordination between the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. [81450]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 20 April 1999]: The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides already co-ordinate through their Secretariats and exchange information on matters of mutual interest such as the use
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 597
of pesticides on genetically modified plants. The future co-ordination of these and other committees is subject to the outcome of the 'review of the framework for overseeing developments in biotechnology' announced by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 17 December 1998, Official Report, columns 644-45.
Sir Peter Tapsell:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 21 April. [81275]
The Prime Minister:
This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be leaving for Washington. I have also sent a message on behalf of Britain to the United States of America, expressing our shock and sympathy for the appalling tragedy of the murdered schoolchildren in Littleton, Colorado. I know the whole House will share those sentiments.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to assist playgroups in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [78957]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
On 1 April 1999, I announced funding of £50,000, to be split between the Wales Pre-School Playgroups Association and Mudiad Ysgolian Meithrin, to help sustain good quality playgroups in Wales. This is in addition to the £50,000 made available in 1998-99 to support playgroups at risk of closing.
I have also announced that there will be a review of how playgroups and the pre-school movement can develop their role in delivering both early years education and childcare in Wales.
In future, childcare will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Efford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the Macpherson Inquiry recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [80533]
Mr. Michael:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 14 April 1999, Official Report, columns 239-40, by the Minister for the Cabinet Office. In addition, I welcome the findings of the Macpherson report. Its existence, and in particular its definition of institutional racism, is an important backdrop to the work my Department is undertaking on building race equality into its policies and procedures--work which will be taken forward with statutory backing in the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Shotton town council to discuss the impact of out-of-town retail outlets upon the town's retail outlets; and if he will make a statement. [80844]
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 598
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is unable to meet Shotton town council on this matter. New planning policy guidance for Wales was issued on 7 April this year including further encouragement for locating new retailing in town centres and clarifying policy in respect of testing the need for new shopping proposals.
In the future, guidance on retailing will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many extra nurses he has recruited; and if he will make a statement. [80842]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
Information on individual Trust recruitment is not held centrally.
Annual intakes of nursing students in Wales have increased from 656 in 1994 to 992 in 1998. In February 1999, there were 2,282 nursing students in Wales being trained to meet NHS Trusts' demands for newly qualified staff. As a result of a survey of individual Trusts' needs, advertisements will be placed in local newspapers to attract registered nurses back to the NHS in Wales and we shall be asking Trusts to provide information on the outcome of this campaign in due course.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he proposes to make to the Royal Commission's report on Long Term Care. [80839]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
I refer to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health's statement to the House on 1 March 1999, Official Report, columns 741-52. The Government welcome the Report and wish to see a full public debate on the recommendation that the Royal Commission has made. The Commission's recommendations are wide-ranging, covering matters which will need to be decided at a UK level and others which will be the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.
Ministerial Sub-Committee on European Issues ((E)DOP)
Composition
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Chair)
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Defence
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for International Development
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
Attorney-General
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe
Other Ministers will be invited to attend, as the nature of the business requires.
The United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the European Union is also in attendance.
"To consider questions relating to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy".
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