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Westminster Council
Mrs. Shephard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the total cost to public funds of the Westminster auditor's inquiry into the Westminster Council's designated sales policy over the period 18 July 1989 to 30 April 1999. [83381]
Ms Armstrong: We are advised by the Audit Commission that the auditor's costs for the investigation, up to and including the publication of his report in 1996, was £3,017,905, which has been met by Westminster City Council. The Audit Commission has, since the commencement of High Court proceedings, met further costs of £3,705,000. This includes the legal costs of the auditor for the High Court and Appeal Court Hearings, and the costs of those appellants whose appeals were successful in the High Court. It does not include the High Court and Appeal Court costs of Dame Shirley Porter and David Weeks; the Appeal Court is reconvening in several weeks to consider the award of these costs.
Audit Commission
Mrs. Shephard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the authority under which the Audit Commission may make, vary, or refuse payments to a District Auditor it has appointed; and if he will make a statement. [83382]
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Ms Armstrong:
The Audit Commission appoints auditors in accordance with the provisions set out in the Audit Commission Act 1998. Section 3(8) gives the Audit Commission discretion to make appointments on such terms and for such periods as the Commission may determine. These terms include the basis on which payments are made to appointed auditors.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the Government's fuel poverty policy proposals. [83906]
Mr. Meale:
The Government intend to publish their proposals for the way ahead on fuel poverty tomorrow. They follow an extensive inter-departmental review of all current policies and programmes, including discussions with over 60 organisations with an interest in this area. Fuel poverty is an important issue which affects all too many households and which we are determined to address. The proposals will be subject to a two month consultation period, during which we shall actively seek views from interested parties. Copies of the consultation paper will be available tomorrow morning in the Library of the House and the Vote Office.
Union Recognition
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what monitoring his Department undertakes of the implementation of Government policies on wages and union recognition in companies in South Wales. [81921]
The Government asked the Low Pay Commission to monitor and evaluate the introduction and impact of the national minimum wage with particular reference to the effects on pay, employment and competitiveness. The Commission has been asked to report its findings by December. However, all employers in Wales will need to act within the law respecting the provisions of minimum wage legislation.
Union Recognition
The Employment Relations Bill, which contains a statutory procedure for trade union recognition, is currently being considered in another place. The Government is committed to reviewing the operation of such a procedure once it is in place.
Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each application for a licence to grow genetically modified crops in Wales in 1999, and the proposed locations. [82220]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
No applications to release genetically modified organisms at sites in Wales have been received in 1999.
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An application was received, in December 1998, for the approval of research trials of Spring GM oilseed rape at 15 locations across Great Britain. In line with normal procedures this was assessed by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment who appraise the application and advise on whether consent should be granted. One of the proposed release sites was in Monmouthshire and a consent was issued earlier this year. Subsequently, the farmer in Monmouthshire has withdrawn his permission to trial the GM crop.
My right hon. Friend's responsibilities in this area are shortly to transfer to the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents who have agreed to join the New Deal programme in Wales. [83765]
Mr. Hain:
The latest information from the Employment Service indicates that, by the end of March 1999, over 4,400 lone parents had agreed to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents in Wales.
Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his latest estimate is of the number of lone parents who have found jobs under the New Deal arrangements in Wales. [83764]
Mr. Hain:
The latest information from the Employment Service indicates that, by the end of March 1999, almost 1,200 lone parents had secured jobs through the New Deal for Lone Parents in Wales.
Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the numbers of 18 to 24-year-olds who have obtained jobs through the New Deal arrangements in Wales. [83766]
Mr. Hain:
The latest information from the Department for Education and Employment indicates that, by the end of February 1999, over 4,300 young people had secured sustained jobs through the New Deal for 18-24s in Wales.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for information he received under the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last parliamentary session; and how many of these applications were granted. [83121]
Mr. Michael:
For monitoring purposes this information is collected on a calendar year basis. Information for 1997 was published last year in the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information 1997 Report. In 1998 my Department received 18 applications for information under the Code and granted 14 of them.
11. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to address overstretch in the Armed Forces. [82588]
10 May 1999 : Column: 14
Mr. Doug Henderson:
We remain firmly committed to addressing overstretch in the Armed Forces. Recruiting is an important priority; it remains buoyant and all three Services have improved their recruitment achievements during the last year. We are also making strenuous efforts to improve retention, for example through the Strategic Defence Review 'Policy for People' initiatives.
12. Ms Squire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Kosovo. [82589]
Mr. George Robertson:
Serbian forces continue their brutality against Kosovar Albanians. Over one million have been forced from their homes. The UNHCR report that approximately 800,000 are now resident in temporary camps outside Kosovo or in countries elsewhere. A further 350,000 to 800,000 are thought to be internally displaced seeking refuge and safety in Kosovo.
15. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated tonnage of ordnance dropped on oil and chemical plants in Yugoslavia since 24 March; and what estimate he has made of resulting emissions of (a) ammonia, (b) benzene, (c) chlorine, (d) mercury, (e) phosgene and (f) sulphur dioxide. [82592]
Mr. George Robertson:
I am withholding information on the tonnage of ordnance dropped in Yugoslavia since 24 March under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. We take the need to avoid dangerous emissions from nuclear and chemical plants fully into account in making decisions about targets. The UK will comply with its obligations under the First Geneva Protocol.
22. Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the air campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to date. [82600]
Mr. George Robertson:
NATO's military action has had significant impact on Yugoslav military and special police operations and continues to do so. The air campaign is moving systematically and progressively to disrupt the violence and degrade President Milosevic's forces, his sustaining infrastructure, command and control and other targets associated with his system of repression.
Ms Dari Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role British troops are playing in assisting the humanitarian relief effort for Kosovar Albanian refugees. [82610]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The UK will continue to play a leading role in responding to the humanitarian crisis in the region.
British troops in Macedonia have been assisting refugees since the beginning of April. They are continuing to prepare and distribute food and to supply blankets, nappies and other essential items. UK troops have also been involved in improving infrastructure at the refugee camps. This has included erecting tents and shelters, digging latrines, laying water pipes, removing rubbish, erecting fences and constructing tracks and bridges.
10 May 1999 : Column: 15
Today we plan to make available some 1,000 UK troops, currently in Macedonia, to assist in the humanitarian aid effort in Albania, where they will work with troops from other NATO nations to construct camps for up to 65,000 refugees. These camps will be handed over to Non Governmental Organisations to administer as soon as they have been established.
23. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role British troops are currently playing in providing humanitarian support in south-east Europe. [82601]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
In south-east Europe, British troops are providing humanitarian support in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and in Albania. For the details of their role, I refer The hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton, South (Ms Taylor) today, Official Report, column 140.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of (a) food, (b) medical equipment and (c) temporary accommodation have been provided by (i) United Kingdom military forces and (ii) NATO forces to refugees in (1) Macedonia, (2) Montenegro and (3) Albania since the outset of the NATO action in Yugoslavia; and what has been the cost to date of such assistance. [81944]
Mr. George Robertson:
UK forces have not yet provided any assistance to refugees in Montenegro. In Albania and Macedonia UK forces have played a key role in alleviating the refugee crisis. In Albania this has not as yet involved provision of food, medical supplies or temporary accommodation. In Macedonia, full details of the quantities are not available, but estimated costs to date under the relevant headings are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| (a) food | 2,500,000 |
| (b) medical supplies | 37,000 |
| (c) temporary accommodation | 95,000 |
The Department for International Development will reimburse MOD for the above costs, and has assumed responsibility for future assistance. We do not have records of the value of assistance supplied by other NATO nations.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many additional (a) major units and (b) trained soldiers the Army would require to sustain 24-month tour intervals if operational deployments to Kosovo/ Macedonia/Albania and Bosnia are sustained at current levels indefinitely. [83139]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 4 May 1999]: This would depend on the circumstances of particular operations, the overall level of operational commitment and progress towards achieving full manning.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on the identity of the perpetrators of war crimes in Kosovo. [83402]
Mr. George Robertson:
It is for the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague to seek indictments against
10 May 1999 : Column: 16
individuals she believes have been responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law in Kosovo. The Government will hand over as much information as they can that will be relevant to the Tribunal's investigations.
Mr. Wareing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of the extent of collateral damage caused by NATO air raids in (a) the Belgrade suburb of Banjica and (b) Aleksinac. [83490]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 7 May 1999]: We do not have any information on collateral damage to the Belgrade suburb of Banjica.
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