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Media Relations
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84192]
Mr. George Robertson [holding answer 18 May 1999]: Detailed information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99 was provided in a memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on The Government Information and Communication Service (HC770) in July 1998. A copy is in the Library of the House. The number of civil servants, excluding administrative support staff, permanently employed in the MOD Press Office on media relations work on 1 May 1999 was 10. In addition three military officers were assigned to the MOD Press Office.
The two Special Advisers in this Department have ad hoc contact with the media but neither is specifically employed in media relations.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Crown Prosecution Service
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Attorney-General what measures he is taking to improve the (a) speed and (b) effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service. [84324]
The Attorney-General:
The Crown Prosecution Service has been piloting a number of initiatives to reduce delay as part of the inter-agency Reducing Delays Initiative. The pilots were completed at the end of March of 1999 and are now being evaluated. The evaluation report is expected in July 1999 and Ministers will then take final decisions on national implementation of the initiatives. The CPS is also continuing to make good progress in implementing the Glidewell Report, which made a number of recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of the Service. From April 1999, the CPS has been reorganised into 42 geographical Areas, each headed by a new Chief Crown Prosecutor. This re-organisation, announced when the Government first took office, represents a significant step towards improving the effectiveness of the CPS.
19 May 1999 : Column: 347
EU Culture Ministers Meeting
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the issues which he (i) plans to raise and (ii) expects other states to raise at the Culture Ministers meeting on 18 and 19 May. [84677]
Mr. Alan Howarth [holding answer 18 May 1999]: I will be attending the informal meeting of EU Ministers responsible for cultural and audiovisual issues taking place in Weimar on 18 and 19 May.
The main issues which will be raised at that meeting are the Culture 2000 programme, culture and employment, European identity and history, self-regulation of the media at the European level, and the results of the consultations on the European Commission green paper on convergence.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
National Minimum Wage
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the need for amendments to the (a) national minimum wage and (b) working time legislation on the basis of experience since their implementation. [84342]
Mr. Byers: The national minimum wage has been in operation for almost seven weeks and so it is too early to make a considered assessment of whether any major amendments might be required in the light of experience. However, the Government propose to make an amendment to the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to exempt members of Intentional Communities (religious and spiritual residential organisations) following the Low Pay Commission's report. The amendment will be introduced through the Employment Relations Bill which is currently before Parliament. Adjustments to implementation procedures may also be made as necessary.
With regard to the Working Time Directive, we will issue guidance that will address the questions that have been most frequently asked since the regulations came into force.
Electronic Commerce
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to publish a draft bill on electronic commerce. [84341]
Mr. Byers: As Her Majesty announced in Her Gracious Speech on the opening of Parliament, the Government intend to introduce legislation on electronic commerce during the current session.
Milk Market
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into the milk market; and if he will make a statement. [84122]
19 May 1999 : Column: 348
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 14 May 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 6 May 1999, Official Report, columns 1069-70, to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath).
Mr. Forth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households in the UK use coin-operated meters for electricity. [84661]
Mr. Battle:
The latest Office of Electricity Regulation statistics (for the last quarter of 1998) show that there were 661 coin meters in use in Scotland, England and Wales. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to provide the right hon. Member with the relevant figures for Northern Ireland, and to place a copy of her response in the Library of the House.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the agenda for the EU Research Council on 20 May. [84676]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 May 1999]: The agenda for the formal session of EU Research Council on 20 May consists of:
There will also be an informal afternoon session at which the Presidency aims to stimulate a wide-ranging debate on the future of European research. Ministers will be joined by seven representatives of industry and academia who will speak briefly on key issues in European research.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the restricted marking classification of his Department's internal history of the negotiations on United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community. [83398]
Ms Quin:
The text referred to is the "Report on the Negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community" written in 1972 by Sir Con O'Neill. The text
19 May 1999 : Column: 349
was classified as Confidential. This report is expected to be published later this year, ahead of its scheduled release in 2003 under the 30 year rule.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the document presented to the General Affairs Council of the European Union by the Presidency concerning a future European Defence Policy and capability, in co-operation with NATO; what discussion there has been in Council of the proposals; and what consultation Her Majesty's Government propose to hold. [84315]
Ms Quin:
The German Presidency are in the course of preparing a report on European defence, which will be submitted to European Union Heads of Government at the Cologne European Council, after discussion at the General Affairs Council. A copy of the final version will be placed in the Library once it is available.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the agenda for the meeting of Co-operation Council with Russia on 18 May. [84699]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 18 May 1999]: The provisional agenda for the EU/Russia Co-operation Council on 17 May was as follows:
1. Approval of the adoption of decisions concerning the association of applicant countries (CCEE and Cyprus) with the Fifth Framework Programme for European Research and Technological Development.
2. Consideration of a draft Council Resolution on "Women and Science: Mobilising women to enrich European research".
3. Any Other Business:
(a) the Commission will provide information on the competitiveness of European enterprises in the face of globalisation, with regard to action to be taken on its Communication.
(b) the Presidency will provide information on scientific and technical co-operation with the Mediterranean partner countries.
(c) the Commission will provide information on decommissioning of the Joint Research Centre's obsolete nuclear facilities.
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