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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Probate
Mr. McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department on what authority and on what grounds the Central Probate Registry in High Holborn has increased its fees for the examination of wills from 1858. [84724]
Mr. Vaz: The increase in fees is governed by the Non-Contentious Probate fees order (Statutory Instrument 1999/688(L)). The recent increases were introduced in order to ensure that the fee charged accurately reflects the cost of the service provided.
TREASURY
Banking Regulations
Ms Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the Banking Act 1987 (Exempt Transactions) Regulations 1997 and their effect on retail co-operative societies and other industrial and provident societies. [85313]
Ms Hewitt: As part of the general review of exemptions from financial services legislation, the Treasury has been looking at the exemptions from the Banking Act which:
The Treasury has decided to continue the exemption for WSC, subject to compliance with a code of practice which will require societies to make it clear to those subscribing for WSC that this is risk capital, where such issues rely on the exemption. The Treasury has today issued a consultation document on the proposal, and will make a further announcement after considering the responses.
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Following consultation with representatives of the Co-operative Union, the exemption which allows CDPS members to take deposits in the form of loans from the public will end when the current term of the CDPS comes to an end at the end of March 2000. Societies will repay such loans as they mature.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has agreed the business plan for the Office for National Statistics for 1999 to 2002. [85314]
Ms Hewitt:
Copies of the plan, giving details of the performance targets I have set for 1999-2000, have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the reports commissioned by his Department since 1 May 1997 from (a) external bodies and (b) individuals on (i) primary care, (ii) acute hospital care, (iii) accident and emergency provision, (iv) nursing and (v) waiting lists, where applicable giving the date of publication. [79611]
Mr. Dobson:
Information about reports commissioned by the Department has been placed in the Library. Information about research funded by the Department or supported through the National Health Service research and development levy is in the National Research Register which is also available in the Library. More detailed information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Gordon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to increase the availability of (a) osteopathy and (b) chiropractic treatment in the NHS. [84728]
Ms Jowell:
The availability of osteopathy and chiropractic treatment within the National Health Service, as with any other form of treatment, reflects decisions taken by health authorities, trusts and primary care groups about the clinical and cost effectiveness of such services and the priority to be given to their provision in the light of local health needs. As primary care groups have only recently been established, we shall be studying the use that they make of all forms of complementary medicine.
(i) allow industrial and provident societies (I&Ps) to take deposits from their members in the form of withdrawable share capital (WSC), in circumstances which would otherwise require authorisation by the Financial Services Authority; and
(ii) allow retail co-operatives which are members of the Co-operative Deposit Protection Scheme (CDPS) to take deposits in the form of loans from the public.
Public Consultations
Mr. Gill: To ask the Prime Minister what period of time is recommended in Government guidelines for public consultations. [84900]
The Prime Minister:
The Cabinet Office guidelines state that eight weeks should generally be the minimum response time for all consultation exercises, but whenever possible more should be allowed. Where less than eight weeks is allowed, the consultation document should
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specify why a longer response time could not have been given (for example, pre-determined statutory periods for consultation, threats to health, the pace of EU negotiations or long-standing existing arrangements). For consultations with clearly defined or specialist groups, shorter consultation periods may suffice, depending on the nature of the subject and the scale of the exercise: this is for departments, agencies and other bodies to judge according to the circumstances.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of total staff costs for No. 10 Downing Street in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000, indicating separately the costs for (i) private secretaries, (ii) Policy Unit staff, (iii) Press Office staff, (iv) Strategic Communications Unit staff, (v) support staff and (vi) political office staff; and if he will make a statement. [80115]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 15 April 1999]: The total staff costs for No. 10 Downing street were £3.4 million in 1996-97, £4.1 million in 1997-98 and £4.9 million in 1998-99. Estimated costs for 1999-2000 are £5.3 million. Due to changes in the accounting systems it is not possible to give a breakdown of the 1996-97 figures as requested which means that a meaningful comparison with subsequent years cannot be drawn. The cost of the Political Office does not fall to the Government.
Citizens (Deportation)
Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the right of a sovereign country to deport its own citizens from the land of their birth and nationality; and if he will make a statement. [80801]
Mr. Tony Lloyd [holding answer 16 April 1999]: Representations of this nature have been made to the Secretary of State by and on behalf of the Ilois community. This is related to issues arising in the judicial proceedings being brought by the Ilois which will in due course come before the Divisional Court. It is therefore inappropriate for the Government to comment further.
Travel Advice
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how frequently his Department is updating information on travel advice to individual countries on his Department's website; and if more regular updates are planned for countries with (a) a political involvement in and (b) close proximity to the current NATO bombing campaign in the Balkans. [81214]
Mr. Hoon:
All travel advice is reviewed routinely on a monthly basis. It is updated more frequently when there is reason to do so. The situation in countries in the general neighbourhood of the current NATO air campaign is being closely monitored, and new travel advice would be issued immediately should it be judged appropriate.
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Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department is giving to tourists planning to visit areas in close proximity to the NATO military actions in the Balkans. [81215]
Mr. Hoon:
In view of the current hostilities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) (FRY) we are currently advising against all travel to the FRY, Republika Srpska (RS), Albania and all but essential travel to Macedonia. We also advise additional caution with regard to travel in areas bordering FRY.
We are monitoring the situation closely, and updated travel advice will be issued as soon as there is any change in the risks to British nationals in the region.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received concerning the efforts of the state Government of Rio Grande do Sul to guarantee non- genetically modified soya-bean production throughout their state; and what plans his Department has to give assistance. [84501]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We have not received any such reports.
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Rooker) gave on 19 May 1999, Official Report, column 395.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the new British Ambassador to Iran to be appointed; and if he will name him. [84741]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 18 May that Britain and Iran have agreed to upgrade relations by appointing Ambassadors in Tehran and London. Mr. Nick Browne will be British Ambassador in Tehran.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what loans have been made by the British Government to Iran in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [84755]
Mr. Hoon:
The British Government made no loans to Iran in the period specified. Short-term ECGD cover has been available since July 1998, but so far this facility has not been used.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Ministers have visited Iran in each of the last three years. [84754]
Mr. Hoon:
There have been no ministerial visits to Iran in the last three years. The last UK Minister to travel to Iran was Baroness Chalker, who visited Iraqi Kurdish refugees in north-west Iran in 1991.
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