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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 17 June 1999
PRIME MINISTER
Intergovernmental Conference
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the agenda of the planned Intergovernmental Conference of Spring 2000. [87307]
The Prime Minister: The Cologne European Council took decisions about the timing, scope and preparation of the next Intergovernmental Conference. These are set out in the Presidency conclusions, which have been placed in the Library of the House.
Kosovo
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister if the Government received prior communication from Russian sources of an intent to occupy areas of strategic importance in Kosovo independently of NATO. [87300]
The Prime Minister: We and NATO have long made clear that we looked forward to a substantial Russian contribution to KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Russia did not notify NATO in advance that it intended to deploy a small unit to Pristina airfield but, as the commander of KFOR has explained, this Russian unit had not affected either the deployment of NATO forces or the implementation of the Kosovo peace agreement. NATO is working with Russia on detailed command and control arrangements for Russian forces in KFOR.
Security and Intelligence Services
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the Commissioner appointed under the Security Service Act 1989 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [87661]
The Prime Minister: A copy of the annual report of the Commissioner, Lord Justice Stuart-Smith, for 1998 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 4(6) of the Security Service Act 1989. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 4(7) of the 1989 Act and in line with the Commissioner's recommendation. I am grateful to the Commissioner for his work in reviewing the issues of warrants under the Intelligence Services Act 1994.
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the Commissioner appointed under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [87662]
The Prime Minister:
A copy of the annual report of the Commissioner, Lord Justice Stuart-Smith, for 1998 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(6) of the Intelligence Services
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Act 1994. The confidential annexe to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(7) of the 1994 Act. I am grateful to the Commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and authorisations, and in providing assistance to the Tribunal as provided for in the Act.
Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the Commissioner appointed under section 8(1) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [87663]
The Prime Minister:
A copy of the annual report of the Commissioner, Lord Nolan, for 1998 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential annexe to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1985 Act and in accordance with the Commissioner's recommendations. I am grateful to the Commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants during the year. I note in particular the Commissioner's view that interception of both postal communications and telecommunications remains an effective and an essential operation in the interests of national security and the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, and the prevention and detection of serious crime.
Mr. Pendry:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 1999, Official Report, columns 283-84, if he will (a) list Government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits at current prices for the financial years 1993-94 to 1998-99, (b) list all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 between 2 May 1997 and 31 March 1999 including the cost, destination and purpose of the visit and (c) publish the rules governing travel by Ministers. [87665]
The Prime Minister:
Expenditure on Ministerial overseas visits for the periods requested is estimated as follows:
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 6.5 |
| 1994-95 | 6.6 |
| 1995-96 | 6.9 |
| 1996-97 | 7.8 |
| 1 May 1997-31 March 1998 | 6.1 |
| 1998-99 | 4.8 |
The figures for 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96 do not include some expenditure falling to the Scottish Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Welsh Office because the information was not recorded centrally or is incomplete. Full costs are available from 1996-97 onwards. All figures are in 1997-98 prices. The figure for 1998-99 reflects payments made so far for travel undertaken in this period; a few bills have yet to be submitted to departments for payment.
A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during the period 2 May 1997 and 31 March 1999 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list provides details of the date,
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destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate. Comprehensive listings for earlier years is not available.
Guidance on travel by Ministers is set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. The rules on travel by Ministers are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration. Travel by Ministers has always been an internal guidance document. However, in line with this Government's commitment to greater openness, I have decided to publish the document and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Ministerial Code is already in the public domain.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many fraud cases the Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service have brought to a successful conclusion in this financial year; and if he will break this figure down by administrative region. [86900]
Mr. Timms:
Operational matters are the responsibility of the Benefits Agency Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 16 June 1999:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many fraud cases the Benefit Agency Security and Investigation Service has brought to a successful conclusion in this financial year; and if he will break this figure down by administrative region.
As at 31 May 1999, the BASIS has brought to a successful conclusion thirty one cases in the Southern Area and thirty six in the Northern Area.
I hope that this is helpful.
China Western Poverty Reduction Project
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from the Chinese Ambassador concerning the Qinghai component of the China Western Poverty Reduction Project. [87124]
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from (a) Tibetans in Dulan county and (b) other interested parties concerning the Qinghai component of the China Western Poverty Reduction Project. [87122]
Clare Short:
We have not received any representations from Tibetan or other ethnic groups living in Dulan county. A number of UK non-governmental organisations have written to me.
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Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment she has made of the impact on the indigenous population of the Qinghai component of the China Western Poverty Reduction Project; [87118]
(3) if she will make a statement on the consultation process undertaken by the World bank with the people currently living in the move-in area of the proposed China Western Poverty Reduction Project; [87121]
(4) if she will provide details of the World bank's environmental impact assessments of the Qinghai component of the China Western Poverty Reduction Project. [87123]
Clare Short:
The World bank's staff appraisal report on this project was made available at the end of last week. I will write to the hon. Member when we have had an opportunity to study this.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the current humanitarian situation in southern Sudan. [87114]
Clare Short:
Southern Sudan has some of the worst malnutrition and mortality rates in the world. While the situation in the south this year is significantly better than in 1998, it is essential that a long term and just peace is achieved in Sudan. Until it is, crises on the scale of last year are liable to reoccur at any time.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the current harvest and food levels in southern Sudan. [87115]
Clare Short:
The best estimates available indicate that total productive efforts, that is from fishing and livestock as well as the last harvest production, should be sufficient to meet about 90 per cent. of needs in southern Sudan this year. The actual ability of the rural population in southern Sudan to meet their own needs remains dependent on external factors such as the level of insecurity and internal displacement.
(2) if she will make a statement on the World bank category B environmental status given to the China Western Poverty Reduction Project; [87120]
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