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Veterinary Laboratory Agency
Mr. Stephen Twigg: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the 1998-99 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Laboratory Agency. [93601]
Mr. Nick Brown: I am pleased to announce that the 1998-99 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Laboratory Agency were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
I should like to congratulate all staff on their achievements during the year.
TB (Badgers)
Mr. Stephen Twigg: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response the Government have received to the submission on recommendation 69 on TB and badgers, which they made to the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention. [93603]
Mr. Nick Brown:
Following submission of the document in April, the UK Government has responded to a number of subsequent questions from the Secretariat to the Bern Convention and has supplied additional technical information. At the request of the Secretariat, the information has been consolidated into a single document,
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which has been forwarded to the Secretariat and is now being sent to delegates of the Standing Committee. A copy of this latest document, which supersedes the earlier one, has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer) of 31 March 1999, Official Report, column 744, on floods, what further progress the Environment Agency has made in implementing its Action Plan in response to the Independent report on the Easter 1998 floods. [93605]
Mr. Morley:
The Chairman of the Agency has provided me with a report of progress up to the end of June 1999. Copies are being placed in the House Libraries.
I am pleased to note that the Agency remains on course for completing the substantial work programme set out in the Action Plan. In line with the priorities that I set out last October, the Agency has received an independent report on its management structures and skills base and the recommendations will be implemented by next April. An elaboration of the Environment Agency's flood defence supervisory duty was published in May, along with interim high level targets for the Agency and other flood and coastal defence operating authorities. The Agency is now working with others to ensure that flood and coastal defences are identified and inspected; the results recorded and assessed; and appropriate action to remedy defects put in hand. Consultation on further development of high level targets and the supervisory duty is in hand.
The Agency has reported that indicative maps of floodplains have been produced ahead of the September target, and are currently being distributed to local authorities for use in both development control and emergency planning. These maps are being used to review the Agency's database of properties at risk of flooding. Further work has been done on flood warning, with an extension to the number of properties now able to receive direct Automatic Voice Messages through the telephone system. Flood warning messages have been reviewed and a new system to replace the present colour-coded warnings is planned from September 2000. The Agency is embarking on a significant programme of work, both internally and with partners such as local authorities and the emergency services, to ensure that the necessary preparations are made. I have agreed with the Agency that it is important to ensure that these arrangements are introduced successfully and are coupled with a campaign to increase public awareness.
The programme of improvements to the Agency's telemetry network is starting following MAFF agreement to grant aid work in England. The National Assembly for Wales is separately considering the telemetry programme in Wales.
The Agency continues to make good progress in implementing the Easter Floods Report and I will ensure that the House is updated on future progress.
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Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by his Department since June 1997, stating in each case whether the outcome has been (a) put out to consultation and (b) published. [91679]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 22 July 1999, Official Report, column 609, by my right hon. friend the Minister for Women.
As part of the Government's commitment to ensuring that its policies are relevant to the lives that people live today, my Department is working closely with the Women's Unit to develop good practices for carrying out gender impact appraisal.
My Department has not carried out any gender impact assessments since June 1997.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support the Palestine National Authority in developing its economy. [92239]
Mr. Hoon:
Our support for the Palestine National Authority in the development of its economy includes our aid assistance of £8 million each year to the Authority, our support for the Interim Economic Issues (for which £2 million has been set aside by the Department for International Development) and technical assistance to the Ministry of Economy and Trade and Negotiations Affairs Department. The UK also contributes 16 per cent. of EC aid to the Palestinians. We expect this to amount to over £50 million over the next five years.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish, before the summer adjournment, the most recent draft of the concordats between his Department and the National Assembly Wales. [92326]
Mr. Robin Cook:
Work on the international relations and European Union concordats, in which my Department has a considerable interest, is preceding well. We hope to put the draft concordats to the Assembly Cabinet shortly. The concordats will not be published in advance of that.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to provide a contingent of personnel to the United Nations Minurso mission organising the referendum in the Western Sahara. [92636]
Mr. Hoon:
We have no plans at present to reintroduce a contingent to Minurso due to heavy commitments elsewhere.
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 144
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which states which are parties to the Partial Test Ban Treaty have not (a) signed and (b) ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. [92754]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Those states which are parties to the Partial Test Ban Treaty but have neither signed nor ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty are: Afghanistan, Botswana, Bahamas, Central African Republic, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Gambia, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga and Trinidad and Tobago.
Those states which are parties to the Partial Test Ban Treaty but have signed but not ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burma, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Western Samoa and Zambia.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to encourage the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. [92758]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We continue to urge those states which have not yet ratified the treaty to do so as soon as possible--in particular those whose ratification is essential for it to enter into force.
Britain has played a leading role in preparing for a Special Conference of states that have ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty this October in Vienna, to consider ways of accelerating the process of bringing the treaty into force.
Mr. Hood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 19 and 20 July; and if he will make a statement. [92707]
Ms Quin:
1. The General Affairs Council in Brussels on 19 July 1999 adopted the A points listed in document 10103/99. Copies of the documents listing the A points will be placed in the Library as soon as they become available.
Open Debate
2. The GAC had a wide-ranging exchange of views in public session on lessons from Kosovo for the EU's external relations. They agreed that more needed to be done to improve the effectiveness and consistency of EU responses to international crises. An important first step should be to make sure the new CFSP structures introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty worked.
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Presidency Presentation on Procedure
3. The Council noted the Presidency's plans for taking forward preparatory discussions for the Inter- Governmental Conference.
Middle East Peace Process
4. The GAC agreed conclusions welcoming the new government in Israel and looking forward to further developments in the Middle East Peace Process. The GAC hoped that the forthcoming visit to the region by the Presidency, Commission and EU special envoy would further enhance ties with the region.
CFSP
5. The GAC was joined over lunch by Javier Solana, appointed Secretary-General of the Council and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy by the European Council at Vienna. He looked forward to starting his new post in late October or November, and outlined key areas for immediate work, including ways of strengthening CFSP and implementing the Common Strategy on Russia.
WTO/New Round: Commission Communication
6. The Commission presented a Communication on the proposed new trade Round. The General Affairs Council will return to the subject in October.
Western Balkans
7. The GAC welcomed the appointment of Mr. Bernard Kouchner as Special Representative of the UN Secretary- General. It stressed the urgency of setting up an international civilian presence in Kosovo. It gave political agreement to a Regulation setting up a European Agency for Reconstruction.
8. The GAC examined the EU sanctions regime and agreed that measures affecting the Serb people rather than the Belgrade regime would be the first to be lifted. They agreed to examine ways to alleviate the situation of democratic bodies in the FRY. They affirmed that parties competing in elections in the FRY should not have anyone convicted or indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia as candidates.
9. The GAC welcomed plans for the Stability Pact summit in Sarajevo on 30 July and heard a presentation by Mr. Bodo Hombach, EU Special Representative and Co-ordinator of the Pact.
10. The GAC welcomed the informal political dialogues to be held on 20 July with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, and decided to consider the creation of EU/Croatia consultative task force. It agreed with the Commission that it would be feasible to envisage opening negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Macedonia.
East Timor
11. The GAC discussed East Timor and reiterated its strong support for the UN-organised consultation process which enables the East Timorese people to express their views as to the future of the territory.
Twinning
12. The GAC discussed ways of improving procedures for the financing of twinning projects.
Nomination of the Commission
13. The GAC approved Member States' formal nomination for the new Commission.
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European Conference
14. The third meeting of the European Conference took place on 19 July, attended by Foreign Ministers of EU Member States, Central and Eastern European candidate countries, Cyprus, Malta and Switzerland. Discussion focused on the Western Balkans, looking at the way forward and lessons to be learned from the Kosovo crisis. The Conference also agreed conclusions on combating transnational organised crime.
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