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Infrastructure Developments
Mr. Sawford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will
20 Oct 1999 : Column: 591
publish the Code of Practice on the Dissemination of Information during Major Infrastructure Developments; and if he will make a statement. [95071]
Mr. Raynsford:
I have today published the Code of Practice and placed copies in the Library. The purpose of the code is to ensure that people are given as much information as possible at all stages of a development. It does, however, recognise that there may be exceptional circumstances where non-disclosure is justifiable, such as when issues of commercial confidentiality arise.
The provision of a referee who can be approached by members of the public, if they believe that information, which should be forthcoming under the code, has not been provided, is a new element in the code.
A key aspect of our proposals for modernising the planning system is to improve the handling of major infrastructure developments. The new code on the dissemination of information links the planning and implementation phases of such developments.
We are currently analysing the responses to our consultation paper on proposals for streamlining the planning approval procedures for major developments. We are also conducting a fundamental review to improve the system of compulsory purchase and compensation, which are often important aspects of major development implementation.
All Government Departments in England and their Agencies will follow the code. The Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly will be making their own arrangements. The code is also commended to local authorities and private sector developers who may be promoting major infrastructure developments.
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further steps he is taking to prepare for the Greater London Authority. [95212]
Mr. Hill:
My predecessor, my hon. Friend the Minister for London and Construction, announced on 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 398-99, that my Department had earmarked provision over the four years 1998-99 to 2001-02 to meet GLA preparation costs and that separate provision was being made to cover the costs of the first elections to the GLA, including publicity, and for establishing Transport for London and the London Development Agency. My Department has now earmarked £20.6 million from within existing budgets to cover these costs.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what meetings she held with members and officials of the United States Government during her visits to the United States on 22 to 24 June 1997 and 14 to 18 April 1998; and if she will list the date and location of each meeting and the names of the members and officials of the United States Government at each meeting. [93955]
20 Oct 1999 : Column: 592
Clare Short:
I visited New York from 22-24 June 1997 to attend the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the follow-up to the UN Conference on Environment and Development. I did not have any bilateral meetings with members and officials of the United States Government.
On my visit to Washington from 14-18 April 1998, I had meetings with:
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the expected expenditure by her Department on humanitarian demining for 2000 and 2001. [94666]
Clare Short:
In 1997 I announced plans to double our annual expenditure on humanitarian mine action to reach £10 million in the financial year 2000-01. The programme is on track to meet this target.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 6 July 1999, Official Report, column 462, on Special Advisers, if she will list the countries to which her Special Advisers have travelled since 2 May 1997. [93911]
Clare Short:
Since May 1997, Special Advisers from my Department travelled to the following countries on official business:
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his policy not to amend the arrangements his Department has for applying sections 40 to 49 of the Animal Health Act 1981 and any subordinate legislation made under the same sections of the Act; and if he will make a statement. [93213]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 27 July 1999]: We have no plans for such amendments.
20 Oct 1999 : Column: 593
8. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the implementation of weapons decommissioning. [92978]
Mr. Ingram:
The Government are determined to see the Agreement implemented in full. We, along with the Irish Government, have appointed Senator Mitchell to review the points of difficulty: an inclusive Executive exercising devolved powers and decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons by May 2000 in a manner determined by the Decommissioning Commission. Senator Mitchell aims to conclude his review speedily.
9. Mr. Gerald Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners have been released under the terms of the Good Friday agreement. [92979]
Mr. Ingram:
To date there have been 298 prisoners who have been released from prison under the terms of the Good Friday agreement. This is drawn from information current at 13 October 1999.
11. Mr. Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the Belfast agreement. [92981]
12. Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress on the peace process. [92982]
15. Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress he has made towards establishing a power-sharing executive for Northern Ireland. [92986]
Mr. Mandelson:
I refer my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) and the hon. Members for Lewes (Mr. Baker) and for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friends the Members for Amber Valley (Judy Mallaber), for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) and for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac). 20 October 1999, Official Report, columns 424-26.
16. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent meetings he has had with the Irish Government concerning the implementation of the Good Friday agreement. [92987]
Mr. Mandelson:
Ministers continue to meet with members of the Irish Government on a regular basis to discuss matters relating to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and other areas of interest to the two Governments.
13. Mr. Tony Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of officers in the RUC are (a) Catholics and (b) women; and if he will make a statement. [92984]
Mr. Ingram:
On 1 July 1999 of the total number of people within the Royal Ulster Constabulary 8.35 per cent. were Catholics and 11.4 per cent. women.
20 Oct 1999 : Column: 594
19. Mr. Browne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Patten commission's report on policing in Northern Ireland. [92990]
Mr. Ingram:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore), 20 October 1999, Official Report, column 431.
14. Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals the Government have for lifelong learning in Northern Ireland. [92985]
Mr. McFall:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron), 20 October 1999, Official Report, column 428.
17. Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and if he will make a statement. [92988]
Mr. George Howarth:
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was established on 1 March this year. The Commission is required to produce an annual report under the Northern Ireland Act 1998. However, the Commission is an independent body and I have therefore asked the Chief Commissioner, Professor Dickson, to write to my hon. Friend to inform her of the Commission's progress since it was established and I shall place a copy in the Library of the House.
Mr. Eisenstadt of the US State Department
Mr. Atwood of USAID
Mr. Schuerch of the US Treasury.
Antigua
Bangladesh
Belgium
Canada
China
France
Hong Kong
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Nepal
Tanzania
Thailand
Vietnam
West Bank and Gaza.
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