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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 10 March 2000
WALES
Press Releases
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was (a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113978]
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113988]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Wales Office deals with a variety of newspapers and media bodies, with distribution relying on the subject and content of the specific press release. Furthermore, all media outlets can request press releases. All press releases issued are available on the Wales Office website.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions (a) he and (b) his predecessors met with (i) the Chairperson and (ii) the board of non-departmental public bodies in Wales since May 1997; and on how many occasions a press statement was issued on the matters discussed and agreed at the meeting. [113312]
Mr. Paul Murphy: There are currently 14 non- departmental public bodies in Wales sponsored by the National Assembly, but the list of such bodies has changed since May 1997 and the frequency of meetings with the Chairpersons and boards of these organisations varies considerably from one body to another.
The information requested is not held centrally, and because of the factors outlined above, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Appointments Commission
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council when she expects to appoint the chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. [112813]
Mrs. Beckett:
A five-strong selection panel chaired by the Secretary of the Cabinet, Sir Richard Wilson, and including an independent assessor will determine the final shortlist for both the position of chairman and the positions of independent members; the Prime Minister
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will then make the formal appointment. The procedure will follow the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
We hope to have the House of Lords Appointments Commission in place by April. However, these are important appointments and we do not intend the process of making them to be skimped to meet a self-imposed artificial deadline.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the President of the Council for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was (a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from her Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113974]
Mrs. Beckett:
There were no occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from my Department. No cost was involved.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the President of the Council if she will list the (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which her Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113982]
Mrs. Beckett:
This question cannot be answered without incurring disproportionate costs.
Press Releases are available to all press via the news distribution service managed by the Central Office of Information and are also available on the Internet. Targeted distribution will rely on the subject and content of the specific press release.
Anthrax Vaccine
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last (a) purchased and (b) issued for use new supplies of anthrax vaccine. [113001]
Mr. Spellar: The Ministry of Defence last purchased supplies of anthrax vaccine in 1991 from the Centre for Applied Microbiological Research, the sole manufacturer in the UK. No new vaccine has since been supplied. The anthrax vaccine issued from 1993 onwards has had its shelf-life extended by the Medicines Control Agency.
Gulf War Illnesses
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the membership of the Independent Panel on Gulf War Illnesses, including the term of appointment in each case and any changes to the membership; how often it meets; and if he will make a statement. [113958]
Mr. Spellar:
The Independent Panel on Vaccines Interactions was established to scrutinise all aspects of proposals for research into the potential adverse effects of interactions between the vaccines and tablets which could have been administered to Service personnel at the time of the Gulf conflict. The Panel is chaired by Professor Donald Davies. The other Panel members are: Professor J. E. Banatvala, Professor P. Beverley, Dr. J. Bird,
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Dr. A. Boylston, Dr. P. Fawcett, Professor A. Grossman, Professor Malcolm Hooper, Dr. Ian Kimber, Dr. Norman Jones, Professor Stafford Lightman, Dr. Christopher Martyn, Dr. Elizabeth Miller, Dr. David Ray, Professor E. M. Sedgwick, Professor A. Silman and Dr. Geoffrey Schild.
The Panel has met on four occasions since December 1997. The frequency of the meetings is dictated by the research programme. Professor Davies was appointed chairman in January 1999. Professor Hooper, Dr. Schild and Dr. Kimber have all joined the Panel since the first meeting. Panel members are not appointed for a specific term.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason no minutes were taken of the meeting on 29 March 1999 between Professor Hooper and the Independent Panel on Gulf War Illnesses; if he will place copies of the presentations made at the meeting in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [113898]
Mr. Spellar:
On the evening of 29 March 1999, the Head of the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme gave a presentation on Gulf veterans' illnesses to the Independent Panel, of which Professor Hooper is a member. Only personal notes were used and, as the presentation was informal, no minutes were taken.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113984]
Dr. Moonie:
The information requested is not recorded. All media outlets can request press releases--current or archive--at any time. In addition, all MOD press releases are made available on the Internet. Targeted distribution of press releases relies on the subject and content of the specific press releases.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was (a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113972]
Dr. Moonie:
The Ministry of Defence uses the Central Office of Information (COI) News Distribution Service. Until April 1998, we subscribed to their courier service. For the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 we used the couriers on 240 occasions at a total cost of £9,600 (240 x £40).
From April 1998, MOD has distributed press releases electronically and by fax only, through the COI News Distribution Service. Press releases are also posted on the Internet.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 2000, Official Report, column 325W, on peat compost, what percentage of the compost used in his Department's estate gardens
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is peat; when use of peat compost will be phased out on his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement. [114144]
Mr. Spellar:
The information on what percentage of the compost used in my Department's estate gardens is peat, is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. All indications are, however, that such use of peat is infrequent. My officials are currently assessing the full impact of phasing out the use of peat on the MOD estate and it is anticipated that an action plan will be in place by the summer.
Mr. Bruce George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Select Committees, other than the Defence Committee, Ministers in his Department have (a) submitted memoranda to and (b) appeared before in the present Parliament. [112402]
Mr. Hoon:
In the present Parliament, Defence Ministers have not given evidence to any Select Committee of the House of Commons other than to the Defence Committee inquiring on their own or when acting in partnership with other Select Committees. However, I have just agreed to give oral evidence to the International Development Select Committee as part of that Committee's inquiry into Mozambique.
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