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State Aid
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000, Official Report, column 613W, on state aid to industry, what formal investigation procedures concerning the United Kingdom have been initiated by the Commission since May 1997 other than that relating to the Rover/BMW plant in Birmingham; and if he will place the information supplied to the Commission by (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) other parties in each such case in the Library. [116835]
Mr. Byers: Other than the proposed aid for Rover/BMW plant in Birmingham, the Commission has initiated two formal investigation procedures into aid concerning the United Kingdom since May 1997. The cases were as follows: Pig Welfare Slaughter Compensation Scheme (C76/98) in Northern Ireland and the English Partnership/Investment Programme (N31/95).
I will arrange for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.
Small Businesses
Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses are based in North East England; and what percentage this represents of the UK total. [117215]
Ms Hewitt: The total number of small and medium enterprises in the North East is 39,600 and this represents 3 per cent. of the equivalent figure for the UK.
Part-time Workers Directive
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress in consultation about the part-time workers directive. [115684]
Mr. Alan Johnson: The Government are currently considering the responses to the consultation on part-time work. We will announce the outcome and lay the regulations on part-time work as soon as possible.
Gas Directive
Mr. Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to implement Article 23 of the Gas Directive (98/30/EC) in respect of access to upstream pipeline networks. [117465]
Mrs. Liddell:
I have today issued a consultation document outlining proposals to implement those aspects of the Gas Directive which apply to upstream pipeline networks.
30 Mar 2000 : Column: 243W
The consultation document outlines proposals to amend the Pipelines Act 1962 and the Petroleum Act 1998 in order to give effect to Article 23 of the Gas Directive by placing a duty on upstream pipeline owners to consider applications for access to their pipelines against certain criteria and placing certain new duties and powers on the Secretary of State to settle disputes between pipeline owners and applicants for access.
As many upstream pipelines carry a complex mix of hydrocarbons from which gas and oil may be extracted at a processing facility, the consultation document proposes applying the provisions of Article 23 of the Directive to certain upstream pipelines which carry either gas or oil or both. It proposes a definition of "upstream pipeline network" which would include offshore and onshore pipelines of any length carrying gas or oil from an oil or gas production field to processing terminals in the United Kingdom or carrying gas to terminals in another country. The definition would also include pipelines carrying gas directly from a production field to a power station or industrial plant.
The consultation document seeks views on all of these proposals and, in particular, on how the interconnecting pipeline between the United Kingdom and Belgium should be regarded for the purposes of the Directive.
The proposals clarify certain aspects of the Pipelines Act 1962 and the Petroleum Act 1998, in particular the Secretary of State's role as the dispute settlement authority, and reflect current practice in the offshore industry under the Offshore Infrastructure Code of Practice. The material impact on business is expected to be negligible.
Comments on the consultation document have been requested by 30 May 2000.
A copy of that document has been placed in the Library of the House. The document is also available on the Department's website (www.og.dti.uk).
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Maginnis) of 29 February 2000, Official Report, column 200W, on Parliamentary Questions, what expense was incurred in answering questions from the hon. Member for Hull, North (a) concerning the circumstances surrounding and subsequent inquiries into the deaths of (i) Patrick Finucane, (ii) Rosemary Nelson and (iii) Robert Hamill and (b) concerning (1) the RUC's response to the Patten report and (2) the Police Federation's response to the Patten report. [113435]
Mr. Ingram:
During the period 1 June 1999 to 31 January 2000, my hon. Friend tabled a total of 25 Parliamentary Questions on these issues. A rough calculation of the cost of answering these questions has been estimated at £8,500.
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Mr. Donaldson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC detectives are engaged in the investigation into the death of Rosemary Nelson. [114717]
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC (a) detectives and (b) other officers are working (i) full-time and (ii) part-time, on the investigation into the death of Mrs. Rosemary Nelson. [114935]
Mr. Ingram:
The number of officers involved in this investigation has varied at different times to accommodate the needs of the necessary inquiries. However, I can advise that, for example, on 14 March there were a total of 68 officers attached to the inquiry, 22 of whom were RUC officers.
Mrs. McKenna:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will publish the Probation Board for Northern Ireland's Corporate Plan for 1999 to 2002. [117395]
Mr. Ingram:
The Probation Board for Northern Ireland's Corporate Plan was published on 28 March 2000. Copies of the plan have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to monitor the number of households in fuel poverty in Northern Ireland. [116678]
Mr. George Howarth:
The Department of Social Development is in the process of developing a scheme of assistance to address fuel poverty in Northern Ireland, similar to the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) in England. As part of this, monitoring procedures will be produced to determine the effectiveness of the energy efficiency measures installed in the homes of the fuel poor.
Mr. Gray:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many workplace car parking spaces are available at the buildings used and controlled by his Department. [116772]
Mr. Ingram:
There are approximately 7,300 car park spaces attached to office buildings owned or leased by Office Accommodation Branch.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) Task Forces for which he holds sole responsibility for making appointments. [113286]
The Prime Minister:
I am required by legislation to make a number of appointments to non-departmental public bodies. However, this is usually done in consultation with, and on the advice of, appropriate departmental Ministers.
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In addition, I am consulted on a number of appointments made by departmental Ministers and I advise The Queen on appointments made under the Royal Prerogative.
Appointments to Task Forces are made by the relevant departmental Minister. I have sole responsibility for the following appointments to non-departmental public bodies:
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister what authority he has given Lord Levy in his capacity as his personal envoy to meet and deal with senior civil servants in the UK. [113507]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 7 March 2000]: Access to civil servants is determined by the Secretary of State of the Department in question.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister what representations he made to the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about Lord Levy's role as the Prime Minister's personal envoy. [113565]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 8 March 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have of course discussed the outcome of the meetings Lord Levy has held.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister when he asked Lord Levy to become his personal envoy to the Middle East. [113567]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 8 March 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 852W.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 852W, which senior officials and which Ministers Lord Levy met during each of his visits. [113930]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 10 March 2000]: Lord Levy has met a range of senior figures during his visits, including President Assad of Syria, King Abdullah of Jordan, the Sultan of Oman, the Amir of Qatar, the Amir of Bahrain, Prime Minister Al-Hoss of Lebanon, Prime Minister Barak of Israel, Foreign Minister Moussa and Presidential Adviser Al-Baz of Egypt, President Ben Ali of Tunisia and King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 852W, on which occasions Lord Levy has stayed in British Government accommodation while carrying out official business on behalf of the Prime Minister during his visits to Israel and the Middle East. [113928]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 10 March 2000]: In connection with his work on my behalf, Lord Levy has stayed in the Ambassador's residence in Syria, Jordan, Oman and Qatar, and (since my answer of 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 852W) in Tunisia and Morocco. He has stayed at the Ambassador's residence in Israel once, when accompanying my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary as part of my right hon. Friend's delegation.
30 Mar 2000 : Column: 246W
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister what restrictions there are on persons conducting party political business while acting as the Prime Minister's personal envoy on business overseas. [114592]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 15 March 2000]: Lord Levy conducts no Labour Party political business in the Middle East or North Africa on his visits as my personal envoy.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister if Lord Levy has conducted business on his behalf while on personal visits to Middle Eastern states other than Israel. [114681]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 15 March 2000]: No. Since April 1999 Lord Levy has conducted business on my behalf in the Middle East only during the visits referred to in my answer of 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 852W, and during his recent visit to Tunisia and Morocco.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister what account he took of the business interests of Lord Levy in deciding whether to appoint Lord Levy as his personal envoy. [114591]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 15 March 2000]: Lord Levy has no business interests in the Middle East or North Africa.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister what representations or inquiries he has received from Israeli authorities about Lord Levy's role as his personal envoy or otherwise acting on his behalf. [114694]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 15 March 2000]: None.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the distinction between visits conducted by Lord Levy (a) travelling as the Prime Minister's personal envoy and (b) travelling in his personal capacity while also having discussions on the Prime Minister's behalf. [114690]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 15 March 2000]: Lord Levy has been described as my personal envoy when the main purpose of his travel was to pass messages on my behalf. Only his visits to Israel, which have been primarily for private and family reasons, have been described as travel in his personal capacity.
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Senior Salaries Review Body.
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