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Special Advisers
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what dates special advisers from her Department have travelled abroad on official business since 8 June 1999; which countries were visited on each occasion; and what were the names of the special advisers who travelled on each occasion. [117062]
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Marjorie Mowlam:
Between 8 June 1999 and 11 October 1999, my predecessor was accompanied by one of his Special Advisers on a visit to France which took place on 8 June.
Between 11 October and 31 March 2000 I was accompanied by one of my Special Advisers on visits to Belgium, between 17 and 18 October 1999; Portugal, between 20 and 21 December 1999; and the USA on 13 March 2000.
In addition, over the same period, the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator visited Austria and Turkey between 30 October and 7 November 1999; Belgium between 27 and 29 February 2000 and Austria between 13 and 14 March 2000. The Deputy UK anti-drugs co-ordinator visited Portugal twice on 16 July 1999 and between 20 and 21 January 2000.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 28 March 2000, Official Report, column 76W, concerning distribution of news releases by courier, whether her answer covered distribution of news releases by the Central Office of Information. [117224]
Mr. Stringer:
Yes, but only the news releases distributed by the COI on behalf of my Department. For information on news releases distributed by the COI by courier for other Departments, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on 10 March 2000 by my right hon. and hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Wales, Official Report, column 825W, the President of the Council, Official Report, column 826W, the Secretary of State for Defence, Official Report, column 827W, Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Official Report, columns 832-33W, the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, Official Report, column 836W, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Official Report, column 838W, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Official Report, column 840W, the Secretary of State for Social Security, Official Report, column 846W, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Official Report, column 862W, the Secretary of State for Health, Official Report, column 866W, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Official Report, column 873W; on 13 March 2000 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Official Report, column 3W; and on 15 March 2000 by my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Official Report, columns 189-90W, and the Secretary of State for International Development, Official Report, column 200W; on 17 March 2000 from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, Official Report, column 350W, and on 20 March 2000 from my right hon. Friends the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Official Report, column 385W, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Official Report, column 403W.
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Ms Perham:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2000, Official Report, column 76W, if he will list the issues discussed at the meeting of the Inter-ministerial Group for Older People and the Advisory Group of the Better Government for Older People Programme on 27 March, indicating what further meetings are planned. [117702]
Mr. Stringer
[pursuant to his reply, 28 March 2000, c. 76W]: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Social Security, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Group on Older People planned to meet representatives of the Programme's Older People's Advisory Group on 27 March 2000. This meeting did not take place. A meeting has been arranged for 11 April 2000.
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Barbara Follett:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the progress of the Better Regulation Task Force in reducing the regulatory burden on businesses. [116399]
Mr. Stringer:
The Better Regulation Task Force advises the Government on action to improve the effectiveness and credibility of regulation, particularly regulation which affects businesses.
Earlier this month the Task Force published a review of payroll regulations, and in the next three months they will produce further reviews on topics including the hotel and restaurant industry, methods of helping small firms cope with regulations, and alternatives to state regulation.
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