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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 18 April 2000
CABINET OFFICE
Regulatory Reform Bill
Kali Mountford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made with the proposed Regulatory Reform Bill. [119824]
Mr. Stringer: The Regulatory Reform Bill has today been published in draft, in order to allow the two Parliamentary Deregulation Committees to report on it prior to its formal introduction to Parliament. The House of Commons Deregulation Committee and its counterpart in the House of Lords have great expertise on the existing deregulation order-making power under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. Their views on the proposed extension of this power will clearly be of great interest to the House when it comes to consider the Bill. 'Publication of the draft Regulatory Reform Bill' (Cm 4713) contains the draft Bill, Explanatory Notes and other supporting material, and I have placed copies in the Libraries of the House, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.
In addition to the changes to the deregulation order-making power, the draft Bill includes provisions to replace section 5 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, which deals with enforcement of regulations. This policy was the subject of a public consultation exercise in Autumn 1999. The majority of those responding to the consultation document were supportive of the Government's proposals. I am today placing copies of the Government's response to that consultation exercise in the Libraries of the House, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office. Copies of the Government's response to the earlier consultation exercise on the proposed changes to the deregulation order-making power, published in September 1999, are already in the Libraries.
Departmental Properties
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) number and (b) percentage of properties in her charge are empty; and what steps are being taken by her Department to reduce the number of such properties. [116909]
Mr. Stringer: The Cabinet Office had 168 properties in its charge on 1 April 1999, of which 30.4 per cent. were empty on 1 April 2000. The majority of the empty properties were office buildings held by the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE), a key responsibility of which has been to dispose of surplus occupied and empty office accommodation on the Government Estate. In many cases tenants have been found for previously empty properties to reduce the burden on the Exchequer and to make them more attractive for disposal to investors. The principal determinant for disposal is value for money
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to the Exchequer. PACE and another two of the Cabinet Office's agencies transferred to HM Treasury on 1 April 2000. The figures include three office buildings on the Cabinet Office estate undergoing refurbishment.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Gibraltar
Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the result of the Government's latest discussions with the Spanish Government on the subject of Gibraltar. [117396]
Mr. Vaz: Discussions between Spain and the United Kingdom, in consultation with the Government of Gibraltar, to overcome difficulties which have arisen on a number of issues within the European Union concerning Gibraltar have been continuing for several months. I hope that it will be possible to bring them to a successful conclusion.
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to consult the Gibraltar Government before making decisions on matters affecting the people of Gibraltar. [119610]
Mr. Vaz: We regularly consult the Government of Gibraltar on a wide range of matters affecting the people of Gibraltar. We do this routinely via the office of the Governor of Gibraltar and through meetings with Ministers and officials when the Chief Minister is in London.
Works of Art
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on (a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in his Department for each financial year since 1992. [117481]
Mr. Battle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Arts, 4 April 2000, Official Report, columns 392-93W.
Most of the works of art on display in our missions abroad are on loan from the Government Art Collection. Some are purchased, as part of large capital projects, such as new Embassies. A comprehensive breakdown of expenditure on artwork purchased could be provided only at disproportionate cost as it has been recorded only as part of the overall capital project cost.
We have no readily available information on the years prior to 1994. The best figures we have for the years 1994-95 to 1998-99 indicate that under £1 million was spent on artwork over that period, less than 0.5 per cent. of the overall programme of capital expenditure on the estate of £215.7 million for the same period.
Upkeep costs are low, and not separately recorded. Expenditure on artworks will be separately identified in future under Resource Accounting and Budgeting.
General Affairs Council, Luxembourg
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 10 and 11 April; and if he will make a statement. [118898]
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Mr. Vaz: The information is as follows:
1. The General Affairs Council (GAC) in Luxembourg on 10 April adopted the A points listed in document No. 7592/00 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its session of 13-17 March in Strasbourg listed in document No. 6496/00. Copies of these documents will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.
2. The GAC reached agreement on a reduction in the number of Council Formations to 16 (General Affairs; Agriculture; Economic and Financial Affairs; Environment; Transport and Telecommunications; Employment and Social Policy; Fisheries; Industry and Energy; Justice, Home Affairs and Civil Protection; Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism; Research; Budget; Culture; Development; Education and Youth Affairs; and Health); and agreed to review this decision in 2002.
3. The GAC heard a report from the President of the European Commission on the planned extensive follow-up to the Lisbon Special Council. The Presidency noted that it would also issue plans for follow-up. The GAC agreed that the Feira Council should adopt an e-Europe action plan, a small business charter, and plans for benchmarking the performance of EU economies.
4. EU presidency Representative Senator Serri briefed the GAC on the negotiations in the Eritrea/Ethiopia Peace Process. The GAC expressed its deep concern at the humanitarian situation in the region and reaffirmed its strong support for the efforts of the OAU Presidency to end the conflict. It expressed concern at the level of arms sales to the region.
5. The Commission briefed the GAC on the EU response to requests for humanitarian assistance. The GAC emphasised the need for a co-ordinated approach with the UN to ensure the efficient and speedy delivery of international aid. The GAC called on Ethiopia and Eritrea to facilitate such deliveries and to ensure the security of food and humanitarian assistance.
6. The GAC discussed the situation in Zimbabwe. Member states underlined their concern at the farm invasions and appealed to the Government of Zimbabwe to enforce law and order. The GAC also urged the Government of Zimbabwe to create the conditions for the holding of free and fair elections. Under such conditions, the Council agreed that the EU would be willing to support and monitor the elections provided a request for such support was made by the Government of Zimbabwe.
7. The GAC gave its full support to Commissioner Lamy's approach to the latest round of bilateral negotiations on China's accession to the WTO. The GAC noted that the EU had already shown flexibility in its few remaining requests, and that a similar attitude from China would pave the way for an agreement.
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IGC
8. Foreign Ministers reviewed progress to date in the Government Representatives group and considered prospects for the second half of the Portuguese Presidency. Discussion focused on a Presidency paper on the extension of qualified majority voting.
9. In renewing its Common Position on Burma for another six months, the GAC agreed to the most substantial strengthening of the measures against the Burmese regime since the Common Position was first adopted in 1996. It will now incorporate a published list of those regime members and supporters subject to visa restrictions; a freeze on their funds held abroad; and a ban on the supply of equipment which could be used for internal repression or terrorism.
10. The Council also agreed to send a second Troika mission to Rangoon to promote the EU's policy towards Burma; to consider the possibilities for increased humanitarian aid; to resume EU-ASEAN ministerial dialogue, in Asia, later in the year.
11. The GAC agreed a Common Position for the following day's EC/Turkey Association Council and three-year funding regulation for Turkey worth 15 meuro.
12. The Association Council agreed to start negotiations on the liberalisation of services and mutual opening of procurement markets. It also agreed to set up eight sectoral sub-committees of the Association Committee to promote harmonisation of Turkey's legislation with the EU acquis.
13. The GAC again deplored the suffering of the civilian population in Chechnya. It noted the recent decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to suspend the voting rights of the Russian Delegation and its recommendation to the Council of Ministers to move towards suspension of Russia's membership of the Council of Europe. The GAC observed that this reflected the deep concern of European public opinion about the continuing conflict in Chechnya. The GAC expressed its support for the Council of Europe's continuing co-operation with, and assistance to, Russia, provided Russia abides by its commitments. At the same time, the GAC acknowledged Russian co-operation in establishing a Council of Europe presence in the region and in agreeing to make public a report on Chechnya prepared by the Council of European Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
14. The GAC supported the call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Russia to establish, according to international standards, a national broad- based and independent commission of inquiry into allegations of human rights violations.
15. The GAC discussed its approach to China at the current session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. It decided that EU member states would not co-sponsor the US resolution in China, but would oppose any "no-action motion" tabled by China.
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Western Balkans
16. The GAC welcomed the intention of Secretary General/High Representative Solana and Commissioner Patten to visit the Balkans more frequently, following the mandate from the Lisbon European Council. It welcomed their intention to advance the dialogue with Serbian civil society and to make further proposals on trade and assistance, notably for Montenegro.
17. The GAC heard a presentation by the EU Special Representative for the Stability Pact on the successful outcome of the regional funding conference.
18. The GAC noted the holding of municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 8 April. The GAC urged the relevant authorities to implement the election results speedily as a contribution to the full implementation of the Dayton and Paris Agreements and the New York Declaration.
19. The GAC welcomed the decision by the Serb National Council to appoint representatives to the Interim Administrative Council and the Transitional Council of Kosovo.
20. The GAC underlined the importance it attached to a strong coherent effort by the EU, the US and the Russian Federation on the Western Balkans.
AOB: IRELA (Europe/Latin America Institute)
21. The GAC discussed the funding of IRELA. Ministers urged the Commission to resolve its problems over the financial management of IRELA. The Commission indicated that results of an audit of IRELA's finances for 1997 had led to the recovery of 1 million euro and an audit for 1998 would be available in the autumn.
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