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Goidelic Languages
23. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to promote tuition in Goidelic languages. [121167]
Mr. George Howarth: The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 gave the Department of Education the power to fund a body which has as its objective the encouragement or promotion of Irish-medium education. Work is currently in hand to establish a new body, Comhairle Na Gaelscolaiochta, for this purpose. An Irish-medium curriculum materials unit has been established in St. Mary's University College, a College of the Queen's University of Belfast, under the auspices of the Education and Library Boards' Curriculum Advisory and Support Services, to provide a central source of Irish-medium expertise to support schools throughout Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment provides GCSE and GCE A level examinations through the medium of Irish in subjects as required.
Giant's Causeway
25. Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the destruction by fire of the facilities at the Giant's Causeway. [121169]
Mr. Ingram: The fire at the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre destroyed 80 per cent. of the building. Senior Government officials met Moyle District Council on 4 May to discuss the development of a permanent replacement and the provision of temporary buildings in the interim so that services to visitors can be maintained. The Council has been asked to liaise with Government on a way forward.
British-Irish Council
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how often he has attended meetings of the British-Irish Council. [121151]
Mr. Mandelson: I attended the first and only meeting to date of the British-Irish Council on 17 December 1999.
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Further meetings will follow the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive.
Belfast Port
Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of Belfast Port. [121143]
Mr. Ingram: A proposal by Belfast Harbour Commissioners involving the transport of the Port of Belfast to the private sector, with a view to establishing a public/private partnership, with Government retaining a 'golden' share interest, is under consideration. A further option, involving the restructuring of the Port while retaining its trust port status, is also being examined at present.
Given the vital role of the Port in relation to the Northern Ireland economy, its future is a matter of considerable importance not only to the port authority and port users, but also to those in industry and commerce in Northern Ireland. I am hopeful that the Executive will be restored before the end of this month and I am sure that the future of the Port of Belfast will be high on its agenda.
Sheltered Accommodation (Burglaries)
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the number of burglaries at sheltered accommodation complexes in Northern Ireland from January 1997 to date; how many within the control of each housing association have been burgled; what has been the total number of occasions on which burglaries have occurred; how many residents have lost property; and what has been the estimated total value of property stolen. [121231]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about window and double-glazing installations in sheltered accommodation complexes which make them vulnerable to burglars; and if he will require housing associations to take immediate measures to improve security at their properties. [121232]
Mr. George Howarth: It is deplorable that burglars are targeting the elderly in this way. The problem with certain window and double-glazing installations is not, however, confined to sheltered accommodation complexes. It applies to other housing, residential and non-domestic premises where such glazing was used. Those double-glazed windows most at risk were probably installed in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and it would appear that some window types may be more vulnerable than others. Where problems are identified, additional measures can be incorporated in the existing frame to enhance security. Housing associations have already undertaken a number of modifications. In 1991, the Department introduced a new requirement for housing association developments that "the design of doors and windows minimise the risk of forced entry". The Department will write to all associations drawing attention to the current situation. It will consult with the Northern
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Ireland Federation of Housing Associations on whether any additional guidance is needed, and if the programme of identification and modification can be accelerated.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that elderly residents within sheltered accommodation do not suffer financial loss as a result of burglaries arising from structural or glazing installation inadequacies at these complexes. [121233]
Mr. George Howarth: No. Housing Associations are required to insure property against structural damage and it is the responsibility of individuals to insure the contents of their properties against theft or damage.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions the RUC has had about appointing a co-ordinated task force to deal with burglary from sheltered accommodation; how many individuals have been charged with burglary from sheltered accommodation since January 1997; what convictions have been achieved; and what penalties have been imposed in each case. [121234]
Mr. Ingram: The Royal Ulster Constabulary is not aware of a problem specific to burglaries from sheltered dwellings. If the hon. Member would care to provide me with more details I would be happy to look into the matter.
The information requested on detection and convictions is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
PRIME MINISTER
Interception of Communications Act
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made to appoint a Commissioner under section 8 of the Interception of Communications Act following the expiration of Lord Nolan of Brasted's appointment on 10 April; and if he will make a statement. [122801]
The Prime Minister: Lord Justice Swinton Thomas has accepted an appointment as the Interception of Communications Commissioner for a period of three years from 10 April 2000. I thank his predecessor, Lord Nolan of Brasted for the great contribution he made during the six years he spent as Interception Communications Commissioner.
Sanctions
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with Kofi Annan the allowing of sanctions against (a) Serbia and (b) Iraq to be lifted on goods relating to bona fide scientific and technological work, essential to food testing and civil manufacturing industry. [121302]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) on 8 May 2000, Official Report, column 258W.
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Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 17 May. [122108]
The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
eEurope
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which targets announced following the European Council meeting in Lisbon on eEurope in March and agreed to by the United Kingdom have been fully implemented; and what is the timetable for implementing the remaining targets. [122444]
Mrs. Liddell: I have been asked to reply
The Special European Council in Lisbon in March reached a number of conclusions under the heading of "An information society for all". The chief conclusions with targets were:
- The adoption as rapidly as possible during 2000 of pending legislation on the legal framework for e-commerce, on copyright and related rights, e-money, distance selling of financial services, jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments, and the dual-use export control regime; and also the promotion of consumer confidence in e-commerce, in particular through alternative dispute resolution systems;
- The conclusion as early as possible in 2001 of work on legislative proposals following the Commission's 1999 review of the EU's telecoms regulatory framework; meeting the frequency requirements for future mobile communications systems in a timely and efficient manner; and completing fully integrated and liberalised telecommunications markets by the end of 2001;
- Work towards introducing greater competition in local access networks before the end of 2000 and unbundling the local loop;
- Ensuring that all schools in the EU have access to the Internet and multimedia resources by the end of 2001, and that all teachers needed are skilled in the use of the Internet and multimedia resources by the end of 2002;
- Ensuring generalised electronic access to main basic public services by 2003;
- With the support of the EIB, making available in all European countries low cost, high-speed interconnected networks for Internet access and fostering the development of state-of- the-art information technology and other telecom networks as well as the content for those networks, with specific targets in the eEurope action plan.
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As the earliest of the targets identified above is the end of this year, most of the related activity is still in progress. However, the Council and the European Parliament have given an important lead by fast tracking the adoption of the E-Commerce Directive, which sets the legal framework for e-commerce in Europe by removing barriers to cross-border electronic business and providing legal certainty on issues such as the liability of intermediary service providers, e-contracts and information to be provided to consumers. Adoption is expected in the next few weeks, with implementation in all member states to follow within 18 months.
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