19 May 2000 : Column: 281W
Written Answers to Questions
Friday 19 May 2000
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Ministerial Statements
Mr. Burns: To ask the President of the Council what the Government's policy is on the release of the text of ministerial statements to Government backbenchers before the statement has been made, with particular reference to the oral statement on Defence procurement on 16 May 2000, Official Report, columns 149-51. [122932]
Mrs. Beckett: Ministerial statements are embargoed until the Minister has completed the statement. I have been advised that the Ministry of Defence did not release copies of the statement to Government backbenchers until my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State concluded his statement.
CABINET OFFICE
Call Centre Guidelines
Ms Coffey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on progress towards publishing the revised guidelines for Government call centres. [123273]
Mr. Stringer: I am publishing the revised guidance to take into account significant new sections on Staffing Issues and Procurement. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House and on the Information Age Government website at www.iagchampions.gov.uk.
Civil Service Guidance
Ms Coffey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans the Government have to update the index to Civil Service guidance, Guidance on Guidance. [123275]
Mr. Stringer: The Government has published today the directory of Civil Service Guidance. Copies are being distributed to Departments, and have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Directory is also available on the internet at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/guidance.
GM Food and Crops
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which (a) individuals and (b) organisations she met during her recent US discussions concerning GM food and crops; what was discussed; and what action she plans to take following those meetings. [122512]
Marjorie Mowlam: The Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Robert May, and I held a series of meetings on biotechnology in Washington on 1 and 2 May. We met US Government representatives, including Dan Glickman, US Secretary of State of Agriculture; Mike McCabe, Deputy Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; and
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Sharon Smith Holston, Deputy Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration. We also met congressmen Dennis Kucinich and Calvin Dooley, representatives of interested non-governmental organisations and representatives from the Biotechnology Industry Organisation, in order to hear views from across the debate. In all these meetings I made clear the UK's commitment to a science-based approach to biotechnology which protects public health and the environment, explained developments in the biotechnology debate in the UK (including reform of our regulatory system and improved food labelling), and discussed American concerns in order to build a common understanding of the ways forward. As a result, in advance of the next G8 summit, we are taking forward discussions with G8 partners and developing countries on the recommendation of the OECD conference on GM food safety in Edinburgh for an international scientific advisory panel on GM food and environmental safety.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Departmental Vehicles
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles operated by his Department were manufactured (i) in the UK, (ii) in the EU and (iii) elsewhere. [122263]
Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 17 May 2000]: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not operate any vehicles directly but relies on the Government Car and Despatch Agency to supply official cars and drivers. The Royal Parks Agency operates 33 cars manufactured as shown in the table.
| Manufactured | Cars | Commercial vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| In the UK | 29 | 0 |
| In the EU | 1 | 0 |
| Elsewhere | 3 | 0 |
Open Government
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for information he received under the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last parliamentary session; and how many were granted. [121848]
Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 18 May 2000]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 18 May 2000, Official Report, columns 216-17W.
English Heritage
Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to receive English Heritage's report on heritage policies; and what issues he expects to see covered. [123373]
Mr. Alan Howarth: I wrote to the Chairman of English Heritage on 17 May on behalf of myself and my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning, agreeing that the submission to Government of English Heritage's report on the review that it is leading of
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policies on the historic environment can be put back by two months to 30 November 2000. This extension acknowledges the view which has been expressed in some quarters that English Heritage requires more time to prepare public discussion papers, analyse the responses to those papers and work up its final report. The Government now intends to issue its own statement on the historic environment by mid March 2001. In addition to setting out a strategy and action programme for the immediate future, I have agreed that this first part of the review being conducted by English Heritage should extend to considering how relevant policies might be developed over the longer term. I am laying copies of my letter in the Libraries of the House.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Police
Mr. Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the Police Negotiating Board and Police Advisory Board. [123375]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I have today written to the bodies represented on the Police Negotiating Board, and the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales, for comments on how we can improve the effectiveness with which these bodies carry out their functions. This is in accordance with sections 61 and 63 of the Police Act 1996, which provide that these bodies will be constituted in accordance with such arrangements, made after consultation with the relevant bodies, as appear to the Secretary of State to be satisfactory.
Hunting With Hounds
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost to date of the Burns Inquiry. [122830]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The approximate cost to date of the Burns Inquiry is £530,000.
HEALTH
Deafblind People
Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if deafblind users of domiciliary care services were
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involved in the (a) steering group, (b) reference group and (c) user forum developing the draft national minimum standards for domiciliary services. [122791]
Mr. Hutton: Deafblind organisations were not represented on the two groups developing standards but an organisation representing deaf people attended the user forum held in January this year. A draft version of the standards should be available for consultation later this year. The aim of the proposed regulatory framework for home care is that standards reflect the needs of all users of personal home care services.
Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the consultation document on draft national minimum standards for domiciliary services will include standards relevant specifically to deafblind people, with particular reference to essential communicator-guide and intervenor services. [122790]
Mr. Hutton: We are currently developing standards around the provision of home care, to be given force through the Care Standards Bill. We want these to reflect the needs of all users of personal home care services. Proper training and supervision for staff providing personal care will lie at the heart of the new regulatory arrangements.
Correspondence
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 30 March regarding a constituent. [122935]
Mr. Denham: I replied to my hon. Friend on 18 May.
Hospital Beds
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2000, Official Report, column 44W, on hospital beds, if he will list the acute and community based beds available across Worcestershire broken down by the categories in paragraph 3.8.8 of annexe C of Sources, Notes and Definitions, Department of Health Statistical Bulletin NHS Hospital Activity Statistics. [121293]
Yvette Cooper: Bed data are not available in the format requested. Bed availability is grouped by sector rather than by individual speciality.
The request concerning acute and community beds requires classification of the trusts within Worcester health authority. Kidderminster Healthcare National Health Service Trust is not classified as acute or community but is included to complete data for Worcester health authority.
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| Trust type | Acute | Geriatric | Mental Illness | Learning Disabilities | Maternity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute | 543 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 748 |
| Community | 83 | 157 | 86 | 0 | 0 | 326 |
| Multi-service | 190 | 42 | 71 | 0 | 10 | 313 |
| Worcester HA | 816 | 326 | 157 | 0 | 88 | 1,387 |
In addition, 61 learning disability beds are provided to Worcester HA by North Warwickshire NHS Trust.
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