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Ministerial Visits (Overseas)

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the (a) itinerary, (b) cost and (c) purpose of his visit to (i) Nigeria and (ii) Sierra Leone in the week beginning 12 June. [126547]

Mr. Prescott [holding answer 19 June 2000]: I visited Nigeria and Sierra Leone at the request of the Prime Minister from 11-15 June in order to enhance bilateral relations, encourage UK business and thank the service men and women leaving Sierra Leone as well as visiting those who have just arrived.

I visited Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Freetown. In Nigeria I was accompanied by a business team and met the President, Vice-President and other Ministers as well as religious leaders, NGOs and British and Nigerian business leaders.

In Sierra Leone I met the President, Vice-President and Foreign Secretary and the Mayor and other civic leaders of Freetown. I also visited HMS Ocean and met service men and women from the Royal Marines, the Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Reserve and 2 Royal Anglian, who are providing the Short Term Training Team, as well as members of other armed services.

The cost of my visit to Nigeria was approximately £5,500. For security reasons I flew to Sierra Leone with the RAF. The cost was approximately £24,000.

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Countryside Access

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate the Government have made of the cost to public funds of implementing their proposals on access to the countryside, including start-up costs and operational costs. [126863]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 19 June 2000]: Placing monetary values on the cost of the Government's proposals for creating a new statutory right of access to open countryside well in advance of such a right coming into force is inevitably subject to a degree of uncertainty. The Government have undertaken a Regulatory Impact Assessment which suggests the additional annual costs to the public sector, for which monetarised values have been derived, to be in the order of £2 million to £3 million a year, with one-off costs of about £6 million.

Telecommunications Masts

Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account local authorities are obliged to take of public health concerns when determining planning applications for telecommunications masts. [126986]

Ms Beverley Hughes: Health considerations and public concern can in principle be material considerations in determining applications for planning permission and prior approval. Whether such matters are material in a particular case is ultimately a matter for the courts. It is for the decision-maker (usually the local planning authority) to determine what weight to attach to such considerations in any particular case. In doing so, authorities may have regard to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones published on 11 May.

Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on their advice to local authorities with respect to planning applications for telecommunications masts. [126988]

Ms Beverley Hughes: My officials regularly discuss aspects of telecommunications development with officials from the Scottish Executive. They have, in particular, held discussions about the range of actions being taken forward in response to the Stewart report's recommendations on planning.

Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given to local authorities with respect to determining planning applications for telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement. [126987]

Ms Beverley Hughes: Government planning policy for telecommunications is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 8 (revised): Telecommunications, and the Department's Circular 4/99, "Planning for Telecommunications". In addition, a letter was sent to all Council leaders on 23 July 1999, providing advice about the health aspects of telecommunications masts.

In its response to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, issued on 11 May 2000 and placed in the Libraries of both Houses, the Government said that they were minded to introduce a requirement for an application for full planning permission for all new

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telecommunications masts, but would need to consult widely before doing so, including on the principle and precise scope of any new arrangements. A copy of the response was sent to all Chief Planning Officers on 11 May.

We aim to issue a consultation document in the summer, with a view to being able to introduce revised procedures and guidance by the end of the year. In the meantime, Local Planning Authorities should continue to deal with planning applications for telecommunications on the basis of the current legislative arrangements and policy guidance.

Recycling

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to enable local authorities to meet the set-up costs for intensive recycling. [126469]

Mr. Mullin: Funding for local authorities is being considered as part of the current spending review, alongside all the Government's spending pressures. The outcome of the review will be announced by the end of July.

NORTHERN IRELAND

RUC Special Branch

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what time and on what date the RUC Special Branch's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group was informed by any branch of the security forces or services of security operations associated with incidents in the Forfar Street area of Belfast on 9 September 1987, the Newington Street area of Belfast on 16 May 1988, the Waterville area of Belfast on 23 September 1988 and the Forterllian Drive area of Belfast on 12 February 1989. [114593]

Mr. Ingram: My hon. Friend refers to the following:

The incident that occurred in Forfar Street area on 9 September 1987. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Patrick Hamill on 8 September 1987. The details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 17.55 hrs on 8 September 1987;

The incident that occurred in the Newington Street area on 16 May 1988. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Mr. Terence McDade on 10 May 1988. The details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 22.39 hrs on 10 May 1988;

The incident that occurred on 23 September 1988. An exact time of when the incident was referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group is not available, but police were informed at 04.32 hrs on 23 September 1988;

The incident that occurred in the Forterllian area on 12 February 1989. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane at Fortwilliam Drive. The

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details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 19.41 hrs on 12 February 1989.

No-smoking Policy

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking. [125150]

Mr. Mandelson: The NIO has a well established policy on smoking. A complete ban on smoking has operated effectively in the Department since 1995. This policy is supported by participation in the national no-smoking day campaign and a series of health awareness events where staff who smoke are offered practical advice and information on how to stop.

Smoking is not permitted in any NIO offices apart from designated smoking rooms.

Police Authority

Mr. Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made for the appointment of a new Police Authority for Northern Ireland to succeed the present Authority whose term of office expires on 28 June. [127323]

Mr. Mandelson: The Police Authority has a vital task to perform in securing the maintenance of an effective and efficient police force. It also has a very important role to play in continuing to enhance the relationship between the police and the public it serves in the period before the planned Policing Board takes over from the Authority.

I have therefore appointed the current Chairman, Vice-Chairman and 16 members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland to serve from 29 June 2000 for a further three years (as required by statute) or until the Policing Board takes over from them, probably at the end of March 2001. I have also appointed four new members and in making those appointments I have, as required by the Police (NI) Act 1998, consulted the 26 local district councils. In addition, and in accordance with the guidelines issued by Dame Rennie Fritchie, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, applications for appointment were invited from other individuals. As a result, the Authority widely represents the community and will provide a necessary measure of continuity in the period leading to establishment of the Policing Board.

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