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Pesticides Tax
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) representations he has received and (b) meetings he has held on the proposed Pesticides Tax with (i) UKASTA, (ii) NOAH, (iii) the National Farmers Union, (iv) the Country Landowners Association, and (v) named agrochemical companies, giving the date and durations of the meetings. [131104]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 21 June 2000, Official Report, columns 215-16W.
Government's Annual Report
Mr. Evans: To ask the Prime Minister how many orders the Government have received for the Government's Annual report through the No. 10 Website. [131443]
The Prime Minister: Copies of the Government Annual Report can be ordered over the Internet from The Stationery Office (TSO), either by accessing the TSO site directly, or via the No. 10 Website. Out of a total of 1,353 copies sold by TSO to date, 34 orders have been taken on the Internet. It is not possible to distinguish how many of these were via the TSO web-site directly and how many were via the No. 10 Website.
Philip Gould
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many people were on the list of recipients of the leaked memos from Philip Gould; and if he will make a statement. [132317]
The Prime Minister: It is not my practice to comment on matters connected with a leak investigation.
Appointments
Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what the role is of the Secretary of Appointments; what (a) salary and (b) selection procedure applies to this position; and what his responsibilities are. [132348]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 24 July 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mrs. Bottomley) on 1 November 1999, Official Report, column 5W. In line with established practice the salaries of individual civil servants are not disclosed as this would breach the privacy of the individuals concerned.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 July 2000, Official Report, column 425W, regarding appointments, (1) if he will list the positions for which his official advice is routinely sought during selection processes; [132327]
- (2) if he will list the level of remuneration attached to the appointments he makes as Prime Minister. [132328]
The Prime Minister [holding answers 24 July 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member.
28 Jul 2000 : Column: 967W
Lords Lieutenant
Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 663W, on Lords Lieutenant, if he will make a statement on the consultation process which is carried out prior to the appointment of a Lord Lieutenant. [132326]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 24 July 2000]: I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 663W, on Lords Lieutenant, if it is his policy to advertise vacancies for Lord Lieutenancies. [132332]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 24 July 2000]: No. It is usually well known in a county when a Lord Lieutenant is due to retire.
Duty Roster
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister how information is made available on each Department's daily duty ministerial duty roster for the summer adjournment. [132975]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 27 July 2000]: This is a matter for Departments.
Research and Information Office
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Prime Minister what is the cost in the current financial year of the (a) salary bill and (b) general running costs of the Research and Information Office in 10 Downing Street. [132692]
The Prime Minister: The actual costs to date for the current financial year of the Research and Information Office are £104,761 for the salary bill and £18,169 for running costs.
Press Releases
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Prime Minister how many press releases were issued by his Office in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year. [132755]
The Prime Minister: As was the case under the previous Administration, the majority of press releases issued by my office relate either to appointments or speeches.
Information on the number of press releases issued by my Office is as follows:
| Year | Number of press notices |
|---|---|
| 1997(1) | 119 |
| 1998 | 204 |
| 1999 | 138 |
| 2000(1) | 106 |
(1) From 1 May
(1) To date
Information on staff time spent on the preparation of press releases or costs incurred in their distribution is not separately recorded.
28 Jul 2000 : Column: 968W
British-Irish Council
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Prime Minister when the British-Irish Council will next meet. [133855]
The Prime Minister: The Irish Government will host the next Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Dublin on Tuesday 31 October 2000.
Chief Commissioner (Police)
Mr. Watts: To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the Chief Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(a) of the Police Act 1997 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [133856]
The Prime Minister: A copy of Sir Andrew Leggatt's annual report for 1999 is being laid before the House today in accordance with section 107(3) of the Police Act 1997. After consultation with the Chief Commissioner material in an annex to a report has been excluded from that copy under section 107(4) of the Act because its publication would be prejudicial to the prevention or detection of serious crime.
This is Sir Andrew's first annual report. I am most grateful to him and his colleagues for the work which has gone into preparing it.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Gill: To ask the Prime Minister when he will answer question 129755, tabled by the hon. Member for Ludlow on 4 July. [133936]
Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Prime Minister when he will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Teignbridge for answer on 17 July (reference 131363). [133939]
The Prime Minister: I have done so today.
Electronic Communications Act 2000
Mr. Cotter: To ask the Prime Minister what orders he (a) has made and (b) intends to make using section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [133384]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.
Alastair Campbell
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Prime Minister what restrictions are placed on his Press Secretary in relation to actions and statements of a party political nature. [133474]
The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 23 June 2000, Official Report, column 328W.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Prime Minister to whom Mr. Alastair Campbell reports. [133475]
28 Jul 2000 : Column: 969W
Reports
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the reports submitted to his Department, by bodies that were created after May 1997 and that include significant and plural membership from outside the Civil Service, stating in each case the body writing the report, the date the report was submitted, how many recommendations were made, the number of those recommendations that have been implemented to date and the number of recommendations that have been rejected; and if he will make a statement. [133561]
The Prime Minister: I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member today by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Derek Twigg: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) Government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the financial years 1995-96 to 1999-2000 and (b) all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000, including the cost, destination and purpose of the visit. [133854]
The Prime Minister: Expenditure on Ministerial overseas visits for the periods requested is estimated as follows:
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 7.3 |
| 1996-97 | 7.9 |
| 2 May 1997-31 March 1998 | 6.4 |
| 1998-99 | 4.9 |
| 1999-2000 | 4.6 |
The figure for 1995-97 does not include some expenditure falling to the Scottish Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Welsh Office because the information was not recorded centrally or is incomplete. Full costs are available from 1996-97 onwards. All figures are in 1999-2000 prices 1 . The figure for 1999-2000 reflects payments made so far for travel undertaken in this period; a few bills have yet to be submitted to Departments for payment.
A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate.
- 1 Using GDP deflators dated 29 June 2000
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