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Accommodation (Disabled People)
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what is the deadline by which accommodation businesses with 12 beds or fewer must comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1999; [141274]
- (2) what powers he has to regulate the provision of accommodation for disabled tourists in hotels and guest houses in England. [141275]
Janet Anderson: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.
Free Television Licences
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to award to disabled pensioners aged under 75 years free television licences; and if he will make a statement. [141078]
Janet Anderson: The Government have no plans to extend the availability of free television licences to disabled pensioners below the age of 75.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Portcullis House
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what arrangements apply to hon. Members who wish to provide refreshments to constituents at events in rooms in Portcullis House; if hon. Members are entitled to make their own refreshment arrangements; and if she will make a statement. [140823]
Mrs. Roe: Catering in the multi-purpose conference rooms (the Attlee Suite and the Macmillan Room) will be provided by the Refreshment Department. Hon. Members will be invited to liaise directly with the Portcullis House Catering Manager, as different menu options are available.
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At the time of booking Meeting Rooms M to U, hon. Members will be asked if they require any refreshments and they will be offered tea, coffee, biscuits, sandwiches, morning pastries or afternoon cakes.
Currently, hon. Members are able to make their own arrangements for providing refreshment in the Jubilee Room and in Room E in 7 Millbank.
I understand that all of the arrangements in Portcullis House will be reviewed after six months of operation.
DEFENCE
Air War Capability
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of the United Kingdom to fight an air war in bad weather. [134917]
Mr. Spellar: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Petrol Costs (Ministerial Cars)
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was in each of the past three years of petrol for his Department's fleet of ministerial cars; and how many vehicles there are in that fleet. [134932]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Sickness Absence
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department since 1999 in reducing sickness absence; what targets he has agreed with the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement. [135465]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 26 October 2000]: I will write to the hon. member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Nuclear Disarmament
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about progress made on the Government's commitment to nuclear disarmament given at this year's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference at the United Nations. [135400]
Mr. Hoon: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
"Voices"
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on advertising space in the recent Government publication, "Voices". [135590]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
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Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000, Official Report, column 21W, on special advisers, if he will list the destination and the total cost, including travel, accommodation and subsistence allowance, on each of the occasions when departmental or non-departmental special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity. [135244]
Mr. Hoon: During the period 31 March 1999 to 31 March 2000, special advisers in this Department travelled on official business to Washington and Portugal at a total cost of £5,071. The cost of these visits were accounted for in the expenditure on Ministers' travel overseas published by the Prime Minister on 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 969W, which for 1999-2000 was £4.6 million compared to £7.9 million for the last year of the previous Administration.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the other states armed with nuclear weapons; and what progress he has made, following the statement on nuclear disarmament agreed at this year's Non-proliferation Treaty Conference at the United Nations. [135328]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 2 November 2000]: I have had discussions on a range of subjects with my counterparts from the other nuclear weapon states since the conclusion of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May. We will continue to work with the other nuclear weapon states in the spirit of our joint statements to the 2000 NPT Review Conference and the meetings of its Preparatory Committee. We are unequivocally committed to the global elimination of nuclear weapons and welcome the successful agreement of a final document at the Review Conference containing a package of measures on nuclear disarmament.
The United Kingdom's constructive role in negotiation of that document has been widely recognised.
Civil Servants (Relocation)
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2000, Official Report, column 13W, which relocation companies hold contracts with his Department for the relocation of civil servants; when those contracts were last renewed; where the contracts were advertised; and what the length and value of each contract is. [137172]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the document DCI Gen 150/97 covering guidance on answers to parliamentary questions. [137346]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 9 November 2000]: I am withholding a copy of the Defence Council Instruction under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
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Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's guidance on answers to parliamentary questions. [137345]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 9 November 2000]: I refer my right hon. Friend to HC67 1996-97, the Government Response to the Second Report from the Committee (Session 1995-96) on Ministerial Accountability and Responsibility published in November 1996.
Defence Systems
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capabilities the Royal Navy's SSNs have for connectivity in the littoral environment; what equipment they have for improving connectivity in littoral zones; when DERA's and Thomson Marconi Sonar's RTOF Buoy will be available to the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [139653]
Dr. Moonie: SSNs have a wide range of communications capability usable in all environments. I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces gave on 20 November 2000, Official Report, column 5W, which stated that we are conducting research to improve the connectivity of our submarines. The RTOF Buoy is being investigated as part of this research.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is to the RN of purchasing its current connectivity equipment; what the cost of the RTOF Buoy is; what time scale has been set for implementation of the RTOF Buoy in SSN; and if he will make a statement. [139719]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Gurkhas
Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of Gurkha regiments who were prisoners of the Japanese in the Second World War and their widows will receive compensation; and if he will make a statement. [138618]
Dr. Moonie: As I announced on 7 November 2000, Official Report, columns 159-70, the Government are making a single ex gratia payment of £10,000 to each of the surviving members of the British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War, in recognition of the unique circumstances of their captivity. Those who are eligible to receive this payment include former members of HM Armed Forces who were made prisoners of war.
Prior to 1947 there were no Gurkha Regiments in the British Army. The (old) Indian Army, which included Gurkha regiments, was separate from the British Army and responsibility for it passed to the new Governments of India and Pakistan when those countries became independent. Former members of the (old) Indian Army generally did not receive payments under UK auspices under the 1951 San Francisco Treaty of Peace with Japan and are not eligible for the current ex gratia scheme.
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