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Genetically Modified Crops
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if any of the field trials in the UK of GM maize crops during 1999 under part C of Council Directive 90/220/EEC have not appeared on the DETR public register for GMO releases. [101716]
Mr. Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
A Part C consent for cultivation of a GM crop, issued under EU Directive 90/220/EEC, permits growing anywhere within the geographical region specified in the consent. There is no formal requirement to notify the locations of where the crop is being grown.
AgrEvo holds a Part C consent for cultivation of GM maize (Ref: C/F/95/12/07). Information on field trials of this maize has not been placed on the statutory public register, as there is no requirement to do so. However, information on the locations of the farm-scale evaluations has been published by my Department.
Appointments (Religion)
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) disbarments and (b) special requirements based on religion relating to appointment to positions within the Government and to functions carried out by Government Ministers. [99809]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 26 November 1999]: Special requirements apply to certain functions carried out by the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, the Home Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in relation to some Church of England appointments. If any of the first three of these are either Roman Catholic or Jewish, his or her ecclesiastical functions are carried out by another Minister; in the same circumstances it has been customary for the Chancellor of the Duchy's functions to be carried out by the Clerk of the Council.
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact of the Statute Repeals Act 1989 on his ability to appoint individuals to positions within the Government on the basis of their profession of the Jewish religion. [99657]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 26 November 1999]: I am not aware that the impact of the Statute Repeals Act 1989 has any effect on my ability to appoint individuals to positions within the Government on the basis of their profession of the Jewish religion.
Royal Family
Ms Roseanna Cunningham:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to seek to amend
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the law to (a) allow members of the Royal family to marry a Catholic without losing their right to inherit the throne and (b) allow Roman Catholics to inherit the throne; and if he will make a statement. [99658]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 26 November 1999]: The Government have always stood firmly against discrimination in all its forms, including against Roman Catholics, and it will continue to do so.
The Government have a heavy legislative programme aimed at delivering key manifesto commitments in areas such as health, education, crime and reform of the welfare system. To bring about change to the law on succession would be a complex undertaking involving amendment or repeal of a number of items of related legislation, as well as requiring the consent of legislatures of member nations of the Commonwealth. It would raise other major constitutional issues. The Government have no plans to legislate in this area.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the Galileo project; what is the assessed cost of the project; what representations he has received on the issue; what is the current status of the project; for what reasons it had been rejected by the Council; and if he will make a statement. [101015]
The Prime Minister:
The Transport Council of the European Union, at its meeting in June, adopted a Resolution which invited the European Commission to proceed with the definition phase of Galileo in conjunction with member states and the European Space Agency. This work has begun. The Commission is required to put forward proposals to the Council on the best way to proceed with the project either independently or in co-operation with international partners by the end of 2000.
The cost of the project is estimated to be at least £2 billion but the definition phase work will help to clarify the overall cost and the arrangements for a possible public-private partnership to fund these.
Following the consultation exercise the Government believe further analysis needs to be done on issues such as cost, the public-private partnership, benefits to users and security arrangements. The work now being undertaken by the Commission should enable decisions on the best way forward to be taken.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the discussions held between the European Council and President-nominate Prodi at the Cologne Council on 3 June; what were the questions raised; if he will deposit the presentation on the future Commission's work and reform programme in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [101016]
The Prime Minister:
At the Cologne European Council, President Prodi outlined his intention to implement far reaching reform of the Commission. This will include improved financial and personnel management, a better standard of integrity and a clearer
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division of responsibilities. The Commission will publish a full programme for reform in early 2000. This will be deposited in the Library in due course.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Prime Minister for what reason the mandate of the forthcoming intergovernmental conference was set at consideration of the voting mechanics of the European Council and size of the Commission; if policy areas may also be negotiated; which policy areas he called for negotiations to cover; and if he will make a statement. [101023]
The Prime Minister:
The Cologne European Council agreed that next year's IGC should deal with the institutional reforms necessary for the next enlargement of the Union. The Government welcome this. Enlargement is not just about the applicant countries preparing for accession, but also about the EU preparing to receive them.
As for specifying agenda items, Cologne agreed that the IGC should focus on three key issues: the size and composition of the Commission, the reweighting of votes in the Council and a possible extension of QMV. Some related items may be added to the agenda, but these too should focus on institutional, not policy, issues.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Prime Minister what the budget is of the Performance and Innovation Unit's for (a) the current financial year and (b) for each future year for which budgets for the unit have been set. [101174]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 6 December 1999]: The Performance and Innovation Units's budget for 1999-2000 is £2,243,000. Future years' budgets have not been set.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Prime Minister how many staff there were in the Performance and Innovation Unit in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and what plans he has for future staffing levels in the period 2000 to 2002. [101175]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 6 December 1999]: I announced the setting up of the Performance and Innovation Unit on 28 July 1998, Official Report, columns 132-34W. The Unit was fully up and running by early 1999. Staff numbers will vary depending upon the number of projects under way and the size of the teams. Staff numbers, on a whole-time basis, were 36 at the end of 1998 and are expected to be 51 at the end of 1999. Future staffing levels will depend upon future projects.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Prime Minister when the last meeting of the Cabinet Joint Consultative Committee was; and if he will publish its agenda and minutes. [101501]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 July 1999, Official Report, column 362W.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the documents relating to authority for further policy
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commitment, or action, able to be given approval at the European Council Meeting at Helsinki on 10 and 11 December, indicating the parliamentary scrutiny to which the documents were subject in each case. [101616]
The Prime Minister:
All appropriate documents are submitted for parliamentary scrutiny in accordance with the guidelines for scrutiny of European Union business.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister how many special advisers are employed in 10 Downing Street. [101454]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 7 December 1999]: Twenty-five, one of whom is part-time and unpaid.
Mr. Gray:
To ask the Prime Minister (1) how often the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Issues has met in the past year; [101747]
(3) which Ministers are represented on the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Issues; [101746]
(4) on how many occasions the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Issues has discussed equine issues; and if he will indicate the specific issues discussed. [101849]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 7 December 1999]: Ministers from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Home Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have twice met informally to take forward preparations for the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Welfare. An announcement of the membership and remit of the Group, and of how it will take account of UK-wide animal welfare responsibilities, will be made as soon as possible.
Animal Issues
(2) which is the lead Department for the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Issues; and which Department provides the secretariat for this group; [101850]
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