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Green Ministers Committee
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets were agreed at the meeting on 19 March of the Green Ministers Committee for (a) the purchase of renewable energy by Departments and (b) the reduction of water consumption by the Government estate. [156905]
Mr. Meacher: The Green Ministers Committee agreed in principle a target to purchase renewable electricity, the details of which would be pursued through ministerial correspondence. We also agreed the following water targets:
- For offices in metered buildings where the Department is sole occupier or is billed the water services charges: all Departments should achieve a maximum level of water consumption equivalent to 11 cubic metres per person (full-time equivalent staff) by 31 March 2002, and a further 30 per cent. reduction over the next two years, achieving a level of 7.7 cubic metres by 31 March 2004.
- For other metered buildings (e.g. laboratories, law courts and depots) where the Department is sole occupier or is billed the water services charges: all Departments should establish benchmarks under the Watermark Project for main categories of non-office buildings by 31 October 2001 with the aim of setting percentage targets for achieving initial reductions in Departments' water use within the following year (by 31 March 2002).
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Children and Family Court Advisory and
Support Service
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service will demonstrate its ability to comply with health and safety legislation after its inauguration on 1 April. [156998]
Jane Kennedy: The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) is devising a health and safety policy. In the interim, CAFCASS has adopted the inherited health and safety policies and procedures.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the regional managers for England and Wales will be appointed to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. [156997]
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Jane Kennedy: All area manager appointments to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) structure have been made and six of the 10 are now in post. Interim arrangements for the remaining four areas are in place with acting area managers in post.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service will be represented on area child protection committees. [156999]
Jane Kennedy: The Department of Health will be issuing a letter to the Chairs of Area Child Protection Committees requiring the inclusion of CAFCASS in the core membership of Area Child Protection Committees. CAFCASS will ask the National Assembly for Wales to make a similar requirement.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how local child protection procedures will cover Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service employees. [157000]
Jane Kennedy: All Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) staff will be expected to work to local area child protection procedures, as did the predecessor agencies. Core membership of Area Child Protection Committees will reinforce this requirement.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when formal employer and trade union negotiating structures will be in place (a) nationally and (b) locally for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. [157001]
Jane Kennedy: The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) recognises the value to the service of a good working relationship with trade unions. CAFCASS, which was established on 1 April 2001, met with trade union representatives on 4 April 2001. CAFCASS wants to develop a robust consultation and negotiating mechanism as quickly as possible.
PRIME MINISTER
Foot and Mouth
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Prime Minister if he discussed at the Stockholm European Council the effects of the UK's obligations under EU treaties and directives on the UK's scope to make decisions, with particular reference to the environment and vaccination, in relation to the foot and mouth outbreak in the United Kingdom. [156377]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 30 March 2001]: No. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made in the House on the Stockholm Council.
Mr. Luff: To ask the Prime Minister for what reason no hon. Members from rural constituencies were invited to meet him during his recent visit to Worcestershire; and if he will make a statement. [156989]
The Prime Minister: I went to the hon. Member for Worcester's constituency and was accompanied by him throughout my visit.
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Mr. Luff: To ask the Prime Minister what representatives of (a) farming and (b) tourism interests from the district council area of Wychavon he met during his recent visit to Worcestershire; and if he will make a statement. [156991]
The Prime Minister: I met farming and tourism local representatives.
Mr. Luff: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had during his recent visit to Worcestershire with (a) officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (b) representatives of the Ministry of Defence and (c) hon. Members for constituencies in Worcestershire concerning the possible locations of a mass burial site for animals slaughtered to control foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [156990]
The Prime Minister: I discussed various aspects of the foot and mouth disease eradication strategy, including the need for additional disposal routes, with farmers and business representatives, officials, members of the armed forces and others in Worcester on 27 March. Decisions on the use of specific burial or other sites are a matter for MAFF, in consultation with the Environment Agency and other relevant authorities and others.
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to set up an independent public inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak. [157038]
The Prime Minister: We have made it clear that at the conclusion of the foot and mouth outbreak we will sit down and see what lessons can be learned. This is normal good practice after any episode of this kind. However, the form that this exercise will take has not been decided. Our top priority is to focus on implementing the mechanisms to control and eradicate the disease.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the evidence submitted to him on foot and mouth disease by the Soil Association. [157008]
The Prime Minister: I have received no formal submission from the Soil Association. I am, however, aware from meetings that it favours the use of vaccination, which remains under active consideration as an option in the strategy for eradicating the disease.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Police Numbers (Romsey)
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) policemen and (b) policewomen there were in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001. [155858]
Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 28 March 2001]: The Romsey section is covered by the Eastleigh division of the Hampshire constabulary. The force's records do not make it possible to provide information for 1992 for the Romsey section. The available information is set out in the table and has been provided by the chief constable.
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| Number of police officers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastleigh divisional total | Romsey section | |||
| Year | Male | Female | Male | Female |
| December 1992 | 96 | 20 | (4)-- | (4)-- |
| March 1997 | 96 | 21 | 38 | 3 |
| March 2001(5) | 134 | 33 | 34 | 5 |
(4) Not available
(5) Boundary changes in April 2000 resulted in the extension of the Eastleigh division to include Hedge End and Netley
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) nature and (b) duration of delays to casework in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate caused by (i) installation of new computer systems and (ii) organisational and accommodation changes. [156093]
Mrs. Roche: Casework in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is supported on Information Technology systems from Siemens Business Services and other operational systems used in the Immigration Service and the National Asylum Support Service. The number of terminals have expanded across the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in line with increasing numbers of staff and office locations
Casework handling has been improved by extended use of Information Technology in the Immigration Service during 2000 and 2001 and by better arrangements to exchange data between different systems.
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