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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 27 February 2002
PRIME MINISTER
Correspondence
Q13. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter he has received from Mr. Martin Cadman, dated 4 February. [35148]
The Prime Minister: I have asked a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister to reply to Mr. Cadman.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) faxes, (b) letters and (c) e-mails he has received on average each month in the last five years. [38162]
The Prime Minister: The information is not available in the manner requested. The number of letters and cards I receive varies significantly from week to week. I receive about 500,000 items of post per year, and my office works hard to deal with them as efficiently as possible.
Departmental Events
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last four years, giving the title, purpose, date and cost of each. [34186]
The Prime Minister: My office supported "Building Bridges", a Christian-Muslim seminar held at Lambeth Palace on 17–18 January 2002, hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. We provided approximately £7,000 towards the cost of the seminar.
British Companies
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 611W, on British companies, when and by what means his letter to the Prime Minister of Romania regarding Sidex came into the public domain; if he will place a copy in the Library; if a copy of it was sent to Sidex; how many letters he has written in the last 12 months to foreign Governments (a) in advance of and (b) following British companies winning contracts abroad; and what his criteria are for deciding whether to support British companies seeking contacts abroad by means of contracts with foreign Governments. [38395]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 610–11W.
Official Visits
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the parliamentary constituencies he has visited since 1 October 2001. [37770]
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The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member for the answer I gave him on 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 104W.
Mr. Collins: To ask the Prime Minister for what reason his Chief of Staff accompanied him to Lord Levy's house during his visit of June 2001. [37973]
The Prime Minister: My Chief of Staff did not accompany me.
Mr. Collins: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions members of the Policy Directorate have travelled overseas on official business since 7 June 2001; and if he will list the (a) destination and (b) total cost, including the (i) travel, (ii) accommodation and (iii) subsistence allowance for each occasion. [37964]
The Prime Minister: Since 7 June 2001, members of the Policy Directorate have travelled overseas on official business on 13 occasions. The average cost of official travel was approximately £1,000 per visit.
All visits have been made in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Management Code. These arrangements follow the practice of successive Administrations.
Mr. Collins: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions his (a) Chief of Staff and (b) Director of Communications and Strategy have formed part of the official party accompanying him on overseas visits since 1 May 1997; and if he will list the (a) destination and (b) total cost, including (i) travel, (ii) accommodation and (iii) subsistence allowance on each occasion. [37970]
The Prime Minister: Since 1 May 1997, my Chief of Staff has accompanied me on 35 official overseas visits and my Director of Communications has accompanied me on 77 official overseas visits. All visits have been made in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Management Code. These arrangements follow the practice of successive Administrations.
Information on the total travel and accommodation costs is included in the detailed list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas and information on expenditure by all Ministers on travel overseas. Lists of overseas visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing more than £500 during the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2001 were placed in the Library of the House and published in the Official Report on 17 June 1999, columns 196–97W; on 28 July 2000, column 969W; and on 20 July 2001, column 467W. The list for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.
Mr. Collins: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions his chief of staff had with Her Majesty's Ambassador in Bucharest in June and July 2001; and what matters were discussed. [37968]
Special Advisers
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers were involved in the preparation of background material for his use during Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday 13 February; and how many hours were spent by those in each category above on such preparation. [37769]
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The Prime Minister: As far as I am aware I am briefed in the same way as my predecessors were. A senior civil servant is in charge of preparing my briefing for PMQs, and draws on the input of other civil servants and special advisers as they see fit.
Business Contacts
Mr. Collins: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what messages relating to LNM Holdings were exchanged between 10 Downing Street and the British Embassy in Bucharest in the 12 months to September 2001; and on what dates; [37969]
- (2) whether since 7 June 2001 he has made representations to foreign Governments on behalf of individual companies; and which they were. [37967]
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each occasion since May 1997 when he has sent a personal message to heads of Government with the intention of advancing the commercial interest of British firms. [37774]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member and my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Members for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) and the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on Thursday 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 610–11W.
Energy Industry
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 609W, on the energy industry, if he will state the reasons that he does not consider a precedent to be set by the provision of details of ministerial meetings with respect to Enron; and if he will make a statement. [39134]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.
WALES
National Assembly (Electoral System)
9. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the operation of the electoral system for the National Assembly for Wales. [35115]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The electoral system for the Assembly elections was outlined in the 1997 White Paper "A Voice for Wales". The Government have no plans to change it.
Aerospace Industry
10. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the aerospace industry in north Wales. [35116]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues including the aerospace industry.
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I am pleased to note that Airbus have made considerable progress in reducing the number of jobs at risk. This has been due in part to the good working relationship built up between management and the unions within Airbus UK.
Steel
11. Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about measures to improve the local economy in the steel-making and former steel-making areas of Wales. [35117]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet Cabinet colleagues and the First Minister regularly to discuss a number of issues, including economic development in steel making and former steel making areas.
National Health Service
12. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary for Health and Social Services in the National Assembly for Wales, regarding the state of the national health service in Wales. [35118]
Mr. Touhig: I have regular discussions with the Assembly's Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the NHS inWales.
14. Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding plans to reform the national health service in Wales. [35120]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon. friend the Secretary of State and I have regular meetings with the Assembly First Minister and the Health and Social Services Minister to discuss the NHS and other health matters in Wales.
We have had detailed discussions with regard to the reforms to be taken forward through the NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Bill and the legislation mentioned in the Queens speech which will be drafted to reform the provision of health services in Wales.
26. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly regarding the national health service in Wales. [35133]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet with the National Assembly First Minister and the Assembly Health and Social Services Minister to discuss the NHS in Wales.
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