| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
7 Nov 2002 : Column 559W—continued
Queen Alexandra Hospital Site
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what conditions on development were laid down by her Department when it gave the former Queen Alexandra hospital site in John Islip street, Westminster, to the Tate Gallery; and what the purpose was of such conditions with respect to development on the site for (a) residential housing and (b) commercial offices. [80336]
Dr Howells: 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.
Special Advisers
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 24 May 2002, Official Report, columns 648–9W, how many visits have been conducted by each parliamentary
7 Nov 2002 : Column 560W
adviser appointed by her Department and to where; and what visits have been conducted by advisers appointed subsequent to 24 May. [79975]
Dr Howells: 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.
British Board of Film Classification
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the members of the British Board of Film Classification. [80225]
Dr Howells: 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.
Sport Grants
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will announce the level of grant to (a) Sport England and (b) UK Sport for financial year 2003–2004; and if she will make a statement. [80342]
Dr Howells: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.
Public Consultations
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public consultations have been commenced by her Department in each month since 20 July; and what the (a) start date, (b) closing date and (c) website address of each were. [80264]
Dr. Howells: One consultation has been commenced by the Department in this period. The Review of Lottery Funding consultation began on 29 July 2002 and ended on 30 October 2002. It can be found at www.culture.gov.uk.
Film Council
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Film Council is taking to increase the number of films that are (a) subtitled and (b) audio-described. [80339]
Dr. Howells: 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.
Alcohol Licensing
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she estimates the removal of licensing jurisdiction from the courts to the local authorities will contribute to the Government's aims to (a) reduce crime and the fear of crime and (b) increase public confidence. [78685]
7 Nov 2002 : Column 561W
Dr. Howells: The Government are confident that the proposed transfer of responsibility for alcohol licensing from licensing justices to local authorities will assist its efforts to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Since 1998 local authorities have had a leading statutory role in preventing local crime and disorder and the link between alcohol and crime is therefore a strong argument for them taking responsibility for alcohol licensing.
The transfer of responsibility should not however be considered in isolation. The Government's proposed Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Bill will also include a whole package of measures designed to reduce crime and the fear of crime. These will include providing the police with extended powers to close pubs, clubs and off-licences that create disorder. The Bill will strengthen the law on the sale of alcohol to under-18s and will give the police greater powers to confiscate alcohol in certain public areas. It will abolish the artificially early closing times that are the source of much of the trouble on our streets at night and there will be enhanced police powers to confiscate alcohol. Local residents will also be able to object to any premises licence application, or request a review of a licence that has been granted, if they have concerns about that licence in relation to crime.
Health and Safety
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to assess the safety practices of bungee jumping. [79747]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: I have been asked to reply.
Health and safety law applies to bungee jumping activities. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Lifting Operations Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 are of direct relevance.
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and the industry have assessed health and safety in this activity and have issued guidance.
As a result of a recent fatal accident the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive will review the safety practices in the light of findings of the continuing investigation.
Responsibility for enforcement of health and safety law in respect of bungee jumping activities falls to the relevant authority.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
GM Organisms
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is her Department's position on acceptable thresholds for the adventitious presence of genetically modified organisms in seed batches of (a) oil seed rape, (b) tomatoes, (c) beet, (d) cotton, (e) chicory, (f) maize, (g) potatoes and (h) soya beans; and if she will make a statement. [75244]
7 Nov 2002 : Column 562W
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 21 October 2002]: The EU Commission has proposed the following thresholds for the adventitious presence of approved GM seeds in non-GM seeds:
0.3 per cent. for swede rape
0.5 per cent. for tomato, beet, chicory, maize, cotton and potato
0.7 per cent. for soya bean
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out her policy towards draft EU proposals for new seed regulations. [75243]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 21 October 2002]: The Government is giving careful consideration to the EU Commission's proposals on thresholds for the adventitious presence of approved GM seeds in non-GM seeds. In so doing, we shall aim to preserve consumer choice by seeking adequate protection for the integrity of non-GM seeds.
Organic Standards
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answers on 29 October (76252, 76253 and 76254), if she will place the correspondence to and from her Department and the United States Department of Agriculture and organic certifiers relating to UK organic standards and the US National Organic Plan in the Library. [79116]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 5 November 2002]: I have today placed in the Library the following correspondence between the Department and the US Department of Agriculture—
- A letter dated 4 December 2001 from James Hughes, First Secretary (Agriculture and Trade Policy) at the British Embassy in Washington, to Mr. A J Yates acting Administrator of the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service formally applying for recognition of the UK's approved certifiers of organic food. (The documents enclosed with this letter can be found on the Departments website at http://defraweb/farm/organic/default.htm)
- A letter dated 8 January 2002 from the Richard H Mathews, Programme Manager for the National Organic Programme, acknowledging Mr. Hughes' letter,
- A letter dated 21 October 2002 from Mr. Yates to Alex Dasi-Sutton acting Secretary of UKROFS confirming that the USDA has determined the UKROFS' procedures for approving organic inspection bodies to be sufficient to secure conformity with the NOP.
We are discussing with the UK organic inspection bodies how best to deal with the conditions set out in Mr. Yates letter of 21 October and will be sending a substantive reply to this letter shortly.
I have also placed in the Library letters dated 5 September and 25 September 2002 to UK importers of organic produce and UK inspection bodies confirming that sufficient assurances had been received from the principal inspection bodies in the US to enable authorisation to import produce certified by those bodies to remain in place.
7 Nov 2002 : Column 563W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |