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Written Ministerial Statements
Monday 2 December 2002
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Local Government Reviews (Consultation)
The Minister for Local Government and the Regions (Mr. Nick Raynsford): I am today launching a soundings exercise on the level of interest in each English region (outside London) in holding a referendum about establishing an elected regional assembly. I will be writing to all Members in the English regions outside London about the soundings exercise to invite their views. Copies of the document have also been deposited in the Vote Office for convenience.
I am also publishing today, for consultation, a draft of the guidance to the Boundary Committee for England on local government reviews.
Copies of the soundings and consultation papers have been deposited in the House Libraries. They are also available on the ODPM web site. Responses to both the soundings exercise and the consultation on the guidance are requested by 3 March 2003.
The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill currently before Parliament enables the Secretary of State, by order, to specify the region(s) to hold a referendum about establishing an elected regional assembly. Before the Secretary of State can order a referendum, the Bill requires that the Boundary Committee for England has been directed to carry out, and has made recommendations arising out of, a local government review of the region. The level of interest in holding a referendum will be a key factor in deciding where a review is to be carried out. So this policy gives people a choice.
Our proposals for elected regional assemblies will increase democracy, not bureaucracy. In regions where people vote to have an elected assembly we intend to streamline government by moving to a wholly unitary local government structure. Before an order causing a referendum to be held in the region can be made, the Boundary Committee will have conducted a review of local government in the region and made its recommendations for the best unitary structure for those parts of the region that currently have both a county and district council.
DEFENCE
Afghanistan (International Security Assistance Force)
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon): We welcome the decision by the United Nations' Security Council on 27 November 2002 to adopt Resolution 1444, extending the authority of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to deploy for a further twelve months, from 20 December 2002. The extension comes in
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recognition of the valuable work undertaken by the ISAF in helping to provide a secure environment in Kabul, allowing the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, headed by President Karzai, to pursue the difficult task of rebuilding the country.
The new Resolution reaffirms the remit of the ISAF as covering Kabul and its immediate environs. The Resolution recognizes that security within Afghanistan is primarily a matter for the Afghans themselves and commends their efforts to establish representative, professional and multi-ethnic security forces.
Germany and the Netherlands have offered to assume jointly the role of ISAF Lead Nation upon the completion of Turkey's tenure in command. The United Kingdom anticipates remaining a significant contributor to the ISAF. At a Force Generation Conference on 27 November, the United Kingdom offered to provide Staff Officers, an Infantry Company and a Bulk Fuel Installation. Together with their associated support forces, these total over three hundred troops, which is consistent in size with our current deployment.
Medical Preparedness
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie): Smallpox is a deadly and highly contagious disease that could be used as a biological weapon. Currently, we do not assess that there is any immediate threat to our Armed Forces from smallpox. But the consequences of any release of smallpox could be very serious, so we continue to monitor the threat closely, and take precautions.
We continually review the package of defensive measures against chemical and biological attack available to our armed forces, which includes vaccination. We have decided to offer vaccination against smallpox to a small number of specialist military personnel who face a greater risk of exposure to smallpox by virtue of their specialisation. This will include those NBC specialists and specialist medical personnel who would form the spearhead of our defensive response, including vaccination teams, in the event of a confirmed, suspected or threatened release of smallpox. The Department of Health, with whom we are working closely, is planning to vaccinate a similar cohort of healthcare professionals.
As with other vaccines, vaccination against smallpox will be voluntary and on the basis of informed consent.
This work has been taken forward under the cross-Governmental Civil Contingency machinery for which the Home Secretary has overall responsibility.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Council of the European Union
The Minister for Europe (Mr. Denis MacShane):
DECEMBER 2—Brussels—Meeting on Macro Economic Dialogue (Ministerial Troika)
2–3—Brussels—Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
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4—Brussels—Meeting of the Presidium
5–6—Brussels—Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
9—Brussels—General Affairs Council
9–10—Brussels—Environment Council
12–13—Copenhagen—European Council
16–19—Brussels—Agricultural & Fisheries Council
19—Brussels—Meeting of the Presidium
20—Brussels—Justice & Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council
20–21—Brussels—Convention Plenary—External Action & Defence Working Group Conclusions
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