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13 Jan 2003 : Column 378W—continued
EU Budget (Information Campaigns)
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to
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his statement of 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 547, on the European Council (Copenhagen), what rules govern the distribution and expenditure of EU budget funds in information campaigns. [89370]
Dawn Primarolo : I have been asked to reply.
Funds are available from the EC Budget to provide general information on the implications of enlargement for candidate states. The Commission, assisted by a management committee of Member States' representatives, is responsible for distributing these funds under the EC Regulations giving assistance to candidate countries. Disbursement of EC Budget funds by the Commission is also subject to the rules and principles laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, and to external audit by the European Court of Auditors.
GDP Growth Estimates
Mr Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will identify the source of the GDP growth estimates given in his statement of 16 December, Official Report, columns 537–51, on the Copenhagen summit and enlargement of the EU. [89246]
Mr. MacShane: The estimate of nearly #2 billion as the benefit to UK GDP from enlargement is taken from a study by Baldwin R E, J F Francois & Fortes R (1997) XThe costs and benefits of eastern enlargement: the impact on the EU and central Europe", Economic Policy, no 24, April 1997. The study estimates have been updated to 1999 GDP figures and prices. The estimate of a 1.5 percentage point boost to the GDP of the acceding countries is taken from a study by the European Commission (June 2001) 'Economic Impact of Enlargement' available at http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/enlargementpapers_en.htm.
Boundaries Commission (Bermuda)
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to introduce an Order in Council to progress the work of the Boundaries Commission in Bermuda and to introduce an electoral system which conforms to the objective of one person, one vote; each vote of equal value; and if he will make a statement. [87758]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Given the degree of consensus which has emerged on this matter, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is minded to recommend to Her Majesty in Council, in January 2003, an Order in Council to amend the Constitution of Bermuda to give legal effect to the Commission's recommendations to change the boundaries and the current 20 dual seat constituencies to 36 single seat constituencies. My noble friend, Baroness Amos, sent the text of the draft Order in Council to the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition in Bermuda on 25 November and to the Chairman of the FAC and interested peers on 29 November.
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Constitutional Treaty of European Union
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the content of the draft Constitutional Treaty of European Union prepared by Professor Alan Dashwood. [89584]
Mr. MacShane: The Government commissioned Professor Alan Dashwood, a constitutional expert, and his team at Cambridge to draft a constitutional text. Professor Dashwood retained editorial control throughout. We support many of his ideas, such as clearer dividing lines between EU and member state roles. The Prime Minister's speech CA clear course for Europe' of 28 November 2002, which can be accessed on the website www.number-10.gov.uk, sets out the Government's position.
Convention on the Future of Europe
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's aspirations for the Convention on the Future of Europe. [89583]
Mr. MacShane: The Government believe the Convention on the Future of Europe is an important opportunity to consider how to make the European Union more effective and efficient. We want a Union that is better organised, more accessible, and better able to deliver real and practical benefits to citizens.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the principle of loyal co-operation proposed for inclusion in the conclusions of the Convention on the Future of Europe. [89585]
Mr. MacShane: The draft Constitutional Treaty of the Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe makes provision for a phrase setting out 'the obligation of loyal co-operation of Member States vis-a-vis the Union'. The principle exists in the present Treaties (Article 10 of the Treaty on European Community and Article 11(2) the Treaty on European Union). The Government support this principle.
Dame Shirley Porter
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the attendance by Dame Shirley Porter at a function held by the British Embassy in Israel; and what instructions have been given, and on what date, by his Department in respect of contact with, and the provision of hospitality to, Dame Shirley Porter. [90344]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Dame Shirley Porter accompanied her husband, Sir Leslie Porter, the Chancellor of Tel Aviv University, to a dinner at the British Embassy in honour of the Weizmann Institute Foundation on 10 November 2002. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not issued instructions about contact with Dame Shirley Porter.
Goa (Terrorist Attack)
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his
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Department has made of the warning issued by the Israeli Government concerning a possible terrorist attack on Goa in the New Year; what intelligence reports his Department have received concerning the threat posed by terrorism to British citizens in Goa during 2002; what changes his Department has made to travel advice on Goa in 2002; what steps his Department plans to take to warn British citizens about reports of terrorists targeting Goa; and if he will make a statement. [88319]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 7 January 2003]: We have received no specific threat to British or other foreign interests in Goa in recent months. The FCO travel advice for India, including Goa, was last changed on 13 December to indicate that India is one of a number of countries where there is an increased risk from global terrorism. The British Government are in close touch with other governments, including the Israeli Government, about terrorist threats. Our travel advice for those planning to visit India, including Goa, highlights the global risk of terrorism, including in areas visited by tourists.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Area Cost Adjustment
Mr. Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister why Worcestershire local authorities are not eligible for area cost adjustment. [90387]
Mr. Leslie: The area cost adjustment is based on evidence about average wages in each area of the country, adjusted so that like for like comparisons are made. Areas with a relative wage above a particular threshold are those that receive the area cost adjustment. Wages in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire area are below this threshold. A full methodology guide to the area cost adjustment is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Best Value
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the Best Value Code of Practice. [89539]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government have consulted on a code of practice and new statutory guidance which will ensure that all local authority service contracting takes proper account of the need for a high quality work force in order to deliver high quality services. We have considered the responses and intend to publish the code and guidance very shortly.
Environmental Protective and Cultural Services
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in respect of each local authority, how much money was distributed and is planned to be distributed through the environmental protective and cultural services standard spending assessment for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2003–04; what the total sum distributed via EPCS SSA was for each year; and if he will make a statement. [90657]
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Mr. Raynsford: A table showing the EPCS SSA for the financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03 and the provisional 2003–04 EPCS FSS by authority has been placed in the Library of the House.
The EPCS SSAs provided are not suitable for comparison purposes between years. Some of the major differences between years are as follows:
- The last tranche of local government reorganisation occurred on 1 April 1998; this created a further 19 unitary authorities;
In 1997–98 the XOther Interest Receipts" SSA was included in the EPCS SSA; from 1998–99 onwards the XOther Interest Receipts" SSA was included in the Capital Financing SSA;
The Greater London Authority came into being in 2000. Prior to this the policing in the capital was provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, while the fire service was provided by the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority;
The Metropolitan Police Authority was subject to boundary changes in 2000. Before this certain areas of Essex, Surrey and Hertfordshire were policed by the Metropolitan Police Service;
The Metropolitan Police Service provided Magistrates Courts and Probationary Services as well as School Crossing Patrols, for the period 1997–98 to 1999–2000;
It is proposed that the GLA will cease to receive money for its EPCS services in 2003–04; instead these will be funded via the GLA General Grant.
In 2003–04 SSAs were abolished and replaced with Formula Spending Shares (FSSs). The control totals for FSSs are much larger than those for SSAs as they have been increased to around the level of spending by all authorities in England for these services.
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