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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 13 November 2003
LEADER OF THE HOUSE
COSAC
Llew Smith: To ask the Leader of the House what evaluation he has made of the proposals put forward by the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) in respect of the relative powers of national Parliaments. [138068]
Mr. Hain: I am aware of COSAC's Contribution of 7 October, and have noted that it proposes that all Parliaments within the EU should hold simultaneous debates on the Commission's legislative and work programme. I shall consider further, in discussion with colleagues, what forum might be most appropriate for debate of the Commission's programme.
I note that the Contribution also endorses the provisions in the draft constitutional treaty for direct transfer of Commission documentation to national Parliaments and for an "early-warning mechanism" by which national Parliaments would be able to present a reasoned opinion if they felt that legislative proposals breached the principle of subsidiarity. The Government strongly support these provisions.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Libel
Norman Baker: To ask the Solicitor-General what guidance the Attorney-General has issued to judges in respect of the appropriateness of agreeing to injunctions to prevent a potential libel. [138582]
The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General has not issued any such guidance.
CABINET OFFICE
Departmental Costs
Mr. Flight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost was to his Department for (a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997. [123088]
Mr. Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 25,535 |
| 1998–99 | 96,439 |
| 1999–2000 | 176,489 |
| 2000–01 | 220,720 |
| 2001–02 | 267,603 |
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 89,937 |
| 1998–99 | 466,598 |
| 1999–2000 | 460,500 |
| 2000–01 | 407,354 |
| 2001–02 | 417,420 |
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1,061,745 |
| 1998–99 | 1,218,293 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,155,755 |
| 2000–01 | 1,525,834 |
| 2001–02 | 1,780,405 |
The figures above for air travel do not include ministers travel costs overseas costing more than 500.
Since 1999, this Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The lists include details of the cost of trips involving charter and RAF flights. Copies of the lists covering the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2003 are available in the Libraries of the House.
All official travel in my Department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code. All Ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code' and 'Travel by Ministers', copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Dr Walter King
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Totnes of 16 June and 30 July concerning Dr. Walter King of Dart Sensors Ltd, Totnes, Devon; and what the reasons are for the delay. [132590]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 20 October 2003]: A reply was sent directly to Dr. Walter King of Dart Sensors in September. I apologise that due to an administrative oversight, a copy was not sent to the hon. Member at the time. A copy of this letter has now been forwarded to the hon. Member.
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Champagne
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many litres of champagne were imported from France in each year since 1992. [138102]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Data on UK imports of champagne are given in the table.
| 1992 | 11,097,820 |
| 1993 | 14,327,108 |
| 1994 | 17,805,364 |
| 1995 | 14,029,225 |
| 1996 | 15,633,002 |
| 1997 | 16,361,152 |
| 1998 | 18,145,100 |
| 1999 | 24,201,937 |
| 2000 | 14,836,442 |
| 2001 | 17,245,344 |
| 2002 | 24,398,314 |
Note:
Champagne is defined as code 22041011 of the harmonised commodity coding system.
Source:
HM Customs and Excise data
Employment Discrimination
Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what interim measures she plans to put in place to tackle discrimination on the grounds of (a) sexual orientation, (b) religious belief and (c) age in advance of the establishment of a Commission for Equality and Human Rights in 2006. [137465]
Jacqui Smith: Regulations to prohibit discrimination at work on the grounds of sexual orientation and religion or belief come into force on 1 and 2 December 2003. We are working to ensure that employers, individuals and intermediaries have access to information and advice about the Regulations. A guide to the sexual orientation and religion or belief regulations has been available on the DTI website since the summer. Acas has just published practical workplace guidance on implementing the new legislation, after extensive consultation with a wide range of bodies concerned with employment issues, including the TUC and CBI.
This guidance has been available in draft form on the Acas website since the summer. In addition, DTI is raising awareness with intermediaries, including through regional events and by making available funds for which organisations from advisory, faith and lesbian, gay, bisexual backgrounds have been able to bid to provide relevant training. Acas are conducting a programme of training for intermediaries and employers.
We are currently considering the position for the age strand, which is due to come into force in October 2006.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether atheists are to be entitled to the same holiday allowance as religious employees under forthcoming EU legislation. [137611]
Jacqui Smith: The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) 2003 regulations, which come into force on 2 December 2003, do not introduce rights for additional time off but will prohibit discrimination on grounds of
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religion or belief (including atheism). Employers will be required to treat people in an even handed way. If staff want time off for religious festivals employers will have to consider it in the way they would any other request for leave.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, under the proposed European legislation to protect homosexual employees from discrimination, employers will be expected to identify the sexual orientation of their staff. [137645]
Jacqui Smith: No, other than in the very limited circumstances where being of a particular sexual orientation is a genuine occupational requirement for a job. If such a case arises, the employer may have to ask applicants and employees about their sexual orientation in order to find out if they are able to perform the functions of the job in question.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will make a statement on the proposed Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003;. [137609]
- (2) if she will make a statement on the proposed Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. [137610]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) and Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, which come into force on 1 and 2 December 2003, are a major step forward in combating discrimination at work.
For the first time the Regulations will put in place protection against discrimination and harassment on the ground of sexual orientation and religion or belief in workplaces in England, Scotland and Wales. The Regulations were developed following widespread consultation since 2000 and they implement the Employment Discrimination Directive of November 2000.
EU Energy Chapter
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the impact of the Energy Chapter of the Draft EU Constitituion on private sector investment in the North Sea oil and gas fields; and what representations she has received. [137650]
Mr. Timms: The Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the draft Constitution on the Department's powers to regulate recovery of hydrocarbons from the UK Continental Shelf. The potential impact of such changes on future private sector investment is a matter of some debate—not least owing to the changing roles of established players and a number of new entrants. There is considerable Community competence already in the field of energy, and a number of Directives and Regulations have been brought forward in the areas of energy and environment, often under qualified majority voting. Nevertheless, the Government will only agree to an extension of competence in energy policy if it is
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consistent with the UK interest, and a number of organisations with UK oil and gas interests have made representations to Ministers.
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact she estimates the Energy Chapter of the Draft EU Constitution will have on the North Sea oil licensing regime. [137722]
Mr. Timms: EU competence in energy matters, including natural resources, will fall under Article 111–157 of the draft Constitutional Treaty, with voting by qualified majority. There is considerable Community competence already in the field of energy, and a number of Directives and Regulations have been brought forward in the areas of energy and environment, often under qualified majority voting. There is a carve out to preserve "Member State's choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply", where our understanding is that the EU would have to act by unanimity. Discussions on the draft Treaty are continuing in the framework of the Intergovernmental Conference: the UK Government would not agree to any proposals that was inconsistent with UK energy interest.
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect she estimates the proposed energy chapter in the European Union constitution will have on licensing arrangements for the exploitation of the UK's offshore oil and gas. [137760]
Mr. Timms: EU competence in energy matters, including natural resources, will fall under Article 111–157 of the draft Constitutional Treaty, with voting by qualified majority. There is considerable Community competence already in the field of energy, and a number of Directives and Regulations have been brought forward in the areas of energy and environment, often under qualified majority voting. There is a carve out of preserve "Member State's Choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply", where our understanding is that the EU would have to act by unanimity. Discussions on the draft Treaty are continuing in the framework of the Intergovernmental Conference: the UK Government would not agree to any proposal that was inconsistent with UK energy interests.
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