5 Feb 2004 : Column 997W
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 5 February 2004
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
Commission for Equality and Human Rights
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on how she intends to contribute to the creation of a Commission for Equality and Human Rights. [149753]
Jacqui Smith: Establishing the Commission for Equality and Human Rights reflects this Government's commitment that equality matters to everyone—it is not a minority concern. The Commission will give greater support and joined-up advice to individuals, businesses and communities to crack down on discrimination and to promote equality and diversity.
This afternoon I will be chairing the third meeting of the Taskforce that we have brought together to consider the priorities and role of the new Commission. It brings together people with experience, expertise and knowledge on equality and human rights issues.
PRIME MINISTER
Correspondence
Mr. Brady: To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West on 20 January, ref. 149941. [153090]
The Prime Minister: I replied to the hon. Member on 3 February 2004, Official Report, columns 757–58W.
Iraq
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library all correspondence between his press secretary and the Director General of the BBC relating to the lead-up to and conduct of the war in Iraq. [153012]
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library correspondence from (a) himself and (b) other members of his office to the BBC relating to (i) the conduct of the war in Iraq and (ii) interviews with Dr. Kelly by BBC reporters. [152967]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) in the debate on Lord Hutton's Report on 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 768.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an independent United Kingdom inquiry to investigate the intelligence which led the United Kingdom to take military action in Iraq in 2003; and if he will make a statement. [153930]
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Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will take steps to establish a cross-party joint committee of both Houses to inquire into the foreign and domestic intelligence regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction; [153082]
- (2) if he will establish an independent inquiry into the foreign and domestic intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. [153083]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the statement given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 3 February 2004, Official Report, columns 625–28.
Surveillance Commissioner
Mr. Miller: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an announcement about the re-appointment of the right hon. Sir John MacDermott as Surveillance Commissioner under Part III of the Police Act 1997. [153773]
The Prime Minister: In accordance with Section 91 of the Police Act 1997, I have agreed to re-appoint Sir John MacDermott as Surveillance Commissioner for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004. The remit of each Surveillance Commissioner covers the whole of the United Kingdom so that any Surveillance Commissioner can act in jurisdictions other than his own.
The right hon. Sir John MacDermott has served as a Surveillance Commissioner since 1998.
The Commissioners are appointed under the provisions of Part III of the Police Act 1997. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 extended the Commissioners' remit. Since the authorisation of intrusive surveillance operations forms a key component of the Government's response to serious and organised crime, I attach considerable importance to these appointments and I am delighted that Sir John has accepted his re-appointment. In conjunction with Sir Andrew Leggatt, their substantial judicial experience, particularly of the criminal justice system, will provide independent oversight of surveillance operations, which although operationally important, must also be subject to stringent safeguards.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Business Support Schemes
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the business support schemes being operated by the Government. [148193]
Ms Hewitt: All DTI funded business support schemes are being replaced with a small set of more strategically focussed products. Four of these new products (Small Firms Loan Guarantee, Grant for Research and Development, Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships) have been available since spring 2003. Further products will be made available from April this year.
5 Feb 2004 : Column 999W
Public Bodies (Membership)
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the members of the (a) Advisory Committee on Coal Research, (b) Energy Advisory Panel, (c) Measurement Advisory Committee, (d) Overseas Project Board and (e) London and South East Industrial Development Board were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and what their remuneration is. [151299]
Ms Hewitt: The Measurement Advisory Committee (MAC) consists of the following members. Members are not remunerated.
| Members | Period of Appointment |
|---|---|
| Colin Gaskell—Chair | 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| Penny Allisy-Roberts | 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2004 |
| Peter Bleasdale | 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2006 |
| Mike Buckley | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| Peter Cowley | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| Les Ebdon | 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2005 |
| David Ellix | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| Richard Freeman | 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2006 |
| Ken Grattan | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| David Holmwood | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| Alan Johnson | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| Roger Jones | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| John Latham | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| Steve Lower | 18 March 2002 to 31 March 2005 |
| Janet Townsend | 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2006 |
| John Tyrer | 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2006 |
London and South East Industrial Development Board consists of the following members. Members are not remunerated.
| Members | Period of appointment |
|---|---|
| John McCready—Chair | 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2005 |
| Thomas William Cohen | 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 |
| Peter Edwin Croucher | 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 |
| Praful Davda | 1 February 2001 to 31 January 2004 |
| Bryan Davies | 1 June 2003 to 31 May 2006 |
| Gurbrinder Gill | 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006 |
| Jim Hicks | 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006 |
| Wendy Hyde | 1/08/2001 to 31 July 2004 |
| Mei Sim Lai | 1/08/2001 to 31 July 2004 |
| Helen Sasson | 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 |
| Indeer Jeet Sodhi | 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006 |
| Robert Stiles | 2 January 2001 to 31 January 2004 |
| Graeme Wyles | 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004 |
Note:
Praful Davda and Robert Stiles have been reappointed for the period 1 February 2004 to 31 January 2007.
The Energy Advisory Panel ceased to exist on 31 July 2003.
I am not responsible for appointments to any body known as the Advisory Committee on Coal Research or the Overseas Project Board.
Regional Development Agencies
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 74W, on Regional Development Agencies, what the costs of the arrangements for each Regional Development Agency were in the last year for which figures are available. [152022]
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Jacqui Smith: I have been advised of the following answers by the individual Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).
Many RDAs share the costs and management of overseas offices with partner organisations in order to maximise efficiency. Total annual outlay for each RDA in 2002–03 was:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Advantage West Midlands | 867,488 |
| East of England Development Agency | 329,500 |
| East Midlands Development Agency | 950,000 |
| London Development Agency | 50,000 |
| One North East | 969,045 |
| North West Development Agency | 698,000 |
| South of England East Development Agency | 910,000 |
| South West Regional Development Agency | 848,016 |
| Yorkshire Forward(1) | (1)1,196,000 |
(1) 2003–04 data
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