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Register of Interests

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the requirements are on officials in her Department to declare current interests; and what register of interests is kept for her departmental officials. [164700]

Mr. Caborn: The Civil Service Management Code sets out the requirement for civil servants declaring any conflict of interest. This is brought to the attention of staff in the Department through the Staff Guide. It also identifies areas where a conflict of interest between private and departmental interests could potentially occur, and explains the procedure for the raising of and, where appropriate, the recording of any such conflict with senior management.

Subtitling

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on how her Department is responding to Ofcom's recommendations for subtitle provision, with particular reference to live events. [165135]

Estelle Morris: The Government are committed to extending access to broadcasting services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing—hence the new statutory requirements in the Communications Act 2003. The Act requires Ofcom to draw up a code on

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subtitling provision and gives them the ability to exclude programmes and services from the subtitling requirements after considering a number of criteria including the extent of the benefit for disabled people and technical difficulty.

Ofcom consulted on a draft code and I understand that, in light of representations received, Ofcom do not now propose to exempt live programming from the subtitling requirements. Indeed Ofcom have concluded that it is important that live programming should be included in the requirement and we welcome that conclusion.

Ticket Touting

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with (a) concert venues, (b) tour promoters, (c) artists, (d) music fans and (e) others regarding ticket touting; and if she will make a statement. [164482]

Estelle Morris: I have had no formal discussions with these groups on this issue.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance her Department has issued to internet auction sites regarding ticket touts; and if she will make a statement. [164483]

Estelle Morris: I have issued no guidance to internet auction sites regarding ticket touts.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research her Department has commissioned into the impact of ticket touting (a) in person, (b) through published advertisements, (c) via internet auction sites and (d) through other means on the live music industry in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [164484]

Estelle Morris: None.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what instructions her Department has issued to the Live Music Forum regarding the impact of ticket touting on live music; and if she will make a statement. [164485]

Estelle Morris: None. The Forum's aims are to: maximise the take-up of reforms in the Licensing Act 2003 relating to the performance of live music; promote the performance of live music generally; monitor and evaluate the impact of the 2003 Act on the performance of live music; and make recommendations for further action. It will be up to the Forum to decide how best to achieve these aims.

PRIME MINISTER

Counter-terrorism (EU)

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister further to his oral statement on the outcome of the European Council of 29 March 2004, Official Report, column 1259, if he will list the names of the candidates from which the new EC counter-terrorism co-ordinator was chosen; what

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the reasons were for the choice; and whether the co-ordinator will have the authority to review the security of nuclear materials in transport as part of his responsibilities. [165578]

The Prime Minister: The counter-terrorism co-ordinator is personally appointed by and responsible to the Secretary-General of the European Council, Javier Solana.

The co-ordinator will be responsible for co-ordinating the counter-terrorism work of the Council. The security of nuclear materials in transport remains a national responsibility for member states.

Human Rights (China)

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised human rights issues with Jiang Zemin at his meeting with him in 1999. [165589]

The Prime Minister: I discussed a wide range of issues with President Jiang Zemin during his state visit to the UK in 1999 including bilateral relations, economic co-operation and human rights issues.

Libya

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral statement on Libya of 29 March 2004, Official Report, column 1267, on which date Libya first volunteered information on the extent of their chemical and nuclear weapons programmes; to which countries the highly sensitive documentation and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) related equipment were removed; by whom and how it was decided to where this equipment should be removed; and if he will place in the Library written declarations Libya has made in respect of its WMD programme. [165572]

The Prime Minister: On 19 December, Libya declared its intention to dismantle completely and verifiably its weapons of mass destruction programmes and to limit the range of its missiles.

The UK and US assisted Libya by removing all declared nuclear weapons related material to secure locations in the US. This was done with the full knowledge, agreement and cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

No chemical weapons material related has been removed from Libya. Under the supervision of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), all Libya's declared chemical weapons munitions have been destroyed. We are currently in discussions with the Libyan authorities concerning the destruction of their chemical agents.

Within their respective remits, the responsibility for verifying Libya's written declarations lies with the IAEA and the OPCW. The Libyan authorities have fully informed these organisations about the details of their weapons programmes. Copies of the IAEA's and OPCW's initial reports on Libya's nuclear and chemical weapons programmes have been placed in the Library of the House.

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The UN has welcomed this move by Libya as a positive step towards the strengthening of global efforts to prevent the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction.

Lockerbie

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what response he has given to the letter from Mrs. Pamela Dix, Secretary of UK Families Flight 103, requesting a meeting on his discussions with the Libyan leaderships about Lockerbie. [165367]

The Prime Minister: I will be happy to meet the representatives of the Lockerbie families, as soon as a mutually convenient time can be found. I will brief the families about my talks with Colonel Qadhafi and discuss the issues with them

Majid Nawaz

Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations to the President of Egypt that he grant a pardon to Majid Nawaz. [165227]

The Prime Minister: We will consider any further action in relation to Majid Nawaz when we have received a transcript of the judge's summation of the verdict.

Postwatch

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received about line management in Postwatch. [165372]

The Prime Minister: As far am I am aware, none.

Provisional IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed the supply of arms and explosives to the Provisional IRA with Colonel Gaddafi last week. [165219]

The Prime Minister: I discussed a wide range of issues with Colonel Gadaffi including international and regional security issues, including terrorism.

Rogue States

Mr. Gummer: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 923W, on rogue states, whether he has determined that (a) Israel, (b) India and (c) Pakistan fall within the definition given of a rogue state. [165524]

The Prime Minister: We continue to have serious concerns about proliferation activities in all three states, and regularly raise these concerns with them.

SCOTLAND

Strip Stamps

Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held with the First Minister of Scotland with regard to the introduction of tax stamps on bottles of spirits. [164566]

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Mr. Darling: I discuss a wide range of topical issues with the First Minister of Scotland.

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