---

22 Apr 2004 : Column 603W—continued

Uganda

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the efficacy of his Department's contract with the World Food Programme to distribute food to Teso in North East Uganda. [166760]

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nation's World Food Programme in Uganda. The current MoU has been in place since December 2002. It clearly sets out the UK's expectations in relation to our bilateral financing, and gives the World Food Programme (WFP) obligations to fulfil.

The WFP has the full capacity required to provide food relief in the North and East of Uganda effectively. WFP is the UN agency mandated to provide food aid in such a large-scale emergency, and the only agency on the ground equipped with the necessary staff, resources and experience necessary to respond adequately to the situation. DFID closely monitors the WFP's performance through the reports it submits directly to DFID, the monthly Humanitarian Updates it provides to the donor community as a whole, and regular discussions with WFP representatives in Kampala.

PRIME MINISTER

Committee on Standards in Public Life

Claire Ward: To ask the Prime Minister when he will announce new appointments to the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement. [168455]

 
22 Apr 2004 : Column 604W
 

The Prime Minister: I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Sir Alistair Graham as Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in succession to Sir Nigel Wicks with effect from Monday 26 April. Sir Alistair has been a Member of the Committee since 1 October 2003.

I have also appointed Lady Elizabeth Vallance as a Member of the Committee in succession to Sir Alistair following his appointment as Chairman.

Both appointments have been made fully in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice.

I am very grateful to Sir Nigel for his excellent leadership of the Committee, and for the significant contribution he has made to upholding and improving standards in public life.

Food Imports

Andrew George: To ask the Prime Minister which Government Departments are responsible for ensuring that (a) EU member states' and (b) EU accession states' food imports to the UK meet the appropriate EU   (i) slaughter, (ii) production, (iii) processing, (iv)   labelling, (v) hygiene, (vi) food safety and (vii) traceability standards. [167322]

The Prime Minister: It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities in each EU member state and accession state to ensure that all food is produced and exported in accordance with EU legislation. The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office is responsible for ensuring that authorities comply with these responsibilities.

Food coming to the UK from accession states before 1 May 2004 (and after this date for accession states not due to join the EU on 1 May) will be subject to the same import controls as food from other non-EU countries. Such food is subject to routine food safety and standards checks at UK ports by local authorities.

The Food Standards Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies are responsible for food safety and food standards in the UK. Enforcement responsibilities are delegated to    environmental health and trading standards departments in local authorities, who carry out checks on food to ensure compliance with food safety and food hygiene standards.

Foreign Ministerial Visits

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on the length of time it is appropriate for Cabinet Ministers to be out of the country. [167798]

The Prime Minister: Section 7 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance to Ministers making overseas visits.

Jonathan Powell

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons Mr. Jonathan Powell has the power to direct civil servants. [167797]

 
22 Apr 2004 : Column 605W
 

The Prime Minister: Jonathan Powell has executive powers under article 3(3) of the Civil Service Order in Council. He has direct responsibility for leading and co-ordinating operations across Number 10 and reports to me.

Mayor of London

Mr. Randall: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the Mayor of London. [168001]

The Prime Minister: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals, including the Mayor of London. As with previous administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings, under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Michael Meacher

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons the hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton left his post as Environment Minister. [167773]

The Prime Minister: As has been the practice under successive administrations, all ministerial offices are at the disposal of the Prime Minister. Details of resigning Ministers have been announced on each occasion.

Ministerial Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to reduce the dependency of (a) himself and (b) his Ministers on ministerial cars. [167800]

The Prime Minister: Under the terms of the Ministerial Code, Ministers are required to make efficient and cost-effective arrangements, taking account of security considerations.

All ministerial travel on official business is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in "Travel by Ministers".

Surveillance Commissioner

Tom Levitt: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reappointment of the Surveillance Commissioner under Part III of the Police Act 1997. [168424]

The Prime Minister: In accordance with Section 91 of the Police Act 1997, I have agreed to re-appoint Sir   Philip Otton as Surveillance Commissioner from 1 February 2004 to 31 January 2007. 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 Philip Otton has served as a Surveillance Commissioner since 2001. I am delighted that Sir Philip has accepted his re-appointment and am grateful for his continuing work.

Use of Government Property

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is in respect of the use of Government property by individuals other than special advisers to carry out work for New Labour. [167795]

 
22 Apr 2004 : Column 606W
 

The Prime Minister: Guidance to Ministers on the use of Government property is set out in section 6 of the Ministerial Code.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Katharine Gun

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Solicitor General pursuant to her answer of 8 March 2004, Official Report, column 314W, on Katharine Gun, if the Attorney-General will place copies of the correspondence between Ministers and himself on the Katharine Gun case in the Library. [164241]

The Solicitor-General: The correspondence between the Attorney-General and Ministers relates to the "Shawcross" exercise undertaken by the Attorney-General. The Attorney wrote to ministerial colleagues asking for views and any issues which may impact upon his decision whether or not it was in the public interest to consent to the prosecution of Katharine Gun for an offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act. The correspondence falls within exemptions 1, 2 and 4 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The correspondence includes information whose disclosure would harm national security and was a consultation between Ministers where their advice and views were sought. The Attorney-General considers that to disclose this would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. He has concluded the harm likely to arise from disclosure of this material outweighs the public interest in making the information available. In    addition the correspondence related to legal proceedings and therefore comes under exemption 4.

Copies of correspondence between Ministers and the Attorney-General on the Katharine Gun case will not therefore be placed in the Library.

---