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26 Apr 2004 : Column 826W—continued

Tree Preservation Orders

Mr. Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the target length of time is between submissions of a request for a tree preservation order and a decision on such a request; and whether there are guidelines on keeping interested parties informed of progress. [166778]

Angela Smith: The Planning Service is responsible for processing requests for a Tree Preservation Order. There is no agreed time scale for processing such requests. These requests are processed as quickly as possible and each case is considered on its own merits. Interested parties are informed of Planning Service's decision in these cases.

PRIME MINISTER

Lyons Report

Ms Walley: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make   a statement on Sir Michael Lyons' report's recommendations to set up a Cabinet committee with a lead Minister. [167959]

The Prime Minister: I will announce the arrangements for following up Sir Michael Lyons' report at the conclusion of the current Spending Review.

Phillips Review

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the Phillips Review of the honours system, and on the methodology being employed. [168850]

The Prime Minister: Sir Hayden Phillips, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Constitutional Affairs with special responsibility for the honours system on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, is reviewing current arrangements in the honours system, examining issues of diversity and transparency.

Information has been collected from those involved in the system and views from members of the public and other interested parties have also been collected via the Cabinet Office website. Recent commentary in the press and by members of the public will be taken into account. It is hoped that Sir Hayden's review will be completed by the summer.
 
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Chemical and Biological Weapons

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what response he has given to the submission of the Royal Society on the case for a research centre to investigate the dangers from chemical and biological weapons. [168624]

The Prime Minister: We have not formally responded to the Royal Society Report. Senior Home Office scientists and the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government have arranged to meet the Chair of the working group, Professor Herbert Huppert, shortly to discuss the group's recommendations.

The report confirms that the Government's approach to coordinating the scientific response to terrorism is the right one. We are in complete agreement on the desired outcome towards a coordinated, cross-government research programme driven by the unique requirements of civil defence. The Government have put in place the measures needed to deliver this, including a cross-government civil counter terrorism research programme led by the Home Office Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Team.

Correspondence

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from members of the public in each year since 1997–98. [168658]

The Prime Minister: The information is not available in the format requested.

I receive many items of correspondence including from hon. Members, the general public, various charities and private companies. In the last two years, the total number of items of correspondence has been approximately 1.1 million, an increase from approximately 500,000 in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and 300,000 in 1998.

The correspondence covers a wide range of issues and my office deals with them efficiently.

Europe

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral statement of 20 April 2004, Official Report, column 156, what the evidential basis is for his statement that the myths that (a) the EU will be renamed the United States of Europe, (b) the Queen will be replaced as our head of state, (c) Britain will be forced to join the euro, (d) Britain could not mount a Falklands war or an Iraq campaign without permission from Brussels, (e) we would lose our seat on the UN Security Council, (f) Brussels will seize control of our oil supplies, (g) Brussels will have the power to set taxes in Britain, (h) our foreign policy will be decided by the EU and (i) we will surrender control of our borders have been propagated about the proposed European constitutional treaty. [168451]

The Prime Minister: All the myths that I quoted in my statement of 20 April 2004, Official Report, columns 155–57 are in the public domain.

Flooding (Lewes)

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit the Lewes constituency to inspect those areas which were subject to flooding in 2000 and where no flood defence works have yet been proposed. [167799]

 
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The Prime Minister: I have no plans to do so.

Planned expenditure by the Environment Agency on flood risk management in 2005–06 will be 80 per cent. higher than in 2000–01. This increase has and will continue to enable greater protection of communities that are vulnerable to flooding. In the case of Lewes, in at least one area, planning permission has recently been granted for this work and construction should begin this year.

G8 Summit

Alistair Burt: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations at the G8 summit for funds to be committed to implement the strategic framework by UNAIDS on Orphans and Vulnerable Children. [167612]

The Prime Minister: We strongly support the lead role that UNAIDS plays in co-ordinating efforts to tackle the HIV crisis, including the needs of orphans and vulnerable children. We will continue to press G8 members to play their role in tackling this crisis.

Global Warming

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has accepted the advice of his Chief Scientist that global warning represents as big a threat to the world as terrorism. [167790]

The Prime Minister: Terrorism and climate change clearly pose different kinds of threats to the world. Both are an extremely high priority for this Government, and we are doing all we can to tackle each in the way that is the most appropriate.

HIV/AIDS

Alistair Burt: To ask the Prime Minister if he will call for support for children affected by HIV/AIDS to be made a priority at the G8 summit. [167611]

The Prime Minister: Tackling HIV/AIDS is a priority for the UK Government. We are concerned about the devastating impact AIDS is have in creating millions of orphans and vulnerable children. We are committed to playing our part is an effective response and this will be reflected in the new government strategy on AIDS, which will be published later this year and in raising it at the G8 summit.

Iraq

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Prime Minister when the director of the CIA first advised the British Government not to use the allegation that Iraq could ready weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes. [168617]

The Prime Minister: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on intelligence matters. However, this was not an issue between the US and the UK.

Meetings

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the environmental groups he has met since 1 January 2003. [167801]

 
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The Prime Minister: I have meetings with a wide range or organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Since January 2003, I have met a number of environmental groups and their workers, ranging from mass membership organisations to local bio-diversity and quality of life organisations.

Ministerial Visits

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the towns and cities in the UK he visited in 2003, giving in each case the purpose of the visit. [167794]

The Prime Minister: In 2003, I undertook the following official visits within the UK:

Date	Destination
2003
16 January	Edinburgh
25 January	Manchester
6 February	Newcastle Darlington
12 February	Hillsborough (Northern Ireland)
13 February	Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, Leeds, Edinburgh Glasgow
27 February	Canterbury
28 February	Swansea
3–4 March	Hillsborough (Northern Ireland)
3 April	Aldershot and RAF Lyneham
7–8 April	Hillsborough (Northern Ireland)
11 April	Sandhurst
15 April	Glasgow and RAF Leuchers
24 April	Birmingham, Cardiff
28 April	Manchester, Dundee
9 May	Middleton St. George
7 June	Durham
3–5 July	Birmingham, Liverpool, Garsten, Broughton
30 July	Thames Gateway Ingress Park, Kent
4 September	Northampton
9 September	Brighton
18 September	Bexleyheath
27 September	Southampton/Bournemouth
23–24 October	Nottingham
6 November	Basildon
17 November	Birmingham
27–28 November	Newport, Gwent, Cardiff, Bristol
1 December	Leeds
19 December	Darlington

 
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I have also visited various areas within London including Croydon, Southwark and St. John's Wood and travel regularly to my constituency.

My visits covered a range of matters including health, education, criminal justice and visiting the families of Forces serving in the Gulf.

I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers".

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