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29 Apr 2004 : Column 1223W—continued
Green Ministers
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended in the last 12 months in that role. [165443]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department's Green Minister is a member of the ENV(G) Cabinet sub-committee and of the sustainable development taskforce. It has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.
The Green Minister met representatives of the Sustainable Development Commission in October 2003.
Professional Registration (EU Nationals)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether health care staff from other EU countries are able to work in the United Kingdom prior to the completion of registration with UK professional bodies; and if he will make a statement. [164915]
Mr. Hutton: It is for employers to ensure that all staff are suitably qualified and experienced for the work to be done, regardless of their country of origin. Staff may not be employed in any capacity requiring registration without being registered. The status of individuals undertaking training or experience with a view to registration must be clearly distinguished from that of registered practitioners.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Treason
23. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Solicitor-General what her policy is on the prosecution of United Kingdom nationals for treason. [169200]
The Solicitor-General: Any offence of treason would be dealt with in the same way as other prosecutions. Namely that the police investigate and the Crown Prosecution Service consider whether there is enough evidence and whether a prosecution is in the public interest.
Nottingham Criminal Justice Board
24. Mr. Allen: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the work of the Crown Prosecution Service with the Nottingham Criminal Justice Board. [169201]
The Solicitor-General:
The Nottingham Criminal Justice Board is one of the 42 local Criminal Justice Boards where the police, courts, prosecutors and prison service work together to ensure a fair and affective criminal justice system. Kate Carty, the local Chief Crown Prosecutor, is a member of the board which is chaired by the Chief Constable.
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Cannings Case Judgment
25. Mr. Borrow: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the progress she is making in identifying prosecutions that may be affected by the Appeal Court's judgment in the appeal against the conviction of Angela Cannings. [169202]
The Solicitor-General: The process of identifying prosecutions which may be affected by the Appeal Court's judgment in the appeal against conviction of Angela Cannings has been completed. Since the Appeal Court's judgment on 19 January the 300 relevant cases have been identified, of which 86 involve defendants in custody. There are three stages to the review process. To date, 167 cases have been reviewed and I will be in a position to tell the House the outcome of those reviews very shortly.
Of the 16 ongoing prosecutions which may have been affected by the Cannings judgment, all have been reviewed and two have been discontinued. A Hampshire case was discontinued before trial and a Coventry case was discontinued before a retrial.
Fraud
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Solicitor-General what recent representations she has received regarding Government measures to eradicate fraudulent schemes targeted at small businesses. [169203]
The Solicitor-General: I have not received any representations regarding these measures.
Wildlife Crime
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General what guidance she gives to Crown Prosecution Service offices to ensure the consistent prosecution of wildlife crime. [169196]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service is aware of the need to make sure that effective measures are taken to ensure consistency in the prosecution of wildlife crime. It is a member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime.
PRIME MINISTER
EU Enlargement
Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what events he will be attending in order to show his support for the enlargement of the EU. [169885]
The Prime Minister: I hosted a reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 28 April for 400 guests connected with the EU enlargement process and with the accession countries, including former Ministers and others from across the political spectrum. I will also attend the Irish EU Presidency's event to mark accession on 1 May in Dublin.
Immigration Status
Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those who have attended his immigration summits. [169884]
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The Prime Minister: A number of Ministers together with officials attended the immigration summits.
Internal discussion and advice is exempt from disclosure in line with exemption 2b of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
India
Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit India. [169886]
The Prime Minister: I have no current plans to do so.
Iraq
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations to the United Nations Secretary General calling for an immediate and independent high level UN inquiry into the Iraq Oil for Food Programme arising from the evidence given to the United States Congress. [169242]
The Prime Minister: On 21 April 2004, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed an independent high-level inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption in the management and administration of the UN's Iraq Oil For Food Programme. Her Majesty's Government fully support the UN inquiry, which was endorsed by the Security Council through its unanimous adoption of resolution 1538 (21 April 2004).
Ministerial Gifts
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he intends to publish the list of gifts received by Ministers in 2003–04. [169851]
The Prime Minister: The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of gifts received by Ministers in an official capacity valued at more than £140. Details of gifts received during 2003–04 valued at more than £140 are currently being assembled and will be published before the summer recess.
President Mubarak
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to receive a state visit from President Mubarak. [169928]
The Prime Minister: I have no current plans to do so.
Tibet
Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will urge Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to undertake to commute the death sentence against Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche pending a fair and free retrial in the presence of international observers; and if he will make a statement. [169581]
The Prime Minister: I expect to discuss a wide range of issues with Premier Wen Jiabao.
We and our EU partners have raised concerns about the transparency and conduct of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche's trial with the Chinese authorities on several occasions and have asked them to confirm that Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche's death sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment.
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We will continue to monitor this case and make representations to the Chinese authorities where appropriate.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will seek from Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao an undertaking to drop all pre-conditions to negotiating a settlement on Tibet with representatives of the Dalai Lama; and if he will make a statement; [169584]
(2) if he will make a statement in public on the situation in Tibet during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. [169585]
The Prime Minister: I expect to discuss a wide range of issues with Premier Wen Jiabao during his visit to the UK. The Government have an ongoing dialogue with China over human rights issues and Tibet at both ministerial level and the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue. We welcome the continuing contact between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama.
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