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Off-road Motor Cycles

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what examples of best practice are available to (a) local authorities and (b) police authorities on (i) making provision for off-road motorcycles and (ii) tackling irresponsible off-road motorcycling. [195779]

Alun Michael: The departmental publication, "Making the Best of Byways", provides advice and practical examples to local authorities on managing mechanically propelled vehicles on byways and includes guidance on identifying suitable off-road sites. The Department is currently working on a comprehensive revision to the document.

We are preparing new enforcement guidance for both police authorities and local authorities to help them deal with inappropriate and illegal use of motor vehicles off road. The guidance will set out the extensive statutory powers already available to deal with misuse and will draw on existing best practice examples of police and local authorities working in successful partnerships.

Copies of "Making the Best of Byways" have been placed in the House Library. The revised document and new enforcement guidance will be available next year.

Sea Fishing (Licences)

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on whether anglers should be required to hold licences for the right to fish at sea. [196949]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Review of Marine Fisheries and Environmental Enforcement, which was published in July, recommends that, in return for improvements
 
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which would benefit sea anglers, a licensing scheme for them be considered. The consultation period on the review ended on 29 September. My officials are now evaluating the replies, and I have not yet made any decisions.

Sharpness Dock Basin

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the condition of Sharpness Dock Basin, with particular reference to the views expressed by the Gloucester Harbour Trustees. [194282]

Alun Michael: As statutory harbour authority, British Waterways is fully aware of the Gloucester Harbour Trustees' concern about the condition of Sharpness Docks. It has identified improvement works for the docks of some £4–5 million over the next four to five years. It is considering the phasing of this work as part of its asset management programme.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator

Dame Marion Roe: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his Answer of 19 October 2004, Official Report, column 566W, if he will make a further statement on the appointment of a Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator. [197193]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: I can confirm that the House of Lords authorities have agreed to the establishment of a Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator. An appointment will be made as soon as practicable, initially on secondment. The Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator would be expected, among other responsibilities, to oversee the project of implementing new security measures arising from the joint review, to improve co-ordination of security matters between the two Houses and advise on issues which need to be dealt with across the Estate as a whole, and to provide a focus for liaison with the Metropolitan police and security service. The Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator would be accountable for his/her performance to Mr. Speaker in the Commons and the Lord Chairman of Committees in the Lords, and would come under the Chief Executives of the two Houses for day-to-day management purposes, working with Black Rod and the Serjeant at Arms, who would continue to hold executive responsibility, to ensure the security of their respective Houses.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Written Questions

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring forward proposals to allow the tabling of written questions during periods when the House is in recess for answer on a named day during the recess. [196392]

Mr. Hain: I have no plans to do so.
 
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PRIME MINISTER

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what role he played in the decision announced by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that the UK should apply to the EU for an increase in permissible carbon emissions under the EU Emissions Trading Schemes. [196847]

The Prime Minister: This was a collective decision in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Congressional Gold Medal

Derek Conway: To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to collect his congressional gold medal; and if he will make a statement. [197205]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 18 May 2004, Official Report, column 878W.

Iraq

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Prime Minister to what proportion of next of kin of armed forces personnel killed in Iraq he has written condolence letters. [195892]

The Prime Minister: During the Iraq conflict, the policy on official governmental letters of condolence was reviewed in consultation with single Service Chiefs of Staff. I announced my intention to write to the next of kin of all those Service personnel who were killed in action on operations.

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he held with President Bush on the timing of war with Iraq during his visit to the US commencing on 7 September 2002. [195893]

The Prime Minister: I regularly have discussions on a wide range of issues with President Bush including on Iraq. As with previous Administrations, it is not the practice of this Government to make public details of discussions with foreign governments.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister when he last held discussions with the UN Secretary-General regarding Iraq. [196001]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Hugh Robertson) and my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 25 October 2004, Official Report, column 1025W.

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2004, Official Report, column 1257W, on Iraq, when he was first informed by British military commanders of the request they had received from the US military for the re-deployment of British troops. [196038]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Hoon) on 18 October 2004, Official Report, column 625–26.
 
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Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister when he last discussed with Coalition allies ways of minimising civilian casualties in the course of military operations in Iraq. [196292]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) and my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) at Prime Minister's Questions on 3 November 2004, Official Report, columns 301 and 305–06.

President Bush

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister when he last held discussions with President Bush. [196000]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 3 November 2004 which is available on the No. 10 website.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Barker Review

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to revise chapter 9 of the regional planning guidance in light of the Barker review; and if he will make a statement. [195165]

Keith Hill: The Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, has only recently published in July this year a revised Chapter 9 of Regional Planning Guidance for the South-East (RPG9). The South East England Regional Assembly is currently in the process of reviewing the spatial strategy set out in RPG9 with a view to submitting a draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the South-East to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, in the summer of 2005. The Government have already highlighted to the Assembly the expectation that in their review the Assembly takes into account key messages emerging from the Barker review.

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