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25 Mar 1999 : Column WA169

Written Answers

Thursday, 25th March 1999.

Fish Landings: French Limits

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations have been made to the French Government over the refusal of the French authorities to allow the Scottish trawlers "Unity" and "Accord" to land their catch of bass in Brest.[HL1495]

Whether they are seeking compensation for the trawlers "Unity" and "Accord" for the loss suffered by the French refusal to allow them to land their catch of bass at Brest.[HL1496]

What representations have been made to the European Commission over the French refusal to allow the trawlers "Unity" and "Accord" to land their catch of bass in Brest.[HL1497]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel): I understand the French have legislation limiting the landing of bass and that similar legislation has been in force for the last two years. The Government have written to the Commission about the notification of this legislation to other member states. No official representations have as yet been made to the French Government. I will write to the noble Lord once further information has been obtained from the Commission.

Public Expenditure: Scotland

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 9 March (WA 23) on who will conduct Public Expenditure Survey negotiations with the Treasury on behalf of the Scottish Executive after 1 July 1999, whether it will be a member of the Scottish Executive, the Secretary of State for Scotland, or a senior official of the Scottish Executive.[HL1491]

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): The majority of future changes to the public expenditure settlement for Scotland will be determined through the Barnett formula, with consultation between Treasury Ministers and the Scottish Executive on its calculation and application of the rules which surround it. Negotiations on annually managed expenditure allocations will be conducted by the Scottish Executive. Ultimately, the level of public expenditure will be a matter for the UK Government, in which Scotland's interests will be represented by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

25 Mar 1999 : Column WA170

Consultation: Response Times

The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:

What the Cabinet Office guidelines are for the minimum period allowed for response time to public consultation documents issued by individual departments of state.[HL1581]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Cabinet Office guidelines state that eight weeks should generally be the minimum response time for all consultation exercises, but whenever possible more should be allowed. Where less than eight weeks is allowed, the consultation document should specify why a longer response time could not have been given (for example, pre-determined statutory periods for consultation, threats to health, the pace of EU negotiations or long-standing existing arrangements). For consultations with clearly defined or specialist groups, shorter consultation periods may suffice, depending on the nature of the subject and the scale of the exercise: this is for departments, agencies and other bodies to judge according to the circumstances.

Bicycle Allowance: MPs and Peers

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, following the Budget provision which allows an employer to pay a tax-free mileage allowance of 12p to cyclists, they will introduce such an allowance for Members of both Houses.[HL1545]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Members of both Houses are entitled to claim the bicycle allowance, which is tax-free. The current rate is 6.4 pence per mile.

Armed Services: Medical Consultants

Lord Swinfen asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many medical posts of consultant status there are in each of the three armed services; what are the medical specialities of the posts, and how many of the posts are filled in each service.[HL806]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert): The number of medical posts of consultant status in each of the three Services and the number of those posts filled at 1 March 1999 is as follows:

	Royal Navy	Army	Royal Air Force
Number of Posts	138	245	64
Number Filled	54 (39%)	79 (32%)	49 (77%)

25 Mar 1999 : Column WA171

The figures relate only to consultants employed in their specialty and do not include a number of consultants filling Command and Staff appointments. Some vacant consultant posts are currently filled by civilian consultants and, on military operations, can be filled by Specialist Registrars within two years of becoming accredited consultants.

The specialties and sub-specialties of the consultant posts are as follows:

Anaesthetics

General Medicine

Dermatology

Paediatrics

Genito-Urinary Medicine

Neurology

General Surgery

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Urology

Orthopaedic Surgery

Burns & Plastics

Accident & Emergency

Psychiatry

Ophthalmic Surgery

Maxillofacial Surgery

Otorhinolaryngology

Rheumatology & Rehabilitation

Radiology

Pathology

Occupational Medicine

Diving

Radiation

Aviation

Public Health.

The Defence Dental Service is run on a tri-Service basis and no post belongs to a particular Service. There are five dental consultant posts, of which two were filled as at 1 March 1999.

ASTOR Programme: Capital Costs

Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to cover the capital costs of the production of the Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) by private financial initiatives.[HL1559]

Lord Gilbert: In line with normal MoD procedures, all the relevant costs, including capital costs, maintenance and support, and affordability, are being taken into account in the assessment of the proposals from industry for the ASTOR programme.

25 Mar 1999 : Column WA172

ASTOR Programme: Evaluation

Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can confirm that the new technology in the RADAR Technology Insertion Programme being used by Northrop Grumann/British Aerospace will not require a mid-life improvement costing about £450 million.[HL1558]

Lord Gilbert: Proposals have been received from three companies for the Airborne Stand-Off Radar, ASTOR, programme, including one from Northrop Grumann/British Aerospace which incorporates the Radar Technology Insertion Programme, RTIP. All the bids are being assessed against the ASTOR requirement. Evaluation of the bids is nearing completion and it is not, therefore, appropriate to provide specific comments on the merits of them, or on whether any of them might require mid-life improvement. I can, however, give an assurance that our assessment takes full account of operational effectiveness, technical capability, industrial participation proposals and through life best value for money.

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 8 March (WA 9), whether, while urging the Russian Duma to ratify the START II agreement, they are also urging the Government and Congress of the United States not to proceed with proposals to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty on which the details of the START II agreement are based.[HL1509]

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: I refer my noble friend to the answer given by my noble friend Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 4 February (WA 231). Although not ourselves a party to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, we have made clear to the United States the importance we attach to it.

Pre-emptive Military Action and International Law

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that any government has the right under international law to insist on access to any location in another sovereign country where it suspects activities of which it disapproves are being carried out; and whether pre-emptive military action against such locations can be lawful (as recently suggested by a spokesman for the Government of Japan (BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 10 March)).[HL1513]

25 Mar 1999 : Column WA173

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: The answer to these questions will depend on the precise circumstances both of the activities in question and the response.

European Council: Forthcoming Business

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for April; and the major European Union events for the next six months.[HL1722]

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale:

Monthly Forecast of Business: April 1999

Date	Location	Event
April 1999
8	Brussels	Political Committee
12-16	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
13	Luxembourg	Consumer Affairs Council
15-16	Stuttgart	Euro-Med Foreign Ministers Conference "Barcelona III"
16-18	Dresden	ECOFIN (Informal)
19-20	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
20	Brussels	Political Committee
22	Luxembourg	Telecommunications Council
24-25	Luxembourg	NATO Summit
26	Luxembourg	Political Committee
26-27	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
29	Luxembourg	Industry Council
29-30	Brussels	K4 Committee

The following subjects are likely to be discussed: April 8: Brussels, Political Committee

No agenda yet available. April 12-16: Strasbourg, European Parliament Plenary

No agenda yet available. April 13: Luxembourg, Consumer Affairs Council

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council concerning the distance marketing of consumer financial services and amending Directive 90/619/EEC, 97/7/EC and 98/2/EC.

Policy debate

Communication from the Commission on an action plan (1999-2001) on priorities for consumer policy.

Debate

Council conclusions

Consumer-policy aspects of the negotiation of insurance contracts in the internal market.

Progress report from the Commission

Forthcoming revision of the Directive on general product safety.

Progress report from the Commission

Directive on the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees.

Adoption

25 Mar 1999 : Column WA174

April 15-16: Stuttgart, Euro-Med Foreign Ministers Conference "Barcelona III"

No agenda yet available. April 16-18: Dresden, ECOFIN (Informal)

No formal agenda. April 19-20: Luxembourg, Agricultural Council

No agenda yet available. April 20: Brussels, Political Committee

No agenda yet available. April 22: Luxembourg, Telecommunications Council

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on a common framework for electronic signatures.

Common position

Commission's Green Paper on the convergence of the telecommunications, media and information technology sectors, and the implications for regulation: Towards an Information Society.

Approach

Conclusions

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on postal services

Policy debate

Status of the internal market in telecommunications, with Report on implementation.

Debate

Globalisation and the Information Society: the need for strengthened international co-ordination

Update from the Commission relating to deve- lopments on electronic commerce.

Digital Television

Information from the Presidency

Year 2000 computer problem

Update and possible resolution April 24-25: Luxembourg, NATO Summit

No agenda yet available. April 26: Luxembourg, Political Committee

No agenda yet available. April 26-27: Luxembourg, General Affairs Council

Issues arising from the Special European Council.

Amsterdam Treaty

Enlargement

Common strategies

EU-Turkey

Europe strategy

Romania

Preparation of Association Council

Estonia

Preparation of Association Council

Slovakia

Preparation of Association Council

25 Mar 1999 : Column WA175

Ukraine

Preparation of Co-operation Council

Western Balkans

EU-China

Preparation of summit (end of April/beginning of May, Beijing)

Myanmar

Extension of common position

Middle East peace process April 29: Luxembourg, Industry Council

The economic situation

Information from the Commission on economic developments.

Globalisation of the world economy

Commission communication

Policy debate

Competitiveness of European industry

(a) Benchmarking

Reports on benchmarking activities at the levels of framework conditions, sectors and enterprises

Conclusions

(b) Ongoing debate on competitiveness

Information on industrial aspects of related work in other Councils

Report by the Presidency

(c) Industrial aspects of enlargement

Information from the Commission

SMS

(a) Proposal for a Council Directive combating late payment in commercial transactions

Common position

(b) Commission communication on management training

Presentation by the Commission

(c) Follow-up Business Environment Simplification Taskforce (BEST)

Conclusions

Communication on tourism and employment

Presentation by the Commission

Shipbuilding

Situation of the shipbuilding industry

Information from the Commission

Coal and steel industry

Expiry of the ECSC Treaty

Financial aspects

New Regulations on State aid for steel

Conclusions

Industrial aspects of electronic commerce

Commission Communication

Presentation by the Commission

25 Mar 1999 : Column WA176

Sectoral issues

OETH assessment and recommendations for its future

Conclusions

Competition policy

(a) Commission communication on the application of the EU competitiveness rules to vertical restrictions: follow-up to the green book on vertical restrictions

Political agreement

(b) Report from the Commission on modernising competition rules

Information from the Commission. April 29-30: Brussels, K4 Committee

No agenda yet available.

This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

European Calendar: April-September 1999

Date	Location	Event
April 1999
8	Brussels	Political Committee
12-16	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
13	Luxembourg	Consumer Affairs Council
15-16	Stuttgart	Euro-Med Foreign Ministers Conference "Barcelona III"
16-18	Dresden	ECOFIN (Informal)
19-20	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
20	Brussels	Political Committee
22	Luxembourg	Telecommunications Council
24-25	Luxembourg	NATO Summit
26	Luxembourg	Political Committee
26-27	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
29	Luxembourg	Industry Council
29-30	Brussels	K4 Committee
May 1999
3-7	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
6-7	Berlin	Political Committee
6	Brussels	EU-ACP Ministerial meeting
7-9	Wermar	Environment Ministers (Informal)
10	Brussels	ECOFIN
10	Bremen	WEU Council
10-11	Berlin	Trade Ministers (Informal)
11	Brussels	Energy Council
17	Brussels	K4 Committee
17	Brussels	Political Committee
17-18	Brussels	General Affairs Council
17-18	Brussels	Agriculture Council
18	Brussels	EEA Council
18	Brussels	Co-operation Council with Russia
18-19	Weimar	Culture Ministers (Informal)
20	Brussels	Research Council
21	Brussels	Development Council
25	Brussels	Joint ECOFIN and Labour & Social Affairs Council
25	Brussels	Social Affairs Council
25	Brussels	Political Committee
27	Brussels	Youth Council
27-28	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
31	Brussels	General Affairs Council
30 May-1 June	Dresden	Agriculture Ministers (Informal)
June 1999
1	Dresden	Agriculture Ministers (Informal)
3-4	Cologne	European Council
7	Luxembourg	Education Council
8	Luxembourg	Health Council
10	Brussels	Political Committee
10	Luxembourg	Fisheries Council
10-13		European Parliament Elections
14	Luxembourg	ECOFIN (possible)
14-15	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
14-15	Brussels	K4 Committee
17	Bonn	EU-Japan Summit
17-18	Luxembourg	Transport Council
21	Luxembourg	Internal Market
21	Bonn	EU-USA/Canada Summit
21-22	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
22	Luxembourg	Labour & Social Affairs Council (possible)
24-25	Luxembourg	Environment Council
25-29	Rio de Janeiro	EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit
28	Luxembourg	Culture Council
29	Brussels	Political Committee (possible)
July 1999
2-3	Oulu	Industry and Research Ministers (Informal)
6-7	Savonlinna	Culture Ministers
8	Hameenlinna	Political Committee
9-10	Oulu	Labour/Social Affairs Ministers (Informal)
12	Brussels	ECOFIN
12	Brussels	Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Committee
16	Brussels	Budget
18-20	Savonlinna	Culture/Audiovisual Ministers (Informal)
19	Brussels	Political Committee
19-20	Brussels	General Affairs Council
19-20	Brussels	Agriculture Council
20-23	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
22-23	Helsinki	K4 Committee
23-25	Helsinki	Environment Ministers (Informal)
August 1999
	No Council Business
September 1999
1	Brussels	Political Committee
4-5	Saariselka	Foreign Ministers (Informal)
6-7	Brussels	Agriculture Standing Committee
9-10	Turku	K4 Committee
10-12	Turku	ECOFIN (Informal)
12-14	Tampere	Agriculture Ministers (Informal)
13	Brussels	Political Committee (Informal)
13-14	Brussels	General Affairs Committee
13-17	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
16-17	Kittila	Article 113 Committee
16-17	Turku	Justice and Home Affairs (Informal)
20	Brussels	Political Committee (Possible)
20-21	Brussels	Agriculture Standing Committee
23	Brussels	Telecommunications
24	Brussels	K4 Committee (Informal)
24-25	Tampere	Education Committee (Informal)
27-28	Kuopio	Ministers of Housing
27-28	Brussels	Agriculture Ministers
30	Brussels	Political Committee
30	Helsinki	Equality Conference

25 Mar 1999 : Column WA178

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