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Written Answers
Wednesday, 21st April 1999.
Prime Minister: Meetings with Governments Outside the EU
Viscount Waverley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In respect of the Prime Minister:
(a) since 1 May 1997 which heads of government, foreign or trade ministers from outside the European Union have requested through their high commissioners or ambassadors a meeting;
(b) what meetings have taken place; and
(c) what further meetings have been arranged; giving in each case in (b) and (c) the date of the meeting and the minister involved.[HL1682]
The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by the noble Baroness, Lady Symons of Vernham Dean, on 11 March (Official Report, WA 46-47).
Lord Thomson of Monifieth asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Amos: The Department for International Development's plans for assistance to the UK overseas territories have not changed as a result of the WTO's decision. None of them is a banana exporter.
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The information requested by the noble Earl is not available in the form requested.
I have also written to the noble Earl on this subject today and copies of my letter have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Lord Graham of Edmonton asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman): The high level targets for the Medicines Control Agency are included in its annual business plan, copies of which have been placed in the Library today.
Lord Skelmersdale asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: The ratio of United Kingdom health expenditure to gross domestic product is given in the table.
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: The National Health Service Supplies Authority examination is part of its work plan for the current financial year (1999-2000). NHS Supplies is encouraging an open and collaborative approach to this project and interested parties will be involved fully from the outset.
Baroness Hamwee asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assistance they propose to give to the dependent territories in the Caribbean following
the final adverse decision by the World Trade Organisation on the European Union's banana regime.[HL1957]
What new powers, in the form of statutory instruments, codes of practice and other rules have been conferred upon central government departments as a result of legislation enacted since 1 May 1997.[HL1327]
Whether they will publish the high level targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 1999-2000.[HL2107]
What was the ratio of the total United Kingdom health expenditure to gross domestic product in
1979-80, 1987-88 and 1997-98.[HL1951]
Year United Kingdom expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product
1979-80 4.7
1987-88 5.1
1997-98 5.8
Further to the Answer by Baroness Hayman on
26 January (H.L. Deb., cols. 875-77), when they will set out the timescale of the NHS Supplies Authority examination of the future provision of hearing aids; and whether any of the findings of the examination will be publicly available. [HL1975]
How many authorities which will become best value authorities upon the enactment of the Local Government Bill 1999 are due to re-let contracts
21 Apr 1999 : Column WA161
- under the current compulsory competitive tendering regime prior to (a) 2 January 2000; (b) 1 July 1999; and (c) 30 September 1999; and[HL1960]
In the case of each authority due to re-let contracts upon the enactment of the Local Government Bill 1999 in each of (a) 2 January; and (b) 1 July 1999; and (c) 30 September 1999, how many contracts are to be re-let.[HL1961]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty): This information is not held centrally. The number of authorities due to re-let contracts for defined activities under CCT prior to these dates is largely determined by the length of existing contract periods. Expiry dates, and therefore re-letting dates, are highly variable. For the same reasons, and because there may be more than one contract for a defined activity, it is not possible to determine the number of contracts involved.
Water Fluoridation
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 29 March (WA 18-19), whether the cited annexes to Directive 85/337/EEC (as amended by Directive 97/11/EEC) are definitive as regards the projects for which an environmental impact assessment is required; and whether they will specify the standards for fluoride for drinking water and the legislation in which they are framed as well as the operational environmental quality standards developed by the Environment Agency.[HL1966]
Lord Whitty: Annexes I and II to Directive 85/337/EEC (as amended by Directive 97/11/EEC) prescribe the list of projects for which an environmental impact assessment is required under the directive. The directive is given effect in English planning law by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. Schedules 1 and 2 to the regulations give a definitive list of projects which require an environmental impact assessment before planning permission may be granted. They do not include fluoridation schemes.
The standard of 1.5 milligrams per litre for fluoride in drinking water is contained in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, as amended.
The operational environmental quality standards developed by the Environment Agency, taking account of water hardness, are as follows: for receiving waters with less than 50 milligrams/litre calcium, an annual average of 1 milligram per litre (dissolved fluoride) and a maximum admissible concentration (MAC) of 3 milligrams per litre; for receiving waters with greater than 50 milligrams/litre calcium, an annual average of 5 milligrams per litre (dissolved fluoride) and a maximum admissible concentration (MAC) of 15 milligrams per litre.
Motorcycling Advisory Group
Lord Evans of Parkside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will establish the Motorcycling Advisory Group.[HL2081]
Lord Whitty: I will be chairing the first meeting of the Motorcycling Advisory Group on 6 May. This follows a preliminary meeting I had with industry representatives in December last year to hear their views before widening the debate to take forward policy on the role of motorcycling in integrated transport. I am bringing together government, representatives of the industry and those interested in the effects of motorcycling to discuss a range of issues which will allow us to develop well informed policies.
Channel Tunnel: Sleeper Rolling Stock
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In respect of night sleeper rolling stock built for services through the Channel Tunnel:
(a) who is the present owner of these trains;
(b) how much public sector funds were spent on their construction;
(c) what technical reasons prevent them operating in the United Kingdom and on the Continent;
(d) whether the owner has any plans to scrap them; and
(e) what attempts have been made to operate them commercially.[HL2039]
Lord Whitty:
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Simon of Highbury): The current regulations governing the structural and cohesion funds come to an end on 31 December 1999. New regulations to replace them require unanimity. This they received at the Berlin Summit, and final approval is expected by the end of May.
(a) Metro-Cammel.
(b) £109 million was paid by the Government, as guarantor, on 1 June 1998 on the early termination of the lease purchase facility, under which the trains had been built.
(c) The vehicles were not completed and a number of design issues remain unsolved, including traction and safety issues.
(d) and (e) These are a matter for Metro-Cammel, but if the rolling stock is sold on, European Night Services Ltd will take a share of any profit, and this will be subject to a government clawback.
Whether the European Union's structural and cohesion funds can come to an end without the consent of their recipient countries; and, if so, when and how.[HL1878]
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