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Written Answers
Tuesday, 27th April 1999.
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 31 March, whether the situation regarding the current engagements of Lords of Appeal in Ordinary in judicial tasks outside the House of Lords and the Privy Council has affected the time within which appeals are heard in the House of Lords or the Privy Council.[HL1970]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The current engagements of certain Lords of Appeal in Ordinary outside the House of Lords and the Privy Council has not affected the time within which appeals are brought on for hearing in the House of Lords. The same is true of the Privy Council, with the exception of one case in which a resumed hearing had to be postponed because of the absence of one member of the board in Hong Kong.
Currency Movements: Effect of War in Former Yugoslavia
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What effect the war in the former Yugoslavia is having on (a) the euro and (b) the dollar.[HL2106]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Currency movements are affected by a number of different factors so it is impossible to isolate any effect that the war in the former Yugoslavia is having on the euro or the dollar.
English Tourism Council
Lord Monkswell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have made any decisions about the new national body for tourism in England.[HL2173]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: On 14 December 1998 we announced in A New Cultural Framework that we would establish a new streamlined, more strategic body to support tourism in England. An implementation team was set up in January, supported by an advisory group representing the industry. We have now considered its report, which was received on 9 April and of which a copy has been placed today in the Libraries of both Houses. We are now able to announce more fully the details of the framework within which the new arrangements will operate under the leadership of a chairman whom my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will shortly appoint.
The new body will be known as the English Tourism Council (ETC). Its prime role will be to provide strategic leadership to drive delivery of the national tourism strategy. It will have a parallel function as a centre of excellence supporting the industry in five key areas: research, in particular work on emerging markets and sectors; quality, including work on the accommodation schemes and also attractions and seaside resorts; overseeing systems for data collection and analysis; championing sustainable tourism, and wider access; and spreading news of innovative ideas and examples of best practice in all these areas of work.
There will be a significant switch of funding so that most is available for tourism in the regions and we want to see a new system for its distribution. This will enable a greater proportion of the strategy to be delivered at regional level and will secure enhanced benefits for tourism in the regions. The money will continue to be passed via the ETC to the regional tourist boards (RTBs), except in the case of London, where the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will pass it directly to the Mayor of London, while recommending that the London Tourist Board is the most appropriate partner for delivery of the national strategy.
We are currently considering applications received for the post of chairman of the ETC, whom we will announce as soon as a decision has been made. At present the board consists of six other members and we intend to increase that to eight. Decisions on staffing will be for the chairman and chief executive but are likely to lead to a different structure with higher skilled staff and a new mode of working. The ETC is likely to relocate within Thames Tower, Hammersmith, but, in due course or if the funds allocated for its transition allow, the organisation may decide to move to new premises.
Once the new chairman and chief executive are in place, the ETC will be able to finalise its strategic action plan and the planning and bidding guidance for the regional tourist boards on regional funding. We expect this to be possible by July, at which stage there will be a public launch of the new national body for tourism in England, one that has a far clearer and more focused remit than before and will be better equipped to maximise England's tourism interests. In the meantime, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State is grateful to the current chairman, board members and staff at ETB who continue to provide a high standard of support for this vital industry.
EU: Forthcoming Business
Lord Wedderburn of Charlton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- If they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for May; and list the major European Union events for the next six months.[HL2201]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): See below.
| Date | Location | Event |
| May 1999 | ||
| 3-7 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 6 | Brussels | EU-ACP Ministerial meeting |
| 7-9 | Weimar | Environment Ministers (Informal) |
| 10 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 10-11 | Berlin | Trade Ministers (Informal) |
| 11 | Brussels | Energy Council |
| 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 | ECOFIN |
| 25 | Brussels | Labour & Social Affairs Council |
| 27 | Brussels | Youth Council |
| 27-28 | Brussels | Justice & Home Affairs Council |
| 31 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 30 May-1 June | Dresden | Agriculture Ministers (Informal) |
No agendas have yet been circulated for the above meetings.
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.
Date Location Event
May 1999
3-7 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
6 Brussels EU-ACP Ministerial meeting
7-9 Weimar Environment Ministers (Informal)
10 Brussels ECOFIN
10-11 Berlin Trade Ministers (Informal)
11 Brussels Energy Council
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 ECOFIN
25 Brussels Labour & Social Affairs Council
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 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
10-13 European Parliament Elections
14 Luxembourg ECOFIN (possible)
14--15 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
17 Bonn EU-Japan Summit
17-18 Luxembourg Transport Council
21 Luxembourg Internal Market Council
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
July 1999
2-3 Oulu Industry and Research Ministers (Informal)
9-10 Oulu Labour/Social Affairs Ministers (Informal)
12 Brussels ECOFIN
16 Brussels Budget Council
18-20 Savonlinna Culture/Audiovisual Ministers (Informal)
19-20 Brussels General Affairs Council
19-20 Brussels Agriculture Council
20-23 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
23-25 Helsinki Environment Ministers (Informal)
26-28 Brussels EU-ACP Ministerial Meeting
August 1999
No Council Business
September 1999
4-5 Saariselka Foreign Ministers (Informal)
10-11 Turku ECOFIN (Informal)
12-14 Tampere Agriculture Ministers (Informal)
13-14 Brussels General Affairs Council
13-17 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
16-17 Turku Justice and Home Affairs Ministers (Informal)
23 Brussels Telecommunications Council
24-25 Tampere Education Ministers (Informal)
27-28 Kuopio Ministers of Housing
27-28 Brussels Agriculture Council
October 1999
4-5 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council
4-5 Tampere Regional Policy Ministers
6 Brussels Transport Council
7 Brussels Internal Market
8 Brussels ECOFIN
11-12 Brussels General Affairs Council
11-12 Brussels Environment Council
15-16 Tampere Special European Council
18-19 Brussels Agriculture Council
22 Brussels Labour/Social Affairs Council
26 Brussels Fisheries Council
28 Brussels Research Council
29 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council
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