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North-West England: SME Funding by ERDF
Lord Inglewood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they can explain the low level of participation by private sector small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in projects funded by the European Regional Development Fund in north-west England; whether the same trend is observable in other regions; and whether there are any specific plans to increase private sector SME participation.[HL692]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I am not aware that participation in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) projects by SMEs in the North West of England compares unfavourably with other regions.
The North West Action for Competitiveness plan, prepared in partnership with key public and private sector agencies across the region, was the basis for the use of the ERDF in Structural Funds programmes. These programmes were substantially fully committed, and aggregated outputs suggest that the expected level of SME support will be realised.
New Structural Funds programmes for 2000-06 are now being prepared by regional partnerships and support for SMEs will be a priority.
Mirror Group Newspapers plc: Flotation Investigation
Lord Cuckney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Department of Trade and Industry report into the flotation of the Mirror Group Newspaper plc will be published.[HL611]
Lord Sainbury of Turville: The independent inspectors appointed to investigate the flotation of Mirror Group Newspapers are still carrying out their work. Consequently they have yet to report to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Lord Cuckney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many witnesses have so far been called by the inspectors conducting the investigation into the flotation of Mirror Group Newspapers plc.[HL612]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The inspectors appointed under Companies Act powers to investigate and report on the flotation of Mirror Group Newspapers are independent of DTI.
Lord Cuckney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What costs the inspectors have so far incurred since they were appointed on 6 June 1992 to investigate and report on the flotation of Mirror Group Newspapers plc.[HL626]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The cost of the inspection to date (excluding Value Added Tax) is £7,639,765.
Lord Cuckney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in view of the time the preparation of the report is taking and the costs incurred by all parties, they will publish an interim report on the investigation into the affairs and membership of the Mirror Group Newspapers plc, with particular reference to the offers for sale of the company's shares in early 1991.[HL627]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The inspectors have not completed their enquiries. No interim report has been prepared by them. It is important for the inspection to be completed as quickly as is possible and for a final report to be submitted. The preparation of an interim report could delay the preparation of a final report.
FCO Recruitment Advertisement
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the cost of a quarter page display advertisement placed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the Evening Standard on 13 January seeking to fill three posts for a messenger, a paperkeeper and a reprographics officer; and why the Foreign and Commonwealth Office chose this recruitment route.[HL669]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The cost of the advertisement was £6,175.80. We were seeking to fill a number of vacancies in three areas of work (Messengers, Paperkeepers and Reprographics) and not just three individual posts. We also hope the advertisement will create a reserve list of suitable applicants to fill similar vacancies over the next 12 months.
We chose this recruitment route as it has proved successful in the past in attracting a wide range of suitable applicants.
Cyprus: UN Proximity Talks
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What were the results of the recent "proximity" talks between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Cyprus Government; and what further steps will now be taken.[HL691]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: UN proximity talks began in New York on 3 December to prepare the ground for comprehensive negotiations on a settlement in Cyprus. The content of the discussions remain privy to the UN, but the Secretary General has confirmed that both parties engaged constructively on core settlement issues. The proximity talks will continue in Geneva on 31 January. We continue to give the UN Secretary General strong support in his efforts.
Glyphosate Residues in Soya Products
Baroness Lockwood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to publish results on glyphosate residues in soya products.[HL794]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman): Interim results on glyphosate residues, taken from the Government's ongoing monitoring programme for pesticides, are being pusblished today. A summary of the results from the first six months of a year-long survey of residues in soya products appears in MAFF's Food Safety Information Bulletin. The results show that none of the samples tested contained residues of glyphosate above the reporting level. Copies of the Food Safety Information Bulletin and a more detailed information paper have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Government Expenditure on Advertising
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What their budget for advertising is in the current financial year and how this compares with the last full year of the previous administration.[HL431]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): Advertising is used by departments when they judge it is the most cost effective way of delivering the publicity necessary to support a policy or proposal. The total amount spent on advertising in 1996-97 was £69 million. The sum total spent by departments and agencies on a wide range of advertising campaigns so far this year (from April to December 1999) is £67 million.
These figures represent the advertising commissioned on behalf of departments and agencies by the Central Office of Information.
Labour Party and Centralised Government
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the statement of the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 13 December (H.L. Deb., col. 5) that the Labour Party has a strong centre, whether this policy development is consistent with the intention espoused in the Labour Party's General Election manifesto to deal with the fact that "Over-centralisation of government and lack of accountability was a problem in governments of both left and right"; and[HL435]
Further to the statement of the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 13 December (H.L. Deb., col. 5): ". . . as the Labour Party made clear before coming into office that it would have a strong centre, which it has", where in the party's general election manifesto reference to this policy development can be found.[HL434]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): This Government are committed to delivering the programme of change set out in the Labour Party's general election manifesto. That commitment to delivery was itself set out clearly in the manifesto. Strengthening the centre of government to co-ordinate and oversee the delivery of policy is quite different from the Government's programme of devolution and local government reform in order to move away from "over-centralisation of government and lack of accountability".
Strategic Communications Unit
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the cost of running the Strategic Communications Unit for 1998-99; and what is its estimated cost for the current financial year.[HL371]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The cost of running the Strategic Communications Unit for 1998-99 was £545,865 and the projected running costs for 1999-2000 are £737,866.
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What procedures are in place to ensure that the Strategic Communications Unit distinguishes between legitimate activity on behalf of the Government and activity which could unduly advantage the party of Government.[HL372]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The duties and responsibilities of civil servants, including special
advisers, are set out in the Civil Service Code, in the Model Contract for Special Advisers and in the guidance on the work of the Government Information Service.Copies of these documents are available from the Library of the House.
GICS and Strategic Communications Unit: Output
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What measures they have in place to ensure that the output of (a) the Government Information and
- Communication Service and (b) the Strategic Communications Unit is factual in tone rather than propagandist.[HL647]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Members of the GICS are permanent civil servants and are governed by the rules laid out in the Civil Service Code. In addition they work to the guidance on the work of the GIS. The guidance was reissued with the authority of the Prime Minister in July 1997. The Strategic Communication Unit is made up of six permanent Civil Servants and two special advisers, all of whom work to the Civil Service Code. In addition, the special advisers are governed by the model contract for special advisers.
Copies of all the papers mentioned have been placed in the Library.
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