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Written Answers
Thursday, 9th March 2000.
Teenage Pregnancy Unit: Local Co-ordinators
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many local co-ordinators have been appointed to implement the policy set out in the Social Exclusion Unit's teenage pregnancy report; and what training or guidance they will receive.[HL1290]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Teenage Pregnancy Unit has to date received notification of 132 local co-ordinators, jointly identified by health and local authorities. The local co-ordinators are to work to local education authority/social services boundaries: there are 150 such authorities in England. The unit will follow up those areas that have not yet provided notification of their co-ordinator.
The unit issued detailed advice on the role of the local co-ordinators to health and local authority chief executives on 7 January. The unit also held a conference for local co-ordinators on 1 March to facilitate networking and exchange of best practice. The unit will continue to provide practical support for the local co-ordinators, and will keep their training needs under review.
Medical Devices Agency: Key Targets
Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will publish the key targets for 2000-2001 for the Medical Devices Agency.[HL1459]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have agreed the agency's key targets for 2000-2001 and copies have been placed in the Library.
Council of Europe and WEU Assemblies: UK Delegation
Lord Filkin asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there are any changes in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union.[HL1134]
The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington): Mr Anthony Lloyd and Mr Alan Meale have been appointed as substitute members in place of Dr Tony Wright and Mr David Taylor.
Delegated Legislation
Lord Alexander of Weedon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many statutory instruments subject to the negative resolution procedure were laid before Parliament in each of the following years: (a) 1980; (b) 1985; (c) 1990; (d) 1995; and (e) 1999.[HL1209]
Baroness Jay of Paddington: Some statutory instruments are laid before the House of Commons only. Accordingly the Answer refers to the number of instruments laid before that House. Records are kept on a sessional rather than an annual basis. The records for Session 1980-81 and 1985-86 indicate the number of the instruments considered by the Joint Committee and the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments rather than those laid, but this excludes only any Orders in Council or draft Orders in Council under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974.
Taking those Sessions which fall towards the middle of a Parliament, and so were of roughly equivalent length, the numbers were as follows:
| Session | |
| 1980-81 | 793 |
| 1985-86 | 861 |
| 1990-91 | 1,071 |
| 1995-96 | 1,309 |
| 1998-99 | 1,266 |
Lord Alexander of Weedon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many statutory instruments subject to the affirmative resolution procedure were laid before Parliament in each of the following years: (a) 1980; (b) 1985; (c) 1990; (d) 1995; and (e) 1999.[HL1210]
Baroness Jay of Paddington: Some statutory instruments are laid before the House of Commons only. Accordingly the Answer refers to the number of instruments laid before that House. Records are kept on a sessional rather than an annual basis. The records for Session 1980-81 and 1985-86 indicate the number of instruments considered by the Joint Committee and the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments rather than those laid, but this excludes only any Orders in Council or draft Orders in Council under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974.
Taking those Sessions which fall toward the middle of a Parliament, and so were of roughly equivalent length, the numbers were as follows:
| Session | |
| 1980-81 | 130 |
| 1985-86 | 158 |
| 1990-91 | 201 |
| 1995-96 | 199 |
| 1998-99 | 178 |
Lord Alexander of Weedon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On how many occasions statutory instruments have been debated on the floor of the House of Commons in each of the last 10 years.[HL1211]
Baroness Jay of Paddington: Records are kept on a sessional rather than an annual basis, and several related instruments may be debated on a single occasion. The figures are as follows:
| Session | No. of Debates | No. of Instruments debated |
| 1989-90 | 47 | 56 |
| 1990-91 | 41 | 48 |
| 1991-92 | 25 | 42 |
| 1992-93 | 76 | 82 |
| 1993-94 | 60 | 88 |
| 1994-95 | 44 | 81 |
| 1995-96 | 36 | 67 |
| 1996-97 | 26 | 48 |
| 1997-98 | 23 | 34 |
| 1998-99 | 16 | 22 |
Ministers' Letters to Members
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What guidelines, if any, exist to specify the period within which Ministers who, in debate, have offered to write to Members of the House should do so.[HL1270]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): Individual Ministers are responsible for following up commitments to write to noble Lords and honourable Members. The time taken to write will normally depend on the complexity of the issue raised.
The e-Envoy
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which Minister is responsible for the work of its e-Envoy.[HL1351]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The e-Envoy (Alex Allan) reports on a day-to-day basis through the e-Minister (Patricia Hewitt) and the Minister for e-Government (Ian McCartney) as appropriate, while also having a direct link to the Prime Minister.
PFI and Partnership Projects: Value
Lord Shore of Stepney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the total value of the private finance initiative and partnership projects so far negotiated; and what, if any, part of these totals count against the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement. [HL1267]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The most recent figures were given by the Chief Secretary on 21 December, House of Commons Official Report, cols. 578-579W. These are being updated at present and will be published in the 2000 PSBR.
Smuggling: Lost Revenues
Lord Shore of Stepney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the estimates for the loss of revenue to the Treasury due to (a) smuggling and (b) increased personal allowances in respect of the import of tobacco and tobacco products and wines, spirits and other alcohol products from the Member States of the European Union.[HL 1268]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: HM Customs and Excise's latest estimates for smuggling of alcohol and tobacco were published in paragraph 5.99, table 5.1 of the Pre-Budget Report, published on 9 November 1999.
Duty-free personal allowances in respect of the import of tobacco and tobacco products and wines, spirits and other alcohol products from the member states of the European Union were abolished on 1 July 1999. Estimates for revenue losses due to legitimate duty-paid cross-border shopping are also included in table 5.1 of the Pre-Budget Report.
Duty Free Goods Imported from EU States
Lord Shore of Stepney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When agreement was reached on the tax free limits of importing tobacco and alcohol products from the member states of the European Union; what were those quantified limits; what is the legal base for their observance; and what action the Government intend to take to reduce these limits.[HL1269]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The original agreement setting limits on the amounts of duty free tobacco and alcohol an individual can import from another EU member state was set by the EU Commission in Council Directive 69/169/EEC of 28 May 1969. This directive together with subsequent amendments have all been enacted into UK legislation.
Until 31 December 1992, the quantified limits were:
- 200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250 gm of tobacco;
- 2 litres of still table wine;
- 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22 per cent volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs;
- 60cc./ml of perfume;
- 250cc./ml of toilet water; and
- £36 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs.
Tourism Summit: Report
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will publish the report of the Tourism Summit held on 1 March.[HL1355]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: A report of the Tourism Summit will be published in time for the next meeting of the Tourism Forum on 18 April.
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