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Lord Howell of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they support the proposal that the European Charter of Fundamental Rights should become mandatory.[HL4427]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No. The Government welcome the charter as a valuable political declaration of rights, freedoms and principles recognised within the EU. It has said from the beginning that the declaratory approach is the best way to enhance visibility while preserving legal certainty.
Inter-Governmental Conference
Lord Howell of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their preferred date for the next Inter-Governmental Conference between European Union member states.[HL4423]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The current Inter-Governmental Conference should make the changes necessary to allow the next wave of enlargement to proceed. We have made clear our view that when the Union next discusses Treaty changes, the first new members should be at the table.
European Constitution
Lord Howell of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their policy towards the eventual creation of a European constitution.[HL4424]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government have made clear their opposition to a federal super-state. We want a United Europe of States, not a United States of Europe.
Burma
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they sought to engage China in finding a solution to the situation in Burma when hosting the October 2000 United Kingdom/China dialogue meeting; and, if so, to what effect.[HL4330]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK/China Human Rights Dialogue process specifically addresses the human rights situation in China and does not cover third country situations. The situation in Burma was not discussed during the fifth round of the Human Rights Dialogue held in London between 16-18 October.
North Korea: Diplomatic Relations
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether their decision to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea was discussed with Japan beforehand; and whether the decision carried the support of the Japanese Government.[HL4452]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The decision to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea was not discussed with Japan beforehand. The Foreign Secretary raised it with the Japanese Foreign Minister when they met at the ASEM III Summit in Seoul. Mr Kono warmly welcomed the decision.
Departmental Cars
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 16th October (WA 68), what is the policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in relation to the disposal of Government cars after use.[HL4311]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The FCO aims to maximise income from the disposal of surplus official vehicles. In the UK, vehicles are sold at public auction. At posts overseas, disposal is arranged through public auction or competitive tender.
The Cabinet Office will reply separately regarding the disposal of vehicles supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.
Learning and Skills Council: Strategic Guidance
Baroness Goudie asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will be issuing their strategic guidance to the new Learning and Skills Council.[HL4569]
The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone): The Secretary of State has today sent his remit letter to Bryan Sanderson, the Chairman of the Learning and Skills Council, setting out the Government's strategic vision and the key priorities for the first three years of the Council's operation. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.
Ministerial and MPs' Salaries and Allowances
Lord Graham of Edmonton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When was the last review and settlement of salaries and allowances for Ministers in the House of Commons; Ministers in the House of Lords; and Members of the House of Commons.[HL4288]
The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington): Salaries and allowances for Ministers, Members of the House of Commons and Peers were last reviewed in 1996 by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB). Salaries of Ministers in the House of Lords below Cabinet level were revised last year following SSRB's forty-third report (CM 4246). Salaries in the House of Commons, including those of Ministers, and salaries of Ministers in the Lords are uprated annually on 1 April each year. Allowances in both Houses follow the Retail Price Index and are uprated annually.
Health Care and the Third Way
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Since the last general election, which policy changes have been made by Ministers regarding the
- National Health Service that have been specifically related to the Third Way approach to health care; and on what dates.[HL4319]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): I refer the noble Lord to the reply given to him by my noble friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 25 October 2000 at col. WA34.
Rehab: Greater Manchester Brain Injury Vocation Centre
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What representations they have received concerning the future of Rehab UK's Greater Manchester Brain Injury Vocation Centre.[HL4289]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health has received one representation about the future of Rehab UK's Greater Manchester Brain Injury Vocation Centre.
NMEC: County Court Judgments
Baroness Seccombe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many County Court judgments were outstanding against the New Millennium Experience Company as at--
(a) 31 May;
(b) 30 June;
(c) 31 July;
(d) 31 August; and
(e) 30 September.[HL4135]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has advised that over the lifetime of the Millennium Experience project there have been four County Court judgments against the company. These are as follows:
Lord Jenkin of Roding asked the Chairman of Committees:
Date of Judgement Paid Removed
December 1999 Yes No*
March 2000 Yes Yes
April 2000 Yes No*
June 2000 Yes Yes
*Following payment subsequent to notification of the judgments these should have been removed. NMEC is taking steps to have them so removed.
What are the new limits for the subsistence and secretarial elements of the Peers' Reimbursement Allowance scheme with effect from 1 August 2000.[HL4583]
9 Nov 2000 : Column WA172
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham): The resolution of the House of 20 July 1994 provided for the limits of the subsistence and secretarial allowances to be uprated annually on 1 August in line with the increase in the Retail Prices Index over the previous 12 months to July.
Accordingly, the limits wthin which Lords may be reimbursed expenses incurred were increased with effect from 1 August 2000 and are as follows:
| Overnight subsistence | £84.00 |
| Day subsistence | £37.00 |
| Secretarial costs | £36.00 |
| Secretarial costs for non-sitting periods | £1,080 a year |
Chardon LL Maize Hearing
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Following the Written Answer given by Baroness Hayman to the House on 31 October 2000, Official Report, col. WA 94, whether they will report further progress on the Chardon LL hearing currently under way in the UK.[HL4584]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman): In agreement with Agriculture Ministers in the devolved administrations, we have asked Mr Alun Alesbury--the person appointed to conduct the hearing--to consider adjourning the Chardon LL hearing until further notice pending further consideration of the testing system used by France to establish distinctness, uniformity and stability.
Details of the French testing system were given in the MAFF press notice of 31 October. Other member states in the EU also rely on French data, and the views of the Commission on the status of the French procedures are being sought.
Lord Chancellor's Department: Expenditure and Running Costs Limits
Baroness Mallalieu asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What proposals they have to amend the Lord Chancellor's Department Departmental Expenditure Limit and running costs limits for 2000-01.[HL4571]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class V, Vote 1, the Lord Chancellor's Department Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000-01 will be increased by £113,252,000 from £2,525,609,000 to £2,638,861,000. The increase is the net effect of take-up of End Year Flexibility entitlement of; £10,000,000 to fund additional costs relating to new tasks undertaken by the Legal Services Commission; £6,000,000 to meet publicity and
information costs for the Community Legal Service; £6,000,000 in respect of costs for the Public Trust Office Change Programme; £8,600,000 in respect of start-up costs for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; £1,900,000 in respect of costs for the Libra project; £1,925,000 for the Invest to Save Budget payment to the Land Registry; £1,586,000 relating to asylum costs; a transfer from the Home Office of £113,000 in respect of contribution towards costs of the Immigration Services Tribunal; a transfer from the Home Office of £273,000 in respect of PHOENIX, a project funded by the Invest to Save Budget; £1,355,000 in respect of an award from the Invest to Modernise Fund; and £75,500,000 from the DEL Reserve to meet additional costs on asylum and immigration.The running cost limit for Lord Chancellor's Department Class V, Vote 1 will be increased by £53,409,000 from £541,908,000 to £595,317,000. The increase is caused by take-up of End Year Flexibility entitlement of £4,000,000 to meet publicity costs for the Community Legal Service; £6,000,000 in respect of costs for the Public Trust Office Change Programme; £5,300,000 in respect of start-up costs for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; £1,900,000 in respect of costs for the Libra project; £1,586,000 relating to asylum costs; a transfer of £6,400,000 from capital grants expenditure to meet costs in respect of the Libra project; a transfer from the Home Office of £113,000 in respect of contribution towards costs of the Immigration Services Tribunal; a transfer from the Home Office of £273,000 in respect of PHOENIX, a project funded by the Invest to Save Budget; £1,355,000 in respect of an award from the Invest to Modernise Fund; £300,000 in respect of a correction to the accounting treatment for sundry income and £26,182,000 from the DEL Reserve to meet additional costs on asylum and immigration.
The increases will be offset by transfers from the Home Office Departmental Expenditure Limit, take up of End Year Flexibility entitlement, an award from the Invest to Modernise Fund and charges on the DEL Reserve, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
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