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British Council: Indemnities

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The British Council, although not a government department, receives a substantial grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The council regularly organises or sponsors exhibitions overseas of works of art loaned from national galleries and private collections in the United Kingdom. It provides certain assurances or guarantees in respect of loss or damage while these works are on loan.

In the six months ending on 30 September 2004, the British Council provided such assurances to four national lenders and undertakings to 85 private
 
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lenders. The value of the contingent liabilities outstanding on 30 September in respect of private lenders was £6,120,870. No liabilities to national galleries existed at that date.

Iraq: Export Licences

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved an open individual export licence for a media company to export non-lethal military list goods for the personnel protection of its staff worldwide.

Her Majesty's Government consider it appropriate to grant licences, on a case-by-case basis, for the export of non-lethal military list goods, including protective clothing and armoured vehicles, for the use by media companies and non-governmental organisations working in hostile environments, including embargoed destinations. Future applications will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis against this policy decision and the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time.

Freedom of Information Act 2000: Section 45 Code of Practice

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs has today laid before Parliament, in accordance with Section 45(5) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, a revised code of practice on the discharge of public authorities' functions under Part 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This code of practice has been revised after close consultation with the Information Commissioner's Office.

The previous Section 45 code of practice was issued in November 2002, and quite rightly incorporated a great deal of best practice information. This information is now contained in the suite of guidance recently issued by the DCA, and in the series of awareness guides issued by the Information Commissioner's Office. This revised code of practice relates to those areas specified by Section 45(2)(a) to (e). It provides clear guidance on providing advice and assistance to applicants, transferring requests to other authorities, consulting third parties, the use of confidentiality clauses relating to information disclosure in contracts and the provision of internal complaints procedures in public authorities.

I will keep the Section 45 code of practice under review once the Freedom of Information Act has been fully implemented, and shall work closely with the Information Commissioner to identify those areas where any further guidance is necessary.

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