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PRIME MINISTER
Countryside Responsibilities
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Prime Minister if the Government have completed their review of countryside responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [57230]
The Prime Minister: The Government completed their Comprehensive Spending Review of countryside and rural policy earlier this year. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 246-47.
The Government's new strategic approach--based upon a belief in the importance of integrating policies for rural areas, and ensuring that the rural dimension is fully reflected in wider policy-making--will enhance opportunity in rural areas, improve access to and enjoyment of the countryside and conserve and manage wildlife resources there. At Departmental level, work is in hand to improve co-ordination and financial planning of DETR and MAFF development programmes for rural areas. We have announced that from 1 April 1999 the work of the Rural Development Commission and the Countryside Commission will be brought together in a new agency to champion rural England. Regional Development Agencies will also have a specific remit to serve the rural areas of their regions, and will be responsible for developing an integrated approach to economic development and regeneration throughout their regions.
The Government believe in a living, working and sustainable countryside recognising the important links between rural and urban policy.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) of 9 February 1998, Official Report, column 17, if he will give a definition of the term ministerial hospitality. [58730]
The Prime Minister:
Ministerial hospitality covers expenditure on official entertainment hosted by Ministers including events organised by the Government Hospitality Fund. Hospitality is offered, and costed, on the same basis as it was by the last Administration.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he employs in selecting candidates to be proposed for appointment as life peers. [58683]
The Prime Minister:
That the individual concerned should be able to make a significant contribution to the work of the House of Lords.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 December 1997, Official Report, columns 502-03, concerning advice from the security forces, if he will set out the circumstances in which it is
9 Nov 1998 : Column: 31
deemed relevant that advice is made available to him; who is responsible for deeming it relevant; and if he will make a statement. [59004]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) on 2 November 1998, Official Report, column 402.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he authorised inclusion of the Labour Party Manifesto 1997 in the list of related Government publications in the consultation paper "Supporting Families"; [59003]
The Prime Minister:
The Labour Party Manifesto should have been included separately in the bibliography rather than under "Related Government Publications". No copies have been supplied to the Vote Office, but Members may obtain copies from Labour Party Headquarters.
Ms Stuart:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Social Exclusion Unit to send copies of consultation letters issued by the client to individual hon. Members. [58804]
The Prime Minister:
The Social Exclusion Unit is currently consulting on the subject of Teenage Parenthood. A consultation letter was issued on 7 October, and a copy has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and on the Unit's website, as will all future consultations.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if she will provide a breakdown in numerical and percentage terms of the ethnic origin of civil servants in her private office, as at 1 October 1997; [56763]
Marjorie Mowlam:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 5 November 1998, Official Report, columns 666-70.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the income for hill farmers in Northern Ireland as (a) a total and (b) an average per farmer in 1997-98; and what are the predictions for income in the present financial year. [58013]
9 Nov 1998 : Column: 32
Mr. Paul Murphy:
A total income figure for hill farmers in Northern Ireland is not available.
Estimates of the average income per farmer in 1997-98 and the prediction for 1998-99 will be published by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland on 30 November 1998, with accompanying statistical tables placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures the Government are (a) taking, and (b) proposing to take, to support the income levels of hill farmers in Northern Ireland. [58016]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
Hill farmers in Northern Ireland continue to receive Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances (HLCAs). Payments are based on numbers of cattle and sheep held and an annual review is ongoing on a UK basis as part of the process of determining the payment rates for the 1999 scheme.
Under EU Agenda 2000 proposals such support will switch to payment based on areas rather than headage but will continue to be targeted at the LFA. Agenda 2000 negotiations are still at relatively early stages.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government have to celebrate the bicentenary of the Act of Union between Ireland and Great Britain. [58071]
Marjorie Mowlam:
The Government have no plans to do so. Local communities and non-governmental organisations may wish to organise their own celebrations.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have been (a) charged, (b) summarily convicted and (c) convicted on indictment under section 2 or the equivalent section of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 relating to membership of a proscribed organisation in each year since enactment; what percentage of those convicted in each year received a prison sentence; and what percentage of those were sentenced to a term of less than one year. [56320]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 3 November 1998]: The following table illustrates the information as requested.
(2) if the Government supplied copies of the first document in the reading list at the end of the "Supporting Families" consultation document to the Vote Office for distribution with the other publications listed. [59002]
(2) if she will provide a breakdown in numerical and percentage terms of the ethnic origin of civil servants in her Department, by grade, as at 1 October 1997. [56761]
Notes:
1. Persons were sentenced for offences including membership of a proscribed organisation--not membership only--and hence the length of sentence in each case was more than one year.
2. The figures may include suspended sentences.
3. Persons have been charged with membership of a proscribed organisation based on evidence to substantiate that charge, e.g. a more serious charge of murder.
9 Nov 1998 : Column: 33
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Civil Servants (Ethnic Minorities)
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin of civil servants in his private office, as at 1 October 1997; [56813]
- (2) if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin of civil servants in his Department, by grade, as at 1 October 1997. [56811]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 5 November 1998, Official Report, columns 666-70.
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