HC Deb 20 October 1999 vol 336 cc581-2W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many local authorities have signed up to the Enforcement Concordat. [94553]

Marjorie Mowlam

There are 142 local authorities in England and Wales and 21 in Scotland that have signed up to the Concordat for all of their regulatory enforcement functions. A further 19 local authorities in England and Wales have adopted the Concordat for some of their regulatory enforcement functions.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many agencies have accepted the Enforcement Concordat; and if she will list them. [94552]

Marjorie Mowlam

Twenty-two central Government enforcement agencies have adopted the Concordat. They are:

  • Animals, Bylaws and Coroners Unit
  • Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate
  • Civil Aviation Authority
  • Companies House
  • HM Customs and Excise
  • Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate
  • Drinking Water Inspectorate
  • Driving Standards Agency
  • Drugs Branch
  • Egg Marketing Inspectorate
  • Engineering Inspectorate
  • Environment Agency
  • Export Control Organisation
  • Health and Safety Executive
  • Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development's Trading
    • 582
  • Standards Service
  • Department of Health
  • Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  • Inland Revenue
  • Insolvency Service
  • Marine and Coastguard Agency
  • National Bee Unit
  • Radiocommunications Agency.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if the Enforcement Concordat is a new initiative. [94554]

Marjorie Mowlam

The Enforcement Concordat was launched on 4 March 1998. It was formally signed by the then Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on behalf of central Government and by Councillor John Ryan on behalf of the Local Government Association.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the then Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) on 4 March 1998, Official Report, columns 692-94, announcing the publication of the Enforcement Concordat.