Written Answers of 25 November 1998

HEALTH

  Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he proposes to ensure compliance with the renegotiated Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [60984]

  Mr. Dobson
  The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme has existed for over 40 years, and is designed to provide reasonable prices for the National Health Service and fair rates of return for the pharmaceutical companies who supply the NHS. The Government remain committed to these objectives, and are currently renegotiating the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry.

  The Government regret that there is increasing non compliance by a limited number of companies with the current voluntary agreement. This is adding to the NHS drugs bill at the expense of other NHS treatment and care. In these circumstances the Government have concluded that to ensure full compliance with a new agreement it will be necessary to take reserve powers in the forthcoming NHS Bill. These will make it possible to secure the compliance of any companies who might in future choose not to abide by the voluntary agreement.

TREASURY

  Public Service Pensions
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase public service pensions from April 1999. [60987]

  Mr. Byers
  Legislation governing public service pensions requires them to be increased annually by the same percentage as State earnings-related pensions (additional pensions). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 28 October 1998,Official Report, columns 339–42, that additional pensions will be increased by 3.2 per cent. in line with the annual increase in the Retail Prices Index up to September 1998. Public service pensions will therefore be increased by 3.2 per from 12 April 1999, except those which have been in payment for less than a year, which will receive a pro-rata increase.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Human Rights Act 1998
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to bring into force 2
  section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998; and in what form statements under that section on compatibility with the convention rights will be published. [60985]

  Mr. Straw
  I have made an order under the Human Rights Act bringing section 19 into force on 24 November.

  Statements under section 19 will appear as a note on the face of each Government Bill and in the explanatory notes for most Bills. This will enable anyone obtaining a copy of the Bill in paper or electronic form to see at once the statement.

  There may be occasions when a Bill which has been amended at a late stage in the House into which it was first introduced cannot be accompanied by a statement when it is first printed in the second House. In these situations, a statement will be appended to the Bill by the time of Second Reading and the circumstances will be explained in a Written Answer.

  The statements will be in the following form and will appear on the front page of each Bill:
  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Secretary… has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998:
  In my view the provisions of the… Bill are compatible with the Convention rights.

  or
  Mr. Secretary… has made the following statement under section 19(1)(b) of the Human Rights Act 1998:
  I am unable to make a statement that in my view the provisions of the… Bill are compatible with the Convention rights but the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the… Bill.

  In the explanatory notes the statement will be referred to as follows:
  European Convention on Human Rights
  Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 requires the Minister in charge of a Bill in either House of Parliament to make a statement about the compatibility of the provisions of the Bill with the Convention rights (as defined by section 1 of that Act). On [date] the Secretary of State for… made the following statement before Second Reading of this Bill in the House of [Commons] [Lords]:
  In my view the provisions of the… Bill are compatible with the Convention rights.

  or
  I am unable to make a statement that in my view the provisions of the… Bill are compatible with the Convention rights but the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the… Bill.

  Young People (Sexual Abuse)
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions were reached by the interdepartmental working group on preventing unsuitable people from working with children and abuse of trust on the need to protect vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds from sexual advances by those in authority over them; and if he will make a statement. [61127]

  Mr. Boateng
  The working group were asked to prioritise their work on abuse of trust. We have today placed a copy of their interim report on this in the Library.
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  The working group recommend a limited criminal offence to protect boys and girls of 16 and 17 from sexual advances by those in authority over them in specific circumstances. The circumstances would include young persons compulsorily detained; looked after by the local authority (whether in foster care, residential care, or semi-independent accommodation); receiving health and/or social care in a residential setting (including hospital); and receiving full time education. We accept this recommendation. As announced on 24 November 1998, Official Report, column 6, we will bring forward this Session proposals to implement it at the same time as we give Parliament an opportunity to vote on equalising the age of consent for boys and girls.

  The working group also recommend a Government initiative to strengthen codes of conduct generally to protect young people from those in positions of authority over them. They are taking this forward as a matter of priority. The first step is a seminar involving outside organisations on 30 November, and work will continue on this throughout next year.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Leasehold Reform
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish proposals for leasehold reform. [60855]

  Ms Armstrong
  We shall be publishing a consultation paper on Thursday 26 November. Copies will be available in the Library.

  Waste Disposal
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the implementation of a change to a tonnage based levy for statutory joint waste disposal authorities. [60857]

  Mr. Meale
  After announcing the proposed change from a council tax to a tonnage based system for the apportionment of Joint Waste Disposal Authorities levies, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), asked officials to work out methods for such a system and to discuss them with the local authority associations. A consultation document was issued on 9 July to those associations, the JWDAs and their constituent authorities with the intention of implementing the change in time for the 1999–2000 levy. This consultation prompted a large number of considered responses.

  As part of the development of a waste strategy for England and Wales, we are looking at the way in which all waste management functions are funded, both in areas where there are Joint Waste Disposal Authorities (JWDAs) and more widely. The proposal to change the levy arrangements to one based on the tonnage delivered for disposal, was part of this exercise.

  There are, however, obvious implications for the operation of the recycling credits scheme, a key element in the financing of local authority waste management. In response to the consultation paper "Less Waste: More
  4
  Value", on the waste strategy for England and Wales, views were expressed that aspects of the recycling credits scheme needed amendment. We have therefore decided to undertake a review of the recycling credits scheme. A decision on the levy basis for JWDAs has therefore been postponed pending the outcome of this review.

  Social Exclusion Action Teams
  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if she will announce the membership of the 18 policy action teams referred to in the Social Exclusion Unit report, "Bringing Britain Together: a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal", published on 15 September. [60988]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Social Exclusion Unit's report "Bringing Britain Together: a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal" set out proposals for an intensive programme of policy development involving 18 crosscutting Policy Action Teams based around five themes: getting the people to work; getting the place to work; building a future for young people; access to services; and making the Government work better.

  The Programme of policy development work will be completed by December 1999, when we will put together the outcome of all the reports into a coherent strategy. I am overseeing the whole process, and each Team has a champion Minister assigned to it.

  I am announcing today the full membership of the Policy Action Teams. The Teams include members drawn from central and local government, the voluntary and private sectors as well as people living and working in poorer neighbourhoods. They will play an important part in achieving more joined-up Government policy and action on the ground. I have today placed the membership details in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Ship Passengers (Compensation Claims)
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action the Government are taking to ensure the availability of adequate compensation to meet claims arising from the death of, or injury to, passengers on board ships. [60989]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have signed an order today which will triple the minimum amount of compensation available for passenger claims. The order will affect ferry operators, travel agents and tour operators whose principal place of business is in the UK. The new limit of liability of 300,000 Special Drawing Rights—SDR—(about £250,000) per passenger takes effect on 1 January 1999.

  As soon as a suitable legislative opportunity presents itself, we wish to extend this protection more widely to include all passengers whose journey has a link with the UK. This would require the UK withdrawing from the 1974 Athens Convention. This Convention entitles foreign carriers to an outdated limit of liability of 46,666 SDR (about £38,000) per passenger. In the meantime, the UK will continue to press within the International Maritime Organisation for swift revision of the Athens Convention to provide for even higher compensation amounts, guaranteed by compulsory insurance cover.
  5
  I accept, and applaud, the fact that insurance and shipping companies have sometimes not bound themselves by the limits following accidents involving major loss of life. However, we must not be complacent. and this is why the Government intend to work towards better legal protection for all passengers.

  Ministerial Meeting
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the outcome of the meeting with Green Ministers. [61128]

  Mr. Meacher
  Green Ministers met on 18 November to discuss how to deliver the Greening Government Agenda. The meeting discussed action arising from the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Second Report on the Greening Government Initiative. We noted particularly that the Deputy Prime Minister had asked Green Ministers to consider and report to the Cabinet Committee on the Environment (ENV) on how far sustainable development can be incorporated into the remit of all existing Departments and their Non-Departmental Public Bodies. Each Green Minister confirmed that they were reviewing the position in their own Department, and would report back to the next Green Ministers' meeting early in 1999.

  Green Ministers went on to discuss progress in integrating the environment into policies and operations. We agreed to establish a working group to consider the scope and format of future Green Ministers' reports to ENV, and the first published report on the activities of Green Ministers, to be produced in summer 1999.

  Green Ministers' meetings normally consider one cross-cutting issue in some detail. On this occasion we discussed how to get the most from Green Transport Plans and the action that would be needed to meet the specific targets set out in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone".

  The meeting ended with a preliminary discussion of the consequences for the Green Ministers' network of devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Green Ministers decided to examine in more detail the membership implications of devolution and to propose future arrangements at the next meeting in February.

  Twelve Green Ministers attended the meeting on 18 November; other Departments were represented by officials.

  Countryside Agency
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what decision has been made about a name for the new agency to be created by the merger of the Countryside Commission and those parts of the Rural Development Commission not being transferred to the regional development agencies. [61129]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have accepted a recommendation made jointly by the two Commissions that the name for the new body should be the Countryside Agency. This name will be included in the order under section 35 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 which will effect the formation of the new body, and which will be laid before Parliament in the New Year.
  6
  The Commissions also propose that this name should be accompanied for day-to-day purposes by the strapline—working for people and places in rural England.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Disabled Football Supporters
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what response he has made to the Football Task Force report into improving facilities for disabled supporters. [60871]

  Mr. Banks
  I fully support the practical recommendations made in the Task Force's report to improve access and facilities at football grounds for supporters with disabilities. I have written today to the bodies identified in the report as having a role to play in implementing the relevant recommendations.

  There are several recommendations which are for Government to progress. These relate to amending the Approved Document (AD) for Part M of the Building Regulations to require all new stadia, new stands and extensions to existing facilities to provide wheelchair spaces in accordance with the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds; to drawing up a sliding scale for the numbers of designated seats for people who are ambulant disabled or visually/hearing impaired within new stands or stadia, and amending Part M accordingly; and to extending the future role of the Football Trust to improve disabled facilities at grounds.

  Any changes to the Building Regulations require statutory consultation and will be based on the advice of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. The British Standards Institution have begun a comprehensive review of BS 5810 Code of practice for access for the disabled to buildings, and it is the intention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to use this standard and its supporting research, once it has been completed, as a basis for developing proposals through the Building Regulations Advisory Committee to revise the AD for Part M.

  In the interim, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have taken the opportunity to include references to the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds in the current revision to the Approved Document to extend Part M to new housing. This will draw the guidance to the attention of interested parties.

  The review of BS 5810 includes access for the ambulant disabled and when the Green Guide is next updated the standard will be taken on board.

  The Football Trust is an independent discretionary trust. Any decisions on its future role is a matter for the Trustees, in accordance with the Trust Deed.

  The recommendations made by the Task Force provide an excellent assessment of what has been achieved in the provision of facilities for disabled supporters and where improvements can still be made. The Government are determined to maintain the momentum of progress, by, for example, the continuing implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

  Government Indemnity Scheme
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many indemnity undertakings were given by Departments under section 16 of the National Heritage Act 1980 for the six-month period ended 30 September; and what was the value of(a) any contingent liabilities in respect of such undertakings given at any time under that section which remain outstanding as at 30 September, (b) non-statutory Government indemnities in respect of loans handled by the Government Art Collection which remain outstanding as at 30 September and (c) non-statutory undertakings to Her Majesty in respect of loans from the Royal Collection which remain outstanding at 30 September. [60972]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The provision for the Government Indemnity Scheme is made by the National Heritage Act 1980. The scheme facilitates public access to loans of works of art and other objects of public display made to museums, galleries and other such institutions by private owners and non national institutions. It does this by indemnifying lenders against loss or damage to their loan. Loans covered by the scheme must be for public benefit. The scheme also covers loans of such objects for study purposes within borrowing institutions where this would contribute materially to the public's understanding or appreciation of the loan. Examples of this are enhancing interpretation or explanation to the public of objects or bringing into the public domain, the conclusions of any study.

  In the six-month period ended 30 September 1998, the following undertakings to indemnify were given under section 16 by the relevant Departments for objects on loan to national and non-national institutions:

  Department

  Numbers

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  516

  Scottish Office Education and Industry Department

  62

  Welsh Office Education Department

  44

  Department of Education for Northern Ireland

  14

  The value of contingent liabilities in respect of undertakings given at any time under section 16 and which remained outstanding as at 30 September 1998 is:

  Department

  £

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  1,557,374,160

  Scottish Office Education and Industry Department

  115,648,368

  Welsh Office Education Department

  39,302,926

  Department of Education for Northern Ireland

  5,627,210

  The value of non-statutory Government indemnities to cover loans handled by the Government Art Collection and which remained outstanding as at 30 September 1998 is £8,000,000.

  The value of non-statutory Undertakings given to Her Majesty in respect of loans from the Royal Collection and which remained outstanding as at 30 September 1998 is £107,200,583.

  EU Culture Council
  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Culture Council on 17 November. [61130]

  Janet Anderson
  EU Ministers responsible for cultural and audiovisual issues met on 17 November 1998 in Brussels.

  Ministers agreed to extend the funding programmes for the arts, Kaleidoscope, and for literature, Ariane, to 1999. From January 2000, a new single framework programme for culture, entitled Culture 2000, will replace the existing programmes, such as Kaleidoscope and Ariane, as well as Raphael, which covers heritage issues, and a range of other cultural actions. Culture 2000 will enable not only co-operation within traditional sectors, but cross-sectoral co-operation to take place. Ministers agreed a Common Position, subject to final agreement by the Netherlands, which will now be considered by the European Parliament.

  Ministers also adopted a Resolution highlighting the important role of public service broadcasting in the digital era, and discussed other issues, including cross-border fixed book price agreements, statistics concerning the audiovisual and related sectors, and the convergence of the telecommunications, media and information technology sectors.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 23 and 24 November. [61131]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the EU Agriculture Council in Brussels on 23 and 24 November. My noble Friend Lord Sewel, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, was also present.

  The Council voted on a proposal made by the Commission for the lifting of the world-wide ban on the export of British beef in respect of meat from animals born after 1 August 1996. 10 Member States voted in favour of the measure; only one, Germany—for understandable domestic reasons—voted against. Spain, France, Austria and Luxembourg abstained. This vote represented a substantial move towards the Commission proposal by 5 Member States from the earlier vote in the Standing Veterinary Committee. Most important, the procedures under which the vote was taken in Council enable the Commission formally to adopt the Decision.

  I can now announce to the House that within the last 3 hours the Commission has adopted the proposal, which permits the export from the UK of boneless beef and beef products from animals slaughtered between 6 and 30 months of age and born after 1 August 1996. That is the date on which the Commission have verified that all contaminated feed was removed from the food chain. There are further conditions which aim to prevent the offspring of BSE cases from entering the export scheme;

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  a requirement for the slaughter of offspring of BSE cases; and strict rules on slaughtering and processing. The Government will shortly issue a consultation paper on our proposals for implementing these rules. I shall be laying before Parliament secondary legislation which will make the offspring cull, which has been operating since July on a voluntary basis, compulsory. The legislation will provide compensation at the market rate, to owners of animals slaughtered.

  This is an excellent outcome which I am sure the House will welcome. It has been achieved against a background of scepticism about the seriousness with which we have tackled BSE. We have now overcome these misconceptions and had our case judged objectively on its scientific merits and supported by independent Commission inspections, taking as our over-riding principle the absolute need to safeguard public health.

  Every Agriculture Minister who spoke in the Council, including those who did not vote in favour, had very positive things to say about the commitment shown by the new United Kingdom Government to tackling the problems presented by BSE. The outcome is also an affirmation of the value of this Government's close co-operation and dialogue with our partners in Europe and with the European Commission.

  The lifting of the ban comes hard on the heels of the support measures for the agriculture sector which I announced to the House on 16 November 1998, Official Report, columns 624–66. Both demonstrate the Government's commitment to securing a viable long term future for the sector.

  The Council also held a discussion of the Commission's proposals for CAP reform in the context of the Agenda 2000 measures. These proposals are essential for the future stability of European agriculture and in order to facilitate a successful enlargement of the Union to the east. The Council agreed a report to the Vienna European Council next month identifying the main outstanding issues and expressing its determination to reach conclusions on the package as a whole by next March. It is an important Government objective to secure an ambitious reform of the CAP which serves the national interest and I very much welcomed the commitment by the Council to take early decisions. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor made similar points in the discussion in Ecofin on 23 November on the future financing of the European Union.

  This was a very important Council meeting for the United Kingdom. We have achieved a major objective of our policy towards Europe in the lifting of the beef export ban. Although it will take time for the British beef industry to win back markets which have been lost to them in the past two and a half years, I believe we have created the conditions in which they can now plan for the future, confident that their industry is operating to the
  10
  highest possible standards. Our immediate task is to work with the industry to ensure that the scheme which we have successfully negotiated in Europe works effectively to help regain recognition for the quality of British beef on world markets.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress towards a Food Standards Agency. [61132]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The Government are fully committed to the establishment of the Food Standards Agency as set out in the White Paper published in January 1998. It is a matter of regret that, because of the government's heavy legislative programme in other areas, it has not been possible to secure a space in the forthcoming Parliamentary session. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health for Scotland, for Northern Ireland and for Wales and I are determined nevertheless to move action forward where we can, in the meantime, in ways which do not require legislation.

  Since the general election, this Government have made a number of improvements to the way in which food safety and standards issues are handled. Officials from MAFF and DH are now working together in a Joint Food Standards and Safety Group, which reports directly to both the Secretary of State for Health and myself. The Group also liaises closely with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices. The safety of the consumer lies at the heart of our decision making.

  I am holding discussions with my right hon. Friends as to how we can, in practical terms, enhance these current joint working arrangements and lay further foundations for the Agency. As soon as we have completed these discussions, I will make a further announcement to the House. A draft Bill will be published in due course.

DEFENCE

  Army Training Areas
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the support and administration of the Army's training areas and ranges. [60856]

  Mr. Spellar
  As part of the Government's search for efficiencies, the Commander in Chief Land Command is shortly to initiate a competition to seek a long term strategic partner from the private sector to assist in the development of a future strategy to deliver better value for money from the large number of contracts currently in existence from the support and administration of the Army's training areas and ranges. Details will be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) and MOD Contracts Bulletin.

  Culture Council, 17 November
  Culture Council, 17 November
  Human Rights Act: Section 19
  Human Rights Act: Section 19
  Abuse of Trust: Working Group
  Abuse of Trust: Working Group