Written Statement of 2 July 2003

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Property Consultation Arrangements
  The Minister for Housing and Planning (Keith Hill)
  I wish to announce the outcome of an internal review of our arrangements for consultation with the property sector.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister carried out the review to assess how we could more closely involve the property sector in developing and taking forward our sustainable communities agenda. We also wanted to see how the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister could more effectively fulfil its role in liaising with the property and development industries, taking account of recent consultation about how best to consult across Government on property issues.

  Among the major considerations in our review was the need to listen to the concerns of the property sector, to ensure that policy development takes account of market realities and to engage more fully with those able to deliver on our policy agenda. We decided that we need to overhaul our present machinery for consultation with the commercial property sector and to bring in those responsible for funding and building new housing development, to ensure that we can address all aspects of our major plans for physical regeneration.

  This led us to the conclusion that we should replace our two existing bodies for consulting the commercial property sector, the Property Advisory Group and the Property Industry Forum, with a single new group, the Property Consultative Group. The Property Consultative Group will consist of representatives of the existing bodies on the Property Industry Forum, together with those from several other bodies, including house builders and funders. The Group will meet regularly, with a Minister in the chair.

  The Property Consultative Group will be supplemented by working groups, which we will set up ad hoc to address particular issues in greater depth. The working groups will include other experts where this would be helpful as well as some of the members of the main Group. They will give us continued access to high quality independent expert external advice, of the type that the Property Advisory Group has provided over a number of years. The scope to set up ad hoc working groups with a limited life span, and a membership specifically selected to address the remit of the group concerned, will give us more flexibility in obtaining advice on particular issues, especially those to do with the building of sustainable communities. Initially, we will be setting up working groups on funding and delivery mechanisms and on commercial property markets and leases.
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  I would like to pay tribute to members of the Property Advisory Group for their considerable help to the Office. In particular, I would like to thank Robin Broadhurst for chairing the Group over the last five years. His second period of appointment is now ending, and we considered this would be an appropriate time to make these changes. The Property Advisory Group has played an important part in telling us about developments in the property market and in helping to ensure that new policy takes account of market practice. I am very grateful to members for all their hard work and commitment. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will want to include some individual members of the Group on the new ad hoc groups we are establishing, and I look forward to working with them. The Group's final meeting will take place on 8 July and we will shortly publish its final Annual Report.

  The new Properly Consultative Group will begin work on Monday 15 September, and I look forward to welcoming members to its first meeting.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Animal Product Import Controls
  The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett)
  As required under (Section 10A of the 1981 Animal Health Act) the Government will publish today a review of controls on the import of animal products for the financial year 2002–03.

  Government action during the period led to a threefold increase in the number of seizures of illegal imports of meat and animal products. This improvement was delivered by following three key principles: evidence-based policy; investment in enforcement; and securing better public engagement and awareness.

  The publication of the results of an assessment of the risks of foot and mouth disease entering the country through illegally imported meat has provided a basis to inform policy and help target enforcement.

  Additional resources were provided to existing enforcement agencies pending a review of enforcement structures that resulted in the transfer to HM Customs and Excise of responsibility for prevention of smuggling of these goods. A publicity campaign was run using a variety of methods to capture public attention.

  Looking to the future, the review describes the development of a new enforcement strategy at borders designed to respond better to changing risks and intelligence. Awareness and partnership building will continue both in the UK and in the international arena. Progress on all activities will be closely monitored.

  Copies of the review will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and on the DEFRA Illegal Imports website http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/.

  The total amount spent on the illegal imports programme for 2002–03 was just over £3.7 million.

  Animal Movements Regime
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw)
  The Government made a statement on 23 January 2003,Official Report, columns 21–23WS, on the risk assessment work carried out following the two independent inquiries into the FMD outbreak, setting out the future work on biosecurity and other issues they proposed and announcing their conclusions on the livestock movement regime to be put in place for the spring.

  On the condition that the farming industry worked towards improved disease protection and control, the Government announced a move to a six-day standstill for cattle, sheep and goats from March. However, key elements of the regime lapse on 1 August. The future standing arrangements therefore need to be determined now, in the light of the work done since that earlier decision, and other factors.

  THE RISK ASSESSMENT

  The Government now have two epidemiological reports based on different modelling techniques, an analysis of the costs of an outbreak and an integration report bringing these elements together in a formal cost-benefit analysis. These are all independent reports which have been peer reviewed.

  The key lessons from this work are:
  the most significant single factor in reducing the size of an outbreak is early detection of disease;
  a 20-day standstill regime does not appear justified on cost-benefit grounds unless more than one large outbreak every five years can be expected;
  a six-day standstill cannot be justified on cost-benefit grounds alone unless outbreaks are expected more frequently than around one in l2 years (and on some assumptions they would need to be even more frequent);
  however, even if outbreaks occurred only once in 20 years, the six-day standstill is not greatly more expensive than a zero standstill policy; and
  standstill regimes do effectively reduce the size (and therefore the cost) of outbreaks, especially the more extreme outbreaks such as that in 2001.

  OTHER FACTORS

  The Government do not believe that they can determine future arrangements solely on the basis of this cost-benefit analysis. There is a strong case for a standstill as part of the livestock movements regime on precautionary grounds.

  The Government's veterinary advisers are clear that a longer standstill is more effective in capping disease outbreaks but a six-day standstill is better than zero days because it reduces the spread of disease and increases the chances of early detection. Any standstill
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  regime would also help protect against the spread of other diseases and foster improved animal welfare more generally.

  THE DECISION

  The Government therefore support a standstill period as a valuable long-term element in the movement regime. However, the cost-benefit analysis clearly shows that a return to the 20-day standstill for cattle, sheep and goats could only be justified under very unlikely scenarios. The Government have therefore decided that the standing regime from 1 August should be based on a six-day standstill.

  The existing arrangements for pigs will continue, except that the arrival of a pig on a mixed holding will impose a 20-day standstill on any other pig on the holding, but only a six-day standstill on any cattle, sheep or goats there.

  EXCEPTIONS

  The Government have listened carefully to arguments for specific exceptions to the general arrangements and have made some provisions where necessary. For this reason, an exemption was introduced on 30 May for show animals.

  The Government now propose to introduce a further specific modification to the regime to facilitate the autumn sale and trading of male breeding livestock. In future, male breeding rams and bulls may move on to a farm during the period August to November without triggering a general six-day standstill for the farm, so long as it goes into a DEFRA-approved isolation facility, provided that a six day standstill applies to all livestock in that facility. Similarly they will be allowed to move from a farm under standstill to a market if placed in a DEFRA-approved isolation facility for six days beforehand. Similar arrangements will be put in place for goats. The Government believe that this new arrangement strikes the right balance between ensuring that farmers can trade successfully and ensuring that autumn breeder markets do not become a centre of disease spread.

  DETECTION AND BIOSECURITY

  The Government have made it clear that progress needs to be made to improve detection and biosecurity. They consulted recently on how to achieve this. As a result, from 1 August, there will be a limit of 48 hours for animals staying on market premises. There will also be some minor changes to the legislation on empty vehicles leaving markets without first cleansing and disinfecting.

  Work on veterinary farm inspections, the presence of vets at markets, cleaning and disinfection at markets, the role of dealers and distance limits will continue over the coming months in the context of the Government's animal health and welfare strategy. In particular, we will investigate the proposals for a veterinary presence at markets and the possibility of annual veterinary visits to farms, as part of our draft action plan to take forward animal disease prevention and control in partnership with industry and other key stakeholders. We hope to consult on a draft plan in July 2003.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  "Age Matters"
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Patricia Hewitt)
  I have today published a consultation paper covering options for transposition of that part of the EU Employment Directive that prohibits discrimination on grounds of age in employment and vocational training and guidance.

  The consultation period will run until 20 October. During this time views on the options for implementation will be actively sought from all stakeholders.

  Although the Employment Directive outlaws age discrimination in employment and vocational training, it does allow for differences of treatment on the grounds of age to continue in limited circumstances if they can be objectively justified with reference to a legitimate aim set out in the legislation.

  The key options for implementation on which we are consulting include:
  The abolition of employers' mandatory retirement ages (dismissal at a given age) unless employers can objectively justify them.
  The possibility of including in our implementing regulations, a default retirement age of 70, at which employers could retire employees.
  A list of proposed legitimate aims which employers, exceptionally, could use to help justify the retention of a small number of age-related practices.
  Some changes to the legislation regarding unfair dismissal and redundancy.

  Retirement age in particular is a crucial issue on which there is no clear consensus. For this reason we have provided a number of options for discussion and would invite all interested parties to engage in the consultation process. The information obtained from the consultation will be used to shape the content of the legislation.

  The Employment Directive deadline for full implementation of the age legislation is the end of 2006. However, it is the Government's aim to have the regulations in place but not in force by the end of 2004. This will provide all those affected by the legislation ample time to prepare for changes before the legislation comes into force in October 2006.

  I have placed copies of the consultation paper and other related documents in the Libraries of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Export Licences (Iraq)
  The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Jack Straw)
  Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved two licences to export Military List 18WS
  goods to Iraq, The arms embargo against Iraq remains in place under United Nations Security Council resolution 1483 (2003), with the exception of

  "arms and related materiel required by the (Coalition Provisional) Authority to serve the purposes of this and other related resolutions".

  Accordingly Her Majesty's Government consider it appropriate to grant exemptions for these goods to be exported on the basis that they are to be used for the purpose of protecting companies working on reconstruction projects in Iraq which form part of the Authority's functions under resolution 1483 (2003). These exports are consistent with the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria. Future applications will continue to be assessed on a case by case basis against the UN Embargo and Consolidated Criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time.

TREASURY

  Provisional Outturn for Public Expenditure
  The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Paul Boateng)
  The Treasury will publish the 2002–03 Public Expenditure Provisional Outturn White Paper on Tuesday 15 July.

  The White Paper is an annual report to Parliament on the provisional outturn for public expenditure. It focuses on spending within Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) and Annually Managed Expenditure (AME), including information on individual Supply Estimates and administration costs limits.

  The outturn figures are described as provisional because they may be revised when the department's final accounts are published, usually in the autumn.

  A copy of the White Paper will be placed on the Treasury website.

DEFENCE

  Defence Housing Executive
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin)
  The following key targets have been set for the Defence Housing Executive for 2003–04:

  KEY TARGET 1:
  To give notice of address within 10 working days of receipt of an applicaticn for accommodation for at least 75 per cent. of applicants.

  KEY TARGET 2:
  Less than 3.3 per cent. of occupants should experience significant defects within 14 days of moving in.

  KEY TARGET 3:
  To complete the planned upgrade of 1,200 properties by 31 Mar 2004.

  KEY TARGET 4: To complete:
  at least 95 per cent. of emergency repairs within 24 hours of notification;

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  at least 90 per cent. of urgent repairs within five working days of notification;
  at least 95 per cent. of routine repairs within two months of notification.

  KEY TARGET 5:
  To reduce the management margin progressively towards 10 per cent. by November 2005, to better balance supply and demand while delivering other Key Targets (The DHE's interim target for 31 March 2004 is to have a management margin of 11.4 per cent.).

  KEY TARGET 6: To reduce dissatisfaction:
  with the quality of the property provided as SFA by 1 per cent. to 17 per cent. of occupants by 31 Mar 2004;
  with the service that occupants receive from DHE personnel by 1 per cent. to 19 per cent. of occupants by 31 Mar 2004.

  Copies of the DHE's Corporate Plan will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Defence Estates
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin)
  As detailed in the Defence Estates Corporate Plan 2003–08, the following Key Targets have been set for the Agency:

  KEY TARGET 1
  To improve Single Living Accommodation by delivering 1,000 Grade 1 bedspaces under Project SLAM, and report on the provision 1,500 bedspaces under parallel Single Living Accommodation Projects. To ensure that at least 65 per cent. of MOD Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the United Kingdom meet the criteria for satisfactory condition.

  KEY TARGET 2
  To provide an estate of the right size by producing and gaining agreement to a Core Sites Implementation Plan by 31 March 2004.

  KEY TARGET 3
  To achieve Accrued Estates Disposal Receipts of £661 million by 31 March 2008, including £187 million by 31 March 2004.

  KEY TARGET 4
  To achieve the key milestones planned during 2003–04 to allow for the implementation of the Ministry of Defence estates change initiatives of Project Alexander, Regional Prime Contracting and Project Aquatrine by 31 March 2006.

  KEY TARGET 5
  To pursue activities leading to the sustainable use of MOD estate assets over time by implementing Environmental Management Systems, on 40 per cent. of all MOD sites by 31 March 2004.

  In addition, recognising the role of the Agency in delivering a new way of managing the defence estate, the following development targets have been set for the Agency to achieve by 31 March 2004:

  a. To establish a new baseline of estate assets by function, condition and fitness for purpose.

  b. To achieve the level of DE service delivery agreed in Customer Supplier Agreements.

  c. To produce a methodology for assessing value for money efficiencies from the introduction of Prime Contracting.

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  Copies of the new Defence Estates Corporate Plan will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Defence Housing
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin)
  A business process review of the management and delivery of Defence housing is to be carried out by the Ministry of Defence. Following a scoping exercise, the Review will commence shortly, and will complete in December 2003.

  The aim of the Review is to examine the function, role, operation, funding and organisation of Defence housing. It will seek to identify the most efficient and effective process to support the management and delivery of Defence housing both in the UK and overseas.

  The review team will consult with a range of stakeholders during the course of the review including single-Service customers, TUs, other Government departments and other relevant bodies. The MOD is interested also to hear the views of other organisations or individuals who would like to make a contribution to the review. Those wishing to do so should send their contribution by 31 July 2003 to:

  The Defence Housing Review Team

  Ministry of Defence

  2nd Floor

  St Giles Court

  1–13 St Giles High Street

  London WC2H 8LD

  Or by email:

  mailto:dgmo-dmcs3@defence.mod.uk

  Al Majarr Al Kabir
  The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)
  On 24 June last week, I informed the House that six Royal Military Police soldiers had been killed, and eight other United Kingdom service personnel had been wounded in incidents in Iraq earlier that day. Since then, we have been working hard to establish what took place. It may be some time before we have a full picture; indeed, we may never know with absolute certainty precisely what happened.

  However, we will do all we can to establish the facts, and to hold to account those responsible. Accordingly, we have launched an investigation and the Special Investigation Branch have appointed a senior investigating officer. We are also looking at the wider, operational aspects of what took place, to determine whether there are any lessons we need to learn. It may be some time before this work is complete, and we do not therefore intend to respond to every piece of media speculation or conjecture in the interim.

  It would, however, be right for me to set out our current understanding of events leading up to, and on the day of the incidents themselves. In doing so I should point out that our understanding may change as new information comes to light.
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  The RMP were engaged in assisting with the regeneration of the local Iraqi police service, by ensuring that they had proper training, equipment and infrastructure to operate as professionally as possible. This task included routine visits to police stations in the area. The police station in Al Majarr Al Kabir is one of a number that the RMP planned to visit last Tuesday.

  Al Majarr Al Kabir is a town of approximately 60,000 people, situated to the south of Al Amarah, in Maysan province. The town has always been fiercely independent and was free of Saddam's regime by the time coalition forces reached it. The main focus of military operations in the area in recent weeks had been the implementation of a weapons amnesty, and thereafter, the recovery of illegal weapons.

  These weapons searches were unpopular with the local population, although none had been conducted in the town itself. Local religious leaders had called for further searches to be resisted and on 22 June, a 1 PARA patrol in the town were faced with a hostile crowd of some 500 people. The soldiers fired baton rounds in order to enable them to be able to withdraw from the town. At a meeting the next day, officers from 1 PARA agreed with the town council that weapons searches would be suspended, and that the council would themselves take responsibility for recovering heavy weapons.

  With this agreement in place, the following day the RMP section booked out at around 0910, planning to visit three towns in the area—Al Majarr Al Kabir being the first. Routine force protection measures in place required that they should all be armed, should have their body armour and helmets with them, should have working communications, and that there should be at least two vehicles—in fact they had three.

  We judge that they would have reached the town at around 0940–0955, shortly before a 1 PARA patrol also entered the town. We cannot yet be certain, but it may be that the attack on the PARA patrol took place before the attack on the BMP. The attack on 1 PARA commenced at around 1030, when the patrol was stoned by a large crowd. At some point a crowd also appears to have massed outside the police station. While attempting to move their vehicles inside the police compound, the RMP came under fire, and it seems at least one of them was killed at that point. The crowd evidently then stormed the police station. British forces were informed a short while later by local Iraqis that all six of the RMP personnel had been killed.
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  We understand that attempts were made to contact the RMP section as events unfolded. This is one of the details we will be trying to establish as part of the investigation.

  In the follow up to these incidents, Iraqi leaders in the province are continuing to work closely with us. We will not lose sight of our overall aim to support a better Iraq, and an Iraq that is for the Iraqi people. British forces in Iraq continue to do an excellent job in taking this important work forward.

  As they do so, our thoughts remain with those that have lost their lives, and their loved ones who mourn them.

HEALTH

  Health Inequalities
  The Secretary of State for Health (Dr. John Reid)
  I am today publishing details of the Government's implementation plans for tackling health inequalities in England. The plans set out how our strategy (published on 15 November 2002) to narrow the health gap between disadvantaged groups, areas and the rest of the population will be delivered.

  Copies of the publication, "Health inequalities: a programme of action", have been placed in the Library.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  National Heritage Memorial Fund
  The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell)
  Stage 1 of the Quinquennial Review of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) has been completed. Stage 2 of the Review will not take place, because the Heritage Lottery Fund (which is administered by the NHMF) is implementing its Strategic Plan 2002–07 which deals with the questions of improved efficiency and effectiveness which would have been the focus of Stage 2.

  The Government welcome the Review and agree that the NHMF should continue in existence, subject to modernisation.

  I am pleased to note the Review's recognition of the important role of the NHMF.

  The Review was published today and I have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses. The Review is also available on the DCMS website http://www.culture.gov.uk:/