Written Statement of 16 December 2004

  G8 Global Partnership
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
  Members will wish to be aware of the publication on 16 December of the second annual report by the Government of the United Kingdom's contribution to the global partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction. The second report details the progress made in the past 12 months in destroying and securing the former Soviet Union's legacies of WMD and associated materials and infrastructure.

  The UK pledged 750 million dollars to the Global Partnership at the Kananaskis G8 Summit in 2002. Since then the FCO, DTI, and MoD in close co-operation with the Russian Federation, other countries of the former Soviet Union, central and eastern Europe and other funding partners, have developed a wide portfolio of programmes and made considerable progress on implementing projects on the ground which help to tackle these issues. In 2005, the UK in its capacity as G8 president intends to take forward the work of the global partnership under the theme of "Pledges to Progress", focusing on effective project implementation.

  The international community faces immense challenges in tackling the legacy of cold war weapons of mass destruction left in the former Soviet Union. The cold war WMD programmes in the FSU have created a significant non-proliferation and environmental threat to us all. This work represents the UK's largest non-proliferation programme and, as the report indicates, we have made significant progress over the last 12 months in collaboration both with other donor nations and our partners in the FSU.

  Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House. Further reports will be published annually setting out the progress achieved in the work being undertaken by the United Kingdom.

  Public Diplomacy
  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
  As part of the Spending Review 2004, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Jack Straw) agreed with my right honourable friend the Chief Secretary (Mr Paul Boateng), to undertake a review of the effectiveness of our public diplomacy work. Lord Carter of Coles has agreed to lead this review. He will be supported by a small team based within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and an advisory panel of experts. The review is due to start
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  immediately and Lord Carter of Coles will report his findings by summer 2005. The terms of reference are as follows:

  to examine the effectiveness of current public diplomacy activities in delivering outcomes which contribute to the achievement of HMG objectives;

  to take stock of progress in implementing the Wilton Review (2002) through the work of the PD strategy board;

  to consider the scope for improving PD activities, both in London and overseas, to maximise their effectiveness and value for money;

  and to that end to consider the scope for increased joint PD activity and enhanced co-ordination taking account of experience with the PD campaigns fund and the PD challenge fund;

  to make recommendations as appropriate.

  The review team will undertake a short consultation exercise. If noble Lords would like to feed in comments they should send them to the public diplomacy review team, Room WH552, FCO, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH.

  Planning Inspectorate
  The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)
  My right honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  The Government set out their programme for the reform of the planning system in England in Sustainable Communities: Delivering through Planning (July 2002). The principle aims of reform are to produce a faster, fairer system that allows for greater public involvement. The legislative changes required, including those for the reform the development plan system, were enacted in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

  This is against a background of a continued rise in planning applications submitted to local authorities as a result of economic growth. As the number of planning applications has increased, so has the number of planning appeals submitted to the Planning Inspectorate—indeed, the percentage rise in the number of appeals received is greater than the corresponding percentage increase in applications (because refusal rates are also rising). The number of appeals received by the Planning Inspectorate has increased by over 50 per cent in the past three years. This increase coupled with the doubling of the number of inspectors required to carry out inquiries into local plans this year has resulted in a deterioration in the Planning Inspectorate's overall performance in the amount of time taken to determine planning appeals.

  To restore performance, I have made available an extra £1 million this year to fund taking on additional inspectors and providing them with the support they need. I am looking carefully at resource needs next year and will provide extra resources if necessary. The

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  inspectorate has formed a task force dedicated to clearing the backlog of appeals and is looking to see significant progress by next spring.

  I want sustained improvement. The inspectorate is committed to boosting productivity and delivering a more effective service to its customers. In order to achieve this, the inspectorate has set up an independently chaired Productivity Board. The inspectorate is also restructuring itself to give greater focus to operational delivery and improved services to its customers. The restructuring of the inspectorate is expected to be completed in March 2005.

  I also intend to extend the period for submitting planning appeals from three to six months, which will have the effect of reversing the change which was introduced in September last year. When these changes were introduced, it was anticipated that the reduction in the appeal period would give greater certainty to all parties as to whether or not an appeal was to be lodged. However, there has been widespread criticism that the period of three months is insufficient for negotiations between the prospective appellant and the LPA. There is a strong perception that the reduction in the appeal period has led to applicants submitting appeals without first making any attempt to negotiate an amended application with the LPA and that this may have contributed to the rise in appeal numbers. There is a strong lobby from the planning community and from developers alike that the period in which to appeal should be restored to six months in order to allow longer to negotiate following a refusal. I am persuaded by these arguments. The change will require an amendment to the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 to reverse the effect of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Order 2003 (SI 2003/2047). I propose to lay the necessary order before the Christmas Recess. It will come into effect from mid-January.

  This will restore the opportunity for local planning authorities and appellants to enter into post-decision negotiations and thus avoid unnecessary appeals.

  Given the current pressures on the Planning Inspectorate, I intend to delay the introduction of dual jurisdiction. The powers for this are contained in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act and will apply where an applicant appeals to the Secretary of State on the grounds that the LPA has not determined a planning application within the prescribed eight-week period. Under dual jurisdiction the LPA will have an additional period of time to issue its decision, even though an appeal has been lodged. While it is anticipated that this initiative will eventually lead to a reduction in the appeal workload, the time is not right to make this change with the present backlog of appeals.

  I am also taking the opportunity to extend the statutory period for local authorities to determine major applications from eight to 13 weeks. The present arrangements allow for parties to appeal after eight weeks where the LPA has not issued a decision. This conflicts with the period of 13 weeks which is given under best value targets to determine major applications. This
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  change will bring greater clarity to the appeal system and give LPAs significantly longer to determine major applications. This should also help to reduce the number of appeals against major applications.

  This package of measures will assist in tackling the backlog of appeals in the Planning Inspectorate and demonstrates the Government's commitment to providing a speedier, more responsive planning system which will support the right development in the right place and contribute to sustainable communities.

  Planning: Renewable Energy
  Lord Rooker
  My right honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has today published a companion guide to PPS22 on renewable energy. The companion guide offers good practice advice on a range of issues, including how to frame policies for renewable energy in development plans.

  Planning Policy Statement 22, published in August 2004, was an important step towards facilitating the delivery of more renewable energy developments and thereby meeting this Government's commitments in respect of global warming and climate changes. It sets out the Government's national planning policies for all types of renewable energy development. The companion guide offers practical advice as to how these polices can be implemented on the ground. It is intended to assist planners, regional and local decision-makers and other stakeholders in understanding the often complex issues associated with the different technologies and their application in different environments and is relevant to all local planning authorities in England.

  The guide addresses the actions required at the local and regional level, with regard to both strategic/forward planning and development control and includes a chapter of each of these planning policy issues. It also sets out the factors that make a "good" renewable energy application, how best to assess cumulative landscape and visual effect and how to deal with community involvement. Case studies are used to illustrate key points and to demonstrate how specific issues can be addressed. A technical annex to the guide includes specific advice on the range of renewable energy technologies covered by PPS22.

  Copies of the companion guide will be made available in the Libraries of the House and it will also be available on the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

  NHS Professionals
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)
  My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Health (Mr Hutton) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
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  The annual accounts and accompanying Comptroller and Auditor General report of NHS professionals for 2003–04 has today been laid before the House of Commons pursuant to Section 98(1C) of the National Health Service Act 1977. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Obesity
  Lord Warner
  My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  The Government's response to the Health Committee's report of Session 2003–04 on obesity, Cm 6438, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Monitor: Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts
  Lord Warner
  My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Health (Mr Hutton) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  The annual report and accounts for Monitor (whose statutory name is Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts), HC 104, were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library.

  Family Proceedings Cases
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)
  I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses a Consultation Paper on the disclosure of information in family proceedings cases involving children. The text is also available on the department's website at http://www.dca.gov.uk/consult/confr.htm.

  Air Travel: State Provision
  Lord Bassam of Brighton
  My honourable friend the Minister of the Cabinet Office is today announcing a review of the current arrangements for the provision of air travel for the Royal Family, Government Ministers and accompanying senior officials, taking into account safety, reliability, security and value for money, and to make recommendations for improvement. The review will be headed by Sir Peter Gershon and is expected to report in the second half of 2005.

  Diversity in Public Appointments
  Lord Bassam of Brighton
  I have today published Delivering Diversity in Public Appointments 2004, which explains what each central government department is doing to increase diversity on the boards of their public bodies.
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  The report contains action plans for each department as well as details of progress to date. It also includes targets to increase the proportion of appointments held by women, people from minority ethnic backgrounds and disabled people to be achieved by 2007.

  The Government are keen to ensure that their commitments to public appointments are met. The first is that selection should be made on merit, using fair and open procedures that ensure the best available candidate is appointed to each post.

  The second is a commitment to improving diversity in public appointments. There is real value in boards broadly reflecting the community they serve and I firmly believe that more diverse boards lead to more effective decision-making.

  Overall progress has been made in the representation of people from minority ethnic backgrounds and disabled people. However, the overall figures for women have dropped slightly, thus emphasising the need to continue to promote our diversity objectives and continue our outreach work.

  The report can be found on the Internet at www.publicappointments.gov.uk. Copies of the report have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Art Exports
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)
  My right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Arts (Estelle Morris) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  The 15th report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art for 2003–04 will be published later today. The reviewing committee provides independent advice to the Secretary of State on whether cultural objects that are the subject of applications for export licences are of outstanding national importance. During the period covered by the report, following recommendations from the reviewing committee, temporary bars were placed on the export of nine items, including paintings, furniture, silverware and archives. Of these, seven items, valued at £6.8 million, were purchased and remain in the UK. The report contains the reviewing committee's comments on policy matters relating to the operation of the export control and the protection of cultural objects, and details of each case considered during the period 1 July 2003 to 30 April 2004.

  Copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The review will also be available on the DCMS website at http://www.culture.gov.uk.

  Home Reversion Plans and Finance Schemes
  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  My honourable friend the Financial Secretary (Stephen Timms) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
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  The Treasury has today published the Government's response to the consultation on the definition of home reversion type arrangements for inclusion in the scope of the Financial Services and
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  Markets Act 2000, which closed on 28 September 2004. Copies are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House, and are accessible on the Treasury website at www.hmtreasury.gov.uk.