Written Statement of 5 February 2004

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefit Fraud Inspectorate Report (Dundee City Council)
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions(Mr. Chris Pond)
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) follow-up inspection report on Dundee City Council was published today and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Following the housing Green Paper "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All", published in April 2000, the Department for Work and Pensions developed a performance framework for housing benefits. The "Performance Standards for housing benefits" allow local authorities to make a comprehensive self-assessment of whether they deliver benefit effectively and securely. They are the Standards that the Department for Work and Pensions expects local authorities to aspire to and achieve in time.

  The BFI inspected Dundee City Council against the Performance Standards for housing benefits. The report finds that the council is not at Standard for any of the seven functional areas of the Performance Standards—strategic management, customer services, processing of claims, working with landlords, internal security, counter-fraud, and overpayments.

  However, there had been some improvement since the first inspection report, published in June 1999, and the council's overall level of performance for administering benefits and counter-fraud activities was fair.

  At the first inspection, BFI reported that Dundee City Council needed to develop a more effective and secure benefits administration system. The council lacked key safeguarding policies and procedures, and there were significant delays in processing benefit claims.

  The follow-up report finds that the council had responded positively to the first inspection introducing 39 (71 per cent.) of 55 major recommendations. However, arrears of work and insufficient staff resources had prevented sustained improvement. Evidence gathering to support benefit claims was generally thorough but the council was failing to adequately protect the gateway to benefits due to processing delays. Performance was significantly below the clearance times required by the Standards. Overpayments were occurring because notified changes of circumstances were not being dealt with promptly.
  44WS
  The report finds that policies for safeguarding benefits had been introduced and sanctions were used to punish and deter benefits fraudsters. Recovery of housing benefits overpayments had improved markedly since the first inspection.

  In 2002–03, Dundee City Council administered some£70 million in housing benefits, about 14 per cent. of its total gross revenue expenditure.

  The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to further improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as counter-fraud activities.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the BFI's findings and recommendations.

  Community Sentences and Benefits Pilots
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions(Mr. Chris Pond)
  The Department is today publishing a research report by the National Centre for Social Research that presents the findings of the evaluation of the policy to apply benefit sanctions to offenders found by the courts to have breached their community sentences. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The scheme has been piloted by Jobcentre Plus and the Probation Service in Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Teesside and the West Midlands since October 2001. The evaluation looked at the effects of the policy between 15 October 2001 and 14 October 2002. Overall it found a small, positive impact on compliance with community sentences, with an estimated 1.8 per cent. increase in compliance among those on relevant benefits.

  The Government gave a commitment not to extend the scheme nationally without considering carefully the findings of the evaluation. Although there has been a positive impact on compliance and over 1,490 offenders have been sanctioned since the pilots commenced, the report also identifies some problems in the administration of the scheme and the way it is explained to offenders.

  On this basis we have decided to continue the pilots for a further year along with improvements to the monitoring and management of the probation processes together with better and more frequent explanations of the scheme to offenders themselves. These two changes, identified in the report as shortcomings during the first phase of the pilots, will ensure that the Department is informed of breaches, and a sanction imposed on the offender in all relevant cases. This in turn will help offenders to relate the sanction more clearly to the behaviour which gave rise to their breach.

  The results of these operational improvements on the effectiveness of the scheme will be assessed before a decision is made on the long term future of the scheme.
  45WS

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Union Council
  The Minister for Europe(Mr. Denis MacShane)
  The forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union is as follows:

  Date

  Location

  Event

  February

  4

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  4

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  6

  Brussels

  COREPER1

  9

  Brussels

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  10

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  11

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  11

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  13

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  18

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  18

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  19

  Brussels

  Justice & Home Affairs

  20

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  23–24

  Brussels

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  24

  Brussels

  EU Moldova Cooperation Council (Troika)

  24

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  25–26

  Porlaoise

  Meeting of Regional Policy Ministers

  25

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  26

  Brussels

  Education, Youth & Culture Council

  26–27

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  26–27

  Brussels

  Meeting of Regional Policy Ministers

  26

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  27

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  March

  1–2

  Cork

  ASEM Finance Deputies' Meeting

  2

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  3

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  3

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  4–6

  Co. Clare

  Youth Ministerial Conference

  4–5

  Brussels

  Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs (Ministerial Informal)

  8

  Brussels

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  8–9

  Ankara

  EU Ministerial Troika with Turkey

  8–9

  Brusssels

  Transport, Telecom & Energy Council

  9

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  10

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  10

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  11

  Dublin

  EU/Russia Ministerial Meeting (Troika)

  12

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  17

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  18

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  18–19

  Dublin

  OECD Ministers Conference

  19

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  22

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  22–23

  Brussels

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  24

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  24

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  24–25

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  25–26

  Brussels

  EUROPEAN COUNCIL

  30

  Dublin

  EU/Ukraine Ministerial Meeting (Troika)

  30

  Brussels

  Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial Informal)

  31

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  April

  2

  Punchestown

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  2–3

  Punchestown

  ECOFIN

  46WS

  Date

  Location

  Event

  7–8

  Co. Wicklow

  Ministerial Conference on

  Communicating Europe

  16–17

  Tullamore

  GYMNICH

  26–27

  Brussels

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  26–27

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  27

  Luxembourg

  EU/Russia Permanent Partnership Council (Troika?)

  29–30

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  29–30

  Brussels

  Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial Informal)

  May

  6–7

  Dublin

  EuroMed Foreign Ministers

  7

  Limerick

  Meeting of Ministers with responsibility for Equality

  9–11

  Killarney

  Agriculture Informal Ministerial Meeting

  10

  Brussels

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  11

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  11–12

  Cork

  Health Ministers Consultative Meeting

  14–16

  Waterford

  Informal Meeting of EU Environment Ministers

  17–18

  Brussels

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  19–20

  Offaly

  Informal Budget Committee

  21

  Moscow

  EU/Russia Summit (Troika)

  23–25

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  24–25

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  24–25

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  25–27

  Co. Gal way

  Conference on Islands and Territorial cohesion—Meeting New Challenges

  27–28

  Brussels

  Education, Youth & Culture Council

  27–31

  Dublin

  Ministers and Directors General of Public Administration

  June

  1–2

  Luxembourg

  Health Council

  1

  Dublin

  Development Ministers' Meeting

  1

  Luxembourg

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  2

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN

  8

  Luxembourg

  Justice & Home Affairs Council Meeting

  10–11

  Luxembourg

  Transport, Telecom & Energy Council

  14–15

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  17–18

  Brussels

  EUROPEAN COUNCIL

  21–22

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  21–22

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  28–29

  Luxembourg

  Council Meeting of EU Environment Ministers

  July

  8

  tbc

  EU-Ukraine Summit

  12–14

  tbc

  Informal Ministerial Education Youth and Culture

  19

  tbc

  JHA Council

  FAC Response to 2003 FCO Annual Report
  The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs(Mr. Jack Straw)
  This week, I laid before Parliament Government White Paper Command 6107, "Twelfth Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee Session 2002–03 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report 2003 Response of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs".
  47WS
  The Committee draws a number of conclusions and makes various recommendations in its Report on a variety of issues including staff management, resources and the FCO's overseas estate. My response covers all these points.

  The FCO welcomes the Committee's recognition among other things of its staffs commitment, often in difficult circumstances; its Public Diplomacy efforts with the BBC World Service and British Council to improve perceptions of the UK in the Arab and Muslim worlds; the improved management of its locally-engaged staff overseas and its innovative and effective handling of rapidly increasing visa applications. The FCO will build on good practice in these areas and report on progress in future annual reports.

  The Command Paper addresses the Foreign Affairs Committee's concerns about the FCO's asset recycling programme. The programme permits the FCO to invest part of the funds gained from the sale of underperforming or unsuitable property in other projects such as ICT development. The Response provides details of how we identify potential property for sale, in line with the FCO's strategic priorities. It also explains that half such capital is reinvested into the FCO's estate and that this figure will rise to 80 per cent from I April this year. The Paper admits the difficulties involved in sustaining the programme over the long term, but also describes how it has allowed the FCO to develop important capital estate projects such as the UK's new Embassies in Berlin and Moscow.

  The paper takes issue with the Committee's observation that the FCO attempted to conceal losses associated with a cancelled ICT programme in its 2003 Annual Report and emphasises its commitment to reporting FCO activity, including costs incurred, as clearly as possible.

  In its report the Committee highlighted the increasing demands being placed on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from new challenges such as Iraq while operating within a finite resource climate. Its report recommended that the Government increase the resources allocated to the FCO to prevent erosion of its core activity. The FCO's response welcomes the Committee's recognition of the difficult resource climate in which the FCO currently has to operate. It describes how the new FCO Strategy (Government White Paper Command 6052, "UK International Priorities: A Strategy for the FCO") which I laid before Parliament on 2 December 2003 will be a major tool in prioritising our work in future and ensuring that resources are targeted to achieve the most important goals of the Government's international policies.

  We are now in the process of putting the FCO Strategy into practice. We have established a departmental change programme, derived from the Strategy, which sets out what we intend to do to focus our resources on priorities, become more flexible and responsive, improve the diversity of our people, skills and experience, and target our activity to meet the needs of our customers across Government and the UK public. As part of the Change Programme we are reviewing our organisation in London and abroad to ensure that it is aligned with our priorities and able to deliver the outcomes we seek.
  48WS
  The Foreign Affairs Committee outlines some concerns it has about the FCO's posts overseas. It recommends that the FCO open a new post in Kyrgyzstan, and suggests that where post closures are being considered, the Department should seek creative alternatives. The Response explains that, to meet its strategic priorities and ensure safe and secure working environments for its staff while working within resource limitations, the FCO is obliged to adapt and amend its pattern of overseas representation. The FCO has already introduced alternative methods of representation in some parts of West Africa and agrees with the Committee that such options are preferable to Post closure. The FCO's network of diplomatic posts will remain a vital means of delivering the Government's priorities and building UK influence abroad. We need to ensure that it is adequately resourced, secure and tasked to address our most important priorities.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Inland Fisheries Annual Reports
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland(Angela Smith)
  Copies of the Inland Fisheries Annual Reports of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for 2000, 2001 and 2002 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  These documents provide details of the Department's activities to conserve, protect and develop salmon and inland fisheries under the provisions of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, as amended and include statistical information and income and expenditure details for those years.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Post Office Urban Reinvention Network
  The Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services(Mr. Stephen Timms)
  The urban re-invention programme aims to create a smaller, more viable network of post office branches adequate in number and suitably located to ensure accessible delivery of service to customers. At the end of the programme, within the UK as a whole, 95 per cent. of the urban population will still live within a mile of the nearest Post Office branch. It is supported directly by Government funding. This programme is absolutely necessary. If the Post office does not adapt to changing customer demands it will spiral into terminal decline.

  During recent weeks Members of Parliament and Postwatch have become increasingly concerned about some aspects of the urban re-invention programme. In particular, the consultation arrangements have been criticised. There has been mounting evidence that in too many cases Post Office Limited has not handled them appropriately, or with sufficient sensitivity. Accordingly I asked Post Office Limited and Postwatch to review urgently the arrangements for the consultation currently employed and to propose changes to make them more inclusive and appropriate to achieve a viable network to serve the public after the programme is concluded.
  49WS
  They have responded to this challenge and I am pleased to announce the following changes applicable to the remainder of the programme which will take immediate effect.
  Post Office Limited will advise MPs and local authorities as soon as possible of the remaining timetable for commencing consultations on plans for their area.
  Local authorities will be invited to provide relevant information, in advance, on infrastructure and regeneration projects to assist Post Office Limited in the preparation of area plans.
  When preparing an area plan, Post Office Limited will achieve a balance between sub-postmasters volunteering to leave the network, those offices which are not viable and the need for relocations and new openings.
  Post Office Limited will advise MPs and members of the devolved administrations on a strictly confidential basis of proposals, including the overall rationale for the proposed area plan, one week before they are put out to public consultation.
  Public consultation will be on the proposal to close an individual office but Post Office Limited will also take account of, and respond to, views expressed about the proposed service provision in the area in reaching decisions on individual closures.
  Once final decisions have been made and announced, Post Office Limited will write to Postwatch, Members of Parliament and local authorities referring to the main points raised during the consultation and giving the reasons for its decision.
  Public consultation will normally last for six weeks but will in future be extended to take account of public holidays that occur during that period.
  In view of Post Office Limited's responsibility to notify its staff at directly-managed offices of any proposal to close the office before the proposal is put to public consultation, the advance notification of Postwatch, MPs and of the devolved administrations will be replaced by notification of the proposal the day before the proposal is made public and the public consultation period will be extended to eight weeks.
  If branches previously identified as expecting to receive additional custom following closure of nearby offices, are themselves subsequently proposed for closure, Post Office Limited will provide a detailed explanation of its reasoning in putting forward the proposal for consultation.
  Post Office Limited will establish a separate team dedicated to promoting and supervising the implementation of investment required to upgrade remaining offices to ensure the provision of adequate facilities for the additional custom provoked by the closure of nearby offices.
  50WS
  Criteria have been agreed to define the "exceptional circumstances" which may justify putting into public consultation a closure proposal for an office located within the 10 per cent. most deprived urban wards and with no other office within half a mile. The core criteria are: the branch proposed for closure being relatively small; having experienced a significant decline in business between March 2000 and March 2003 with a continuing trend which, if it has not already done so, will render the business non-viable; and having a dense network of surrounding offices with several accessible by reasonable transport links within half a mile to a mile. Other criteria which might also apply include: significant depopulation of the surrounding area or the geography of public service and retail provision has shifted; a clear majority of customers of the branch proposed for closure live within half a mile of alternative branches; and security issues which make it unlikely to be feasible to continue service.
  Finally Post Office Limited has confirmed that the documentation between itself and a sub-postmaster does not create any binding arrangement for closure until the public consultation has been completed. No contract binding on Post Office Limited is signed before the public consultation process has ended.

  The above new arrangements will be reviewed by Post Office Limited and Postwatch one month after commencement to ensure that the implementation is satisfactory.

  Post Office closures will inevitably continue to be contentious. However, these changes to procedure should ensure that there is confidence in the consultation process.

  Post Office Limited is committed to the successful implementation of the new arrangements and to working with Postwatch to ensure an effective consultation process designed to maximise the quality of judgment and transparency, and to produce a fair result for customers and the Company.

EDUCATION

  Youth Council for Northern Ireland
  The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office(Jane Kennedy)
  I have published today the Accounts of the Youth Council for Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Northern Ireland: Inland Fisheries Annual Reports
  The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)
  My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland has made the following Ministerial Statement.

  Copies of the inland fisheries annual reports of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for 2000, 2001 and 2002 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  These documents provide details of the department's activities to conserve, protect and develop salmon and inland fisheries under the provisions of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, as amended, and include statistical information and income and expenditure details for those years.

  Angela Cannings
  The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith)
  I refer to my Statement on 19 January, when I announced a review process in the light of the judgment of the Court of Appeal on that day in the case of R v Angela Cannings.

  Two hundred and fifty eight convictions over the past 10 years were identified involving the homicide of an infant aged under two years by its parent. Among these, cases where the defendant remains in custody will be accorded the highest priority.

  The review process has begun. As a result of further work we have now identified that another 18 defendants are still serving a term of imprisonment in addition to the 54 I announced on 19 January. The relevant data are being rechecked so that the total number can be finalised as soon as possible.

  Of these, one case file is already with the Criminal Cases Review Commission. A further 52, representing 365 boxes of evidence, have been recovered from central storage by the CPS and either are or are on the point of being reviewed. The remaining 19 priority cases are being retrieved locally. The process of retrieval of non-priority cases has begun.

  With the help of my interdepartmental group I have established the system of review. Each individual case will first be subject to a preliminary review by the relevant CPS area to identify its key characteristics. Each case will then be reviewed by a central review team to establish whether any features identified by the Court of Appeal in Angela Cannings' judgment make the conviction potentially unsafe. That central team is being established and will be ready to start work as the files and preliminary reviews are received.
  WS 30
  In all cases which appear to meet the above criteria the convicted person will be informed as soon as possible. I have discussed with the Court of Appeal how arrangements can be made to expedite cases which are to be heard by that court and I have also discussed with the Criminal Cases Review Commission the arrangements it is putting in place to permit the swift review of cases which may be affected by the judgment. These latter discussions are continuing.

  The review of the 15 current cases is also continuing and the results of that review will be known shortly.

  Chips for Everything: Follow-up Report
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)
  The Government welcome the follow-up report and recognise the importance of system on chip design to the UK. The main recommendation of the follow-up report—the establishment of a managed network—aligns well with one of the conclusions of the DTI's innovation review. The Government are supportive of initiatives to set up such a network and have asked Sir Robin Saxby to lead a pilot network in one application area. This will allow key stakeholders to learn how to manage a network of this sort to best effect before committing to something more comprehensive.

  Post Office Urban Reinvention Network
  Lord Sainsbury of Turville
  My honourable friend the Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services (Stephen Timms) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  The urban re-invention programme aims to create a smaller, more viable network of post office branches adequate in number and suitably located to ensure accessible delivery of service to customers. At the end of the programme, within the UK as a whole, 95 per cent of the urban population will still live within a mile of the nearest post office branch. It is supported directly by government funding. This programme is absolutely necessary. If the Post Office does not adapt to changing customer demands it will spiral into terminal decline.

  During recent weeks Members of Parliament and Postwatch have become increasingly concerned about some aspects of the urban re-invention programme, In particular, the consultation arrangements have been criticised. There has been mounting evidence that in too many cases Post Office Limited has not handled them appropriately, or with sufficient sensitivity. Accordingly I asked Post Office Limited and Postwatch to review urgently the arrangements for the consultation currently employed and to propose changes to make them more inclusive and appropriate to achieve a viable network to serve the public after the programme is concluded.
  WS 31
  They have responded to this challenge and I am pleased to announce the following changes applicable to the remainder of the programme which will take immediate effect.

  Post Office Limited will advise MPs and local authorities as soon as possible of the remaining timetable for commencing consultations on plans for their area.

  Local authorities will be invited to provide relevant information, in advance, on infrastructure and regeneration projects to assist Post Office Limited in the preparation of area plans.

  When preparing an area plan, Post Office Limited will achieve a balance between sub-postmasters volunteering to leave the network, those offices which are not viable and the need for relocations and new openings.

  Post Office Limited will advise MPs and members of the devolved administrations on a strictly confidential basis of proposals, including the overall rationale for the proposed area plan, one week before they are put out to public consultation.

  Public consultation will be on the proposal to close an individual office, but Post Office Limited will also take account of, and respond to, views expressed about the proposed service provision in the area in reaching decisions on individual closures.

  Once final decisions have been made and announced, Post Office Limited will write to Postwatch, Members of Parliament and local authorities referring to the main points raised during the consultation and giving the reasons for its decision.

  Public consultation will normally last for six weeks but will in future be extended to take account of public holidays that occur during that period.

  In view of Post Office Limited's responsibility to notify its staff at directly managed offices of any proposal to close the office before the proposal is put to public consultation, the advance notification of Postwatch, MPs and of the devolved administrations will be replaced by notification of the proposal the day before the proposal is made public and the public consultation period will be extended to eight weeks.

  If branches previously identified as expecting to receive additional custom following closure of nearby offices are themselves subsequently proposed for closure, Post Office Limited will provide a detailed explanation of its reasoning in putting forward the proposal for consultation.

  Post Office Limited will establish a separate team dedicated to promoting and supervising the implementation of investment required to upgrade remaining offices to ensure the provision of adequate facilities for the additional custom provoked by the closure of nearby offices.

  Criteria have been agreed to define the "exceptional circumstances" which may justify putting into public consultation a closure proposal for an office located within the 10 per cent most deprived urban wards and with no other office within half a mile. The core criteria are: the branch proposed for closure being relatively
  WS 32
  small; having experienced a significant decline in business between March 2000 and March 2003 with a continuing trend which, if it has not already done so, will render the business non-viable; and having a dense network of surrounding offices with several accessible by reasonable transport links within half a mile to a mile. Other criteria which might also apply include: significant depopulation of the surrounding area or the geography of public service and retail provision has shifted; a clear majority of customers of the branch proposed for closure live within half a mile of alternative branches; and security issues which make it unlikely to be feasible to continue service.

  Finally Post Office Limited has confirmed that the documentation between itself and a sub-postmaster does not create any binding arrangement for closure until the public consultation has been completed. No contract binding on Post Office Limited is signed before the public consultation process has ended.

  The above new arrangements will be reviewed by Post Office Limited and Postwatch one month after commencement to ensure that the implementation is satisfactory.

  Post office closures will inevitably continue to be contentious. However, these changes to procedure should ensure that there is confidence in the consultation process.

  Post Office Limited is committed to the successful implementation of the new arrangements and to working with Postwatch to ensure an effective consultation process designed to maximise the quality of judgment and transparency, and to produce a fair result for customers and the company.

  Foreign Office Annual Report: Foreign Affairs Committee Response
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
  This week, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary laid before Parliament, government White Paper Command 6107,Twelfth Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee Session 2002–03 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report 2003 Response of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  The committee draws a number of conclusions and makes various recommendations in its report on a variety of issues including staff management, resources and the FCO's overseas estate. Our response covers all these points.

  The FCO welcomes the committee's recognition among other things of its staffs commitment, often in difficult circumstances; its public diplomacy efforts with the BBC World Service and British Council to improve perceptions of the UK in the Arab and Muslim worlds; the improved management of its locally engaged staff overseas and its innovative and

  WS 33
  effective handling of rapidly increasing visa applications. The FCO will build on good practice in these areas and report on progress in future annual reports.

  The Command Paper addresses the Foreign Affairs Committee's concerns about the FCO's asset recycling programme. The programme permits the FCO to invest part of the funds gained from the sale of underperformmg or unsuitable property in other projects such as ICT development. The response provides details of how we identify potential property for sale, in line with the FCO's strategic priorities. It also explains that half such capital is reinvested into the FCO's estate and that this figure will rise to 80 per cent from 1 April this year. The paper admits the difficulties involved in sustaining the programme over the long term, but also describes how it has allowed the FCO to develop important capital estate projects such as the UK's new embassies in Berlin and Moscow.

  The paper takes issue with the committee's observation that the FCO attempted to conceal losses associated with a cancelled ICT programme in its 2003 annual report and emphasises its commitment to reporting FCO activity, including costs incurred, as clearly as possible.

  In its report the committee highlighted the increasing demands being placed on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from new challenges such as Iraq while operating within a finite resource climate. Its report recommended that the Government increase the resources allocated to the FCO to prevent erosion of its core activity. The FCO's response welcomes the committee's recognition of the difficult resource climate in which the FCO currently has to operate. It describes how the new FCO strategy (Government White Paper Command 6052, UK International Priorities: A Strategy for the FCO) which I laid before Parliament on 2 December 2003 will be a major tool in prioritising our work in future and ensuring that resources are targeted to achieve the most important goals of the Government's international policies.

  We are now in the process of putting the FCO strategy into practice. We have established a departmental change programme, derived from the strategy, which sets out what we intend to do to focus our resources on priorities, become more flexible and responsive, improve the diversity of our people, skills and experience, and target our activity to meet the needs of our customers across government and the UK public. As part of the change programme we are reviewing our organisation in London and abroad to ensure that it is aligned with our priorities and able to deliver the outcomes we seek

  The Foreign Affairs Committee outlines some concerns it has about the FCO's posts overseas. It recommends that the FCO opens a new post in Kyrgyzstan, and suggests that where post closures are being considered, the department should seek creative alternatives. The response explains that, to meet its strategic priorities and ensure safe and secure working environments for its staff while working within resource limitations, the FCO is obliged to adapt and
  WS 34
  amend its pattern of overseas representation. The FCO has already introduced alternative methods of representation in some parts of west Africa and agrees with the committee that such options are preferable to post closure. The FCO's network of diplomatic posts will remain a vital means of delivering the Government's priorities and building UK influence abroad. We need to ensure that it is adequately resourced, secure and tasked to address our most important priorities.

  European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
  The forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union is as follows:

  Date

  Location

  Event

  February

  4

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  4

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  6

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  9

  Brussels

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  10

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  11

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  11

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  13

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  18

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  18

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  19

  Brussels

  Justice & Home Affairs

  20

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  23–24

  Brussels

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  24

  Brussels

  EU Moldova Cooperation Council (Troika)

  24

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  25–26

  Porlaoise

  Meeting of Regional Policy Ministers

  25

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  26

  Brussels

  Education, Youth & Culture Council

  26–27

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  26–27

  Brussels

  Meeting of Regional Policy Ministers

  26

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  27

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  March

  1–2

  Cork

  ASEM Finance Deputies' Meeting

  2

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  3

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  3

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  4–6

  Co. Clare

  Youth Ministerial Conference

  4–5

  Brussels

  Employment, Social Policy, Health& Consumer Affairs (Ministerial Informal)

  8

  Brussels

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  8–9

  Ankara

  EU Ministerial Troika with Turkey

  8–9

  Brusssels

  Transport, Telecom & Energy Council

  9

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  10

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  10

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  11

  Dublin

  EU/Russia Ministerial Meeting (Troika)

  12

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  17

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  18

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  18–19

  Dublin

  OECD Ministers Conference

  19

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  WS 35

  Date

  Location

  Event

  22

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  22–23

  Brussels

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  24

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  24

  Brussels

  COREPER 2

  24–25

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  25–26

  Brussels

  EUROPEAN COUNCIL

  30

  Dublin

  EU/Ukraine Ministerial Meeting (Troika)

  30

  Brussels

  Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial Informal)

  31

  Brussels

  COREPER 1

  April

  2

  Punchestown

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  2–3

  Punchestown

  ECOFIN

  7–8

  Co. Wicklow

  Ministerial Conference on Communicating Europe

  16–17

  Tullamore

  GYMNICH

  26–27

  Brussels

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  26–27

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  27

  Luxembourg

  EU/Russia Permanent Partnership Council (Troika?)

  29–30

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  29–30

  Brussels

  Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial Informal)

  May

  6–7

  Dublin

  EuroMed Foreign Ministers

  7

  Limerick

  Meeting of Ministers with responsibility for Equality

  9–11

  Killarney

  Agriculture Informal Ministerial Meeting

  10

  Brussels

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  11

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  11–12

  Cork

  Health Ministers Consultative Meeting

  WS 36

  Date

  Location

  Event

  14–16

  Waterford

  Informal Meeting of EU Environment Ministers

  17–18

  Brussels

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  19–20

  Offaly

  Informal Budget Committee

  21

  Moscow

  EU/Russia Summit (Troika)

  23–25

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  24–25

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  24–25

  Brussels

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  25–27

  Co. Galway

  Conference on Islands and Territorial cohesion—Meeting New Challenges

  27–28

  Brussels

  Education, Youth & Culture Council

  27–31

  Dublin

  Ministers and Directors General of Public Administration

  June

  1–2

  Luxembourg

  Health Council

  1

  Dublin

  Development Ministers' Meeting

  1

  Luxembourg

  Meeting of Eurogroup

  1

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN

  8

  Luxembourg

  Justice & Home Affairs Council Meeting

  10–11

  Luxembourg

  Transport, Telecom & Energy Council

  14–15

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs & External Relations (GAERC)

  17–18

  Brussels

  EUROPEAN COUNCIL

  21–22

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture & Fisheries Council

  21–22

  Brussels

  Meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee

  28–29

  Luxembourg

  Council Meeting of EU Environment Ministers

  July

  8

  tbc

  EU-Ukraine Summit

  12–14

  tbc

  Informal Ministerial Education Youth and Culture

  19

  tbc

  JHA Council