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Mr. John Patten : The tribunal is subject to paragraph 9 of schedule 1 to the Security Service Act 1989.
Personal Data
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will set out the procedure within his Department for authorising transfers of personal data to other Government Departments ; and at what level such decisions are authorised ; (2) on what grounds decisions are taken to transfer personal data held by his Department to other Government Departments ;
(3) on what statutory basis transfers of personal data take place from his Department to other Government Departments ; and how many such transfers take place each year ;
(4) what internal guidelines covering the transfer of personal data to other Government Departments are available to staff in his Department ; and whether he will place a copy of any such guidelines in the Library ;
(5) what kind of personal data held by his Department, whether on computer or manually, are transferred to other Government Departments ;
(6) what plans exist in his Department for the transfer of personal data via the Government data network ; and what new procedures have been adopted within the Department to prevent unauthorised transfers of such data ;
(7) what records are kept of transfers of personal data from his Department to other Government Departments ; and whether the Data Protection Registrar has access to the relevant records ; (8) whether records will be kept of all personal data transferred to other Government Departments via the Government data network ; (9) whether the rules governing the transfer of personal data from his Department to other Government Departments are the same for data held manually as for data held on computer.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Where information comprising personal data is computerised, disclosures are made only as permitted by the appropriate registration under the Data Protection Act 1984 or by one of the statutory exemptions embodied within the Act. The general guidance issued to staff is that dealing with the application of the Data Protection Act 1984, a copy of which has been
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placed in the Library. This is the position whether or not there is any connection to the Government data network ; and there are no plans at present to maintain records of, or issue central guidance dealing with, the transfer of personal data over the Government data network.As regards non-computerised personal data, depending on the nature of the information held appropriate local procedures determine to whom the information may be disclosed, and who may authorise the disclosure. The Home Office holds many millions of records containing personal data, both manual and computerised, on a wide range of subjects : in consequence, the remaining detailed information sought in these questions is not readily available and could not be obtained save at disproportionate cost.
Drugs
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his proposed international drugs conference in London.
Mr. Mellor : The world ministerial summit to reduce the demand for drugs and to combat the cocaine threat is being organised by Her Majesty's Government in association with the United Nations and will take place in London from 9 to 11 April 1990.
It is to be opened by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, who will be joined for the opening session by the President of Colombia and the Secretary General of the United Nations. Expert speakers from around the world will address the working sessions. It is hoped that the summit will strengthen our knowledge of ways to tackle the drug problem and will lead to an even greater commitment internationally to reduce the demand for all drugs and to combat the production and traffic in cocaine.
Management Consultants
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the contracts his Department has given to outside management consultants in policy areas concerning his Department since January 1985 and the date of completion and cost of each contract.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [pursuant to the reply, 31 January 1990, c. 203] : A contract awarded to Deloitte, Haskins and Sells to investigate the "Practicality of Private Sector Involvement in the Remand System", completed in February 1989 at a cost of £207,865 (exclusive of VAT), should have been included in my right hon. and learned Friend's answer of 31 January 1990.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Women Staff
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of Overseas Development Administration staff are women in (a) all positions within the ODA, (b) ODA staff based in the United Kingdom, (c) ODA staff based overseas, (d) ODA staff at or above the level of grade seven, and (e) ODA staff at or above the level of grade five.
Mrs. Chalker : On 2 January 1990 the numbers of women employed in the ODA were :
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|Total |Women |per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------
All grades |1,525 |662 |43.3
Staff in United Kingdom |1,475 |653 |44.3
Staff overseas |50 |9 |18.0
Staff at or above grade 7 |259 |26 |10.0
Staff at or above grade 5 |50 |5 |10.0
These figures exclude casual staff and staff on special leave without pay.
Education Conference
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will be representing Her Majesty's Government at the world conference on education for all in Thailand on 5 to 9 March.
Mrs. Chalker : Her Majesty's Government will be represented by the Overseas Development Administration's chief education adviser and by the Under-Secretary for international relations at the Department of Education and Science.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Antrim Technology Park
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost to the Exchequer of developing the Antrim technology park in the period up to 31 March 1989 ; and how many jobs have been created by the expenditure to date.
Mr. Needham : The cost of developing the park and constructing the buildings has been £4,405,672. Present employment in companies located at the park is 234.
Police Services
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police services, other than the Royal Ulster Constabulary, operate within Northern Ireland ; what is the location of work for each of these services ; how many personnel are employed as policemen and policewomen in each of these services ; and what is the employing authority for each of these police services.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : There are three police services operating within the transport sector in Northern Ireland. They are : a. Northern Ireland Airports Constabulary ; 76 policemen and 7 policewomen ; Northern Ireland Airports Ltd.
b. Belfast Harbour Police ; 35 policemen, Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
c. Larne Harbour Constabulary ; 16 policemen ; Larne Harbour Limited.
Fire Service
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for the last three years for which information is available all those occasions when the fire service has had to attend Royal Ulster Constabulary police stations or other facilities, stating whether the incident was due to terrorist action, fire, arson or other cause ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Cope : During the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 the brigade attended the following incidents to RUC stations and other police facilities in the Province.Date and Location |Reason -------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 April 1987-RUC Station, Lisburn Road, Belfast |Explosion 8 September 1988-RUC Station, Main Street, Coagh |Explosion 11 April 1989-RUC Station, Enniskillen |Accidental fire 12 April 1989-RUC Station, Charlotte Street, Warrenpoint |Explosion 8 June 1989-RUC Station, Newtownabbey |Explosion 1 October 1989-RUC Station, Randalstown |Explosion 10 January 1990-RUC Station, Seapark |Accidental fire
It is believed that the explosions as listed above were as a result of terrorist attack.
Homelessness
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people the Housing Executive has accepted as homeless since 1 April 1989 to 31 December 1989 ; and how many people who claimed homelessness in that specified period were refused under the regulations as laid down in the Housing (NI) Order 1988.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Northern Ireland Housing Executive says that the information is not available in the form requested. Between 1 April 1989 and 31 December 1989, a total of 3,822 applicants were accepted as being either homeless or threatened with homelessness and 763 applicants were considered not to be homeless or threatened with homelessness under the provisions of the Housing (NI) Order 1988. A further 183 applications are still under consideration.
Youth Training
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the Northern Ireland Association of Community
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Workshops about the proposed funding arrangements for the youth training programme which will come into effect on 1 April 1990.Mr. Needham : I met representatives of the Northern Ireland Association of Community Workshops on 29 January 1990. In response to their representations I have made a number of modifications to the funding arrangements for the youth training programme to meet their concerns. I understand that the association has reacted positively to these changes.
Fire Authority
Rev. William McCrea : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether (a) the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland and (b) Mr. Kerr were legally represented at the hearing held by the Fair Employment Agency in the case of Kerr v. Northern Ireland Fire Authority.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : These are issues for the fire authority and Mr. Kerr. The fire authority was not legally represented at the hearing held by the Fair Employment Agency. Mr. Kerr was accompanied by his solicitor at the hearing.
Rev. William McCrea : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Fire Authority sought the advice of counsel (a) prior to the decision of the Fair Employment Agency on 6 December and (b) thereafter in the case of Kerr v. Northern Ireland Fire Authority.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : This is a matter for the fire authority whose chairman has informed me that the authority did not seek the advice of counsel either prior to the decision of the Fair Employment Agency on 6 December or thereafter. The fire authority took advice from its solicitor in relation to the FEA report and findings.
School Expenditure
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will update to the latest available date the answer given to the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson), 12 May 1989, Official Report, columns 553-54, on expenditure on books and equipment.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
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Books and equipment (separate figures for books and equipment not
available)
Primary schools Secondary schools Special schools
Year |Cash |Real |Index|Cash |Real |Index|Cash |Real |Index
|terms |terms |terms
|£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |10.40|22.81|100 |22.88|50.17|100 |24.32|53.33|100
1979-80 |12.05|22.67|99 |25.24|47.49|94 |26.65|50.14|94
1980-81 |12.34|19.58|86 |25.73|40.82|81 |30.96|49.12|92
1981-82 |14.37|20.77|91 |29.22|42.23|84 |38.34|55.42|104
1982-83 |14.63|19.74|86 |30.62|41.33|82 |38.11|51.44|96
1983-84 |15.08|19.46|85 |31.74|40.95|81 |41.83|53.97|101
1984-85 |16.37|20.13|88 |34.26|42.13|84 |46.38|57.04|107
1985-86 |17.14|19.96|87 |36.40|42.41|84 |46.13|53.74|101
1986-87 |18.30|20.67|90 |42.14|47.59|95 |67.77|76.54|129
1987-88 |19.94|21.40|94 |47.92|51.42|103 |84.78|90.97|171
1988-89 |20.00|20.00|88 |46.55|46.55|93 |87.34|87.34|164
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Donaghadee Carpets
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed at the firm of Donaghadee Carpets ; how many redundancies there have been at this firm in the last four weeks ; whether the firm is receiving the support of the IDB. ; and if he will make a statement on future employment prospects with this company.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 5 February 1990] : CV Carpets Ltd. employs 460 at Donaghadee. The management and trade union representatives are in discussion about manning levels and working practices, but no redundancies have been made or announced in the last four weeks. The company is in receipt of selective financial assistance from the IDB for a capital investment programme which should provide an increase in employment over the next 18 months ; the extent of that support is, as usual, dependent on achievement of the forecast employment levels.
Fair Employment
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in relation to the fair employment draft guide to effective practice ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 9 February 1990] : Following consultation with a wide range of interested parties, the guide was published in its final form by the Department of Economic Development on 31 December 1989. It provides advice and guidance to employers and others on their responsibilities and obligations under the fair employment legislation and has become the first code of practice under section 8 of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
PRIME MINISTER
European Parliament
Q5. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit the European Parliament.
The Prime Minister : In the normal course of events, I would expect to visit the European Parliament during the British presidency of the Community in the second half of 1992.
Rugby League
Q39. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Prime Minister when she next intends to make an official visit to a rugby league ground.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Summer Time
Q110 Mr. Boswell : To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received on summer time.
The Prime Minister : The Home Office published a Green Paper entitled "Summer Time--A Consultation Document" (Cm 722) on 27 June 1989 inviting representations on three options for future summer time arrangement. I have received several representations. Over 30,000 have been received at the Home Office.
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Homelessness
Q118. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Prime Minister what further plans she has to meet homeless people in London.
The Prime Minister : I have no such plans at present. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is taking forward, with urgency, action following our review of the homelessness legislation. This includes the allocation of additional resources to relieve homelessness pressures in London. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister for Housing and Planning have had a number of meetings with homeless people in London and with voluntary agencies who work with the homeless.
Aberdeen
Q143. Mr. Doran : To ask the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit Aberdeen.
The Prime Minister : I hope to visit Aberdeen during the course of this year.
TUC
Q195. Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet representatives of the Trades Union Congress ; and what matters she intends to discuss.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Poland
Q216. Mr. Latham : To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Poland.
The Prime Minister : I have no plans to visit Poland at present. I had a friendly and useful meeting with the Polish Prime Minister here yesterday.
European Monetary System
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the question of sterling and its relationship to the exchange rate mechanism of the EMS ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I have no present plans to do so.
1992
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the extent and purpose of the inquiries being initiated by the European Economic Community into the prospects for 1992.
The Prime Minister : I have no plans to do so, but will not hesitate to discuss the studies, if that is likely to be useful. The 1992 prospects are for both opportunities and challenges to British business, and the outcome will depend on the way in which individual firms and industries respond to those opportunities and challenges.
Social Charter
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister if she will invite the next meeting of the European Council to agree that the Commission should not present measures to
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implement the provisions of the social charter until the charter has been agreed by all member states ; and if she will make a statement.The Prime Minister : The European Commission has the right to make proposals on any matters that fall within the competence of the Community as set out in the treaty of Rome. As I made clear in my statement following the last meeting of the European Council in Strasbourg in December-- Official Report, 12 December 1989, column 858--we do not endorse the text of the social charter and, judging from their comments, I believe that many of my colleagues in Europe will have considerable difficulties with the Commission's specific proposals when they come forward.
Private Office
Mr. Grocott : To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of her private office in each of the last five years.
The Prime Minister : The cost of the Prime Minister's office over the last five years is as follows :
Year |Total cost
|£
---------------------------------------
1985-86 |4,405,852
1986-87 |4,962,950
1987-88 |5,418,455
1988-89 |6,553,712
1989-90 |<1>7,924,979
<1> Estimate.
Salaries and wages, notional pension liability and administrative costs and the grant-in-aid to the Chequers Trust are included. My salary as a Cabinet Minister is not included, nor are my pay and allowances as a Member of this House.
Since 1985 there have been two developments which have affected the way in which costs are assessed. These are inclusion of costs for office services from 1986-87 ; and inclusion of the cost of redecoration of certain state rooms and of major security works in 1988-89 and 1989-90. When the effects of these developments are excluded (as far as it is possible to do so) and the results expressed in constant price terms at 1988-89 prices, the cost has increased by 6 per cent. between 1985-86 and 1989-90.
Mr. Grocott : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total number of people employed in her private office in each of the last five years.
The Prime Minister : The total number of people in my office in each of the last five years is as follows :
Year |Number ---------------------- 1985-86 |66 1986-87 |66 1987-88 |67 1988-89 |67 1989-90 |68
Security Services (Disinformation)
Mr. Haynes : To ask the Prime Minister if she will institute a wide- ranging inquiry into the dissemination of disinformation relating to public figures by the security services in the last 30 years.
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The Prime Minister : I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 6 May 1987.
South Africa
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister if she has issued a formal invitation to Mr. Nelson Mandela to visit her in Britain.
The Prime Minister : As we explained in our statement of 2 February I plan to do so now that he is free.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister if she intends to make an official visit to South Africa this year.
The Prime Minister : I plan to visit South Africa in due course.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her meeting with the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Monday 6 February.
The Prime Minister : We had a full discussion on the situation in South Africa. We share the objective of an end to apartheid through peaceful negotiations.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister when was the last time she spoke to President de Klerk of South Africa.
The Prime Minister : We are in regular contact with the South African Government.
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all representations additional to that made by the Minister for Sport to the chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board on 2 August 1989 made by (a) herself, (b) any of her Ministers and (c) Government officials to dissuade the members of the rebel cricket tour of South Africa from undertaking the tour.
The Prime Minister : The Government's position on the cricket tour to South Africa is set out in my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport's letter of 2 August to the chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board. At my hon. Friend's request, his letter was copied to the players concerned.
Engagements
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 February.
Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 February.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 February.
Mr. Stern : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 February.
The Prime Minister : This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall preside at a dinner in honour of the Prime Minister of Poland.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Civil and Political Rights
Mr. Allen : To ask the Attorney-General if he will take steps to incorporate the international covenant on civil and political rights into domestic law.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : I have been asked to reply.No.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Mr. Lorrain Osman
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his reply of 6 February, he will list the cases or proceedings which cause him to treat matters relating to Mr. Lorrain Osman as being sub judice.
Mr. Maude : Mr. Osman's fourth application for a writ of habeas corpus, launched on 2 February.
Western European Union
Mr. Hill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the WEU Assembly recommendation that the WEU Council work out the prior conditions necessary in the conceptual field for SNF negotiations to be resumed without delay after the implementation of the first CFE agreement.
Mr. Waldegrave : The comprehensive concept adopted by NATO Heads of State and Government at their summit in May set out the "prior conditions" for SNF negotiations, namely that once the implementation of an agreement on conventional arms is under way
"the United States in consultation with the Allies concerned, is prepared to enter into negotiations to achieve a partial reduction of American and Soviet land-based nuclear missiles of shorter range to equal and verifiable levels."
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