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East European States
41. Mr. Jim Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with east European leaders on the question of aid to east European states.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We are in regular contact with colleagues in central and eastern Europe on all aspects of our bilateral relations, including aid.
Zimbabwe
42. Ms. Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to help Zimbabwe deal with the current drought.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Government has provided £7.5 million in balance of payments aid for Zimbabwe, to help relieve the financial burden of food imports, in response to the current crisis.
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ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Freedom of Information
31. Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Attorney-General what is his policy on freedom of information relating to papers in the possession of the Director of Public Prosecutions or the law officers and under consideration where prosecutions have not been instituted.
The Attorney-General : Papers relating to prosecuting decisions are distinct from Government papers. Their handling must reflect special considerations, such as the need to avoid harm or unfairness to a prospective defendant or to witnesses if the decision is taken not to prosecute.
Hillsborough Inquest
32. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Attorney-General what
representations he has received in respect of the conduct of the inquest into the Hillsborough disaster ; and what has been his response.
The Solicitor-General : My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has received various representations. He is at present considering a formal application received on 16 April, for consent under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to enable the relatives of six persons who died at Hillsborough to apply to the High Court for an order quashing the inquisitions in respect of those six persons and directing a fresh inquest.
Extradition
33. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on his responsibilities in relation to extradition.
The Attorney-General : My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has responsibility for the law and practice relating to extradition.
I myself conduct certain communications on behalf of the United Kingdom with the Attorney-General of the Republic of Ireland concerning the return of alleged offenders from the republic under the backing of warrants arrangements.
Mr. Anthony Benton
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Attorney-General when it is expected the Director of Public Prosecutions will make a decision over any possible criminal proceedings regarding the conviction of Mr. Anthony Benton of Walsall.
The Attorney-General : The Crown prosecution service has considered whether any criminal proceedings should be brought following complaints regarding the conviction of Mr. Anthony Benton of Walsall. The deputy chief constable of the West Midlands police has been advised that the evidence is insufficient to justify any criminal proceedings against any police officer involved in that case.
Mr. Kurt Klebeck
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the proceedings taken by the allies at the end of the last war against Kurt Klebeck ; and whether he will discuss with his counterparts in the Channel islands the taking of proceedings against him for Nazi war crimes in the Channel islands.
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Kurt Klebeck was prosecuted and convicted in 1947 by the British military court in Germany for :
(i) being concerned in the killing of allied nationals, in violation of the laws and usages of war, who were interned in the Hanover/Ahnem concentration camp between November 1944 and April 1945.
(ii) being concerned in the ill-treatment of allied nationals in the same camp and during the same period as (i) above.
He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
The papers relating to the proceedings against Klebeck are open to inspection in the Public Record Office. I understand that he is a German national resident in Germany. The War Crimes Act 1991 is not, therefore, in issue. I further understand that Germany does not extradite its own nationals. The question of his prosecution for offences alleged to have been committed in the Channel Islands is a matter for the German authorities, who have the necessary jurisdiction.
Crown Prosecutors
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish the code for Crown prosecutors drawn up by the Crown prosecution service.
The Attorney-General : The code for Crown prosecutors is a public document.
In accordance with section 10(3) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, the Director of Public Prosecutions sets out any alterations to the code in the annual report which she makes to me under section 9 of the Act. The annual report is available to the public through HMSO.
The code was re-printed in January 1992, incorporating amendments that have been made since it was first issued in 1986. A copy of the revised edition was placed in the Library of both Houses on 10 March 1992.
EDUCATION
Standard Assessment Tasks
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has for scrapping standard assessment tasks for children of seven years of age.
City Technology Colleges
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to reduce the amount of business funding for city technology colleges.
Mr. Forth : I have no such plans. Each city technology college represents a funding partnership between Government and private sector sponsors. Sponsors have already contributed some £20 million to the capital costs of CTCs, and are committed to contribute over £10 million more. My Department funds the running costs of CTCs on a basis comparable with that of other secondary schools.
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the number of city technology colleges.
Mr. Forth : Thirteen city technology colleges are now operating. A further college will open in Derby this
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September, and another in Bristol the following year. In accordance with our manifesto commitments, the Government will enable the creation of new types of grant-maintained and voluntary-aided schools which will embody the characteristics of CTCs.WALES
Employment
12. Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken to increase employment opportunities in the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency ; and what plans there are for the immediate future.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Welsh Office, the Development Board for Rural Wales and other Government agencies operate a wide range of measures aimed at increasing employment opportunities throughout all areas of Wales. The Welsh Office and all the other bodies involved in economic development will continue to look for and respond swiftly to opportunities that arise which have the potential to increase employment prospects in the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency.
Unemployment
13. Mr. Ray Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current unemployment figures for Ogmore, Mid Glamorgan and Wales ; and what the figures were in May 1979.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : In March 1992 there were 4,435, 32,551, and 125, 871 unemployed claimants in the Ogmore constituency, Mid Glamorgan and Wales. Comparable data for May 1979 for Ogmore and Mid Glamorgan is not available. The comparable number of unemployed claimants in Wales in 1979, seasonally adjusted, was 66,100 and 122,500 in March 1992.
Inward Investment
14. Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the annual rate of inward investment to Wales for each year since 1974.
Mr. David Hunt : Wales has consistently recorded very high levels of inward investment. 1991 was the best ever year with 183 projects promising more than 17,000 jobs and capital investment in excess of £860 million.
Local Government
15. Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish his White Paper on local Government reforms.
Mr. David Hunt : Later this year.
Education
16. Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to implement the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Commencement orders establishing the Further and Higher Education Councils for Wales came into effect on 6 May. My right hon. Friend has
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announced the membership of the Higher Education Funding Council and the chairman and chief executive of the Further Education Funding Council. He hopes to be able to announce the members of the Further Education Funding Council shortly.23. Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next intends to meet leaders of county councils in Wales to discuss educational provision in the Principality.
Sir Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend has meetings with leaders of Welsh county councils to discuss matters of mutual concern, which are arranged when needed.
Community Charge
17. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the percentage of total council spending to be raised by the community charge this year in Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : Community charges set by Welsh authorities account for around 11.5 per cent. of their provisional budgeted revenue expenditure for 1992-93. The £40 million that I am providing through the community charge reduction scheme will reduce the proportion to around 10 per cent.
Recession
18. Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about his plans to alleviate the impact of the recession in Neath.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : It is clear that the Government's policy of bearing down on inflation has been successful and that all the essential ingredients for economic recovery are in place. The latest reduction in interest rates will add further impetus to economic recovery and will be of benefit to, and welcomed by, the business community in Neath.
Young Offenders
19. Dr. Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the provision of secure units for young offenders in south Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : I share the urgency for secure establishments to be operational, for I see such as a major agency in combating crime, and I am determined that this will be pressed forward as quickly as possible.
NHS Trusts
20. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest number of expressions of interest in applying for national health service trust status among hospitals in Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The Pembrokeshire NHS trust became operational on 1 April. We announced on 19 December 1991 that 14 health units in Wales had been invited to prepare applications to become NHS trusts in April 1993. These applications are expected shortly and there will be widespread consultation before any decisions are taken. Elsewhere in Wales, the decision whether to seek NHS trust status is a matter for individual health units, in the light of local circumstances.
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Cardiff Royal Infirmary
21. Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans for (a) the future of Cardiff royal infirmary and (b) the future arrangements for accident and emergency services in South Glamorgan.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : These are primarily matters for South Glamorgan health authority. However, I am taking a keen interest and am aware of the uncertainty that exists. I am confident that the current Strategic Review of future intentions by South and Mid Glamorgan DHAs and University of Wales College of Medicine will allow the uncertainty to be removed.
Planning Decisions
22. Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received relating to planning decisions (a) in Clwyd, South-West and (b) Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : My right hon. Friend frequently receives representations on a range of planning matters throughout Wales.
Environment
24. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the environmental priorities for his Department during the last six months of 1992.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : My right hon. Friends and I intend to pursue the environmental policies set out in the manifesto, "The Best Future for Wales". Attention will focus on land reclamation and housing improvement programmes, together with a wide range of agricultural,
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transport, planning, pollution control and other measures designed to protect and enhance the environment in Wales.Pembrokeshire
25. Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are currently being taken to respond to the economic difficulties of north Pembrokeshire, resulting from the proposed closure of Royal navy armaments depot, Trecwn.
26. Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to relieve unemployment in the Pembroke constituency.
Mr. David Hunt : I established the west Wales task force and a strategy group, which I chair, in January. Since then I have announced the allocation of £4.7 million for a range of projects which will develop the industrial and economic infrastructure of west Wales. The task force has commissioned consultants to draw up a five year economic development plan for the area and this report, to which I will give urgent and careful consideration, will be available in the summer.
Toxic Waste
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what volumes of toxic waste have been imported into Wales each year since 1979 ; and what has been done with those wastes.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Information on the importation of hazardous waste into the United Kingdom is available only for the period since the introduction of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations in October 1988.
The information is given in the table :
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Imports of hazardous waste
|October 1988 |1 April 1989 |1 April 1990 |<1>1 April 1991
|to |to |to |to
|1 March 1989 |31 March 1990 |31 March 1991 |31 March 1992
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) via Welsh and English ports for
disposal in Wales |5,547.3 |6,693.9 |6,881.5 |4,933.0
(2) via Welsh ports for disposal in
(i) Wales |- |754.9 |585.3 |459.8
(ii) England |43.0 |733.5 |4,758.0 |6,824.8
<1> Subject to validation.
Note: The waste is consigned to licensed waste disposal facilities.
Wind Energy
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department was represented at the conference on wind energy opportunities in Wales, organised by the National Farmers Union in Aberystwyth on 7 April.
Forestry
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the implications for forestry in Wales of (a) the new Forestry Authority and (b) Forestry Enterprise.
Mr. David Hunt : The internal reorganisation of the Forestry Commission which was implemented on 1 April 1992 makes a clear distinction between its regulatory and
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advisory functions (as the Forestry Authority) and its forest management role (as Forest Enterprise). This has strengthened the commission's ability to lead the way in implementing forestry policy in Wales and improved its efficiency and effectiveness in managing its forest estate.Environment Week
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contribution is to be made by his Department to the environment week, 16 to 24 May, sponsored by the Civic Trust.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Department has not received an invitation to participate directly in environment week. It does, however, provide grant aid for the work of the Civic Trust for Wales, which is participating.
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Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Roger Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the timetable for his proposals for local government reorganisation and in particular the restoration of Monmouthshire.
Mr. David Hunt : I will be publishing a White Paper later this year. Legislation will follow. I intend that the new shadow authorities should be in place from 1 April 1994 and fully operational/functional for 1 April 1995. The proposal for a separate council for Monmouth featured in my statement of 3 March on which I have invited views.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Members' Allowances
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects to publish the Top Salaries Review Body's report on hon. Members' secretarial allowances.
Mr. Newton : I hope to be able to inform the House soon about our plans for publication.
EMPLOYMENT
Investors in People
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies have been awarded the Investors in People kitemark ; and what percentage this represents of the companies eligible.
Mr. McLoughlin : By 7 May 1992, 50 organisations have been recognised as Investors in People. This achievement reflects the demanding nature of the national standard. This is a small percentage in these early days of the initiative as it is open to all employing organisations to commit themselves to work towards achieving the standard.
Youth Training
Mr. Simpson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently unable to take up a guaranteed training place by reason of such a place not being available.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people have not received an offer of a guaranteed place on youth training.
Mr. McLoughlin : The information is not available in the form requested. The YT guarantee remains a key objective, and sufficient resources will be available to ensure that an offer of a suitable YT training place is made to all 16 and 17-year-olds not in work or full-time education who are seeking entry.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated average employer's contribution to each filled youth training place per annum in 1992-93.
Mr. McLoughlin : No reliable estimate is available. For management purposes, the asumption is that on average about a quarter of the total cost of providing youth training is meet by employer contributions.
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Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged 16 and 17 years have been refused a place on youth training schemes in (i) 1989, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1991 and (iv) at the latest available date.
Mr. McLoughlin : The information is not available in the form requested.
Unit Labour Costs
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the movement of unit labour costs in the United Kingdom and Germany since October 1990.
Mr. McLoughlin : Between October 1990 and December 1991 unit wage and salary costs in manufacturing in the United Kingdom rose by 6.6 per cent. compared with an increase in the former Federal Republic of Germany over the same period of 11.0 per cent.
Unemployment Benefit (Disqualification)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people were disqualified for unemployment benefit under each paragraph of section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975 in the area covered by the Newport, Gwent, unemployment benefit office, in the latest month for which information can be obtained from the office ; in how many cases disqualification was imposed for the maximum period of 26 weeks ; and what is the estimated cost of obtaining this information.
Mr. McLoughlin : Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service Executive Agency are the responsibility of the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
Unemployment
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures for the change in unemployment each month since January 1987.
Mr. McLoughlin : The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Non-stipendiary Priests
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners how many non-stipendiary priests are currently licensed for parish work.
Mr. Alison : The records held by the Commissioners for Crockford's Clerical Directory list 2,159 deacons and priests who are not paid by the Commissioners but who are licensed to, or have permission to officiate, or are otherwise listed as non-stipendiary ministers. Of these 501 also hold other appointments such as school chaplains.
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