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Column 349
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 15 June 1992
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Sudan
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the statement by Gaafar Mohammed Nimeri, the former President of Sudan, urging an armed uprising, for the United Kingdom's aid programme in the area ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We closed down our development aid programme to Sudan in 1991 and have no plans to reinstate it. We shall continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Sudanese people according to needs and without political conditions.
United States (Visas)
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received, since 1 January 1991, about (a) refusal of visas to United Kingdom citizens by the United States immigration authorities and (b) treatment of United Kingdom citizens travelling to or in the United States of America by the United States immigration authorities ; what representations he has made to the United States Administration ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I am aware of a small number of cases where such difficulties have been experienced by British citizens. These have been brought to the attention of the United States Administration. United States immigration regulations are, of course, a matter for the United States authorities.
Ex-service Men's Compensation
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making with the German Government concerning compensation for British ex-service men interned during the second world war.
Mr. Garel-Jones : There is no basis on which to make
representations with the German Government concerning compensation for British ex-service men interned during the second world war. Internment is a recognised right of a belligerent in times of war.
Nigeria
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Nigerian Government about the arrests of the human rights and pro-democracy activists Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Barrister Femi Falana and Baba Omajola in Lagos on 19 May ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have told the Nigerian Government of our grave concern at the arrest and continued detention of these human rights activists. We have strongly urged them to abide by the due processes of law and either release or try the activists under normal and fair legal procedure. We expect to make further representations on this subject to the Nigerian authorities with our European Community partners.
Lao Ambassador
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Lao ambassador to present his credentials ; and what is the reason for the delay.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have not yet agreed a date with the Lao ambassador, who is resident in Paris, to present credentials. It is not uncommon for a period to elapse between agre ment, the receipt of working copies of credentials, and their presentation by a non-resident ambassador.
COCOM
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the co- ordinating committee of western nations on technology transfer (COCOM).
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 5 June, at column 673.
Burma
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council, and at the United Nations, concerning the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, and the continued killing and displacement of the Rohingya and Karen minorities.
Mr. Goodlad : With our Community partners, we have repeatedly called on the Burmese authorities to release Aung San Suu Kyi unconditionally from house arrest and to end all repression of minorities ; including the Rohingyas and Karen. At the United Nations general assembly last November we co-sponsored a resolution urging respect for the democratic and human rights of the Burmese people. We also co-sponsored a resolution at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva earlier this year calling for an end to the repression of minorities, a public scrutiny of Burma's human rights record and the appointment of a special rapporteur. We fully support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General in securing the repatriation of the Rohingya people to Burma.
Kuwait
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Palestinians who were born in Kuwait and who are now in the United Kingdom who wish to return to Kuwait and are experiencing difficulties in so doing.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : None.EC Proposals
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the experts his Department consults on European Community proposals relating to issues of external affairs.
Mr. Garel-Jones : European Community proposals on external affairs cover a wide range of issues. My Department consults experts, including officials of other Governments and the European Commission, as appropriate.
Departmental Policies
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) who is the Minister responsible for considering the environmental implications of all of the Overseas Development Administration's policies ; when that person was appointed ; what actions his Department has taken since the appointment of a responsible Minister ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) who is the Minister responsible for considering the environmental implications of all of his Department's policies ; when that person was appointed ; what actions his Department has taken since the appointment of a responsible Minister ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Government are again appointing a Minister within each Department to take particular responsibility for environmental aspects of that Department's policies and programmes. A list of nom-inated Ministers will be announced shortly.
Action for the Environment"
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of his Department's Overseas Development Administration's report, "Action for the Environment" have been printed ; to whom copies have been made available ; and what has been the cost to date of printing and circulation of this publication.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Overseas Development Administration has printed 20,000 copies of its information booklet "Action for the Environment". The publication was launched by the Minister for Overseas Development at the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro where 2, 000 copies were made available.
Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. "Action for the Environment" is being distributed to Government Departments and international and non-government organisations at home and overseas. Copies are also being sent to interested members of the public.
The cost to date of printing and circulating this publication is approximately £25,000.
EC Development Policy
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation Her Majesty's Government have made of the European
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Commission's communication on scientific and technological co-operation with developing countries and its synergistic relations with development funds--SEC (92) 677.Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Commission's aim is to increase the complementarity between expenditure from the research and development part of the EC budget on science and technology programmes of interest to developing countries and EC development co-operation policies. We have welcomed this approach in principle, but are seeking more information on how new management structures within the Commission would ensure that the high quality of current activities under the science and technology for development programme would be maintained.
Disarmament
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by Her Majesty's Government of the submission by China to the United Nations Disarmament Commission on the process of nuclear disarmament in the framework of international peace and security with the objective of the elimination of nuclear weapons--document A/CN.10./166, 24 April 1992 ; and what submissions were made by the United Kingdom to the United Nations Disarmament Commission session held from 20 April to 11 May.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have noted this statement of Chinese views. The United Kingdom joined other European Community partners in submitting a working paper--document A/CN.10/172 of 5 May 1992--on this subject on behalf of the Twelve. We were also associated with a working paper-- document A/CN.10/165--submitted on 23 April on behalf of the European Community and its member states on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, disarmament and other related fields.
Refuseniks
Ms. Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made on behalf of refusenik Vsevolod Shilon and his family of St. Petersburg.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We made representations to the Russian authorities in Moscow on behalf of Vsevolod and Vera Shilon on 18 May 1992.
Ms. Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made on behalf of refusenik Dimitri Pevzner and his family of St. Petersburg.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We made representations to the Russian authorities in Moscow on behalf of Dimitri and Luba Pevzner on 18 May 1992.
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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Legal Aid
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list by year, for the last 10 years, and for this year to date the number of people who have been (a) granted and (b) refused legal aid in civil cases.
Mr. John M. Taylor : In each of the financial years between 1980-81 and 1990-91, the number of civil legal aid certificates granted and applications refused were as follows :
|Certificates|Applications
|issued |refused
|(thousands) |(thousands)
----------------------------------------------------
1980-81 |167.6 |18.3
1981-82 |176.1 |21.5
1982-83 |189.6 |22.9
1983-84 |205.9 |24.8
1984-85 |222.2 |26.2
1985-86 |232.4 |28.4
1986-87 |245.7 |39.7
1987-88 |245.4 |48.6
1988-89 |237.2 |61.5
1989-90 |259.2 |81.2
1990-91 |297.6 |84.4
This information is contained in the legal aid annual reports which are available in the Library of the House. The report covering the period from April 1991 to March 1992 is due to be published on 22 June 1992.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consideration has been given to the withdrawing of his Department's circular to magistrates issued on 1 April in respect of requiring applicants for legal aid to produce recent wage slips, or proof of benefit paid, before their application can be considered.
Mr. John M. Taylor : I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 8 June, Official Report columns 17-18, in which I announced that paragraph 10 of the circular, which deals with the production of wage slips, would be withdrawn. If there are particular difficulties arising out of the application of other parts of the regulations, I am prepared to consider them.
Mr. Byers : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to issue further guidance to clarify paragraph 11 of his recent legal aid circular ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Following the withdrawal of paragraph 10 of the circular, consideration is being given to whether the criminal legal aid regulations need to be amended to ensure that they allow both for practicable procedures for administering legal aid and for proper accountability for public funds. This consideration will embrace the position of applicants on state benefits as well as those in employment. Further guidance will be issued in due course.
Mr. Byers : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will withdraw the requirement in paragraph 11 of his recent legal aid circular to justices' clerks that proof of benefit level is necessary before legal aid can be granted.
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Mr. John M. Taylor : Paragraph 11 of the circular reminds justices' clerks that applicants who are in receipt of certain benefits are required to provide details of the Benefit Agency office dealing with the benefit and the reference number and advises justices' clerks to seek corroborative evidence of receipt of the benefit claimed. It does not require proof of benefit level.
Mr. Byers : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what consideration he has given to the effect of the Data Protection Act 1984 on the effective implementation of paragraph 11 of his recent legal aid circular to justices' clerks ; (2) what are the arrangements for co-ordinating the effective implementation of paragraph 11 of the recent legal aid circular to justices' clerks by the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Benefits Agency.
Mr. John M. Taylor : My officials are exploring with the Benefits Agency arrangements for confirming the status of those criminal legal aid applicants who claim to be in receipt of benefits. The provisions of the Data Protection Act are being considered.
Mr. Byers : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate has been made of the cost to the legal aid fund of the implementation of paragraph 11 of the recent legal aid circular to justices' clerks.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The only purpose of the circular was to remind justices' clerks of the requirements of the existing regulations for the grant of criminal legal aid.
Mr. Byers : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people granted legal aid were in receipt of benefit, in the last year for which information is available.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The information requested is not collected centrally. However, a recent sample of criminal legal aid applications indicated that, of the applications granted, just under 75 per cent. related to persons in receipt of income support or family credit.
Mr. Janner : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether he will increase the limits of availability for legal aid.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Most of the financial limits for legal aid were uprated in April by about 7 per cent. and the Lord Chancellor does not intend to increase them further.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the current level of legal aid.
Mr. John M. Taylor : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold), on 22 May, at column 246.
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment was made of the expected ability of persons detained in police custody to produce evidence of their wages for the preceding weeks, before the issue of his Department's circular concerning the conditions attaching to legal aid.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The only purpose of the circular was to remind justices' clerks of the requirements of the
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existing regulations for the grant of criminal legal aid. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 8 June, Official Report, columns 17-18, in which I announced that paragraph 10 of the circular, which deals with the production of wage slips, would be withdrawn.Queen's Counsel
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what information he has on the number of Queen's counsel who are (a) black, (b) Asian or (c) women.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The ethnic origin of applicants for the office of Queen's counsel was not recorded prior to the autumn of 1991, and the formal records in respect of ethnic origin are therefore incomplete.
It is, however, believed that there are at present four black Queen's counsel, of whom one is a woman, and three Asian Queen's counsel.
There are in total 41 female Queen's counsel currently in practice.
Justices of the Peace
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list by magistrates court, those courts that are currently below the required number of serving justices of the peace ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The question cannot be answered without disproportionate cost. The establishment figure for each Bench is a ceiling which is reviewed from time to time and not a day to day operational figure. There are at present 463 petty sessional divisions in England and Wales. If the hon. Member wishes me to give figures for particular Benches I shall be pleased to do so.
Family Conciliation Services
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the funding of the family conciliation services ; and what is his policy with respect to the retention of these services.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Funding of local family conciliation services in England and Wales is largely provided by the voluntary and private sectors, although in some areas assistance is provided by the probation service and local authorities. The Government have no current plans to fund local services.
The Lord Chancellor's Department is considering their role in England and Wales as part of the wider review of family law announced earlier this year.
PRIME MINISTER
The World at One"
Mr. Biffen : To ask the Prime Minister whether the radio interview given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the BBC's "The World at One" programme on 10 June represents Government policy.
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UNCED
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
The Prime Minister : I have done so today.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 June, Official Report, column 656, if he will set out the modes of transport used by the United Kingdom delegation to support its involvement in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ; and what is the total cost of each form of transport used.
The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom delegation used both car and minibus transport in Rio at an estimated cost of £25,000.
Commonwealth of Independent States
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what matters with regard to the nuclear proliferation risks posed by instability in the Commonwealth of Independent States were discussed ; and what decisions taken, during his recent meeting with President Bush at Camp David.
The Prime Minister : We discussed a range of issues, many of which were related directly to developments in Europe, including the implications of the break-up of the former Soviet Union.
CSCE
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the membership of the United Kingdom delegation to the forthcoming meeting of the assembly of the CSCE in Budapest.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 12 June 1992] : The CSCE parliamentary assembly will be meeting in Budapest on 3 to 5 July. I have appointed 13 delegates from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The delegation will consist of seven Members of the Conservative party, five Members of the Labour party and one Member of the Liberal party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.
The appointment of Labour and Liberal representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the parties concerned.
Representatives from the Government Benches will be :
The right hon. Member for Westermoreland and Lonsdale (Mr. Jopling), who will act as leader, the hon. Members for Arundel (Sir M. Marshall), for Honiton (Sir Peter Emery), for Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith) and for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith), the Earl of Dundee and Lord Montgomery of Alamein.
Representatives from the Labour party will be the hon. Members for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook), for Tooting (Mr. Cox), for Walsall, South (Mr. George), for Wansbeck (Mr. Thompson) and for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy).
The representative from the Liberal party will be the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell).
The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates :
From the Government Benches, the hon. Members for Ashford (Sir. K. Speed), for Rochford (Dr. Clark) and for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Wiggin).
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From the Labour party, the hon. Members for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) and for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross).NATIONAL FINANCE
Travel Allowances
Mr. Clappison : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the travelling and subsistence allowances payable on a daily basis to persons in public service and the standard motor mileage allowance for such persons for the year 1992-93 ; and how much of these allowances are chargeable to tax.
Mr. Portillo : The travelling and subsistence allowance payable on a daily basis to persons in the public service are as follows :
|c|Standard rate of motor mileage allowances|c|
From 1 April 1992 Cars with engine capacity:
|Up to |1501 cc-|Over
|1500 cc |2000 cc |2000 cc
|p |p |p
------------------------------------------------------
Up to 5,000 miles |35.7 |40 |43
Over 7,000 miles |17.0 |21 |27
|c|Subsistence allowances|c|
Day subsistence allowance |Subsistence classification
(with effect from 1 August 1991) |All classes
|£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More than 5 hours |3.90
More than 10 hours |8.60
Night subsistence allowance Subsistence classification
(with effect from 1 August 1991) |1 |2 |3
|£ |£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inner London |98.70 |68.50 |61.30
Elsewhere |85.85 |63.15 |48.85
Lodging allowance Subsistence classification
(paid after 30 nights) |1 and 2 |3
(with effect from 1 August 1991) |£ |£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Married officer:
Inner London |31.80 |25.60
Elsewhere |29.90 |23.80
Single officer:
Inner London |22.80 |22.80
Elsewhere |21.00 |21.00
These rates are reviewed annually. From 1 August 1992 our intention is that Departments and agencies will determine their own motor mileage and subsistence rates. The excess between the motor mileage rates and the Inland Revenue fixed profit car scheme is taxable. The fixed profit car scheme rates for 1992-93 are :
From 1 April 1992 Cars with engine capacity:
|1001 cc-|1501 cc-|Over
|1500 cc |2000 cc |2000 cc
|p |p |p
------------------------------------------------------
Up to 4,000 miles |30 |42 |51
Over 4,000 miles |17 |21 |27
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Sustainable Growth
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it is policy to incorporate the notion of sustainability into all economic development plans incorporated by his Department ; (2) what plans he has to examine existing monetary and fiscal policies to assess their impact on sustainable resource management and environmental protection.
Sir John Cope : "This Common Inheritance--Cm 1200--sets out how the Government are integrating environmental considerations into all policy areas to promote sustainable growth.
Privatisation
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's total income, to date, from privatisation since 1979.
Mr. Dorrell : Privatisation proceeds from 1979-80 to 31 March 1992 were about £41 billion. Privatisation proceeds for 1992-93 are expected to be £8 billion.
Gross Domestic Product
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his present forecast for the rise in gross domestic product for the first and second half of 1992.
Mr. Portillo : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor's forecast for economic growth was published in the 1992 "Financial Statement and Budget Report".
EC Proposals
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the experts his Department consults on European Community proposals relating to economic matters.
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