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Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has given to British aid agencies in Somalia about their role during the military initiative in Somalia by the United Nations.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has discussed the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 794 with representatives of British non-governmental organisations working in Somalia twice in the last three weeks and with senior US Government officials. She has stressed the need for regular liaison between the military commanders and NGOs in the planning and execution of Operation Restore Hope.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution Britain has made in diplomatic and humanitarian terms to the area of the former British Somaliland during the period since the end of the civil war in Somalia.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We provide humanitarian assistance to northern Somalia in response to requests from United Nations agencies and non- governmental organisations. Since Siad Barre's fall in January 1991, Britain has provided £2 million in emergency humanitarian relief to northern Somalia. Since the British embassy in Mogadishu was closed in early January 1991, officials have visited northern Somalia on three occasions and maintained informal contact in London, Nairobi and Addis Ababa with representatives of Somali groups. We have also pressed the United Nations, at all levels, to take account of northern Somalia's distinct needs.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice, help and support he has given to the Republic of Somaliland since September with a view to assisting the re- establishment of law and order.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have advised the authorities in north-west Somalia to co-operate with the United Nations Somalia initiative. This recognises the need for assistance with the establishment of law and order through the creation of local police forces.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sums of money he has (a) offered and (b) provided to pay administrator police and militia in northern Somalia, Republic of Somaliland, since September.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have received no formal requests for assistance with the establishment of a police force or a militia in northern Somalia ; nor have we made any offers to do so.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he expects the
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United Kingdom to play in the mission to provide relief aid to Somalia ; and to what extent United Kingdom efforts will be directed towards aid and reconstruction in the north of Somalia, Republic of Somaliland.Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Britain is already a major donor of humanitarian assistance to Somalia. On 4 December my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a new pledge of £4.5 million. This brings our total commitment of humanitarian assistance to Somalia this year to £31.5 million, including our contribution to European Community actions. These resources are available to support the work of British and international non-governmental organisations and United Nations agencies throughout Somalia.
Crown Agents and Commonwealth Development Corporation
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the future status of the Crown Agents and Commonwealth Development Corporation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Ministers have decided to review the status of the Crown Agents. Consultants will be appointed to advise on the feasibility of various options, including retention in the public sector. Account will be taken of the implications of any change for the Crown Agents' existing clients, which include a wide range of international aid donors, the Overseas Development Administration and many overseas Governments.
Similarly, options for the future status of the Commonwealth Development Corporation--CDC--are being examined in the context of the current quinquennial review. The recommendations of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, contained in its recent efficiency scrutiny of the CDC, are being considered as part of this review.
In commissioning these reviews, Ministers recognise the valuable role that both Crown Agents and the CDC play in their respective spheres of activity.
Forests
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Yokohama conference on forest conservation.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 14 December 1992] : Two meetings relating to forest conservation were held in Yokohama recently. These were the 13th International Tropical Timber Council--ITTC--and the first preparatory committee for the renegotiation of the international tropical timber agreement--ITTA. Some progress was made in the ITTC towards our objective of improving the capacity of the International Tropical Timber Organisation to help tropical timber producing countries manage their forests sustainably. The ITTA renegotiation will continue in a second preparatory committee meeting in Quito, Ecuador in January.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy at the conference at Yokohama on the conservation of northern forests.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 14 December 1992] : Two meetings relating to forest conservation held in
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Yokohama recently were the 13th International Tropical Timber Council and the first preparatory committee for the renegotiation of the international tropical timber agreement. The ITTC and ITTA focus on international trade in timber from tropical forests.We are pursuing our policies towards the conservation of non-tropical forests in other forums such as the meetings next year of European Forestry Ministers in Helsinki and of Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe members in Montreal.
Along with other European Community and G7 Governments, we are committed to producing plans for the implementation of the forest principles agreed at the UN Conference on Environment and Development last June and for the establishment of an international review process.
DEFENCE
Munitions Orders
Ms. Janet Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Royal Ordnance plc about future orders for munitions from his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : I discussed future ammunition requirements, among other matters, with representatives from British Aerospace defence group and Royal Ordnance plc on 18 November. I also refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 8 December, Official Report, column 614, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton) on 24 November 1992, Official Report, column 730 .
Operation Granby
Mr. Menzie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the items of equipment lost during Operation Granby and the cost of replacement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Full information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Work is still continuing in inspecting items returned from the Gulf and the final replacement costs will not be known for some time. The Comptroller and Auditor General stated in a note to the class I appropriation accounts 1991-1992, Cm 197-I, that he was
"generally satisfied that, in the circumstances, the Department took all reasonable steps to maintain control over their stores and equipment".
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many containers of equipment were lost during Operation Granby ; and what each contained.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Some 7,000 containers were used in the Gulf, and 87 remained unaccounted for when action was taken in July 1992 to compensate their owners and to write them off. No record is available of what, if anything, these containers held.
Explosives and Propellants Agreements
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his plans for the future of the explosives, propellants and related products agreements which were signed in 1987 when Royal Ordnance was privatised ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 8 December 1992, Official Report, column 614.
Legal Immunity
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what public legislation is not applicable to the operations of his Department ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will make a statement about the application of Crown immunity to the operations of his Department.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence is in general subject to regulatory requirements and enforcement arrangements on the same basis as others, except where there is a legitimate reason for exemption, for example on grounds of national security. Even in circumstances where the Department is not bound by legislation it is the Ministry's policy that it should comply as though requirements applied to it wherever this is appropriate and practicable. Since the repeal in 1987 of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947, the position
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of service personnel injured on duty is the same in relation to the Ministry of Defence as that of any other employees and their employer.HOUSE OF COMMONS
Standing Committees
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Standing Committees have been set up so far in this Parliament ; what was the ratio of Government, main Opposition and minority Opposition party members serving on each committee ; and if he will show, in rising numerical order, the ratios for Standing Committees from 16 to 60.
Mr. Newton : (i) As of Monday 30 November, 12 Bills have been committed to Standing Committee in the current Session. The Standing Committees on Statutory Instruments have been constituted on 38 separate occasions. There are also two Standing Committees on European Documents.
(ii) The ratios of Government, main Opposition and minority Opposition party Members on each of these committees were as follows :
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Bill |Size of Committee|Conservative |Labour |Other --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asylum and Immigration Appeals |22 |12 |9 |1 Bankruptcy (Scotland) |20 |11 |8 |1 British Coal and British Rail (Transfer Proposals) |22 |12 |9 |1 Cardiff Bay Barrage |20 |11 |8 |1 Civil Service (Management Functions) |18 |10 |7 |1 Community Care (Residential Functions) |21 |11 |9 |1 Education |33 |17 |14 |2 Finance |34 |18 |14 |2 Housing and Urban Development |32 |17 |14 |1 Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) |20 |11 |8 |1 Sea Fish (Conservation) |18 |10 |7 |1 Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights |30 |16 |13 |1 all SI committees |18 |10 |7 |1
(iii) Under Standing Order No. 86 the Committee of Selection is required to nominate not fewer than 16 nor more than 50 members to serve on these Standing Committees. In nominating members, it is required to have regard to the qualifications of Members and to the composition of the House.
(iv) Proportions for Standing Committees of between 16 and 50 Members are as follows :
Size of Committee |Conservative |Labour |Other ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16 |9 |6 |1 17 |9 |7 |1 18 |10 |7 |1 19 |10 |8 |1 20 |11 |8 |1 21 |11 |9 |1 22 |12 |9 |1 23 |12 |9 |2 24 |13 |10 |1 25 |13 |10 |2 26 |14 |11 |2 27 |14 |11 |2 28 |15 |11 |2 29 |15 |12 |2 30 |16 |12 |2 31 |16 |13 |2 32 |17 |14 |2 33 |17 |14 |2 34 |18 |14 |2 35 |18 |15 |2 36 |19 |15 |2 37 |19 |15 |2 38 |20 |16 |2 39 |20 |16 |3 40 |21 |16 |3 41 |21 |17 |3 42 |22 |17 |3 43 |22 |18 |3 44 |23 |18 |3 45 |23 |19 |3 46 |24 |19 |3 47 |24 |20 |3 48 |25 |20 |3 49 |25 |21 |3 50 |26 |21 |3
Parliamentary Pensions
Mr. Dixon : To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Members for Jarrow and for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Eastham) on 7 December, Official Report, column 510, what further action he has now taken in relation to parliamentary pensions ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Newton : Following the debate on 25 November, I held a meeting with the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) and the trustees of the parliamentary contributory pension fund. Officials are now considering, in consultation with the Fees Office, how to take matters forward.
Divisions
Sir Peter Emery : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will now respond to the second report of Session 1991-92 from the Select Committee on Procedure relating to the Chair's discretion to extend the time allowed for a Division.
Mr. Newton : I have now considered this report and agree with the main recommendation that the existing discretion of the Chair as set out in Standing Order No. 37 should remain unchanged. The other recommendations flow from that and are matters already within the discretion of Madam Speaker and other House authorities. The separate proposal to amend Standing Order No. 37 to bring it into line with current practice and remove a confusing ambiguity will be implemented at a convenient opportunity.
Public Petitions
Sir Peter Emery : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will now respond to the fourth report of Session 1991-92 from the Select Committee on Procedure relating to public petitions.
Mr. Newton : I have now completed my consideration of this report and agree with its recommendations for changes in the rules relating to the format and wording of petitions. I will shortly table a motion to approve the report. If passed, this will give the Journal Office the necessary authority to implement the recommendations and prepare revised rules and guidance for Members. The changes do not involve any amendment to Standing Orders.
TRANSPORT
Fisheries Safety
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from the European Commission concerning a proposed directive on the occupational safety of both fishermen and fishing vessels ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : An amended proposal for a directive (9284/92) was received from the European Commission on 6 November. The Commons Select Committee on European Legislation has recommended that the proposed directive should be debated by European Standing Committee A.
Bus Priority Measures
Mr. Lester : To ask the Secretary of State for Tansport which bus priority measures will be funded from his Department in 1993-94.
Mr. Freeman : We shall be making available a total of £15.475 million to local authorities in England for
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measures to promote bus use in 1993-94. Of this total, £6 million will be found from the Department's provision for local public transport and £9.475 million from the provision for local roads ; £3.3 million of the total will be allocated to schemes in London and a separate announcement about those will be made by the Minister for Transport in London. The allocations to successful local authorities outside London are listed. In addition, the Department will be supporting a low floor bus demonstration project and research into alternative fuels.I am delighted that we have been able to increase substantially the level of resources available for measures to promote bus use. This is in response to increased interest from local authorities in the role of the bus in helping to alleviate road congestion. The allocations will enable authorities to continue schemes funded in 1992-93 and to introduce many new ones.
Bus priority measures 1993-94:
local authorities outside
London
|£000s
-------------------------------
Counties
Avon |1,525
Berkshire |200
Cambridgeshire |120
Cheshire |625
Cleveland |600
Devon |250
Durham |50
East Sussex |125
Essex |130
Gloucestershire |70
Hampshire |170
Kent |500
Lancashire |580
Norfolk |3,000
Northamptonshire |100
Nottinghamshire |175
Oxfordshire |50
Shropshire |50
Suffolk |100
Surrey |240
Wiltshire |140
Metropolitan Areas
Birmingham |400
Bury |40
Coventry |250
Dudley |75
Doncaster |50
Gateshead |75
Knowsley |250
Leeds |450
Liverpool |300
Manchester |750
Newcastle |100
Oldham |40
Salford |75
Sheffield |200
Solihull |50
Stockport |30
Trafford |10
Wirral |30
Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which bus priority measures in London will be funded from his Department in 1993-94.
Mr. Norris : I am pleased to announce that we have been able to make available the sum of £3.3 million for bus priority measures in London in 1993-94.
The allocations are listed.
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Bus priority measures
1993-94: London boroughs
|£000s
--------------------------
Camden |50
Ealing |548
Hammersmith |600
Haringey |75
Hillingdon |752
Hounslow |250
Kensington |50
Lambeth |124
Newham |106
Richmond |45
Tower Hamlets |600
Wandsworth |100
Dangerous Goods
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what controls his Department requires of port authorities in respect of the import and export of dangerous goods.
Mr. Norris : The movement of dangerous substances through ports is controlled by the Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations (SI 1987 No. 37).
Freight
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates British Rail's objectives of 19 December 1989 for rail freight were superseded ; and on what date British Rail was informed.
Mr. Freeman : The objectives have not been superseded.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the change in the amount of freight traffic carried by rail since May 1991.
Mr. Freeman : In the year ending May 1992, there was a decline of some 10 per cent. in terms of tonnes lifted. Factors affecting changes in rail freight are discussed at pages 18 to 20 of the 1991-92 annual report and accounts of the British Railways Board.
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the five most used motorways for the purpose of freight haulage.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The five motorways which carry most heavy goods vehicle traffic on average per mile are the M25, M1, M6, M62 and M56.
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of British goods for the domestic market are transported by (a) rail and (b) road ; and how this compares with the EC average.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The information that is readily available for 1990 is published in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1992" as tables 8.9 and 8.10. Definitions and more detailed comparisons for earlier years are published in the transport statistics report "International Comparisons of Transport Statistics Part 1 : Intermodal". Both publications are in the House of Commons Library.
Citizens Charter
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to extend compensation provisions for rail users outlined in the citizens charter to cover all users of public transport.
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Mr. Freeman : I welcome the fact that our citizens charter initiative has led British Rail and London Underground to introduce compensation schemes for poor performance. It is for other public transport operators to decide whether to follow their example, but I hope that many will do so.
Road Planning
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish (a) the terms of reference and (b) the line table including completion date, of the review of the road planning process he announced in October.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The terms of reference for the review were to review the statutory and administrative procedures involved in preparing a major road scheme from programme entry to the start of construction, and to recommend possible changes, either statutory or administrative, which might speed up the process ; and to report by the end of November 1992.
We are now considering the consultants' report.
EC Road Proposals
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the status of the European Commission's proposals for a network of major roads in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The European Commission's proposals for a trans-European road network of routes of Community interest have been laid for opinion before the European Parliament. They have yet to be discussed by the Council of Ministers.
The route proposals are intended to encourage action by member states. A member state's positive assent is required before any project can go ahead.
Regional Consultative Meetings
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the dates for his Department's regional annual consultative meetings for each region for 1993-94 ; what issues are expected to be raised at these meetings and if he will place in the Library copies of all minutes of meetings held since April 1991.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The dates of the regional annual consultative committee meetings for 1993-94 have not yet been arranged, but they are normally held between October and December. The agenda items are generally proposed by the local highway authorities of the region concerned, and are agreed with the regional office nearer the date of the meeting. I am arranging to place the minutes of the 1991-92 round of meetings in the Library, and will do the same for the current 1992-93 round when they become available.
Regional Brief
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his policy regarding the preparation by regional offices of regional briefs ;
(2) by what means regional briefs are available to the public ; and if it is his intention to consult the public during their preparation ;
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(3) if he will list those regional briefs which have been prepared ; when they were published ; and if he will provide a timetable for their revision and preparation for each of his regional offices ; (4) if he will set out the remit of the regional briefs ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Regional briefs contain information about transport, including Government policy, in the eight Department of Transport regions outside London. The briefs were commissioned by the Secretary of State in 1990 to inform local Members of Parliament and others about planned transport improvements. Publicity was given to their publication and copies are available to the public on request. Details of publication dates are :
A Regional Brief |Date of publication ----------------------------------------------------------------- Eastern |May 1991 East Midland |May 1991 Northern |November 1990 North West |December 1991 South East |December 1991 South West |November 1991 West Midland |January 1991 Yorkshire and Humberside |January 1991
The briefs may be updated from time to time as considered necessary by the individual regional offices.
Road Schemes
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to ensure the compatibility of trunk road and motorway proposals with land use planning policies in forthcoming regional planning guidance.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We shall continue our long-standing policy of consultation both with the Department of the Environment in the joint Environment/Transport regional offices, and with the local planning authorities.
Traffic Congestion, Greenwich
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made by his Department following the visit by the Minister of Transport in London to Greenwich on 25 June, in considering proposals for easing traffic congestion in Greenwich town centre, and in particular the feasibility study for a bypass, and the interim proposal for a ban on heavy goods vehicles in the town centre ; and when he expects to announce his decision in respect of the application by Greenwich council for transport supplementary grant to pursue such options.
Mr. Norris : An announcement about the allocation of transport supplementary grant will be made before Christmas. The hon. Member will appreciate that I cannot comment on specific bids in advance of this announcement.
Fares
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to oppose any attempt by the European Commission to make public transport fares subject to value added tax.
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Mr. Dorrell : I have been asked to reply.
The Government have maintained, during the single market negotiations, our right to retain the coverage of our current zero rates including domestic passenger transport. The present agreement reached by Finance Ministers covers the period until 1997 without prejudice to what happens thereafter.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Citizens Charter
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many copies of the summary "Guide to the Citizen's Charter First Report : 1992" have been distributed to date.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have distributed 500,000 copies of the summary guide.
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the cost to date of the publication and distribution of the summary "Guide to the Citizen's Charter First Report : 1992".
Mr. Waldegrave : The cost to date of the publication and distribution of the summary guide is in the region of £160,000.
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the total cost to date of the publication and distribution of the "Citizen's Charter First Report : 1992", Cm 2101.
Mr. Waldegrave : The costs of printing, publishing and distributing the report were borne by HMSO, which expects to recover its costs from sales revenue. HMSO does not normally reveal details of such costs, which are treated on a commercial in confidence basis.
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the overall charge to date from the Post Office for the distribution of citizens charter material.
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