| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The donor meeting in Phnom Penh on 25 February, called to review progress and enable co-ordination, was attended by the United Kingdon head of mission in Phnom Penh and his deputy. The meeting focused on the need for donors to accelerate aid expenditure and to give attention to the geographical and sectoral distribution of their programmes and the particular needs of the health and education sectors.
We announced further assistance for repatriation (£400,000 through UNHCR), food aid (£100,000 through the World Food Programme), human rights education (£71,000) and well-drilling (£90,000). The latter will cover schemes in areas controlled by all three factions participating n the peace process.
Food Aid
Mr. Enright : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with United Nations bodies, the OECD and the EC with a view to rationalising the accounts required by donor countries of recipient countries in their use of food aid.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have regular discussions on the uses of food aid with our EC partners and with other members of the world food programme. We are always ready to discuss specific problems that may arise in accounting for United Kingdom food aid with the organisation through which the aid is channeled.
Somali Refugees
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Kenyan Government on financial assistance to help with the Somali refugees in Kenya ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development discussed the burden imposed on Kenya by Somali refugees with President Moi last September. It was also raised when Baroness Chalker visited Kenya in February. In 1992, we provided almost £2.5 million, including 5,000 tonnes of food, for projects in northern Kenya to help refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Nuclear Non-proliferation
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposals for security assurances tabled by the delegation of the Nigerian Government at the fourth review conference of the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Column 648
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have noted the proposals tabled by the Nigerian Government.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what security assurances have been given by Her Majesty's Government to non-nuclear weapon states.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS) which are parties to the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) benefit from both our positive security assurance (PSA) and our negative security assurance (NSA). NNWS, not party to the NPT but party to other similar internationally binding commitments are also covered by our NSA.
Cambodia
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial, military and other support Her Majesty's Government have provided for the UNTAC in Cambodia.
Mr. Goodlad : As well as our assessed contribution to the UNTAC budget (6.102 per cent. of the estimated $1.69 billion costs, ie $103 million), we have provided 122 personnel to UNTAC's military component. We will also be providing a number of polling station officers for the elections due to take place in May.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will recommend to the United Nations Security Council a strengthening of the UNTAC mandate ; what progress has been made in planning development assistance for Cambodia following elections ; and which sectors have been prioritised.
Mr. Goodlad : We have no plans to propose a change to UNTAC's mandate. UNTAC has made considerable progress towards implementing the Paris agreements under difficult circumstances. Elections are planned for May ; electoral registration has been completed, with 4.6 million Cambodians registered to vote ; and more than 320,000 refugees have returned to Cambodia. The international community has pledged some $880 million to Cambodia, within which the United Kingdom has pledged some $30 million, to be used for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cambodia. There is continuing co-ordination between donors who have agreed that in allocating resources priority will be given to the health and education sectors.
Palestine Liberation Organisation
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's meeting with representatives of the PLO ; and what assurances were sought from the PLO concerning the abandonment of the Intifada.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Faisal Husseini, head of the Palestinian negotiating team, called on me on 9 March, accompanied by two PLO officials. I explained the importance of an early resumption of the peace process. I told Mr. Husseini that we recognised the need for Israeli moves to lighten the weight of the occupation, but that it would be an enormous help if the Palestinian leadership were able to take steps to reduce violence by Palestinians.
Column 649
WALES
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is (a) the amount of grant in aid and (b) the total budget at 1993 of the Welsh Development Agency at 1993 prices in each year since 1987-88 ; and what amount is planned for each year until 1996-97.
Mr. David Hunt : Figures for the period 1987-88 to 1993-94 are set out in the table :
|Grant in aid 1993-94|Total gross budget
|prices<3> |1993-94 prices<3>
|£ million |£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |73.9 |139.4
1988-89 |81.6 |151.7
1989-90 |86.3 |165.0
1990-91 |93.0 |170.9
1991-92 |93.4 |169.6
1992-93<1> |80.6 |171.3
1993-94<2> |59.6 |171.4
<1>Forecast outturn.
<2>Plans.
<3>1993-94 prices derived using latest GDP deflator.
Total budgets and grant in aid for the years 1994-95 to 1996-97 will be decided during the course of future public expenditure surveys, although indicative levels of central Government expenditure cash plans are shown in "The Government Expenditure Plans 1993-94 to 1995-96--A Report by the Welsh Office", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Radiological Protection Board Survey
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce the results of the Radiological Protection Board survey of Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The results of the next phase of the survey of radon levels in Wales are expected in spring 1994.
ReChem International Ltd.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding ReChem International Ltd. in Pontypool ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Over the last year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has received a petition and a number of letters from the residents of the Pontypool area about various issues relevant to ReChem International Ltd. The three main themes have been the company's plans to build a new (replacement) incinerator at its Pontypool site ; the question of environmental pollution and the import of toxic waste. The first of these issues is currently the subject of an application to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. The second is being addressed in the major study the Welsh Office has commissioned from the university of East Anglia, and which is now drawing to a close. As regards the third, the Government is committed to the principle of self-sufficiency in waste disposal within the international community, which is incorporated in the European Community Waste Shipment Regulation, agreed at Council on 20 October 1992.
Column 650
Schools Expenditure
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of spending in maintained schools has been met by the Welsh Office in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 1978-79.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Local authority schools are funded through the annual local government revenue and capital settlements. Resources provided by the Welsh Office are not hypothecated to particular services. For 1993- 94 Government plans will provide local authorities with 90 per cent. central Government support for revenue expenditure, including loan charges. Grant maintained schools are fully funded by the Welsh Office but are free to generate additional income.
Special Educational Needs
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many places for children with special educational needs are purchased in non- maintained and independent special schools by local education authorities (a) in total and (b) in each local education authority.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Information on the number of places purchased for children with special educational needs in non-maintained and independent special schools is not available centrally. Information relating to the number of pupils with statements of special educational needs, by local education authority and place of education, is given in table 12.01 of "Statistics of Education and Training in Wales : Schools No. 1 1993".
Health Promotion Authority
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the budget for the Health Promotion Authority for Wales in 1993-94.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Subject to parliamentary approval, in 1993-94 £3,619,000 will be made available to the Health Promotion Authority for Wales including £384,000 for new projects, £20,000 to fund the authority's capital expenditure and £126,000 for the authority's life education centres project. The allocation will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of annual performance review. It represents a further and substantial commitment of resources to the authority.
Market Testing
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidance to contractors and public authorities on the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to the market testing of public services in Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster--has today placed in the Library of the House guidance on the implications for market testing of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.
I hope that all those engaged in market testing, including contractors, will find the guidance helpful.
Column 651
PRIME MINISTER
Matrix Churchill
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with members of the United States Congress on his recent visit to Washington about Matrix Churchill.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 March.
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 March.
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Knighthoods
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister if it is now his policy that the Lord Mayor of the City of London corporation will no longer be recommended automatically for a knighthood.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 10 March 1993] : Yes.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister how many hon. Members have received knighthoods since 1979.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 10 March 1993] : One hundred and seven Members of Parliament have received knighthoods since May 1979.
Prerogative Powers
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 1 March, Official Report, column 19, if he will give examples of areas where the prerogative powers residing in the Crown are not exercisable by Ministers.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 March 1993] : There is a variety of situations in which the Queen may exercise the prerogative directly or on the basis of advice, including the advice of Ministers. These include the Dissolution of Parliament and certain appointments--for example, those of Ministers, the Archbishop of Canterbury, other ecclesiastical appointments, lords lieutenant and certain other office holders. In the matter of honours, the Queen would normally make appointments herself in the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, the Order of Merit and in the Royal Victorian Order, but for the rest would receive recommendations from her Ministers here and in the Commonwealth.
Manufacturers
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Government's policy on the level of support and encouragement which should be given to British manufacturers.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 March 1993] : The Government's commitment to industry is at the heart
Column 652
of our policies, where it will remain. I refer my hon. Friend to the detailed answers that he received from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment on 26 January at column 659, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry on 27 January at columns, 735-36, and my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 29 January at column 894 for details of specific measures that the Government have recently taken.NATIONAL FINANCE
Sterling (Devaluation)
Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the extent of the devaluation of the pound sterling against (a) the deutschmark, (b) the US dollar and (c) the basket of international currencies since the close of trading in London on Tuesday 15 September 1992 on the latest available figures.
Mr. Nelson : Between the close of business in London on 15 September 1992 and opening 8 March 1993 the £ sterling has declined against the deutschmark by 13.9 per cent., against the dollar by 23.6 per cent. and against its exchange rate index by 13.5 per cent.
Council Tax
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of carrying out the valuation of properties in Wales for the council tax ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nelson : The cost of the valuation banding of domestic properties in Wales was £2,899,149.
Value Added Tax
Mr. McFall : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with representatives of charities and voluntary bodies on the possible imposition of VAT on their activities.
Sir John Cope [pursuant to the answer, 4 March 1993, Official Report, c. 242] : While neither the Economic Secretary nor the Chancellor of the Exchequer has had recent discussions with representatives of charities and voluntary bodies about VAT, I met representatives of the Charities Tax Reform Group for a general discussion on 3 March 1993.
ENVIRONMENT
Ruddy Duck
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which are currently involved with Her Majesty's Government's working group into the Ruddy duck problem ; what preliminary conclusions have been reached by the group ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The working group referred to by the hon. Member is drawing up a strategy to control the Ruddy duck, an introduced species, which has spread from Britain to mainland Europe and is hybridising with and putting at risk the survival of the globally threatened White-headed duck.
Column 653
The working group is chaired by the Government's statutory scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The other organisations represented are the Department of the Environment, the Welsh Office, English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, the International Council for Bird Preservation, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology. My Department, in partnership with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau organised an international workshop at Arundel, Sussex on 1 and 2 March of more than 50 delegates from 10 countries. The workshop helped to foster mutual understanding about the scale of the problem and a recognition that international co-operation was needed to tackle it. The agreed objective was to develop a strategy to stop and reverse the population and range expansion of the Ruddy duck in order to safeguard the White-headed duck. Delegates were asked to take back to their countries recomendations for action in a number of areas including legislation, monitoring, research, control measures, public relations and captive birds. The problems can be resolved only on the basis of mutual understanding and effort.In Spain, the Ruddy duck is undermining conservation efforts to save the White-headed duck. I am very pleased to learn that the Spanish delegation at the workshop found the proceedings helpful and that they were encouraged by the positive action being taken in Britain to address the problem.
Ozone Levels, Lerwick
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what levels of high-level ozone were recorded at Lerwick during the week 22 to 28 February, and what was the degree of deviation from normal recorded levels.
Mr. Maclean : Dobson spectrophotometer measurements of total ozone at Lerwick for the week 22 to 28 February were :
9 Date (1993) |Ozone Dobson units --------------------------------------------------------- 22 February |230 23 February |256 24 February |<1>no data 25 February |<1>no data 26 February |351 27 February |362 28 February |312 <1> Due to weather conditions.
The average February measurement over the period 1981 to 1992 is 365 DU. The monthly average for February 1993 was 286 DU, just outside the range of previous February monthly averages which is 290 to 466 DU.
Housing Subsidy
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authorities show a negative housing entitlement under the Government's housing subsidy scheme ;
Column 654
(2) how many local authorities receive no Government housing subsidies and made contributions from their housing revenue to the general fund for their local authority for the years (a) 1991-92, (b) 1992-93 and (c) for 1993-94.Mr. Baldry : Housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy is distributed on the basis of each local housing authority's need to spend relative to other authorities. This involves making sensible assumptions about each authority's income and expenditure, with HRA subsidy making up any shortfall between those assumptions. If an authority's rental and other income is assumed to exceed its housing expenditure, it is required to make a contribution towards its rent rebate expenditure. If an authority's assumed income exceeds all of its housing expenditure and its rent rebate expenditure, it must transfer the surplus to its general fund.
On the basis of provisional claim forms from authorities in respect of the current financial year, 273 authorities are assumed to have a negative housing entitlement, and therefore make contributions to their rent rebates expenditure ; 22 of those authorities are not claiming HRA subsidy and anticipate making contributions to their general funds. On the basis of final claim forms received for 1991-92, 18 authorities received no HRA subsidy and made contributions to their general funds. Information for 1993 -94 is not yet available.
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average rent for a three-bedroomed council house in (a) an authority that does not receive housing subsidy and (b) in an area where housing subsidy is paid.
Mr. Baldry : The Department does not collect information on rents for local authority dwellings of different sizes.
The average weekly unrebated rent for all English authorities is £30.70. There are considerable variations in local authority rents in different areas due to the varying nature of the dwelling stock and its age. In the current financial year, 1992-93, the average weekly unrebated rent for all council dwellings in those authorities which make a contribution towards rent rebate expenditure is £30.37. The average rent in the authorities which receive full HRA subsidy is £31.03.
Self-build Projects
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the self-build projects which will benefit from loans or grants from the Housing Corporation for the building of houses in England in the current financial year.
Sir George Young : The details of individual schemes are a matter for the Housing Corporation.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 19 January, Official Report, column 162, which Government Department holds information on how many completed self-build units are achieved in the United Kingdom each year ; and if there are any comparable figures available to illustrate how the United Kingdom compares with other European countries.
Sir George Young : The Department of the Environment collects a range of house-building data but
Column 655
this does not separately distinguish self- build activity. Information on completions of self-build housing is not collected by any other Government Department. Comparable official figures for other European countries are not known, nor is any unofficial source for such figures known.Housing Market Package
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties were purchased under the housing market package from the Ministry of Defence.
Sir George Young : Sixty six properties have been purchased from the Ministry of Defence under the housing market package, and approvals have been granted for a further 12.
Transport and the Environment
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made to consult business, voluntary groups, local authorities and others with interests and expertise in transport and the environment concerning the United Kingdom's report to the Sustainable Development Commission.
Mr. Maclean : The Government are committed to widespread consultation in the preparation of the United Kingdom report to the Sustainable Development Commission. We have written to more than 150 organisations and individuals inviting views of submissions, and welcome the views of anyone who would like to contribute. We will be holding a seminar at Green college, Oxford, this month to discuss the key issues, and we will continue consultation through further meetings and correspondence throughout the year. Organisations with an interest in transport are being fully involved in all these consultations.
Housing Overcrowding
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence his Department has of the extent of overcrowding in (a) owner- occupied properties and (b) low-cost home ownership schemes.
Sir George Young : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for housing and planning on 8 February 1993, Official Report, column 519, to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones).
Ministers' Appointments
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 2 March, Official Report, column 219, if he will give the dates between which all the stated Ministers held their appointments.
Mr. Robin Squire : The dates between which the stated Ministers held their appointments are :
Secretary of State
Mr. Michael Heseltine--May 1979 to 6 January 1983
and 28 November 1990 to 11 April 1992
Mr. Tom King--6 January 1983 to 8 June 1983
Mr. Patrick Jenkin--9 June 1983 to 2 September 1985
Column 656
Mr. Kenneth Baker--2 September 1985 to 21 May 1986Mr. Nicholas Ridley--21 May 1986 to 24 July 1989
Mr. Chris Patten--24 July 1989 to 28 November 1990
Mr. Michael Howard--11 April 1992 to
Minister of State
Mr. Tom King--May 1979 to 6 January 1983
Lord Bellwin--6 January 1983 to 10 September 1984
Mr. Kenneth Baker--10 September 1984 to 2 September 1985 Mr. John Patten--2 September 1985 to 15 June 1987
Dr. Rhodes Boyson--11 September 1986 to 15 June 1987
Mr. Michael Howard--15 June 1987 to 25 July 1988
Mr. John Gummer--25 July 1988 to 24 July 1989
David Hunt--25 July 1989 to 4 May 1990
Mr. Michael Portillo--4 May 1990 to 13 April 1992
Mr. John Redwood--14 April 1992 to
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Lord Bellwin--May 1979 to 6 January 1983
The Hon. William Waldegrave--9 June 1983 to 2 September 1985 Mrs. Angela Rumbold--2 September 1985 to 10 September 1986 Mr. Christopher Chope--11 September 1986 to 23 July 1990 The Hon. Colin Moynihan--15 June 1987 to 23 July 1990
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley--25 July 1988 to 27 October 1989 Lord Hesketh--1 February 1989 to 23 July 1990
Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory--27 October 1989 to 30 November 1990 Mr. Robert Atkins--23 July 1990 to 30 November 1990
Mr. Patrick Nicholls--23 July 1990 to 11 October 1990
Lady Blatch--7 September 1990 to 21 May 1991
Mr. Robert Key--11 October 1990 to 13 April 1992
Mr. Robin Squire--14 April 1992 to
| Next Section
| Home Page |