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Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has
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received from (a) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, (b) the United Nations Population Fund and (c) Her Majesty's Government's diplomatic missions in China regarding the use of coercive methods of population control in Tibet.Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 26 April 1993] : We have received no such information from IPPF or UNFPA. We receive regular reports from our diplomatic missions in China on a number of issues of concern, including the situation in Tibet.
WALES
A465
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the latest information he has on traffic flows for (a) all vehicles and (b) heavy goods vehicles on the A465 heads of the valleys road between Abergavenny and the M4 at Llandarcy.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Traffic flows on A465 between Llandarcy and Abergavenny are as follows :
Section |1992 annual average|1992 goods vehicles
|daily flow
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Llandarcy-Aberdulais |21,950 |1,750
Aberdulais-Glynneath |13,250 |2,050
Glynneath BP |9,350 |1,200
Hirwaun |13,600 |1,350
Hirwaun-Baverstocks |9,400 |1,200
Baverstocks-Cefn Coed |10,500 |1,350
Cefn Coed-Merthyr Ind Est |9,000 |1,050
Merthyr Ind Est-Dowlais |9,400 |1,100
Dowlais-Rhymney |18,150 |1,400
Rhymney-Tredegar |15,050 |1,700
Tredegar-Dukestown |13,450 |1,550
Dukestown-Ebbw Vale |14,850 |1,800
Ebbw Vale-Clydach |14,375 |1,750
Clydach-Govilon (A4077) |17,300 |2,400
Govilon-Abergavenny |17,000 |2,400
Cerebral Palsy
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research is being conducted in Welsh hospitals and medical research centres into cerebral palsy ; and what treatment is available in Wales for children suffering from cerebral palsy.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Among current research in Wales, the Cardiff institute of higher education is conducting research into several different aspects of cerebral palsy, including a project on access to communication aids and the evaluation of a movement therapy project for young children with cerebral palsy. In addition, the Welsh Office is funding an audit of cerebral palsy in children in Wales and the treatment they are receiving.
With regard to treatment, the Welsh Office has recently agreed funding for seven centres to provide neonatal intensive care. These will provide early diagnosis and treatment for babies born with cerebral palsy or at risk following birth. The Welsh perinatal survey, which began in January this year, aims to follow up to the age of seven years babies who have received neonatal intensive care. This should lead to early detection of handicaps and appropriate treatment plans. Conventional treatment is
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based on multi-disciplinary care, usually involving paediatricians, therapists and psychologists, with support from the social services. Referral to an orthopaedic surgeon is made in appropriate cases. Children may also be referred to the gait analysis centre in Oswestry. The Bobath Cymru centre based at Whitchruch hospital, Cardiff also offers specialist therapy. Other establishments provide education combined with therapy. Individual health authorities would be able to supply fuller details of the treatment and services available in their areas.A494
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Hawarden community council to discuss his plans for road widening on the A494.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The decision on the preferred route, for an improvement to the A494 trunk road from the River Dee to Ewloe was announced on 8 April 1993. A copy of the statement of results of the public consultation and the reasons for the choice of the preferred route for the improvement was sent to the hon. Member at that time and is available to others on request. That statement fully explains the reasons for the choice of route and therefore I can see no useful purpose in meeting with Hawarden community council.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a public inquiry concerning proposals to widen the A494 Queensferry-Aston Hill carriageway ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The proposals for widening the A494 trunk road between the River Dee and Ewloe will follow the normal procedures for such road improvements. These procedures were described in the statement of results of the public consultation and reasons for the choice of the preferred route for the improvement, a copy of which has been sent to the hon. Member.
Breast Screening
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to make arrangements for the breast screening programme in Wales to provide an appropriate level of service in Newport, Gwent.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Breast Test Wales provides a breast screening service throughout Wales. Detailed information about current and planned screening programmes is not held centrally. This is available from the director of Breast Test Wales who is responsible for the management and delivery of the service.
Child Abuse
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what services are available in Wales to provide support and counselling for children who have been the victims of physical or sexual abuse.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Precise information of the type requested is not held centrally. Guidance for dealing with cases of child abuse set out in "Working Together Under the Child Act 1989" seeks to ensure appropriate inter-agency working with a view to securing the most appropriate support for such children and their families, including counselling.
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Traffic Congestion Connah's Quay
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Connah's Quay town council to discuss trunk road traffic congestion.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I can see no useful purpose in meeting Connah's Quay town council to discuss traffic congestion. The Department's publication "Roads in Wales--Progress and Plans for the 1990's," the 1993 supplement for which was issued in March of this year, details the plans for road improvements on trunk roads in Wales including north east Clwyd. One of the objectives of the roads programme is to reduce traffic congestion.
Unemployment
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is proposing to help the long-term unemployed in Clwyd.
Mr. David Hunt : The North Wales training and enterprise councils and employment service offer a wide range of services which are designed to help the long-term unemployed.
From 1 April, the largest ever range of measures is available under the training for work initiative. New initiatives including learning for work and the community action programme are also being introduced which will focus specifically on providing help to the long-term unemployed.
My Department, the Welsh Development Agency and other Government agencies also operate a wide range of other measures aimed at combating unemployment in Clwyd and elsewhere in Wales.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many long-term unemployed there are in (a) Wales, (b) Clwyd and (c) Alyn and Deeside.
Mr. David Hunt : In January 1993 the number of claimants who had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks in Wales, Clwyd and Alyn and Deeside district were 46,019, 4,865 and 809, respectively.
Training
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to ensure an increased number of training places in colleges ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Department has provided for a 28 per cent. increase in further education student numbers in Wales over the next three years. Funding for the Further Education Funding Council for Wales is intended to support an increase of 9.7 per cent. in student numbers to 48,000 full-time equivalents in 1993-94.
The funding council has set aside £4 million to encourage growth in FE institutions to the given target. The new demand-led element provides funding of £250 per term for each full-time student enrolled at an institution and will enable institutions to gain additional funding for eligible students recruited above target.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to ensure an increase in apprenticeship training for school leavers ; and if he will make a statement.
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Sir Wyn Roberts : The Government have always supported employers in their training of young people and believe that modern, flexible apprenticeship schemes have a vital role in securing and promoting vocational training. A number of TECs in Wales are now introducing training credit schemes which cover, inter alia, employer based training opportunities.
The Government's guarantee of a training place to school leavers ensures that the full range of training opportunities is availble to all young people.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning training opportunities for the disabled in Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The training and enterprise councils have a contractual obligation to provide suitable high quality training for people with disabilities.
From 1 April, people with disabilities have been given priority access to a range of training opportunities under the training for work initiative.
Provided they are eligible, people with disabilities will also have priority access to a place on learning for work.
The Employment Service's disability employment advisors also provide a comprehensive range of services to people with disabilities through the local network of jobcentres.
Youth Service
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his policy concerning the youth service ;
(2) by what amount he has increased or decreased the youth budget for the current financial year ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : My policy for the youth service is to support the activities of the Wales Youth Agency and the national voluntary youth organisations in order to extend the opportunities for young people to develop as individuals and to become active and responsible members of society.
The 1993-94 current expenditure budget for the support of the agency and the national voluntary youth organisations is £736,000 compared with £728,000 for 1992-93.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many people are employed in the youth service (a) currently and (b) in 1983 ;
(2) what is the percentage of part-time and voluntary workers employed in the youth service in Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he has taken to encourage liaison between the youth service and police with the intent of combating youth crimes.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Welsh Office has for some years advocated the adoption of a multi-agency or partnership approach to crime prevention (Welsh Office circulars 1/84 and 28/90 refer). The collaborative arrangements which have been developed include representatives from the police and the youth service working together on crime prevention forums.
The initiative in setting up some of these forums was taken by the Welsh Office in providing funds over a
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three-year period to the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders to bring together relevant agencies to tackle youth crime.The Department also sponsors the Wales Youth Agency, which provides training, information and curriculum development for those working with young people who might otherwise become involved in crime. Much of the contact between youth work organisations and the police takes place at local level.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the annual budget of the youth service in each of the counties of Wales in 1992 and 1982 at constant prices.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Information on the amount budgeted for youth service in 1992 is not held centrally. Outturn information for the latest year available is given in the table.
Local authority net current expenditure
on youth services at constant 1991-92
prices<1>
£000
|1990-91|1981-82
----------------------------------------
Clwyd |1,402 |1,271
Dyfed |198 |201
Gwent |2,195 |1,238
Gwynedd |1,680 |703
Mid Glamorgan |3,613 |1,866
Powys |754 |625
South Glamorgan |1,954 |1,570
West Glamorgan |1,041 |892
|--- |---
Total Counties |12,837 |8,364
<1> Information taken from local
education authority revenue outturn
forms. Definitions changed in 1990-91;
hence figures are not strictly
comparable with those for 1981-82. Net
current expenditure is defined as
expenditure on employees and running
expenses, less sales, fees, charges,
internal recharges and other non-grant
income but gross of specific government
grants. Includes youth centres and
residential youth centres.
Road Schemes
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those road schemes in Wales which in 1993-94 have been allocated urban programme grants in excess of £1 million ; what are the criteria which determine the allocation of such grants ; and what is the extent of funding by virtue of such grants.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Road schemes are eligible for urban programme support only where they form an integral part of wider economic regeneration schemes. In 1993-94 one road scheme attracted urban programme grant in excess of £1 million : the highway improvements to the A472/A467 junction at Crumlin, Gwent which is part of the Crumlin regeneration strategy. This project has, in principle, been allocated £1,770 million urban programme in 1993-94, including £0.770 million carried forward from the previous year.
Ferry Road Refuse Site
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what determination he has made in relation to the application by the Cardiff Bay development corporation for a vesting order on the Ferry road municipal refuse disposal site.
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Mr. David Hunt : My discussions with the Cardiff Bay development corporation about their proposed acquisition of the Ferry road tip are continuing.
National Curriculum
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for reviewing the national curriculum and its assessment in Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I have asked the chairman of the Curriculum Council for Wales to undertake a general examination of the manageability of the national curriculum in Wales. The broad aim of the review will be to examine the existing curriculum and provide advice on the scope for avoiding over-prescription while retaining clear teaching objectives which can lead to higher education standards. The key items which are to be examined are the scope for simplifying the national curriculum either through its coverage or by providing greater clarity and simplification within each of the orders ; the arrangements for conducting a longer term rolling review of the curriculum in Wales ; and the appropriate means of grading the attainment of individual pupils including formal testing. In carrying out the examination I have asked that the Curriculum Council for Wales should work closely with the review which is being conducted by Sir Ron Dearing at the request of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education.
Sir Ron Dearing will be examining the arrangements in Wales as well as England in his initial review of the testing and assessment of the national curriculum. I have asked him to take into account, as part of that review, the specific considerations which apply to Welsh language subjects and the arrangements for conducting all tests through the medium of Welsh.
The conclusions of both reviews will be taken into account by the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales when, subject to the approval of the Education Bill currently before Parliament, it is established in April next year. The first priority of the authority will be to take forward an evolutionary programme of review for the national curriculum in Wales and to develop stable assessment and testing arrangements.
Mental Handicap Strategy
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial support is available to assist individuals with a mental handicap and their families in Wales and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Under the Welsh Office's very successful mental handicap strategy, a special allocation of £48 million has been made in 1993-94 to support the development of help for mentally handicapped individuals and their families in Wales. This is an increase of 15 per cent. on the 1992-93 allocation of £41.5 million, making a total of over £200 million since the strategy began in 1983.
Special grants for 1993-94 have been made as follows :
To the county teams
|£ million
------------------------------------
Clwyd |5.564
Dyfed |4.028
Gwent |7.203
Gwynedd |5.525
Mid Glamorgan |7.104
Powys |1.941
South Glamorgan |5.987
West Glamorgan |5.583
As direct funding to voluntary organisations
|£
---------------------------------------------------------------
MENCAP |84,000
Catholic Children's Society |8,000
Standing Conference of Voluntary Organisations |156,000
Additionally, the balance of the special grant will be allocated to fund resettlement and new, innovative developments.
I can confirm that the mental handicap strategy will continue as a vital part of community care. I am confident that the excellent achievements of the strategy provide a firm foundation for the years ahead.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Malawi
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government in Malawi with regard to respect for human rights.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Failure by the Malawian Government to address the international community's concern over human rights led the United Kingdom and other aid donors in May 1992 to suspend non-humanitarian assistance until there are clear signs of improvement. During our Presidency we initiated EC representations calling on the Malawian Government to address concerns over human rights. We continue to raise human rights issues regularly with the Malawian Government. The referendum on Malawi's future political system due on 14 June encapsulates many of the key issues in question.
Britons Abroad (Financial Aid)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the accounting rules for diplomatic posts overseas relating to restrictions on the provision of financial assistance to Britons abroad who have got into serious financial difficulties.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Before financial assistance can be authorised the post must be satisfied that the applicant is destitute, has no funds in the United Kingdom, that his predicament is not of his own making, and that he cannot make use of a cheque card and cannot arrange for has them stolen to enable him to get to an airport or be provided with an emergency passport. We would expect the applicant to have reported the loss at a police station ;
called the consulate immediately after making the
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police report ;produced an air ticket ;
demonstrated that the air ticket is not transferable or refundable and has limited validity.
In all cases of financial assistance and repatriation, a legally binding undertaking to repay must be signed by the applicant.
Human Rights Conference
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the forthcoming UN world conference on human rights in Vienna on 14 to 25 June.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Kingdom is closely involved in the preparatory process leading to the world conference on human rights, due to be held in Vienna 14-25 June 1993. United Kingdom objectives at the conference will be to promote universal adherence to existing standards, to explore ways to improve their implementation, and to examine the relationship between human rights, democracy and development. The United Kingdom will also work to ensure that, among other issues, the conference addresses the rights of women, children and the disabled.
Waco Siege
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent loss of life of British citizens at Waco in the United States of America.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 26 April 1993, Official Report, column 288.
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the United States Government concerning the recent deaths of British citizens at Waco, Texas ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We remain in close touch with the United States authorities about this tragedy and we are giving every assistance to relatives of the United Kingdom citizens affected. President Clinton has ordered an inquiry into the events at Waco. We await the outcome.
Philippines
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Philippines Government about the killing of Mr. Chris Batan from the Bontoc office of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines on 23 February.
Mr. Goodlad : We are aware that this case has been highlighted by Amnesty International, and are seeking further information from the Philippine Government, who are investigating the circumstances of the murder.
Far East
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries he visited on his recent visit to the far east ; which ministers or
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Government officials he met ; and what matters in regard to nuclear non-proliferation and arms exports were discussed.Mr. Goodlad : During his visit to Indonesia my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had discussions with President Soeharto, Foreign Minister Alatas, and Economic and Finance minister Afiff ; he also met other Ministers, the Sultan of Yogyakarta, and a number of officials and businessmen. In Japan he met the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, the Finance Minister and the Minister for International Trade and Industry, and in Korea the President, the Foreign Minister and the Minister for National Defence. The discussions in Japan and South Korea covered North Korea's announcement of its intention to withdraw from the non-proliferation treaty. Arms exports were not discussed during the visit.
South Africa
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the South African authorities on the effect of Mr. Chris Hani's murder on the peace process ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have made every effort to help to minimise the effect of the tragic assassination of Chris Hani on the negotiating process in South Africa, including the provision of a senior police officer to help with the investigation.
In the next few weeks, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary will be seeing Nelson Mandela and Chief Buthelezi to discuss the progress of negotiations. The Prime Minister is in regular contact with President de Klerk.
Yugoslavia
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about rape camps in the former Yugoslavia ; and what action he now intends to take.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have received many representations from members of this House and of the public. Evidence collected by the EC investigative mission into the abuse of women in former Yugoslavia points to rapes having taken place in small centres, such as schools and hotels, rather than large-scale detention of women in camps for the purpose of rape. In response to the mission's recommendations, we have promoted and jointly funded a project to counsel and help rape victims in Bosnia.
Construction Contracts
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of his policy on awarding contracts for construction and refurbishment work on the diplomatic estate, indicating, specifically, the steps which are taken to ensure that opportunities to tender are drawn to the attention of British companies.
Mr. Goodlad : The FCO's policy is to contract with British firms where competition establishes that they provide best value for money, and where their
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participation is practicable in local circumstances. All major construction and refurbishment projects are advertised in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Community, in accordance with our obligations under the EC Public Procurement Directive for Works. Information about a wider range of projects is also periodically sent to the Export Group for the Constructional Industries for circulation to its members.Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent construction work has been undertaken on the proposed embassy in Berlin ; to which companies major contracts have been awarded ; what nationality are those companies ; what is the value of the contracts ; and what steps have been taken to ensure that British companies had the opportunity to tender for the work.
Mr. Goodlad : The proposed embassy in Berlin is still at pre- planning stages, and no construction work has yet been carried out. In due course, the project will be advertised in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Community in accordance with our obligations under the EC Public Procurement Directive for Works and its details will be sent to the Export Group for the Constructional Industries.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent construction work has been undertaken on the high commission in Islamabad ; to which companies the major contracts were awarded ; what nationality were those companies ; what was the value of the contracts ; and what steps were first taken to ensure that British companies had the opportunity to tender for the work.
Mr. Goodlad : The construction of a new Immigration and Consular building, at a total contract value of about £4.8 million, is currently proceeding in Islamabad. Glauser International, a French contractor with an established operation in Pakistan, is the main contractor. The sub-contractor for the mechanical, electrical and services engineering work (valued at about £2.2 million) is the British firm Balfour Kilpatrick Ltd. This project was drawn to the attention of the Export Group for the Constructional Industries. Eight contractors, including five British, were invited to bid.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent construction work has been undertaken on the embassy in Kiev ; to which companies the major contracts were awarded ; what nationality were those companies ; what was the value of the contracts ; and what steps were first taken to ensure that British companies had the opportunity to tender for the work.
Mr. Goodlad : The recently-occupied embassy and residence building in Kiev is currently being refurbished at total contract cost of about £300,000. All the contracts were awarded to British companies : Rotary International, Kitchen World and Amity International Ltd. The tender lists were derived from contractors who had expressed an interest in the project.
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