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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Human Rights
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation between Her Majesty's Government and the United Nations took place prior to the withdrawal by the United Nations of invitations to British-based human rights organisations concerned with human rights in (a) the Punjab, (b) Kashmir and (c) Assam, to attend a United Nations conference on human rights in Vienna ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The secretariat of the United Nations world conference on human rights was informed in advance of the conference that we had no objection to any British-based human rights non-governmental organisation being invited to participate. On learning of the withdrawal of the invitations to those organisations referred to by the hon. Member, we protested to the secretariat. As a direct result of this pressure, the invitations were reinstated.
Burma
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to persuade the Government of Burma to comply with the European Community statement of 12 March.
Mr. Goodlad : With our European Community partners, we continue to monitor closely the human rights situation in Burma, and take every opportunity to underline our concern to the Burmese and in the appropriate international bodies.
Xanana Gusmao
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Indonesia concerning the trial and imprisonment of Xanana Gusmao.
Mr. Goodlad : Following the trial's conclusion, Her Majesty's ambassador, together with other European Community representatives in Jakarta on 10 June, impressed on the Indonesian Government the importance the Community attach to humane treatment of Gusmao, including regular access by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
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East Timor
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Indonesia to urge it to meet the requirements of the International Committee of the Red Cross with regard to prison visits in East Timor.
Mr. Goodlad : Our ambassador in Jakarta with his European Community colleagues have urged the Indonesian authorities--most recently in representations this month--to facilitate the early resumption of International Committee of the Red Cross access to prisoners in East Timor.
Market Testing
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1992 and indicate, in each case, whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision, or whether the service was contracted out.
Mr. Goodlad : Of the activities to be investigated for market testing in the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, decisions have been reached on three. The client function for the television facilities unit has been transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from the Central Office of Information ; installation of local radio networks and satellite communications by in-house teams will effectively be abolished in 1994 ; and supply services for office stationery and machinery are being contracted out. Of the activities scheduled to be market tested in the aid wing, one, administration of overseas pensions, has almost been completed. The service is to be retained in-house.
Guatemala
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Guatemala about human rights abuses against its indigenous peoples ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We take every opportunity to make clear to the Guatemalan authorities the concern felt in this country about observance of human rights, including those of the indigenous people. We welcome President Ramiro de Leon Carpio's commitment to improve matters.
Libya
Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consequences in terms of the availability of consular and other services are imposed on United Kingdom citizens who take up work in Libya against the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The United Kingdom has no diplomatic relations with Libya. As a result, the small British interests section of the embassy of our protecting power, Italy, can offer only limited consular services to British nationals in Libya.
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We advise British nationals planning visits to Libya to consider whether their journey is really necessary, and the resident British community to consider whether they need to remain.I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the FCO's "Travel Advice on Libya".
Karyn Smith and Patricia Cahill
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has received on whether the drugs found in the possession of Karyn Smith and Patricia Cahill, currently serving gaol sentences in Bangkok, could have physically fitted in the luggage of the two women, as alleged in court ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The solicitor for the family of Karyn Smith has provided documentation to support his view that the drugs could not have fitted into the suitcases. HM Customs and Excise have reviewed this documentation. They have examined the photographs of the luggage and the drug containers. They are satisfied that the compressed heroin could have fitted into the luggage.
Child Abduction
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which members of the European Community have not signed (a) The Hague and (b) the European conventions on child abduction.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Ten countries of the European Community have ratified The Hague convention ; Italy and Begium have yet to ratify the convention.
Eleven countries have signed and ratified the European convention. Italy has yet to ratify.
Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Jonathan Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 7 and 9 June.
Mr. Hurd : My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 7 to 9 June.
At an inter-institutional meeting between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on 7 June, no agreement was reached either on an inter-institutional agreement on subsidiarity or on a decision by the European Parliament on procedures for the ombudsman to be appointed by the Parliament. Both issues were blocked by the Parliament. Ministerial sessions of the accession negotiations with Norway, Austria, Sweden and Finland were held in the margins of the Council. These registered useful progress.
Ministers had a substantial discussion on former Yugoslavia. They reaffirmed the overriding importance of efforts to achieve a lasting and equitable peace in co-operation with the rest of the international community, their full support for Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg in their contacts with the parties, and their commitment to the Vance/Owen peace plan. They agreed that measures contained in the joint action programme set out by the United States, France, Spain, Russia and the United
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Kingdom on 22 May should be followed up : they will support the United Nations Secretary-General's efforts to attract further troops and funding to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 836 on safe areas. They called for an increase in the international presence in Kosovo and Macedonia to help pre-empt possible spillover of the conflict.The Council heard a report by Sir Leon Brittan on recent developments related to the GATT Uruguay round negotiations. The French Foreign Minister presented his Government's recent memorandum setting out the French position on the round. The Council had a thorough exchange of views on both of these statements. We share the Commission's hope that it will be possible to agree the outline of an agreement on market access and services by the time of the economic summit in Tokyo in July.
The Council also approved the EC/United States oilseeds agreement, which was negotiated as part of the Blair House agriculture package last November.
Over lunch, Ministers discussed the humanitarian situation in northern Iraq, the continuing need for emergency aid, and the requirement for longer term development assistance. Ministers agreed the EC response to the establishment of the transitional executive council in South Africa. This will include the lifting of some of the remaining restrictions other than those related to the United Nations arms embargo, and the launch of the new EC development initiative. Sir Leon Brittan reported on his recent visit to Moscow.
In the afternoon, the Council discussed the Commission's paper for the Copenhagen European Council on strengthening relations with the central European associate countries.
The Council then discussed a Commission paper on openness access to information, summarising progress made since the Edinburgh European Council.
The Council discussed the revision of the regulations governing the EC structural funds. The Commission reaffirmed its inclusion of Merseyside and the highlands and islands of Scotland in its proposed list of objective 1 regions. The Minister of State argued for further regions in the United Kingdom to be added to the list of areas in the Community classified as objective 1. There was also discussion of how objective 2 and 5b areas should be determined. In the discussion of the proposed new objective 4, the United Kingdom reiterated its reserve of principle and argued against the diversion of European social fund money away from helping the long-term unemployed. The question of greater Council involvement in decisions relating to Community initiatives under the structural funds was also raised. It was agreed that an extraordinary General Affairs Council be held on 2 July to discuss these matters further.
The Danish presidency briefed the Council on its plans for the Copenhagen European Council. The main agenda items are likely to be economic growth and unemployment, the Community's relations with central and eastern Europe, the Community's relations with Russia, the progress of the enlargement negotiations, subsidiarity and the situation in the former Yugoslavia.
No formal votes were taken.
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EDUCATION
Early Years Education
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to safeguard high-quality early years education ; and what measures he will take to ensure the continued provision of suitably qualified graduate teachers for this age group.
Mr. Robin Squire : The Government's policies are designed to improve standards at all levels of education, including pupils' early years in school. My right hon. Friend has recently issued for consultation proposals for an additional route into early years teaching, to allow those who are sufficiently able and experienced to reach the necessary standards in one year ; this will complement and not replace existing routes into teaching. The Government believe that schools should be able to decide for themselves among teachers with different academic qualifications who have the required knowledge and skills for effective teaching.
School Tests
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date he plans to send to schools plans for next year's tests.
Mr. Robin Squire : My right hon. Friend has written to all chairmen of governors and head teachers advising them of the streamlined arrangements for the 1994 tests for seven and 14-year-olds, which he announced to the House on 11 May. Detailed decisions on the scope and coverage of the tests will be made in the light of recommendations from Sir Ron Dearing, which are expected in July. Further information will be sent to schools as soon as possible thereafter.
Head Teachers
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the statutory duties and responsibilities on head teachers ; and what monitoring is carried out to see they are fulfilled.
Mr. Robin Squire : Head teachers of maintained schools, including self-governing--grant-maintained--schools, have statutory responsibility for a number of functions relating to the organisation and management of the school, the discipline of its pupils and the curriculum. In undertaking these functions, they are accountable in the first instance to the governing body of the school and to the local education authority in those schools which it maintains. Parents also have a formal opportunity to discuss the way the head teacher has carried out his or her duties, at the annual meeting which governors must hold for parents. Independent inspections of schools every four years under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 will report on quality and standards in schools, including how effectively they discharge their statutory functions. Reports and governors' action plans will be published.
Top-up Fees
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received on the subject of top-up fees for university students ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Boswell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 14 June, Official Report, column 420.
Pre-school Places
Ms Estelle Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pre-school places for three to five-year-olds are provided in England and Wales by (a) local authorities, (b) private sector employees, (c) central Government for their own employees and (d) the private sector.
Mr. Bowis : I have been asked to reply.
The information held centrally covers places for children aged under five in day nurseries, playgroups and with childminders. This shows local authority provision, registered and non-registered provision and is recorded in the publication "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March 1991, England", copies of which are available in the Library. The number of pre-school places provided in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Terrorism
Mr. Maginnis : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the figures for (a) killings by terrorists, (b) terrorist shooting incidents and (c) terrorist bombs, including explosions and defusings in 1985 ; and in which of the subsequent years the number of offences in each category has been lower.
Mr. Mates : In 1985, there were 47 murders believed to have been carried out by terrorist organisations, 237 terrorist shooting incidents and 215 terrorist bombs, including explosions and defusings. The number of terrorist incidents in each of these three categories has not been lower in any subsequent year.
Mr. Maginnis : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were charged with terrorist offences in 1985 ; and in which of the subsequent years the number of such persons has been higher.
Mr. Mates : A total of 522 persons were charged with terrorist offences in 1985. The only subsequent year in which the number of such persons has been higher is 1986.
Compensation Agency
Sir James Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the business plan for 1993-94 for the Compensation Agency will be published.
Mr. Mates : The Compensation Agency's business plan for 1993-94 will be published today. The plan explains the agency's business and organisation and sets out assumptions about workloads and resources which underpin the plans and targets identified for the agency this year. I have made arrangements for copies to be placed in the Library.
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PRIME MINISTER
UN Commission on Sustainable Development
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 7 June, Official Report , column 13 , if he will list the organisations or individuals to whom the United Kingdom report to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development has been or will be distributed.
The Prime Minister : Copies of the progress report have been sent to the commission's secretariat and copies are available for delegates attending the commission's meeting this week and next in New York. Copies were also made available to delegates who attended an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development meeting in Paris last week.
Colombia
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to meet the President of Colombia.
The Prime Minister : I look forward to meeting President Gaviria again during his planned visit to this country from 26 to 30 July
Voluntary Bodies (Grants)
Mr. Moss : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the total amount paid in grants by central Government Departments to voluntary bodies during the financial year 1991-92 ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Central Government funding to voluntary organisations in 1991-92 amounted to £3,387 million. Of this, £2,897 million consisted of payments to voluntary housing associations and £490 million went directly to a variety of voluntary organisations to support provision of services and a wide range of activities and projects.
The amount spent under individual departmental programmes was as follows :
Voluntary bodies |£
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |178,486
Defence |11,038,930
Education and Science |5,503,286
Sports Council |14,255,000
Employment |32,693,716
Environment (including Energy Efficiency Office)
Direct grants |24,854,376
Urban programme |54,400,000
Housing corporation |2,459,327,000
Countryside Commission |1,115,000
English Nature |1,057,000
Rural Development Commission |5,554,000
UK 2000 initiative |508,000
Derelict Land Grant |857,000
Foreign and Commonwealth Office |1,717,114
Overseas Development Administration |123,657,933
Health
Direct grants |43,010,863
Health Education Authority |1,263,546
Home Office
Direct grants |40,124,942
Equal Opportunities Commission |20,000
Commission for Racial Equality |773,740
Northern Ireland Office
Direct grants |14,586,795
Housing associations and societies |40,538,706
Sports Council for Northern Ireland |657,954
Scottish Office
Direct grants |20,722,515
Urban programme |41,932,000
Housing Associations |234,000,000
Scottish Natural Heritage |1,660,000
Highland and Islands Enterprise |1,200,000
Sports Council for Scotland |1,510,621
Social Security |16,303,257
Trade and Industry |12,472,500
Transport |532,017
Welsh Office
Direct grants |10,431,725
Urban programme |2,957,865
Joint Finance/Care in the community |224,455
Development Board for Rural Wales |423,000
Housing for Wales (Tai Cymru)-grants to housing associations |163,690,067
Sports Council for Wales and Play Wales Management Committee |1,435,988
|-------
Grand Total |3,387,209,397
I am placing in the Library of the House a list of voluntary bodies funded by the Government in 1991-92 other than those funded under housing programmes and the urban programme or via non-departmental public bodies.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 17 June.
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 17 June.
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.
Teaching Company
Dr. Moonie : To ask the Prime Minister to which Cabinet Minister the Teaching Company management committee reports.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 16 June 1993] : The Teaching Company management committee is a sub-committee of the Science and Engineering Research Council--SERC--and, therefore, formally reports to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. However, the terms of reference of this committee require it, inter alia, to report to the engineering board of SERC and to the Department of Trade and Industry, as well as to other funding bodies, and to advise SERC's engineering board, the DTI and others on the development of the scheme.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Theatres
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has on the number of theatres that have closed in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland since 1979.
Mr. Brooke : The information requested is not held centrally. I am however advised by the Theatres Trust that
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the rate of loss of theatres has slowed significantly since the mid-1970s ; indeed, a number of theatres referred to as being closed in the report of a 1982 survey have subsequently reopened.HOUSE OF COMMONS
Cutlery and Silverware
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee (1) whether compensation has been sought from the firm which failed to scrap or remove the two portcullis engravings from the two consignments of House of Commons cutlery and silverware as agreed ; (2) which firm failed to carry out the undertaking either to remove all marks or scrap the two recent consignments of House of Commons cutlery and silverware ; and to which firm the items were subsequently sold.
Mr. Colin Shepherd : This is a matter for the Director of Catering Services and I shall ask her to write to the hon. Member.
t in fostered care/social service care prior to adoption by children adopted in each of the last 15 years ;
(2) what was the average time spent in foster care/social service care prior to adoption in each of the last 15 years for children adopted at the age of less than one year, one to four, five to nine, 10 to 14 and 15 to 17 years.
Mr. Bowis : Information held centrally relates to the length of time a child was in care under the last legal status before leaving care. This will often be less than the total time he or she was in care. Averages for children leaving care on adoption or being freed for adoption for the year ending 31 March 1991 are shown in the table ; figures for earlier years could be provided only at
disproportionate cost. The number of children leaving care in six duration bands are published in "Children in Care of Local Authorities, England", of which copies are available in the Library. Statistics on the total time looked after are being collected from 14 October 1991, but processing for the period ended 31 March 1992 is not yet complete.
Number of children leaving care on adoption or on being freed for adoption in
the year ending 31 March 1991; England
Age on leaving care |Number of children |Average duration of
|leaving care |last legal status
|on leaving care
|(years)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All ages |2,439 |3.4
Under 1 |469 |0.5
1 and under 5 |899 |2.1
5 and under 10 |701 |4.1
10 and under 15 |275 |7.4
16 and over |98 |11.5
Children who were readmitted to care subsequently in the year ended 31 March 1991 are excluded. For children subject to a parental rights resolution, the duration of legal status relates to their time in care under section 2 of the Child Care Act 1980, not since the resolution.
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Trent Hospital Trusts
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give for each of the hospital trusts in the Trent region, the names of the chairman and non-executive directors, their occupations or professions and details of any allowances or remuneration payable.
Dr. Mawhinney : The names of chairmen and non-executive directors of national health service trusts in Trent region and the most up-to-date information about their occupations are shown in the table :
Nottingham Community Health NHS Trust--
Chairman :
Mr. I. Maclean--Group Director
Non-executive directors :
Mr. A. Ripley--Retired Director
Mr. B. Cooke--Former Bank Manager
Mrs. J. Sterck--Voluntary Service Worker
Mr. M. Rudge--Housing Association, Deputy Director
Professor C. Chilvers--Professor of Epidemiology, University of Nottingham
Bassetlaw Hospital and Community Health Services NHS Trust-- Chairman :
Mrs. V. Dickinson--Housewife
Non-executive directors :
Mrs. J. Lee--General Manager
Mr. L. Taylor--Solicitor
Mr. P. Reynard--Former Company Director
Mrs. L. Turner--Librarian
Mr. R. Hassett--Chartered Surveyor
Barnsley Community and Priority Services NHS Trust--
Chairman :
Mr. D. Anderson--Managing Director
Non-executive directors :
Mr. P. Kefford--Management Consultant
Mr. P. Goldie--Building Society Manager
Mrs. J. R. Lees--Solicitor
Mr. K. Ellis--Community Worker
Mrs. M. Michaels--Local Government Manager
Mulberry NHS Trust--
Chairman :
Mrs. D. L. Miller--Solicitor
Non-executive directors :
Mr. M. Beacham--Former Company Director
Mr. W. Carter--Company Director
Mr. M. Hewings--Accountant
Mr. M. Chappell--Farmer/Businessman
Mrs. L. Scrimshaw--Former Social Worker
South Yorkshire Metropolitan and Paramedic Service NHS Trust-- Chairman :
Dr. B. Kingston--Director of Careers Advisory Service
Non-executive directors :
Mr. J. Chambers--Former Banker
Mr. S. Mahon--Accountant
Mrs. B. Godber--Former Red Cross Director
Mr. P. Threlfall--Retired Headteacher
Mrs. P. Battersby--Solicitor
Weston Park Hospital NHS Trust--
Chairman :
Mr. R. J. Prest--Company Chairman
Non-executive directors :
Mr. B. Winston--Accountant
Professor B. Hancock--Professor of Clinical Oncology,
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