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Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his statement of 28 June, Official Report, column 657, what independent evidence he sought about the competence as saboteurs of the alleged conspirators against ex-President Bush before coming to his conclusion that the United States response was justified and proportionate.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United States have made it clear that they had evidence of Iraqi intelligence involvement in the attempt on the life of ex-President Bush in Kuwait. The United States briefed the Security Council about the evidence on 27 June.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss future Central American and Caribbean issues with the new Prime Minister of Belize ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no such plans, but Her Majesty's high commissioner in Belmopan, who is in regular touch with the Belize authorities on a wide range of issues, called on the new Prime Minister shortly after the recent election.
Dr. Hendron : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) which experts in Irish-medium education advised the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education on the appropriateness of the courses in subject application, education and professional studies in the BEd degree at St. Mary's college, Belfast and in the PGCE course at Queen's university, Belfast to the needs of teachers of Irish in Irish-medium primary and secondary schools in Northern Ireland and of his Department ;
(2) what action his Department intends to take in relation to the training of teachers of the Irish language ;
(3) if the written advice of the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education is available to the public ;
(4) what criteria were adopted by the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education in determining the appropriateness of courses in subject application, education and professional studies in the BEd degree at St. Mary's college, Belfast and in the PGCE course at the Queen's university of Belfast to the needs of teachers of Irish in Irish-medium primary and secondary schools in Northern Ireland ; (5) who are the experts in (i) the teaching of Irish and (ii) modern language teaching methodology who advised the Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education on the appropriateness of the course in Celtic for the BEd degree
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at St. Mary's college, Belfast to the needs of student teachers of Irish in Northern Ireland and of his Department ;(6) what criteria were adopted by the Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education in determining whether the Celtic course in the BEd degree at St. Mary's college, Belfast is suitable for the needs of student teachers of Irish in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ancram : As a precondition of approval by the Department of Education, courses of initial teacher training--ITT--in Northern Ireland are considered by the Council for the Accreditation of the Teacher Education--CATE--and required to meet certain defined Government criteria. The form and nature of these criteria are currently set out in the Department's circular 1989/40 "Initial Teacher Training Approval of Courses" which replaced circular 1985/20. Bachelor of education courses at St. Mary's college of education and post-graduate certificate of education courses at St. Mary's and Queen's university, with a main subject option of Celtic which student teachers of Irish undertake, were considered against Government criteria set out in circular 1985/20 and were approved as suitable courses of teacher training in December 1989. To help CATE in its work, all ITT institutions in Northern Ireland were visited and reported on by the Department's inspectorate. Circulars 1985/20 and 1989/40 are in the public domain, but the advice given by CATE to the Department in respect of courses at individual institutions is confidential. A review of ITT in Northern Ireland is currently under way. Developments emanating from this review are likely to affect the mode and content of all ITT courses ; include an increase in school-based initial teacher training and a clearer definition of the competences which successful teachers would be expected to have as they progress through initial teacher training, induction and the more advanced stages of their careers. After a period of consultation, any changes resulting from the review will be announced later this year.
Dr. Hendron : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the nature and scope of research into the teaching of Irish carried out by the staff of St. Mary's college and of the department and school of education of the Queen's university of Belfast since 1980.
Mr. Ancram : The emphasis in recent years has not been on research into the teaching of modern languages, including Irish, but on the provision of professional support and production of learning materials for use in the classroom. St. Mary's college of education, in conjunction with my Department and the education and library boards, has been actively involved in this area. One notable result has been the production of a graded reading scheme for children learning to read through the medium of Irish.
At Queen's university, research into the teaching of Irish has been part of on-going research into the teaching of modern languages.
Dr. Hendron : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times inspectors from his Department have furnished him and his predecessors with reports on the teaching of Irish in higher education in the past 20 years ; and what arrangements exist to make these reports available to the public.
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Mr. Ancram : There has been one substantive report on the teaching of Irish in St. Mary's college of education, which formed part of a general inspection of the college in 1987.
This report was not a published document. It was supplied in confidence to the college authorities and to the Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the consultative draft of the "Northern Ireland Structural Funds Plan 1994 to 1999" was issued for consultation ; and when he will make it available to right hon. and hon. Members elected for Northern Ireland constituencies.
Sir John Wheeler : The Department of Finance and Personnel circulated a consultation draft of the key sections of the "Northern Ireland Structural Funds Plan 1994 to 1999" to local interest groups on 25 June 1993. The closing date for the receipt of comments is 31 August. The interest generated in the draft plan has been much greater than anticipated with over 700 copies issued so far. Copies have already been issued to the Northern Ireland MEPs and main political party leaders, but I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's interest in the draft plan and would, of course, be pleased to send a copy to any of the Members elected for Northern Ireland constituencies if they request it.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he first received a complaint about a burst water main opposite 21-23 Saintfield road, Ballygowan ; on what date the water main was repaired ; why the water service was unable to repair the mains earlier ; what is the estimated total loss of water in gallons ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The Department of the Environment was notified on 21 June 1993 about a leaking hydrant opposite 21-23 Saintfield road, Ballygowan, and the repair was carried out on 1 July. During the period from 21 June to 1 July there were six burst mains, 25 burst service pipes and 16 leaking valves in the area requiring urgent repair as they were causing loss of water pressure and supply to consumers ; the leaking hydrant was causing neither. It was not seen as a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic and the other repairs were given priority. The estimated loss of water was 72,000 gallons.
Ms Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what help is given to those young people from Northern Ireland who find themselves homeless in Britain and wish to return to Northern Ireland.
Mr. Atkins : The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has a statutory duty to respond to those persons who are homeless in Northern Ireland. Young people who are homeless in Britain do not come within its responsibility until they arrive in Northern Ireland.
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Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about road safety on the main Belfast road, Ballygowan in the vicinity of the bus stop near Ballygowan Pharmacy, 15 The Square, Ballygowan ; what consideration he has given to the provision of a pedestrian crossing at this location across the main Belfast road to unit 6 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : In the past six years, two requests have been received for the provision of a pedestrian crossing at this location. A survey will be carried out in September to determine whether a pedestrian crossing is needed.
Ms Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial support is given to housing associations in Northern Ireland who wish to work specifically in advice and support to young people wishing to migrate to other parts of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Atkins : None. In 1989-90, however, the Department of Health and Social Services grant aided the production of a leaflet "Second Thoughts--A Closer Look at Emigrating to London" which was jointly produced by a number of organisations, including one registered housing association. A copy of the leaflet will be placed in the Library.
A further grant has been made available to produce an updated version of the leaflet, which is expected to be available in the autumn.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what lists are held by the IDB of architects, quantity surveyors, mechanical and electrical contractors and structural engineers for engagement in design teams for capital projects or invitations to tender ; and how such lists are compiled and reviewed.
Mr. Atkins : The IDB holds separate lists of architects ; quantity surveyors ; mechanical and electrical engineers ; and civil and structural engineers. These lists are compiled on the basis of practice information supplied by applicant firms. The lists are not reviewed as it is the responsibility of applicant firms to update the practice information supplied to the IDB.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a list of IDB construction contracts for the last four years indicating the total value of each contract, the names of firms in the respective design teams, the names of contractor firms and the names of those invited to tender.
Mr. Atkins : The information requested is being compiled and will be placed in the Library in due course.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the IDB's use of consultants in capital projects indicating whether they are appointed by rota, by free bid, by client preference or IDB preferences.
Mr. Atkins : The IDB assesses and selects professional practices for appointment as design consultants in capital
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projects. The assessment is based on the practice information submitted to it by firms seeking inclusion in IDB's select lists. Selection for particular projects is based on professional expertise, past performance, and the availability of resources to cope with the scale of design work within the project timescale. Account is taken also of any views stated by the IDB client company for whom the project is being built. There is no rota system, but the IDB does seek to spread work among consultants. Whenever possible, preference is given to local professional practices capable of undertaking the work.From 1 July 1993, the procurement of professional services will be governed by EC legislation as contained in the Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993.
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the exercise of the powers contained in section 57 of and schedule 5 to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : During 1992, I received 24 applications from the Royal Ulster Constabulary for the appointment of persons to exercise the powers conferred by schedule 5 to the 1991 Act.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (a) |number of applications for appointment |<1>24 (b) |number of appointments made |<1>23 (c) |number of notices to attend issued |<1>30 (d) |number of interviews conducted |<1>23 (e) |number of search warrants obtained |<1>0 (f) |number of persons charged with Schedule 5 offences|<1>1 (g) |number of persons convicted of Schedule 5 offences|<1>1 (h) |number of search warrants or orders obtained |<2>0 (i) |number of production orders obtained |<2>0 (j) |number of explanation orders obtained |<2>0 <1>Under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) act 1991. <2>Under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.
I am satisfied that the powers have been used to good effect and that they are extremely useful in the continuing efforts to disrupt and curtail terrorist fund raising and to bring offenders to justice.
Mr. Clifford Forsythe : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progresss has been made towards implementation of the recommendations contained in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report of June 1989 on the bus services in Northern Ireland provided by Ulsterbus Ltd. and Citybus Ltd. ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : I have today placed in the Library of the House, the third and final response to the report which has been prepared by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland in consultation with the bus companies and the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. I am glad to confirm that good progress has been made on the implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's recommendations since this matter was last reported to the House in March 1991. The response now indicates that 42 of the 58 recommendations made by the
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MMC have been implemented in full and that the remaining 16 recommendations have been accepted and their implementation is continuing.I am pleased to inform the House that research published recently by the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland has shown that there has been a significant improvement in services provided by the bus companies since the council carried out similar research in 1987. This reflects in some measure the steps taken by companies in response to the MMC recommendations and the oversight of their implementation by the Transport Holding Company and the Department. In February 1993, the companies fulfilled the commitment in the Northern Ireland citizens charter by publishing their bus passengers charter. I am confident that the companies will meet the targets it sets for standards and quality of service and that, over time, will strive to improve standards even further, achieve better value for money and, in consultation with their customers, provide greater choice and a better and more attractive service which the public are entitled to expect.
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the transitional relief to monthly billed industrial electricity consumers in Northern Ireland, announced by him on 25 March, is in place ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Yes. Transitional relief in the form of rebates on electricity bills, will be paid to about 3,800 monthly billed industrial and commercial customers. This will enable the tariff increase for those customers, which took effect from 1 April 1993, to be reduced from an average of 15 per cent. to 9 per cent. The relief will be paid out of a trust fund of £12.9 million which has been established and funded out of the dividend of £16.5 million declared by NIE in respect of the year to 31 March 1993. A subsidiary company of Northern Ireland Electricity plc will act as trustee. These arrangements have been notified to and cleared by the European Commission.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office is responsible ; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to (a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters ; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 6 July 1993] : Available information can be obtained from the following publications, copies of which are held in the Library.
(i) "Public Bodies 1992" lists the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments and includes the audit arrangements for each executive non-departmental public body.
The responsibilities of the Audit Commission or National Audit Office do not extend to the six
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Northern Ireland Departments, which have their own similarly appointed body--the Northern Ireland Audit Office.(ii) The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints is responsible for undertaking the investigation of complaints against non-departmental public bodies. The Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Act 1969 and the "Statutes Revised (2nd edition) Cumulative Supplement" list the non- departmental public bodies subject to investigation by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints.
All public servants are subject to the citizens charter and non- departmental public bodies are therefore encouraged through their sponsor Departments to adopt charter principles.
The other information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many school drama departments he has visited in his official capacity.
Mr. Brooke : Although invitations to school drama departments are more likely to go to Ministers in the Department for Education, I visited the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on 3 March.
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many representations he has received regarding the future of theatre in education provision.
Mr. Brooke : Since the start of the current campaign on behalf of theatre in education, I have received more than 30 such representations.
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultation he has had with (a) the Arts Council of Great Britain, (b) the regional arts boards, (c) the Department for Education and (d) local authority associations regarding the future of theatre in education provision.
Mr. Brooke : My Department has discussed theatre in education provision with the bodies listed in (a) , (b) , and (c) , and additionally with the Welsh arts council.
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which education officers working with regional arts boards he has met in his official capacity.
Mr. Brooke : I have met no regional arts board--RAB--education officers for formal discussions. During regional visits, I have met informally several RAB officers whose responsibilities include educational issues.
Mr. Robert Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consideration has been given to a pan-European standard scheme for classifying and grading tourist accommodation ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Sproat : None. There is little industry support for such a proposal.
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many full and part-time civil servants are employed in his Department on monitoring the activities of the British Tourist Authority ; and what will be the cost of the salaries in the current financial year ;
(2) how many full and part-time civil servants are employed in his Department monitoring the activities of the English tourist board ; and what will be the cost of their salaries in the current financial year.
Mr. Sproat : There are 20 staff employed in my Department's tourism division, including two who work part-time. It is part of the division's role to ensure that the British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board make effective and efficient use of the money voted to them by Parliament. The division's salary budget for 1993-94 is £448,820.
Mr. Kevin Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were at work in the areas served by (a) the Trent regional health authority and (b) the Doncaster district health authority in the years 1991 -92 and 1992-93.
Mr. Sackville : Figures for 1992 are not yet available.
Nursing and midwifery staff (excluding agency) in Trent Regional Health Authority and Doncaster District Health Authority as at 30 September 1991: whole-time equivalents 1991 |Number -------------------------------------------------- Trent Regional Health Authority |37,950 Doncaster District Health Authority |2,630 Notes: Figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents. Trusts are included in the totals.
Dame Jill Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the average waiting times for in-patient and out-patient treatment for ophthalmology in each year since 1985 for each regional health authority and in England ;
(2) what was the year end waiting list for (a) in-patient and (b) out- patient treatment in ophthalmology for each regional health authority and in England in each year since 1985.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information available is shown in the table. Information about waiting times for ophthalmology
treatment--in-patients and day cases--is not available prior to March 1988. Figures for March 1993 are not yet finalised, but provisional figures show that no one was waiting more than two years at 31 March 1993 in any region for hospital in-patient or day case treatment. Information on the number of people waiting for out-patient appointments is not available centrally.
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Numbers waiting for Ophthalmology treatment-in-patients and day cases combined by Regional Health Authority for each year end since March 1988. Number waiting-by months waiting Region |Total waiting|0-11 |12-23 |24 plus ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 1988 Northern |4,480 |3,884 |491 |105 Yorkshire |5,340 |4,538 |615 |187 Trent |4,903 |4,472 |343 |88 East Anglian |3,123 |2,616 |418 |89 North West Thames |4,746 |3,976 |582 |188 North East Thames |2,789 |2,350 |266 |173 South East Thames |5,016 |4,438 |487 |91 South West Thames |4,909 |3,362 |975 |572 Wessex |5,025 |4,216 |609 |200 Oxford |2,706 |2,537 |150 |19 South Western |5,436 |4,628 |714 |94 West Midlands |7,958 |6,533 |930 |495 Mersey |3,523 |3,057 |396 |70 North Western |8,741 |6,898 |1,529 |314 SHAs |2,413 |2,365 |42 |6 |------- |------- |------- |------- England |71,108 |59,870 |8,547 |2,691 March 1989 Northern |4,881 |3,997 |600 |284 Yorkshire |5,936 |5,021 |749 |166 Trent |6,207 |5,547 |581 |79 East Anglian |3,872 |2,967 |756 |149 North West Thames |5,620 |4,637 |809 |174 North East Thames |3,428 |2,746 |358 |324 South East Thames |5,211 |4,559 |511 |141 South West Thames |5,335 |3,712 |1,041 |582 Wessex |5,084 |4,626 |367 |91 Oxford |2,978 |2,709 |231 |38 South Western |6,070 |5,254 |710 |106 West Midlands |8,829 |7,251 |1,188 |390 Mersey |4,335 |3,641 |621 |73 North Western |9,922 |8,130 |1,553 |239 SHAs |2,746 |2,534 |170 |42 |------- |------- |------- |------- England |80,454 |67,331 |10,245 |2,878 March 1990 Northern |5,037 |4,340 |576 |121 Yorkshire |6,567 |5,767 |727 |73 Trent |7,396 |6,350 |921 |125 East Anglian |4,336 |3,677 |529 |130 North West Thames |5,088 |4,322 |654 |112 North East Thames |3,562 |3,299 |192 |71 South East Thames |6,268 |5,813 |328 |127 South West Thames |5,631 |3,587 |1,431 |613 Wessex |5,454 |5,111 |305 |38 Oxford |3,281 |2,859 |407 |15 South Western |6,854 |5,926 |836 |92 West Midlands |9,430 |7,838 |1,318 |274 Mersey |4,695 |4,412 |283 |0 North Western |11,953 |8,869 |2,493 |591 SHAs |2,904 |2,379 |434 |91 |------- |------- |------- |------- England |88,456 |74,549 |11,434 |2,473 March 1991 Northern |5,412 |5,045 |325 |42 Yorkshire |7,997 |6,563 |1,236 |198 Trent |8,207 |7,011 |1,183 |13 East Anglian |5,323 |4,278 |908 |137 North West Thames |5,991 |4,935 |887 |169 North East Thames |3,900 |3,694 |179 |27 South East Thames |6,987 |6,309 |609 |69 South West Thames |4,360 |3,629 |603 |128 Wessex |5,639 |5,266 |336 |37 Oxford |4,289 |3,898 |367 |24 South Western |8,075 |7,202 |792 |81 West Midlands |9,495 |8,338 |996 |161 Mersey |4,875 |4,794 |81 |0 North Western |11,809 |9,150 |2,353 |306 SHAs |2,851 |2,467 |239 |145 |------- |------- |------- |------- England |95,210 |82,579 |11,094 |1,537 March 1992 Northern |6,260 |5,967 |293 |0 Yorkshire |8,798 |7,560 |1,238 |0 Trent |8,393 |7,456 |937 |0 East Anglian |5,137 |4,447 |690 |0 North West Thames |6,563 |5,534 |1,029 |0 North East Thames |5,245 |4,883 |360 |2 South East Thames |7,831 |7,129 |702 |0 South West Thames |4,787 |4,559 |228 |0 Wessex |5,712 |5,623 |89 |0 Oxford |3,705 |3,353 |352 |0 South Western |8,357 |8,233 |124 |0 West Midlands |10,107 |9,354 |746 |7 Mersey |6,380 |6,380 |0 |0 North Western |11,104 |9,747 |1,357 |0 SHAs |2,139 |1,918 |221 |0 |------- |------- |------- |------- England |100,518 |92,143 |8,366 |9
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on total health care per head of population expressed in purchasing power parities in each EC country.
Mr. Sackville : The national health service will be spending £647 for every man, woman and child in the United Kingdom in 1993-94. Figures for the European Community are not available on a comparable basis.
Mr. Spellar : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the report of the task force on myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Mr. Sackville : A task force chaired by Dr. David Tyrrell has been established involving medical and scientific experts, representation from the myalgic encephalomeylitis voluntary organisations and an observer from the Department of Health. The task force will look at the existing literature and research with a view to disseminating the information to health care professionals. It will be for the task force to advise on whether its findings should be published.
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue guidance to health authorities on the appropriate provision for payment for abortions carried out in their area.
Mr. Sackville : None. It is the responsibility of individual health authorities to decide how best to provide and fund local health services.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total estimated cost of issuing new national health service numbers.
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Mr. Sackville : The costs of implementing the national health service number replacement programme are estimated at £22 million at today's prices, over the period 1992 to 1995.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what surveys have been taken as to the number of people who have had to wait more than 30 minutes before seeing a doctor in an out-patients department during each of the last 12 months.
Dr. Mawhinney : Performance against the patients charter, including the standard on 30 minutes waiting time in out-patient clinics, is monitored on a quarterly basis. A variety of methods can be used to obtain data, including surveys.
Every purchasing authority is in the process of producing their first annual report on their providers' performance against all aspects of the patients charter.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total estimated cost of the information management and technology strategy for the national health service.
Mr. Sackville : The major thrust of the information management and technology strategy for the national health service is that the implementation of computer systems is a local responsibility. Local managers take investment decisions in line with their business requirements and are expected to obtain best value for money. Comprehensive details of estimated investments are not available centrally.
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