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Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what pressure was exerted by United Kingdom representatives at the United Nations on delegates of the non-aligned movement in order to dissuade them from supporting that movement's resolution of November on the legality of nuclear weapons.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : None. We spoke to representatives of various countries about the proposed resolution and put to them our arguments against it.
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means his Department keeps under review the prospects for entering British strategic nuclear weapons into multilateral disarmament negotiations.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : This is a matter primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. Our policy takes continually into account developments in the strategic environment, the effectiveness of measures designed to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the need to maintain force levels sufficient to provide a credible minimum deterrent.
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Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is his Department's position on the adoption of a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons by the United Kingdom ;
(2) what consideration his Department is giving to the implications for (a) the United Kingdom and (b) NATO of the declaration of a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons by the United States of America.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said in a speech on 16 November, we are deeply sceptical about the value of any such declaration, the implication of which would be that conventional aggression could be undertaken without fear of crossing the nuclear threshold.
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the prospects of the Government entering British strategic nuclear weapons into multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We see no immediate prospect of United Kingdom strategic nuclear weapons being entered into multilateral disarmament negotiations.
European Union
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish a consolidated version of the treaty of Rome, as amended by the treaty of European Union, either together with or separate from the remaining parts of that treaty.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : A consolidated text of the treaty of Rome incorporating the amendments made by the treaty on European Union was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (C244 Volume 35) on 31 August 1992. It has been available through HMSO outlets since that time. We have no present plans ourselves to publish a consolidated version of the treaty.
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the ways in which the United Kingdom has sought to honour its obligations under article VI of the non-proliferation treaty.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have already announced significant reductions in our sub-strategic nuclear capability, including ending our role in deployment of Lance missile and nuclear artillery in Europe, ending our maritime tactical nuclear capability and a reduction of about 50 per cent. in the number of our nuclear free-fall bombs. In addition my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 16 November that each Trident submarine would carry no more than 96 warheads compared with the previous intention to carry no more than 128, and that the actual number might be significantly fewer. We believe that a comprehensive test ban and a convention prohibiting the production of fissile material for weapons purposes could, if widely applicable and effectively verifiable, make a valuable contribution to non-proliferation and we have made clear that we are prepared to work for the conclusion of such agreements.
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards countries seeking to develop and deploy nuclear weapons for their own national self-defence.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : A total of 157 countries have already committed themselves to non-nuclear weapon status by acceding to the nuclear non- proliferation treaty as non-nuclear weapon states. We look to these states to honour their obligations under the treaty. We continue to urge the remaining 28 non-parties to the treaty to accede at the earliest possible date.
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's attitude to the non-aligned movement's resolution on the legality of nuclear weapons submitted this month to the Disarmament Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The resolution was, in the end, not put to a vote. We believe anyway that the use of nuclear weapons would have to be judged as lawful or not in the light of the particular circumstances in which they were used and that therefore it would be wrong to burden the International Court of Justice with this hypothetical question.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means the declaration on the entry into force of the treaty on European Union made by the General Council of the European Community has been officially published and publicised in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : A copy of the declaration made by the European Council on the entry into force of the treaty on European Union has been deposited in the Library of the House, as has a copy of the report of the General Affairs Council on implementation of the treaty.
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Scretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he intends to implement the common foreign and security policy of the European Union in the interest of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We will work with other member states to build on European political co-operation and ensure that intergovernmental co- operation under the common foreign and security policy works effectively. We will continue to press for an active common foreign and security policy in areas in which member states have important interests in common.
Argentina
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from (a) overseas Governments and (b) commercial companies with regard to the relaxation of the embargo on the sale of military equipment to Argentina.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Any discussions that take place with overseas Governments on the question of the sale of military equipment to Argentina are confidential. We are not aware of any approaches to the Department from commercial companies about a relaxation of the embargo on the sale of military equipment to Argentina.
Pakistan
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further information he has received about Mr. Ghazanfer Ali in prison in Pakistan.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I wrote to the hon. Member for Bradford, West on 27 October with information on the three cases involving two murder charges and an illegal possession of firearms charge against Ghazanfer Ali. The cases have been further adjourned until 23 November, 7 and 11 December.
Government Communications Headquarters
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation at GCHQ arising from his recent meeting with civil service union leaders.
Mr. Hurd : I have had no such meeting. On 10 November, officials, including Sir Robin Butler, had a further meeting with the civil service unions. Various suggestions from both sides were discussed, but no agreement was reached.
Saudi Arabia
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Saudi Government to allow the same freedom of religion internally as that enjoyed by Saudi nationals in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We and our European Community partners consistently seek opportunities to discuss human rights, including freedom of worship, with the Saudi authorities, who can be in no doubt of the strength of our views on this issue. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last did so during his visit to Saudi Arabia in September this year.
India
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet the Indian Foreign Minister to discuss human rights in India.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met the Indian Foreign Minister in New Delhi on 15 November, when he discussed bilateral issues. There are no definite plans for their next meeting. He discussed human rights during meetings with the Indian Prime Minister and Home Minister in New Delhi on 15 November.
Hong Kong
Mr. Gale : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will give their support for the establishment of an endangered species task force in Hong Kong, under the auspices of the police and customs, to enforce domestic and international bans on trade in rhinoceros products ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : As a result of a recent review, the Hong Kong Government have decided to establish an endangered species protection liaison group with responsibility for information gathering, planning and co-ordination of enforcement operations and co-ordinating liaison with national and international agencies including non-governmental organisations.
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We fully support these efforts by the Hong Kong Government to improve the enforcement of their endangered species legislation which includes a ban in trade in rhino products.Human Rights
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to issue his five-yearly report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on British human rights ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Kingdom is due to submit its next report to the Human Rights Committee in August 1994.
European Institutes
Ms Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give estimates for the number of jobs which will be created directly by each of the European institutes whose location was agreed at the European summit on 29 October.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Reliable estimates do not exist for staffing levels of all the institutions in question, although staff numbers will be constrained by budgetary limits. Jobs will not in all cases be fitted by new staff. We understand the position to be as follows :
European Environment Agency
The agency's first work programme will be agreed in mid-1994 and organisations will then be chosen as topic centres to carry out specific projects. Until then, it is not possible to estimate the number of jobs which could be created by the agency.
European Training Foundation
There is no information currently available about the likely staffing level of the European Training Foundation.
Office for Veterinary and Plant-health Inspection and Control There is no information currently available about the likely staffing level of the Office for Veterinary and Plant-Health Inspection and Control.
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction The Commission anticipates that the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction will create approximately 30 posts. European Medicines Evaluation Agency
A report prepared for the Commission by independent consultants estimated that staffing levels would be up to 150 full-time staff in 1995 when the EMEA begins business, rising to some 250 by 1999. Agency for Health and Safety at Work
There is no information currently available about the likely staffing level of the Agency for Health and Safety at Work. European Monetary Institute/European Central Bank
It will be for the Council of the European Monetary Institute to decide on the number of staff employed in the Institute. The EMI's Council has not yet met to consider its staffing level.
Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market
In 1990 the Commission, based on a study by consultants, estimated staff numbers at about 300.
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Europol (and Europol Drugs Unit)The Europol Drugs Unit is the pre-convention phase of Europol. Staffing numbers are still only estimates and cannot be clarified until 1 April 1994 when the Europol Drugs Unit moves out of its start-up phase. Estimates are that the Unit will start with about 30 members of staff, including support staff. This will be augmented by additional analysts, liaison officers and support staff as the work demands but is not expected to go beyond 60 to 70 in the pre-convention phase.
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP)
Seventy six people are currently employed in CEDEFOP's Berlin seat. At the European Council on 29 October 1993 it was decided that CEDEFOP's seat should move to Thessaloniki. No change in staffing level is envisaged as a result of the move.
Plutonium Smuggling
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from his German counterpart on the evidence held against British citizen Albert Derbyshire on trial in Flensburg for smuggling plutonium from Russia.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Evidence against Mr. Derbyshire is available only to the prosecuting authorities and his defence lawyer. It is not available to foreign Governments. Mr. Derbyshire's guilt or innocence is a matter for the German courts and Mr. Derbyshire's lawyer.
COCOM
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the future of COCOM ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions taken at the meeting of the co-ordinating committee on multilateral export controls held in The Hague on 16 November.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Representatives of the Governments participating in COCOM met in The Hague on 16 November. They agreed that COCOM should be terminated as soon as possible, but no later than 31 March 1994. There was also broad agreement that at the same time, new arrangements should be established to promote transparency and responsibility in the transfer of armaments and related dual use goods : the details of the new arrangements remain to be decided.
Civil Servants
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department (a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the total number of women employed.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : As at 1 April 1993, the number of persons and the number of women employed in each grade within this Department, including agencies, was :
|Total number of |Total number of
|persons employed|women employed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open structure
Grade 1 |1 |-
Grade 2 |2 |-
Grade 3 |14 |1
Grade 4 |2 |-
Grade 5 |84.5 |5.5
Grade 6 |102 |9
Grade 7 |373 |53
Occupational groups
Senior Executive Officer |217 |26
Higher Executive Officer (D) |9 |3
Higher Executive Officer |536.5 |109
Executive Officer |1,105.5 |322
Administrative Officer |928 |554.5
Administrative Assistant |318 |171.5
Senior Economic Assistant |13 |-
Economic Assistant |2 |1
Senior Assistant Statistician |2 |1
Assistant Statistician |1 |1
Senior Information Officer |14 |9
Information Officer |33 |21
Assistant Information Officer |12 |7
Senior Librarian |4 |4
Librarian |7 |7
Assistant Librarian |21.5 |15.5
Museum Curatorial Grade D |3 |3
Museum Curatorial Grade E |1 |1
Museum Curatorial Grade F |2 |-
Senior P and T Officer |51 |2
Higher P and T Officer |51 |1
P and T Officer |22 |-
Technical Grade 1 |8 |-
Higher Mapping and Charting
Officer |1 |-
Mapping and Charting Officer |1 |-
Mapping and Charting Officer
Technical Grade 1 |1 |1
Senior Research Officer (R) |10 |1
Typing Manager |4.5 |4.5
Senior Personal Secretary |7.5 |7.5
Personal Secretary |142.5 |142.5
Typist |76 |75
Senior Scientific Officer |74.5 |14.5
Higher Scientific Officer |53 |18
Scientific Officer |33 |11
Assistant Scientific Officer |18.5 |9.5
Catering Manager 1 |1 |-
Catering Manager 2 |1 |-
Catering Manager 3 |2 |-
Higher Photographic Officer |1 |-
Photographic Officer |1 |-
P and GS Grade B |3 |-
P and GS Grade C |5 |-
P and GS Grade D |11 |-
P and GS Grade E |16 |-
Stores Officer Grade B |1 |-
Stores Officer Grade C |3 |-
Stores Officer Grade D |6 |1
Support Manager 1 |5 |-
Support Manager 2 |10 |6
Support Manager 3 |45 |20
Support Grade Band 1 |225 |85
Support Grade Band 2 |324 |140.5
Senior TTO |21 |-
Higher TTO |78 |1
TTO |105 |1
Assistant TTO |98 |3
Trainee TTO |18 |2
Communications Officer IV |1 |1
Industrial grades |56 |23.5
Departmental Groups
Senior Grade |145 |5
Diplomatic Service Grade 4 |275 |10
Diplomatic Service Grade 5 |439.5 |55
Diplomatic Service Grade 6 |272.5 |29
Diplomatic Service Grade 7M |414 |94
Diplomatic Service Grade 7D |122.5 |37.5
Diplomatic Service Grade 8 |45 |11
Diplomatic Service Grade 9 |792.5 |397.5
Diplomatic Service Grade 10 |558 |227
Legal Adviser |1 |-
Second Legal Adviser |1 |-
Deputy Legal Adviser |2 |-
Legal Counsellor |7 |3
Senior Assistant Legal Adviser |8 |2
Assistant Legal Adviser |7 |3
Research Counsellor |3 |-
Senior Principal Research Officer |13 |3
Principal Research Officer |27.5 |13.5
Senior Research Officer |10.5 |1.5
Research Officer |2 |2
Diplomatic Service Grade 6C |1 |-
Diplomatic Service Grade 8C |21 |-
Diplomatic Service Grade 9C |14 |-
Diplomatic Service Grade 5T |1 |-
Diplomatic Service Grade 6T |1 |-
Diplomatic Service Grade 7T |26 |-
Diplomatic Service Grade 8T |50 |1
Diplomatic Service Grade 9T |17 |1
Secretary 1 |120 |120
Secretary 2 |465.5 |464.5
Secretary 3 |7.5 |6.5
Chief Overseas Security Officer |40 |-
Overseas Security Officer |171 |2
Nurse |4 |4
Doctor |5 |1
Senior Lecturer |10 |7
Senior Field Investigating Officer |1 |-
Field Investigating Officer 2 |16 |3
Translator 1 |1 |-
Translator 2 |3.5 |3.5
Translator 3 |3 |3
Chief Cypher Superintendent |3 |-
Cypher Superintendent |19 |-
Cypher Supervisor |45 |3
Telecommunications & Cypher
Officer |118 |10
Operator Technician |1 |-
Queen's Messenger |29 |-
Queen's Messenger Escort |3 |-
El Salvador
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring his Department is undertaking of the election process in El Salvador.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We have appointed Dr. David Browning as the British Government's observer of the elections in El Salvador in March. He is there now, observing preparations, and will return for the elections. Our ambassador continues to monitor all aspects of the electoral process.
Western Sahara
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is undertaking to ensure the compliance of the relevant parties to the United States resolutions on the western Sahara.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We will continue to urge both sides to co-operate with the UN Secretary-General in implementing the UN settlement plan.
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Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Indonesia concerning human rights in East Timor.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : In our contacts with the Indonesian authorities, and in the relevant international bodies, we and our European Community partners have, on numerous occasions, underlined our concern that human rights should be respected in East Timor. The matter was raised most recently on 23 November with the Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology during his visit to the United Kingdom.
Antarctica
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to bring forward legislation to repeal the Antarctic Minerals Act 1989 and to ratify the Antarctic environmental protocol ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We intend that a provision to repeal the Antarctic Minerals Act 1989 should be included in a Bill to give effect to the environmental protection protocol to the Antarctic treaty. We hope that this Bill can be introduced at an early opportunity.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Fraud
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will give (a) the number of staff engaged in his Department on fraud prevention work, (b) the amount of money saved as a result, (c) the unit cost ratio of cost to benefit and (d) the number of cases in which fraud was detected and the number of prosecutions which resulted in each of the last 10 years ;
(2) if he will give (a) the number of people arrested for DSS fraud or abuse, (b) the number of cases where no further action was taken, (c) the number cautioned, (d) the number of people charged by the police, (e) the number of cases sent to the Crown prosecution service, (f) the number of cases discontinued by the Crown prosecution service, (g) the number of cases completed in the magistrates court, (h) the number of convictions and (i) the number acquitted at court, for each year since 1979 ;
(3) what is the target for fraud savings in his Department for 1993-94 and 1994-95 ; how these figures are arrived at ; if he will break them down into amounts of (a) sector fraud and (b) organised fraud, and give the amounts for each of the main benefits, the multiplier used and any other relevant factors contributing to the target figure ; and what percentage and amount of the figure will come from housing benefit payments ;
(4) if he will give details of the various multipliers used by his Department in calculating fraud savings and the circumstances in which these are applied.
Mr. Hague : The administration of benefit fraud is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
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Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 24 November 1993 :As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking about benefit fraud. The full range of information requested is not available in every instance but I hope that you will find the following helpful. It may be helpful if I deal with each question in turn.
Your first question asks about the number of staff employed on fraud prevention and the results achieved.
From October this year I have established a new security Branch in Leeds with a responsibility to ensure a co-ordinated and strategic approach to fraud and security matters, and to protect programme expenditure against fraud and abuse.
The Department of Social Security's strategy for combatting fraud is based on three principles :
PREVENTION minimising/eliminating opportunities for Fraud DETECTION catching those who try to cheat the system
DETERRENCE persuading potential fraudsters that it is wrong and not worth the risk.
Along with their other duties, staff in many parts of the Department and its Agencies are concerned with fraud prevention. For example, the way in which claims for benefit are processed, or payments are made, can help to protect the system against abuse. Resources devoted to this general anti- fraud work are not separately identified.
However, figures for the specialist fraud commands within the Benefits Agency are available. As at 31 March 1993 Sector Fraud employed 2,837 staff in the prevention and detection of fraud and abuse. Organised Fraud, a specialist unit set up to investigate suspected organised fraud, employed about 240.
In the year ending 31 March 1993 sector Fraud recorded total savings of £516 million, made up of weekly benefit savings of £491 million, and instrument of payment savings of £25 million, at a cost of £64.7 million. In the same period Organised Fraud recorded total savings of £42 million and cost £7.7 million.
The fraud organisation was set up in its present form only in January 1991 and although it is constantly refining the way in which statistics are maintained, figures for the number of cases in which fraud was detected. However, I am able to tell you from the sector fraud figures available that in the year ending 31 March 1992 approximately 250,000 cases were successfully investigated and resulted in a saving of public funds. In the same year 4,379 prosecutions were undertaken. In the year ending 31 March 1993 the figures were approximately 270,000 investigations and 5,239 prosecutions.
The prosecutions undertaken in the last ten years are as follows :
|Number
---------------------------
1983-84 |8,997
1984-85 |6,702
1985-86 |6,679
1986-87 |6,603
1987-88 |7,231
1988-89 |8,222
1989-90 |8,671
1990-91 |7,911
1991-92 |<1>4,379
1992-93 |5,814
<1> Figures are not
available for organised
fraud for 1991-92.
The Department operates a selective and humane prosecution policy. It is felt that it is more important to check the abuse of the system than to mount expensive prosecutions where, having full regard to the nature of the offence and the debt involved, it would not be cost effective to do so. Steps are being taken to strike a better balance between the benefit savings achieved and the prosecutions undertaken.
Your second question asks about cases which were considered for prosecution by the Department or the Police.
In the year ending 31 March 1993 Organised Fraud's activities led to the arrest of 1,400 people, of whom 575 were subsequently
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prosecuted. Of these 575 prosecutions, 556 (97 per cent.) were successful with over 200 receiving custodial sentences ranging from six months to eight years.Police arrest is a very extreme measure normally used only in dealing with criminals involved in organised fraud, and has little or no relevance to the work of sector fraud and the customers of the Benefits Agency with whom they come into contact in the course of their investigations.
The Department's policy towards fraud is to detect it rapidly, investigate it efficiently and to prosecute offenders where appropriate. Prosecutions are handled by the laying of information and summons. I have quoted our prosecution figures since 1983-84 above.
I regret that statistics on arrests are not kept in a way which would enable me to answer your detailed enquiry.
Your third and fourth questions ask about the targets set for fraud savings, how these figures have been arrived at and details of the multipliers used in calculating them.
Instrument of Payment savings are not subject to any multiplier and all such savings are recorded at face value.
A multiplier of 32 weeks is applied to the amount of weekly Benefit Savings recorded as a result of other successful fraud investigations or interventions. This single multiplier is currently applied to all benefits payable by the Department and reflects the anticipated average period for which claims could be expected to run in the absence of a successful fraud intervention.
Given the nature of the work of Organised Fraud, no formal target is set for that organisation. Although Organised Fraud do achieve and record benefit savings its role has a large element of prevention and a target in monetary terms is not appropriate.
The target set for the Sector Fraud organisation is based mainly on previous years' achievements using empirical data and is set by the Secretary of State taking into account the resources which are available for the anti-fraud effort.
The target for 1993-94 is £557 million and early indications are that the target will be achieved. The target for 1994-95 has not been finalised but is likely to be higher than this year.
The targets are set as a global figure and are not broken down into the various benefits.
I would draw your attention to the Report "Fighting Fraud in 1992-93" which gives fuller detail of the fraud effort for that year.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.
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