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Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have been asked to reply
The information requested is not available.
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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Bomb-proofing
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the cost, by location, of bomb-proofing the Department's premises.
Mr. John M. Taylor : On security grounds, I do not propose to give this information.
Departmental Files
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department ; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".
Mr. John M. Taylor : There are 45 files in the Lord Chancellor's Department--out of a total of 90,974--marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes". These refer to individual file parts. For each National Audit Office study, a number of divisions may be involved and each may possess a file with a number of parts.
The marking "Not for National Audit Office eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the National Audit Office while they are current.
There is no marking "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".
Divorce Law
Mr. Milligan : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans Her Majesty's Government have to bring forward reform to the law of divorce in England and Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The Lord Chancellor has today laid before Parliament a consultation document, "Looking to the Future : Mediation and the Ground for Divorce", which canvasses a number of options for divorce law reform and the greater use of family mediation. The Lord Chancellor hopes that the document will stimulate a wide-ranging and informed debate about this important subject.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Security Services
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to seek power to issue a post-hoc warrant to cover any interference with property or wireless telegraph by a member or members of the security services.
International Organisations
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of United Kingdom subscriptions to international organisations in each of the last five years at constant prices.
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Mr. Goodlad : The total cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office- -including the Overseas Development Administration--of United Kingdom subscriptions to international organisations at 1992-93 prices was :
|£ million
------------------------------
1988-89 |830
1989-90 |791
1990-91 |758
1991-92 |993
1992-93 |1,035
Intelligence and Security Committee
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given to including a Member of the European Parliament on the intelligence and security committee ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hurd : The Intelligence Services Bill provides for the members of the intelligence and security committee to be appointed by the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. Each Committee member shall be a member of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords, and none shall be a Minister of the Crown. There are no other restrictions on who the Prime Minister may appoint.
Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters, in regard to the implications for the environment, he intends to raise at the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council special meeting on the general agreement on tariffs and trade.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The special Foreign Affairs Council on 2 December did not discuss the implications for the environment of the general agreement on tariffs and trade. The existing GATT system allows for trade-restrictive measures to protect the environment, under certain conditions. The proposed Uruguay round agreement would strengthen the ability of the international trading system to respond to environmental concerns.
Turkey
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government will take on the eviction by the Turkish security forces of the villagers of Hassana in south-eastern Turkey ; and if he will take steps to encourage the Turkish authorities to ensure that the villagers have sufficient food, clothing, warmth and shelter.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We have made clear to the Turkish Government our concern about the conflict in south-east Turkey, and will continue to do so. It is appalling that innocent civilians should be caught up in the violence, and vital that human rights should be properly respected.
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Information Security
ment's sensitive documents unit ; how many staff are employed in its operation ; and approximately how many documents per annum come within its purview.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Foreign and Commonwealth Office records are reviewed for any continuing sensitivity 29 or 30 years after their creation, by a team of up to nine part-time senior retired members of the diplomatic service, supervised and supported by seven permanent officials in the library and records department. Approximately 650 ft of records have been reviewed this year, in accordance with the guidelines contained in chapter 9 of the "Open Government" White paper--Cm. 2290--of July 1993.
United Kingdom Overseas Visitors (Financial Assistance)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received (a) directly and (b) via consulates from United Kingdom citizens in respect of requests for financial assistance to help them get out of immediate difficulties abroad.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : There are strict criteria which have to be met before financial assistance from the public purse 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 the rapid transfer of funds through commercial channels from relatives or friends. We occasionally receive representations, either directly or referred by Members of Parliament, from the public on posts abroad who have refused them financial assistance.
United Nations Committee(Administrative and Budgetary Questions)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the vote on 15 November to re-elect the United Nations advisory committee on administrative and budgetary questions ; and how the decision will affect the United Kingdom.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Kingdom expert on the committee failed to gain re-election at the vote in the UN in New York on 15 November. The three candidates contesting the two vacant seats, received the following votes : Ms Eriksson Fogh--Sweden--132, Ms Shenwick--United States of America--102, Mr. Stitt--United Kingdom--91. The result was a disappointment. But the United Kingdom expert remains in New York dealing with UN financial questions and is our representative on the fifth committee of the General Assembly. It is the fifth committee that has the authority to take decisions on UN financial issues and is the body to which ACABQ reports.
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Departmental Files
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department ; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".
Mr. Goodlad : The information requested is not readily available. To provide it would require consultations with all overseas posts. This could only be done at disproportionate cost. The marking "Not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's internal audit unit regularly checks to ensure that the marking is not abused. There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".
World Summit on Children
Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish the Government's action statement arising from the World Summit on Children ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Kingdom published in July 1992 Command Paper No. 1984 entitled "Report on the United Kingdom Implementation of the Goals agreed by the World Summit on Children". A copy was placed in the Library of the House.
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Government Car Service
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers ; and how many vehicles are involved.
Mr. Newton : The Privy Council Office meets the cost of a car and driver for each of its two Ministers. The total cost in 1992-93 was £132,692.
Departmental Files
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department ; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".
Mr. Newton : The Privy Council Office holds no files with such markings.
WALES
Welsh Energy Project
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what recent discussions he has had with the chairman and energy experts at the Welsh Development Agency on the Welsh energy project ; (2) if he will make a statement on the information gathered, conclusions reached and policy proposals developed by the Welsh energy project.
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Mr. Redwood : I have had no discussions with the Welsh Development Agency about the Welsh energy project. This is an operational matter and I have therefore asked the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Gentleman and for a copy of his response to be placed in the Library of the House.
A470
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to prioritise the road improvement scheme to the A470 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Betws-y-Coed road ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend is considering the scope to bring forward some of the more important schemes in the forward road programme. The draft orders for the first stage of the Lledr Valley improvement, between Cancoed and Minffordd, were published on 30 November.
Schools
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much capital grant funding has been allocated to the schools in Wales which have decided to opt out ; how much this is per school ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : There are two types of capital grant available to grant-maintained schools : a formula allocation for the purchase of equipment or small-scale capital works ; and project allocations for specific capital work.
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In 1993-94 11 grant-maintained schools have received £211,346 under the formula allocation, giving an average per school of £19,213. As regards specific project allocations, seven schools have had projects approved in principle and have been invited to submit firm estimates and tenders. The total outline estimate costs of the projects which have been approved in principle come to some £5.434 million.Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools to date have opted out ; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the opt-out scheme for schools in Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : At 1 September this year there were 11 grant- maintained schools. A further three schools have been approved to become grant-maintained from 1 January 1994. Applications from a further two schools are currently under consideration and a number of other schools are in the process of balloting parents.
Aberconwy
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the efforts the Welsh Office has made to secure, via the Department of Trade and Industry, objective 5(b) status for the Aberconwy borough.
Mr. Redwood : Aberconwy is on the list of eligible objective 5(b) areas submitted by the Government to the European Commission which will make known its decisions in due course.
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Forest Enterprise
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on public access rights and the privatisation of Forest Enterprise ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend and I have received 55 representations on these matters since the Forestry Review Group was established on 30 March 1993.
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total expenditure by the Welsh Development Agency on rural areas and initiatives in 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93 ; and what is the projected expenditure in 1993-94 ;
(2) what are the total receipts to date of sales of Welsh Development Agency property in the current financial year ; (3) what proportion of the Welsh Development Agency's budget was allocated to rural areas and initiatives in 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93 ; and what is the projected proportion in 1993-94 ; (4) which properties owned by the Welsh Development Agency have been sold in the current financial year ; and which other properties are on the market ;
(5) how many members of staff of the Welsh Development Agency are employed on implementing the agency's rural policies ;
(6) what was the total annual rents charged on those properties sold by the Welsh Development Agency in the current year.
Mr. Redwood : I have arranged for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Gentleman and for a copy of his response to be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from individuals and organisations in Wales on the rural policy of the Welsh Development Agency in the current financial year.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the geographic boundaries of the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Welsh Development Agency were last reviewed.
Mr. Redwood : The position was reviewed at the time of the 1991 financial, management and policy review of the board.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which geographical areas in Wales are covered by the rural division of the Welsh Development Agency.
Mr. Redwood : The agency is responsible for all rural areas in Wales except for the county of Powys and the districts of Ceredigion in Dyfed and Meirionnydd in Gwynedd.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department last carried out a review of the rural policies of the Welsh Development Agency.
Mr. Redwood : The rural policies of the agency are a matter for the agency. They are kept under continual review.
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Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultation his Department has had with local authorities, employer representative organisations and the Welsh Trades Union Congress over the future role of rural policy within the Welsh Development Agency.
Mr. Redwood : None. The agency's programmes for rural areas are compatible with overall rural policy in Wales. In drawing up its programmes, the agency consults widely.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much, in cash and percentage terms, of the Welsh Development Agency's total income was derived from (a) grant in aid, (b) capital receipts and (c) current income in 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94 ; and what are the projected figures for 1994-95.
Mr. Redwood : The figures are as follows :
|1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 (plans)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Grant in aid
Cash (£ million) |87.067 |74.866 |59.550
Per cent. |54.0 |44.9 |34.7
(b) Capital receipts
Cash (£ million) |38.280 |59.050 |83.900
Per cent. |23.7 |35.4 |48.9
(c) Current income
Cash (£ million) |31.406 |31.999 |25.950
Per cent. |19.4 |19.2 |15.1
I will shortly be announcing the agency's budget for 1994-95.
Departmental Files
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office eyes" are held by the Department ; and how many are marked "Not for Public Accounts Committee eyes".
Mr. Redwood : There are 97 files in my Department marked "Not for NAO eyes". These figures refer to individual jackets--file parts. For each NAO study a number of divisions may be involved and each may possess a file with a number of parts.
The marking "Not for NAO eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO and PAC are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.
There is no marking "Not for PAC eyes".
Berse Horticultural Scheme
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Berse horticultural scheme, Wrexham.
Mr. Redwood : The future of the scheme is a matter for NACRO--New Careers Training--and North East Wales TEC.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times departmental ministers and officials have visited the Berse horticultural scheme.
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Mr. Redwood : There have been no visits by Welsh Office Ministers or officials to this scheme.
Less-favoured Areas
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the Budget Statement upon prospects for 1994 in the less-favoured areas of Wales.
Mr. Redwood : I announced last week that direct Government support during 1994-95 for agriculture in Wales will be £233.9 million. This means an extra £18.6 million, 8.6 per cent., for Welsh agriculture, compared to planned provision for the current financial year. Despite the need to keep a firm control on public spending, this demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to the agriculture industry in Wales. The agriculture industry in Wales is currently in a much healthier state, helped in part by much lower interest rates and very low inflation. These factors benefit hill farmers as much as other parts of the economy.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the grant-maintained schools and those schools seeking grant- maintained status in each of the less-favoured areas of Wales, giving the amount of extra cash grants for each of the
grant-maintained schools ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The only formal designation of less-favoured areas is under European Community directives concerned with farming. There is no connection with education expenditure. However, in such areas in Wales there are six grant-maintained schools. They are : Cwmcarn Comprehensive, Gwent
Bishop Vaughan Catholic Comprehensive, West Glamorgan
Brynmawr Comprehensive, Gwent
Caergeiliog Primary, Gwynedd
Llanerfyl Church in Wales Primary, Powys ; and
Ysgol Derwen, Clwyd
In addition, St. Albans comprehensive in Pontypool, Gwent which has been approved for grant-maintained status from 1 January 1994, lies in a less- favoured area.
The funding of grant-maintained schools reflects the level of resources that a school would have received had it remained with its former local education authority. All grant-maintained schools, irrespective of whether they are in a less-favoured area, are eligible for transitional grants, special purpose grants, and capital grants over and above their annual maintenance grant.
School Pupils
Mr. Hanson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce modular approach testing in future examinations for GCSE pupils.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I have no immediate plans to do so. Fair markings of GCSE grades are best maintained by a terminal examination and adherence to the specified limits on GCSE coursework.
Cockle Dredging
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of fishing vessels that have been granted an authorisation covering the October to December period to suction-dredge for cockles in (a) the
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North Wales and North West England Sea Fisheries Committee area and (b) elsewhere in Wales, if he will specify the catch limits and other harvesting conditions imposed ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Gwilym Jones : Such matters are the responsibility of sea fisheries committees. I understand that the North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee has issued 10 authorisations to suction dredge for cockles on Lavan sands for a limited period and that these are the only authorisations which have been issued in Wales.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had and what representations he has received in relation to the issuing of authorisations for cockle fishing by suction dredging in Traeth Lafan in Conwy bay.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : I have received one letter from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
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