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Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance is issued in respect of the social fund to ensure that similar priority levels are applied to
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applications throughout the financial year ; what changes to the guidance he is considering ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Scott : Guidance on the management of the social fund is contained in the "Social Fund Officer's Guide", a copy of which is in the Library.
All aspects of the social fund are closely monitored, including the guidance issued to social fund officers.
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the normal maximum repayment period for a loan from the social fund ; what changes to that period he is considering ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The normal maximum repayment period for a social fund loan is 78 weeks although this can be extended to 104 weeks. All aspects of the social fund are closely monitored, including repayment periods for loans.
Pensioners Incomes
Mr. Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples had incomes below one half of average household income each year since 1979.
Mr. Hague [pursuant to his reply, 6 December 1993, c. 111] : The available information is published in tables F1 (BHC) and F1 (AHC) of "Households Below Average Income 1979-1988/89" and "Households Below Average Income 1979-1990/91", copies of which are in the Library.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Arable Area Payments
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many holdings in each county of Northern Ireland have taken up the arable area payments scheme.
Mr. Ancram : The number of holdings which have taken up the arable area payments scheme are :
|Number
--------------------------
Antrim |683
Armagh |256
Down |1,109
Fermanagh |2
Londonderry |700
Tyrone |344
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many landowners in Northern Ireland are receiving annual payments under the arable area payments scheme (a) in each band of £25,000 up to £500,000 and (b) over £500,000 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram : In Northern Ireland, 3,090 landowners are receiving annual payments under the arable area payments scheme of up to £24, 999, and four landowners payments between £25,000 and £49,999. No landowners are receiving payments higher than these amounts.
Agri-environmental Funding
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much will be spent in Northern Ireland in each year from 1993-94 to 1995-96 on (a)
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environmentally sensitive areas, identifying the amount allocated for the new access option, (b) new nitrate sensitive areas, (c) the moorland scheme, (d) the new habitat scheme, (e) the new countryside access scheme, (f) the organic aid scheme and (g) the total amount of money being spent on the agri-environment scheme in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Ancram : Planned expenditure in Northern Ireland for each of the schemes under the agri-environment programme is set out in the table.
|1993-94|1994-95|1995-96
|'000 |'000 |'000
--------------------------------------------------------
ESA Scheme |- |2,700 |4,000
Moorland Scheme |- |- |90
Habitat Creation Scheme |- |- |100
Organic Aid Scheme |- |60 |60
|-------|-------|-------
Total |- |2,760 |4,250
The NI programme, which is still subject to EC approval,
does not have
provisions for nitrate sensitive areas, countryside
access or access in
environmentally sensitive areas-ESAs.
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Crops
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many holdings there are in each county of Northern Ireland in 1992 and 1993 growing (a) cereals, (b) potatoes, (c) linseed, (d) sugar beet, (e) horticultural produce and (f) oilseeds.
Mr. Ancram : No sugar beet is grown in Northern Ireland. Information on the numbers of growers of linseed, horticultural crops and oilseeds is not available for any year prior to 1993. Where rules on disclosure permit, the information requested is as follows :
, 1992 Holdings growing County |Cereals |Potatoes -------------------------------------------- Antrim |1,265 |655 Armagh |407 |207 Down |1,966 |709 Fermanagh |11 |77 Londonderry |1,135 |549 Tyrone |550 |431 Northern Ireland |5,334 |2,628
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1993 Holdings growing
County |Cereals |Potatoes |Linseed |Horticultural|Oilseeds
|crops
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antrim |1,216 |523 |<1>- |80 |<1>-
Armagh |394 |170 |<1>- |498 |6
Down |1,853 |591 |<1>- |174 |38
Fermanagh |6 |44 |<1>- |30 |<1>-
Londonderry |1,090 |431 |<1>- |39 |11
Tyrone |519 |316 |<1>- |105 |<1>-
Northern Ireland |5,078 |2,075 |13 |926 |64
<1> Information cannot be released because of the small number of growers.
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the number of hectares taken up in each county of Northern Ireland in 1992 and 1993 by (a) cereals, (b) potatoes, (c) linseed, (d) sugar beet, (e) horticultural produce and (f) oilseeds.
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Mr. Ancram : No sugar beet is grown in Northern Ireland and information on the area of linseed is not available for any year prior to 1993. Where rules on disclosure permit, the information requested is as follows :
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Hectares
County |Cereals |Potatoes |Horticultural|Oilseeds
|crops
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992
Antrim |9,618 |3,156 |227 |52
Armagh |3,281 |436 |1,941 |69
Down |18,822 |3,369 |954 |616
Fermanagh |98 |18 |92 |7
Londonderry |10,846 |2,920 |165 |274
Tyrone |3,965 |851 |198 |45
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Northern Ireland |46,630 |10,750 |3,577 |1,063
Hectares
County |Cereals |Potatoes |Linseed |Horticultural|Oilseeds
|crops
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993
Antrim |9,685 |2,550 |<1>- |173 |<1>-
Armagh |3,354 |368 |<1>- |1,846 |72
Down |18,912 |2,915 |<1>- |931 |397
Fermanagh |17 |13 |<1>- |94 |<1>-
Londonderry |11,099 |2,344 |<1>- |153 |157
Tyrone |4,022 |698 |<1>- |138 |<1>-
|------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Northern Ireland |47,089 |8,888 |128 |3,335 |689
<1> Information cannot be released because of the small number of growers.
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Training
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is his policy in respect of independent companies tendering for public contracts in competition with the existing training centres to manage training, education and enterprise programmes ;
(2) what is his policy in respect of independent companies entering into partnership with the existing training centres to manage training, education and enterprise programmes.
Mr. Tim Smith : Responsibility of the the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Andrew Hunter, dated 5 January 1994.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your questions about policy in respect of independent companies tendering for public contracts in competition, or entering into partnership, with existing Training Centres.
The Training and Employment Agency currently has sufficient contracted capacity to manage and deliver its training programmes. Independent companies and other organisations do operate in competition with Training Centres. There is no bar on such organisatiions entering into parternship with Training Centres for those purposes.
I hope that you find this helpful.
Quangos
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all former British representative members in the European Parliament who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all individuals who are or were members of the House of Lords who since 1979 have been appointed to any quasi-autonomous non- governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.
Sir John Wheeler : The following is the information :
Name |Title of post |Salary |Duration of
|(£) |appointment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duke of Abercorn |Chairman, |21,065 |1989-95
|Laganside Corporation
Lord Lowry |Ex-Officio Chairman, |None |1979-88
|Statute Law
|Committee
Lord O'Neill |Chairman, |None |1989-93
|Northern Ireland
|Museums Advisory
|Committee
|Chairman, |None |1993-97
|Northern Ireland
|Museums Council
|Trustee, Ulster Folk |None |1969-90
|and Transport Museum
|including
|Vice-Chairman of |1987-90
|Board of Trustees
|Northern Ireland |None |1987-96
|Member of Museums
|and Galleries
|Commission
The Viscount |Member, Green Park |5,000 |1992-96
Brookeborough DL | Hospital Trust
Lord Plant<1> |Chairman of SACHR |Nominal |1976-80
Lord Blease<1> |Member of SACHR |None |1977-79
|Member of Rathgael |None |1989-92
|and Whiteabbey
|Schools Management
|Board
<1> Life Peerage conferred during 1978.
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all former hon. Members who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.
Sir John Wheeler : John Carson, CBE, a former MP, was a member of Laganside Corporation from June 1989 to June 1992. His salary at the end of his term was £6,820.
James Frederick Nicholson MEP was a member of the Southern health and social services board from July 1979 to June 1985. No salary was paid. He was an MP from June 1983 to June 1985.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Russia
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Russian election and referendum.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The elections and referendum have given Russia her first post-Soviet democratic Parliament and a constitution which guarantees democratic institutions and individual human rights. This is an historic advance. No single party won an overall majority in the new Parliament. The democrats and reformers have won about one third of the seats. The extreme nationalists did unexpectedly well, but we should keep this in proportion ; they have 64 seats out of the 450 in the lower House, the Duma. President Yeltsin has said that Russia will continue on the path of reform and Britain will continue to support that progress.
British observers, including several hon. Members of this House, concluded that the election procedures, although complex, were adequate to ensure a fair poll and reflected the views of the Russian people. Copies of their report have been placed in the Library of the House.
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Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he will be giving to the liquidators of BCCI when they visit Abu Dhabi to discuss BCCI.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : No request for assistance during their visit to Abu Dhabi has been received from the liquidators of BCCI.
Consulate, Dusseldorf
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the civil service grade of Mr. Bullen who works at the consulate in Dusseldorf ; and what training he and other members of staff have received in dealing with members of the public.
Mr. Goodlad : Mr. Bullock--not Bullen--is a locally engaged visa clerk. He received all necessary training in the consulate general in Dusseldorf to enable him to deal with members of the public. Other members of staff at the consulate general have received the training necessary to undertake their particular duties.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visitors' applications have been made in Dusseldorf for each year since 1983 ; and how many refusals have been made for visitors' visas.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Separate statistics are not available for the number of "visit" applications and visitor refusals made at the British consulate general, Dusseldorf since 1983.
The following figures are available for non-settlement applications-- including visitors, students, and working holidaymakers.
Year |Received|Refused --------------------------------------------- 1992 |19,529 |461 1991 |18,327 |287 1990 |17,327 |282 1989 |12,067 |147 1988 no figures are available 1983 no figures are available
Ex-Soviet Nuclear Plants
Ms Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the take-up of technical assistance in the Commonwealth independent states for making safe nuclear power plants in the states of the former Soviet Union.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 6 December 1993, at column 74.
Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Foreign Affairs Council of 20 and 21 December, indicating the voting record of each member state on each item and where no formal votes were taken.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : I attended the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 and 21 December.
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The Council agreed negotiating mandates for new partnership agreements between the European Union and Tunisia and Israel. There was a brief discussion on follow-up to the European Council on 10 and 11 December. The presidency noted that follow-up work would fall to the Greek and German presidencies and the Commission. The Commission called for an early decision on interest-rate subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises, in the light of the European Council conclusions calling for a conclusion by the end of the year. There was a brief discussion of the outcome of the Uruguay round negotiations : the Commission confirmed that it would seek to improve EC access to third country markets before market access schedules are finalised on 15 February. The Council also agreed on the need for an early discussion of trade policy towards central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.There were ministerial negotiating sessions with the four applicants for Community membership. Excellent progress was made. A large number of negotiating chapters have now been closed, including the difficult environmental standards chapters and all of the Maastricht chapters except economic and monetary union.
On the former Yugoslavia, Ministers prepared for their meeting with the parties on 22 December. The Council subsequently discussed the Union's joint action on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Bosnia. They agreed to make 48 mecu--£39 million--available for urgent needs, notably in the energy sector, of which the financing would be split 50 : 50 between the Community and member states.
Ministers agreed to invite the President of the Commission to propose a middle-ranking Commission official to act as the Cyprus observer for the Union. His terms of reference will be
"in the light of the Council's review in January 1995 of the question of Cyprus' accession to the European Union, to report periodically to the Council on the implications of political developments in Cyprus for the requirements of the acquis of the Union, including progress in the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission for Cyprus."
The Council discussed the Commission's proposals for new free trade agreements with the Baltic states.
The Council approved unanimously a joint action, covering the first phase of the initiative for a pact on stability in Europe. This involves a conference to launch the initiative to be held in April 1994 in Paris.
The presidency reported on progress made so far in agreeing negotiating directives for the Community in the mid-term review of the Lome convention. Negotiations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will begin in 1994.
The Council discussed outstanding nominations to the Committee of the Regions. The Portuguese--Portugal is the only country yet to make nominations--said that they would aim to do so before 15 January, the date agreed by the last special European Council as the deadline for the first meeting of the Committee.
The Council adopted a decision to put into effect from 1 January 1994 the code of conduct it had agreed on 6 December on public access to documents held by the Council. The Netherlands and Denmark voted against.
The Council briefly reviewed progress towards agreeing a regulation on a common export regime for dual use goods.
The Council voted to remove tariff concessions from the Austrian subsidiaries of GM and Grundig, both of
Column 39
which had received illegal state aid. Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg voted against. The decision on Grundig was subsequently suspended following full repayment of the state aid.The Council discussed the proposed budget discipline decision without reaching agreement.
The EC/India co-operation agreement was signed by the Commission, the presidency and the Indian Commerce Minister in the margins of the Council.
Dealings with Companies
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what dealings he or any member of his Department has had, whether for export promotion or for any other purpose with (a) ATE International Ltd., (b) Admincheck Ltd., (c) Advance Electronics Development Ltd., (d) Arctic Centre ICE Ltd., (e) Atlas Equipment Co. Ltd., (f) Atlas Air Conditioning Co. Ltd., (g) Dominion International, (h) Endshire Export Marketing, (i) Falcon Systems, (j) Geodesigns, (k) Investacast Precision Castings Ltd., (l) Meed International Ltd., and (m) Rajbrook Ltd. ; and if he will give the purpose of his dealings with each of these companies.
Mr. Goodlad : The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Lome Convention
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications of agreement in the latest round of the general agreement on tariffs and trade for the future of the Lome convention.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The mid-term review of the fourth Lome convention is under way. This will involve negotiations between the EC and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific--ACP--states on possible changes to the convention to reflect developments since it was agreed in 1989. These negotations must be concluded by March 1995. The convention itself will expire on 1 March 2000.
The mid-term review takes place in the context of the successful conclusion of the Uruguay round. However, the Final Act agreed on 15 December does not affect the status of the convention.
Sudan
Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in the last three months regarding the persecution of Christians in the Sudan ; and what action he is taking to promote an end to the conflict in Sudan.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We receive many representations, both from the Churches themselves and from interested human rights organisations. We have welcomed the initiative of the Kenyan, Ugandan, Ethiopian and Eritrean Presidents to try to encourage dialogue between the Government of Sudan and the factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Army. With other European Union member states, we are encouraging the parties to respond positively to mediation efforts.
Column 40
Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to ensure that the operation of THORP does not contribute towards the international proliferation of materials useful for the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Our policy of non-proliferation aspects of reprocessing at THORP is set out in the statement of Government policy on reprocessing and operation of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield : a copy of this statement is in the Library of the House. The statement makes it clear that we consider that any potential proliferation risks associated with the operation of THORP are satisfactorily met by the existing arrangements to prevent theft, sabotage and diversion.
EC Voting
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out for each member state of the European Community (a) its estimated population, (b) the number of votes allocated to its respective ministers in the Council of Ministers when voting on the basis of a qualified and weighted majority, (c) the approximate population represented by each vote, (d) that population expressed as a percentage of that member state's population and (e) the population per vote expressed as a percentage of the total approximate population of all member states of the European Community, together with the respective totals and the requisite number of votes and assenting member states required for assent.
Mr. Goodlad : The information is as follows :
Member state |Estimated |Number of |Approximate
|population |votes in |population per
|council |vote
|(millions) |(thousands)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |10.1 |5 |2,020
Denmark |5.2 |3 |1,733
Germany |80.6 |10 |8,060
Greece |10.3 |5 |2,060
Spain |39.1 |8 |4,888
France |57.5 |10 |5,750
Ireland |3.6 |3 |1,200
Italy |56.9 |10 |5,690
Luxembourg |0.4 |2 |200
Netherlands |15.2 |5 |3,040
Portugal |9.9 |5 |1,980
United Kingdom |58.0 |10 |5,800
|------- |------- |-------
|336.7 |76 |-
Member state |Approximate per|Approximate per
|cent. |cent.
|of member state|of total EC
|population
|population
|Per vote |Per vote
----------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |20 |0.60
Denmark |33 |0.51
Germany |10 |2.39
Greece |20 |0.61
Spain |12.5 |1.45
France |10 |1.71
Ireland |33 |0.36
Italy |10 |1.69
Luxembourg |50 |0.06
Netherlands |20 |0.90
Portugal |20 |0.59
United Kingdom |10 |1.72
The number of votes which constitutes a qualified majority is 54. There are numerous combinations of member states whose total number of votes in Council reaches or exceeds this figure.
Quangos
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of all individuals who are or were members of the House of Lords who since 1979 have been appointed to any quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.
Mr. Goodlad : There are currently 14 members of the House of Lords. No salaries are paid.
The British Council
Lord Chorley : board member. Three-year renewable appointment. Lord Wilson of Tillyorn : board member. Five-year renewable appointment.
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
Lord Desai : board member. Three-year appointment renewable. The Great Britain-China Centre
Lord Callaghan : vice-president. Indefinite appointment. Lord Holme : board member. Indefinite appointment.
Lord Howe : president. Indefinite appointment.
Lord Maclehose : vice president. Indefinite appointment. British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
Baroness Blackstone : board member. One-year appointment. The Britain- Russia Centre
Lord Bottomley : board member. Indefinite appointment.
Lord Dormand : board member. Indefinite appointment.
Lord Runcie : vice-president. Indefinite appointment.
Viscount Whitelaw : president. Indefinite appointment.
Commonwealth Institute
Baroness Flather : governor. Four-year appointment.
Commonwealth of Learning
Lord Briggs : chairman.
To answer the question in full would incur disproportionate cost.
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of all former hon. Members who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.
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