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The Attorney-General : During the current financial year the Crown Prosecution Service launched a regional public awareness campaign. The objective of the campaign is to inform the public about its role and responsibilities, as recommended by the Home Affairs Select Committee. The effectiveness of the campaign will be measured against the amount of editorial coverage in newspapers, radio and television. There have been no other advertising or promotional campaigns in the Law Officers Departments, including the Government Property Lawyers Agency, in the current year. No campaigns costing over £10,000 are at present planned for 1994-95.
Matrix Churchill
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 17 December, Official Report, column 981, whether any of the Treasury Solicitor's staff engaged in assisting the Scott inquiry exercised any function in respect of, or were directly or indirectly party to, the advice offered to Government witnesses, or related witness statements in the Matrix Churchill case.
The Attorney-General : No. The two members of the Treasury Solicitor's staff who are assisting the inquiry, Mr. Christopher Muttukumaru and Ms Helen Duffy, had no involvement in the Matrix Churchill case either when serving in the Treasury Solicitor's Department or, in the case of Mr. Muttukumaru, when seconded to my Department between December 1988 and September 1991.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 17 December, Official Report, column 981, whether any of the Treasury Solicitor's staff engaged in assisting the Scott inquiry exercised any function in respect of, or were directly or indirectly party to, the giving of advice, or the receiving of information in connection with the Treasury Solicitor's shareholding in International Military Services Ltd.
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Overseas Visits
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Attorney-General how many visits abroad the Solicitor-General made during 1993 ; and what was (a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.
The Attorney-General : The Solicitor-General made one visit abroad during 1993. The cost to public funds was £467.51. The purpose of the visit was to discuss bilateral legal issues with the French Minister of Justice.
Treasury Solicitors
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Attorney-General whether it is usual for Treasury Solicitors to suggest amendments to witness statements of Government service employees giving evidence on behalf of the Government ; what internal guidance on the giving of such advice or suggestions exists ; and if he will place a copy of such advice in the Library.
The Attorney-General : Advice provided by the Treasury Solicitor's Department to its clients may include advice in relation to witness statements. No internal guidance exists on this subject.
Mr. Gordon Foxley
Mr. Straw : To ask the Attorney-General what action the Director of Public Prosecutions has taken to inquire into the circumstances in which the convicted Mr. Gordon Foxley has remained on bail and unsentenced for three months.
The Attorney-General : The granting of bail is a matter for the court. However, I understand that following his convictions on 3 November 1993 the court granted Mr. Gordon Foxley conditional bail pending sentence.
On 7 February 1994 the judge adjourned sentence to a date to be fixed due to Mr. Foxley's medical condition.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
EC Overseas Development Council
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been taken by the Overseas Development Council of the European Community under the new powers provided by article 130 and 130A of the treaty on European Union.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The powers of the Development Council are not affected by articles 130 and 130A of the treaty on European Union, both of which refer to the internal policy of the Community.
Malaysia
Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the value of Overseas Development Administration support for the Malaysian water supply projects undertaken by Biwater for each year since 1985 and the percentage this represents for the year involved of (a) water and sewerage project beneficiaries and (b) total Overseas Development Administration-aided projects ;
(2) what projects undertaken by the Biwater group of companies have had Overseas Development
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Administration assistance since 1983 ; and if he will list the value, location and nature of the projects involved, the tendering process involved for each, and the percentage of Overseas Development Administration assistance each has represented for each year involved.Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answers 8 February 1994] : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 14 February, column 568. Of the projects listed in that reply, the Cairo Wastewater project was won after competitive tendering, and the two ATP projects for Malaysia and Sri Lanka were negotiated contracts.
The table below gives the percentage of the gross United Kingdom aid programme these three projects represented for each year involved :
Financial Expenditure (£m) Percentage of
year aid programme
|(of which |(of which
|Malaysia) |Malaysia)
------------------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |48.610 |(48.610) |3.82 |(3.82)
1987-88 |5.425 |(5.425) |0.41 |(0.41)
1988-89 |3.145 |(1.944) |0.21 |(0.13)
1989-90 |4.232 |(3.475) |0.27 |(0.22)
1990-91 |0.169 |0 |0.01 |0
1991-92 |0.002 |0 |0.0001 |0
1992-93 |0.637 |0 |0.03 |0
1993-94 |0.702 |0 |0.04 |0
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report, column 136, what was the date of the first letter after 27 June 1988 from Her Majesty's Government to the offer of civil aid for the Pergau project to the Malaysian Government.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 14 February 1994] : On 10 November 1988 Her Majesty's Government indicated in a letter to the Malaysian Government that they were prepared to consider aid and trade provision support for the Pergau project, subject to appraisal. The formal written offer of support was sent to the Malaysian Government on 17 April 1989.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Stationary Cars
Mr. Cox : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will give instructions that stationary cars that are parked in the precincts of the House of Commons are not, while they are parked, to be left with their engines running.
Mr. Michael M. Martin : This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms, who I understand is taking action to ensure the co-operation of all drivers in keeping the exhaust emissions from their vehicles to the minimum while they are within the precincts.
Blackawton Bitter
Mr. Steen : To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee how many gallons of Blackawton bitter brewed in South Hams has been supplied to the House in the last 28 days ; and how much of it has been consumed.
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Mr. Colin Shepherd : I shall ask the Director of Catering Services to reply to the hon. Member.
Electrical Appliances
Mr. Steen : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what is the estimated cost of labelling each electrical appliance on the parliamentary estate with a portcullis and an appliance number on a non- destructible tag ; what are the reasons for labelling each of these appliances ; and how many such appliances there are.
Mr. Ray Powell : These are matters for the Director of Works.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Bosnian Muslim Seventh Brigade
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the activities of the Bosnian Muslim Seventh Brigade ; and if he can list the countries from which its participants come.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The brigade is believed to be near Vitez in central Bosnia. We understand that it mainly consists of Bosnians displaced by the war. There are foreign volunteers, but it is not possible to give precise information about their countries of origin.
South Africa
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs ; pursuant to the answer of 26 January, Official Report, column 308, whether the Government are now in a position to give advice and assistance to South Africa on the creation of a multi-racial peacekeeping force ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We are helping the national peacekeeping force by providing the co-ordinator of the Commonwealth peacekeeping assistance group together with six military advisers and four police officers. Their role will be to advise on, and monitor, curriculum and training methods.
Morocco
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by Her Majesty's representative in Morocco to inquire of the whereabouts of the missing Sahrawi people ; and if he will give a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We regularly take up human rights issues with the Moroccan Government, both bilaterally and with our European partners. They are aware of the importance we attach to respect for human rights. A clause requiring a satisfactory human rights performance will be an important element of the new agreement which the European Union plans to negotiate with Morocco.
Yugoslavia
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of regular Croatian forces engaged in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Nations estimated on 31 January that between 3,000 and 5,000 Croatian Army troops were deployed in Bosnia. The United Nations Secretary General has been requested to report further to the Security Council on 17 February.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the conclusion of the UNPROFOR report concerning the artillery attack on the bread queue in Sarajevo on 21 August 1992 in respect of responsibility for the attack.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We understand that the United Nations was unable to draw any conclusions from its investigation into this incident.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those (a) British aid workers and (b) British military personnel who have been killed in Bosnia-Herzegovina to date ; and if he will indicate which of the factions are thought to be responsible in each case.
(A)
Mr. Gulam Soobiah
Mrs. Christine Wincutt
Mr. Paul Goodall
(B)
Lance Corporal Wayne Edwards
It is impossible to determine with certainty who was responsible for these tragic deaths.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of regular Serbian forces engaged in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have seen no evidence that regular Serbian troops are engaged in Bosnia. But we believe that Belgrade continues to give support to the Bosnian Serbs by recruiting personnel and providing equipment.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made to establish responsibility for the murder of the British aid worker, Paul Goodall, in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Bosnian Government are actively investigating the case and are providing us with progress reports.
Caribbean Countries
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what study he has made of the effect on the Caribbean economies of a collapse in their banana exports and the possibility of the illegal drugs trade filling the vacuum.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Some countries, particularly in the eastern Caribbean, are heavily dependent for foreign earnings upon their banana exports. A sudden decrease in exports would be damaging to those countries. This is one of the factors we have always borne in mind in determining our policy towards the Caribbean and towards trade in bananas.
There are problems in parts of the Caribbean related to trade in illegal drugs and we have given what assistance we can to eradicate these. We will continue to do so in the future.
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Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what advice his officials have given Caribbean Commonwealth Governments on the introduction of election expense laws and the threat to their democracies from illegal drug money ;
(2) what steps he has taken following the correspondence from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight on the lack of rules about election expenses in the constitutional or electoral laws of Commonwealth states in the Caribbean.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : No advice has been given to Caribbean Commonwealth Governments on the introduction of election expense laws since none has been sought. At least one of the countries concerned, Barbados, already has such legislation in place.
The laundering of illegal drugs profits represents a serious threat to the financial and economic stability of the Caribbean. We attach much importance to removing the profits from drug trafficking, and continue to urge dependent territories and independent Caribbean countries to pass legislation to trace, freeze and confiscate these profits.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica ; and if he discussed her views on the drug trade in the Caribbean and the collapse of the banana exports.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met Dame Eugenia Charles in September 1992. More recently she paid calls on myself and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development during a short visit to London from 4 to 10 February. On both occasions we discussed at length various issues relevant to Dominica's banana industry.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions he has drawn from the lack of a limit on election expenses in the laws of the Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean and the effect of drugs dealing money on their parliamentary elections.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Each of the Commonwealth Caribbean countries is independent and it is therefore for each of them to determine its own laws, including those relating to election expenses.
Although the drugs trade represents a serious threat to the economic and political stability of the Caribbean, we have no substantive evidence that drugs money is being used in parliamentary elections. We continue to give assistance to deal with the illegal drugs trade and to promote sound principles of good and democratic government in the region.
Poland
Ms Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Polish Government in order to secure the re-establishment of direct flights between London and Warsaw ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We remain concerned at the suspension of air services between Britain and Poland and want to see the situation resolved as soon as possible.
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There have been a number of contacts with the Polish Government at official and ministerial level in an attempt to resolve the current difficulties. I hope there will be an early resumption of services. We are anxious to secure a settlement which will be in the interests both of the airlines involved and the travelling public, and be consistent with the principles which govern aviation in the European Union.Hong Kong
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the names mentioned in telegram 152 from Hong Kong to his Department dated 17 January 1985 and the teleletters from BHCM to his Department dated 18 and 23 January 1985 in connection with an arrangement made in Hong Kong between Sir John Bremridge, deputy governor of Hong Kong and Chooi Mon Sui, a representative of the Malaysian Government on 17 January 1985 ; and if he will place those telexes and telegrams in the Library ;
(2) if he will list the names mentioned in telegrams 781 and 794 from his Department to Hong Kong dated 16 August 1983 and telegram 246 from his Department to Hong Kong dated 18 August 1983 in connection with the murder of Jalil Ibrahim in Hong Kong ; and if he will place those telegrams in the Library ;
(3) if he will list the names mentioned in (a) telegrams 313 BHCM to his Department and 1214 Hong Kong to his Department dated 16 August 1983, (b) telegrams 1220 Hong Kong to his Department and 315 BHCM to his Department dated 17 August 1983, (c) telegrams 1225 Hong Kong to his Department and 321 BHCM to his Department dated 18 August 1983 and (d) telegram 246 BHCM to his Department dated 19 August 1983 in connection with the murder of Jalil Ibrahim in Hong Kong on 18 July 1983 ; and if he will place those telegrams in the Library ;
(4) if he will list the names mentioned in telegram 322 BHCM to his Department dated 17 August 1983 and telegram 328 BHCM to his Department dated 22 August 1983 in connection with the murder of Jalil Ibrahim in Hong Kong on 18 July 1983 ; and if he will place those telegrams in the Library ;
(5) if he will list the names mentioned in the telegram to his predecessor on 17 January 1985 from the deputy political adviser in Hong Kong ; and if he will place that telegram in the Library.
Mr. Goodlad : No. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the contents of classified documents concerning the international relations of the United Kingdom.
Russia (Jews)
Dr. John Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Yeltsin about the plight of Jews wishing to emigrate from Russia ; what reply he has received ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hurd : We regularly raise with the Russian authorities the plight of Jews who have been refused permission to emigrate from Russia. A commission has been set up by President Yeltsin to review outstanding cases of Jews and others refused permission to leave. As
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far as we are aware, in all the cases reviewed so far the applicants have been given permission to leave the country.Dr. John Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received (a) on behalf of the Begun family of Mosow and (b) from Jews being refused exit visas for emigration from the former Soviet Union.
Mr. Hurd : We have received a number of representations on behalf of the Begun family and other Jews who are unable to emigrate from Russia. We have raised their cases with the Russian authorities.
GEC-Malaysia
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions Tan Sri Arumugam, joint managing director, GEC-Malaysia has visited his Department in the past three years ; and if he will list the occasions.
Russian Federation
Mr. Pickles : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to acquire premises in London to be made available for the residence of the ambassador of the Russian Federation ; and on what basis the title of the premises will be held.
Mr. Goodlad : The premises at 13 Kensington Palace gardens have been made available for the residence of the ambassador of the Russian Federation. 13 Kensington Palace gardens remains part of the Crown Estate, but, as a corporation sole, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has taken a lease of the premises from the Crown Estate Commissioners on the basis of powers under section 2 of the Commissioners of Works Act 1852 and section 122 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. My right hon. Friend the then Prime Minister signified her consent in 1986 to the exercise of these powers by the Foreign Secretary for the purpose of acquiring premises to be made available to the then Government of the USSR. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has granted a 99- year underlease of the premises to the Government of the Russian Federation.
The premises at 14 Sofiskaya embankment in Moscow have been made available for the residence of Her Majesy's ambassador on a concurrent 99-year lease.
WALES
Public Bodies
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for the last convenient date the names of the members of non- departmental public bodies in Wales, noting the political balance for each body based on political affiliations on appointment.
Mr. Redwood : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 14 February, column 648-50.
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Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to place in the Library a copy of the curriculum vitae of each person he appoints to a quango, trust or similar public body in Wales ; and if he will take steps to ensure such curricula vitae record membership or active support for political parties.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 7 February 1994] : No.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the curriculum vitae of each person appointed to a position on a quango or other similar public body in Wales for each of the last five years.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 7 February 1994] : I already make available, in the Library of the House, a list of all those currently appointed by me to NDPBs in Wales. The list shows the current members of each body, giving for each person their name, occupation, place of residence, the period of their appointments, the remuneration receivable in respect of their appointment and an estimate of the time commitment involved.
I also publish a press notice, at the time when each appointment is made, giving a brief note on the background of the people concerned. The list is published quarterly : the current version relates to the situation at 1 December 1993.
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Information is not available in a similar form for each of the last five years, and could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what proposals he has to determine and publish the political affiliations of persons appointed to quangos in Wales ;
(2) if he will list the chairperson of each quango, trust or similar appointed public body in Wales ; and what information he currently has as to the political affiliation of such persons.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 7 February 1994] : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 14 February, column 648-50.
Welsh Language
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many students have qualified to teach Welsh at secondary school level at each of the relevant colleges in Wales for each year since 1988.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The numbers of students who completed an initial teacher training course where the subject of study was Welsh are given in the following table. Details relating to courses completed at University College Swansea in the years prior to 1990-91 are not available.
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Numbers of United Kingdom students who successfully completed an Initial Teacher
Training course,
where the subject of study was Welsh,
at higher education institutions in Wales<1>
Academic year
|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colleges of Higher Education
Cardiff Institute of Higher Education |0 |0 |0 |0 |11
University of Wales
Aberystwyth |7 |4 |8 |9 |12
Bangor |9 |5 |5 |14 |11
Swansea |N/a |N/a |3 |10 |7
<1>Information supplied by the higher education institutions between October 1993 and
February 1994.
n/a=Not available.
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