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Mr. Alton : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many pre-recorded pre-trial interviews, in line with the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and the "Manual of Good Practice", have been made since the coming into force of the Act ; how many have been presented in evidence in child abuse cases ; and how many have been refused as evidence.
Mr. John M. Taylor : It is estimated that between the date of implementation of the relevant provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 1991- -1 October 1992--and 30 September 1993, in excess of 14,000 interviews with child witnesses have been recorded on videotape. Between 1 October 1992 and 1 January 1994, there were 306 applications to submit a pre-recorded videotaped interview with a child witness under section 32A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, as amended by section 54 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. In 109 cases the tapes were shown in court. Applications to submit pre-recorded evidence have been refused in only 10 cases.
Mr. Alton : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures are being taken by courts in Liverpool to protect child witnesses with particular reference to use of screens, television link equipment and pre-recorded interviews ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Two sets of television links and video playback equipment are in place in the Crown court sitting at Liverpool combined court centre. Arrangements can be made for screens to be available at the Crown and County court in Liverpool if required. All magistrates courts in Liverpool have access to screens and video playback equipment, and the youth court is equipped with TV links. When necessary, child witnesses appearing before the magistrates may use the television links in place at the Crown court centre.
Mr. Alton : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which courts in Liverpool have child liaison officers to protect child witnesses ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : There is a designated child liaison officer for every Crown court centre, including the one at Liverpool combined court centre.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of public appointments made by his Department in 1993 were of (a) Asians and (b) black people ; and if he will list their names.
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Mr. Lang : Except for children's panels where ethnic origin is neither sought nor recorded, as far as I am aware, no Asian or black people were appointed in 1993 to the bodies sponsored by the Scottish Office and listed in "Public Bodies 1993".
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many temporary traffic orders were made by local authorities in each year since 1985 under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to restrict or prohibit the use of footpaths or bridleways for which the Scottish Office gave consent under section 15(2) of that Act for an extension of the period for which the order was in force.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Temporary traffic orders affecting footpaths and bridleways are not identified separately from those affecting road traffic and the information could be supplied only at a disproportionate cost.
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many, and what percentage of officers in each of grades 1 to 7 and overall in his Department are (a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled, respectively.
Mr. Lang : The number and percentage of officers in grades 1 to 7, including grade equivalents, and overall in the Scottish Office, its executive agencies and associated departments, excluding the Scottish prison service, who were (a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled, are shown below :
Number and percentage of officers who are women-position as at 1 April 1993 Grade (and |Women |Percentage equivalents) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 |- |- 2 |- |- 3 |4 |16.7 4 |3 |16.7 5 |17 |12.7 6 |37 |18.5 7 |80 |17.1 All Grades (Headcount) |2,811 |42.2 Notes: At April 1993, the total number of respondents to my Department's Ethnic Monitoring Survey who described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority was 29 or 0.5 per cent. of the total number of respondents. Of that number 3 were at Grade 7 level and above. At 1 July 1993, there were 2 registered disabled persons at Grade 6 level and one at Grade 7 level which represents 1 per cent. and 0.2 per cent. respectively of staff in these grades. There were 87 registered disabled persons (1.3 per cent.) who were recorded as employed in my Department.
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many drivers of motor vehicles have been charged with culpable homicide in the last 20 years for which information is available ; how many such charges have proceeded to trial ; and how many convictions have resulted.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is not available. However, I understand that there are very few such prosecutions- -no more than one or two per year on average.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the definition in terms of hours of a full-time job in 1979 and what is it now ; and if he will list the changes in definition with their dates and the reasons for them.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have been asked to reply.
For the purposes of collecting and producing statistical information, a full-time worker is defined, in terms of hours worked, as an employee who works more than 30 hours per week, excluding overtime. For teachers and academics this is modified to 25 hours or more per week.
This definition has been used consistently since before 1979.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister how many Proton cars were purchased by the Cabinet Office in each of the last 10 years for which information is available ; and at what cost.
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of his official entertaining in each year since 1990-91 ; if he will list the receptions held in each year at his office's expense ; and what was the cost of each reception.
The Prime Minister : The total cost of official hospitality by my office, for each year since 1990-91, is as follows :
Year |Cost |£ ---------------------- 1990-91 |23,830 1991-92 |40,976 1992-93 |30,023
An outturn for 1993-94 is not yet available.
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister (1) what restrictions govern the spending by former Prime Ministers of their annual allowances ;
(2) if he will list the total allowances paid to each former Prime Minister in each year since 1991 ;
(3) what mechanisms are in place to monitor the use of allowances paid to former Prime Ministers.
The Prime Minister : On 1 April 1991, I introduced an allowance to assist former Prime Ministers with the continuing heavy burden of office and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is similar in purpose and amount to the parliamentary office costs allowance but is paid in respect of public not parliamentary duties.
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The total payments from the allowance are as follows :Year |Payment |£ --------------------------------- 1991-92 |88,956 1992-93 |124,981 1993-94 |<1>130,000 <1> Estimate.
I do not think it right to disclose the amounts claimed by individual former Prime Ministers, any more than the House discloses details of claims by individual Members under the office costs allowance.
Payments from the allowance are subject to the same scrutiny and controls as other payments from voted monies.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government which have been introduced by his Department since 1990.
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions, and when, since January 1990 the Government have met costs of injunctions against publications ; at what cost ; against which publications and on behalf of which Departments or Ministers.
The Prime Minister : There are no centrally held records of such cases.
Mr. Batiste : To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be laid before the House ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : A copy of Sir Thomas Bingham's second annual report, for 1993, has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential annexe to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1985 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his report. I note in particular his observations that the Secretaries of State take great care to satisfy themselves that the warrants are necessary for the purposes stated in the Act, and that the system for the issue of warrants is working as intended by Parliament.
Sir Thomas Bingham's appointment as commissioner will end on 10 April. I am grateful to him for the work he has done in that capacity. He will be succeeded, with effect from 11 April, by Lord Nolan.
Mrs. Angela Knight : To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Security Service Act 1989 will be laid before the House ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : A copy of Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's fourth annual report, for 1993, has been laid
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before the House today in accordance with section 4(6) of the Security Service Act 1989. The confidential annexe to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 4(7) of the 1989 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and in providing assistance to the tribunal as provided in the Act. His report confirms that he is satisfied that the Secretaries of State have exercised their warranty powers in accordance with the provisions of the 1989 Act.Mr. Bates : To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made with the initiative which he and President Clinton announced for the reconstruction of Sarajevo.
The Prime Minister : The draft report of the United Kingdom-United States civil planning mission for Sarajevo is now available. It is being circulated widely among donors, and President Clinton and I hope to transmit the final version to the United Nations Secretary-General shortly. I shall place a copy in the Library of the House.
When I was in Sarajevo, I announced a United Kingdom contribution of £5 million for the most immediately needed activities. These are under way. They include help to restore electricial power more widely in Sarajevo, immediate repairs to the gas system to enable domestic gas consumers to use their facilities again safely, the extension of the tram system, and a programme of help to the hospitals in Sarajevo to support the work which is being done there.
I am pleased to say that the United States is making available a similar immediate contribution. Discussions are now taking place with the United Nations and other donors on how best to take forward the recommendations in the report.
Sir Fergus Montgomery : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Scotland's position in the Union.
The Prime Minister : The Government stand firmly behind Scotland's place in the Union. That is the basis on which we fought the last election and, as a result, were the only party to increase both our share of votes and number of seats in Scotland.
I intend to continue to reaffirm the Government's commitment to Scotland's position at every possible opportunity, including during future visits to Scotland.
I regret that, in answering a question from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall) on 10 March, I stated that the data for the opinion poll to which he referred were collected before my most recent visit to Scotland. I subsequently ascertained that they were collected after the visit.
Sir Michael Grylls : To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are to the United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union.
The Prime Minister : Baroness Lockwood has resigned as a substitute member of the delegation, and has been replaced by Baroness Gould of Potternewton.
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Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 March, Official Report, column 704, what action he is taking on the document concerning pharmaceutical products required in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates, and on the provision of water pumps and water filters to Baghdad.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 30 March 1994] : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 23 March, Official Report, column 260.
Mr. Parry : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the hon. Members who have written to him asking for his support for the funding of a chair at the institute of Irish studies at the university of Liverpool ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 30 March 1994] : I have received representations from the hon. Member. I will reply in due course.
Mr. Byers : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 23 March, Official Report, column 259-60, if he will list those countries and Governments presently regarded as friendly.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 30 March 1994] : These countries would include all those which share our objective of seeking a stable international order characterised by the peaceful settlement of disputes, the international rule of law,
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and good government and respect for human rights.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of all farming incomes in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the EC has been made up by subsidies in each year since 1990 ; and what is her estimate for each of the next three years.
Mr. Jack : Total income from farming is a net figure arrived at by subtracting gross input from gross output, of which subsidy payments are a part, and then taking into account land and labour costs, depreciation and interest charges. The table below expresses CAP expenditure as a percentage of farmers' total output for both the United Kingdom and the European Union. National payments to farmers by other member states are not readily available and so, to make comparisons meaningful, such payments are not included in the United Kingdom figures. Estimates for future years are not available.
|1991 |1992 |1993 |per cent.|per cent.|per cent. ---------------------------------------------------------- United Kingdom<1> |12 |12 |18 European Union<2> |16 |16 |n/a n/a=Not available. Source: Tables 6.1 (calendar years) and 9.1 (financial years) of agriculture in the United Kingdom 1993. <2>EUROSTAT.
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information her Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in (a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons ;
(2) what procedures her Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.
Mr. Jack : In making appointments, we look carefully at a range of criteria including merit, experience and suitability to ensure that the most appropriate people are appointed for the job. Information held by the Ministry in respect of individuals relate to these qualities.
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist for the appointment, showing for each appointment (a) which Minister exercises the responsibility, (b) the salary, if any, attached to the post, (c) the term of the appointment and (d) the person currently appointed to the post.
Mr. Jack : Information about ministerial appointments, including appointments attracting salaries, to public bodies sponsored by this Ministry are given in "Public Bodies 1993". Except where otherwise stated in that publication, appointments are made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food either solely, or jointly with the Ministers of other Departments. All appointments are normally made for a three-year term and the names of appointees are generally made public by means of MAFF news releases.
Details of public bodies subject to joint appointments are given in the table and the names of the appointees to those bodies were given in the answers to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) in the Official Report , references as shown.
Appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, jointly with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales. |Column ------------------------------------------------------------------ Agricultural Training Board-15 February 1994 |752 Horticultural Development Council-16 February 1994 |845 Meat and Livestock Commission-15 February 1994 |752 Farm Animal Welfare Council-9 February 1994 |273 Consumers' Committee for Great Britain-9 March 1994 |274 Salmon Advisory Committee-10 February 1994 |427
Appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, jointly with the Secretary of State for Wales. |Column --------------------------------------------------------------------- Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales (Chairman and independent members)-14 February 1994 |583 Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis (Chairman)-9 February 1994 |272 Consumers' Committee for England and Wales-9 February 1994 |272 Hill Farming Advisory Committee for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Members)-16 February 1994 |845 Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal-17 February 1994 |979 Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee-15 February 1994 |752
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