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Financial year |Number of |<1>Value
|contracts |£ thousands
------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |10 |471
1991-92 |10 |746
1992-93 |14 |1,058
1993-94 |8 |768
<1>Including VAT.
In addition, the Radiocommunications Agency funds academic institutions and other research bodies to carry out research into radio propagation as part of our research programme.
I hope this information is useful.
Letter from D. Cormack to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 16 May 1994 : Parliamentary Question--
PQ from Mr. Alan Milburn (Darlington) :
To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his Answer of 24 March, Official Report, columns 428-9, how many consultancy contracts have been let by his Department's executive agencies in the last five years ; and at what cost .
Warren Spring Laboratory Executive Agency has let no consultancy contracts in the last five years.
Column 303
Market Overt
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the markets and locations coming within the ancient statute of market overt.
Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 13 May 1994] : By long- standing custom, every retail shop in the City of London is a market overt. Outside London, a market overt must be one established by charter or statute ; the exact number is not known.
DEFENCE
Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if spent fuel from nuclear submarine reactors will be processed in THORP.
Mr. Aitken : My Department has no plans to process spent fuel from nuclear submarine reactors in THORP.
HMS Valiant
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on repairs to HMS Valiant during the last financial year ; and what repairs to HMS Valiant will be undertaken following its arrival at Plymouth.
Mr. Aitken : Around £2.4 million was spent on repairs to HMS Valiant during the last financial year.
It is not our practice to comment on the nature of defects in nuclear- powered submarines.
Low Flying
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of total low flying activity took place over Wales for the last six months of 1993.
Mr. Hanley : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 16 February, Official Report, column 818.
PRIME MINISTER
Sir Robin Butler
Mr. Simpson : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) of 28 April, Official Report, columns 254-55, if he will set out the criteria to be adopted to judge the disproportionate time or effort in preparing information as stated at paragraph (c) of the Cabinet Secretary's note to which he refers.
The Prime Minister : The criteria are set out in the guidance on interpretation of the code of practice on access to Government information, which has been issued to all Departments and placed in the Library of the House. The guidance states that consideration should be given to the amount of information sought in an application and the difficulties in identifying, locating or collating the information requested. The guidance goes on to say :
"In each case, the test is whether these factors would mean that meeting an access request would require an unreasonable
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diversion of resources or otherwise undermine the work of the department (because files are kept out of circulation for extended periods, for example, or staff have to be diverted a considerable amount of time from other more urgent work)."Wrafton Laboratories, Devon
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has visited the north Devon factory of Wrafton laboratories since January 1993 ; and what was the date and purpose of each visit.
The Prime Minister : I have made one visit, on Friday 5 February 1993, as part of a series of regional visits throughout the country.
Consultants
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to publish the report of the Cabinet Office efficiency unit on the use of outside consultants to identify savings in the civil service.
The Prime Minister : The final report of the efficiency unit's scrutiny on the Government's use of external consultants will be completed shortly. It is the normal practice for the efficiency unit's reports to be published. A decision on publishing the report will be made when the final report has been received.
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what information has been made available to Her Majesty's Government as a result of the opening of Stasi files in East Germany about the acquisition of timing devices of the type manufactured by Edwin Bollier and Ulrick Lumpert, which featured in the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie and of the approach to Bollier and Lumpert by United States authorities on 30 December 1988.
The Prime Minister : The exchange of information with the German authorities in the Lockerbie investigation is a matter for my right honourable and learned Friend the Lord Advocate. He has repeatedly made clear that he cannot comment on details of the available evidence while criminal proceedings are pending.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
World Bank Documents
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to make those World bank documents which are available to American non-governmental organisations available to hon. Members.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Her Majesty's Government will continue to follow the procedure that has been agreed by all members of the World bank whereby documents are made available under the bank's policy on disclosure of information. A list of those documents is available to hon. Members in the House of Commons Library.
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Somalia
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the incidence of cholera in Somalia ; and what has been the international community's response.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : As at 29 April, 12,444 cases, including 491 deaths, had been reported. The international community continues to respond within the framework set out in my answer of 27 April, columns 194-95.
Family Planning
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions are being made to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the United Nations population fund and the World Health Organsiation human reproduction programme in 1994.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have made the following contributions to the core costs of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the United Nations population fund and the World Health Organisation's progamme of research and training in human reproduction in 1994 :
|£ million
------------------------------
IPPF |7.5
UNFPA |7.0
WHO/HRP |2.5
Additional contributions for specific programme activities may also be made during the year.
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) of 19 January, Official Report, column 590, regarding United Kingdom bilateral disbursements on population activities, if he can now given the total figures for 1993.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Bilateral expenditure in 1993 on population activities, including HIV/AIDS and reproductive health and the joint funding scheme, has provisionally been estimated at £16.125 million. A final figure will be produced as soon as possible.
Aid and Trade Provision
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what review he has conducted of the extent to which aid under the aid and trade provisions has been linked to arms sales and the implications of this for overseas aid policy.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I know of no case in which a project funded under the aid and trade provision has been conditionally linked to the sale of arms. As a matter of policy, the British Government would not countenance any such link.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Justice (Delays and Costs)
42. Mr. Steen : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will set up a review to look at the delays in the administration of justice and the cost of obtaining it.
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Mr. John M. Taylor : As well as continuing to evaluate and implement the outstanding recommendations of the civil justice review and the relevant recommendations of the Royal Commission on criminal justice, we have several other reviews in hand, including Lord Woolf's work on access to justice and the departmental fundamental review.
Police and Magistrates Courts Bill
44. Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received in the last month on the Police and Magistrates Courts Bill [Lords].
Mr. John M. Taylor : In the month since 17 April, the Lord Chancellor and I have received 45 representations from hon. Members and peers and 11 from magistrates and other members of the public.
Judges
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had with other Law Officers with a view to election of judges.
Justices' Clerks
Mr. Boateng : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by how many magistrates courts committees, and for how many petty sessions areas, justices' clerks have been put on (a) fixed-term contracts and (b) performance-related pay ; and how many, and what proportion of, justices' clerks and petty sessions areas are currently affected by (a) or (b) or both.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The terms and conditions of individual members of staff are a matter for magistrates courts committees as employers. The Department has no record of the numbers of justices' clerks who are either on fixed-term contracts or receiving performance-related pay.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Investments
34. Mr. Jenkin : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, who is responsible for deciding the overall balance of the Church Commissioners' investments ; and what policy is currently being pursued.
Mr. Alison : The commissioners' assets committee is responsible for deciding the balance of the investment portfolio with general rules made by the board of governors. The commissioners' long-term aim is to achieve a diversified portfolio which bears comparison with those held by other institutions with similar responsibilities. This will mean a reduction, over a period, in the commissioners' property holdings, although, of course, this can be achieved only as market conditions allow.
Women Priests
35. Mr. Fabricant : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the number of women currently ordained into the priesthood of the Church of England for those stipends for which the Church Commissioners are responsible.
Column 307
Mr. Alison : As at 8 May, there were 146 women priests receiving a stipend through the Church Commissioners' payroll.
London Offices
36. Mr. Lidington : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the annual cost to the commissioners of their office accommodation in London.
Mr. Alison : The commissioners own the freehold of No. 1 Millbank and the Church of England records centre at Galleywall road, Bermondsey. The cost of maintaining, heating and lighting the commissioners' office accommodation was £0.47 million in 1993.
Lambeth Report
37. Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Lambeth report.
Mr. Alison : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack) on 25 April, column 13.
Priests' Incomes
38. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what are the average fees, stipends or salaries paid to ordained (a) women and (b) men ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alison : Clergy remuneration is linked to the category of post, with no differentiation on the ground of gender. In 1993 the average stipend for clergy of incumbent status was £12,830. The equivalent figure for assistant staff was £12,140. Both figures take account of fee income, which was on average about £750 per head. Accommodation, free of rent, is provided.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Parliamentary Statistics
Sir Peter Emery : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list for the first 100 sitting days of sessions (1) 1990-91, (2) 1992- 93 and (3) 1993-94, (i) the average hour of rising of the House, (ii) the number of divisions, (iii) the number of Public Bills (a) passed and (b) reported from Standing Committee, (iv) the number of affirmative statutory instruments (a) debated in Standing Committee and (b) debated on the Floor of the House, (v) the number of prayers against statutory instruments (a) debated in Standing Committee and (b) debated on the Floor of the House, (vi) the number of Opposition days and (vii) the number of Bills guillotined.
Mr. Newton : The information sought is contained in the following table.
|1990-91 |1992-93 |1993-94
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Average hour or rising of the
House |11.58 pm|11.27 pm|11.43 pm
Number of divisions |134 |118 |236
Public Bills passed |32 |23 |21
Bills reported from Standing
Committee |37 |11 |17
Affirmative Statutory Instrument
debated in Standing
Committee |58 |67 |14
Prayers against Statutory
Instruments debated in
Standing Committee |10 |6 |1
Affirmative Statutory Instruments
debated on floor of House |38 |28 |66
Prayers against Statutory
Instruments debated on floor
of House |12 |0 |1
Number of Opposition Days |9" |7" |11
Number of Bills guillotined |1 |2 |4
Private Members' Bills
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many and which occasions in the current Session Government Departments or Parliamentary counsel have drafted amendments for the use of Government Back Benchers in the Report stage of private Members' Bills.
Mr. Newton : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mrs. Maddock) on 13 May, Official Report, column 259.
Photo-identity Passes
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many right hon. and hon. Members have not obtained a photo-identity pass for the House of Commons.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : I shall write to my hon. Friend.
ANZAC Memorial
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will consider relocating the ANZAC memorial, at present situated in the passage between the florist and the Strangers' Bar, to a more fitting location.
Mr. Ray Powell : I have referred the hon. Member's suggestion to the Advisory Committee on Works of Art.
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Mobile Telephones and Pagers
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many (a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department ; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment ; and to which personnel it is made available.
Mr. Tony Newton : The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is five, none and two respectively. The operating cost of this equipment, which is used only by Ministers and their private secretaries, was £5,530 in 1993-94.
Column 309
EDUCATION
Grant-maintained Schools
Mr. Jamieson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether the Funding Agency for Schools will continue to share responsibility with local education authorities in those areas where over 10 per cent. of schools have opted out but where local government reorganisation reduces the numbers of opted-out schools to below 10 per cent ;
(2) whether the Funding Agency for Schools will continue to have responsibility for the provision of school places in local authority areas where over 75 per cent. of schools have currently opted out but where local government reorganisation reduces the number of opted-out schools to below 75 per cent.
Mr. Robin Squire : My right hon. Friend would need to consider this matter in the light of the individual circumstances applying in any new LEA areas.
Outdoor Activity Centres
Mr. Jamieson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about the contribution made by the Sports Council in drawing up the "Guidance for Safety in Outdoor Activity Centres".
Mr. Forth : The Sports Council was represented on the steering group which the Department established to help prepare guidance on safety in outdoor activity centres. The draft circular which the Department prepared in the light of the steering group's advice was issued on 13 May ; a copy is in the Library.
TASC Unit
Mr. Enright : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the budget of the Teaching as a Career unit for each year of its existence in relation to its English functions.
Mr. Robin Squire : The Teaching as a Career unit was set up in 1987 to serve both England and Wales. The table shows the annual expenditure for running costs and publicity. The Welsh Office contributes one eighteenth of the running costs of the unit, but has a separate budget for Welsh-only advertising and publications.
Annual expenditure of the Teaching as a Career Unit
Year |Running costs |Publicity
|(England and Wales)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |345,611 |166,988
1988-89 |375,000 |558,999
1989-90 |400,000 |553,853
1990-91 |698,928 |788,284
1991-92 |954,139 |647,500
1992-93 |818,000 |588,000
1993-94 |751,500 |312,020
1994-95 (planned) |844,000 |350,000
Teacher Training
Mr. Enright : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the budgets subvented to the Higher Education Funding Council for England in respect of teacher training in England in each year of its existence.
Column 310
Mr. Boswell : The Department has not earmarked amounts for teacher training within the annual grants to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. We shall determine in due course the amount to be allocated to the Teacher Training Agency for the funding responsibilities which will be transferred to it in 1995-96, subject to the passage of the Education Bill.
Mr. Enright : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what budget is proposed annually for the Teacher Training Agency in England ; and what is its breakdown.
Mr. Robin Squire : We shall determine in due course the annual budget of the Teacher Training Agency, reflecting the funding and other responsibilities which will transfer to it in 1995-96, subject to the passage of the Education Bill.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Ministerial Visits
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when each of the present Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office was appointed ; and on how many nights each month since their appointment they have remained overnight in Northern Ireland.
Sir John Wheeler : The information requested is provided in the table.
Sir Patrick Mayhew
MP-Date appointed: 12
April 1992
Number of Overnights
Spent in Northern
Ireland Since
Appointment
|Number
------------------------
1992
April |9
May |14
June |8
July |10
August |7
September |15
October |19
November |16
December |13
1993
January |11
February |8
March |9
April |9
May |8
June |13
July |8
August |8
September |13
October |11
November |10
December |12
1994
January |13
February |13
March |4
April |6
Michael Ancram MP-Date
appointed: 27 May 1993
Number of Overnights
Spent in Northern
Ireland Since
Appointment
|Number
------------------------
1993
May |-
June |1
July |9
August |8
September |11
October |9
November |10
December |3
1994
January |9
February |9
March |12
April |5
Sir John Wheeler-Date
appointed: 25 June 1993
Number of overnights
spent in Northern
Ireland since
appointment
1993 |Number
------------------------
June |1
July |8
August |12
September |10
October |10
November |7
December |11
1994
January |6
February |5
March |5
April |8
Mr. Smith-Date appointed: 5 January 1994 Number of overnights spent in Northern Ireland since appointment 1994 |Number ----------------------- January |4 February |8 March |10 April |7
Baroness Denton-Date appointed: 11 January 1994 Number of overnights spent in Northern Ireland since appointment 1994 |Number ----------------------- January |9 February |12 March |13 April |14
The above information does not, however, accurately reflect the amount of time which Ministers devote to Northern Ireland. A more accurate reflection is shown by the number of days spent in Northern Ireland which is given in the table below.
I
|Total Number of |Number of days
|days since ap- |as percentage of
|pointment |total working
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secretary of State |378 |75
Sir John Wheeler |126 |60
Michael Ancram |145 |63
Baroness Denton |51 |67
Mr. Smith |50 |63
<1> Number of days excluding public and bank holidays.
Column 312
Emergency Provisions Act
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects Mr. John Rowe's report on the operation in 1993 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 to be available.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : I have today arranged for copies of Mr. John Rowe's report to be placed in the Library of the House. I welcome this independent report which will serve as a basis for Parliament to debate the annual renewal of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991.
I am most grateful to Mr. Rowe for his work in carrying out his review of the operation of the Act in 1993. His report will receive careful and detailed consideration.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many parliamentary questions to his Department have not been answered because of disproportionate costs or because the information requested was not held centrally over the last five years ; how many could be answered now due to computerisation and/or more effective operational systems ; and if he will list each such question along with the name and constituency of the hon. Member who tabled it.
Sir John Wheeler : The number of answers given to parliamentary questions from 1990 to April 1994 recorded in the POLIS database as including a reference to part or all of the information not being held centrally or being available only at disproportionate cost was 187. As a result of computerisation and/or more effective operational systems more detailed information is now available in respect of 19 questions which are listed. However, in some cases the full information would still not be available.
Dr. Joe Hendron (Belfast West) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the average waiting time for those people waiting for their first appointment with a cardiac surgeon has increased or decreased during the last 12 months.
Mr. William O'Brien (Normanton) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total expenditure, including legal costs and compensation payments, incurred by each health and social services board in defending religion and sex discrimination cases over the past three years to 30 April.
Mr. Martin Redmond (Don Valley) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the number of patients waiting for out-patient treatment on 31 March for each individual health authority (a) in total and (b) by main speciality for periods (i) under 12 months ; (ii) 12 to 24 months and (iii) over 24 months. Mr. Seamus Mallon (Newry and Armagh) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaf people in Northern Ireland, are in receipt of * Attendance Allowance in each age bracket (a) under 10 years, (b) 10 to 18 years, (c) 18 to 65 years and (d) over 65 years.
(* The question would now refer to Disability Living Allowance and not Attendance Allowance as in the original question.)
Mr. William Ross (East Londonderry) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the current length of waiting lists at each acute hospital in Northern Ireland ; and what are the comparable figures in each of the last 5 years.
Mr. John Hume (Foyle) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate the number of hip replacement operations which were done privately in each of the last 3 years in National Health Service hospitals.
Mr. Seamus Mallon (Newry and Armagh) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals : (a) over 65 years, (b) physically disabled and (c) mentally disabled were receiving hospital, residential or nursing home care in each year since 1985 in each health board area in Northern Ireland.
Rev. Martin Smyth (Belfast, South) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, for each health and social
Column 313
services board, the number of (a) administrative and clerical staff, by grade and (b) managerial staff by grade since 1989. Mr. John Hume (Foyle) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total take-up of student loans to date in Northern Ireland by (a) institution and (b) area board expressed as a percentage of the estimated number of eligible students, and if he will make a statement.Mr. William Ross (East Londonderry) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in official report those firms and employers which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission for each District Council in the County of Tyrone : and if he will indicate for each such firm and employer the number of employees.
Mr. William Ross (East Londonderry) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the official report those firms and employers which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission for each District Council in the County of Fermanagh ; and if he will indicate for each such firm and employer the number of employees.
Mr. William Ross (East Londonderry) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the official report those firms and employers which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission for each District Council in the County Londonderry ; and if he will indicate for each such firm and employer the number of employees.
Mr. William Ross (East Londonderry) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the official report those firms and employers which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission for each District Council in the County Down ; and if he will indicate for each such firm and employer the number of employees.
Mr. William Ross (East Londonderry) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the official report those firms and employers which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission for each District Council in the County Antrim ; and if he will indicate for each such firm and employer the number of employees.
Mr. William Ross (East Londonderry) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the official report those firms and employers which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission for each District Council in the County Armagh ; and if he will indicate for each such firm and employer the number of employees.
Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim North) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money has been expended in the Ballymoney Borough Council area out of the various EEC funds. Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim North) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been expended in the Moyle Council area out of the various EEC funds.
Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim North) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been expended in the Ballymena Borough Council area out of the various EEC funds. Dr. Marek (Wrexham) : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total cost so far of the market-testing initiative in his Department since November 1991.
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