| Home Page |
Column 859
Written Answers to Questions
Friday 28 October 1994
SOCIAL SECURITY
Official Hospitality
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the total amount spent on official hospitality by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies for each year since 1990.
Mr. Hague: The total cost of official hospitality in the Department was:
Year |£ ------------------------------------- 1990-91 |75,778 1991-92 |54,036 1992-93 |78,833 1993-94 |39,625 1994-95 (to September) |12,819
The Expenditure for the agencies was:
Year |£ --------------------------------------- 1990-91 |- 1991-92 |37,898 1992-93 |97,068 1993-94 |125,940 1994-95 (to September) |36,936
Rents
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much eligible local authority rents and housing association rents rose between May 1988 and may 1992 as a percentage.
Mr. Roger Evans: The information for Wales is set out in the table.
U
|Private (including
|Local authority |housing association)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 1988 |£19.93 |£19.13
May 1992 |£29.95 |£36.55
Increase (percentage) |50.3 |91
Note:
Information is not available for Housing Association rents separately.
Source:
Housing Benefit management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now ensure that the hon. Member for
Column 860
Denton and Reddish receives immediate replies to Child Support Agency cases discussed with the then chief executive in July.Mr. Burt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Andrew F. Bennett, dated 26 October 1994:
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the cases of your constituents which you discussed with my predecessor on 14 July. I wrote to you on 26 October concerning some of your constituents and will write to you again within two weeks.
I am sorry that you have had to wait so long for my replies.
ENVIRONMENT
Local Government Finance
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those delegations he has metregarding (a) standard spending assessments and (b) housing policy during the last four months; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Between 1 July and 20 October 1994, Ministers met the following delegations on standard spending assessments and housing policy:
Date |Delegations
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a) Standard Spending Assessments
6 July |Northamptonshire MPs (R
| Freeman, T Marlow and W
| Powell)
11 July |Cllr Paul Drake - Gloucestershire
18 July |Stockport MBC and local MPs
| (Sir T Arnold, A Bennett, A
| Coffey and H Day
19 July |Consultative Council on Local
| Government Finance
21 July |Archbishop and Bishop of
| Liverpool
21 July |Patrick Cormack MP
15 September |Association of County Councils
21 September |Chief Executive, Wolverhampton
| MBC
26 September |Cllr John Hale, Wirral MBC
29 September |East Lancs authorities
5 October |Norfolk CC
10 October |Consultative Council on Local
| Government Finance
b) Housing Policy
4 July |Housing Choice - Housing
| Management Conference
7 July |Housing Consultative Council
| Meeting
13 July |Bishop of London -
| homelessness/housing policy
26 July |Housing Corporation
6 September |Housing Finance Panel
19 September |HIP Presentation by
| Wolverhampton and Stafford
27 September |HIP Presentation Derby and
|Derbyshire Dales
27 September |Kate Hoey MP - Rough Sleepers
| in the Bull Ring
28 September |HIP Presentation Peterborough
|and Uttlesford
5 October |Sevenoaks: Large Scale Voluntary
| Transfer
6 October |HIP Presentation by Ashford and
| Eastbourne
6 October |HIP Presentation by Barnsley and
| Sheffield
10 October |HIP Presentation by Bournemouth
|and Purbeck
10 October |Peabody Trust
17 October |HIP Presentation by Liverpool
17 October |Wandsworth - General consents
|for voluntary sales
Badgers
Mr. Roy Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many licences have been granted by English Nature for interference with badger setts following the Badgers Act 1991, now the Protection of Badgers Act 1992; and for which purposes listed in section 10 of the 1992 Act such licences were issued.
Sir Paul Beresford: The information requested is as follows:
Column 862
Reason for licence |<1>1991 |1992 |1993 |<2>1994 issue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scientific/educational and conservation purposes |9 |43 |31 |40 For the purpose of ringing or marking |- |- |3 |3 For the purpose of development |10 |52 |88 |70 For preservation/archaeological investigation of ancient monuments |1 |2 |5 |3 For the purpose of investigating offences |67 |85 |122 |102 Total |87 |182 |249 |218 <1> (25 October to 31 December) <2> (1 January to 30 September
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each public opinion survey commissioned by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies since 1 October 1992, showing for each, the subject, objectives, total cost, the period in which it was conducted and the organisation from which it was commissioned.
Mr. Gummer: The information available is as follows:
Column 861
Title |Objectives |Fieldwork start date |Organisations
|(Contractor)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
`Helping the Earth' Campaign |To assess knowledge of and |October 1992 |Mass Observation
Evaluation | attitudes to global warming.
Council Tax Evaluation Research |To assess effectiveness of |October 1992 |RSGB
| publicity campaign
Smoking in Public Places |To monitor policy |October 1992 |NOP
<1>Energy Use Questionnaire - Green |To monitor Green House |October 1992 |Optima Energy
House Schemes |Programme
Environmental Protection Commission |To monitor and inform policy |November 1992 |MORI
Audit; Stage 2 - HMIP - Public
The Children's Initiative |To establish knowledge of, |January 1993 |Millward Brown
| attitudes towards and
| involvement in Environmental
| action
<1>Customer Survey: Study of |To assess customer satisfaction |February 1993 |W S Atkins Planning
Appellants' Experience of the | with the written | Consultants
Written Representations Appeals |representation appeals
System |procedures
Evaluation of Rebuilding Grants |To evaluate and examine the |February 1993 |University of Salford
| wider applicability of
| rebuilding grants
Owner-Occupiers who are Cavity Wall |To encourage uptake of |February 1993 |NBA Tectronics
Insulation Enthusiasts | insulation
Evaluation of the Rough Sleepers |To evaluate policy |March 1993 |Research & Information
Initiative | Services
Applicant's Perceptions of the Planning |Customer's views on the |March 1993 |W S Atkins
Appeals System | planning appeals system
Evaluation of `Right to Buy' Publicity |To evaluate publicity campaign |April 1993 |MORI
Campaign
`Right to Buy' Campaign |Follow-up to above survey |May 1993 |MORI
Evaluation-follow-up stage
Public Attitudes to the Environment |To inform policy |July 1993 |NOP
Landlords Research |To inform policy making |July 1993 |SCPR
Helping the Earth Campaign |To evaluate the `Helping the |September 1993 |BMRB
Evaluation Research 93-94 - Waves | Earth' campaign
4 & 5
<1>Customer Survey: Study of |To assess customer satisfaction |September 1993 |W S Atkins Planning
Appellants' and Local Authorities' | with the hearings of appeals | Consultants
Experience of the Hearings System | procedures
Helping the Earth - Literature |To evaluate literature campaign |September 1993 |MAI
Evaluation
Helping the Earth Radio Campaign |To assess the effectiveness of |October 1993 |RSGB
| campaign
<1>Ventilation in Homes |To evaluate the effectiveness of |October 1993 |PAS
| Building Regulations
Rent Policies of LAs in England |To monitor and inform policy |November 1993 |Inlogov
The nature of Demand for Housing in |To investigate people's housing |December 1993 |Birmingham University
Rural Areas | experiences in rural areas
Flat Service Charges and Right to Buy |To monitor and inform policy |December 1993 |MORI
Monitoring the Actions of Failed Grant |To monitor and inform policy |January 1994 |PAS
Applicants
Helping the Earth Campaign, Pre and |To assess campaign |February 1994 |COI<1>
Post Monitor | effectiveness
Public Attitudes to Planning (and |To inform policy and promote |February 1994 |Prism Research
Development) | the planning system
Rent to mortgage Leaflet follow-up |To establish tenants opinion and |February 1994 |NOP
| action taken towards buying
| their home
Study of Lodgers Scheme |Policy making on Lodgers |March 1994 |The London Research Centre
| scheme
Recreational Cycling Market Research |To assess customer satisfaction |April 1994 |COI<1>
<1>Ventilation in Homes |To evaluate the effectiveness of |April 1994 |Public Attitudes Surveys
| Building Regulations | Ltd.
Vacant Dwellings in the Private Sector |To determine the scope for |May 1994 |University of Wales and
| bringing vacant dwellings | MORI
| back into use
The Environmental Effects of Duct |To define reasonable dust levels |May 1994 |Ove Arup & Partners
from Surface Mineral Workings -
pilot survey
Home Improvement Agency Client |To review the work of Home |June 1994 |SCPR
Survey | Improvement Agencies
Research into the Role and Operation |To evaluate policy |August 1994 |MORI
of Homes
The Environmental Effects of |To define reasonable working |September 1994 |Vibrock Ltd
Production Blasting from Surface | levels for production blasting
Mineral Workings (Pilot Survey)
`Wasting Energy Costs the Earth' |To establish attitudes to and |September 1994 |NOP
Campaign Evaluation | action on energy use in the
| home
<1>Customer Survey: Study of |To assess customer satisfaction |October 1994 |WS Atkins Planning
Customer's experience of the inquiry | Consultants
procedure
<1>indicates those surveys commissioned by Agencies
Column 863
Single Regeneration Budget
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proportion of expenditure in the single regeneration budget for 1995 96 is expected to be allocated between each of the (a) public, (b) private and (c) voluntary sectors;
(2) if it remains his policy that the winning bids for the single regeneration budget funds will be announced in December.
Sir Paul Beresford: The timetable for the current single regeneration budget bidding round was set out in the bidding guidance published in April. We expect to announce decisions on the successful bids in January 1995.
Decisions will be made according to the criteria in the bidding guidance. There are no pre-set allocations between types of bidders or projects.
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for a bidding round for the single regeneration budget in 1996 97.
Sir Paul Beresford: As I explained in my letter of 26 October to the hon. Member, the position on future bidding rounds will depend on the level of commitments from previous years and the outcome of the annual public expenditure review. This year's review is currently proceeding and decisions will be made following the Budget statement in November.
Column 864
Ordnance Survey
Mr. Cyril D. Townsend: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to change the 1994 95 cash limit and running costs limit for Ordnance Survey.
Mr. Atkins: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate for Ordnance Survey, class VII, vote 10, the cash limit has been increased by £1,357,000 from £14,856,000 to £16, 213,000 to take up a capital end-year flexibility entitlement of 1, 354,000, announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July, Official Report column 729 34 , due to the slippage of payment for capital expenditure from 1993 94.
In addition, the running-cost limit has been increased by £3,000 from £16,162,000 to £16,165,000 due to a transfer of £3,000 from the Treasury in respect of repayment of the average property price list. The increases will be offset by a transfer and a claim on the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
PSA Services
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make to the cash limit and running cost limit on PSA Services class VII, vote II in 1994 95.
Sir Paul Beresford: Subject to parliamentary approval, the cash limit for class VII, vote II, PSA Services, will be reduced by £32, 000 from £98,693,000 to £98,661,000.
Column 865
This reflects a public expenditure survey transfer with the Department for Education to cover the costs of relocating a member of PSA Services staff. The net running cost limit on this vote will also reduce by £32,000 from £98,293,000 to £98,261,000.Industrial Waste
Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to produce guidance on co-disposal of industrial wastes at landfill sites.
Mr. Atkins: Scientific co-disposal will continue to be an important waste management technique in this country for some years to come. We are therefore publishing today a consultation draft of waste management paper No. 26F on landfill co-disposal. The draft paper has been prepared by consultants using the results of recent scientific research on the chemical reactions that take place in landfills. Wastes managers and the statutory waste authorities will benefit particularly from the guidelines. The consultation period will be until 6 January 1995 and, subject to the results of the consultation, waste management paper No. 26F should be published in spring 1995.
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in the past year the spouse of a Minister in his Department has travelled abroad at public expense to accompany a Minister on public duties, and what has been the total cost to public funds; and on how many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost.
Mr. Gummer [holding answer 26 October 1994.]: The only occasion when a spouse accompanied a Minister from this Department in the past year was when my wife travelled with me to Greece for the EC informal Environment Council in May this year, at the invitation of the Greek Government, to join Ministers and their spouses from the other members of the European Union. The total cost to public funds was £736.10.
HEALTH
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each public opinion survey commissioned by (a) her Department and (b) her agencies since 1 October 1992, showing for each, the subject, objectives, total cost, the period in which it was conducted and the organisation from which it was commissioned.
Mr. Sackville: A list of public opinion surveys commissioned since October 1992 will be placed in the Library. The costs of each survey are a matter of commercial confidentiality.
Consultation Papers
Mr. Bowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all her Department's consultation papers including circulars and guidance notes issued since 1 January, together with the date by which comments were due on each of them.
Column 866
Mr. Sackville: The Department regularly consults the national health service and other organisations about proposed new policies and procedures. Major consultation exercises since 1 January 1994 have been undertaken and details will be placed in the Library. Guidance issued to the NHS, after any consultation, is usually sent as an Executive Letter, EL, or health service guidelines, HSG. A list of ELs and HSGs issued since 1 January will be placed in the Library.
Teenage Smoking
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for health what plans she has to tackle the problem of teenage smoking.
Mr. Sackville: The Health Education Authority is currently evaluating the recent five-year teenage smoking campaign. The lessons learned will be incorporated in the preparatory work now being done on a new £12 million three-year national anti-smoking campaign. Particular emphasis will be placed on addressing parents whose smoking habits and attitudes have a vital influence on the smoking behaviour of their children.
The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health will consider the whole question of teenage smoking.
Psychiatric Patients
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute psychiatric beds there were in the area covered by the Government commissioned mental health task force in London in each of the last five years; and how many psychiatric patients were admitted to private beds in that area in each of the last five years.
Mr. Bowis: Information on the number of acute psychiatric beds and the number of patients admitted to private beds is not available centrally.
Childcare
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities and trusts provide help with childcare for their staff in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Malone: This information is not available centrally.
Cervical Cancer
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of women have been screened for cervical cancer; and how many women died from cervical cancer in each (a) family health service authority, (b) district health authority and (c) regional health authority in each year since 1987 and in 1994 to date.
Mr. Sackville: Information on cervical cancer screening is available centrally for financial years 1988 89 to 1992 93. For 1988 89, coverage information is available only as a national figure. From 1989 90 to 1992 93, it is available by region; for 1992 93 it is also available by district health authority. It is not collected centrally by family health services authority.
Percentage coverage of woman screened for cervical cancer in the last 5.5 years Region |1988-89 per cent.|1989-90 per cent.|1990-91 per cent.|1991-92 per cent.|1992-93 per cent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ England total |43.0 |<1>62.0 |74.0 |79.9 |82.9 Northern |- |64.0 |79.0 |83.5 |85.8 Yorkshire |- |65.0 |81.0 |84.8 |87.0 Trent |- |72.0 |83.0 |87.5 |88.8 East Anglia |- |68.0 |83.0 |85.8 |86.7 North West Thames |- |42.0 |58.0 |65.0 |70.3 North East Thames |- |34.0 |50.0 |64.4 |72.3 South East Thames |- |data unusable |61.0 |70.3 |79.0 South West Thames |- |46.0 |66.0 |78.0 |80.1 Wessex |- |75.0 |86.0 |87.6 |88.5 Oxford |- |79.0 |82.0 |85.1 |86.1 South Western |- |78.0 |84.0 |86.5 |87.5 West Midlands |- |71.0 |81.0 |84.1 |85.5 Mersey |- |72.0 |79.0 |82.0 |83.5 North Western |- |61.0 |79.0 |83.5 |85.8 <1> excluding South East Thames region. This information is obtained from the central return KC53 which collects information from the computerised call and recall system for Cervical Cancer Screening in England. Coverage information by district health authority is published in Cervical Cytology 1992-93 Summary Information from Form KC53 England, copies of which are available in the Library. Cervical cancer mortality data by health authority region are available for the years 1987 to 1992. Mortality data by health authority are available in the Library in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys DH5 series.
Column 867
Cost Effectiveness
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the cost-effectiveness of the national health services in relation to that of private health care.
Mr. Sackville: None. The cost-effectiveness of the national health service is not in doubt. The recent Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development report, "Assessment of United Kingdom Health Service Reforms", states that the NHS "was, and is, a remarkably cost-effective institution".
Heart Disease
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has on the cost-effectiveness of primary care practice nurses in relation to the effect of counselling on coronary heart disease risk factors.
Mr. Sackville: Research studies are under way that include the evaluation of nurse-administered health checks and advice in general practice. Two studies published interim results in January 1994; the OXCHECK study conducted in general practices in Oxfordshire, and the Family Heart Study Group's trials. These interim reports questioned the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in relation to coronary heart disease prevention. The studies, however, were carried out before new arrangements for promoting health promotion in general practice were introduced on 1 July 1993. The new arrangements, which practice nurses have played a valuable part in implementing, focus particularly on coronary heart disease and are subject to continuing evaluation. The aim is to make optimum use of the skills of primary health care teams in monitoring and tackling the coronary heart disease risk factors in the population that they serve. A conference has been planned for later this year to consider the most recent research findings and their implications for further work in this area. Copies of the report can be found in the British Medical Journal of 29 January, which is available in the Library.
Column 868
Renal Transplants
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the names of the units in each region providing renal dialysis for renal transplant; and if she will identify the geographical gaps in the services.
Mr. Sackville: The information is not available centrally in the form requested, but a list of all renal dialysis units in England will be placed in the Library.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Grocott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to her Department of answering (a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.
Mr. Sackville: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that the then Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Dorrell), gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) on 30 November 1993, Official Report, column 387 .
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Legal Aid
Mr. Byers: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much legal aid has been paid to George Walker in respect of recent court proceedings; and what is the estimate of the final costs.
Mr. John M. Taylor: Lawyers acting on behalf of George Walker have to date received legal aid payments amounting to £1,152,442. These are discretionary interim payments made in respect of proceedings in the Crown court. It is not possible at this stage to estimate what the final cost of the proceedings will be.
Mr. Byers: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much to date has been paid from the legal aid fund to (a) Ian Maxwell and (b) Kevin Maxwell in respect of (i) criminal prosecutions against them and (ii) civil proceedings.
Mr. John M. Taylor: Lawyers acting on behalf of Ian and Kevin Maxwell have received legal aid payments of
Column 869
£170,117 and £224,562 respectively for criminal proceedings in the magistrates courts. Details of payments to date in the Crown court are not readily available in the form requested.In respect of civil legal aid, lawyers acting on behalf of Kevin Maxwell have so far received payments totalling £22,158. There have not been any payments to date in respect of civil proceedings involving Ian Maxwell.
Legal Publications
Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to (a) add to or remove from the promulgation list any individuals or organisations and (b) require magistrates courts or other court centres to buy statutes and subordinate legislation direct from HMSO.
Mr. John M. Taylor: Existing arrangements for the provision of copies of legislation for the courts and others have been the subject of consultation with representatives of the parties affected and remain under consideration.
Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether the official promulgation list for the dissemination of statutes and subordinate legislation is still in operation; and if he will publish the names of the individuals and organisations who are entitled to free copies of such material.
Mr. John M. Taylor: Yes. Under arrangements with HMSO, copies of all Acts of Parliament and certain subordinate legislation are sent to magistrates courts, a small number of circuit judges and to local authorities at my Department's expense.
Trespass
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many actions for trespass have been brought in the civil courts in England and Wales since 1979.
Mr. John M. Taylor: The information collected from the courts does not allow for this type of analysis.
Column 870
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Parliamentary Proceedings
Sir Donald Thompson: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon- Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission what arrangements are being made to provide hon. Members with access to the clean television feed of parliamentary proceedings in accordance with the resolution of the House of 30 June.
Mr. Beith: The clean feed direct relay of proceedings of both Houses will be available on new-style colour television annunciators in the Palace and the outbuildings from the morning of the state opening on 16 November. Detailed arrangements will be notified by the Serjeant at Arms to occupants of offices affected.
EMPLOYMENT
Labour Statistics
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of people shown in employment data in the annual abstract of statistics as being employed in (a) private and (b) public sector education between (i) part-time and (ii) full-time employees under appropriate headings including teachers, lecturers, ancillary staff, administrative staff, local authority officers and other appropriate heading where known, such analysis to be set out by type of educational establishment where appropriated, for 1979 and the most recent two years.
Mr. Oppenheim: Information on public sector employment in the education industry is available only for the two occupational groupings, lecturers/teachers and other staff, and it is not available by type of educational establishment. The available information is given in the following table:
Column 869
Employees in the education industry Great Britain
Thousands
Total SIC 93 Public sector <1>Private sector
estimates
|Full-time|Part-time|Total |Full-time|Part-time|Total |Full-time|Part-time|Total
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Lecturers/teachers |- |- |- |605 |156 |761 |- |- |-
Other |- |- |- |238 |541 |778 |- |- |-
Total |N/A |N/A |1,605 |843 |697 |1,539 |N/A |N/A |65
1993
Lecturers/teachers |- |- |- |433 |137 |570 |- |- |-
Other |- |- |- |148 |486 |633 |- |- |-
Total |989 |849 |1,837 |580 |623 |1,203 |409 |226 |634
1994
Lecturers/teachers |- |- |- |417 |135 |552 |- |- |-
Other |- |- |- |146 |478 |624 |- |- |-
Total |988 |851 |1,840 |563 |613 |1,176 |425 |239 |664
Notes: Male part-time estimates are only available from September 1984. <1> Private sector estimates have been
calculated by subtracting public sector estimates from Total SIC 93 estimates and hence will include all
establishments who have `opted' out of local authority control.
Column 871
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Liberia
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the difficulties being experienced by British humanitarian agencies in Liberia.
Mr. Baldry: Following the resumption of the civil war in early September, non-governmental organisation programmes have ceased in all areas except Monrovia. Latest reports from the Save the Children Fund show that 90 per cent. of the country is now inaccessible to humanitarian aid.
Albania
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in delivering European Union aid to Albania; and what effect the policy of Greece is having on this.
Mr. Baldry: The EU is providing a substantial volume of aid to Albania through the Phare programme: total commitments up to July 1994 were 84.6 mecu, of which 45 mecu had been disbursed by the end of 1993. However, there is a continuing and regrettable delay in agreeing the European Commission's proposal to provide macro-economic assistance of 35 mecu to Albania.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Funeral Services
Mr. Soley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the procedures for regulating practices and costs of funerals; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ian Taylor: There are no such procedures.
Mr. Soley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to ensure that relatives of a deceased person are (a) consulted before a funeral operator embalms a body and (b) told the cost of embalming.
Mr. Ian Taylor: I have no such proposals. Funeral arrangements are a matter for the client and the funeral director to agree upon.
Electricity Interconnector
Mr. Tipping: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when green ticket payments on electricity received through the interconnector with France are due to end; when Electricite de France's exclusive monopoly lease of the interconnector expires; whether these issues will be examined during the current nuclear review; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 26 October 1994]: The Government are considering the future of the fossil fuel levy and the associated arrangements, including non-leviable status, in respect of nuclear generation as part of the nuclear review, and I cannot pre-judge the outcome.
I understand that the interconnector agreement between Electricite de France and the National Grid Company, which provides for EdF to lease NGC's assets in the
Column 872
interconnector, covers the period until 31 March 2001. However, trade across the interconnector is covered by separate commercial agreements, and the Government have received assurances from the French Government that access across the interconnector to the French electricity market is on a non-discriminatory basis.Public Appointments
Dr. Wright: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many public appointments (a) he is responsible for making and (b) require his approval, including those not listed in "Public Bodies"; and if he will give this figure in terms of (i) appointments to Executive bodies, (ii) appointments to advisory bodies and (iii) other appointments.
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 27 October 1994]: In total, I am responsible for 935 public appointments, of which 440 are appointments to executive bodies, 279 are appointments to advisory bodies and 216 are other appointments.
Post Office
Mr. Hain: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will respond to representations regarding a dispute between Bridgegate Engineering and the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Wardle [holding answer 27 October 1994]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade responded on Thursday 27 October 1994.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Burundi
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent military activity there has been in Burundi; and what contribution the British Government are making to both humanitarian assistance and diplomatic endeavours to ensure peace and political development.
Mr. Baldry: The situation in Burundi remains stable but tense. We are not aware of any recent major military activity, although there have been reports of isolated incidents within the country, with the military attempting to disarm militant groups at the request of the new Government.
Since the abortive coup in 1993, the British Government have provided £1.79 million bilaterally to NGOs and UN organisations in Burundi. The UN Centre for Human Rights has a technical assistance programme in Burundi, to which the United Kingdom has contributed £100,000. The centre is now looking at ways to strengthen and expand its office there.
The UN is actively considering how best to increase international assistance to Burundi and the United Kingdom supports its proposal to hold an international conference in the region to discuss refugee problems.
| Next Section
| Home Page |