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Moroccan Government prior to the 1995 United Nations referendum in Moroccan-held territory;(3) if he will make a statement regarding the exclusion of the international media and other independent observers from Western Sahara by the Government of Morocco;
(4) what plans Her Majesty's Government have to prevent the harassment by the Moroccan military of Sahrawis who attempt to register to vote in the 1995 United Nations referendum in Moroccan-held territory; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I will write to the hon. Member.
Market Testing
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of (a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.
Mr. Goodlad: The cost of payments by the FCO to consultants for preparation for market testing between 1 April 1992 and 30 June 1994 was £277,272. Other departmental central support costs were £679,970.
Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Conference
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to reconvene his periodic round table with non-governmental organisations concerned with proliferation and arms exports issues, prior to the final preparatory committee meeting in New York in January for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty conference.
Mr. David Davis: I will write to the hon. Member.
Iraq
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had from Sir Terence Clark, the ambassador to Iraq from 1985 to 1989, about the condition of Her Majesty's embassy in Baghdad; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: No such representations have been received, though we are aware of Sir T. Clarke's concerns.
Remedial work on the embassy is unfortunately impractical in present circumstances.
Atomic Energy
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) for what reason it has been proposed to extend article III bis to the Anglo-American mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters, of 3 July 1958; what criteria were adopted for deciding on a 10-year extension; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when Her Majesty's Government first received the proposed amendments from the United States Government to the agreement between the United Kingdom and United States on the co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes, of 3 July 1958, as published by the United States President on 23 May 1994;
(3) what plans he has to lay before Parliament the proposed amendments to the agreement for the
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co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes between the United States and United Kingdom of 3 July 1958;(4) what is the reason for introducing the proposed amendment F to article VI of the United States-United Kingdom agreement for the co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes, of 3 July 1958; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of material control and accountability to date in the implementation of the agreement.
Mr. David Davis: I will write to the hon. Member.
Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 October to the hon. Member for South Dorset (Mr. Bruce) on the 3 to 4 October Foreign Affairs Council, Official Report , columns 765 66 , if he will consult with expert non-Governmental organisations in the preparation of the British input to the report for the Council on plutonium smuggling and deposit a copy of the final report in the Library.
Mr. David Davis: I will write to the hon. Member.
Pakistan
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has access to any information provided to Her Majesty's Government before May 1979 in regard to the status of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme.
Mr. David Davis: I will write to the hon. Gentleman.
Intelligence Service
Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (1) how many personnel are currently employed by GCHQ; and how many of these are women;
(2) what steps are being taken to promote women within the ranks of the Secret Intelligence Service;
(3) what percentage of women is employed in each grade of post within GCHQ;
(4) if he will list the grades of post in order of seniority within the structure of the Secret Intelligence Service;
(5) what steps are being taken to recruit more women from outside the service into senior positions within the ranks of the Secret Intelligence Service;
(6) what percentage of women is employed in each grade of post within the Secret Intelligence Service;
(7) what steps are being taken to promote women within the ranks of Government Communications Headquarters;
(8) what steps are being taken to recruit more women from outside the service into senior positions within the ranks of GCHQ; (9) if he will list the grades of post in order of seniority within the structure of GCHQ;
(10) how many personnel are currently employed by the Secrety Intelligence Service; and how many of these are women.
Mr. Hurd: GCHQ and the Secret Intelligence Service employ about 6, 100 and 2,000 people respectively. I am
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not prepared to give a more specific breakdown of the employment structure of the intelligence agencies.Both GCHQ and the Secret Intelligence Service operate an equal opportunities policy. Recruitment and promotion are based on merit, not gender.
Government Communications (Encryption)
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the United Kingdom Government have to develop encryption technology systems for Government and public service communication systems.
Mr. Hurd: We are continuing to develop encryption technology for Government and public service communications.
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to use the Clipper chip encryption system.
Mr. Hurd: There are no plans to use this system in the United Kingdom.
Philippines
Mr. McKelvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications were received from Philippine nationals in the last year for which records were kept; and how many were (a) accepted and (b) refused.
Mr. Goodlad: Our entry clearance posts overseas do not record a separate breakdown of visa applications by nationalities. In 1993 the British embassy in Manila received 13,339 applications for United Kingdom visas, of which 11,895 were issued and 1,232 refused. The remainder were still being processed as at 31 December 1993.
Surveys
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 October, Official Report , columns 759-60 , if he will place in the Library a copy of the Gallup survey results.
Mr. Goodlad: No. The survey was commissioned on a private basis and was not intended to be made public.
Plutonium Smuggling
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency put to the special round table meeting on plutonium smuggling convened by the IAEA Director- General in Vienna on 2 November; and if he will place a summary of discussions and decisions taken at the meeting in the Library.
Mr. David Davis: I will write to the hon. Member.
European Union
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements exist to fill the positions of Fisheries Commissioner and Interior Judicial Affairs Commissioner in the event that the Norwegian and Swedish electorates reject joining the European Union.
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Mr. David Davis: I will write to the hon. Member.
European Court of Justice
Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those parts of the treaty of Rome and other treaties which confer jurisdiction to the European Court of Justice over defence matters.
Mr. David Davis [holding answer 1 November 1994]: The European Court of Justice has no jurisdiction over the provisions of the Maastricht treaty which refer to defence- article B and article J.4. The ECJ does have jurisdiction to interpret articles 36, 48, 56, 66, 223, 224 and 225 of the treaty of Rome which deal with derogations from the treaty justified on grounds on public or national security. There are similar provisions in international agreements relating to the Communities such as certain co-operation agreements and the European economic area agreement, as well as the technical security provisions in articles 24, 25, 27, 28 and 84 of the European atomic energy treaty.
Immigration
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the waiting list for interview to consider applications for immigration into the United Kingdom at each high commission and embassy.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 17 October 1994]: I will arrange for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House shortly, in view of its length.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Thailand
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) pursuant to his answers of 30 March, Official Report , column 779 , if he has yet reached a decision on whether the project to improve the quality of drinking water supplies in Thailand should receive support under the aid and trade provision; and if so at what cost;
(2) pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report , columns 503 4 , if he will list all Ministers involved in negotiations with the Government of Thailand about possible projects to be funded under the framework agreement with Thailand of May 1989;
(3) pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report , columns 503 4 , what projects have been funded or agreed to date arising from the framework agreement with Thailand of May 1989; and at what cost in each case;
(4) pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report , columns 503 4 , what projects had been considered as possible candidates for support under the framework agreement with Thailand of May 1989 at the time the agreement was made.
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Mr. Baldry: I shall write to the hon. Member.
EDUCATION
Grant-Maintained Schools
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of grant-maintained schools eligible to submit bids for capital grant allocations for named projects in each year from 1990 91 to 1994 95.
Mr. Robin Squire: Total numbers of GM schools operating on 1 January in each of the last five years are as follows:
|Number of GM
Year |schools
---------------------------------------
1990 |20
1991 |50
1992 |142
1993 |333
1994 |812
All of these schools were wholly eligible to bid for capital grant allocations in each of the financial years after which they became grant- maintained, and eligible to varying degrees, depending on their actual date of incorporation, to bid in the financial year in which they became grant- maintained.
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what applications have been received from promoters for the establishment of new grant-maintained schools under section 49 of the Education Act 1993; and, in each case, what is the character of the proposed school.
Mr. Robin Squire: Two proposals have been received from promoters for the establishment of new grant-maintained schools under section 49 of the Education Act 1993. One, published on 14 October, is for the establishment of a Jewish secondary school in Leeds for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. The other, published on 17 October, is for the establishment of an interdemoninational Christian school in Bradley Stoke, Avon for boys and girls aged five to 16.
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant-maintained schools have applied for a change of character; and, in each case, what was the nature of the change and what was her decision.
Mr. Robin Squire: I have placed in the Library a table that lists by category of change proposed, the grant-maintained schools which have published statutory proposals for a significant change of character or significant enlargement, and gives the decision where one has been made.
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total number of parental ballots on grant-maintained status which have taken place in (a) the primary and (b) the secondary sector; and, in each case, how many of these have resulted in a majority of eligible parents voting in favour of grant-maintained status.
Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested is as follows:
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|Number of ballots
|with a majority of
|Number of ballots on|eligible parents
Type of School |GM status |voting in favour
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary |625 |286
Secondary |913 |284
The governing body of a school is required to publish proposals for grant- maintained status if the majority of those eligible parents who vote in a ballot are in favour of so doing. If fewer than 50 per cent. of eligible parents vote a second ballot is required. To date, 75 per cent. of parental ballots at primary schools and 73 per cent. at secondary schools have resulted in a vote in favour of seeking grant-maintained status.
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what was the total number of grant-maintained schools which submitted bids for capital grant allocations for named projects in each year from 1990 91 to 1994 95;
(2) what was the total value of bids submitted by grant-maintained schools for capital grant for named projects in each year from 1990 1 to 1994 95;
(3) what was the total number of grant-maintained schools for which a capital grant allocation for named projects was approved in each year from 1990 91 to 1994 95;
(4) what was the total value of capital grant allocations to grant- maintained schools for named projects in each year from 1990 91 to 1994 95;
(5) what was the total number of schools new to the
grant-maintained sector since the previous year for which a capital grant allocation for named projects was approved in each year from 1990 91 to 1994 95.
Mr. Robin Squire: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested as soon as possible.
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the 10 smallest schools that have become grant-maintained; and how many were on the roll of the smallest.
Mr. Robin Squire: The 11 smallest grant-maintained schools are as listed, together with their numbers on roll in January 1993.
School name |roll
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hollinsclough CE Primary School, Staffordshire |24
St Mildred's GM CE Primary School, Staffordshire |25
Kettleshulme St James CE GM Primary School,
Cheshire |33
Gilsland CE Primary School (Grant-Maintained),
Cumbria |37
Orton Church of England School, Cumbria |39
The Corbett CE GM Primary School, Staffordshire |48
Clifford CE Grant-Maintained School, Sheffield |51
Lady Elizabeth Hastings CE Primary School, Leeds |51
Wingfield CE Primary School, Wiltshire |61
Bowness-On-Solway GM Primary School, Cumbria |62
Hallbankgate (Grant-Maintained) Primary School,
Cumbria |62
<1> Information on numbers on roll is derived from the Department for
Education's Schools' Census for January 1993.
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the percentage of eligible parents taking part in ballots on grant- maintained status
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for primary schools, (a) voting yes, (b) voting no and (c) not voting (i) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1989, (ii) from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1990, (iii) from 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1991, (iv) from 1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992, (v) from 1 September 1992 to 31 August 1993, (vi) from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994, and (vii) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1994.Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested is as follows:
< Percentage of eligible parents School Year |Voting yes |Voting no |Not voting ------------------------------------------------------------ 1988-89 |45 |26 |29 1989-90 |39 |26 |35 1990-91 |42 |22 |36 1991-92 |45 |18 |37 1992-93 |40 |23 |37 1993-94 |33 |30 |37 1988-94 |40 |23 |37
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the percentage of eligible parents taking part in ballots on grant- maintained status for secondary schools, (a) voting yes, (b) voting no and (c) not voting (i) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1989, (ii) from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1990, (iii) from 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1991, (iv) from 1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992, (v) from 1 September 1992 to 31 August 1993, (vi) from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994, and (vii) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1994.
Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested is as follows:
< Percentage of eligible parents School Year |Voting yes |Voting no |Not voting ------------------------------------------------------------ 1988-89 |- |- |- 1989-90 |19 |52 |29 1990-91 |48 |23 |29 1991-92 |44 |23 |33 1992-93 |46 |22 |32 1993-94 |38 |31 |31 1988-94 |43 |25 |32
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of pupils in the grant-maintained schools eligible to submit bids for capital grant for named projects in the January prior to the start of each financial year from 1990 91 to 1994 95.
Mr. Robin Squire: Pupil numbers at grant-maintained schools on 1 January of each of the last five years are as follows.
Year |(FTE)
---------------------------------------------------
1990 |13,750
1991 |36,450
1992 |109,000
1993 |242,700
1994 |555,500
These pupils were at schools which were wholly eligible to bid for capital grant allocations in each of the financial years after that in which they became grant-maintained, and eligible to varying degrees, depending on their actual date of incorporation, to bid in the financial year in which they became grant-maintained. Numbers shown are derived from the Department for Education's annual schools' census, with part-time primary pupils included as full-time equivalents. All figures are rounded to the nearest 50.
Overseas Students
Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 24 October, Official Report , column 416 , how much funding will be made available to students from the United States of America to study in the United Kingdom in 1994 95.
Mr. Boswell: Students from the United States of America will receive £3.001 million of Government funding in financial year 1994 95, which is made up from DFE, FCO and British Council scholarship schemes for overseas students.
Russell Group
Ms Gordon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to concentrate funding for research to a group of 10 universities.
Mr. Boswell: None. The Government's 1991 White Paper "Higher Education: A New Framework" stated that, while research funds should be allocated selectively on the basis of assessment of research quality, all higher education institutions should be able to compete for those funds. Some will inevitably succeed more than others in the competition, but all remain eligible for funding.
School Books
Ms Gordon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the expenditure on school books, in real terms, for each year since 1979.
Mr. Robin Squire: Total expenditure on books and equipment in local authorities' maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools is shown in the following table. Not all authorities' returns identify spending on books separately. Figures are in constant--1993 94--prices.
|£ million
------------------------------
1979-80 |407.4
1980-81 |374.2
1981-82 |370.8
1982-83 |385.2
1983-84 |387.8
1984-85 |384.1
1985-86 |375.0
1986-87 |433.0
1987-88 |435.0
1988-89 |435.7
1989-90 |461.6
1990-91 |441.0
1991-92 |511.0
1992-93 |523.4
The figures do not include returns in respect of grant-maintained or independent schools.
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Capital Grant
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total value of the formula allocation of capital grant in each year from 1990 91 to 1994 95.
Mr. Robin Squire: Capital allocations within the Department's programme take the form either of annual capital guidelines to local authorities or of capital grant, which for the most part is disbursed by the Higher Education and Further Education funding councils and the Funding Agency for Schools. The total value of the main formula elements within the grant component is set out as follows. It covers grants to grant-maintained and voluntary-aided schools, higher education institutions and further education institutions.
Formula allocation of capital
grant: total value
|£ million
------------------------------
1990-91 |173.3
1991-92 |189.0
1992-93 |225.7
1993-94 |314.4
1994-95 |323.3
School Buildings
Ms Gordon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much has been spent on repair and maintenance on school buildings, in real terms, in each year since 1979.
Mr. Robin Squire: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested as soon as possible.
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 25 October, Official Report , column 524 25 , what was the total cost of public opinion surveys conducted since 1 January 1994.
Mr. Boswell: The total cost of public opinion surveys conducted by DFE and its agencies since 1 January 1994 is some £133,000.
Departmental Property
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what properties are owned or leased by her Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into (a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.
Mr. Forth: The Department does not own or lease any properties for ministerial use.
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