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Diplomatic Service
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the total expenditure on the diplomatic service for the years 1992 93 and 1993 94; if he will express this as a percentage of total spending on defence, diplomacy and aid; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: Total expenditure on the diplomatic service in 1992 93 was £714.6 million or 3 per cent. of total spending on defence, diplomacy and aid. In1993 94, it was £774.5 million or 3 per cent. of total spending on defence, diplomacy and aid.
East Timor
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when British Ministers or officials last visited East Timor.
European Union
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for publication in the Official Report of a copy of the letter on the European Union, sent to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent, to which he refers in his answer of 3 November 1994 Official Report, column 1385.
Mr. Baldry: Yes, the text of the letter was as follows: You asked:
"What arrangements exists 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?"
We expect that the Commission President would reallocate responsibility for these issues among the remaining Commissioners. It is his prerogative to do so.
Rwanda
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the establishment of an international judicial process to prosecute individuals suspected of genocide and other crimes against humanity in Rwanda.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Security Council resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 established an international criminal tribunal for Rwanda. We co-sponsored this resolution.
Africa
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in Africa have been the subject of arms export licence refusals on the ground of internal oppression or regional insecurity.
Mr. Baldry: The latest period for which figures have been compiled is the calendar year 1993.
No applications for export licences were refused to countries in Africa on the grounds of internal oppression or regional insecurity in that period.
UN Rapid Deployment Force
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the creation and maintenance of a United Nations rapid deployment
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force to be used in preventive and peacekeeping missions; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Douglas Hogg: Some UN member states have proposed the creation of a rapid deployment force dedicated to UN peacekeeping. Given the costs of maintaining, training and equipping such a force, and the difficulty of matching its capabilities to the widely varying requirements of different missions, those ideas have not found widespread support. The UN Secretary- General has, however, established a UN standby force planning team tasked with creating a database of the resources which member states can make available to the United Nations at short notice. The Secretary-General's objective in launching this initiative is to enhance the capability of the United Nations to launch peacekeeping operations and deploy forces rapidly. Many member states, including the United Kingdom, have already supplied the necessary information to the UN
Secretary-General and we and the French Government are actively encouraging other states to support this UN initiative.
EU Council
Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many times votes in the EU Council have been published under the provisions of article 7(5) of Council decision 93/662/EC on allowing greater publicity for Council meetings;
(2) how many times explanations of votes in EU Council meetings have been published in accordance with article 5 of Council decision 93/662/EC on allowing greater publicity for Council meetings.
Mr. Baldry: The press releases which are issued after each Council meeting are placed in the Library. Since the publication of the Council decision referred to by the hon. Member, these have normally contained details of votes and explanations of votes.
Armenia
Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to open an embassy in Armenia.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: There are at present no plans to open an embassy in Armenia. The pattern of overseas representation is kept under review. HM ambassador in Moscow is accredited to Armenia and his staff make regular visits there.
Moldova
Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to open an embassy in Moldova or change the current method of United Kingdom representation in that country.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The British ambassador to Moscow is also accredited to Moldova. We have no plans at present to change this arrangement nor to open an embassy in Moldova.
Libya
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom-Libyan relations at the latest date.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg: There are still issues of major concern which prevent an improvement in bilateral relations.
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens are employed in Libya according to latest statistics; and what was the figures five years ago.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: There are no figures available of British nationals employed in Libya. However, between 1990 and 1992, we estimate that there were 5,000 United Kingdom citizens in Libya.
Next Step Agencies
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the salary and other emoluments of the civil servant who did the work of, or work comparable to that of, the chief executive of each next step agency established by his Department before the agency was established.
Mr. Goodlad: The civil servant who did the work comparable to that of the director of the Natural Resources Institute before it was established as an agency was a home civil servant grade 4. The present national salary scale for that grade is £45,278 to £54,815. The civil servant who did the work of the director of Wilton Park before it was established as an agency was a diplomatic service grade 4--equivalent to home civil servant grade 5. The present national salary scale for that grade is £36,739 to £54,815. Neither officer was entitled to London weighting.
Lobbying Companies
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the guidelines issued by his Department to regulate relationships with lobbying companies.
Mr. Goodlad: The conduct of Ministers in my Department is governed by "Questions of Procedure for Ministers", the guidance for all Departments promulgated by the Cabinet Office. Conditions of service for the staff of my Department incorporate the general principles of conduct that require civil servants not to misuse the information which they acquire in the course of their duties; not to make use of their official position to further their private interests or those of others; and not to receive gifts, hospitality or benefits of any kind from a third party, which might be seen to compromise their personal judgment or integrity.
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list and date those occasions over the last two years when Ministers or officials in his Department have met lobbying companies, prior to a decision being made on the subject of the meeting with the lobbying company.
Mr. Goodlad: No central record is kept of such contacts. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Lockerbie
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to hold a public inquiry into the
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Lockerbie bombing incident; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Douglas Hogg: We have no such plans.
Levels of Service
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he will ensure that the services of (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) the Overseas Development Administration, (c) the BBC World Service and (d) the British Council remain at appropriate levels; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: Expenditure plans for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Diplomatic Wing, and the Overseas Development Administration are reviewed annually as part of the public expenditure survey. The outcome is announced in the Financial Statement and Budget Report and in more detail in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's departmental report. Planned grants in aid to the BBC World Service, which is funded on a triennial basis, and the British Council are reviewed at the same time.
Germany
Mr. Radice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present state of Anglo-German relations; and what steps he is taking to improve them.
Mr. Baldry: Our last summit meeting in April showed that British/German relations are very good. It underlined the close co- operation and contacts between our two Governments across the board and our common approach to many important issues affecting Europe and the rest of the world.
During the German presidency of the European Union, we have continued to work closely on a wide range of subjects, including growth and employment in the Union, the extension of security and prosperity to the east, and efforts to combat organised crime. Now that Chancellor Kohl's new Government are in place, we look forward to working with them bilaterally and in the European Union to ensure a good outcome to the Essen European Council and beyond.
PRIME MINISTER
Ministers' Conduct
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what is the position of Her Majesty's Government on inviting senior civil servants, such as the Cabinet Secretary, to sit with the Patronage Secretary to examine Ministers about their conduct.
The Prime Minister: From time to time, my right hon. Friend the Chief Whip and the Cabinet Secretary are asked to advise me on matters relating to the registration of Members' interests and "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". This may necessitate establishing the facts with the Ministers concerned.
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister how many Government Departments are involved following up the
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Pan Am 103 crash over Lockerbie; and if he will identify their respective responsibilities.The Prime Minister: The Crown Office is the lead department on matters relating to the prosecution of those suspected of the Lockerbie bombing. The Foreign and Commonwealth office is the lead Department for international aspects. These Departments consult others on issues for which they are responsible, as they arise.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 24 November.
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 24 November.
The Prime Minister: This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Halsbury Statutes
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to review the Halsbury statutes of 1717 with a view to their repeal; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister: I am not aware of any statutes passed in 1717 which are both still in force and in need of repeal.
Ministers' Pensions
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers in Her Majesty's Government between 1986 and 1994 have had pension contributions paid by outside interests while they held ministerial office.
The Prime Minister: Pension arrangements are a personal matter for individual Ministers. However, they are expected to follow the guidance in paragraphs128 134 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers".
Salary Increases
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister if the Government will ask the Confederation of British Industry to request that salary increases for chief executives and chairmen of companies should not exceed the rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Sedgefield(Mr. Blair) on 22 November, Official Report, column 465.
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Members' Salaries
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Lord President of the Council what will be the differential between the salaries of Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament in 1995; and what it was in 1965.
Mr. Newton: In 1965 the salary of a Cabinet Minister was £8,500, and that of a Member of Parliament £3,250, a ratio of 2.6:1; from January 1995 the comparable
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figureprovided for by the draft Ministerial Salaries Order 1994 would be £42,834 for a Cabinet Minister against a Member's salary of £33,189 under the resolution of3 November 1993, giving a ratio of 1.3:1.Ministerial and Other Salaries Order
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the salaries covered by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Order.
Mr. Newton: The salaries of Ministers and other paid office holders were last increased from 1 January 1994 under the terms of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Order 1993. At that time it was decided that henceforth the level of ministerial salaries should normally be increased by the same proportion as those of hon. Members, and that
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Ministers in the other place would receive the same increases, in cash terms, as their counterparts in this House.I announced this arrangement to the House during the debate on Members' salaries in November 1993, Official Report, 3 November 1993, column 457. Ministers in this House will receive the 2.7 per cent. staged payment from last year's award, plus a 2 per cent. increase due in respect of the 1995 settlement. Ministers in the other place will receive the corresponding cash increases. The draft Ministerial and Other Salaries Order to implement these changes from 1 January 1995 was laid in the House on Monday 21 November. The details are set out in the tables.
In accordance with the resolution of 3 November 1993, the same increases will be applied to the reduced parliamentary salary paid to Commons Ministers and paid office holders, which will increase from the current rate of £23,854 to £24,985 on 1 January 1995.
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Ministers salaries
|2nd stage of 1994 |Total inc. 2 per
|cent.
|settlement wef |1995 settlement wef
|Current salary |1 January 1995 |1 January 1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commons Ministers etc.
Prime Minister |54,438 |55,900 |57,018
Cabinet Minister |40,895 |41,994 |42,834
Minister of State |28,936 |29,713 |30,307
Parliamentary Under Secretary |21,961 |22,551 |23,002
Attorney General |43,456 |44,624 |45,516
Solicitor General |35,632 |36,589 |37,321
Government Chief Whip |34,037 |34,951 |35,650
Government Deputy Chief Whip |28,936 |29,713 |30,307
Government Whips |18,620 |19,120 |19,502
Assistant Government Whips |18,620 |19,120 |19,502
Leader of the Opposition |37,495 |38,502 |39,272
Opposition Chief Whip |28,936 |29,713 |30,307
Assistant Opposition Whip |18,620 |19,120 |19,502
Speaker |42,909 |44,062 |44,943
Chairman of Ways and Means |28,936 |29,713 |30,307
First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means |25,431 |26,114 |26,636
Second Deputy Chairman Ways and Means |25,431 |26,114 |26,636
Lords Ministers etc.
Cabinet Minister |52,260 |53,999 |55,329
Minister of State |46,333 |47,751 |48,835
Parliamentary Under Secretary |38,894 |40,124 |41,065
Lord Advocate |52,340 |54,079 |55,409
Government Chief Whip |46,333 |47,751 |48,835
Government Deputy Chief Whip |38,894 |40,124 |41,065
Government Whips |35,099 |36,239 |37,111
Leader of the Opposition |38,894 |40,124 |41,065
Opposition Chief Whip |35,099 |36,239 |37,111
Chairman of Committees |46,333 |47,751 |48,835
Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees |42,354 |43,772 |44,856
Minister in neither house
Solicitor General (Scotland) |45,539 |46,762 |47,697
Parliamentary salaries
Member of Parliament |31,687 |32,538 |33,189
Reduced parliamentary salary |23,854 |24,495 |24,985
The Speaker is entitled to draw the salary shown in this table, under the Ministerial and Other Salaries Order, but has
opted to take a lower salary equal to that of a Cabinet Minister in the House of Commons.
The Lord Chancellor's salary is set separately by Section 3 of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act
1991.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Quangos
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many quangos his Department was responsible for (a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which a number is available.
Mr. Waldegrave: In 1979 there were 118 such bodies; in 1993, the latest year for which there are published figures, there were 85.
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which quangos his Department has abolished since 1979.
Mr. Waldegrave: The following list shows which quangos have been abolished from 1979 to 1993, the latest year for which there are final figures:
1979
1. Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture in England and Wales
2. Farm Settlements Advisory Committee for Selection of Tenants 3. Plant Variety Rights Advisory Panels (12)
4. Poultry Diseases Panel
5. Torry Research Station Advisory Committee
1980
1. Advisory Committee on the Banana Trade
2. Experimental Centres Advisory Committees in England and Wales (reduced from 22 to 21)
3. Regional Panels (reduced from 7 to 5)
4. Tate & Lyle Customer Safeguards Committee
1981
1. Agricultural Wages Committees (reduced from 25 to 24) 2. White Fish Authority (abolished October 1981 and replaced by SFIA)
3. Agricultural Construction Industry Liaison Group
4. Milk and Dairies Tribunal (reduced from 7 to 5)
1982
1. Thames Barrier Advisory Team
2. Flood Protection Research Committee
3. Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation (replaced by Food From Britain March 1983)
4. Experimental Centres Advisory Committees England and Wales (reduced from 21 to 20)
1983
1. Committee on Artificial Insemination of Cattle
2. Land Settlement Association Ltd
3. `Food Additives and Contaminants Committee' and `Food Standards Committee' amalgamated to form `Food Advisory Committee' 4. Fisheries R & D Board
5. Kew Scientific Advisory Panel
6. Scientific Panel for Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs
7. Wakehurst Place Consultative Panel
1984
1. Joint Consultative Organisation for R & D in Agriculture and Food (abolished May 1984 replaced by Priorities Board for R & D in Agriculture and Food)
1985
None
1986
1. Eggs Authority (31.12.86.)
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