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Column 497
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many quangos his Department was responsible for (a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which a number is available.
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 25 November 1994]: (a) My right hon. and learned Friend was responsible for a total of 132 non- departmental bodies in 1979 as listed in the "Report on Non-Departmental Public Bodies"--Pliatzky Report Cm 7797, January 1980; and
(b) in 1993 he was responsible for 108 non-departmental public bodies as listed in "Public Bodies 1993".
Education Costs
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish details of the annual costs to (a)
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the Department for Education and (b) education and library boards in Northern Ireland related to the transfer procedure in each of the last three years for which records are available.Mr. Ancram: The information is as follows:
£ 000
|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
-----------------------------------------------------
Department of
Education |143 |156 |246
Education and
Library Boards<1> |454 |485 |508
<1> Excludes teacher substitution for the completion
of transfer report forms, which cannot be identified
separately but includes the cost of appeals
regarding placements in grammar and non-grammar
secondary schools.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Hong Kong
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received alleging the failure of the Hong Kong administration effectively to enforce national wildlife laws and implement the convention on international trade in endangered species, and what has been the response.
Mr. Goodlad: In the past year we have received representations from members of the public responding to non-governmental organisations letter campaigns, and representations from the following NGOs:
Naturewatch --Rhino horn and ivory sales
World Wide Fund for Nature --Sale of rhino, tiger and bear parts
Traffic international --Sale of rhino and tiger products Environmental Investigation Agency --Sale of bear products and rhino horn.
The EIA met with the Governor of Hong Kong in London to ask for a dedicated wildlife enforcement unit to be created. It wrote to the Governor in October, again requesting the setting up of a specialised unit. We received a similar request in two early-day motions, 22 and 59.
Hong Kong set up an endangered species protection liaison group in November 1993 to co-ordinate and implement actions in enforcing national wildlife laws and implementing CITES. The group has access to the resources and expertise of all enforcement and policy agencies, including under cover capability. Should circumstances change, or if any evidence of wholesale trafficking should come to light, Hong Kong will look again at the idea of whether a specialised unit should be set up, and whether it would do the job better.
The Hong Kong Government are keen to work with NGOs, and is currently liaising with Traffic on a study into Hong Kong's position in the Asian medicine trade. The Hong Kong Government take seriously representations alleging CITES abuses, and follow up evidence that is supplied.
Serbia (Sanctions)
Sir Russell Johnston: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding financial and practical assistance to Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria in consequence of sanctions against Serbia; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The effect of sanctions against former Yugoslavia on neighbouring states is difficult to quantify. Assistance is best directed at helping their economies adapt to their changed circumstances. In our view, the international financial institutions, especially the International Monetary Fund, are best placed to assess the damage caused by sanctions and take account of it in their programmes. Romania and Bulgaria have active programmes with the IMF. We also support other multilateral and bilateral efforts, including those of the United Kingdom's know-how fund, aimed at assisting the change to a market economy.
Iraq (Sanctions)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has
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about the impact upon the Kurdish areas of the current policy of sanctions upon Iraq.Mr. Douglas Hogg: We recognise that United Nations sanctions have had a debilitating effect on Iraq. The situation is particularly severe in the Kurdish occupied areas in the north and the southern marshes where the Iraqi regime has also imposed internal economic embargoes. Nevertheless, the Kurdish leadership supports the need to maintain sanctions until Iraq is in compliance with all relevant resolutions. Given the internal embargo, the north is a particular focus for the international aid effort.
Western European Union (Danube Mission)
Sir Russell Johnston: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many personnel are assigned to the WEU mission on the Danube from each WEU member state, distinguishing between those at Mohacs, Calafat and Ruse.
Mr. Goodlad: The latest available statistics relate to the situation on 1 October. On this date, there were 34 German, seven Dutch, five Luxembourg, five Italian and two British officers in the Mohacs area; 74 Italian, six German, 20 French, 13 Dutch and three Spanish officers in Calafat; and 47 Spanish and 32 German officers in Ruse.
Bulgaria
Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the Government's policy to assist Bulgaria with measures to help ensure higher safety standards for Bulgarian nuclear energy installations; and what plans he has to provide Bulgaria with new forms of financial assistance to achieve this.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Government support international efforts to improve nuclear safety in Bulgaria, through both the European Union and the nuclear safety account managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Projects for Kozloduy nuclear power plant total some 30 mecu and 24 mecu respectively. The United Kingdom has also provided some bilateral assistance to Bulgaria in the form of emergency preparedness, studies and training. No new forms of financial assistance in this area are currently being considered.
Entry Clearance Applications
Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that copies of the list of posts designated to accept entry clearance applications are placed in the Libraries of the House each time the list is revised.
Mr. Baldry: Yes. Amended lists are presented to the Libraries of both Houses following each revision, which will normally be made twice yearly. I have arranged for the latest lists to be placed in the Libraries today. Members of the public may obtain copies from the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Government Hospitality Fund
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22
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November, Official Report , column 109, if he will list the operational budget of the Government hospitality fund and staff levels for each of the last 10 years.Mr. Goodlad: The operational budget of the Government hospitality fund and staff levels for each of the last 10 years are as follows:
Year |Budget |Staff levels ---------------------------------------------------- 1984-85 |730,000 |26 1985-86 |844,000 |26 1986-87 |945,000 |26 1987-88 |808,000 |26 1988-89 |908,000 |26 1989-90 |1,217,000 |26 1990-91 |1,099,000 |26 1991-92 |1,117.000 |26 1992-93 |1,152,000 |26 1993-94 |1,337,000 |26
The cost of visits in 1993 94 rose as a consequence of visits made by Ministers from the new nations emerging in the former Soviet Union.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 November, Official Report , column 110 , if he will provide a departmental breakdown of (a) hospitality and (b) visits costs in each of the last five years.
Mr. Goodlad: The Government hospitality fund provides official hospitality on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, not on behalf of Departments. All invitations for hospitality and visits are issued in the name of Her Majesty's Government.
Arms Sales, Indonesia
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total value of arms sales to Indonesia since 1979 and the amount for each individual year.
Mr. Freeman: I have been asked to reply.
It is not Government policy to reveal details of the value of arms exports to individual countries. Details of the value of exports by geographic region are contained in table 1.11 of United Kingdom defence statistics. A copy of the 1994 edition has been placed in the House Library. In addition, the United Kingdom's annual return to the UN arms register provides information on transfers of equipment within certain broad categories.
Death Penalty
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries of the British Commonwealth still retain the death penalty; and what was the number of people in each country under sentence of death on 16 November.
Mr. Baldry: The information is as follows:
Commonwealth
Country |Numbers |Comments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antigua |1
The Bahamas |32 |No executions since
|1984
Bangladesh |Unavailable
Barbados |17
Belize |8
Botswana |7 |No executions since
|1987
Britain |- |Applies only to treason and piracy
|with violation
Brunei |5
Dominica |4
Ghana |Unavailable
Grenada |-
Guyana |18
India |86
Jamaica |128 |No executions since
|1988
Kenya |568 |No executions since
|1984
Lesotho |2
Malawi |-
Malaysia |Unavailable
Maldives |Unavailable
Malta |- |Applies only to high
|treason by members
|of armed forces
Mauritius |5
Nigeria |50
Pakistan |Unavailable
Papua New Guinea |-
St. Christopher and Nevis |2
St. Lucia |8
St. Vincent |7
Sierra Leone |73
Singapore |60+
South Africa |335 |Moratorim in effect
|since 1989
Sri Lanaka |-
Swaziland |5 |No executions since
|1982
Tanzania |Unavailable
Tonga |- |No executions since
|1982
Trinidad and Tobago |50
Uganda |193
Western Samoa |3
Zambia |101
Zimbabwe |100 |No executions since 1988
Commonwealth Institute
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the formal relationship between the Commonwealth Institute and the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland.
Mr. Baldry: The Imperial Institute Act 1925 and the Commonwealth Institute Act 1958, as amended, established and deal with one statutory organisation, the Commonwealth Institute. The Commonwealth Institute, Scotland was constituted by the board of governors of the Commonwealth Institute. It has no separate legal status or personality. The chairman of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland is a member of the board of governors of the Commonwealth Institute.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the proposals that have been made to him by the Commonwealth Institute for the continuation of the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland.
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Mr. Baldry: The chairman of the institute, Scotland is in close contact with the board of governors of the Commonwealth Institute on which assessors, appointed by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, represent Government Departments, and is pursuing solutions for the future. He is also exploring the possibilities of maintaining the Scottish Institute's programmes in collaboration with other organisations in Scotland.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the continued funding of the Commonwealth Institute by his Department and the conditions for that funding.
Mr. Baldry: My noble Friend the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey informed the then acting chairman of the Commonwealth Institute on 12 July 1994 that the Government are prepared to make available £1 million for the financial year 1996 97, £800,000 for 1997 98 and £600,000 for 1998--99. The offer is conditional upon the institute submitting by 16 July 1995 a business plan and a building plan for assessment by independent consultants, and for approval by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who owns the premises used by the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland; and what contribution is made by public funds to the building and the provision of services by the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland.
Mr. Baldry: The trustees of the Commonwealth Institute are empowered to hold the assets of the institute. The Commonwealth Institute, Scotland receives a grant in aid of £215,000 per annum.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the continued operation of the work of the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland.
Mr. Baldry: On 28 April 1994, the chairman of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland requested that the Government provide an annual core grant of £116,000 after March 1996. The chairman has submitted a plan to the board of governors of the institute for keeping the body in being after 1996.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions or contacts have taken place between his Department and the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland about its continued existence and funding by his Department.
Mr. Baldry: My noble Friend the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey informed the chairman of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland on 12 July 1994 that the Government could not meet his request for an annual grant after 1996. However, a grant of £24 million would be made available to the parent body in London for the period 1996 to 1999 to assist the relaunch plan. There would be no objection from Government to the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland requesting the board of the institute in London to make available post-1996 a proportion of its funding.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy options he is currently considering about the future of the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland.
Mr. Baldry: None. The chairman of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland is currently exploring the possibilities of maintaining the Scottish Institute's
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programmes in collaboration with other organisations in Scotland.Somalia
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Nations Security Council delegation that went to Somalia visited Somaliland; what was the outcome of the visit; what is the current UN attitude to the support of peace development efforts in Somaliland; and what it has done practically to support such efforts.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 25 November 1994]: The United Nations mission confined its visit to Mogadishu. It concluded that the lack of progress on political reconciliation and the security environment meant that the UN could no longer achieve its objectives and that the UN force should be withdrawn. This view was endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution No. 954. This also makes it clear that the UN is ready to play a role in reconciliation efforts in Somalia after UNOSOM's withdrawal, if the Somalis wish.
Turkey
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that arms supplied to Turkey by the United Kingdom and other NATO states are not being used for the violation or suppression of human rights and fundamental freedoms; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: Proposed United Kingdom arms sales to Turkey, as to other countries, are considered on a case-by-case basis and are subject to stringent licensing procedures. Before a licence is granted, a wide range of factors are taken into account--including an assessment of the recipient country's human rights record and of the use to which the equipment will be put. We do not grant licences for the sale of equipment which we believe is likely to be used for internal repression.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey regarding bans on British parliamentarians visiting or travelling through that country.
Mr. Goodlad: Turkey has imposed no general ban on British parliamentarians visiting or travelling through that country. We have expressed our concern to the Turkish Government at the ban imposed recently on the noble Lord, the Lord Avebury.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made to the Turkish Government regarding abuse of human rights, destruction of villages and forced displacement of people from south-eastern Turkey during his visit to Istanbul on 14 October.
Mr. Goodlad: During my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's visit to Istanbul on 14 October he raised human rights issues with the Turkish Prime Minister. He also discussed the situation in the south-east of Turkey with the Turkish Foreign Minister. The Turkish Government are well aware of the importance we attach to their improving their human rights record.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge Dr. Francis Deng, the United Nations rapporteur on internally
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displaced persons, to conduct a survey of the position in south-east Turkey; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources for the task.Mr. Douglas Hogg: UN human rights investigators draw up their own programmes of visits in the light of their mandates and priorities. It would be inappropriate for any country to attempt to influence the work of such investigators, including Mr. Deng. We are not aware of any immediate plans by Mr. Deng for a visit to Turkey.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if arms being supplied Turkey by the United Kingdom and other NATO member states are of a nature which could be used against Greece.
Mr. Goodlad: Yes, the same would be true of weapons sold to any other NATO member state.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the conformity of arms sales to Turkey by the United Kingdom and other Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe states with the CSCE principles governing conventional arms transfers of November 1993; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: Our policy on arms sales to Turkey, as to other countries, is in accordance with the CSCE principles governing conventional arms transfer of November 1993; with the guidelines on conventional arms transfer agreed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council; and with the European Union common criteria for arms exports.
Sudan
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the extent of the European arms embargo against Sudan; what assessment he has made of compliance with them; and what measures are being taken to bring (a) South Africa and (b) other countries into the embargo.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The European Union arms embargo agreed on 8 March this year covers arms, munitions and military equipment. As far as we know, it is being fully complied with. The arms embargo covers only European Union member states.
Al Yamamah Contract
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from Sir Colin Southgate, chairman of Thorn/EMI, on commissions paid on the Al Yamamah arms contract with Saudi Arabia, and which other companies he is aware of where commissions were paid in regard to this and other contracts; and to whom.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I have received no such information.
Human Dimension Review
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish details of any proposals put by Her Majesty's Government to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe's human dimension review meeting in Budapest.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The proposals tabled at the CSCE review conference have not been published because
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negotiations on them will not be completed before the summit. Some delegations and non-governmental organisations have, however, made available texts of their interventions during the conference. The conclusions of the four working groups, which cover all aspects of the CSCE's work, including the human dimension, will be incorporated into the final document to be approved by Heads of State and Government on 5 and 6 December.HOME DEPARTMENT
Haverigg Prison
Dr. John Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what grounds catering problems at Haverigg were explained in a "Prison Service News" release as a legacy of its origin as an RAF camp;
(2) what steps have been taken to improve the standard of food and hygiene in Haverigg prison following Judge Tumim's inspection report on 13 July;
(3) what steps he has taken to reduce the level of drug trafficking to Haverigg prison, as reported in Judge Tumim's report on 13 July; (4) what further drugs offences have occurred at Haverigg prison since July; and what further precautions will be taken to address this problem.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 28 November 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Haverigg prison.
Haverigg occupies a former Royal Air Force site. The dining rooms criticised in HM Chief Inspector of Prisons report were built by the Royal Air Force approximately 54 years ago. They are particularly difficult to clean, and new cleaning schedules for the kitchen and dining rooms have been drawn up and implemented. The kitchen is being fully refurbished. A complete refit was begun this summer and is to be completed next month. This has required the provision of a temporary mobile kitchen for food preparation. A new catering manager and catering staff have resulted in higher standards.
Since July there have been 38 adjudications on prisoners charged with unauthorised possession of controlled drugs or articles containing traces of such drugs. Two visitors were arrested for the possession of such drugs. One was cautioned by the police and the other convicted by magistrates.
Drug trafficking is being tackled by increasing searching of visitors, use of security information and searching of the prisoner population, grounds and buildings. Closed circuit television will be introduced in the visits room to deter trafficking there.
We also have a programme of drug education and training for prisoners on reception, which emphasises the dangers of drug abuse and is followed by counselling, group work and introduction to a drug rehabilitation course. This is being developed using psychology staff and local volunteer groups.
Probation Officers
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to have reached a conclusion on the report on the examination of the recruitment and qualifying training of probation officers and the number of sponsored places for such training in 1995; and when he will publish the report.
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Mr. Nicholas Baker: The report is under active consideration and a statement will be made shortly.
Anabolic Steroids
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will include the group of substances known as anabolic agents with particular reference to beta-2-agonists, salbutoamol, clenbuterol, salmeterol and terbutaline, in his proposals to combat the abuse of anabolic steroids;
(2) if he plans to extend his recent proposals to combat the misuse of anabolic steroids to cover growth hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin, corticotrophin and erythropoeitin.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Following the announcement on 2 November by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary's decision to impose further controls on anabolic steroids and other similar drugs, he has asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to consider and advise on exactly which substances should be brought within the controls of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. I understand that growth hormones and beta-2- agonists will be among the substances considered by the advisory council.
Women Prisoners
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women either had children when they were sentenced to prison or have given birth in prison in the past three years; and if he will list the crimes for which they were sentenced.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Lynne Jones, dated 28 November 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of women who either have children when they are sentenced to prison or who have given birth in prison in the past three years and the crimes for which they were sentenced.
Information on the numbers of mothers in custody is not routinely collected by the Prison Service. Instead such information has been collected by conducting surveys of female prisoners, concentrating in particular on those who are mothers. Such censuses were carried out in 1982, 1986 and 1989. I enclose the results of the 1989 census, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
The Home Office Research and Planning Unit has recently commissioned a census of mothers in prison. This was launched earlier this month, following a successful pilot study, and will cover all women in prison, including those on remand. The results are expected in the New Year.
Our records show the number of women temporarily removed to outside hospital for delivery and returning to establishments afterwards. The figures for the past three years are:
1990 91 65
1991 92 56
1992 93 29
There is no record of births having taken place in establishments in recent years.
I regret that the information on the crimes for which the mothers were sentenced is not available.
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