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of estate and building works consultants and £4,915,000 on technical support in the information technology area. The total number of contracts was 460 at a total cost of £14,219,542. The aid wing spent £681,123 on the hire of management consultants, £55,000 on IT consultancies and £234,045,056 on consultants involved in the aid programme overseas. The total number of contracts was 1, 181 at a total cost of £234,781,179.Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of official entertainment in each diplomatic residence owned by Her Majesty's Government in each of the last three years.
Mr. Goodlad: The entertainment provision for heads of mission covers activities both at diplomatic residences, whether owned or rented, and elsewhere in the country of accreditation. The cost of entertainment in each residence cannot be disaggregated from the figure for overall entertainment. For the financial years 1991 92, 1992 93 and 1993 94 the total FCO expenditure by heads of mission on entertainment was £2,077,868, £2,301,382 and £2,594,023, respectively.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number and cost of (a) first-class tickets, (b) business-class tickets and (c) economy-class tickets for overseas flights taken by Ministers located in Britain and paid for by his Department, in each of the last three years.
Mr. Goodlad: Our central records are unable to break down ministerial and civil servants commercial overseas flights. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number and cost of (a) first-class tickets, (b) business-class tickets and (c) economy-class tickets for overseas flights taken by civil servants located in Britain and paid for by his Department, in each of the last three years.
Mr. Goodlad: The details for overseas flights by FCO and ODA Ministers and civil servants based in Britain in 1993 and 1994 are:
G Class of travel |Number |Cost ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1993 |£ First class |293 |543,449 Club class |6,825 |5,734,311 Economy |1,598 |392,460 1994 (January-October) |£ First class |380 |437,597 Club class |6,071 |5,884,290 Economy |1,281 |328,666
Apportioning expenditure between Ministers and civil servants would incur disproportionate cost.
For expenditure incurred in 1992, it is not possible to provide a breakdown by class and mode of travel. Nor is it possible to distinguish between overseas and domestic travel. Total expenditure on official travel by UK- based Ministers and officials in the FCO and ODA that year was £9,291,235.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of overseas flights taken by (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants located in Britain and paid for by his Department in each of the last three years.
Mr. Goodlad: Expenditure for overseas travel in the FCO is as follows:
1992 £10,256,192
This 1992 figure includes all forms of travel--rail, road, ship and air. It is not possible to give a more detailed breakdown. 1993 Commercial and charter flights £7,407,489
1994 Commercial and charter flights £7,454,498
As stated in replies to other written questions, our central records are unable to break down ministerial and civil servants' flights without incurring disproportionate costs.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution his Department is making to the development of international co-operation against illicit drugs production and trafficking.
Mr. Baldry: The Government's consultative paper "Tackling Drugs Together" launched on 19 October demonstrates the Government's firm commitment to tackling the menace of illicit drugs both at home and abroad.
In his reply of 24 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs), my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set out the action that the Government are taking to improve the effectiveness of international co- operation against drug traffickers. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is actively involved in supporting these activities.
In this context, we have raised the profile and priority of drugs in our bilateral contacts with other countries, taking advantage on ministerial contacts where this would be useful and through our diplomatic missions abroad.
At the multilateral level, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stressed at the United Nations General Assembly on 28 September that "the international community needs to give full support to the UN International Drugs Control Programme, which has responsibility for leading the global effort in this field. The UN is the best resource for tackling this global menace". We are providing an extra £1.2 million to fund UNDCP projects. This will bring total United Kingdom
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assistance to other Governments, including through UNDCP to £8 million in this financial year.The United Kingdom, as chairman of the group of UNDCP major donors, will continue to encourage others to increase their contributions to UNDCP. We are moreover actively encouraging the international financial and development institutions to give higher priority to drugs and crime in their country programmes.
We also play a prominent role in other international meetings, for example in the Dublin group of donors, which seeks to develop a dialogue with governments of producer and transit countries on drugs issues. We are also encouraging the EU to be more active in combating drug trafficking, particularly in areas of intergovernmental co-operation. We have, for example, been at the forefront of efforts to associate countries of central and eastern Europe with EU work on drugs and organised crime and we have taken a leading part in EU efforts to develop co-operation with other neighbouring countries in the Mahgreb and Levant. We are furthermore encouraging the Commonwealth to give the issue of drugs and crime a higher political priority.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress there has recently been in allowing Palestinians back to jobs held in Israel.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: On 20 November the Israeli Cabinet increased by 4,500 the number of work permits available for Palestinians throughout the occupied territories, bringing the total to 33,500.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs whether progress has been made on the release of Kuwaiti prisoners since Saddam Hussein recognised Kuwaiti borders; and what representations he has made about their release.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Iraq is beginning to co-operate with the International Committee of the Red Cross in commenting on ICRC case files on missing persons passed to Iraq over 18 months ago. It has so far offered an incomplete response on 127 of the 609 case files. The tripartite commission will meet again on 8 December to review progress and approve the establishment of a technical sub-commission to speed up the substantive review of the case files. We have made it clear to the Iraqi regime that we expect to see substantive progress soon.
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the United Nations Secretary-General's proposal for a United Nations peacekeeping force to be dispatched to Zaire with the object of securing the delivery of humanitarian aid, protecting British aid workers and ensuring safe passage for those refugees wishing to return to Rwanda.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The President of the United Nations Security Council issued a statement on 30 November in response to the Secretary- General's report on the situation in the refugee camps in Zaire and the proposals put forward in that report. The United Kingdom
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played a constructive role in the negotiation of that statement, which it fully supports. A copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library shortly.Mr. Patrick Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy with regard to arms sales to Syria.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The EU arms embargo on Syria was lifted on 28 November. All applications for the sale of arms will be considered on a case by case basis in the light of the international guidelines to which we are committed. These include whether a proposed transfer would be likely to increase tension in the region or contribute to regional instability.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the present situation in the attempt to find peace in Liberia.
Mr. Baldry: We strongly support the continued efforts by the Ghanaian President Rawlings to encourage a new agreement among the Liberian factions, but are disappointed that the latest round of talks in Accra ended on 29 November without making progress. A high level UN mission has been visiting Liberia and is due to report to the Security Council shortly. The present mandate of the UN observer mission, UNOMIL, is due to end on 13 January.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his responsibility for the work of the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland.
Mr. Baldry: Section 5(2) of the Imperial Institute Act 1925 established a board of governors for the purpose of carrying on the management of the institute under the responsible Minister, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. 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 requests he has received regarding his future role in the continued functioning of the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland and from whom; and what response he gave.
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. My noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey informed the chairman on 17 July 1994 that the Government could not meet his request, but that there would be no objection from the Government to the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland requesting the board of the institute in London to make available post-1996 a proportion of its funding.
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Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his policies on anti-social tenants in council housing; and what is his estimate of the number of such tenants.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Policy for dealing with anti-social council tenants is a matter for the housing authorities. The tenants' charter sets out what residents might expect of their council in managing nuisance. Councils are required to inform their tenants about their policy for dealing with anti-social problems. The Welsh Office has provided a grant to Cynon Valley borough council to research and advise on dealing with neighbourhood disputes and disruptive behaviour on council estates. The findings will shortly be made available to other housing authorities in Wales.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many representations he has received on the subject of the provision of dental services in the NHS in the county of South Glamorgan in the last year; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many representations he has received from people living in Gwynedd about the provision of dental services on the NHS in the last year; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many representations he has about the provision of dental services on the NHS in the county of Clwyd in the last year; and if he will make a statement;
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(4) how many representations he has received on the subject of provision of dental services on the NHS in Powys in the last year; and if he will make a statement;(5) how many representations he has received on the subject of provision of dental services on the NHS in the county of Dyfed in the last year; and if he will make a statement;
(6) how many representations he has received on the subject of provision of dental services on the NHS in the county of West Glamorgan in the last year; and if he will make a statement; (7) how many representations he has received on the subject of provision of dental services on the NHS in the county of Mid Glamorgan in the last year; and if he will make a statement; (8) how many representations he has received on the subject of provision of dental services on the NHS in the county of Gwent in the last year; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Richards: The following table shows the number of written representations, about NHS dental services, received by the Secretary of State from members of the public and from Members of the House, during the period 1 January 1994 to 30 November 1994. During the same period, 31 questions have been asked by Members of the House about NHS dental services in various parts of Wales.
County |Number of |representations ------------------------------------------------ Clwyd |7 Dyfed |12 Gwent |2 Gwynedd |41 Mid Glamorgan |4 Powys |6 South Glamorgan |7 West Glamorgan |8
1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 |Nursing and |In-patient cases |Nursing and |In-patient cases |Nursing and |In-patient cases |Nursing and |<1>In-patient cases|Nursing and |<1>In-patient cases |midwifery<1> |midwifery<1> |midwifery<1> |midwifery |midwifery ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clwyd |3,165 |63,186 |3,174 |63,002 |3,270 |70,191 |3,347 |73,209 |3,327 |72,612 East Dyfed |1,947 |36,262 |2,043 |36,879 |2,018 |39,090 |2,052 |40,606 |2,061 |42,480 Gwent |4,060 |72,584 |4,014 |75,349 |3,924 |74,696 |3,864 |74,455 |3,746 |75,452 Gwynedd |1,895 |37,858 |1,912 |37,592 |1,920 |38,817 |1,968 |39,567 |2,049 |40,133 Mid Glamorgan |4,745 |87,080 |4,777 |89,782 |4,777 |93,566 |4,901 |96,152 |4,808 |97,420 Pembrokeshire |696 |15,435 |677 |16,995 |708 |16,734 |747 |17,613 |760 |17,132 Powys |1,086 |7,698 |1,059 |7,993 |1,084 |8,818 |1,044 |9,180 |1,010 |9,217 South Glamorgan |4,300 |86,546 |4,309 |84,392 |4,197 |88,072 |4,378 |83,250 |4,359 |84,105 West Glamorgan |3,018 |68,866 |3,043 |70,489 |3,080 |70,352 |3,181 |69,625 |3,222 |69,811 |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- Wales<2> |24,919 |475,515 |25,017 |482,473 |25,050 |500,336 |25,555 |503,657 |25,422 |508,362 <1> At 30 September. All nursing and midwifery staff (excluding pre-registration learners) are shown: because of the use of local pay scales it is no longer possible to identify qualified nurses separately. Staff employed by (and patients treated in) NHS trusts have been allocated to the health authority area in which the trust is situated. <2> The nursing and midwifery figure includes staff employed by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those counties in Wales where tinnitus sufferers may gain advice and assistance; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Richards: All counties in Wales. Tinnitus sufferers may consult their general practitioners for advice
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and assistance. The GP may then refer the patient to an ear, nose and throat consultant for further advice or management.The Welsh hearing institute at the University hospital of Wales, Cardiff provides a specialist service for tinnitus.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given to health authorities
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regarding special provision for people suffering from tinnitus.Mr. Richards: No central direction has been given as it is a matter for each health authority to decide on the appropriate provision in the light of local health needs and best clinical practice.
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to publish versions appropriate for Wales of the Department for the Environment PPG6 on mineral planning, PPG13 on transport, PPG15 on museums and PPG23 on pollution; and when they will be available for public consultation.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: There has already been consultation in Wales on the draft planning guidance for these issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is now considering what guidance is needed for Wales. Consideration will be given as to whether a further round of consultation is necessary.
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities have submitted their plans to achieve the target for the recycling of domestic waste; and to what extent each local authority has produced a plan to achieve the targets of the Government.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: All 37 authorities have submitted their draft plans, of which 34 have been approved to date; each plan provides for an increase in recycling activity and will contribute to the Government's target.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish the report of KPMG Peat Marwick on the operation of major Welsh quangos; what was the cost of the report; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 5 December 1994]: I am writing to the hon. Member today and placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for the last three years the total amount paid in rent by each department, together with the total amounts for each year.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 5 December 1994]: Information is not available in the form requested. Where properties are occupied jointly by different Welsh Office departments and groups, costs are not apportioned separately to the administrative units involved. For reasons of commercial confidentiality it is also Government policy not to disclose information about rent levels for individual properties. The total amount of rent paid in each year is:
|£ ------------------------------ 1991-92 |3,469,771 1992-93 |3,768,323 1993-94 |3,629,326
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will visit Darland high school, Clwyd; and if he will meet the chairman and vice chairman of Darland high school, Clwyd, to discuss the needs of special needs pupils;
(2) if he will visit Darland high school, Clwyd, to discuss with the staff and governors Her Majesty's Government's policies concerning staffing and budgets for high schools.
Mr. Richards: Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any plans at present to visit Darland high school. The budget for any local education authority maintained school is a matter for the authority concerned.
Mr. Roy Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the terms of service for general practitioners will next be reviewed.
Mr. Richards: Items included in the general practitioners' terms of service are amended from time to time but there are no plans for a general review.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what date he has set for the completion of the tendering process for information technology for Welsh local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The Welsh Office issued on 9 November 1994 a consultation paper on the Government's proposals for the extension of competitive tendering to information technology services. This paper proposed that the implementation date for local authorities in Wales should be 1 October 1999.
Mr. Maxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the Scottish Football Association to discuss the future of the national stadium.
Sir Hector Monro: My right hon. Friend and I meet representatives of the Scottish Football Association from time to time, both formally and informally. Scottish Office officials will shortly be meeting representatives of national stadium committee to hear about the committee's plans for further redevelopment at Hampden Park.
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met (a) local authorities and (b) other interested parties to discuss the incidence of fuel poverty in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang: My officials and I regularly meet representatives of local authorities and other interested parties to discuss a range of social and health concerns.
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Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to introduce league tables for Scottish Schools; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: A wide range of information relating to individual schools in Scotland is already published annually, following our commitment in the parents charter to do so. This covers exam results, school leavers' destinations, school costs and attendance and truancy rates.
Sir David Knox: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent per pupil in primary schools in Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what the figure was in 1978 79, at constant prices.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Current expenditure per primary pupil in 1992 93 was 62 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1979. The latest figure is £1,766 per primary pupil.
New information on budgeted school running costs per pupil for 1994 95, for individual primary and secondary schools in Scotland, will be published next week.
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to tackle the problems of violent crime and drug-related deaths in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The detection and prevention of violent crime will continue to be given a high priority by police forces in Scotland. Forces are also very active in taking measures to curb the acquisition and supply of illicit drugs. Our strategy for tackling the problems associated with the misuse of drugs, including drug-related deaths, is set out in the report of the drugs task force led by my noble and learned Friend, the Minister of State, which was published on 19 October.
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to develop value-added indicators when publishing performance data with regard to Scottish secondary schools.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The Scottish Office education department and COSLA have set up a working group to investigate value-added indicators of school performance. The Scottish Office has also commissioned a major research study on school effectiveness, including ways of measuring value added.
Mrs. Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss the manufacturing industry in Scotland.
Mr. Stewart: My right hon. Friend and I meet representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress from time to time to discuss a range of matters concerning the Scottish economy.
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Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to call in major proposed new water and sewerage capital investments by local authorities during the run-up to transfer of responsibilities to the new water and sewerage authorities.
Mr. Stewart: My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to call in any major water and sewerage proposals during the run up to the transfer of responsibilities to the new water and sewerage authorities.
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland to discuss the future of hill farming in Scotland.
Sir Hector Monro: My right hon. Friend and I met the president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland on 26 October as part of the annual review of hill farming. We have no plans for a further meeting, although I meet the president from time to time on a range of issues.
Mr. Bill Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about accidents on the single carriageway sections of the A9 north of Perth.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The Scottish Office has received no representations about accidents on the single carriageway sections of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Mr. Norman Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will postpone the elections to the new local authorities until Thursday 4 May 1995; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart: I believe that the timetable that has been set is the right one. It strikes the best possible balance between giving the existing councils sufficient time to prepare for the elections and giving the new councils additional time to prepare for the change on 1 April 1996.
Dr. Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of Scottish Enterprise regarding the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart: My right hon. Friend and I last met the chairman of Scottish Enterprise on 23 November.
Mr. Chisholm: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he has taken of the findings of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution in coming to conclusions about a second Forth road bridge.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend and I welcome the recent report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution as a valuable contribution to public debate of the issues it considers. My right hon. Friend has reached no conclusions about a second Forth road bridge.
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