| Previous Section | Home Page |
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Bosnia
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to propose the complete demilitarisation of the safe areas in Bosnia.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We welcome the United Nations
Secretary-General's report of 1 December to the Security Council on safe areas. The report includes proposals on
Column 314
the demilitarisation of the safe areas. It is now being studied by the Security Council.Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the UN-declared safe areas are occupied by armed Bosnian Muslim troops; and what are the reasons for their presence.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Bosnian Government troops are present in all the safe areas in Bosnia: Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zepa, Gorazde, Srebrenica and Bihac.
The Security Council resolutions relating to the designation of safe areas- -819, 824 and 836--do not require that Bosnian Government troops be withdrawn from these areas.
Management Information System
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce a full management information system encompassing the activities of his staff in London and overseas.
Mr. Goodlad: Work is in hand to replace the Foreign Office's present management information system with a new financial and management accounting system from 1 April 1996. It will be compatible with the Department's integrated manpower and personnel system and will provide a comprehensive system covering all its activities at home and overseas.
The ODA has an office-wide system providing management information for all staff, including those overseas, responsible for managing expenditure. This system came into operation in April 1987.
Embassy Staff
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 November, Official Report, columns 165 66 , what are the reasons for the size of his Department's staff establishment in Ankara.
Mr. David Davis: The staffing level of diplomatic service posts overseas is determined by the Foreign Office's political and economic objectives, which are published in the departmental report for 1994. Staffing and resource levels at individual posts reflect the depth of bilateral relations, the requirements of British exporters, the growing number of British citizens travelling abroad; and United Kingdom immigration, aid and domestic policies.
EU Council
Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 949 52, what factors have led to the
non-availability of the agenda of the Council of the European Union in Essen.
Mr. David Davis: There are no formal agendas for European Councils although the President of the Council circulates his suggested themes for discussion a few days in advance. The likely subjects for discussion were set out in the memorandum by my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, which was sent to the Committee on 24 November.
Column 315
PRIME MINISTER
Honours System
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) peerages and (b) knighthoods have been awarded since May 1979 to (i) local authority members, (ii) civil servants, (iii) business men, (iv) business women, (v) Conservative hon. Members, (vi) ex-Conservative hon. Members, (vii) Liberal hon. Members, (viii) ex-Liberal hon. Members, (ix) Social Democrat party hon. Members, (x) ex-Social Democrat party Members, (xi) Labour hon. Members and (xii) ex-Labour hon. Members.
The Prime Minister: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Department of Trade and Industry
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister what considerations led to the current ministerial staffing of the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Prime Minister: Ministerial staffing levels are determined according to the responsibilities of each Department.
Engagements
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the purposes of his engagements today.
The Prime Minister: To carry out my duties and responsibilities as Prime Minister.
Lockheed
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from the general public in connection with the Hercules C-130 replacement; how many of these supported Lockheed; and how many have asked for the decision to be delayed until the future large aircraft feasibility study has been completed.
The Prime Minister: I have received numerous representations on this subject.
ENVIRONMENT
Green Belt Land
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what releases of green belt land over 100 hectares in size have been agreed to in structure or unitary plans since 1986.
Sir Paul Beresford: No releases of green belt land over 100 hectares in size have been agreed to in the north-east in structure or unitary plans since 1986. Information is not available nationally, except at disproportionate cost.
Research that the Government published last year showed that boundary alterations in development plans and affected less than 0.3 per cent. of green belts over the last eight years in the areas studied.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the occasions since 1987 when he or his predecessors have called in a development plan
Column 316
or issued a holding direction to prevent the release of areas of green belt land over 100 hectares in size.Sir Paul Beresford: Three article 14 directions have been made on green belt sites in excess of 100 hectares in the north-east since 1987. Information on holding directions is not available nationally, except at disproportionate cost. No development plans have ever been called in on green belt grounds.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision is made in guidance or draft guidance on green belts for the release of green belt land to halt out migration from local authority areas.
Sir Paul Beresford: Planning policy guidance note 2 on green belts states:
"Once the general extent of a green belt has been approved it should be altered only in exceptional circumstances. If such an alteration is proposed the Secretary of State will wish to be satisfied that the authority has considered opportunities for development within the urban areas contained by and beyond the green belt. Similarly, detailed green belt boundaries defined in adopted local plans or earlier approved development plans should be altered only exceptionally."
A draft revision of PPG2, which was issued for consultation earlier this year, maintained the point that "exceptional circumstances" were required to justify boundary changes. A final version has not yet been published.
Nickel and Vanadium Emissions
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has carried out into the health effects of nickel and vanadium emitted from large combustion plants; what conclusions have been reached; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins: The Department of Environment has not carried out any research into the health effects of nickel and vanadium. The World Health Organisation has published an air quality guideline for vanadium of 1g/m daily average. The data available for the United Kingdom suggest that this is unlikely to be exceeded in urban areas. The WHO has not produced an air quality guideline for nickel. Advice from the Department of Health is that there is no reason to suppose that ambient levels of nickel pose a significant threat to health in the United Kingdom.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress the United Kingdom is making towards meeting its target of reducing total annual carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2000.
Sir Paul Beresford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 30 November 1994, Official Report, column 1200.
Single Regeneration Budget
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will identify the amount and source of the extra funds for the single regeneration budget outlined in the latest Budget; and whether those extra funds will be available for all local authorities to compete for.
Mr. Curry: An extra £25 million has been added, for each of the three years 1995 96 to 1997 98, to the resources for projects successful in the first bidding round
Column 317
of the single regeneration budget. This brings the amount available for the 201 successful bids announced on 6 December to £125 million in 1995 96 and to £225 million in both 1996 97 and 1997 98. A second bidding round will be launched next year and will build up to a full spend of £200 million in 1997 98, with £40 million available in 1996 97 for early funding of successful projects. Resources for these new SRB projects are being released from the programmes which were brought together to form the SRB, as their existing commitments come to an end.Detailed guidance for the second round will be issued next spring. As in round 1, local authorities, training and enterprise councils and private and voluntary sector interests will be encouraged to form partnerships and put forward comprehensive bids that meet local regeneration needs and priorities.
Departmental Expenditure Plans
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will supply further figures to those set out at tables A and B of page 60 of the Department of Environment's annual report 1994 so as to bring those figures up to date to expenditure plans for the year 1997 98.
Column 318
Mr. Curry: The updated figures for planned urban and regeneration expenditure to 1997 98, including the single regeneration budget, are given in the table:
Urban and regeneration expenditure
|1995-96 |1996-97 |1997-98
|plans |plans |plans
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Housing Action Trusts |90.0 |90.0 |90.0
Urban Development Corporations/DLR |238.7 |214.7 |209.7
English Partnerships (URA) |211.6 |221.7 |221.7
Other SRB |791.2 |797.8 |802.8
|-------- |-------- |--------
Total SRB |1,331.5 |1,324.2 |1,324.2
Other Urban |2.3 |1.4 |1.3
|-------- |-------- |--------
SRB and Urban Total |1,333.8 |1,325.6 |1,325.5
Updated figures for outturn expenditure in 1993-94 and estimated outturn in
1994-95 will be given in the Department's 1995 Annual Report.
Estate Management Boards
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by region, area and title those estate management boards presently in operation giving their date of commencement and the number of residents and homes within their areas.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The information available to the Department on estate management boards approved by the Secretary of State before 1 April 1994 is as follows:
Column 317
Approved Estate Management Boards in England as at 1 April 1994 Region |Authority |EMB |Units ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- London |Camden |Maiden Lane |479 London |Islington |Hornsey Lane |173 London |Kensington and Chelsea|Lancaster West |829 London |Tower Hamlets |Samuda |505 North East |Langbaurgh-on-Tees |South Bank |865 North West |Blackburn |Shadsworth |n/a North West |Burnley |West End Estates |1,200 North West |Manchester |Hollin |1,200 North West |Oldham |Higginshaw Village |339 North West |Oldham |Holts Village |925 North West |Rochdale |Freehold |n/a North West |Rossendale |Bacup and Stacksteads |1,184 North West |Rossendale |Haslingden |1,461 North West |Warrington |Blackbrook |809 North West | West Lancashire |Digmoor |n/a North West |West Lancashire |Tanhouse |1,063 North West |West Lancashire |Whitworth |827 North West |Wyre |West View |843 South West |Plymouth |Pembroke Street |153 West Midlands |Birmingham |Bloomsbury |n/a West Midlands |Stoke-on-Trent |Chell Heath |n/a Yorkshire/Humberside |Kirklees |Staincliffe |628 Yorkshire/Humberside |Leeds |Belle Isle North |n/a Yorkshire/Humberside |Leeds |Halton Moor |1,319 Note: n/a: information not held centrally.
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current financial provision made for estate management boards; and what is that planned for 1995-96 and 1996-97.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: There is no separate provision for funding development of estate management boards.
Column 318
They are funded from the section 16 programme, for which the current provision for 1994 95 is £6.4 million. Planned provision for 1995 96 and 1996 97 is £6 million for each year.Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual cost to public
Column 319
funds of each of the estate management boards by region, area and title since their commencement.Mr. Robert B. Jones: Information on the annual cost of individual estate management boards which have entered into a management agreement with a local authority is not held centrally.
County Hall
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who owns the freehold of County hall, London SE1.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The London residuary body.
Selector Europe
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contracts have been awarded by his Department or organisations responsible to it to Selector Europe since 1 January 1990; and what has been the value of the contracts.
Sir Paul Beresford [holding answer 2 December 1994]: No contracts have been awarded to Selector Europe by the Department or its executive agencies during the period in question.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Accounts
Mr. Flynn: To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners if he will publish details of the companies and undertakings owned by the Church Commissioners.
Mr. Alison: In common with normal practice, and as required by the Companies Act 1985, the commissioners give the names of their significant subsidiary undertakings, and their proportionate interest in each, in the financial statements which form part of their published annual report and accounts. This report is transmitted to the Home Secretary, distributed to other interested persons and is freely available to the public.
Column 320
EDUCATION
Higher Education Lecturers
Mr. Bryan Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the salary of higher education lecturers at each salary grade in each year since 1979 at current prices and as a percentage of average earnings.
Mr. Boswell: This information is not readily available in the form requested. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Opted-out Schools
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which London schools have opted out of national wage negotiations.
Mr. Robin Squire: The London Oratory school is the only grant- maintained school for which an order has been made exempting the school from sections 2(6) and 2(7) of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1991 so that it can put its own pay scales and conditions of service in place.
Pre-school Education
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what comparative assessment she has made of provision of the proportion of children in publicly funded pre-school education in the United Kingdom and in each other EU country.
Mr. Forth: The United Kingdom is one of only three countries in the European Union where universal state education starts at the age of five; elsewhere, it is at the age of six or seven. Although data exist for participation rates in most of the countries of the European Union, they do not compare like with like because they do not, for example, clearly distinguish between education and child care, or take account of whether parents are required to contribute towards the cost.
The Secretary of State has set up a task force to plan the implementation of the Prime Minister's commitment to provide, over time, good quality pre- school places for all four-year-olds whose parents wish them to take up. Comparative assessment of international provision is part of their work.
Column 319
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Disabled Access
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what guidelines he has issued to museums, galleries, theatres, and other artistic venues in receipt of public funds as to expected practice in relation to access for people with disabilities.
Mr. Dorrell: My hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced on 24 November a package of measures to tackle discrimination against disabled people, including a right of access to goods and services. This includes provisions for the removal of physical and communication barriers.
It has not been my Department's role to issue guidelines. However, most of my Department's sponsored bodies have policies on facilities for people with disabilities and some of them issue guidelines. In addition, when giving directions under section 26 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, my predecessor reminded those bodies responsible for the distribution of proceeds from the lottery that those who are disadvantaged, including people with disabilities, should be able to benefit from lottery funds in the same ways as others in the community, and that it was important that access to facilities which receive lottery funding should be as wide as possible.
Libraries
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if he will list the five local authorities which spend (a) most and (b) least per head
Column 322
of population on library book provision; for the year 1992 93, together with the sums they spent; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Sproat [pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1994, c. 606.]: I regret to inform the House that the answer given was incorrect. The correct reply is as follows:
The five local authorities in England spending the most per head of population on library book provision in 1992 93 were-- source CIPFA: City of London, £129.54; Westminster, £4.34; Kensington and Chelsea, £3.75; Hounslow, £3.21 and Sutton, £3.20.
The five spending least were:
Sheffield, £0.89; Barnsley, £0.87; Hillingdon, £0.78; Wakefield, £0.72, and Brent £0.34.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Extradition
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of extradition warrants served in the last three years by the authorities in the Irish Republic for non-terrorist offences against persons living in Northern Ireland; and what has been (a) the outcome, (b) the time taken to effect each extradition and (c) the difficulties which required any application to be referred specifically to the Attorney General.
Sir John Wheeler: The information is listed in the schedule, with the exception of that relating to persons for whom warrants have been issued but who have not yet been arrested by the RUC. The Attorney-General is not directly concerned with applications for extradition from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. No application was referred to him.
Column 321
Name |Offences on the warrants |Date first sent |Outcome
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McCall, Kenneth |[Two warrants] Two separate warrants for | 25 July 1991 |Extradited to the Republic of Ireland on 2
|theft. |March 1994 following difficulties in locating
|the subject of the warrants and after resolution
|of various queries.
Brady, Patrick |[Four warrants] Two separate warrants for |4 October 1991 |Extradited to the Republic of Ireland on 10 May
|having possession of illegal drugs with |1994 after resolution of outstanding criminal
|intent to supply. |proceedings in Northern Ireland and various
|queries, and following difficulties in locating
|the subject of the warrants.
Greer, John McGregor |Two separate warrants for unlawful |29 April 1993 |Extradited to the Republic of Ireland on 17 July
|importation of drugs. |1993 after his release from prison in Northern
|[22 warrants] Possession of articles with |Ireland
|intent to rob. Entering a building as a
|trespasser with intent to steal. Escape from
|lawful custody. Nine separate warrants
|for unlawful assault. Ten separate warrants for
|handling stolen goods.
Conway, Thomas Desmond |[Five warrants] Two warrants for unlawful |20 January 1994 |Extradited to the Republic of Ireland on 27
|and malicious infliction of grievous bodily |January 1994
|harm. Two warrants for assault occasioning
|a action bodily harm. Assault on police
|officers.
Morgan, Terence Anthony |[One warrant] Unlawful possession of drugs. |9 July 1994 |Extradited to the Republic of Ireland on 29 July 1994
McHugh, Patrick |[Two warrants] Robbery. Possession of an |20 September 1994 |Extradited to the Republic of Ireland on 26
|imitation firearm with intent to commit an |October 1994
|indictable offence.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those warrants, stating persons and offences concerned, which were sent by the RUC to the Irish Republic in connection with extradition for non-terrorist offences during the past three years; and what has been (a) the outcome, (b) the time taken to effect each extradition and (c) the difficulties which required
Column 324
any application to be specifically referred to the Irish Republic's Attorney-General.Sir John Wheeler: The information is listed with the exception of that relating to those persons for whom warrants have been issued, but who have not yet been arrested. All warrants sent by the RUC to the Garda Siochana are referred to the Irish Attorney-General's office as a matter of course.
Column 323
Name |Offences on the |Date sent |Outcome
|warrants
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moran, James Joseph |[Two warrants sent] Murder contrary to |17 February 1993 |Awaiting High Court Appeal in Dublin.
|Common Law. Conspiracy to murder.
Quigley, Philip Andrew |[One warrant sent] Murder contrary to |17 February 1993 |Awaiting High Court Appeal in Dublin.
|Common Law.
Larkin, Daniel Francis |[One warrant sent] Murder contrary to |17 February 1993
|Common Law.
Smyth, John Gerard Brendan |[Nine warrants sent] Eight separate warrants |29 April 1993 |Warrants not backed. Smyth voluntarily
|allegin assault against male persons. |returned to Northern Ireland January 1994.
|One warrant alleging indecent assault
|against a female
McNamee, William Patrick |[One warrant] Rape |14 January 1994 |Extradited to Northern Ireland 18 January 1994.
Walsh, Christopher Patrick |[Four warrants] Four separate warrants for |10 February 1994 |Awaiting High Court Appeal in Dublin.
|handling stolen goods
Donnell, James Edward |[Two warrants] Theft. Robbery. |24 February 1994 |Extradited to Northern Ireland 14 March 1994
Stewart, Samuel Mervyn Noel |[One warrant] Rape. |26 May 1994 |Extradited to Northern Ireland 27 May 1994.
Bell, Garnet Seabrooke |[Eight warrants] Three separate warrants for |21 June 1994 |Extradited to Northern Ireland 18 August 1994.
attempted murder. Three separate warrants
|for unlawfully and maliciously causing
|grievous bodily harm. Two separate
|warrants for criminal damage.
Valliday, Stephen Charles |[Two warrants] Murder, Unlawfully and
|maliciously causing grievous bodily harm.
Wilson, John Robert Henry |[One warrant] Reckless driving, causing
|grievous bodily harm.
Friel, Patrick Martin |[Three warrants] Three separate warrants for |13 October 1994 |Arrested 16 November 1994 case presently
|indecent assault on a female |before the District Court in Dublin.
Staffing
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average qualified nurse to patient ratio in each of the last five years by region.
Mr. Moss: The information is as follows:
Qualified Hospital
Nurse: Patient Ratio (
Whole-time
Equivalent)
|Ratio
----------------------
1990-91 |1:24.8
1991-92 |1:25.5
1992-93 |1:26.4
1993-94 |1:29.3
Notes:
Information prior to
1990, is unavailable.
The patient ratio was
calculated using
deaths and discharges
and excludes day
cases, regular
day/night admissions
and outpatients.
Redundancies
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of redundancies among national health service staff (a) by grade and (b) by reason for each of the last five years.
Mr. Moss: The information is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the costs of redundancy payments to staff in each of the last five years.
Sir John Wheeler: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Operating Theatres
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many operating theatre sessions have been cancelled in each region in each of the last five years.
Mr. Moss: The number of scheduled operating theatre sessions cancelled in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years are set out in the table.
Year |Number ---------------------- 1989-90 |3,022 1990-91 |3,257 1991-92 |3,021 1992-93 |2,445 1993-94 |1,732
NHS Trusts
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by name the start-up costs for each national health service trust hospital, by region.
Mr. Moss: Since regional health authorities do not exist in Northern Ireland, it is not possible to present the information exactly as requested. Prior to their operational dates, the following contributions were made towards the cost of establishing health and social services trusts in Northern Ireland.
Establishment costs of HSS trusts in Northern Ireland
|£
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Operational date 1 April 1994
Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital Trust |218,000
Belfast City Hospital Trust |188,000
Green Park Trust |192,000
Ulster North Down and Ards Hospitals Trust |191,000
Craigavon Area Hospital Trust |205,000
Eastern Ambulance Service Trust |215,000
Operational Date 1 April 1994
North Down and Ards Community Trust |211,000
North and West Belfast Trust |223,000
South and East Belfast Trust |204,000
Down Lisburn Trust |192,000
Newry and Mourne Trust |185,000
Craigavon and Banbridge Community Trust |185,000
Mater Infirmorum Hospital Trust (includes further
development costs following deferral of first
application) |227,000
Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning)
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fishing boats are being decommissioned in each of the registered ports in Northern Ireland; and what is the total estimated cost.
Mr. Ancram: The number of fishing vessels accepted for decommissioning under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) Scheme 1994 at Northern Ireland ports is as follows:
Ardglass: 2
Donaghadee: 1
Kilkeel: 5
Portavogie: 5
The total cost of decommissioning the 13 vessels is anticipated to be £890,680.
| Next Section
| Home Page |