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LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Lord President of the Council what was the total cost of the 10 most expensive parliamentary questions in the past 15 years for which calculations have been made; which hon. Members asked the questions; and what considerations led him to waive the normal rule regarding disproportionate cost.
Mr. Newton: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Judgment about the application of the rule are for individual Ministers.
Departmental Staff
Mrs. Maddock: To ask the Lord President of the Council how many employees for which his Department is responsible were women (a) in 1991, (b) 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994, of these, how many were (i) at grade 7 level, (ii) at grade 3 level, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.
Mr. Newton: The details are as follows:
|1991|1992|1993|1994
---------------------------------
Total |16 |14 |16 |23
Grade 3 |- |- |- |-
Grade 7 |1 |1 |1 |2
EO |2 |2 |2 |3
AO |- |- |- |-
AA |1 |1 |1 |1
SOCIAL SECURITY
Departmental Staff
Mrs. Maddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees for which his Department is responsible were women (a) in 1991, (b) in 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994; and, of these, how many were (i) at grade 7 level, (ii) at grade 3 level, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.
Mr. Hague: The information is in the table.
|1991 |1992 |1993 |1994
------------------------------------------------------------
Total number of women |51,102|49,138|55,234|56,752
Grade 3 |<1>6 |<1>4 |<1>3 |<1>3
Grade 7 |88 |91 |141 |142
Executive officer |11,996|11,579|12,858|13,271
Administrative officer |25,610|24,899|29,286|30,398
Administrative assistant |8,098 |7,608 |7,821 |7,510
Note: Permanent non-industrial staff on 1 April each year
expressed as full-time equivalents.
Part-time staff are counted as half-units and totals are
rounded to whole units.
<1> The figures in the table do not include the following
numbers of female Grade 3 staff who were on loan to other
Departments: 1 in 1991; 2 in 1992; 2 in 1993 and 2 in 1994.
Electronic Cards
Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans exist for the distribution of electronic cards to benefit claimants as replacements for the present order books; what research has preceded such plans or is at present under way; and what rights of access will be granted to holders of such cards to the information contained on these.
Mr. Arbuthnot: The Government have already announced plans to automate post offices and introduce a benefit payment card to replace order books. These plans were based on a feasibility study by the Benefits Agency and Post Office Counters Ltd. who are now developing detailed proposals with five potential suppliers. We will require the new system to be acceptable to customers, including elderly and disabled people, and consultation with their representatives is planned for the coming year. The system will be subject to the right of access provisions of the Data Protection Act.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the average time for the Child Support Agency to complete first line reviews in the last year for which information is available; and what was the longest time that such a review took; (2) what was the average time for the Child Support Agency to complete submissions to appeal tribunals in the last year for which information is available; and what was the longest time for such a submission to be made.
Mr. Burt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter to Mr. Stephen Byers from Ann Chant, dated 26 January 1995:
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the average times taken by the Child Support Agency to complete first line reviews and submissions to appeal tribunals.
The Agency does not keep information on the average time taken to complete a Section 18 review or a submission to an appeal tribunal. There is no business requirement for the Agency to keep information on the longest time taken to complete either a Section 18 review or a submission to an appeals tribunal. The information which is available is contained in the tables below.
Time taken to complete Section 18 review: August-2 December 1994 Time taken |Cases reviewed|Per cent. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 0-3 months |805 |20.5 3-6 months |985 |25.1 More than 6 months |2,134 |54.4
Time taken to complete appeal submissions:
August-2 December 1994
|Submission
Time taken |completed |Per cent.
----------------------------------------------------
0-3 months |104 |8.5
3-6 months |397 |32.5
More than 6 months |721 |59
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out (a) the number of letters from hon. Members which received a full reply (i) in 14 days, (ii) between 15 days and 28 days and (iii) in more than 28 days from the Child Support Agency and (b) the target set by the Child Support Agency for the time to respond to letters from hon. Members since the appointment of the current chief executive.
Mr. Burt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 26 January 1995:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the time taken and the target set to reply to letters sent to me by Members of Parliament.
The information is not available in the form you request. The Agency aims to reply to letters from Members of Parliament within 20 working days, in line with the Department of Social Security target. Whilst I recognize that this target has not always been met procedural changes have been introduced and I hope that Members will have noticed an improvement in both the quality and speed of the replies sent to them over recent months.
Average clearance times between September and November 1994 are shown in the table:
Percentage
|1-20 days |21-40 days |over 40 days
-----------------------------------------------------------------
September |14 |55 |31
October |26 |44 |30
November |53 |37 |10
Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many cases were cleared by the Child Support Agency in the first half of 1994 95 (a) without maintenance assessments and (b) with an assessment; and what are the reasons for this;
(2) what was the total number of the Child Support Agency's uncleared cases at 30 September 1994; and if this information could be added to the Child Support Agency's monthly statistical information.
Mr. Burt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 26 January 1995:
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary for Social Security about cases cleared by the Child Support Agency.
A total of 338,642 maintenance assessment cases were cleared between April and September 1994, of which 152,482 resulted in a maintenance assessment and 186,160 were other clearances. Cases may be cleared without a maintenance assessment being completed for a variety of reasons. There is no business requirement for the Agency to record the specific reason for clearance in each individual case. Analysis of cases falling into this category suggests, however, that the majority are a result of the parent with care ceasing to
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receive benefit and not proceeding with a private application; good cause not to co-operate being accepted; or the case becoming ineligible for consideration by the Agency as a result of a change in circumstances.The total number of cases in which a maintenance application had been received, but a maintenance assessment had not yet been completed at 30 September 1994 was 474,000; this figure includes cases progressing normally through the system. By the end of November 1994, the figure had fallen to 444,000.
The statistical information made available on a monthly basis is under review. I hope this is of help.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the most recent review he has carried out on the system for paying (a) deposits and (b) rents for prospective and actual tenants; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Roger Evans: Help with returnable deposits for accommodation was excluded from the social fund in 1988 because of the abuse of such payments under the old supplementary benefits single payments scheme. Help with rent in advance may be available as a social fund loan. Each application is assessed on its merits to see if payment can be made. We have no plans to reintroduce a statutory key money scheme. Under the access to local authority and housing association tenancies proposals, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is considering encouraging local authorities to make greater use of rent guarantee schemes.
Disability Injuries Committee
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the remit of the Government's interdepartmental committee on disability injuries; what information it has published; and if it accepts representations from the public.
Mr. Hague: The inter-departmental group on disability provides a forum for officials from Government Departments to co-ordinate work on policy and operational issues affecting disabled people. Sub-groups involving officials and representation of voluntary organisations have been set up to consider particular issues. The group itself has not received representation from the public or published information. Representations should be made to the relevant Minister, who will ensure that they are given appropriate consideration.
Severe Hardship Payments
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications were made by 16 and 17-year-olds for severe hardship payments in each month since January 1994; and what is the number which were successful.
Mr. Roger Evans: The available information is set out in the table.
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Applications for severe hardship payments
January to October 1994
|Number of |Successful
Month |applications|applications
----------------------------------------------------
January |13,870 |12,348
February |12,707 |11,190
March |14,154 |12,518
April |10,209 |8,892
May |12,777 |10,953
June |11,483 |9,587
July |11,995 |9,731
August |11,352 |9,322
September |9,994 |8,268
October |8,739 |7,149
Source: Severe Hardship Claims Unit database.
Executive Search Agencies
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines are operated by his Department as regards the use of executive search agencies to fill vacancies within his Department and his Department's executive agencies; and in what circumstances his Department employs executive search agencies instead of relying fully on Departmental resources to fill vacant posts.
Mr. Hague: Executive search agencies are employed where their expertise can add value to the recruitment of certain senior or specialist staff.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Assisted Places Scheme
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what considerations led to the decision not to operate the assisted places scheme in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ancram: The assisted places scheme in England and Wales enables children to attend independent schools. In Northern Ireland there is no significant independent schools sector.
Equine Infectious Anaemia
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of equine infectious anaemia there have been in each year since 1985.
Mr. Ancram: There have been no cases of equine infectious anaemia in Northern Ireland.
Absenteeism
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the absenteeism rate for (a) his Department, (b) the Compensation Agency, (c) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (Northern Ireland), (d) the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency, (e) the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency, (f) the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland, (g) the Rate Collection Agency, (h) the Social Security Agency (Northern (Ireland), (i) the Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) and (j) the Valuation and Lands Agency in each year since 1991;
(2) what was the absenteeism rate for the Valuation and Lands Agency in each year since 1991.
Sir John Wheeler: The absenteeism rates are not fully available in all Departments in the format requested. However, available information is as follows:
(a) NI Departments and the Northern Ireland office:
Departments
(All figures based on a seven day week)
Per cent.
|1991|1992|1993|1994
----------------------------------------
Education
Non-industrial |3.6 |3.29|3.75|3.93
Industrial |- |- |- |-
Per cent.
|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Environment: (including:
Driver and Vehicle Licensing
Agency, Driver and Vehicle
Testing Agency, Ordnance
Survey of NI and Rate
Collection Agency)
Non-industrial |n/a |n/a |n/a |<1>5.1
Industrial |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Economic Development:
(including Training and
Employment Agency)
Non-industrial and industrial |n/a |3.07 |3.06 |<1>5.93
<1> = Five-day week.
n/a = Figures not available and could be provided only at
disproportionate costs.
Per cent.
|1991 |1992 |1993 |1994
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance and Personnel:
(including Valuation
and Lands Agency)
Non-industrial |n/a |n/a |<1>4.84 |<1>4.74
|(April to
| December
|1 | 1993)
Industrial |- |- |- |-
Health and Social
Services:
Non-industrial |3.2 |2.8 |4.62 |4.32
Industrial |- |- |- |-
<1> = Five-day week.
n/a = Figures not available and could be provided only at
disproportionate costs.
Per cent.
|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
-------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture:
Non-industrial |4.3 |4.0 |4.2 |<1>5.3
Industrial |<1>7.3 |<1>6.1 |<1>6.6 |<1>7.7
Northern Ireland Office
(All figures based on a seven-day week)
Per cent.
|1991|1992|1993|1994
----------------------------------------------------
HCS |n/a |4.55|6.2 |n/a
NICS |4.5 |4.4 |5.3 |5.6
(b) Compensation Agency:
(established April 1992) |- |5.1 |3.8 |5.4
n/a = Figures not available and could be provided
only at disproportionate costs.
Per cent.
|1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Driver and Vehicle
Licensing Agency (NI):
|(established August 1993) |- |- |-
(d) Driver and Vehicle Testing
Agency: (established April
1992) |- |- |n/a |<1>4.7
(e) NI Child Support Agency:
(established April 1993) |- |- |- |4.51
(f) Ordnance Survey of NI:
(established April 1992) |- |- |n/a |<1>5.6
(g) Rate Collection Agency:
(established April 1991) |- |n/a |n/a |<1>6.4
(h) Social Security
Agency (NI):
(established July
1991 |5.8 |6.3 |6.78 |8.33
<1> = five-day week n/a = Figures not available and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Per cent.
|1991|1992|1993|1994
---------------------------------------------
(h) Social Security
Agency (NI):
(established July
1991 |5.8 |6.3 |6.78|8.33
Per cent.
|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Training and employment
Agency (NI): (established
April 1990) |n/a |n/a |n/a |<1>7.25
<1> = Five-day week.
n/a = Figures not available and could be provided only at
disporportionate costs.
Per cent.
|1991|1992|1993|1994
--------------------------------------------------------
(j) Valuation and Land Agency:
(established April 1993) |- |- |n/a |4.9
n/a = Figures not available and could be provided only
at disporportionate costs.
Sheep Scab
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of sheep scab there were in each year since 1990 and in each month for 1994.
Mr. Ancram: The number of cases of sheep scab in Northern Ireland since 1990 is:
Year |Cases ------------------ 1990 |36 1991 |46 1992 |59 1993 |48 1994 |71
The number of cases of
sheep scab in Northern
Ireland in each
month for 1994 is:
|Number
------------------------
January |14
February |10
March |14
April |3
May |7
June |5
July |nil
August |2
September |3
October |3
November |7
December |3
Total |71
Abortions
Ms Mowlem: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many abortions were performed by each health and social services board in Northern Ireland in the past five years; and what were the age categories of the women.
Mr. Moss: While the Abortion Act 1967 does not extend to Northern Ireland, therapeutic abortions can be carried out in Northern Ireland hospitals on strictly medical grounds. The number of such terminations cannot be identified separately in the information collected centrally on obstetric and gynaecological procedures.
Ms Mowlem: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of women travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain for abortions during the past five years aged (a) under 19 years, (b) between 19 and 25 years and (c) 25 years or over.
Mr. Moss: The information is not collected in the form requested. The table shows the number of legal abortions performed on Northern Ireland residents in England, Wales and Scotland between 1989 and 1993 by available age bands.
England and Wales Scotland
|Under 20 |20 to under 25|25 and over |Under 19 |19 to under 25|25 and over
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989 |419 |639 |758 |- |1 |2
1990 |416 |671 |768 |1 |1 |2
1991 |367 |632 |776 |- |1 |1
|20 to under 35|35 and over
1992 |376 |1,230 |188 |- |3 |1
1993 |303 |1,148 |178 |- |- |1
Notes:
1.Information for 1993 is the latest available centrally, and is provisional.
2.From 1992 information from England and Wales is available only for the under 20, 20 to under 35 and 35 and over age
band.
Departmental Staff
Mrs. Maddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees for which his Department is responsible were women (a) in 1991, (b) in 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994; and of these, how many were (i) at grade 7 level, (ii) at grade 3 level, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.
Sir John Wheeler: The information is as follows:
Column 328
2
(i) Home civil service
|1991|1992|1993|1994
--------------------------------------------------
Total |93 |109 |113 |110
Grade 7 |2 |4 |5 |4
Grade 3 |0 |0 |0 |0
Executive officer |12 |13 |16 |19
Administrative officer |15 |14 |12 |10
Administrative assistant |3 |7 |7 |8
(ii) Northern Ireland civil servants, non-industrial
|1991 |1992 |1993 |1994
------------------------------------------------------------
Total |12,175|12,554|12,871|13,119
Grade 7 |73 |81 |100 |124
Grade 3 |1 |1 |1 |2
Executive officer I |1,082 |1,102 |1,176 |1,166
Executive officer II |2,041 |2,106 |2,167 |2,198
Administrative officer |5,390 |5,513 |5,614 |5,794
Administrative assistant |2,706 |2,797 |2,780 |2,780
NB:
Part-time staff are included (by head count)
Travellers
Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is made for the health needs of travellers in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Moss: Travelling people are entitled to the full range of health and personal social services on the same basis as the rest of the community in Northern Ireland. Health and social services boards are required to identify groups with particular needs arising from their particular location, level of deprivation or lifestyle, and to ensure that services are targeted accordingly.
Executive Search Agencies
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines are operated by his Department as regards the use of executive search agencies to fill vacancies within his Department and his Department's executive agencies; and in what circumstances his Department employs executive search agencies instead of relying fully on departmental resources to fill vacant posts.
Sir John Wheeler: Recruitment to the Northern Ireland civil service and to the Northern Ireland Office is regulated by the Civil Service Commissioners to ensure selection on the basis of merit in fair and open competition. When filling vacancies at the higher appointment levels, where candidates with the relevant combination of skills and experience may be in short supply or may not be attracted by advertisement, the use of executive search agencies may be considered to supplement the pool of applicants. All candidates receive equal treatment at interview irrespective of the source of their application and selection is made on merit.
Club Licensing
Mr. Cunliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the review of the licensing arrangements in Northern Ireland in respect of registered bona fide clubs will be completed; and if he will make it his policy to consult the Working Men's Club Institution and other umbrella organisations before publication.
Mr. Moss: The review of the legislation on registered clubs has been completed and I have today announced the main changes which I propose to make. A copy of my statement has been placed in the Library. In due course I shall publish for consultation draft legislation containing the Government's full proposals for amending the law. At
Column 330
that stage, I shall welcome comments from a wide range of interests, including organisations representing registered clubs.Prison Cells
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the daily timetable for locking and unlocking cells for each Northern Ireland prison.
Sir John Wheeler: The information is as follows:
There is no uniform daily timetable for locking and unlocking cells in prisons in Northern Ireland. Variations take account of a variety of factors.
Belfast
|Time
-----------------
Unlock |0800
Lock |1230
Unlock |1400
Lock |1630
Unlock |1700
Lock |2030
Maghaberry
Erne, Lagan and
Mourne Houses
|Time
-----------------
Unlock |0810
Lock |1630
Unlock |1730
Lock |2030
Selected
prisoners in the
latter stages of
their sentence
in Bann House
are not
routinely locked
in their cells.
Magilligan
|Time
-----------------
Unlock |0800
Lock |1630
Unlock |1730
Lock |2030
Selected prisoners in Foyleview, a low security facility, are not routinely locked in their rooms.
Maze
Long-term and remand prisoners are not routinely locked in their cells. This follows a recommendation from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons that access to sanitation should be available at all times.
The morning unlock time for the small number of short-term sentenced prisoners who service the prison varies according to their work commitments. They are not routinely locked during the day. Evening lock up is at 2030 hours.
Young offenders'
centre
|Time
-----------------
Unlock |0810
Lock |1230
Unlock |1400
Lock |1630
Unlock |1730
Lock |2000
A small member
of selected
special
privilege
inmates are not
routinely locked
in their room.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Commission on the Status of Women
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries are currently members of the UN Commission on the Status of Women; how countries have achieved membership; and what is the position of the United Kingdom in respect of membership criteria.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Membership of the UN Commission on the Status of Women is by election on a regional basis by the UN Economic and Social Council. The United Kingdom will seek election in 1996. The current members are:
African States (13 seats): Algeria, Angola, Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Namibia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia
Asian States (11 seats): China, Cyprus, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand Eastern European States (4 seats): Belarus, Bulgaria, Russian Federation, Slovakia
Latin American and Caribbean States (9 seats): Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela. Western European and Other States (8 seats): Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Portugal, Spain
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs to what extent the United Kingdom will be represented at the meeting in March of the Commission on the Status of Women when the draft platform for action for the fourth world conference on women in Beijing in September 1995 is discussed; which Government Departments will be represented and by whom; who will lead the delegation; and if the delegation will include non-governmental organisation representatives.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Although not a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women at the moment, the United Kingdom will play an active role as observers at the meeting of the commission in March and at the parallel drafting group for the platform for action for the fourth world conference on women. The United Kingdom will be represented by officials from the Department of Employment, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Administration, who will work closely with NGOs.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when joint discussions have been held with the European Union member states on the draft platform for action for the 1995 fourth world conference on women in Beijing; and which states were represented.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: There have been no discussions with our European Union partners about the platform for action for the fourth world conference on women because the draft has not yet been circulated by the conference secretariat.
Lockerbie
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was informed of a paper produced by a United States air force intelligence unit in February 1991 relating to the
Column 332
destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Douglas Hogg: We first learned of the report from a press inquiry on 23 January 1995. The allegation contained in the paper was first made at an early stage in the investigation and has been reflected in books about the Lockerbie diaster. It was examined at the time by the competent authorities, as part of their investigation, but no evidence has been found to substantiate it. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate remains satisfied that the evidence supports the charges against the two accused and that there is no evidence to establish that other persons or nations were involved.
Mutual Defence Agreement
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent, Official Report , 30 November 1994, column 710 , what further developments have taken place in regard to the proposed extension of the 1958 United Kingdom/United States mutual defence agreement.
Mr. David Davis: The 1994 amendment to the 1958 United Kingdom/United States mutual defence agreement was discussed during the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill on 15 December. On 23 December there was an exchange of notes in Washington and the 1994 amendment entered into force.
Bermuda
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 January, Official Report , column 745 , if the Governor of Bermuda is accountable to him for matters relating to policing in Bermuda.
Mr. Baldry: Section 62 of the Bermuda constitution states that: "The Governor, acting in his discretion, shall be responsible for the conduct subject to the provisions of this Constitution and any other law of any business of the Government, including the administration of any department of government, with respect to the following matters:
(a) external affairs;
(b) defence, including the armed forces;
(c) internal security;
(d) the police."
These `reserve' powers of the Governor have been the subject of considerable delegation. Under (d) the following matters have been delegated to the Minister of Home Affairs:
Establishment matters; Finance; General Organisation; Training; Recruitment Policy; Community Relations and Equipment.
In those areas of policing for which the Governor retains responsibility he is of course accountable to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 January, Official Report , column 745 , if he will make a statement on the relationship between the Governor of Bermuda, the Government of Bermuda, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and himself in relation to the administration of their colony.
Mr. Baldry: The relationship between HMG and Bermuda is governed by the constitution of that territory.
Column 333
The FCO, as the Government Department responsible for co-ordinating policy towards the dependent territories, liaises with Bermudian Government departments through the governor. Under the constitution, the governor, in his discretion, has special responsibility for certain aspects of government which have not yet been delegated to a Bermudian Minister, for example external affairs, defence, internal security, and certain matters relating to the police. All other aspects of government are dealt with by the elected Government of Bermuda.The governor is accountable to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who in turn is ultimately responsible to Parliament for the good government of Bermuda.
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many terrorist offences have occurred in Bermuda in each of the last three years.
Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 January, Official Report , column 744 , what allowances are payable to the new expatriate Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police in Bermuda; what is their value; if they would be payable to a Bermudian appointee; and what funding Her Majesty's Government are providing for the posts.
Mr. Baldry: There are no allowances payable to the expatriate commissioner and deputy commissioner of police which would not be payable to a Bermudian appointee. Her Majesty's Government provides no funds towards either post.
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