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Telephone Line Rentals
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money was paid in advance to BT for telephone line rentals in each of the last five years; if his Department included in its calculations the interest lost in this process; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: As reported in paragraph 63 of the report, entitled "Ministry of Defence: Management of Telephones" (HC 637), some £30, 000,000 a year was paid in advance to BT for telephone line rentals in the period prior to financial year 1993 94. This practice of paying yearly in advance was discontinued in 1993 94, and such bills are now paid quarterly in advance, representing a substantial saving to the Exchequer in additional cost of borrowing that would otherwise have been required.
Inhumane Weapons Convention
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 31 January, Official Report , column 842 , what proposals for additions to the inhumane weapons convention have been made; by which other countries; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of each of these proposals. Mr. Soames: Sweden and the International Committee of the Red Cross have proposed that the revised UN weaponry convention include a new protocol on blinding weapons. Sweden has also proposed a new protocol on naval mines; and Switzerland has proposed a new protocol on small calibre munitions. Our main aim remains the strengthening of the restrictions on the use of anti-personnel landmines, and we would not wish to see discussion of proposed new protocols detract from that objective. However, the United Kingdom is studying each of these proposals closely, and will make a final decision on them in good time for the review conference later this year.
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Animal Experiments
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 January, Official Report , column 548 , if he will give details of the experiments carried out under (a) mild, (b) moderate, (c) substantial and (d) unclassified project licences currently in effect at his Department's establishments; if he will identify the animals involved; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman: The types of studies carried out under the project licences currently in effect at the Department's establishments by categories are as follows:
(a) mild: These include studies of the influence of stress on the toxicity of potential CW agents, the effectiveness of skin protectants and decontaminants, the use of transdermal techniques to administer medical countermeasures and the acceleration of healing in chemical warfare agent induced injury.
(b) moderate: These include studies of the mechanism of action, pharmacology and treatment of chemical and biological warfare agent poisoning and infection, detection and identification of biological agents, the control of infection in wounds, improved techniques for military surgery and trauma studies and exposure to different pressures of air or oxygen for varying durations.
(c) substantial: These include studies of the mechanism of action and treatment of chemical and biological warfare agents.
(d) unclassified: These include studies of the attenuation of impact loads.
It would involve a disproportionate amount of effort to identify the animals involved.
Otterburn Training Area
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which civil servants or military personnel have met representatives from the campaign against the national park regarding the Otterburn training area in the Northumberland national park.
Mr. Soames: Although civil servants and military personnel from my Department come into contact with members of the campaign against the national park, no official meetings have been held with the organisation.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial or other support has been given by his Department or the Army to the campaign against the national park regarding the Otterburn training area in the Northumberland national park.
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Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken or will take to ensure that all interested local authorities as well as individuals and groups fully understand the proposed developments regarding possible new military training at the Otterburn training area in the Northumberland national park.
Mr. Soames: While formal consultation about the proposals which are eventually to be submitted by my Department will be a matter for the local planning authority, our environmental consultants have already sought the views of statutory bodies as well as a large number of voluntary sector groups and local people. In addition, my officials have provided general briefings to all local parish councils as well as Tynedale and Alnwick district councils. Conducted tours of the ranges have also been provided to, amongst others, the Council for National Parks, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Friends of the Northumberland National Park and the Northumberland National Park Committee. The national park officer has also been briefed on my Department's AS90 and multi-launch rocket system proposals for Otterburn training area.
Finally, arrangements are in hand to provide a static exhibition which explains fully our proposals. The exhibition, which we expect to be available in the spring, will be placed in a number of key locations in the local area.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how many the number of civilian posts at the Otterburn training area is expected to rise or fall (a) if the proposed development regarding the AS90 and multi-launch rocket system proceeds and (b) if the proposed development does not take place.
Mr. Soames: We do not expect there to be any change in the number of staff employed at Otterburn training area if my Department's current proposals regarding the AS90 and multi-launch rocket system do not proceed. Up to 15 additional staff may be required, however, if the training area is developed as proposed.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are involving the cessation of military training at the Otterburn training area.
Mr. Soames: Otterburn training area provides essential training facilities which could not be dispensed with or easily replicated elsewhere. Consequently, we have no plans to reduce or phase out military training at the Otterburn training area.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions he has met representatives of the campaign against the national park regarding the Otterburn training area in Northumberland national park; whether he has been invited to any meeting on the issue; and when representations regarding this organisation and its aims were made to him and by whom.
Mr. Soames: No official meetings have taken place with members or representatives of the campaign against the national park and no invitations have been received from the organisation. My officials received a request from the CANP last year for a briefing on AS90 and the multi- launch rocket system, in relation to the proposed developments at Otterburn.
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Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department or the Army have been consulted by the campaign against the national park regarding the Otterburn training area in the Northumberland national park.
Mr. Soames: The campaign against the national park is one of a number of organisations which have made representations to my Department expressing their views about our proposals for the Otterburn training area.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what benefits have been offered by his Department or the Army to their tenant farmers at the Otterburn training area on the basis of the proposed developments involving the AS90 and multi-launch rocket system proceeding.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time and part-time civilian posts exist at the Otterburn training area in Northumberland.
Mr. Soames: One hundred and ten full-time and 10 part-time civilian personnel are employed by my Department at Otterburn training area, together with 14 contractor's full-time personnel.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to reduce or phase out military training at the Otterburn training area should the proposed development concerning the AS90 and multi -launch rocket system not take place.
Mr. Soames: Otterburn training area provides essential training facilities which could not be dispensed with or easily replicated elsewhere. Consequently, we have no plans to reduce or phase out military training at the Otterburn training area if the proposed development does not take place.
Service Doctors
Mr. Trotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of doctors serving in the armed forces in the rank of wing commander or equivalent and in each of the ranks higher than wing commander or equivalent.
Mr. Soames: The information requested is provided in the following table:
Doctors in the Armed Forces medical services
|Royal Navy|Army |RAF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surgical Commander/
Lt. Colonel/Wing Commander |80 |118 |99
Surgical Captain/Colonel/
Group Captain |23<1> |35 |21
Surgical Commodore/Brigadier/
Air Commodore |- |11 |11
SRA/Major General/
Air Vice Marshall |1 |2 |2
SVA/Lt. General/Air Marshall |1 |- |-
Total |105 |166 |133
<1> The Royal Navy rank of Surgical Commodore is an appointment only-all
are counted as Surgical Captain.
Notes:
1. Figures as at 1 February 1995.
2. Figures include all doctors i.e., in clinical appointments (primary
and secondary care), specialist staff, training and administrative/ HQ
functions.
Medical Consultants
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the projected number of medical consultants in surgery and anaesthesia to be employed by his Department in (a) two years' time, (b) five years' time and (c) 10 years' time.
Mr. Soames [holding answer 30 January 1995]: The reorganisation of Defence secondary care recommended by "Front Line First" is due to be completed by April 1996. From that time, there will be a total of 74 posts for consultant surgeons, that is, burns and plastic surgery, ENT/ORL surgery, ophthalmology, oral surgery, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery and urology, and 36 for consultant anaesthetists. No further changes to the number of consultant posts are planned.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical consultants in surgery and anaesthesia have been newly appointed to the services in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Soames [holding answer 30 January 1995]: The information requested is provided in the table.
Anaesthetists Surgeons
|Royal |Royal
ASCAB<1> |Navy |Army |RAF |Navy |Army |RAF
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 |- |4 |2 |1 |4 |2
1993 |2 |1 |- |- |- |1
1992 |1 |2 |1 |1 |1 |1
1991 |- |- |1 |1 |4 |3
1990 |1 |4 |- |3 |3 |1
1989 |1 |3 |- |- |1 |-
1988 |1 |2 |2 |2 |2 |-
1987 |1 |3 |- |- |4 |-
1986 |- |3 |- |2 |3 |-
1985 |- |1 |- |1 |1 |1
<1> Armed Services Consultant Advisory Board
Notes:
1. Surgery includes the following specialisations: burns and plastic
surgery, ENT/ORL surgery, ophthalmology, oral surgery, general surgery,
orthopaedic surgery and urology.
2. Information relating to numbers of consultant surgeons and
anaesthetists is not held centrally but has been extracted manually
from single Service sources. Figures relating to earlier years may not
be precise.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical consultants in surgery and anaesthesia have left the services in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Soames [holding answer 30 January 1995]: The information requested is provided in the table:
Anaesthetists Surgeons
|Royal |Royal
Year |Navy |Army |RAF |Navy |Army |RAF
------------------------------------------------
1994 |3 |3 |- |4 |1 |4
1993 |2 |2 |3 |2 |5 |1
1992 |2 |3 |2 |1 |1 |2
1991 |2 |6 |2 |6 |3 |1
1990 |- |3 |- |2 |- |4
1989 |1 |- |1 |2 |2 |2
1988 |- |- |- |- |- |-
1987 |- |- |2 |1 |- |1
1986 |- |- |- |- |- |2
1985 |- |2 |1 |- |- |1
Notes:
1. Surgery includes the following
specialisations: burns and plastic surgery,
ENT/ORL surgery, opthalmology, oral surgery,
general surgery, orthopaedic surgery and
urology.
2. Information relating to numbers of
consultant surgeons and anaesthetists is not
held centrally but has been extracted manually
from single Service sources. Figures relating
to earlier years may not be precise.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical consultants in surgery and anaesthesia have applied for employment to his Department in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Soames [holding answer 30 January 1995]: One only, an anaesthetist who applied to the RAF in both 1992 and 1993--he was selected but did not take up his commission.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical consultants in surgery and anaesthesia have been employed by his Department in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Soames [holding answer 30 January 1995]: The information requested is provided in the table:
Anaesthetists Surgeons
|Royal |Royal
Year |Navy |Army |RAF |Navy |Army |RAF
------------------------------------------------
1994 |8 |18 |8 |18 |29 |21
1993 |8 |17 |11 |19 |26 |20
1992 |8 |18 |11 |21 |31 |21
1991 |8 |18 |12 |24 |31 |21
1990 |10 |25 |11 |23 |30 |21
1989 |9 |23 |9 |24 |27 |22
1988 |8 |20 |9 |22 |28 |22
1987 |8 |13 |6 |20 |26 |22
1986 |8 |9 |6 |21 |22 |22
1985 |8 |7 |7 |19 |19 |22
Notes:
1. Surgery includes the following
specialisations: burns and plastic surgery,
ENT/ORL surgery, ophthalmology, oral surgery,
general surgery, orthopaedic surgery and
urology.
2. Information relating to numbers of
consultant surgeons and anaesthetists is not
held centrally but has been extracted manually
from single Service sources. Figures relating
to earlier years may not be precise.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Public Bodies
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many people sit on non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland;
(2) what is the current number of non-departmental public bodies operating in Northern Ireland; and what is their combined annual budget;
(3) how many people sit on two or more non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland.
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Sir John Wheeler: There are currently 2,329 people sitting on 104 non-departmental public bodies operating in Northern Ireland. The total gross expenditure of non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland for 1993 94 was £2,300.4 million while the total budget funded by Government for 1993 94 was £1,856.2 million. Some 180 people sit on two or more non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland.
Agricultural Census
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the rate of response in each of the past five years to the June agricultural census in Northern Ireland; and when was the last prosecution for failure to return the June census forms.
Mr. Ancram: The rate of response in each of the past five years to the June agricultural census was:
Year |Response rate (Per
|cent.)
---------------------------------------------------------
1990 |78
1991 |78
1992 |79
1993 |77
1994 |78
No prosecutions for failure to return the June census form have been brought during the past 25 years. Nor am I aware of any prosecutions before this but to check the relevant records would entail disproportionate cost.
Industrial Development Board
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been provided in the district councils areas of (a) Down and (b) Newry and Mourne in each of the past five years as a result of assistance from the Industrial Development Board; and when the Industrial Development Board last arranged a visit to each of these council areas by a potential inward investor.
Mr. Ancram: Information on jobs promoted with assistance from the Industrial Development Board in the Down district council and the Newry and Mourne district council areas is set out in the table. The last visit by potential inward investors, arranged by the IDB, was on 8 December 1994 in the case of Down district council and on 18 November 1994 to Newry and Mourne district council area.
Jobs promoted with IDB assistance
|Newry and
|Down |Mourne
-------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |- |79
1991-92 |- |-
1992-93 |- |75
1993-94 |50 |364
1994-95 (to 31 December) |- |18
Total |50 |536
Rules and Regulations
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the rules and regulations in his
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Department which have been withdrawn in the last 12 months, or which his Department plans to withdraw in the next 12 months; and what impact this will have on his Department's manpower.Mr. Ancram: A list of the statutory rules and regulations revoked in the 12-month period ending December 1994 has been placed in the Library.
Work is continuing to identify rules and regulations for withdrawal. Those for withdrawal in the next 12 months will be announced as and when consultations are completed.
The manpower implications are taken into account in the central manpower plans which will be published in the Northern Ireland expenditure plans and priorities in March.
Irish Language Schools
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what plans he has to establish schools that will teach through the medium of the Irish language or to support such schools set up by other bodies;
(2) what plans he has to set up bilingual schools in English and Irish in Northern Ireland or to support similar institutions set up by other bodies.
Mr. Ancram: The Government have no power to establish directly any type of school. However, they are prepared to consider soundly based proposals from other bodies for either Irish language or bilingual schools. As is the case with any new school, that consideration will, however, have to be in the context of ensuring effective and efficient use of resources.
Three Irish-medium primary schools are presently in receipt of 100 per cent. recurrent and capital grants.
Private Clegg
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration was given to charging Private Clegg with manslaughter; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General: I have been asked to reply.
Careful consideration was given by the prosecuting authority to the appropriate charges in this case. It was concluded that in relation to the death of Karen Reilly the proper charge on the available evidence was murder.
EDUCATION
Education Assets Board
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the decisions taken by his Department following recommendations from the Education Assets Board relating to the educational establishments listed in his answer of 18 January, Official Report , columns 513 14 ; and when those decisions were made.
Mr. Robin Squire: Since 18 January 1994, my right hon. Friend has issued final directions in respect of the
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following cases that were referred by the Education Assets Board: Grant-Maintained SchoolsWymondham College, Norfolk
Direction: that a debit balance in the authority's books of account did not transfer to the governing body of the school. Date: 22 February 1994
Epsom and Ewell High School, Surrey
Direction: that the liability for a leasing agreement did not transfer to the governing body of the school.
Date: 20 December 1994
Higher Education Institutions
University of West of England/Bath College of HE
Direction: no provision in the loan agreement to be concluded between the Avon Authority and the EAB in respect of the institutions concerned for the loans to be secured. No amendment relating to the repayment period and the terms on which the loans are repaid. Date: 25 February 1994
In addition, my right hon. Friend has issued"minded to" directions in respect of the following cases:
Grant-Maintained Schools
Great Barr School, Birmingham--26 September 1994
Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent--11 November 1994 Abbotswood School, Hampshire--25 November 1994
Pate's Grammar School, Gloucestershire--23 January 1995
Further Education Institutions
Lincolnshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture--September 1994
A further referral from the Education Assets Board involving a dispute between Thamesview school and Kent county council was withdrawn as a result of the parties involved reaching agreement.
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the membership of the Education Assets Board and indicate whether its deliberations and reports are made public.
Mr. Robin Squire: The membership of the Education Assets Board is as follows:
Mr. R. Suddards CBE, DL (Chairman)
Mr. B. Arthur CBE
Mr. K. Bridge
Ms K. Buckley
Mr. H. Couch
Mr. M. Edwards CBE, QC
Miss A. Lees
Mr. P. Lewis
Mrs. M. Ryding
Mr. A. Soames
Mr. A Salomons
Mr. S. Hoare (Chief Executive and ex-officio member)
The board's deliberations are not made public. Its decisions are reported to the parties directly concerned. There is nothing to prevent them from making the board's decisions public.
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