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Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the expenditure on women on training programmes by (a) training schemes and (b) individual TEC; and what is the figure as a percentage of overall expenditure on training.
Mr. Paice: The information requested is not available.
Ian Greer Associates
Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what items of correspondence were received by Ministers in this Department from Messrs Ian Greer Associates in the last month.
Miss Widdecombe: We have received one invitation to a reception from Messrs Ian Greer Associates.
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Labour Force Survey (Women)
Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 6 February 1995, Official Report , column 94 , if he will list for each year since 1984 (a) annually and (b) quarterly the number of women in Great Britain surveyed by the labour force survey who, although they are without a job, have looked for a job within the four weeks prior to their labour force survey interview or are waiting to start a job within the two weeks following their labour force survey interview, and the number of women who are neither in employment nor unemployed on the International Labour Organisation measure but who said that they would like a job, also expressing the number of women in both categories who are single parents.
Mr. Oppenheim: This information is available from the labour force survey and can be obtained via the Quantime LFS service available in the Library.
Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) who is the current Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members; what are the background and qualifications of the commissioner; how many days per week the commissioner is expected to work; and what remuneration the commissioner receives; (2) what has been the total expenditure to date on the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members; how many staff are employed by the Commission; how many specific applications for help have been received since its establishment; and in how many cases actions have been pursued by the Commission.
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 27 February 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney) on 17 February 1995, Official Report , columns 852 61 .
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to review the work and funding of the Commission on the Rights of Trade Union Members; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 27 February 1995]: Like other executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department, the role and activities of the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members are monitored and reviewed in accordance with the arrangements set out in the Cabinet Office/HM Treasury publication "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments". The commissioner's grant in aid is reviewed annually as part of the normal public expenditure procedures.
Earnings
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) by what percentage the upper deciles weekly full-time earnings exceeded (a) the lowest deciles weekly full-time earnings for men, women and all full-time workers, (b) the lower quartiles weekly full-time earnings for men, women and all full-time workers, (c) the mean level of weekly full-time earnings for men, women and all full-time workers and (d) the upper quartiles weekly full-time earnings for men, women and all full-time workers in 1992;
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(2) by what percentage the upper deciles weekly full-time earnings exceeded (a) the lowest deciles weekly full-time earnings for men, women and all full-time workers, (b) the lower quartiles weekly full-time earnings for men, women and all full-time workers, (c) the mean level of weekly full-time earnings for men, women and all full-time workers and (d) the upper quartiles weekly full-time earnings for men, women and all full-time workers in 1994; (3) what was the percentage change in the gap between mean full-time weekly earnings and the upper quartiles full-time weekly earnings between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers;(4) what was the percentage change in the gap between mean full-time weekly earnings and full-time weekly earnings for the upper decile between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers;
(5) what was the percentage change in the gap between mean weekly full-time earnings and the lower quartiles full-time weekly earnings between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers;
(6) what was the percentage change in the gap between mean full-time weekly earnings and the lowest deciles full-time weekly earnings between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) full-time workers;
(7) what was the percentage difference in pay rise between mean weekly full -time earnings and the lowest deciles weekly full-time earnings, adjusted for inflation, between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers;
(8) what was the percentage difference in pay rise between the upper deciles weekly full-time earnings and the upper quartiles weekly full-time earnings, adjusted for inflation, between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers; (9) what was the percentage difference in pay rise between mean weekly full-time earnings and the lower quartiles weekly full-time earnings, adjusted for inflation, between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers;
(10) what was the percentage difference in pay rise between the upper deciles weekly full-time earnings and the lowest deciles weekly full-time earnings, adjusted for inflation, between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers;
(11) what was the percentage difference in pay rise between the upper deciles weekly full-time earnings and the lower quartiles weekly full-time earnings, adjusted for inflation, between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers; (12) what was the percentage difference in pay rise between mean weekly full-time earnings and the upper deciles full-time weekly earnings, all adjusted for inflation, between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men (b) women and (c) all full-time workers;
(13) what was the percentage difference in pay rise between mean full-time weekly earnings and the upper quartiles full-time weekly earnings, adjusted for inflation, between 1992 and 1994 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all full-time workers.
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 27 February 1995]: The mean, deciles, median and quartiles of weekly earnings for full-time men and women in 1992 and 1994 are published in table 15 of part A of the 1994 new
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earnings survey report. Corresponding statistics for all full-time employees is in table 17.The retail price index for April 1992 and for April 1994 can be found in table 6.4 of the Employment Gazette for June 1994. Changes in the index are in table 6.5.
Copies of both publications are available in the Library.
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the statutory instruments which his Department has sponsored in the last 12 months.
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 27 February 1995]: The following is a list of statutory instruments produced by the Employment Department in the last 12 months:
List of Statutory Instruments introduced by the Employment Department from February 1994 to January 1995 inclusive:
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 1994 (Johnson Field Development): Published 22 February 1994.
The Health and Safety (Fees) Regulation 1994: Published 3 March 1994.
The Redundancy Payments (Local Government) (Modification) (Amendment) Order 1994: Published 4 March 1994.
The Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Exemption (Amendment) Regulations 1994: Published 7 March 1994.
The Industrial Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 1994: Published 9 March 1994.
The Industrial Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 1994: Published 9 March 1994. The Certification Officer (Amendment of Fees) Regulations 1994: Published 10 March 1994.
The Industrial Tribunals (Extension of Jurisdiction) (England and Wales) Order 1994: Published 10 May 1994.
The Industrial Tribunals (Extension of Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Order 1994: Published 10 May 1994.
The Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993 (Commencement No 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1994: Published 25 May 1994.
The Guarantee Payments (Exemption) Order No 29 1994: Published 6 June 1994.
The Race Relations (Remedies) Regulations 1994: Published 8 July 1994.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No.2) Order 1994: Published 18 July 1994.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994: Published 20 July 1994.
The Maternity (Compulsory Leave) Regulations 1994: Published September 1994.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work (Amendment) Regulations 1994: Published 10 November 1994.
The Suspension from Work (on Maternity Grounds) Order 1994: Published 21 November 1994.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994: Published 22 December 1994.
The Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) General (Amendment) Regulations 1994: Published 6 January 1995.
The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994: Published 9 January 1995.
The Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Construction Board) Order 1995: Published 10 January 1995.
The Industrial Training levy (Construction Board) Order 1995: Published 10 January 1995.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994: Published 10 January 1995,.
The Employment Protection (Part-time Employees) Regulations 1995: Published 16 January 1995.
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Deregulation
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ensure the enforcement provisions contained in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 apply to all regulations for which his Department is responsible, past, present and future; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 27 February 1995]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Under- Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Zaire (Rwandan Refugees)
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what operational resources the United Nations has put in place to ensure that the Zairean military authorities comply with international standards including the international conventions on protection of the rights of refugees in relation to the army of Zaire policing camps for displaced Rwandese; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry: The UNHCR agreement with Zaire provides for a 50-man international "camp security liaison group" to organise material support, monitor the operation and liaise with the Zaire authorities. We have contributed £0.5 million towards the UNHCR's costs for the international liaison group. The first group of international monitors is undergoing selection by the UNHCR.
Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the cost of Britain's diplomatic presence in Indonesia since 1983 84 in relation to the number of United Kingdom based staff stationed in Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: The change in the cost of Britain's diplomatic presence in Indonesia since 1983 84 results mainly from (a) substantial local inflation of about 125 per cent. (b) some upgrading of the United Kingdom based staff and an increase in locally engaged staff numbers and (c) the inclusion since 1990 91 of notional rent costs in respect of Government- owned residential properties.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 February, Official Report, column 884, if he will divide the totals of numbers of United Kingdom based staff stationed at the British embassy, Jarkarta, into the Government Departments and agencies of which they were part for each year since 1992.
Mr. Goodlad: It is not our practice to provide a detailed breakdown of other Government Departments' and agencies' staff at individual posts. A description of individual staff functions is however available in the HM diplomatic service overseas reference list, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any diplomatic staff
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stationed in Indonesia since 1979 have been based outside of the British embassy, Jakarta.Mr. Goodlad: There is no record of any diplomatic staff in Indonesia since 1979 having been based outside of the British embassy, Jakarta.
Nuclear-capable Aircraft
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the policy of the British Government to decline to supply nuclear-capable aircraft (a) to NATO and (b) to non-NATO countries; and what was the date from which such a policy came into operation.
Mr. David Davies: Any military aircraft can be made capable of delivering nuclear weapons during manufacture or later. Applications for the export of all defence equipment, whether to NATO or non-NATO countries, are subject to case by case consideration against the international criteria to which we are committed. These include consideration of whether such equipment fulfils the legitimate domestic security needs of the recipient country.
Palestine
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Mr. Yasser Arafat.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met Mr. Arafat on 28 November 1994 in Brussels.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Palestine National Authority.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to meet Mr. Arafat. However, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to meet him in Gaza in March.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy for the promotion of United Kingdom trade with the Palestine National Authority.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We encourage it. We consider such trade to be mutually beneficial in its own right and supportive of the middle east peace process. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a party of senior business leaders on his visit to Israel, the occupied territories and Jordan next month.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to visit (a) Gaza and (b) the west bank.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to do so. However, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to visit Gaza in March.
UN Summit on Social Development
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the representatives of the United Kingdom Government at the United Nations summit conference on social development in March; and if he will list the names and status of the representatives of (a) United States, (b) the
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Japanese and (c) the French Governments whose attendance has been notified to him.Mr. Douglas Hogg: The United Kingdom delegation to the world summit for social development in Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March will be led by Baroness Chalker of Wallasey. She will be accompanied by officials from the Foreign Office, the Overseas Development Administration, the Department of Employment and the Department of Social Security. We understand that the United States delegation will be led by Vice-President Al Gore and the French delegation by President Mitterrand. We understand that no decision has yet been taken on the leadership of the Japanese delegation.
Northern Caucasus
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Ambassadors in the Baltic States have had with the Governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania about Russian military activity in Chechnya; what concerns they expressed; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Governments of all three Baltic countries have raised the question of Russian intervention in Chechnya with our ambassadors. In particular they are concerned, like ourselves, about the disproportionate use of force and about abuses of human rights.
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the numbers of Russian troops so far committed to the military operation in Chechnya.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We estimate that the Russian army has deployed some 40,000 to 50,000 troops to Chechnya, and the interior ministry a further 10,000 to 15,000 troops.
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department has yet made an estimate of the financial cost to the Russian Government of the military action in the northern Caucasus.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Because of the continuing uncertainty surrounding the situation in the region, we do not yet feel that we are in a position to make an accurate estimate of the likely costs. Russian official estimates have varied widely and indicate just how speculative such an exercise would be at this stage.
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with President Shevardnadze about the security of the Republic of Georgia following the Russian military action in Chechnya; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the situation in Chechnya with Mr. Shevardnadze when he was visiting the UK earlier this month. Mr. Shevardnadze expressed support for the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and understanding for the Russian decision to intervene militarily.
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Russian military action in the northern Caucasus with the Turkish Government; what concerns the Turks expressed; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. David Davis: The Russian intervention in Chechnya was one of the subjects discussed when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, together with his French, German and Italian colleagues, met the Turkish Foreign Minister in London on 2 February. Mr. Karayalcin made clear to the press afterwards the importance of working for peace in the region.
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the sovereignty of the trans- Caucasian republics with the Russian Government; what assurances he received about non-interference in their domestic affairs; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We fully support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. We have frequently made this clear in discussions with the Russian Government.
Mr. Oleg Gordievsky
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much United Kingdom public money has been provided to Mr. Oleg Gordievsky since his defection to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Hurd: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 14 July 1994, Official Report , columns 711 12. It remains the Government's policy not to provide information on the operations, or detailed information about the expenditure, of the security and intelligence agencies.
Russian Human Rights Commissioner
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will invite Russia's human rights commissioner, Mr. Sergei Kovalev, to visit the United Kingdom.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We understand that Mr. Kovalev has already been invited to visit the United Kingdom and therefore see no need to issue an official invitation at this stage.
WEU and Russian Federation
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 February, Official Report , column 888, if he will list the informal links between the Western European Union and the Russian Federation in which staff of his Department have participated in the last two years; what he attaches to such links; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Davis: There has been only one informal contact between the Western European Union and the Russian Federation in which staff of my Department have been involved. This was an informal meeting in March last year between the Russian ambassador and permanent representatives of all full WEU members. However a number of informal contacts have also taken place involving the WEU Secretary-General and presidency.
European Court
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases are currently before (a) the European Commission on Human Rights and (b) the European Court of Human Rights; how
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many judgments were delivered by the European Court in 1994; how many member states have introduced the right of petition since 1989; and if he will make a statement on how it is proposed to speed up the procedures.Mr. Douglas Hogg: We understand from the human rights directorate of the Council of Europe that, as of 31 December 1994, the European Commission of Human Rights had before it 2,927 applications, of which 583 had been declared admissible. As of the same date, there were 67 cases before the European Court of Human Rights. The court delivered 540 judgments in 1994.
The following member states of the Council of Europe have recognised the right of individual petition since 1989:
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Finland
Hungary
Poland
Romania
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
In addition, Turkey, which recognised the right of individual petition in 1987, recognised the compulsory jurisdiction of the court in 1990.
Some streamlining of the procedures of the Commission and Court was introduced by additional protocol No. 8 to the European convention on human rights. A more radical reform is envisaged under additional protocol No. 11 to the convention, which provides for the present two-tier system of Commission and Court to be replaced by a single court. The aim is to enable the machinery to deal efficiently with the caseload arising from both the growing membership of the Council of Europe and increasing public awareness of the convention. Protocol 11 must be signed and ratified by all of the member states before it can come into effect. All 34 member states have now signed the protocol. Four, including the United Kingdom, have ratified it and others are expected to do so soon.
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