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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 3 April 1995
HOME DEPARTMENT
Immigration
Mrs. Wise: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the waiting time for initial interview in Pakistan of applicants seeking settlement here as spouses. [17767]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The waiting time to first interview for spouses applying for entry clearance for settlement in Islamabad was three months at the end of December 1994. Information is not centrally available on waiting times in Karachi but all applicants are expected to receive a first interview within three weeks.
Mrs. Wise: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the waiting time for initial interview in India of applicants seeking settlement here as spouses. [17766]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The waiting time to first interview for spouses in Bombay and New Delhi applying for entry clearance for settlement was three months at the end of December 1994. In Madras, all applicants seeking settlement are placed in the same queue with a waiting time to first interview of three quarters of a month at the end of December 1994. There is no queuing system in operation in Calcutta.
Advertising
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each non-departmental public body and agency for which he has responsibility and, for each, list separate figures for the spending by that body or agency on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotional materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising, for each year since 1979 80 or for each year of its existence if it has been created since then: and what are his latest estimates of (a) to (f) for the years 1994 95 and 1995 96. [17624]
Mr. Howard: I am accountable for four executive agencies--HM Prison Service, the Forensic Science Service, the UK Passport Agency and the Fire Service College--and for some 38 non-departmental bodies which are listed in "Public Bodies 1994", which is available in the Library.
Information on spending on advertising and other promotional materials and activities by each agency and non-departmental public body for which I am responsible is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Maastricht
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the information provided by his Department to Select Committees of the House in respect of developments on the third pillar of Maastricht. [17211]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: The following documents with explanatory notes have been made available to the Select Committees on Home Affairs and on European Legislation.
Documents |Explanatory Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASIM 104 |Council resolution on limitations
|on admission of third country
|nationals to the member states
|for employment. (7139/94)
ASIM 90 |Guidelines for the harmonised
|application of the definition of
|refugee status in article 1A of the
|Geneva convention. (6675/94)
ASIM 115 |Council resolution relating to
|limitations on the admission of
|third country nationals to the
|territory of the member states for
|the purpose of pursuing activities
|as self-employed persons.
|(7572/94)
ASIM 122 |Travel facilities for third-country
|nationals resident in a member
|state. (7737/94)
ASIM 124 |Draft Council resolution on
|burden sharing with regard to the
|admission and residence of
|refugees. (7773/94)
ASIM 127 |Draft Council resolution on the
|admission of third-country
|nationals to the territory of the
|member states of the European
|Union for study purposes.
|(7996/94)
ASIM 130 |Joint action for a further
|improvement in security at
|external borders. (8031/94)
ASIM 152 |Minimum guarantees for asylum
|applicants. (8713/94)
ASIM 242 |Proposal for a joint action on
|harmonizing means of combating
|illegal employment and
|improving the relevant means of
|control. (12336/94)
ASIM 244 |Proposal for a joint action on the
|status of third country nationals
|residing legally in the Union for
|a long period. (12338/94)
Unnumbered |UK proposal for a joint action by
|the Council of the European
|Union regarding the protection of
|the financial interests of the
|European Communities.
Unnumbered |European Information System
|(EIS)-draft convention text.
Unnumbered |European Police Office
|(Europol)-draft convention text.
Unnumbered |Customs Information System
|(CIS)-draft convention text.
CK4 98 |Joint action concerning the
|Europol Drugs Unit.
|(12321/1/94)
JUSTPEN 25 |Council Act drawing up the
|convention on simplified
|extradition procedure between
|the member states of the
|European Union. (5130/95)
In addition, a number of documents relating to title VI issues have been made available under normal parliamentary scrutiny procedures with explanatory memoranda:
Documents |Explanatory Memoranda
(15080) 11287/93 |Communication covering:
|a. Draft decision based on article
|K3 of the treaty on European
|Union, establishing a convention
|on the crossing of the external
|frontiers of the member states:
|and
|b. Draft regulation based on
|article 100c of the treaty
|establishing the European
|Community, determining the
|third countries whose nationals
|must be in possession of a visa
|when crossing the external
|borders of the member states.
5187/94 |Commission communication on
|immigration and asylum policies.
8076/94 |Protection of the Community's
|financial interests.
8077/94 |Communication from the
|Commission on a European
|Union action plan to combat
|drugs.
The outcome of each Justice and Home Affairs Council is reported to Parliament by means of an answer to a parliamentary question. Since the Council held on 20 June 1994 we have also submitted to the Select Committees a memorandum previewing the likely discussion at each Council, and subsequently a memorandum of evidence on the main conclusions reached. All texts adopted at a Justice and Home Affairs Council are deposited in the Library.
The then Home Secretary gave oral evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 21 April 1993 on intergovernmental co-operation in justice and home affairs. A memorandum of evidence of work carried out under title VI was submitted to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 7 December 1993 in advance of oral evidence by officials on 15 December. On 24 January 1994, my officials provided two further papers on police co-operation and answers to a number of supplementary questions which the Committee did not reach at its oral evidence session.
Most recently I appeared before the Home Affairs Select Committee on 21 January 1995 to give evidence on criminal justice matters, including organised crime and intergovernmental co-operation in the fields of justice and home affairs.
Everthorpe Prison
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made on the reports of the disorder at Everthorpe prison; and if his conclusions have changed his policy in respect of illegal drugs in prisons. [17351]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 30 March 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
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Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 3 April 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Everthorpe prison.A task force has been established to consider and progress the recommendations of the report on the disorder at Everthorpe prison. One of these recommendations is the introduction of a coordinated drug reduction policy at Everthorpe. This policy will be introduced this year.
There has been no change to the Prison Service's policy on tackling drug misuse in prisons as a result of the disturbances at Everthorpe. A strategy of controlling supply and providing support and treatment is being pursued, underpinned by mandatory drug testing for prisoners.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Armenian Orthodox Church
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government will take to urge the Turkish authorities to withdraw their requirement that, apart from regularly scheduled worship services, the Armenian orthodox church obtains special written permission for any function or meeting held in church facilities with more than 10 people in attendance. [17773]
Mr. David Davis: The Turkish public order decrees which require notification in advance of gatherings over a certain size apply generally and are not directed specifically at the Armenian orthodox church.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government will take to urge the Turkish authorities to allow the Armenian orthodox church in Turkey to hold its representative assembly so that it can elect delegates to participate in the election for the Supreme Patriarch in Armenia. [17772]
Mr. David Davis: Our consulate-general in Istanbul discussed this with the Turkish authorities and with representatives of the Armenian orthodox church. The church has now decided not to hold the assembly. The views of the Armenian orthodox church in Turkey will be represented at the elections for the Supreme Patriarch by a number of bishops chosen by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Istanbul.
Internet
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Internet electronic mail addresses of (a) his Department and (b) each Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement on his Department's approach to the information super -highway. [17737]
Mr. Goodlad: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) on 29 November 1994 at column 250 and 10 January 1995 at column 63 .
The FCO and ODA do not at present use the Internet for e-mail. However, both wings are currently considering how to implement a public inquiry Internet e-mail address, for launch later in the year.
A project is underway to establish an FCO world-wide web service on the Internet which should come on stream
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before the summer recess. A further announcement will be made at that time.Public Information Telephone Service
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the public information telephone inquiry lines operated by his Department, in each case indicating the costs of establishing, operating and publicising these lines and the number of calls made to them up until this point; when they were established; and what assessment his Department has made of their effectiveness. [17457]
Mr. Baldry: Consular Department operates a public information telephone service for travel advice. Because of increased demand--staff were handling as many as 600 calls per day--and in order to improve our service to the public a new automated telephone answering system was introduced on 27 February 1995. The service offers travel advice for the 11 countries most in demand and is available on 0374-500900.
Call costs to the public are at standard or local rate. The new service involved no capital expenditure. Its running costs are £500 per month. The national and local media, the travel industry and other existing customers have received information about the service. No publicity costs have been incurred. It is still too early to assess the effectiveness of the new service.
Irish Nationals
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Irish Republic will sign the appropriate convention enabling it to receive Irish nationals serving custodial sentences in prisons in the United Kingdom. [17660]
Mr. Hurd: This is a matter for the Irish Government. At the recent plenary meeting of the British-Irish inter-parliamentary body the Irish Foreign Minister, Mr. Spring, confirmed that legislation to ratify the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons was being prepared by the Irish Department of Justice, and was expected to be introduced in the Dail after the Easter recess.
Death Penalty
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to stop the execution of a British citizen in the electric chair in the United States of America on 6 April; and what assessment he has made of the applicability of the international covenant on civil and political rights. [17899]
Mr. Baldry: None. There are no special grounds for a plea for clemency by us on Mr. Ingram's behalf. The death penalty is permitted in certain circumstances under international human rights law. Mr. Ingram, who is a dual British US national was convicted of a "most serious crime" as specified in article 6 of the international covenant on civil and political rights. Mr. Ingram received both a fair trial and a lengthy appeals process.
EU Ottawa Representative
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the name of
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the senior representative of the European Union or Community representing its interest in Ottawa; for how long that envoy has held this post; and if he will give their personal and occupational curriculum vitae. [18034]Mr. David Davis: The head of delegation of the Commission of the European Communities in Ottawa is Mr. John R. Beck. Mr. Beck has held this position since April 1993. Mr. Beck has been working for the European Commission since 1973. He had previously worked at the Economist intelligence unit and the London chamber of commerce.
Fisheries, Canada
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which article of which treaty enables him to prevent, or vote against, any proposal for retaliatory action by the European Union or Community in respect of their dispute with Canada relating to fisheries. [18035]
Mr. David Davis: We believe that the best way to resolve the fisheries dispute between the EU and Canada is by negotiation. There is no formal proposal to impose sanctions. A proposal under article 228a of the treaty of Rome to interrupt or reduce, in part of completely, economic relations with Canada would require the adoption of a common position or joint action according to the provisions of the treaty on European Union relating to common foreign and security policy, which would be subject to unanimity.
Overseas Posts
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many labour attache s and labour reporting offices there are in each embassy or overseas posts; and at what annual cost. [18079]
Mr. Goodlad: At FCO posts overseas there are at present eight United Kingdom-based and five locally engaged officers with a formal labour reporting responsibility. Five of the UK-based officers are full-time labour attaches. As the following table shows, the 13 officers expect to devote, each year, a total of 10 man-years to labour reporting, at a total cost of £683,000.
|Man |Man
|Years |Years
|UK-based |Labour |LE |Labour |Cost
Post |officers |reporting|Officers |reporting|£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonn |1 |1 |2 |1.3 |133,058
Brussels |1 |1 |1 |1 |116,624
Dublin |1 |0.1 |0 |0 |8,597
Madrid |1 |1 |0 |0 |116,102
Paris |1 |1 |0 |0 |112,768
Pretoria |1 |1 |0 |0 |53,272
Rome |2 |0.6 |1 |1 |107,492
Washington |0 |0 |1 |1 |35,050
Advertising
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each non-departmental public body and agency for which he has responsibility and, for each, list separate figures for the spending by that body or agency on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper
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advertising, (d) other promotional materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising, for each year since 1979 80 or for each year of its existence if it has been created since then and what are his latest estimates of (a) to (f) for the years 1994 95 and 1995 96. [17628]Mr. Goodlad: The information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for 1992 93 and 1993 94, separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotions material and activities (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising; and what are his latest estimates for the years 1994 95 and 1995 96. [17627]
Mr. Goodlad: The figures requested are as follows:
|1994-95 |1995-96
|1992-93 |1993-94 |(Estimate)|(Estimate)
|£ |£ |£ |£
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Television |0 |0 |0 |0
(b) Radio |0 |0 |0 |0
(c) Newspaper |370,979 |505,430 |847,000 |885,465
of which
recruitment |370,979 |505,430 |847,000 |885,465
(d) Others |1,724,228 |1,624,834 |1,570,000 |1,942,000
of which
recruitment |190,262 |43,739 |- |200,000
(e) Total |2,095,207 |2,130,264 |2,417,000 |2,827,465
of which
recruitment |561,241 |549,169 |887,000 |1,085,465
(f) Percentage
of total on
recruitment |27 |26 |37 |38
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Law Commission Report
Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department who are the members of the inter-departmental working party established by the Lord Chancellor to prepare the Government's response to the Law Commission report on mental incapacity; what specific remit the working party has been given; whether the working party will be taking further written or oral evidence; what steps are being taken to ensure that the working party endorses the Government's policy of opposition to euthanasia and if he will make a statement. [17754]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The working group is made up of officials from the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Department of Health, the Home Office, the Department of Social Security, the Welsh Office and the Treasury. The terms of reference of the group are:
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To co-ordinate the Government response to the Law Commission report on mental incapacity published on 1 March 1995.To produce an initial report by 1 September 1995.
No decisions have yet been taken as to whether the group will take further written or oral evidence.
The Government consider euthanasia to be unacceptable and the working group has no remit to consider any change to this policy.
PRIME MINISTER
Malaysia
Lady Olga Maitland: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Malaysian authorities about trade relations between the United Kingdom and Malaysia. [18579]
The Prime Minister: I welcome Dr. Mahathir's positive remarks, during his recent visit to Britain, that Malaysia wants to continue building the strongest possible ties with Britain, and is putting behind her the two countries' recent trade problems. This was a constructive initiative. Britain has close and long-standing links with Malaysia. We look forward to working with Malaysia to develop these to their full potential in the future.
Deregulation
Mr. Steen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss during his visit to Washington, the United States' experience of deregulation and the lessons learnt by the administration which can be applied to the United Kingdom. [17900]
The Prime Minister: I am always interested to hear new ideas to take forward the Government's deregulation initiative.
EMPLOYMENT
Advertising
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each non-departmental public body and agency for which he has responsibility and, for each, list separate figures for the spending by that body or agency on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotional materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising for each year since 1979 80 or for each year of its existence if it has been created since then; and what are his latest estimates of (a) to (f) for years 1994 95 and 1995 96. [17636]
Miss Widdecombe: Information about the spending on advertising and promotional activity by non-departmental public bodies and agencies is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The publication entitled "Public Bodies 1994" is held in the Library and lists the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Employment Department.
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Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for 1992 93 and 1993 94, separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotional materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising; and what are his latest estimates for the years 1994 95 and 1995 96. [17635]
Miss Widdecombe: The expenditure by the Employment Department on advertising and other promotional activities between 1992 93 and 1993 94 is shown in the following table:
|1992-93 |1993-94
|£ |£
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Television advertising |Nil |Nil
(b) Radio advertising |1,034 |194,554
(c) Newspaper advertising |4,674,390 |7,120,535
(d) Other promotional materials |3,209,309 |3,654,466
Total |7,884,733 |10,969,555
None of the above expenditure was on recruitment advertising. The expenditure figures to date for 1994 95 are shown in the following table:
|£
------------------------------------------------------
(a) Television advertising |3,199,260
(b) Radio advertising |409,534
(c) Newspaper advertising |4,438,393
(d) Other promotional materials |2,763,979
Total |10,811,166
The budgeted figure for advertising and publicity for 1995 96 is £10.6 million. Further information broken down by type of publicity is not yet available.
Internet
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the Internet electronic mail addresses of (a) his Department and (b) each Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement on his Department's approach to the information superhighway. [17743]
Miss Widdecombe: Officials within the Department are currently investigating the possibility of establishing links to the Internet electronic mail service. The Department's approach to the information super -highway is to regard it as a potential vehicle for improving services to the Department's customers and as an additional publication medium for promoting open government.
Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list (a) the number of new directors each year that have joined the board of directors and (b) the percentage annual turnover of directors in respect of each training and enterprise council in England and Wales since their creation. [17052]
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Mr. Paice: I am unable to give the information that the hon. Member is asking for as it is not collected in that form. However, the total turnover for board members for training and enterprise councils in England and Wales is shown in the following list: March 1992 to February 1993: 20 per cent.
March 1993 to February 1994: 25 per cent.
March 1994 to February 1995: 19 per cent.
EU Structural Funds
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what amounts are available under objective 4 of European structural funds for the retraining of existing employees in 1994 95; and how much has been applied for and spent in 1994 95. [17342]
Miss Widdecombe: A total of 3,377 million ecu is available for spending in Great Britain under objective 3 and 4 of the structural funds between 1994 and 1999. The Government announced their intention last year to concentrate available funding on helping unemployed people under objective 3. Therefore, nothing was applied for or spent under objective 4 in Great Britain in 1994 95.
Public Information Telephone Service
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the public information telephone inquiry lines operated by his Department, in each case indicating the costs of establishing, operating and publicising these lines and the number of calls made to them up until this point; when they were established; and what assessment his Department has made of their effectiveness. [17459]
Miss Widdecombe: Details about the public information telephone inquiry lines operating throughout the Department are not held centrally.
ENVIRONMENT
Planning Applications
Dr. Twinn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if planning approvals granted since January where the application used imperial units of measurement, are valid; and if he will make a statement. [16766]
Sir Paul Beresford: All planning permissions granted are valid unless and until declared invalid by a court. As far as this Department is aware, no planning permissions have been declared invalid on the grounds that the application for permission used imperial measurements nor are we aware of any applications to the courts to declare permissions invalid on these grounds.
Local Government Finance, Leicestershire
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the standard spending assessment for Leicestershire; how much was spent in each of the last five years; and what is the planned standard spending assessment for this year. [17157]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The figures are:
Column 895
£ million
|Standard
|spending |Net revenue
|assessment |expenditure<1>
------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |458.828 |484.585
1991-92 |539.740 |545.463
1992-93 |579.013 |581.405
1993-94 |548.651 |545.528
1994-95 |560.740 |567.888
1995-96 |531.173 |-
Notes:
<1> All figures are at outturn with the exception of
1994-95 which is budget.
The figures have not been adjusted for changes of responsibility or function. On a comparable basis, the standard spending assessment for 1995 96 is a £3.206 million increase from 1994 95--£527.966 million.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was budgeted by the county council for education in Leicestershire in each of the last five years; and how much is planned for this year. [17156]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: Information on the planned budget for 1995 96 has not yet been received. Budgets set for the previous five years were as follows:
Leicestershire budgeted<1>
education net current<2>
expenditure
|£ million
-------------------------------
1990-91 |340
1991-92 |375
1992-93 |416
1993-94<3> |374
1994-95 |375
Note:
<1> Final outturn expenditure
figures would be different.
<2> Net current expenditure is
defined as employee plus
running expenses less sales,
fees and charges, and other
non-grant income. It is not
consistent with the definition
of net revenue expenditure to
compare with SSA.
<3> Further education colleges
were removed from local
control on 1 April 1993.
County Council Reserves
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the most recent information is on the current reserves held by the county councils of (a) Suffolk, (b) Essex, (c) Cambridgeshire and (d) Norfolk; and what the figures were 12 and 24 months previously.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The available information is as follows: Local Authority Reserves 1 April 1992 to 1 April 1994
The latest available estimates of the level of reserves as at 1 April 1992 to 1 April 1994 are attached. These are split, where possible, into schools' reserves (`LMS'), and other (`Non-LMS'). Non-LMS reserves include funds, which may be substantial, held for specified purposes which may not be available to the council for general use--for example, funds to finance capital projects to which the authority is committed; and insurance funds where the authority is bearing its own insurance risks.
These estimates are subject to amendment as authorities finalise their accounts. Compatible data on the use of balances in 1994 95 which would be needed to derive an
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estimate of the level of reserves at 1 April 1995 is not yet available.
|1 April|1 April|1 April
|1992<1>|1993<2>|1994<3>
|£000 |£000 |£000
-----------------------------------------------
Suffolk
LMS |n/a |13,120 |13,120
Non-LMS |n/a |21,388 |14,982
Total |16,051 |34,508 |28,102
Essex
LMS |n/a |25,039 |25,039
Non-LMS |n/a |20,311 |49,465
Total |39,373 |45,350 |74,504
Cambridgeshire
LMS |n/a |8,469 |7,930
Non-LMS |n/a |45,343 |48,602
Total |48,119 |53,812 |56,532
Norfolk
LMS |n/a |9,059 |9,059
Non-LMS |n/a |21,915 |24,791
Total |13,109 |30,974 |33,850
Sources:
<1> Level of reserves (outturn) at 1/4/92 (RS
returns for 1992-93).
<2> Level of reserves (outturn) at 1/4/93 (RS
returns for 1993-94).
<3> Level of reserves (outturn) at 1/4/93 +/-
appropriations to/withdrawals from reserves
1993-94 (RS returns for 1993-94).
National Parks
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people both live and work in each of the national parks; and, in each case, what this is as a percentage of the economically active population. [17165]
Mr. Atkins: The Department does not maintain statistics specifically relating to those people both living and working in national parks, and it could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what ethical guidelines exist in respect of the development of genetically modified organisms; what structures there are for the control of (i) development and (ii) release of genetically modified organisms; and how many genetically modified organisms have been (1) developed and (2) released in each year since 1989. [17064]
Sir Paul Beresford: There are no specific ethical guidelines in respect of the development of genetically modified organisms which may subsequently be released to the environment. The structures for the control of development and release of GMOs include the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the GMO (Contained Use) Regulations 1992; the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the GMO (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 and 1995, and the GMO (Contained Use) Regulations 1993. Records are not kept each year of how many GMOs have been developed. Prior to the regulations requiring a consent for the release of GMOs coming into force on 1 February 1993, there had been about 50 releases of GMOs in the United Kingdom. Since that date, consents to
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release GMOs to the environment have been issued as follows: 15 in 1993, 24 in 1994, and to date, 15 in 1995.Advertising
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for 1992 93 and 1993 94, separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotional materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) , and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising; and what are his latest estimates for the years 1994 95 and 1995 96.
Sir Paul Beresford: The figures for central publicity expenditure by my Department in each of the financial years/categories requested is detailed below. These figures exclude recruitment advertising expenditure. Budgets for financial year 1995 96 are still being prepared and are not yet available.
£000
|TV |Radio |Press |Other |Total
--------------------------------------------------
1992-93 |3,545 |Nil |3,324 |7,828 |14,697
1993-94 |2,774 |347 |2,028 |6,959 |12,108
1994-95 |2,698 |477 |1,295 |4,408 |8,878
These figures include VAT, agency fees where relevant and all other levies as paid.
Spent on recruitment advertising during financial year 1994 95 was approximately £38,200. Figures for previous years are not readily available and cannot be provided within the acceptable cost limits.
Emissions
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he had to monitor PM10 in rural areas. [15717]
Mr. Atkins: My Department plans to begin monitoring PM10 at a small number of rural locations this year.
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