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Tenovus Cancer Research Campaign
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the national lottery and Tenovus (Wales) Cancer Research Campaign, Clwyd. [19514]
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance he will give to Tenovus (Wales) Cancer Research Campaign, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement. [19514]
Mr. Richards: I have no plans to provide assistance to Tenovus (Wales) Cancer Research Campaign, Clwyd. However, charitable organisations including medical charities will be able to apply for lottery funds through the National Lottery Charities Board.
Column 256
Advisers
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many advisers his Department employs broken down to show (a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19412]
Mr. Redwood: My Department employs one political adviser. His salary and conditions of work were negotiated individually in relation to his previous earnings, and are confidential.
Economic advice is obtained from career civil servants. In the Welsh Office, these are all full time and comprise: one senior economist, grade 5; two economic advisers, grade 7, and two assistant economists, at HEOD.
Countryside Council for Wales
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the funding for the Countryside Council for Wales for 1995 96 will affect its role in the conservation of the 38 proposed special areas of conservation in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [19294]
Mr. Redwood: I am satisfied that the funding for 1995 96 will be sufficient to enable the Countryside Council for Wales to carry out its statutory duties with regard to the 38 proposed special areas of conservation in Wales.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total of (a) usable and (b) set-aside capital receipts for each local authority in Wales; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of set-aside receipts which remain available. [19879]
Mr. Redwood: The latest available information is given in the following table. No information is collected on the proportion of set-aside receipts which remain available.
Capital receipts at 31 March 1994
£000
|(a) |(b)
|Usable cash backed |Receipts set-aside
|by
|accumulated receipts|not yet redeemed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alyn and Deeside |967 |5,006
Colwyn |924 |3,046
Delyn |0 |0
Glyndwr |283 |2,155
Rhuddlan |334 |3,242
Wrexham Maelor |981 |0
Carmarthen |1,857 |6,751
Ceredigion |2,069 |7,862
Dinefwr |370 |2,892
Llanelli |1.056 |3,021
Preseli Pembrokeshire |2,725 |1,212
South Pembrokeshire |1,641 |0
Blaenau Gwent |2,876 |11,978
Islwyn |359 |9,990
Monmouth |4,905 |6,847
Newport |8.125 |6.150
Torfaen |3,271 |7,928
Aberconwy |1,793 |2,928
Arfon |207 |6,860
Dwyfor |314 |1,039
Meirionnydd |0 |749
Ynys Mon |60 |4,084
Cynon Valley |0 |5,134
Merthyr Tydfil |1,072 |4,390
Ogwr |3.326 |0
Rhondda |1,570 |2,178
Rhymney Valley |1,107 |6,067
Taff Ely |3,003 |13,276
Brecknock |1,769 |7,137
Montgomeryshire |1,574 |8,996
Radnorshire |450 |3,289
Cardiff |20,363 |418
Vale of Glamorgan |5,716 |23,487
Port Talbot |550 |7,191
Lliw Valley |2,211 |7,483
Neath |481 |5,851
Swansea |268 |11,367
Clwyd |2,216 |9,911
Dyfed |1,318 |0
Gwent |7,205 |0
Gwynedd |2,615 |3
Mid Glamorgan |3,915 |1,741
Powys |431 |4,627
South Glamorgan |2.563 |0
West Glamorgan |1,971 |0
Dyfed/Powys Joint Police Authority |0 |70
North Wales Joint Police Authority |846 |1,610
South Wales Joint Police Authority |437 |0
Total Wales |102,094 |217,966
Sources:
(a) Cash-backed accumulated receipts returns.
(b) Capital outturn returns. Excludes European Community grants.
Housing Review
Mr. Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide details of the outcome of the financial management and policy review of housing for Wales. [20454]
Mr. Redwood: A summary of the FMPR report recommendations and my Department's response, has been placed in the Library of the House today.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils
Mr. Simon Coombs: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress he has made in appointing members to the Council for the Central laboratory of the Research Councils. [20455]
Mr. David Hunt: I am delighted to say that I have appointed the following members to serve on the council:
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Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils Chairman and Chief ExecutiveDr. Paul Williams
Members:
Professor Julia Higgins FRS (Imperial College, London)
Dr. Geoff Robinson FEng (IBM UK)
Professor John Krebs FRS (NERC)
Sir Martin Wood OBE FRS (Oxford Instruments plc)
Professor Robin Williams FRS (University of Wales, College of Swansea)
Dr. Derek Roberts CBE FRS FEng (University College, London) Mr. Richard Lawrence-Wilson (Director, Finance and Administration, Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils)
Allowances
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19664]
Mr. Horam: Details of expenditure on removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment with the Cabinet Office, including the Prime Minister's Office, and the Office of Public Service and Science and its agencies for each of the last three years are as follows:
(a) The total amount of removal cost and associated expenses
reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of
their employment in each of the last three years (figures rounded)
|1992-93|1993-94|1994-95
|£ |£ |£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Office (incl. OPSS) |24,900 |200,600|250,500
OPSS Agencies
Civil Service College |6,800 |19,900 |45,000
Civil Service Occupational Health and Safety |7,100 |12,900 |8,200
Recruitment and Assessment Services |Nil |Nil |Nil
Chessington Computer Centre |Nil |Nil |1,600
COI |300 |19,300 |29,000
HMSO |158,000|274,000|369,000
(b) The amount of each of the highest three claims that were
concluded and settled over the three year period
|1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95
|£ |£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Office (including OPSS) |16,018 |14,214 |13,879
OPSS Agencies
Civil Service College |21,600 |16,293 |12,419
Civil Service Occupational Health and Safety |<1>28,200|nil |nil
Recruitment and Assessment Services |nil |nil |nil
Chessington Computer Centre |1,600 |nil |nil
COI |28,958 |19,300 |336
HMSO |25,000 |17,000 |15,000
<1> Reimbursed over three years.
(c) The average amount of each claim in each of the last three years
|1992-93|1993-94|1994-95
|£ |£ |£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Office (incl. OPSS) |3,553 |4,664 |4,4668
OPSS agencies:
Civil Service College |2,264 |3,567 |8,813
Civil Service Occupational Health and Safety |28,200 |Nil |Nil
Recruitment and Assessment Services |Nil |Nil |Nil
Chessington Computer Centre |Nil |Nil |Nil
COI |336 |19,300 |28,958
HMSO |5,000 |6,500 |6,500
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [19550]
Mr. Horam: Expenditure by the Cabinet Office, including the Prime Minister's Office, and the Office of Public Service and Science and its agencies on subsistence allowances for travel for each of the last three years, was as follows:
Column 259
1992-93 1993-94 1994-95
(Provisional
Outturn)
|UK |Overseas|UK |Overseas|UK |Overseas
|£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Office (incl. OPSS) |280,500 |447,100 |262,500 |536,200 |263,300 |(a)
OPSS agencies:
Civil Service College |66,100 |10,900 |63,800 |15,200 |51,200 |33,600
Civil Service Occupational Health and Safety |55,000 |- |44,700 |- |45,800 |-
Recruitment and Assessment Services |8,100 |- |6,000 |- |4,200 |-
Chessington Computer Centre |11,800 |- |7,400 |- |6,200 |-
COI |331,700 |37,100 |275,700 |71,000 |217,400 |41,200
Note:
<(a)> not separately recorded from overseas travel.
Subsistence expenditure by HMSO is not available in the form requested except at disproportionate cost.
Overtime
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total hours of overtime worked for which payment has been made, (b) the total amount paid in overtime and (c) the total time in days and its monetary equivalent lost through sickness in each of the last three years. [19686]
Mr. Horam: (a and b) The overtime figures for the Cabinet Office, including No. 10 Downing street, and the agencies for which I am responsible are as follows:
|Number of hours|£
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93
Central Department |136,156 |1,112, 678.70
COI |20,792 |188,377.80
CS College |6,477 |48,547.11
HMSO |111,904 |955,577.53
OHS |1,224 |9,278.58
RAS |3,100 |21,287.27
Chessington |20,264 |136,663.39
1993-94
Central Department |143,906 |1,193,747
COI |16,176 |151,505.49
CS College |6,781 |49,861.88
HMSO |134,702 |1,179,816.00
OHS |1,798 |13,847.84
RAS |2,907 |20,832.81
Chessington |16,178 |113,023.66
1994-95
Central Department |122,048 |1,012,483.30
COI |13,187 |124,616.98
CS College |5,173 |39,798.75
HMSO |141,809 |1,209,716.20
OHS |2,646 |21,222.95
RAS |2,019 |13,628.68
Chessington |15,303 |111,320.71
(c) The absence figures are as follows--days lost through sickness:
Column 261
1992 |Number ---------------------------------- Central Department |6,005 COI |5,415 CS College |954 HMSO |29,107 OHS |662 RAS |2,167 Chessington |4,264
There are no figures available for the monetary equivalent of the total number of days lost to sickness. There are a number of variables involved in this calculation and it would be difficult to rely on the accuracy of this data.
Details for 1993 were given in an answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 7 February 1995, Official Report , columns 125 28 . Data are not yet available for 1994.
Advisers
Ms Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many advisers his Department employs broken down to show (a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19426]
Mr. David Hunt: My Department employs one political adviser. Advisers' salaries and conditions of work are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. Economic advice is obtained from career civil servants, who may be employed on a variety of working patterns. There is currently a full-time grade 5 and a full-time grade 7.
I have also been asked to reply for the Chief Whips' offices, which employ two political advisers and no economic advisers.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Turkey
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use has been made of United Kingdom supplied equipment, with particular reference to the Shorland S550 armoured personnel carriers and Land Rover vehicles, by the Turkish armed forces in their recent action against the Kurds. [19393]
Mr. David Davis: It is not possible to monitor the end use of such equipment. Proposed UK arms sales to Turkey are subject to stringent licensing procedures. We do not grant licences for the sale of equipment which we believe is likely to be used for internal repression.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise the issue of the persecution of the Christian minority in Turkey with the Foreign Minister of Turkey during his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom. [19496]
Mr. David Davis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey for talks and lunch when he visited London on 6 April. He took the
Column 262
opportunity to raise again our concerns at Turkey's overall human rights performance.Japan
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that the leader of the United Kingdom delegation to the nuclear
non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference in New York from 17 April raises under the review of compliance with article I of the treaty the recent allegations that the Aum Shinri Kyo religious group in Japan had obtained certain technologies that could assist in the development of nuclear weapons in contravention of article I. [19331]
Mr. David Davis: Japan is a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. We believe that Japan is in full compliance with all her obligations under the NPT.
Mehdad Ansari-Shirazi
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what capacity Mehdad Ansari-Shirazi was employed by Her Majesty's Government. [19132]
Mr. Goodlad: Mr. Ansari-Shirazi has never been employed by Her Majesty's Government.
Cyprus
Sir Peter Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take to persuade the Government of Cyprus to agree to the confidence building measures proposed by the UN and accepted by the leadership of Turkish Northern Cyprus on 21 January. [19216]
Mr. David Davis: We continue to make clear to both communities in Cyprus our support for the package of confidence building measures proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General. We fully support UN Security Council resolution 939 of 29 July 1994 which called for further efforts to secure implementation of the confidence building measures.
Allowances
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the UK in each of the last three years. [19554]
Mr. Goodlad: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
UK Security
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of whether withdrawal from the European Union would jeopardise the UK's security; and from whence any consequent threats might arise; [19543]
(2) what is the basis for the Government's belief that the security of the UK depends upon membership of the European Union; [19545]
Column 263
(3) when Her Majesty's Government embraced the doctrine that the UK's security was dependent upon membership of the European Community. [19554]Mr. David Davis: The security of the UK is assured through strong defence, a successful economy and our membership of a number of international institutions, in particular NATO but also the Western European Union, the EU, the UN and the Organisation on Security and Co- operation in Europe. We have no intention of withdrawing from any of these institutions.
Allowances
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19660]
Mr. Goodlad: The details for the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are:
|(a) |(b) |(c)
|£ |£ |£
----------------------------------------
1994-95 |47,941 |19,507 |6,849
|- |10,672 |-
|- |6,556 |-
1993-94 |111,769|25,958 |7,451
|- |19,771 |-
|- |17,143 |-
1992-93 |216,447|40,078 |12,025
|- |22,534 |-
|- |20,144 |-
The details for the Overseas Development Administration are:
|(a) £ |(b) £ |(c) £
------------------------------------
1994-95 |56,733|22,895|14,183
|- |22,315|-
|- |9,777 |-
1993-94 |32,923|29,619|16,461
|- |3,304 |-
1992-93 |47,802|33,428|23,901
|- |14,374|-
The details for Wilton Park, an executive agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are:
|(a) |(b) |(c)
|£ |£ |£
--------------------------------
1994-95 |Nil |Nil |Nil
1993-94 |5,000|5,000|5,000
1992-93 |2,000|2,000|2,000
So far as the Natural Resources Institute, an executive agency of the Overseas Development Agency, is concerned, the chief executive will write separately to the hon. Gentleman when the figures have been collated.
The figures exclude (a) the costs of posting officers overseas and (b) the costs of moving officers within the United Kingdom when this has not been caused by relocation of work.
Angola
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which powershave offered the necessary transport to take theUNAVEM III--United Nations Angola
unificationmission--peacekeeping force to Angola when called upon. [19691]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The British logistic battalion supporting UNAVEM III is being deployed to Angola in British military and civilian transport provided against an undertaking by the UN to repay the costs involved. We understand that other contingents will be deployed in commercial transport organised by the UN secretariat or using national resources against UN reimbursement.
Overtime
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total hours of overtime worked for which payment has been made, (b) the total amount paid in overtime and (c) the total time in days and its monetary equivalent lost through sickness in each of the last three years. [19685]
Mr. Goodlad: The number of hours of overtime worked in the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Wilton Park, an executive agency of the FCO, is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The details for the Overseas Development Administration and the Natural Resources Institute are as follows:
|ODA |NRI
-----------------------------
1994-95 |19,582|1,297
1993-94 |27,424|1,538
1992-93 |24,229|1,263
The total amount paid in overtime in the diplomatic wing, Wilton Park, ODA and NRI are:
|Diplomatic wing|Wilton Park |ODA |NRI
|£ |£ |£ |£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994-95 |3,773,172 |17,587 |173,657 |11,053
1993-94 |4,205,249 |17,314 |234,867 |12,438
1992-93 |4,942,219 |12,166 |198,561 |10,667
A comprehensive system for collating sick leave information for the diplomatic wing and Wilton Park was started only in 1994 and is now being completed. Details of the total time lost through sickness and its monetary equivalent in each of the last three years could therefore be collated only at disproportionate cost. Details of days lost through sickness in the ODA and NRI are:
Column 265
|ODA |NRI
----------------------------
1994 |n/a |n/a
1993 |11,744|2,641
1992 |10,738|2,921
Neither the ODA nor NRI can provide figures for the monetary equivalent.
Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Jacques Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 10 April.
Mr. David Davis: "A" items listed in document 6418/95, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, were adopted with the exception of item 13 and item 22.
The Commission reported on the state of play in negotiations on the EU- Tunisia agreement. The Committee of Permanent Representatives was mandated to find a solution to outstanding points at its meeting on 12 April.
The Council adopted a declaration confirming the EU's willingness to help with the observation of Palestinian elections.
The Council report of functioning of the Maastricht treaty was adopted without further amendment.
The Commission secured the Council's agreement to continue negotiations with Canada over the EU-Canada fisheries dispute. The Commission reported that it was studying details of the Mohovce power station in Slovakia following concerns raised by a number of member states.
The Council reviewed recent developments in the EU's relation with Mexico, Chile and Mercosur. The Commission will produce a negotiating mandate for a new agreement with Mexico and a paper discussing ways of strengthening relations with Chile. Commissioner Marin presented a negotiating mandate for a new agreement with Mercosur, which was referred to COREPER for further discussion.
The Commission presented draft negotiating directives on long term EU-South Africa relations.
The Council agreed on a need for an indefinite and unconditional extension of the non-proliferation treaty.
Mr. Juppe noted agreement to the draft joint action on anti-personnel mines which would be adopted by written procedure as soon as it had been finalised.
A meeting of EU and central European Foreign Ministers took place. Among the subjects discussed were the forthcoming White Paper on approximation of laws, and common foreign and security policy issues including Chechnya, former Yugoslavia, Nagorno-Karabakh, the Baltic states and the stability pact.
én Iran-Rushdie, the Council agreed the terms of a demarche to be made in Tehran on the basis of Political Committee opinion of 4 April.
On Ukraine, the Council discussed preparations for the joint EU-G7 mission to Kiev on nuclear safety on 13 April.
Column 266
On the Turkish incursion into Northern Iraq, the Council called for the withdrawal of all troops as soon as possible.The Council reconfirmed its view that the European Parliament's 1993 resolution on a uniform electoral procedure is too general to satisfy the specific treaty requirement for proposals under article 138(3).
The first meetings of the association councils with the Czech Republic and Romania took place in the margins of the Council. On former Yugoslavia, Mr. Koschnik, the EU administrator of Mostar, reported on latest developments there.
The Council took stock of developments in Chechnya and decided that further progress was required before it could agree to sign the EC-Russia interim agreement.
Preparations for the Euro-Mediteranean conference were discussed. The presidency noted that external expenditure priorities would be discussed at the European Council at Cannes in June.
On Burundi, agreement was reached on the need to continue diplomatic efforts, and to express support for the Organisation of African Unity ministerial mission.
The presidency reviewed progress on proposals for greater transparency in the Council. The dossier was remitted to COREPER for further work.
The presidency noted that no progress had been made in the negotiations on the size of EDFVIII.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
15. Sir John Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will have on the fight against crime; and if he will make a statement. [18369]
Mr. Howard: The Act will make a significant contribution to the fight against crime. As the Police Federation has said, it will "enhance the stature and ability of the criminal justice system to reduce crime, bring criminals to justice and significantly reduce the fear of crime, thereby improving the quality of life for many members of our society".
As with any major new legislation, the implementation of its provisions will be monitored and evaluated.
Female Prisoners
16. Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in the number of women sent to prison in the last two years; and what assessment he has made of the reasons. [18370]
Mr. Maclean: Some 2,952 women were sentenced to immediate custody in 1994, compared with 2,158 in 1992.
The total female prison population is approximately 2,000 compared to the total male prison population of approximately 50,000. The reason for the increase in the sentenced population of both groups is the rise in numbers sentenced to custody by the courts.
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