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Sir John Wheeler: Where possible, the cost and staff implications of compiling material for the report are assessed on the basis of the previous year's experience. However, as much of the material collected is also required for other purposes, assessments of costs relating to the report alone is often not possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients have been on hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland for more than 12 months.      [19963]

Mr. Moss: The table shows the number of patients waiting for admission to Northern Ireland health service hospitals for more than 12 months at the end of December 1994:

Number waiting for ordinary admission: 2,402

Number waiting for day case treatment: 925

Blood Transfusion Agency

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 18 April 1995, Official Report , column 19 , on what dates the contract for the Blood Transfusion Agency new building at the Belfast City hospital was signed; and how many weeks were allowed for the completion of the building in accordance with the terms of the original contract document.      [20168]

Mr. Moss: The contract for the construction of the headquarters of the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Agency at the Belfast City hospital site was signed on 18 October 1994. Article 5, paragraph 5.1, page 8, of the contract states:


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"The Employer and Contractor shall be deemed to have entered into this agreement on 7th March 1993".

The time allowed in the original contract document for the completion of the works was 91.5 weeks.

Race Relations Legislation

Mr. Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he proposes to introduce race relations legislation to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.      [20320]

Sir Patrick Mayhew: Following an earlier process of public consultation, I have concluded that legislation on the general lines of the Race Relations Act 1976 should be introduced in Northern Ireland. It is my intention to bring this legislation forward by means of an Order in Council as soon as possible.

Skilled Workers

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his Department's latest estimate of the need for and availability of skilled workers in Northern Ireland.      [19961]

Mr. Ancram: The demand for skilled labour in Northern Ireland is increasing and in general there is a sufficient supply of suitable workers. However, the situation differs in different sectors and localities. Demand is particularly noticeable, for example, in the tourism sector. Action is being taken through the Training and Employment Agency, working with sector representative bodies, to identify needs and to ensure that they can be met.

Child Support Agency

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has plans to publish details of the targets of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.      [21803]

Mr. Moss: The Child Support Agency will publish its 1995 96 business plan today. Copies will be placed in the Library. The targets that I have set for the Child Support Agency for 1995 96 are as follows:

--£6.15 million of maintenance to be collected, or arranged for direct payment from absent parents to parents with care in 1995 96. --90 per cent. of payments made to parents with care to be made in 10 working days of receipt from an absent parent.

--To achieve a steady improvement in accuracy, so that in at least 75 per cent. of cases checked during March 1996 the cash value will be for the correct amount.

--Where a client is dissatisfied with a Child Support Officer's decision and requests a review, 50 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80 per cent. to be cleared within 26 weeks; and no more than 15 per cent. to be older than six months as at 31 March 1996. --60 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and as at 31 March 1996 no maintenance applications received by the agency to be over 12 months old.

--To manage the agency's resources so as to deliver its business plan within the gross budget allocation.

As a new and evolving agency the 1994 95 targets did not cover the whole range of the agency's business and in the light of experience did not prove to be appropriate drivers of the business. The new targets take account of this and cover a wider range of activities. They will require the agency to improve performance in a number


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of areas. In particular, this year's targets include measures of accuracy and of the time taken to provide services. This underlines the agency's focus on quality and client service in 1995 96.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Nuclear Arms Control

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent responses have been made by those nations opposing indefinite unconditional extension of the nuclear non- proliferation treaty to the proposals he set out on behalf of Her Majesty's Government at the non-proliferation treaty conference in New York on 18 April.      [20808]

Mr. David Davis: The steps that we have taken to address the concerns of the non-aligned movement have helped to develop growing support for the indefinite extension of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. There have been statements of support for the treaty's indefinite extension by South Africa, Singapore, the Philippines, Bolivia, Uzbekistan and many others.

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications of his announcement that the United Kingdom is to cease production of fissile materials for explosive purposes at the Chapelcross and Calder Hall reactors; and if he will make a statement.      [21014]

Mr. David Davis [holding answer 26 April 1995]: The conference on disarmament in Geneva has agreed the mandate for the ad hoc committee which will negotiate a treaty banning the production of fissile material for explosive purposes. In order to show our commitment to that process my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that the UK has ceased production of fissile material. We anticipate that negotiations will begin in June.

Hong Kong

Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decision has been reached by Her Majesty's Government with respect to whether Hong Kong citizens holding a Hong Kong special administrative region passport after 1997 will need a visa to visit the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.      [21146]

Mr. Goodlad: We have not yet taken any decision on visa requirements for Hong Kong special administrative region passport holders wishing to visit the United Kingdom after 1 July 1997. In taking such a decision, we will consider a number of factors, including eligibility for the passport and arrangements for its issue and security. We continue through the Joint Liaison Group to press the Chinese for early progress on these questions, but until details have been finalised and we have evidence that satisfactory procedures are in place we shall not be able to take a decision on visa requirements for HKSAR passport holders.


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Kashmir

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria Her Majesty's Government will apply to elections in Kashmir in respect of their being free and fair; and if he will make a statement.      [21153]

Mr. Baldry: We shall be considering with our European partners how best to assess the forthcoming elections in Kashmir.

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to United Nations resolutions concerning Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.      [21154]

Mr. Baldry: Britain supported, and both India and Pakistan agreed, the United Nations resolutions of 1948 and 1949 which provided the basis for a possible solution to the Kashmir dispute, but neither side fully implemented those resolutions, which have to some extent been overtaken by events. The 1972 Simla agreement represents the most recent formal agreement between India and Pakistan on the handling of the dispute. It envisages settlement through bilateral negotiations or other peaceful means mutually agreed between them. We believe this to be the best way forward.

Public Bodies

Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base.      [21162]


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Mr. Goodlad: There is no statutory requirement for the advisory non- departmental public bodies sponsored by the FCO, including the Overseas Development Administration, to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report or (c) lay an annual report before Parliament.

The following bodies have a statutory base:

The Indian Family Pension Funds Body of Commissioners

The Overseas Service Pensions Scheme Advisory Board.

US (Visas)

Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons have been given by the United States Government for not applying reciprocity in respect of visa requirements on British citizens travelling to the United States of America; what recent discussions there have been with the US authorities on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [21241 ]

Mr. Baldry: There has for some years been reciprocity for visitors, in that neither country requires visas of the other's citizens who wish to make short-term visits. Similarly, both countries require visas of people wishing to work or settle in the other.

Lockerbie

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to negotiate with the Libyan Government in respect of the Lockerbie disaster. [21059 ]

Mr. Douglas Hogg: We have had a number of meetings with Libyan officials. The Libyan Government are fully aware of the requirements which have been placed on Libya by the United Nations Security Council.


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