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Mr. David Davis: We have not had substantive discussions with the Government of the Russian Federation on this subject. So far as we know, the Russian ideas are still at an early stage of development.

Mr. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the entitlement of non-governmental organisations to act as observers to the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference (a) during its plenary sessions and (b) during the deliberations of its main committee.      [21346]

Mr. David Davis: We welcome the decision taken by the non- proliferation treaty review and extension conference that non-governmental organisations should be given access to the plenary sessions of the conference and to debates in the main committees of the conference.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom ceased production of fissile materials for nuclear explosive purposes.      [21354]

Mr. David Davis: During his address to the non-proliferation review and extension conference on 18


Column 46

April, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that the United Kingdom had ceased the production of fissile materials for explosive purposes. It is not our practice to disclose details of past production.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the response to Her Majesty's Government to the proposal made by the Government of South Africa at the non- proliferation treaty review and extension conference on 19 April for the adoption by states parties of a set of principles for nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament.      [21342]

Mr. David Davis: We have told the South African Government that we wish to give careful consideration to their proposal for a set of principles for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the adoption by states parties to the non-proliferation treaty, during the treaty's review and extension conference, of a time-bound framework for achieving all the objectives of the non-proliferation treaty.      [21350]

Mr. David Davis: The many and diverse objectives of the treaty cannot be achieved simply by imposing a time limit on them.

Mr. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference for strengthening the treaty's review procedure.      [21338]

Mr. David Davis: Discussion of possible improvements to the treaty's review procedures are only now beginning in New York. We will participate fully in these. We believe that regular review conferences should continue to be held at five yearly intervals in accordance with the relevant article of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government supports the creation of a grievance procedure for the non-proliferation treaty; if the Government have responded to such proposals at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference; and if he will make a statement.      [21344]

Mr. David Davis: We believe that the treaty's review procedures provide ample opportunity for states parties to voice their concerns about the implementation of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on an adoption of states parties to the non-proliferation treaty, during the treaty's review and extension conference, of a time-bound framework for achieving complete nuclear disarmament.      [21352]

Mr. David Davis: We believe that progress in nuclear disarmament is best achieved through international negotiations. We do not think that it is useful or sensible to impose deadlines on these efforts.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference (a) for furthering the objectives of article VI of the treaty and (b) for monitoring and reviewing progress made under article VI of the treaty.      [21340]


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Mr. David Davis: We have, either before the non-proliferation treaty conference or at the conference itself:

--issued revised positive and negative security assurances to non-nuclear- weapon states parties to the treaty;

--announced that the UK has ceased production of fissile material for explosive purposes; we have also contributed to efforts to achieve early negotiations on a multilateral treaty ending the production of such material;

--announced further reductions in British nuclear weapon systems; -- indicated the circumstances in which the UK would be willing to enter multilateral negotiations on the global reduction of nuclear weapons.

We believe that five-yearly review conferences, held in accordance with the relevant article of the treaty, provide the appropriate means for monitoring progress under article VI of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the response of her Majesty's Government to proposals made at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference for the decision on extending the treaty to be made by secret ballot.      [21347]

Mr. David Davis: We have opposed such proposals. The NPT is a major international security treaty. Its extension is of great importance. We believe it is appropriate, therefore, that the position taken by individual states parties on that decision should be known to all. Accordingly, we believe the decision should be taken by an open rather than a secret ballot.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government support the creation of a standing consultative committee for the non-proliferation treaty; if the Government have responded to such proposals at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference; and if he will make a statement.      [21343]

Mr. David Davis: We see no need for a standing consultative committee. We believe that the existing review procedures provide ample opportunity for states parties to voice their concerns about the implementation of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the adoption by states parties to the non-proliferation treaty, during the treaty's review and extension conference, of a programme of action for achieving all the objectives of the non-proliferation treaty.      [21351]

Mr. David Davis: We believe that at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference the states parties to the treaty should reaffirm their commitment to the achievement of the objectives of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference (a) for furthering the objectives of article IV of the treaty and (b) for monitoring and reviewing progress made under article IV of the treaty.      [21339]

Mr. David Davis: The UK supports article IV of the

non-proliferation treaty. The British delegation to the NPT review and extension conference is currently taking an


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active part in the review of article IV in the main committee dealing with peaceful uses.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the response of Her Majesty's Government to the proposal made by the Government of Germany at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference on 18 April for a ban on re-using nuclear weapons materials in the production of other nuclear weapons.      [21345]

Mr. David Davis: We believe that re-cycling fissile material allows us to keep our stockpile of fissile material at the minimum level necessary to meet our operational requirements.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the response of Her Majesty's Government to proposals made by the Government of South Africa at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference on 19 April for strengthening the treaty's review procedure.      [21341]

Mr. David Davis: We believe that the treaty's review procedures provide ample opportunity for states parties to voice their concerns about the implementation of the treaty. But we are prepared to give consideration to the South African proposals.

Market Testing

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with market testing programmes in which his Department has been engaged since their inception.      [21368]

Mr. Goodlad: Between 1 January 1992 and 31 March 1995, the cost to the FCO, including the Overseas Development Administration, of consultancy related to market testing was £742,700.

Hospitality

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department in1994 95.      [21214]

Mr. Goodlad: A total of £7,680,934 was spent on official hospitality by the FCO and ODA in the financial year 1994 95. The Natural Resources Institute, an agency of the ODA, spent £3,386 and Wilton Park, an agency of the FCO, spent £455.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has for establishment of a regional peacekeeping training centre in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.      [21335]

Mr. Douglas Hogg: We understand that the Government of Zimbabwe may make facilities at its staff college available to the UN as a regional centre for the development of peacekeeping skills. This proposal fits into the framework of the British initiative on conflict resolution and peacekeeping in Africa, launched at the UN General Assembly in September 1994, and was developed


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at a workshop co-hosted by ourselves and Zimbabwe in Harare in January this year. We would welcome such an offer being made to the UN and would be happy to consider a possible training contribution.

Civil Servants

Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil service appointments were made to administrative assistant and administrative officer posts in his Department and the agencies for which he is accountable in each quarter from September 1993 until April 1995.      [21768]

Mr. Goodlad: My Department and its agencies have made the following number of permanent and pensionable administrative assistant and administrative officer appointments during the period September 1993 to April 1995:


                         |Department|Agencies             

----------------------------------------------------------

Administrative Assistant                                  

September-December 1993  |0         |0                    

January-March 1994       |0         |0                    

April-June 1994          |6         |0                    

July-September 1994      |8         |0                    

October-December 1994    |4         |0                    

January-April 1995       |15        |0                    

                                                          

Administrative Officer                                    

September-December 1993  |7         |0                    

January-March 1994       |3         |1                    

April-June 1994          |43        |0                    

July-September 1994      |28        |0                    

October-December 1994    |10        |1                    

January-April 1995       |28        |0                    

Anzac Day

Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by whom he was represented at the Anzac day commemoration at the Cenotaph, London, on 25 April.      [21799]

Mr. Baldry: In keeping with tradition, wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph on 25 April to commemorate Anzac day on behalf of the British Government and people by representatives of the British armed forces.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Inward Investment

Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new companies from outside Northern Ireland have invested in Northern Ireland since 1989; and if he will list them.      [19862]

Mr. Ancram: The Industrial Development Board is aware of 35 new manufacturing and tradeable services companies from outside Northern Ireland which, between 1 January 1989 and 31 December 1994, confirmed their intention to make first-time investments there. These are listed as follows:


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Inward investment by manufacturing and tradeable services                                                                        

companies new to Northern Ireland 1 January 1989                                                                                 

to 31 December 1994                                                                                                              

Country of origin                          |Company                                                                              

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

France                                     |Delwyn Enterprises Ltd                                                               

                                                                                                                                 

Germany                                    |Hueco Lightronic NI Ltd                                                              

                                           |MPK (United Kingdom) Ltd                                                             

                                                                                                                                 

Great Britain                              |MSS International Ltd                                                                

                                           |Avery Dennison Ltd                                                                   

                                           |Audio Processing Technology Ltd                                                      

                                           |Fugitsi Fulcrum (Ireland) Ltd                                                        

                                           |McKechnie (UK) Ltd                                                                   

                                           |CFM Group Ltd                                                                        

                                           |AVM Telecom Ltd                                                                      

                                           |Transtec Foundries Ltd                                                               

                                           |Allen Industrial Ltd                                                                 

                                           |Training and Business Group (Overseas) Ltd                                           

                                                                                                                                 

Hong Kong                                  |Benelux Manufacturing (NI) Ltd                                                       

                                                                                                                                 

Indonesia                                  |Norfil                                                                               

                                           |Pan European Textiles Ltd                                                            

                                                                                                                                 

Japan                                      |Ryobi Aluminium Casting (UK) Ltd                                                     

                                                                                                                                 

Republic of Ireland                        |GC McKeown & Co (NI) Ltd                                                             

                                           |Webtech (NI) Ltd                                                                     

                                           |Polystar (Ireland) Ltd                                                               

                                           |Charles Bell (1963) Ltd                                                              

                                           |Vision Information Consulting Ltd                                                    

                                                                                                                                 

South Korea                                |Deasung Circuits Ltd                                                                 

                                           |CCA Electronic Ltd                                                                   

                                           |Daewoo Electronics UK Ltd                                                            

                                           |Daewha Metal (UK) Ltd                                                                

                                                                                                                                 

Taiwan                                     |CIS Data Ltd                                                                         

                                           |Textonnia Ltd                                                                        

                                                                                                                                 

USA                                        |DDL Electronics Ltd                                                                  

                                           |Fruit of the Loom Manufacturing Co Ltd                                               

                                           |Harris Laboratories Ltd                                                              

                                           |Seagate Technology (Ireland)                                                         

                                           |BCO Technologies (NI) Ltd                                                            

                                           |Valence Technology BV10                                                              

                                           |ABC Laboratories (Europe) Ltd                                                        

Fair Employment Commission

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what firms have failed to submit annual monitoring returns with the Fair Employment Commission; and what fines were issued as a result of such breaches since the implementation of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.      [19857]

Mr. Ancram: A total of 95 concerns have been prosecuted for failure to submit annual monitoring returns to the Fair Employment Commission. These concerns, and the penalties imposed on them by magistrates courts are as follows:


Column 51


Company                                     |Penalty                              

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Otis Elevators                              |Absolute Discharge                   

Norman Gordon                               |Absolute Discharge                   

P and M Kernan                              |Absolute Discharge                   

Alex Hamilton                               |Absolute Discharge                   

Anglo Beef Processors                       |Absolute Discharge                   

Allingham Transport                         |Absolute Discharge                   

Universal Cleaning Supplies                 |Absolute Discharge                   

R. Hogg                                     |Absolute Discharge                   

Lowell and Christmas                        |Absolute Discharge                   

Terra Travel                                |Absolute Discharge                   

Ronald James Ross T/A Ross Motors           |Absolute Discharge                   

Ivan Lapsely T/A Limavady Autopoint         |Absolute Discharge                   

C and R Furniture Ltd.                      |Absolute Discharge                   

Thomas Carville Ltd. T/A Eagle Fish Co.     |Absolute Discharge                   

Eagle Seafoods Ltd.                         |Absolute Discharge                   

Joseph Leonard                              |Absolute Discharge                   

Maloneys Restaurant                         |Absolute Discharge                   

Hugh Neill                                  |Absolute Discharge                   

Outlet Recording Co. Ltd.                   |Absolute Discharge                   

S and E Quality Wood Products Ltd.          |Absolute Discharge                   

Paul Thompson                               |Absolute Discharge                   

Woodburn Engineering                        |Absolute Discharge                   

Salmon Leap                                 |£10                                  

Galeton Ltd. T/A The Craig Clinic           |£10                                  

Knockdene Garages Ltd.                      |£10                                  

Garmoyle Enterprises Ltd. T/A The Body Shop |£10                                  

A Van Laere T/A Comber Catering             |£20                                  

David Wilson                                |£25                                  

Tracey Kitchens                             |£25                                  

Charles Corr                                |£25                                  

Denninson Storage                           |£25                                  

Dromore Properties                          |£25                                  

Raymond Turkington Decorators               |£25                                  

Lochside Garages                            |£25                                  

Logans Coach Hire                           |£25                                  

Ronald Conway T/A Conway Flood and Todd     |£25                                  

JCP Securite (UK) Ltd.                      |£25                                  

Railway Hotel (Enniskillen) Ltd.            |£25                                  

Ulster Travel Ltd.                          |£25                                  

Stanley Armstrong T/A Causeway Hotel        |£25                                  

Armourguard Security Ltd.                   |£25                                  

WP Trussworld Ltd.                          |£25                                  

McGrath Bros Engineering                    |£25                                  

T. Girvan                                   |£25                                  

Terence Kennedy T/A W. R. Kennedy and Co.   |£25                                  

Jean McCann T/A Hair Traffic                |£25                                  

Cootes Concrete                             |£50                                  

Brian Jardine                               |£50                                  

Seaforde Transport                          |£50                                  

Square One Fashions                         |£50                                  

Adamsez Ltd.                                |£50                                  

Liam Wilson                                 |£50                                  

Moyala Glazing                              |£50                                  

Business and Scientific Services            |£50                                  

Strings Restaurant                          |£50                                  

B. Devine                                   |£50                                  

Joseph Hughes                               |£50                                  

Francis McMillen T/A Connor Freight         |£50                                  

Wilsons of Rathkenny                        |£50                                  

Allgo Engineering Ltd.                      |£50                                  

Waveline Ltd.                               |£50                                  

Trasna Investments Ltd. T/A Devenish                                              

 Arms                                       |£50                                  

Gibson Brothers Ltd                         |£50                                  

Universal Meat Co.                          |£50                                  

Wellington Park Hotel                       |£50                                  

Greenan Inns Ltd.                           |£50                                  

Crawsfordsburn Inn Ltd.                     |£50                                  

David Hall                                  |£450                                 

Limavady Autopoint                          |£75                                  

Acheson and Son (Derry) Ltd.                |£75                                  

Paul Lightbody T/A Glenville Nursing Home   |£75                                  

Diana Gass                                  |£75                                  

James Derry                                 |£75                                  

Joseph Leonard                              |£100                                 

S. J. Williamson                            |£100                                 

Waveline Ltd.                               |£100                                 

R.R. Tohani                                 |£100                                 

Audio Times                                 |£100                                 

Tensator Ltd.                               |£100                                 

Knockna Moe Hotel                           |£100                                 

Aircraft Furnishings Ltd.                   |£100                                 

Fortfield Motors Ltd.                       |£100                                 

Cootes Concrete Products                    |£100                                 

Barrett Electrical Contracts Ltd.           |£100                                 

Roulston and McLoughlin                     |£100                                 

ATS (Northern Ireland) Ltd.                 |£100                                 

Sands and Toner Newry Ltd.                  |£100                                 

Motorway Tyres and Accessories Ltd.         |£100                                 

Prestige Pubs Ltd.                          |£100                                 

Laser Electrical Ltd.                       |£100                                 

Robert Wilson                               |£100                                 

Dunellen Ltd.                               |£125                                 

Turven Construction Ltd.                    |£150                                 

McParland and Gordon Ltd.                   |£150                                 

United Wine Merchants Ltd.                  |£400                                 

Housing Policy

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present stage of the housing policy review process; when the consultation White Paper will be published; and what will be the duration of the consultation process.      [20648]

Mr. Moss: The housing policy review is in its final stages and a consultation paper is expected to be published by the end of June. Following publication, a consultation period of some three months is envisaged.

Child Prostitution

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of child prostitution have been reported during the last year; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous four years.      [20707]

Sir John Wheeler: The figures requested are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current prison population; and what were the figures for each of the previous four years.      [20711]

Sir John Wheeler: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Northern Ireland Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. D. Shannon to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 27 April 1995:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the current prison population in Northern Ireland and the figures for each of the previous four years.


Column 53

Current Population

There are currently 1761 people in prison in Northern Ireland. Population over previous four years.

1991: 1788

1992: 1810

1993: 1934

1994: 1921 [subject to validation]

The figures for previous years are the Average Daily Population as published in the Northern Ireland Prison Service Annual Report. I hope this information is helpful.

Illiteracy

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current reported rate of illiteracy and what were the figures for each of the previous four years.      [20709]

Mr. Ancram: Information is not routinely collected on illiteracy rates in Northern Ireland. However, the position is considered to be similar to England and Wales where the Basic Skills Agency estimates that one in six adults is unable to read, write and/or speak in English at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general. There is no evidence that this proportion has changed significantly in recent years.

Animal Diseases

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of Teschen disease occurred in each year since 1975.      [21096]

Mr. Ancram: None.

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of African Swine Fever there have been each year since 1985.      [21065]

Mr. Ancram: None

Market Testing

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with market testing programmes in which his Department has been engaged since their inception.      [21374]

Sir John Wheeler: The information sought was published in table 4 of the market testing bulletin special report published on 9 January 1995. This covered the competing for quality programme for the period April 1992 to September 1994. The figures for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (including the Northern Ireland Office) are:


                                              |£000       

----------------------------------------------------------

External consultancy support to in-house bids |137.2      

External consultancy support to Departments   |554.8      

An up-date of the costs incurred in the period 1 October 1994 to 31 March 1995 is currently being compiled and this will be included in the overall figures in the citizens charter 1995 report.


Column 54

Mink Farms

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of licensed mink farms in each year since 1989.      [21191]

Mr. Ancram: There has only ever been one licensed mink farm in Northern Ireland which operated from 1976 to 1991. There are no licensed mink farms in Northern Ireland at present.

NHS Trust Boards

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish an up-to-date list of all the chairs and non-executive directors of each NHS trust board, indicating the gender and occupation of each individual.      [21355]

Mr. Moss: The information requested in respect of the 14 health and social services trusts in operation in Northern Ireland is available in the Library.

Health Authorities

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish an up-to-date list by region of all the chairs and non- executive member of each health authority, indicating the gender and occupation of each individual.      [21361]

Mr. Moss: The information requested is given in the table.


                                          |Gender                    |Occupation                                           

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eastern health and                                                                                                         

social services board                                                                                                      

Chairman:                                 |Mr. J. Daniel Thompson    |Solicitor                                            

Non-executive members:                    |Mr. Daniel J. McGuinness  |Solicitor                                            

                                          |Mr. James C. Morton       |Accountant                                           

                                          |Mrs. Gwen Savage          |Managing Director                                    

                                          |Professor Robert J. Stout |Medical Consultant                                   

                                                                                                                           

Northern health and social services board                                                                                  

Chairman:                                 |Mr. Robert J. Hanna       |Farmer                                               

Non-executive members:                    |Mr. Michael A. O'Connor   |Director                                             

                                          |Mrs. Nuala P. O'Logan     |Lecturer                                             

                                          |Mrs. Ailna V. Smyth       |Housewife                                            

                                                                                                                           

Southern health and social services board                                                                                  

Chairman:                                 |Mr. William F. Gillespie  |Managing Director                                    

Non-executive members:                    |Mrs. Geraldine Donaghy    |Director                                             

                                          |Mrs. M. K. Philomena Hagan|Manager                                              

                                          |Mrs. Jennifer Power       |Voluntary Worker                                     

                                          |Mr. C. A. J. Quinn        |Accountant                                           

                                          |Mr. D. J. Ryan            |Small business proprietor                            

Western health and social services board                                                                                   

Chairman:                                 |Mr. Robert G. Toland      |Director                                             

Non-executive members:                    |Mrs. Margaret R. Cooper   |Solicitor                                            

                                          |Mr. Anthony Jackson       |Accountant                                           

                                          |Mr. Patrick J. Kelly      |Farmer                                               

                                          |Mrs. Anne F. Mark         |Housewife                                            

Protected Birds

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many permits have been issued to falconers to take protected species of birds as quarry in each year since 1988; what were the species in respect of which such permits were issued; and what were the number of each species taken.      [21248]

Mr. Moss: No permits have been either applied for or issued to falconers to take protected species of birds as quarry in any year since 1988.


Column 56

Birds of Prey

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licences have been issued in each year since 1988 to possess birds of prey; and what were the numbers of birds of each species held under such licences.      [21250]

Mr. Moss: The number of licences issued in each year since 1988 to possess birds of prey and the number and species held under such licences are set out in the table.


Column 55


                                       Numbers and                                                                                                      

                                       species held                                                                                                     

Year               |Number of Licences|Peregrine         |Sparrowhawk       |Kestrel           |Buzzard           |Others                               

                   |issued                                                                                                                              

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1988               |9                 |2                 |4                 |1                 |2                 |-                                    

1989               |2                 |-                 |-                 |-                 |1                 |1 Goshawk                            

1990               |6                 |5                 |-                 |-                 |3                 |-                                    

1991               |7                 |5                 |-                 |2                 |3                 |1 Merlin                             

1992               |12                |5                 |-                 |-                 |4                 |3 Barn Owls                          

1993               |13                |5                 |-                 |8                 |-                 |-                                    

1994               |22                |4                 |3                 |7                 |3                 |5 Goshawk                            

NHS Cost Improvement Programme

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total annual cost improvement programme in the national health service provider units in each of the last four years.      [21333]

Mr. Moss: The total annual cash releasing cost improvement programme for the health and personal social services for each of the last four years is as follows:


                  |Outturn £ million                  

------------------------------------------------------

1991-92           |10.8                               

1992-93           |15.8                               

1993-94           |16.7                               

1994-95           |18.0                               

Education Research Projects

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been devoted to funding education research projects by his Department in each of the last five years; and what percentage of education spending this represents.      [21557]

Mr. Ancram: The information is as follows:


                                        |Percentage of total                    

Year                |Amount             |Deni expenditure                       

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1990-91             |214,000            |0.023                                  

1991-92             |158,000            |0.014                                  

1992-93             |185,000            |0.015                                  

1993-94             |250,000            |0.020                                  

1994-95             |283,000            |0.022                                  

Crime Statistics

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) republican and (b) loyalists in Northern Ireland have been (i) arrested, (ii) questioned,


Column 56

(iii) charged and (iv) convicted in each of the past eight months.      [21560]

Sir John Wheeler: The number of persons arrested and charged in connection with terrorist-related offences from 1 August 1994 to 31 March 1995 is as follows:


Month      |Republican|Loyalist             

--------------------------------------------

Arrested                                    

August     |82        |71                   

September  |23        |38                   

October    |22        |43                   

November   |20        |52                   

December   |20        |27                   

January    |9         |26                   

February   |36        |16                   

March      |12        |38                   

           |--------  |--------             

Totals     |224       |311                  

                                            

Charged                                     

August     |15        |15                   

September  |1         |15                   

October    |4         |14                   

November   |6         |8                    

December   |4         |6                    

January    |0         |8                    

February   |16        |4                    

March      |1         |3                    

           |--------  |--------             

Totals     |47        |73                   

There are no figures available regarding the number of people questioned during this period.

The number of persons convicted of scheduled offences from 1 August 1994 to 31 March 1995 was:


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