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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
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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:
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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.
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Current PopulationThere 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. 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]
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.
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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,
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(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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