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Mr. Maclean: There is no question whatsoever of charging of fees of any sort to neighbourhood watch members. The Government are keen to expand neighbourhood watch and encourage more members and will not contemplate measures which would be a disincentive.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Departmental Budget
Mr. Coe: To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to amend cash limits and/or gross running costs limits within his Department. [27645]
The Attorney-General: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimate, the cash limit for class IX, vote 6, Treasury Solicitor's Department will be reduced by £250,000 from £7, 244,000 to £6,994,000.
The gross running costs limit for the Treasury Solicitor's Department will be increased by £1,000,000 from £20,258,000 to £21, 258,000 to reflect extended use of the Treaury Solicitor's Department legal services by other Government Departments. The increased work load will generate additional receipts which will more than offset the increase in running costs expenditure.
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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Departmental Budget
Mr. Booth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what changes he plans to the 1995 96 cash limits for the Lord Chancellor's Department, class IX, vote 1. [27442]
Mr. John M. Taylor: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IX, vote 1 will be increased by £1,694,000 from £781,320,000 to £783,014,000. The increase, which relates to funding for marriage guidance, will be offset by a transfer from the Home Office class VIII, vote 1 and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
PRIME MINISTER
Annual General Meetings
Dr. Spink: To ask the Prime Minister what action he plans to take to prevent pay resolutions submitted by shareholders at company annual general meetings being treated at votes of confidence in the board of directors. [27323]
The Prime Minister: It is for the board to decide how it wishes to respond to any resolution which is submitted by shareholders to the company's annual general meeting. It is not for Government to determine the stance which either the directors or shareholders should adopt.
Executive Pay
Dr. Spink: To ask the Prime Minister what action he plans to take to empower and encourage institutional shareholders to control directors' pay, and particularly in respect of the utilities. [27324]
The Prime Minister: The Government believe that institutional investors should take an active interest in the management of companies in which they invest, including matters such as executive remuneration. The terms of reference of the Greenbury committee, which is examining the structure within which executive pay is determined and disclosed, include consideration of the role of shareholders. I look forward to seeing the committee's
recommendations.
Lowe Bell Communications
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what contracts have been awarded to Lowe Bell Communications since D day PR contract in 1994. [26972]
The Prime Minister: Lowe Bell Communications has been awarded no further contracts relating to the world war two commemorations since the D day contract. As for other contracts, this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Written Questions
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will start discussions on the possibility of introducing the principle of written parliamentary questions being answered during parliamentary recess.
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Mr. Newton: I have no plans to do so, but the hon. Gentleman may wish to ask the Procedure Committee to consider his suggestion.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
National Lottery
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when he expects a national lottery outlet in the House to be operational.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: At its meeting on 28 February, the Administration Committee considered a request from Camelot Group plc for permission to install a lottery terminal within the precincts of the House. The principle which guides the Committee in its consideration of requests of this kind is that any proposed service must be of direct relevance in assisting Members to carry out their parliamentary duties. It was felt that a lottery terminal did not meet this criterion.
HEALTH
Nolan Committee
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the recommendations of the first report of the committee on standards in public life concerning NHS bodies. [25936]
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Nolan committee recommendations for (a) appointment to national health service boards and (b) as rewards whistleblowing. [26310]
Mr. Malone: I broadly welcome the recommendations made by the committee on standards in public life on issues relating to national health service bodies. The Government will be considering in detail all the recommendations addressed to the Government and will be responding before the summer recess to those singled out by the committee for early implementation.
NHS Sight Tests and Dental Examinations
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the cost to the NHS of restoring the right to (a) a free eye test and (b) a free dental check-up. [26567]
Mr. Malone: On the basis that the trend in the number of sight tests apparent before the announcement of changes in November 1987 continued, and with the sight test fees remaining at the 1994 95 level, the cost of restoring free sight tests is estimated to be in the order of £110 million.
Based on the prices and charges applying in 1994 95 and assuming that the removal of the charge led to no increase in the number of dental examinations, the annual cost of abolishing charges for dental examinations is estimated to be in the order of £60 million.
EU Health Council
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what matters were discussed and what matters decided at the EU Health Council on 2 June; and what matters were voted upon. [26696]
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Mr. Malone: The Health Council on 2 June agreed common positions on three proposals from the European Commission for Community actions in the field of public health which covered: combating cancer; health promotion, information, education and training; and prevention of AIDS and other communicable diseases. Political agreement was reached on a fourth proposal for a programme combating drug dependence, on which the opinion of the European Parliament is still awaited. The Council agreed conclusions on the Commission's European Union action plan to combat drugs--1995 to 1999-- agreed to a resolution on blood safety and self-sufficiency in the European Community, and discussed but drew no conclusions on a memorandum from the French presidency on orphan medicines. Orphan medicines are used to treat orphan diseases which are extremely rare diseases with very low numbers of sufferers. The matters on which decisions were taken were agreed by all member states, with no abstentions or votes against.
Children's Services
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she intends to take to raise the profile of children's services plans. [27567]
Mr. Bowis: I propose to make an order under section 17(4) of the Children Act 1989 to impose a specific duty on local authorities to produce and publish children's services plans.
Authorities will be expected to use their powers under section 27 of the Children Act to request local education and health authorities to collaborate with them in the planning process for such plans. Copies of the consultation letter and draft circular will be placed in the Library.
Children Act 1989 Report
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the third report to Parliament on the Children Act 1989 will be published; and if she will make a statement. [27568]
Mr. Bowis: I have, today, placed in the Library the third report to Parliament on the operation of the Children Act in England and Wales.
The report shows that local authorities are placing more emphasis on supporting children within their own families, as well as placing a greater proportion of children they look after in foster families and improving the quality of residential care.
GP Practices (Attacks)
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the number of attacks on staff, patients and property in GP practices. [26740]
Mr. Malone: This information is not available centrally.
NHS Drugs
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the operational definition of the net ingredient cost of drugs for the NHS; and if she will make a statement. [27131]
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Mr. Malone: "Net ingredient cost" is a term applied to drugs dispensed within the family health services in England and Wales. It refers to the cost of drugs before discounts available to dispensers, container allowances and value added tax, if appropriate, are taken into account. It does not include any dispensing costs or fees.
Brentwood Blood Transfusion Centre
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have taken place in the operation of Brentwood blood transfusion centre within the last six months; and if she will make a statement. [27174]
Mr. Sackville: The operation of the blood transfusion service is a matter for the National Blood Authority.
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total capital expenditure on the Brentwood blood transfusion centre in each year for the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [27175]
Mr. Sackville: The information is not available centrally. The hon. and learned Member may wish to contact Sir Colin Walker, chairman of the National Blood Authority, for information from 1 April 1994.
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) where the administration and distribution of blood and blood products to the south-east of England will be based after the proposed closure of the Brentwood blood transfusion centre; [27176]
(2) if she will make a statement on the future organisation of the national blood service. [27180]
Mr. Sackville: These are matters for the National Blood Authority. The authority has undertaken an extensive consultation and will produce revised proposals shortly.
Ambulance Services
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce an accreditation system for privately owned ambulance services; and if she will make a statement. [27181]
Mr. Sackville: This Department has no plans to offer accreditation to private ambulance operators. A code of practice for private ambulance operators, issued by the national health service executive, EL(93)109, has already been circulated widely and copies are available in the Library.
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary for Health if she will make a statement as to the rules governing the qualifications of staff employed as (a) ambulance technicians and (b) paramedics in private ambulance services. [27177]
Mr. Sackville: It is for private ambulance service operators and those contracting for their services to ensure that staff employed have qualifications appropriate for their duties.
Paramedics
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will restrict the use of the term "paramedic" to the specific holders of the national health service TD qualification; and if she will make a statement. [27182]
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Mr. Sackville: Closure of title is a goal for paramedics themselves to pursue. I understand that the Ambulance Services Association has already initiated moves towards that end.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Micro-enterprise Development
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress within the Overseas Development Administration in respect of the funding of the Grameen trust; and when he expects a decision to be made on funding. [25878]
Mr. Baldry: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson) on 23 May, column 511 .
World Bank
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Wapenhams report that incentives to World bank staff should reflect success in implementing the poverty reduction agenda rather than loan disbursement. [25629]
Mr. Baldry: The bank issued a report in September 1994 describing progress made in the implementation of "Portfolio management; next steps: a programme of actions". Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Measures taken include: revised job competencies with a strong focus on implementation; recruitment efforts to fill skills gaps, especially in the social sciences; introduction of a new project performance rating methodology, emphasising achievement of development objectives and work on performance indicators. Performance indicators on poverty reduction were among those completed last year.
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that the World bank's country poverty assessments are (a) prepared according to consistent, published criteria, (b) take account of non-income measures of wealth and (c) are used to inform country public expenditure reviews; [26527]
(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that World bank country poverty assessment teams include (a) a balanced mix of economists, social scientists and other relevant professionals, (b) consultants recruited from the country concerned and (c) representatives of organisations of the poor in the country concerned. [26528]
Mr. Baldry: A working group on poverty reduction was set up under the framework of the bank-led special programme of assistance for sub- Saharan Africa. It made recommendations last autumn for improving the quality of poverty assessments and their linkage to such other work as public expenditure reviews and country assistance strategies. The United Kingdom has played an active role in this working group. The recommendations highlighted the importance of carefully designed and professionally conducted participatory poverty assessment techniques by teams with the appropriate mix of skills; the need for local participation and collaboration; and a broader approach
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towards measuring poverty, including non- income measures. Bank management is aiming to ensure that this best practice is reflected in future poverty assessment exercises.Angola
Mr. Robert Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the requests to the Government for aid and assistance for demining in Angola in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [26773]
Mr. Baldry: The first requests for assistance with humanitarian demining in Angola were received from British non-governmental organisations--Halo Trust and the Mines Advisory Group--in 1994. Pending conclusion of the Lusaka peace talks, we provided £482,243 for demining training, marking and surveying. Since then, we have provided £1,242,825 for expansion of their efforts in Bie, Huambo and Moxico provinces. We are encouraging the European Commission to help co-finance their activities. We are also supporting the UN's central mine action office in Luanda with two key posts--the mines training officer and operations room manager--plus related office support and equipment-- £230,000.
East Timor
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations about East Timor were made by the Minister for Overseas Development during her recent visit to Indonesia; and what was the response of the Indonesian
Government. [27014]
Mr. Goodlad: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development discussed a wide range of issues including human rights and the situation in East Timor during her visit to Indonesia.
EU Development Council
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed and what matters decided at the European Union Development Council meeting on 1 June; and what matters were voted upon. [26697]
Mr. Baldry: The Development Council decided on a political and technical dialogue with the Government of Rwanda, which will enable EC aid to be resumed. The Council agreed resolutions on complementarity, structural adjustment and regional integration, and a declaration providing guidelines for research. The Council also set priorities for EC aid to South Africa in 1995, and launched a joint evaluation of EC aid programmes to the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the Mediterranean, and Asian and Latin America. There were exchanges of view on EC humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, migration and development, and the UN world conference on women.
No votes were taken.
Tropical Rain Forest, Cameroon
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of the Cameroon concerning the destruction of the tropical rain forest by logging companies. [25430]
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Mr. Baldry: The conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests are the focus of our aid programme to Cameroon and also the subject of regular dialogue with the Government of Cameroon. We are helping implement new forestry laws aimed at controlling exploitation and giving wider management powers to rural communities.
DEFENCE
Compensation
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has been sued by a former member of the armed forces as a result of incidents involving the negligent discharge of weapons in each of the last five years. [25935]
Mr. Soames: Fifty-three compensation claims have been identified for injury resulting from the negligent discharge of weapons. Legal proceedings have been issued in 16 cases.
Military Equipment
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what military purpose three rough terrain wheeled tractors are required, as set out in tender No. EM and DIA/152; what consideration has been given to lease or contract hire of such equipment; and if he will make a statement. [26120]
Mr. Freeman: I refer my hon. Friend to the answerI gave on 19 January 1995, Official Report , column 684 .
Princess Alexandra Hospital
Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Princess Alexandra hospital in Swindon will be leased to the Princess Margaret hospital trust after the closure of the former in 1996. [26306]
Mr. Soames: Negotiations with the Swindon and Marlborough NHS trust on a possible use for the hospital have been progressing well, although a number of stages remain to be completed before a contract could be signed.
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with representatives of Pan European Airways with regard to proposals to fly calves from military airbases in conjunction with the National Farmers Union; and if he has to date authorised the use of such bases. [26733]
Mr. Soames: My Department has received no such approaches from Pan European Airways.
Dartmouth Royal Regatta
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 May, Official Report , column 230 , on how many occasions since 1965 a guardship from his Department has not attended the Dartmouth royal regatta; if he will list the additional official duties during August 1995 which prevent the attendance of a guardship at the current regatta; and if he will review his decision. [27354]
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Mr. Soames: The Royal Navy has on each occasion between 1965 and 1994 been able to provide a vessel to attend the Dartmouth royal regatta. While it is not our practice to reveal the detailed operational programme of the Royal Navy, the following official tasks are being undertaken by Her Majesty's ships during August: Destroyers/Frigates--VJ commemorations--four vessels (visiting London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast)
Plymouth Navy Days--five vessels
Royal Yacht Escort--one vessel
Mine Counter-measure Vessels--VJ Day--one vessel (visiting Liverpool)
Navy days--one vessel
Coming on top of the very high levels of operational commitments affecting RN vessels at present, these tasks mean that, regrettably, there is no prospect of providing a ship to attend the 1995 Dartmouth royal regatta.
RAF Rissington
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the consultant's report on the future of RAF Rissington, Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. [27268]
Mr. Soames: It is not my Department's policy to publish such reports. In due course, a draft planning brief for the site will be released by the Cotswold district council for public consultation, and I understand that the hon. Member will be involved in that process.
Air Attacks (Sarajevo)
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian buildings were hit and how many civilian casualties were incurred in the recent bomb and rocket attacks by American planes under NATO command in the Sarajevo area. [27209]
Mr. Soames: None of which we are aware.
Air Incident (West Cumbria)
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek to establish the ownership of the equipment jettisoned by an aircraft in west Cumbria on 31 May and the circumstances in which it was jettisoned. [27304]
Mr. Soames: I can confirm that my Department is inquiring into the circumstances which led to the discovery of an undamaged aircraft fuel tank to establish whether it was lost by a military aircraft.
RAF Topcliffe
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of implementing additional flying training to date at Royal Air Force Topcliffe; what is the estimated total cost when complete; and if he will make a statement. [27162]
Mr. Soames: As part of the Royal Air Force's flying training rationalisation programme, a change of task is being implemented at RAF Topcliffe. This change will not involve additional flying training at the station, but there has been and will be some relocation of units to and from the site. The estimated cost of the relocation of flying units to RAF Topcliffe is £460,000; the majority of these costs will be incurred in financial year 1995 96.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations his Department had with (a) local authorities, (b) local organisations and
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(c) residents prior to upgrading the additional flying hours and training aircraft at Royal Air Force Topcliffe; and if he will make a statement. [27166]Mr. Soames: There has been no such consultation as no increase in flying hours or the number of training aircraft at RAF Topcliffe is planned as a result of the Royal Air Force's flying training rationalisation programme.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the increased number of (a) personnel, (b) aircraft by types and (c) flying hours when Royal Air Force Topcliffe has reached its additional training programme; and if he will make a
statement. [27165]
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