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Mr. Baldry [holding answer 19 June 1995:: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 1994, column 713.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those occasions in the last 10 years when aid has been tied to implementation of family planning programmes by donor countries. [28954]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 19 June 1995]: We are not aware of any donor countries which have tied aid to the implementation of family planning programmes during the last 10 years.
Abortion
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the recent World Health Organisation's study into the numbers of women worldwide who die after abortion distinguished between unsafe abortions and illegal abortions. [28958]
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Mr. Baldry [holding answer 19 June 1995]: The World Health Organisation study does not distinguish between unsafe abortions and illegal abortions.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
French Nuclear Tests
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his French counterpart regarding the resumption of nuclear weapons tests by the French Government. [29462]
Mr. David Davis: We are in regular contact with the French Government, who are aware of our views.
Rwanda
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make statement about the new mandate of the United Nations Mission in Rwanda force in Rwanda. [29505]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Under United Nations Security Council resolution 997, the revised mandate of UNAMIR now includes assisting the Government of Rwanda in facilitating the voluntary and safe return of refugees and supporting its efforts to promote a climate of confidence and trust through the performance of monitoring tasks throughout the country. We hope that this revision will facilitate UNAMIR's efforts to promote national reconciliation in Rwanda.
Births on Vessels
Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ships masters have reported a birth aboard their vessels to a consular office during the last 10 years. [29592]
Mr. Baldry: Ships masters are not required to report or register births on board their vessels to consular officers. They report births, and deaths, to the Marine Superintendent at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, Cardiff.
Chinese State Orphanages
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what measures he intends to take to promote proper care for abandoned children in Chinese state orphanages; and if he will make a statement; [29783]
(2) what information he has received as to physical restraint of children in Chinese state orphanages; and if he will make a statement; [29781]
(3) what representations his Department has made in the last two years to the Chinese authorities regarding allegations of the existence of dying rooms in Chinese state orphanages; [29792] (4) what representations his Department has made to the Chinese Government regarding their treatment of orphans and abandoned children; [29791]
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(5) what reports he has received alleging absence of care in Chinese state orphanages; [29776](6) what reports he received as to who cares for abandoned babies in Chinese state orphanages; and if he will make a statement. [29780]
Mr. Goodlad: We continue to be deeply concerned about reports of abuses of children in certain Chinese state orphanages.
We have received varying reports about standards of care in Chinese orphanages. The Chinese Government provide social health care workers to look after abandoned babies. We believe that the ratio of staff to children, and the quality of staff, vary around the country. We believe that conditions in the orphanages also vary, but some include the use of physical restraint of children.
We take every suitable opportunity, both bilaterally and in conjunction with our European Union partners, to express to the Chinese authorities our concerns about reports of human rights abuses in China. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, for example, discussed human rights in China with the Chinese Foreign Minister in New York on 18 April.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what statements have been issued by the Chinese Government on their missions to Great Britain regarding the standards of care in Chinese state orphanages and the existence of dying rooms. [29777]
Mr. Goodlad: I refer the hon. Member to the fact sheet on China's orphanages issued by the Chinese embassy in London on 13 June 1995, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if representatives of Her Majesty's Government will raise the issue of the condition of abandoned children in Chinese state orphanages at the United Nations conference on women in Beijing. [29778]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: No. We are deeply concerned about reports of ill treatment and neglect of children in Chinese orphanages, but the UN conference on women has not been called to address specific issues of this kind in individual countries.
Intergovernmental Conference
Mr. Robin Cook: to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to publish a White Paper outlining Her Majesty's Government's objectives and priorities for the 1996 intergovernmental conference of the European Union. [29670]
Mr. David Davis: We have no plans to publish a White Paper on priorities for the IGC. We shall continue to keep the House informed of our approach as it develops.
Zaire
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about (a) the security situation in Zaire relating to disputes between the Rwandan refugees and local
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Zaireans and (b) the likelihood of armed incursions by Hutu refugees into Rwanda. [29504]Mr. Baldry: The initiative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to deploy Zairean forces and international liaison staff in the camps in eastern Zaire has significantly reduced tensions and incidents involving refugees and the local population.
We are obviously concerned by the possibility of armed incursions into Rwanda. We therefore welcome the agreement of the government of Zaire to allow UN observers in eastern Zaire, to monitor the embargo imposed by the Security Council on supplies of arms intended for use within Rwanda.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Attorney-General how many written parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by his Department in each of the past five years; how many of these were not answered because the information (a) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, (b) was not held centrally and (c) was not normally disclosed; how many of these could now be answered due to computerisation, more effective and efficient operational systems or more open government; and if he will list each question along with the name and constituency of the right hon. or hon. Member who originally tabled it. [28503]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. McMaster: To ask Mr. Attorney General what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28484]
The Solicitor General: Ministers are accountable to Parliament for all matters concerning their agencies. Written parliamentary questions concerning matters which have been delegated to the chief executive of an executive agency in its framework document, normally receive a reply from the Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published in Hansard below the Minister's reply.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Chernobyl
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farms are still affected by
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restriction notices imposed due to radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986; what land area these farms constitute; and what percentage of available farmland in Northern Ireland this represents. [28601]Mr. Ancram: In Northern Ireland 55 farms comprising 5,728 hectares and representing 0.54 per cent. of the area available for farmland, are still under restriction.
Confectionery Sales (Schools)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what authority the selling of confectionery in schools may be prohibited; and which schools have prohibited its sale. [28828]
Mr. Ancram: There are no specific statutory provisions relating to this issue and it is a matter for boards of governors of schools at a local level. All grant-aided schools are, however, required by law to have schemes of management and it is from these that the authority of the principal and board of governors for the day-to-day management of the school is derived.
I am not aware of any schools in Northern Ireland where the selling of confectionery has been prohibited.
School Meals
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what nutritional quality standards there are for school meals; and when was the last change in these standards. [28813]
Mr. Ancram: The current arrangements, as approved by the Department of Education, require that menus be planned within the following nutritional guidelines:
School type |Senior pupils |in special |Nursery |Primary |schools -----------------------------------------------------------------------Total Protein |27g |27g |27g Animal protein |16.5g |16.5g |18.5g Fat |32g |32g |32g Calories |500-550 |650-700 |880
Nutritional standards are not prescribed in post-primary schools. The last change in these standards was in 1981.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the net expenditure on school catering services (a) in total; and (b) for free school meals for each year since 1987 broken down by county. [28801]
Mr. Ancram: The information is as follows:
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£000's |Belfast |Western |Southern |education |education |North-Eastern|South-Eastern|education |Voluntary |and library |and library |education and|education and|and library |grammar |Integrated Year |board |board |library board|library board|board |schools |schools |Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1987-88 (a) |3,932 |5,148 |5,013 |2,827 |5,396 |1,635 |0 |23,951 (b)<1> |3,824 |4,765 |4,213 |2,325 |4,759 |1,045 |0 |20,931 1988-89 (a) |3,645 |4,699 |4,613 |2,743 |5,207 |1,411 |0 |22,318 (b)<1> |3,525 |3,660 |3,518 |2,110 |3,852 |833 |0 |17,498 1989-90 (a) |4,024 |5,197 |4,869 |3,027 |5,282 |1,465 |0 |23,864 (b)<1> |3,701 |4,252 |3,504 |2,304 |4,130 |843 |0 |18,734 1990-91 (a) |3,918 |5,164 |5,105 |3,143 |5,438 |1,383 |0 |24,151 (b)<1> |3,603 |4,017 |3,800 |2,427 |4,191 |818 |0 |18,856 1991-92 (a) |4,195 |5,669 |5,557 |3,287 |5,920 |1,812 |124 |26,564 (b)<1> |3,292 |4,381 |4,219 |2,717 |4,715 |996 |57 |20,377 1992-93 (a) |4,247 |6,115 |5,618 |3,151 |6,199 |1,781 |219 |27,330 (b)<1> |4,020 |4,844 |4,389 |2,746 |4,930 |1,020 |98 |22,047 1993-94 (a) |<2>4,484 |<2>6,280 |<2>5,665 |<2>3,302 |<2>6,193 |1,859 |368 |28,151 (b)<1> |4,377 |5,132 |4,459 |2,678 |4,987 |1,109 |146 |22,888 <1> Estimated expenditure. <2> Provisional figures.
Higher Education
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from Northern Ireland were studying at a higher education institution in the United Kingdom in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95; and if he will make a statement. [29033]
Mr. Ancram: The information is as follows:
1993 94: 40,149
1994 95: 46,307 (Provisional)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average A-level point score of students embarking on first degrees at Northern Irish higher education institutions in (a) 1991 92, (b) 1992 93 and (c) 1993 94; and if he will make a statement. [29036]
Mr. Ancram: The information for Northern Ireland universities is as follows:
1991 92: 19.8
1992 93: 19.7
1993 94: 19.9
Information for teaching training colleges in Northern Ireland is available only for 1993 94 when the average A-level point score was 18.0.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of Northern Ireland higher education departments received a research rating of (a) three or above and (b) five during the recent research assessment exercise; and if he will make a statement. [29037]
Mr. Ancram: In the 1992 UK-wide research assessment exercise, 71 per cent. and 3 per cent. of the units of assessments in higher education institutions in Northern Ireland received ratings of (a) three or above and (b) five respectively.
Student Loans
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average mandatory awards and loan expenditure on each student from Northern Ireland in 1994 95; what proportion of the figure went on
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(a) student loans, (b) fee expenditure and (c) maintenance expenditure; what were the corresponding figures for those studying at the universities of (i) Oxford and (ii) Cambridge; and if he will make a statement. [29038]Mr. Ancram: The information is not available in the form requested. However, the average fee expenditure for the 1994 95 academic year is estimated at £1,244 and that for ordinary and supplementary maintenance at £1,456 and £171 respectively. Final figures are not available for the average student loan in the current academic year. The latest year for which an actual figure is available is 1993 94 when the average student loan for Northern Ireland was £690.
Figures for those studying at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Domestic Gas
Mr. Brandreth : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has reached any further conclusions about the choice of area for the second phase of the transition to a competitive domestic gas market. [29067]
Mr. Eggar: I announced on 9 March that the first phase of competition in supplying domestic households, which will start in April 1996, will comprise 500,000 gas consumers in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. My decision regarding the second phase will mean that in 1997:
the area for the first phase will be extended to cover a total of 1 million gas consumers in the south west; and
competition will be introduced in a second area, also comprising 1 million gas consumers, in the south east.
This will mean that from 1997 a total of around 2 million households will potentially be able to choose which company supplies their gas.
The second phase of the transition will extend competition to about 1 million domestic gas consumers
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in East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, Dorset and Avon to add to the 500,000 gas consumers in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset from April 1996, who are covered by the first phase.The south-east received the second most support, after the south-west, in response to our recent consultation document on the choice of initial areas for the extension of competition to the domestic gas market. The chosen areas fulfil the criteria set out by the consultation document. They are clearly defined:
both areas may be relatively disadvantaged by the transportation related charges--although the first supplier to declare its intention to enter the market in the south-west is still projecting average savings of 10 per cent. on BG's tariffs;
two separate areas of this size will provide a thorough test of the technical and administrative systems in the second phase, ahead of the introduction of national competition in 1998;
the areas have a mix of rural and urban areas and cross-section of types of customers.
The consultation demonstrated the widespread support for competition in gas supply with responses from all parts of the country requesting that they be included in the area where domestic consumers first benefit from competition in the gas market.
Coal Mining
Mr. Berry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department took following receipt of a letter from the chief executive of Bristol city council dated 17 September 1993 regarding official coal mining searches prepared by British Coal; and if he will make a statement. [29596]
Mr. Page: The letter referred to was passed to British Coal on 11 October 1993 as a matter falling within their responsibilities. I understand that the Corporation wrote to Mr. Robinson on 28 October 1993.
Astra Holdings plc
Mr. Cousins: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the decision to prosecute all but one of the former directors of Astra was taken, if he was consulted over the decision to prosecute; and what factors led to the decision not to prosecute the remaining director. [29482]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The decision to bring disqualification proceedings against certain of the former Astra directors was taken in May 1994 by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade after considering the advice of officials, Treasury Solicitors and counsel. This decision was taken after consideration of the conduct of those concerns as set out in the report of independent inspectors appointed under the Companies Act 1985 to investigate the affairs of Astra Holdings plc and published on 17 June 1993.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the President of the Board of Trade from which hon. Members he has received correspondence or representations about the investigations into the conduct of, and ultimate prosecution of some of the former directors of Astra. [29721]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I list those hon. Members who have tabled questions before the House concerning the appointment of and subsequent report of the inspectors
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appointed to investigate and report on the affairs of Astra Holdings plc.Jim Cousins; Doug Hoyle; Allan Rogers; Austin Mitchell; Michael Meacher; Gerald Bermingham; Lord Clinton Davis has tabled a question before the House of Lords.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise the records of Astra and BMARC that were acquired in the course of his Department's inquiries into the affairs of Astra. [29485]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Information obtained by use of the Secretary of State's compulsory powers is confidential and disclosure is subject to legal restrictions. No request has been made yet by HM Customs and Excise for information obtained by the inspectors appointed to investigate and report on the affairs of Astra Holdings plc, but I can assure the hon. Member that in discharging the Department's responsibilities I am conscious of and will take into account the strong public interest in ensuring that the proposed investigation by HM Customs and Excise is comprehensive and effective.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will suspend or withdraw his prosecutions of former directors of Astra until the HM Customs and Excise inquiry into Astra and its subsidiaries is complete. [29483]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The proceedings initiated by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade are for the
disqualification as company director of certain former directors of Astra, not their prosecution, and are based on the report of independent inspectors appointed to investigate and report on the affairs of Astra Holdings plc. The inspectors' investigation and subsequent report did not concern itself with the subject matter of the HM Customs and Excise enquiry. On that basis I see no reason to suspend the disqualification proceedings. It is of course open to any of the respondents to seek an adjournment of the disqualification proceeding if they think there are sufficient grounds.
Insolvency Service
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that the cost of the private sector operations of the Insolvency Service will not rise
disproportionately. [27799]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The contracting-out exercise will explore possible charging mechanisms for contracting out although it is likely that an inclusive single charge for the work to be undertaken on each case will prove most appropriate. Under any such arrangements the cost of any work done by contractors would vary in proportion to the number of cases which needed to be dealt with.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes have occurred to the plans for the contracting out of services for the Insolvency Service as a result of experience of private sector insolvency services in Scotland. [27800]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: None. Any contracting-out of official receivers' functions in England and Wales will be on the basis of value for money.
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Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many official receivers' offices will be closed as a result of the contracting out of services of the Insolvency Service. [27801]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: No decisions have yet been taken in relation to the residual size and location of the Insolvency Service should contacting out go ahead. It is not expected that a decision will be able to be made until conclusions on contracting out have been reached.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the implications of contractors referring to the Official Receiver only cases where a criminal offence is suspected for directors and people declared bankrupt in respect of cautions under section 67 and 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. [27802]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: It is anticipated that contractors would report to the official receiver in all cases so that they could decide whether any further investigation was required. Official receivers may require a bankrupt or company director to attend for interview on more than one occasion and any further interviews conducted by the official receiver once the case has been reported on by a contractor will be conducted on the same basis as at present so that the provisions of sections 67 and 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 will not apply.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the implications of a requirement on the official receiver to issue cautions under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 for the provisions of the Insolvency Acts in respect of the requirement on directors and people declared bankrupt to answer questions. [27803]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Counsel's advice obtained by my officials is that the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 does not currently apply to the official receiver's investigative work and that in the current state of the law contracting out would not alter the position.
Mrs Helen Jackson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if staff of the official receiver's office transferred to the private sector will retain the terms and conditions of their original employment for the duration of their contracts. [28825]
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