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Social Fund
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications there were for grants and loans from the social fund in the last month for which figures are available; what was the monthly average for the last financial year; and if there are any plans to increase the size of the fund. [30974]
Mr. Roger Evans: There were 318,231 applications for grants and loans in May this year. The monthly average for 1994 95 was 312,019. The gross social fund budget for 1995 96 was increased by £38 million to £406 million, an increase of £53 million since April 1994 95.
War Disablement Pensions
Mr. Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many former members of Her Majesty's armed forces have applied for a war disablement pension on the grounds of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss since 7 January 1993; and how many of these applications have been refused on the grounds that the hearing loss was less than 20 per cent. [30944]
Mr. Arbuthnot: Information is not available in the exact form requested.
We estimate that since January 1993 a total of around 139,500 first claims have been made for hearing loss only. Separate claim figures for noise- induced sensorineural hearing loss are not available, because the exact diagnosis is not known when the claim is made, but the vast majority of the above claims were probably for that condition. In the same period, no payment was made in some 57,500 cases, because the assessed level of disablement due to service related NISHL was less than 20 per cent.
The figures include claims made under all the war pensions scheme,s including those covering service personnel, world war two civilians and mercantile mariners. Separate figures are not available for the individual schemes.
Low-income Families
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what additional support the Department will be providing next year to low- income families with children. [30973]
Mr. Burt: Over the next 12 months, a number of measures are to be introduced that will provide extra support for low-income families with children.
From July this year, low-income families with children working more than 30 hours per week will receive an extra £10 per week in family credit. Around 345,000 families are expected to benefit from this measure worth over £200 million. We also aim to speed up the payment of family credit. From April 1996, we expect almost all new claims for family credit to be arranged within five working days. Also from next April, those who take a job after six month's unemployment will be able to keep their housing benefit at their existing full rate for an extra four weeks. From October 1996 the tax-free back-to-work bonus of up
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to £1,000 will help to smooth a family's income flow on taking up work.Families will also benefit from the introduction of a national insurance holiday for employers taking on those who have been unemployed for two years or more, in April 1996.
Pensioners' Organisations
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met representatives of pensioners' organisations; and what matters were discussed. [30975]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave the hon. member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 19 June, Official Report, columns 12 13 .
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Privatisation
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list those parts of his Department or departmental agencies which were privatised without an in-house bid; if he will indicate the expertise which was absent in his Department or departmental agencies which prevented an in -house bid taking place; which future parts of his Department or departmental agencies he intends to privatise; and which of them do not have the necessary in-house expertise to mount an in-house bid.
Mr. Newton: No functions of the Privy Council Office have been contracted out, nor are any planned to be. I am not responsible for any agencies.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Sitting Hours
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions in the current Session until 16 June the House has adjourned before 10 o'clock; and what has been the total approximate time between the time of adjournment and half-past 10 o'clock.
Mr. Newton: In the current Session up to the 16 June, the House has adjourned before 10 o'clock on 21 occasions, not including Fridays. This figure does not include the last day before the Christmas recess on 20 December, but does include 24 May 1995 when the House rose at 4.36 pm as a mark of respect to Lord Wilson on his death. Nineteen of the 21 occasions have been since January. The total time between the hour of adjournment and half- past 10 o'clock on these 21 occasions is 42 hours 51 minutes. If the 24 May 1995 is not included in the figure, the total time is 36 hours 57 minutes.
Party Leadership Candidates
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his oral answer of 15 June, Official Report , column 896, if he will consult other parties on
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making arrangements for parliamentary time for statements by candidates for party leadership.DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Staff
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the number of staff-in-post in central Government Departments at 1 April 1995. [30195]
Mr. David Hunt: On 1 April 1995, there were 516,080 permanent staff- in-post in central Government, which is less than half the level of 50 years ago. This represents a decrease of 4.5 per cent. in the year since 1 April 1994. The number of casual staff fell by 2,984 over the year to 18,130.
The figures are measured as "full-time equivalent" staff, where part-time staff are recorded as a proportion of a full-time employee according to the proportion of a full week for which they are contracted to work. This method of calculating full-time equivalent staff is a new one introduced from 1 April 1995, replacing the former method in which part-time staff working 10 hours or more per week were recorded as half an employee, those working fewer than 10 hours being ignored. The new methodology has been introduced to provide more accurate estimates of the number of staff employed, enabling better financial planning and control. This change in the method of calculating the number is estimated to have resulted in an increase of 7,000--1.3 per cent.--in the total number of staff. In order that the change should not artificially distort comparisons over time or plans with outturn, estimates have been made on the new basis, broken down by Department, for 1 April 1994, and have been placed with the 1 April 1995 figures in the Library.
British Geological Survey
Mr. Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what areas of the work of the British Geological Survey have been contracted out; who has bid for them; and who has been awarded them. [30222]
Mr. Horam: The British Geological Survey contracts out those areas which require scientific skills not available in-house and those functions which can be carried out more effectively by outside contractors. Specialist scientific support, such as research vessel hire and some drilling, is contracted out as the need arises. Some support, as in the case of computing services, is provided through service level agreements with the Natural Environment Research Council. The identity of many of the bidders for scientific and specialist support is considered by the survey to be
commercial--in-confidence; others could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The following service functions have been contracted out to national and local suppliers through open competitive tendering:
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Service
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cleaning |Initial Cleaning Services
|Northern Maintenance plc
Security |Centuryan Security Ltd.
Catering |Sutcliffe Catering
Printing (part) |Colour Images Ltd.
|Saxon and Graphics Ltd.
|Linneys Colour Print Ltd.
|Hawthornes Ltd.
|Meridian
|Colourstream Ltd.
Travel services and Vehicle hire |Carlsson Wagon Lit
Mr. Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department has put out to tender the oil information services of the British Geological Survey. [30223]
Mr. Horam: Until 1993, the British Geological Survey provided scientific services to the oil and gas division of the Department of Trade and Industry under letters of agreement, on a repayment basis. In the course of that year, the DTI invited competitive tenders for the supply of those services over a five-year period under five separate contracts, one of which was awarded to the BGS.
Research Council Redundancies
Mr. Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his latest estimate of redundancies that must be achieved by the end of the financial year in each of the six research councils; and if he will make a statement. [30240]
Mr. Horam: There is no specific target for redundancies that must be achieved by the end of the financial year. However, staffing levels are kept under continuous review by the research councils' senior management and the Director General of the Research Councils, with the aim of ensuring that councils' missions are pursued as efficiently and effectively as possible. Councils endeavour to achieve any reductions in posts through natural wastage and voluntary departures.
Mr. Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much is in this financial year's budget for estimated redundancy payments to the research councils. [30241]
Mr. Horam: In the financial year 1995 96 the research councils currently expect to incur expenditure of around £17 million on redundancies--including early retirements and restructuring. This includes payments in respect of departures in 1995 96 and ongoing payments in respect of earlier departures.
Executive Agencies (Relocation)
Mr. Devlin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which executive agencies are currently seeking to relocate from London to provincial towns. [30650]
Mr. Horam: This information is not held centrally: it is a matter for individual departmental Ministers and their agency chief executives.
Charter Week
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of
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Lancaster what are the main events his Department is proposing for Charter Week; what is the total cost to public funds; and how many (a) civil servants and (b) public officials will be playing a part. [30682]Mr. Horam: The Office of Public Service and Science is planning a number of public service events to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the citizens charter, including:
a reception for users who have nominated organisations for the 1995 charter mark and representatives of the nominated organisations;
the publication of "Charter News";
a consultation and customer satisfaction seminar;
the publication of a guide to consultation;
a conference on the information super-highway; and
an announcement on 1995 charter marks applications.
There will be no additional cost or staff resources required as a result of holding these events in July. The officials concerned will be working on the events as part of their normal duties.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 21 March, Official Report , column 178 , if he will list all those occasions on which he did not give prior warning to hon. Members. [30749]
Mr. David Hunt: I always do my best to give prior warning to hon. Members when I visit their constituencies in an official capacity and I do not have a record of any occasions when the system has failed.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Structural Adjustment Programmes
39. Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to study the social effects of aid programmes tied to structural adjustment programmes. [28775]
Mr. Baldry: ODA has been studying the social effects of structural adjustment for some years, in consultation with the World bank and independently, and will continue to do so.
European Development Fund
40. Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support moves to budgetise the European development fund. [28776]
Mr. Baldry: We are opposed to budgetisation of the European development fund. This would reduce Government's ability to decide how much we wish to contribute. It would also increase the pressure on the Edinburgh financial ceilings.
European Union Aid
41. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total
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sum spent on overseas aid by the EU in the most recent year for which figures are available; and which committee or Department makes decisions on the issuing of individual grants. [28777]Mr. Baldry: In 1993, the last year for which figures are available, total European Community overseas assistance was $4287.5 million of which $3637.2 million was net official development assistance to developing countries. Individual spending proposals are assessed by management committees on which ODA represents the UK.
Eastern Europe
42. Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the distribution of funds to organisations from the European Union's Poland and Hungary assistance for economic restructuring programme and the know-how scheme. [28778]
Mr. Baldry: The PHARE programme and the know-how fund channel funds through a variety of public and private sector organisations including non- governmental organisations and academic institutions. They are selected on the basis of value for money in helping to achieve the objectives of the two programmes.
Developing World (Debt)
43. Mr. Brandreth : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role on the non- governmental banking sector in the reduction of debt in the developing world; and if he will make a statement. [28779]
Mr. Baldry: There has been effective action to reduce the debt owed by developing countries to commercial banks. Commercial bank debt is no longer the priority issues in solving developing countries' external debt problem.
Poverty Reduction
44. Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of United Kingdom multilateral aid is for poverty reduction. [28780]
Mr. Baldry: Poverty reduction is the highest priority of many of the multilateral agencies to which the UK makes contributions. Because the nature of their programmes
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varies widely, it is not possible to give precise figures for the proportion of our multilateral aid which is specifically for poverty reduction. However, of the UK's total contribution to multilateral agencies, we estimate that in 1993 more than 60 per cent. was spent in the poorest category of countries--that is, least developed countries as classified by the UN and in other low income countries with an income per head of under $676 in 1992.Indonesia
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the intended use of the recent loan to Indonesia; and if he will make a statement. [29318]
Mr. Baldry: The new concessional loan arrangement for Indonesia will be used to support developmentally sound projects up to a cumulative contract value for British goods and services of £80 million. Projects to be funded under the loan are to be identified, but are expected to be in the health, education, water resources and transport sectors.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 March, Official Report , column 727 , if he will state in respect of each Indonesian police office receiving scholarship training of less than one month, (a) the month during which and (b) the training establishment at which training took place. [30282]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 22 June 1995]: The training took place in July 1990, July 1991 and July 1992. It was based at the Surrey police headquarters in Guildford.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 June, Official Report , columns 17 18 , whether the project regarding the regional physical planning project for transmigration in Indonesia included East Timor. [30290]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 22 June 1995]: Yes.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report , columns 294 95 , if he will state in respect of each Indonesian police officer receiving scholarship training of more than one month (a) the date on which the training was completed and (b) the training establishment at which the training took place. [30281]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 22 June 1995]:
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Year |Name |Date training |Place
|completed
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |Mr. Yusnar Arsyad, Lt. Colonel |15 December 1990 |RIPA, London
|Mr. Adjie Rustarn Ramdja, Major |15 December 1990 |RIPA, London
|Mr. Deddy S K, Lt. Colonel |15 December 1990 |RIPA, London
|Mr. Medhy Chumadi, Lt. |15 December 1990 |RIPA, London
1991-92 |Mrs. Minton Mariaty Simanjuntak, Major|12 December 1991 |RIPA, London
|Mr. Soekamid, Major |30 September 1992 |Salford University
|Mr. Yadi Ermlady, Captain |30 September 1992 |Kent University
1992-93 |Mr. Soekamid, Major |30 September 1993 |Salford University
|Mr. Yadi Ermlady, Captain |30 September 1994 |Sheffield Business School
|Ms Pengasihan Gaut, Major |30 November 1992 |Thames Valley University
|Mr. Adjie Ramdja, Major |7 April 1993 |University of Manchester
|Mr. Pepe Tjhhana, Lieutenant Colonel |7 April 1993 |University of Manchester
|Mr. Tito Karnavian, First Lieutenant |28 September 1993 |Exeter University
1993-94 |Mr. Herman Rasyid, Colonel |20 June 1993 |Surrey Constabulary
Zaire
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in reducing the number of refugees in Zaire. [29506]
Mr. Baldry: The Government of Rwanda estimate 478,812 refugees have already returned from Zaire. The international community is working to encourage further voluntary refugee repatriation. Improved security in the camps has reduced intimidation. The United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees are considering resuming organised convoys to meet a growing refugee interest in repatriation.
Tehri Dam, India
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the fast by Sunderlai Bahuguna in opposition to the construction of the Tehri dam in India; and if he will make a statement. [30219]
Mr. Baldry: None. There is no British Government involvement in this project.
Somalia
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid has been given in (a) money and (b) personnel in Somalia over the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [29064]
Mr. Baldry: The following tables list total bilateral aid to Somalia for the period 1985 to 1993 94 and person years of technical co-operation personnel, consultants and volunteers wholly or partly funded by ODA.
£000
Year<1> |Total bilateral
|aid<2>
------------------------------------------------
1985 |1,737
1986 |3,941
1987 |7,292
1987-88 |7,746
1988-89 |5,783
1989-90 |2,635
1990-91 |1,916
1991-92 |3,025
1992-93 |15,804
1993-94 |5,509
<1>Information on bilateral aid is available on
a calendar year basis up to 1987 and on a
financial year basis from 1987-88 onwards.
<2>Includes emergency aid, technical
co-operation; programme aid, and the joint
funding scheme.
Year |Personnel (person
|years)
------------------------------------------------------
1985 |15
1986 |15
1987 |18
1988 |19
1989 |22
1990 |8
1991 |3
1992 |1
1993 |1
Aid and Trade Project
Mrs. Ann Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many aid and trade provision projects are being funded in this financial year in countries with per capita GNP of less than $700. [28781]
Mr. Baldry: Forty-six projects are being funded in 1995 96 in countries with GNP per capita below $700.
Diversification
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of Britain's overseas aid budget is used to combat desertification; and which are the projects involved. [30394]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 22 June 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 14 June, Official Report, column 566.
China (Abandoned Children)
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what sums (a) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, (b) the United Nations Population Fund and (c) his Department have assigned for assisting the victims of the Chinese population control programme; [29790]
(2) what sums have been assigned by (a) the IPPF, (b) the UNFPA or (c) his Department for the care of orphans and abandoned children in China; [29784]
(3) on what occasions since 1965 (a) the IPPF, (b) the UNFPA or (c) his Department have advised the Chinese Government regarding the provision of care for orphans and abandoned children; [29785] (4) what is the involvement of (a) the IPPF, (b) the UNFPA and (c) his Department in the funding of Chinese state
orphanages. [29789]
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Mr. Baldry [holding answers 20 June 1995]: Neither the Overseas Development Administration, the United Nations Population Fund nor the International Planned Parenthood Federation provides funding for operating orphanages in China or for the care of abandoned children. The United Nations system's involvement in the care of children comes under the remit of the United Nations Children Fund--UNICEF.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports has he received from the IPPF and the UNFPA regarding the condition of children in Chinese state orphanages; and what investigations his Department has
conducted; [29788]
(2) what information he has on the standards of medical care for abandoned children in Chinese state orphanages; and if he will make a statement. [29782]
Mr. Baldry [holding answers 20 June 1995]: We have not received reports on the conditions of, or the standards in, China's orphanages from the United Nations Population Fund or the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the links between the Chinese population control programme and the condition of orphans and abandoned children in China; and if he will make a statement. [29787]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 20 June 1995]: We have no reliable analysis of the link between the Chinese population programme and the condition of orphans and abandoned children in China.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the balance between the sexes in respect of abandoned children and orphans in China; to what he attributes it; and if he will make a
statement. [29786]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 20 June 1995]: We have not made an assessment of the balance between the sexes in respect of abandoned children and orphans in China.
Secret Asia: The Dying Rooms"
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek a transcript of the Channel 4 programme, "Secret Asia: The Dying Rooms", for his departmental library. [29779]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 20 June 1995]: A copy has been placed in the ODA library.
Bangladesh
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors allow his Department to distinguish between funds donated by the Overseas Development Administration to primary health care and family planning in Bangladesh; and for what reasons his Department is unable to make this distinction in respect of the other countries where primary health care donations are made. [28962]
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