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Column 604
20 21 June 1995 : Home Secretary; Justice and Home Affairs Council, Luxembourg.For 1993 94 the cost of ministerial visits, excluding private secretaries and other accompanying officials, was £39,891. On the same basis the cost for 1994 95 was £40,440 and £13,191 for the same period April to June 1995.
The only figures available for 1992 93 relate to visits by Ministers and senior officials. The costs of these amounted to £131, 792. The figures cannot be compared with those for later years since they are on a different basis.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Madden: To ask the First Secretary of State if he will list his responsibilities upon which he is prepared to answer written parliamentary questions, and the arrangements for right hon. and hon. Members to ask him oral parliamentary question on a regular basis at other times than when he is deputising for the Prime Minister. [33974]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I propose to answer questions on my responsibilities for all Office of Public Service matters. I will be assisted on all business by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, to whom questions on Duchy matters should be addressed. Further announcements will be made in due course on the rota for answering oral parliamentary questions.
Deputy Prime Minister
Mr. Madden: To ask the First Secretary of State where his office is located; how many staff are directly responsible to him; what is the total number of staff he expects will be responsible to him; if he has a separate departmental budget; and if he will make a statement about the role of his office. [33975]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Members for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) and for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 11 July 1995 Official Report, columns 496-97.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list (a) details of all overseas trips made by him, or ministerial colleagues in his Department, paid for wholly or partly from public funds and (b) the purpose, destination and duration of such overseas trips, which officials accompanied him and the total cost in each case, including that of officials to public funds for each year since 1992. [32259]
Mr. Freeman: The information requested is given in the table:
Column 603
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
|Officials |Cost to
Date |Destination |Purpose |Duration |attending |public funds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28-29 April 1992 |Brussels/Luxembourg |EC Research Council |2 days |Five |<1>-
29-30 July 1992 |Paris |Carnegie Group |2 days |None |<1>-
8-9 September 1992 |Rome/Bonn |Science Visit |2 days |Two |<1>-
11-12 October 1992 |Luxembourg |EC Research Council |2 days |Five |<1>-
10 November 1992 |Madrid |Science Visit |1 day |Two |<1>-
8-9 December 1992 |Brussels |EC Research Council |2 days |Five |<1>-
21-24 May 1993 |Toronto |Carnegie Group |4 days |None |£2,239
30 June 1993 |Luxembourg |EC Research Council |1 day |Five |£1,995
0-13 September 1993 |Geneva |Visit to CERN |4 days |Four |£1,604
23-30 September 1993 |Japan |Science Visit |8 days |Three |£28,216
17-18 October 1993 |Washington |Science and Public Service Visit |2 days |Two |£12,641
3-6 December 1993 |Bonn/Brussels |Carnegie Group |4 days |None |£506
21 March 1994 |Brussels |EC Research Council |1 day |One |£1,397
9-13 June 1994 |Japan |Carnegie Group |5 days |None |£4,986
17-18 July 1994 |Germany |EC Research Council |2 days |Five |£1,176
29 September 1994 to 9 October 1994 |Israel/Jordan/Occupied Territories |Science and in the Occupied Territories Public Services Visit|11 days |Two |£4,787
8 February 1994 |Paris |Meeting with the French Minister |1 day |Two |£683
| for Science
23-28 February 1995 |Mauritius/South Africa |Speech in Mauritius on Public |6 days |Five |£22,001
| Sector Reform; Science
| Mission to South Africa
| (including signature of
| agreement)
7-8 March 1995 |Geneva |Visit to CERN |2 days |Four |£1,995
11-18 May 1995 |Washington/Ottawa |Carnegie Group; Discussions on | 8 days |Six |£31,509
| Machinery of Government;
| Public Service Reform and
| Science |
27 May 1995 to 6 June 1995 |Mexico/Brazil |Building Links on Science and | 11 days |Four |£27,048
| Technology and Public Sector
| Reform |
Note:
<1> Figures for financial year 1992/93 could only be provided at disproportionate costs.
Parliamentary Secretary
|Officials |Cost to
Date |Destination |Purpose |Duration |attending |public funds
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summer 1992 |Milan/Rome |Joint Research Centre/meeting |Not known |One |<1>-
| with Italian Minister for Public
| Service |
September 1992 |Brussels/Budapest |EC Research Council/Academic | Not known |One |<1>-
| Europa |
11 October 1993 |Luxembourg |EC Research Council |1 day |Three |£2,076
4 March 1994 |Brussels |EC Research Council |1 day |Three |£1,574
23-30 September 1994 |Brussels/Geneva/Glenoble |EC Research Council/visit to |2 days |Five |£3,803
| CERN/Inauguration Ceremony
| for the European Synchrotron
| Radiation Facility |
1-2 December 1994 |Brussels |EC Research Council |2 days |Three |£1,941
16 February 1995 |Nancy, France |Meeting of European Public | 1 day |Two |£1,136
| Service Ministers |
9 June 1995 |Luxembourg |EC Research Council |1 day |Three |£1,728
Note:
<1> Figures for financial year 1992-93 could only be provided at disproportionate costs.
China
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the assistance given by the United Nations Population Fund in helping China organise censuses and demographic surveys; and if the data acquired from such activities have been or can be used for targeting areas for population control. [32020]
Mr. Hanley: The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, assisted with China's 1980 and 1990 censuses, providing equipment, technical advice on data tabulation
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and analysis and training abroad at places such as the United States Bureau of Census. Census data in China, as in all other countries, are used as the basis for the Government's development plans. UNFPA's assistance is a basis for encouraging the development of humane population policies in China. It is not provided with the intention of supporting or sanctioning any particular aspect of current Chinese population policy, or its interpretation.Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when delegations from Her Majesty's Government have investigated Chinese population policies since 1979; and what conclusions were reached. [32015]
Column 607
Mr. Hanley: Lord Howe led an official delegation to China in December 1992 to look at human rights issues. The mission noted the growing attention paid by the Chinese authorities to international concerns about human rights and welcomed their willingness to continue the dialogue on human rights issues with any subsequent missions.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of individual associations within the Chinese family planning association; and what figures exist for the number of household links established by the CFPA. [32011]
Mr. Hanley: We understand from the International Planned Parenthood Federation that the China Family Planning Association, CFPA, consists of about 915,000 individual associations. We do not have reliable information on the number of household links established by the CFPA.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the date at which it first became obligatory under Chinese law to have intrauterine devices inserted after a first child; and what estimates he has on the number of IUD insertions since that date. [32019]
Mr. Hanley: We understand that there is no Chinese national law making it obligatory to insert IUDs after a first child. Information provided by the United Nations Population Fund suggests that approximately 40 per cent. of all female contraceptive acceptors are using the IUD.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the system of birth permits in China; how the system operates; whether he interprets it as coercive; and what statement regarding birth permits have been made by the IPPF and the UNFPA. [32013]
Mr. Hanley: We are aware that local authorities in China have attempted to influence fertility rates by approving which women may give birth in a given community in any year. Both the United Nations Population Fund, and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, have repeatedly made it clear that women and men should be able to choose freely the number and spacing of their children and have expressed their abhorrence of coercion in any form. The Chinese Government are aware that the UNFPA will fund activities that take place in provinces only where systems of birth permits, quotas and targets do not exist.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of UNFPA employees based in China since
Column 608
1979; and how many have been seconded to, attached to or worked in association with the Chinese State Family Planning Commission. [32021]Mr. Hanley: The United Nations Population Fund's staffing in China has varied depending on the size of its programme. In mid-1994, there were eight international staff, 10 full-time Chinese staff and two part-time Chinese staff. There has always been one country director co-ordinating the work of UNFPA. The present one is its sixth since 1979. At no time has any UNFPA staff member been assigned to work for the State Family Planning Commission.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the links between the Chinese State Family Planning Commission and the Chinese Family Planning Association with the Chinese national family planning journal and Chinese provincial family planning reports; if his Department receives copies of the journal and reports; and what information he has on the prevalence of recommendations for coercive methods of population control in both sources since 1990. [32009]
Mr. Hanley: We do not receive copies of these publications, and cannot comment on their content or links with the Chinese State Family Planning Commission and the China Family Planning Association.
Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many current or former Indonesian police officers who received any form of training paid for by his Department served with the riot police, Sabhara unit of the Indonesian national police (a) before such training, (b) during such training and (c) after such training; if he will give the name of each such officer, the dates of his training and the dates of his service with the riot police. [31757]
Mr. Hanley: According to the Indonesian national police, no officer who has received training support under the police project has served with the Sabhara unit.
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 name the Indonesian police officers who have been trained, for whatever length of time, under the police management training project since it began, in each case specifying the officer's rank and the date of commencement and of completion of the training. [31705]
Mr. Hanley: Since the national police management training project began in June 1990 we have provided UK training for the following:
Name |Rank |Date training |Date training
|commenced |completed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91
Scholarships
Mr. Yusnar Arsyad |Lieutenant Colonel |16 August 1990 |15th December 1990
Mr. Adjie Rustarn Ramdja |Major |16 August 1990 |15th December 1990
Mr. Deddy S.K. |Lieutenant Colonel |16 August 1990 |15th December 1990
Mr. Medhy Chumadi |Lieutenant |16 August 1990 |15th December 1990
Study tours
Mr. C.H.M. Waskito |Colonel |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. F. Sumampow |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. H. Rasyid |Colonel |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. Soebariliyono |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. Suryaningprang |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. Y.Y. Laoli |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. D. Rustadi |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. M. Thonyib |Captain |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. N. Eko |Captain |July 1990 |July 1990
Mr. Lihawa |Brigadier General |July 1990 |July 1990
1991-92
Scholarships
Mrs. Minton Mariaty Simanjuntak |Major |13 September 1991 |12th December 1991
Mr. Soekamid |Major |1 October 1991 |30th September 1992
Mr Yadi Ermlady |Captain |1 October 1991 |30th September 1992
Study tours
Mr. G. Sumampow |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1991 |July 1991
Mr. H. Rasyid |Colonel |July 1991 |July 1991
Mr. Soebarilyono |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1991 |July 1991
Mr. M. Suryaningprang |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1991 |July 1991
Mr. Y.Y. Laoli |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1991 |July 1991
Mr. D. Rustadi |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1991 |July 1991
Mr. M. Thoyib |Captain |July 1991 |July 1991
Mr. N. Eko |Captain |July 1991 |July 1991
1991-92
Study tours
Mr. Soekamid |Major |July 1991 |July 1991
Mr. Y. Ermlady |Captain |July 1991 |July 1991
1992-93
Scholarships
Mr. Soekamid |Major |1 October 1992 |30th September 1993
Mr. Yadi Ermlady |Captain |1 October 1992 |30th September 1994
Ms Pengasihan Gaut |Major |1 August 1992 |30th November 1992
Mr. Adjie Rustam Ramdja |Major |8 December 1992 |7th April 1993
Mr. Pepe Tjhjana |Lieutenant Colonel |8 December 1992 |7th April 1993
Study tours
Mr. C.H.M Waskito |Colonel |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. F. Sumampow |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. H. Rasyid |Colonel |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. Soebariliyono |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. Suryaningprang |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. Y.Y. Laoli |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. D. Rustadi |Lieutenant Colonel |July 1992 |July 1992
Ms Hemawati |Major |July 1992 |July 1992
Ms M. Simanjuntak |Major |July 1992 |July 1992
Ms R.P. Gaut |Major |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. M. Thoyib |Captain |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. N. Eko |Captain |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. M.B. Hutagalung |Major General |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. R. Lihawa |Brigadier General |July 1992 |July 1992
Mr. Karyoso |Brigadier General |July 1992 |July 1992
1993-94
Scholarships
Mr. Herman Rasyid |Colonel |21 May 1993 |20th June 1993
1994-95
Scholarships
Mr. Wakin |Major |1 July 1994 |30th October 1994
Mr. Nicholas Eko |Captain |1 August 1994
Mr. James Sitorus |Lieutenant Colonel |1 August 1994
Mr. Fred Sumampow |Lieutenant Colonel |13 April 1995 |12th June 1995
Mr. Hanley [holding reply 30 June 1995]: No study tours-- visits of less than one month duration--took place between 1985 and 1990. Details of training since 1990 were given in my answer to the hon. Lady's further
Column 612
question concerning this project--No. 31705. The following longer-term training was undertaken during the period 1985 90.Column 611
Name |Rank |Date training |Date training
|commenced |completed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985-86
Mr. Isnawan |Colonel |30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Baruno |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Yusar H. |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Kresno Sukamso |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Heru Tjipto Harsono |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. A. H. Sitorus |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. S. A. Supardi |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Hamami Nata |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Sebastian Koto |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Astika |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Ledwijk |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Herman Hidayat |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Adna Isa |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. J. D. Sitorus |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Fred Sumampow |Lieutenant Colonel|30 July 1985 |18 December 1985
Mr. Chaerudin |Lieutenant Colonel|Dates not known |Date not known
1986-87
Mr. Djumjatni G |Colonel |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Murni Tukiman |Colonel |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. I. N. Yudana |Colonel |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Iksan |Colonel |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Asikin Nadikusumah |Colonel |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Soemitro |Colonel |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Dasuki |Colonel |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Pepe Tjahjana |Lieutenant Colonel|6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Dadang Garnida |Lieutenant Colonel|6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Deddy S K |Lieutenant Colonel|6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Tjoek Sugiarso |Major |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Basjir A. Barmawai |Major |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Riswadi Herry S |Major |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
1986-87
Scholarships
Mr. M. Nian Sjafudin |Major |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Moch Saudi |Major |6 October 1986 |6 December 1986
Mr. Rachmat |Lieutenant Colonel|Date not known |Date not known
Mr. M. Hindarto |Colonel |April 1986 |September 1986
1998-99
Mr. Ronny Lihawa |Colonel |October 1988 |September 1989
Mr. Isnawan |Colonel |October 1988 |September 1989
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 30 June, Official Report , column 802 , what were the "relevant quarters" from which advice was sought on the police management training project in Indonesia; what advice was given on the issue of human rights; and at what Departmental level the project was approved. [33033]
Mr. Hanley: I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 30 June. Official advice to Ministers is given in confidence.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 12 June, Official Report , column 381 , if he will make a statement on the term "appropriate appraisals"; if he will define the term "full appraisal" in the letter of the Minister for Overseas Development of 20 January; and what is the difference between the two forms of appraisal. [33032]
Column 612
Mr. Hanley: In a statement made on 17 June 1993 by the Under- Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the House was informed of the future of the aid and trade provision, ATP, following a review of the programme. This included specific measures to improve the effectiveness of ATP. Appraisal procedures were brought into line with those applied to other bilateral aid projects to provide the same level of assurance concerning their soundness and
sustainability.
The new procedures came into effect on 17 June 1993.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to monitor the post-training careers of Indonesian police officers who have received any form of training paid for by his Department for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the training in improving the officers respect for human rights. [31759]
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Mr. Hanley [holding reply 30 June 1995]: The project, including training, is monitored on an annual basis.
Burma
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the current restrictions on non- governmental organisation funding in Burma to allow a greater availability of funding for long-term community development projects implemented by NGOs. [32429]
Mr. Hanley: United Kingdom assistance to Burma is currently available only for funding of humanitarian projects by NGOs. The policy is kept under review.
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the continuation of the work of the United Nations Development Programme in Burma, implementing a programme based on direct assistance to communities, when the governing council reviews the agency's mandate. [32428]
Mr. Hanley: We have supported the UNDP's approach so far and will consider maintaining this position when the Burma country programme is next reviewed in the UNDP executive board.
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of international assistance currently devoted to aid projects helping Burmese communities; and if he will make a statement on future United Kingdom aid plans for Burma. [32430]
Mr. Hanley: We have not undertaken an assessment of the level of international assistance currently devoted to aid projects helping Burmese communities. Other than funding of certain humanitarian projects by
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non-governmental organisations, there are no plans to provide official development aid to Burma at present. This policy has been agreed with our EU partners.Joint Funding Scheme
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of joint funding scheme contracts issued by country and region in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95.
Mr. Hanley: Details of the numbers of joint funding scheme contracts issued by country and region in 1993 94 and 1994 95 are shown in the tables.
Joint funding scheme contracts issued in 1993-94
|Americas
Asia region 44 |Africa region |region |Oceania region
projects |49 projects |12 projects |3 projects
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asia Gen 1 |Africa Gen 4 |Bolivia 1 |Fiji 2
Bangladesh 8 |Angola 1 |Brazil 2 |Vanuatu 1
Bhutan 1 |Botswana 1 |Chile 1
Cambodia 6 |Cameroon 1 |El Salvador 2
India 17 |Egypt 1 |Guatemala 1
Laos 2 |Ethiopia 3 |Nicaragua 2
Nepal 1 |Gambia 1 |Peru 3
Pakistan 1 |Ghana 2
Philippines 2 |Kenya 8
Lebanon 1 |Lesotho 2
Sri Lanka 4 |Mozambique 1
|Namibia 2
|Niger 2
|Sierra Leone 4
|South Africa 2
|Swaziland 1
|Tanzania 2
|Togo 1
|Uganda 6
|Zambia 1
|Zimbabwe 3
Joint funding scheme contracts issued in 1994-95
|Oceania region 2 |Various regions
Asia region 48 |Africa region 78 |America region |projects |1 project
projects |projects |21projects
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bangladesh 3 |Africa 1 |Belize 1 |Fiji 1 |Various 1
Cambodia 5 |Cameroon 1 |Bolivia 1 |Papua New Guinea 1
India 20 |Chad 2 |Brazil 2
Indonesia 1 |Ethiopia 8 |Caribbean 1
Lebanon 1 |Gambia 2 |Chile 1
Nepal 2 |Ghana 3 |Costa Rica 1
Occupied Territories 2 |Kenya 8 |Ecuador 1
Pakistan 2 |Malawi 4 |El Salvador 2
Philippines 4 |Mali 3 |Guatemala 1
Sri Lanka 5 |Mozambique 1 |Honduras 1
Thailand 1 |Sierra Leone 3 |Nicaragua 6
Vietnam 1 |South Africa 3 |Peru 3
West Bank 1 |Southern Africa 1
|Sudan 2
|Swaziland 2
|Tanzania 6
|Togo 2
|Uganda 17
|Zaire 1
|Zambia 2
|Zimbabwe 6
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the size of the joint funding scheme budget in (a) 1993 94, (b) 1994 95, and (c) 1995 96. [33264]
Mr. Hanley: The joint funding scheme budget was £29 million in 1993 94 and £33 million in 1994 95. The budget for 1995 96 has risen to £34.85 million.
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications were made to the joint funding scheme in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95; and how many were successful. [33263]
Mr. Hanley: A total of 241 applications were made to the joint funding scheme for funding in 1993 94, 108 of which were successful; 291 applications were made for funding in 1994 95, 150 of which were successful.
Central Africa
Mr. Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the impact of the International Monetary Fund-sponsored good government initiative, on the economies of central Africa, with particular reference to the impact of the initiative on training and development and on the indigenous co-operative movements in central Africa. [32428]
Mr. Hanley: We are not aware of any such initiative.
El Salvador
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the activities of the Commonwealth Development Corporation in El Salvador. [33267]
Mr. Hanley: The Commonwealth Development Corporation, CDC, received approval to operate in El Salvador from my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development in September 1994. As yet, the CDC has made no investments or commitments there, but it is currently looking at opportunities in tourism, manufacturing and industry.
Kenya
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will be leading the British team at the donors' meeting with the Government of Kenya on 24 July; what undertakings the British Government will be seeking from the Government of Kenya; which human rights issues he will be raising with the Government of Kenya; and if he will raise the trial of Koigi Wa Wamwere and other issues related to the conduct of justice in Kenya. [33046]
Mr. Hanley: The British team will be led by the head of the British development division in east Africa. Democracy, good government and human rights, as well as economic issues, are likely to be discussed. Whilst there has been good progress in some respects, we shall be pressing the Kenyan authorities to maintain their efforts on all aspects of the reform process.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government of Kenya have sought or been offered to help in the development of a better justice system. [33798]
Column 616
Mr. Hanley [holding reply 11 July 1995]: We have discussed a number of possible areas of assistance with the Government of Kenya, including support for the office of the Attorney-General and for the Kenya police force. We have conducted institutional appraisals of both organisations, and expect to sign shortly a senior command and human rights awareness police training programme. We are also considering support for non-governmental organisations providing legal aid.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance and training is being given to staff concerning the treatment of people who are appealing against a decision that they are capable of work but are signing on as unemployed pending their appeal. [32042]
Mr. Burt: This is a matter for Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 11 July 1995: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the guidance and training given to staff concerning the treatment of people who appeal against a decision that they are capable of work but are signing on as unemployed pending their appeal.
General advice to staff dealing with incapacity benefits and customers found capable of work has not changed with the introduction of Incapacity Benefit (IB). Customers are advised to claim Unemployment Benefit and or Income Support until their appeal is heard. Guidance is given in standing instructions which were amended to take account of the introduction of IB.
Training material was issued to Income Support staff at Benefits Agency offices in January 1995 and was followed by a comprehensive procedures circular issued in March 1995; both documents reminded staff of existing procedures.
Benefit Agency staff are acutely aware of the sensitivities in dealing with customers who appeal against a decision that they are capable of work.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Social Fund
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those Benefits Agency offices which achieved targets for community care grants decisions between 1 April 1994 and 31 March 1995. [33687]
Mr. Roger Evans: The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 11 July 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about listing those Benefits Agency (BA) offices which achieved their targets for Community Care Grants (CCG) between 1st April 1994 and 31st March 1995.
At present, Social Fund performance is measured against a standard time for processing each type of application. This is based on the time it takes to clear the more straightforward cases. For CCG applications the aim is to process 65 per cent. in the standard
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time of seven days. To ensure proper emphasis is given to the remaining applications, a secondary measure is set which is 95 per cent. in 20 days.I have provided, at Annex A, details of the CCG performance of all BA Districts for 1994/95. I am pleased to state that all BA Districts met the primary CCG target.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Annex A: Community Care grant performance by district 1994-95
|Target: 65 per|Target: 95 per
|cent. in |cent. in
|7 days |20 days
|Achievement |Achievement
District |Per cent. |Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bankside |93.20 |98.65
Barking and Havering |91.03 |98.48
Barnet |91.23 |99.38
Barnsley |96.91 |99.74
Bedfordshire |83.23 |98.39
Berkshire |87.22 |96.69
Birmingham Chamberlain |85.31 |98.82
Birmingham Heartlands |86.13 |98.57
Birmingham North West |93.27 |99.10
Birmingham South East |79.75 |99.20
Birmingham South West |89.87 |98.51
Blackburn and Accrington |88.88 |98.34
Blackpool |85.74 |98.59
Bolton |91.75 |98.42
Bradford |93.64 |98.81
Bristol Severnside |78.33 |97.59
Brunel |81.39 |98.14
Buckinghamshire |92.45 |98.70
Burnley Pendle Rossendale |85.16 |98.42
Cambridgeshire |88.62 |98.27
Canterbury and Thanet |79.07 |97.46
Central Derbyshire |89.77 |97.95
Central Staffordshire |77.09 |98.95
Channel |90.03 |97.94
Chesterfield and Worksop |79.30 |96.72
City East |83.68 |98.47
Clyde Coast and Cowal |92.39 |99.35
Clyde Valley |89.99 |99.32
Coatbridge |93.23 |99.08
Cornwall |85.12 |97.70
Coventry<1> |72.48 |94.90
Cynon Merthyr Rhymney
Valley |93.24 |99.31
Devonia |85.75 |97.77
Doncaster |84.47 |97.47
Dorset |90.07 |98.18
Essex Southwest |92.05 |99.37
Ealing<1> |72.12 |94.06
East Lowlands |79.28 |96.80
East Nottinghamshire |88.02 |98.41
East Sussex |85.63 |97.43
East Yorkshire |89.75 |99.09
Essex South East |95.24 |99.03
Euston<1> |67.62 |94.97
Fife |93.54 |99.13
Forth Valley |87.95 |99.05
Glasgow City |91.61 |98.63
Glasgow East |87.15 |98.11
Glasgow Laurieston |91.89 |98.97
Glasgow South West |94.90 |99.23
Glasgow West |97.18 |99.44
Gloucestershire |78.78 |98.02
Grampian and Shetland |86.64 |98.37
Gwennigion |86.80 |98.41
Hackney and Islington |81.45 |97.59
Hampshire North |90.24 |97.55
Harrow and Hillingdon |89.55 |98.76
Hereford and Worcester |83.52 |97.15
Highlands and Islands |86.58 |98.64
Hounslow and Kingston<1> |69.91 |91.92
Hull |91.39 |98.64
Irvine Kilmarnock |79.56 |97.20
Kirklees |90.35 |98.22
Knowsley |80.86 |98.37
Lancaster and South Cumbria |85.28 |97.77
Lea Roding |85.26 |96.92
Leaside |62.55 |95.68
Leeds Aire and Wharfe |89.52 |98.33
Leeds Ridings |90.45 |98.44
Lewisham and Brixton |84.43 |97.75
Liverpool Central |92.97 |98.97
Liverpool North |85.05 |98.45
Liverpool South |83.14 |98.40
Lomond and Argyll |89.47 |98.24
London Central |94.82 |99.31
Lothian Central |92.71 |98.73
Lothian West |91.77 |99.01
Manchester Central |85.34 |97.05
Manchester South |96.48 |99.23
Manchester Trinity |81.59 |97.97
Mid Wales and Maelor |96.79 |99.36
Neasden |72.84 |95.43
Newcastle upon Tyne |92.33 |99.33
Newham |84.03 |96.48
North and East Herts. |90.20 |98.12
North Cheshire |93.35 |99.04
North Cumbria |73.40 |97.85
North Durham |90.61 |99.06
North Essex |91.07 |98.47
North Gwent and Brecon |94.74 |99.44
North Kent |83.80 |96.63
North Leicestershire<1> |81.65 |93.48
North Nottinghamshire |86.04 |97.94
North Staffordshire |94.17 |98.88
North Surrey |84.57 |97.57
North Tees |83.50 |99.08
North Tyneside |88.67 |98.74
North Wales Coast |82.97 |96.88
North Worcestershire |95.96 |99.51
North Yorkshire |91.44 |98.36
Northamptonshire |83.19 |97.29
Northumberland |86.74 |98.63
Norwich |90.31 |98.83
Nottinghamshire West |78.83 |97.95
Ogwr Afan Nedd |80.18 |98.27
Oldham |88.47 |98.01
Oxfordshire |85.88 |96.78
Palace |80.77 |95.92
Preston |92.80 |98.94
Renfrew |85.35 |99.10
Rother and Dearne |88.98 |99.30
Sale and East Cheshire |90.61 |98.66
Salford |86.57 |98.28
Sandwell |94.74 |99.07
Sefton |91.71 |97.99
Sheffield East |87.49 |97.26
Sheffield West |81.65 |98.60
Shropshire |95.34 |99.02
Solent and Forest |81.42 |97.43
Somerset |82.33 |97.79
South Cheshire |90.20 |98.84
South Derbyshire |81.65 |97.63
South Devon |88.64 |98.06
South Downs |86.29 |98.30
South Durham |95.35 |99.17
South East Hants. and Wight |76.58 |98.59
South Glamorgan |91.21 |97.77
South Gwent and Islwyn |90.55 |99.34
South Humberside |93.40 |98.77
South Leicestershire |77.08 |97.94
South Tees |81.63 |97.74
South Tyneside |86.27 |98.54
South West Lancashire |88.95 |98.84
South West Scotland |89.80 |98.59
South West Thames |84.24 |97.23
Springburn and Cumbernauld |87.54 |99.50
Stockport |85.64 |97.68
Suffolk |85.14 |98.02
Surrey Downs |90.96 |98.47
Swansea |87.73 |98.51
Taff Rhondda |92.19 |99.03
Tameside |95.08 |99.08
Tayside |82.94 |99.53
Thameside |83.85 |96.54
Wakefield |85.31 |98.18
Walsall |92.92 |99.26
Warwickshire |76.83 |98.38
Wash Coast |95.05 |99.42
Wearside |95.10 |99.34
West Herts. |79.80 |96.83
West Kent |82.58 |96.83
West Lincolnshire |90.62 |99.11
West Pennine |96.07 |99.49
West Sussex |85.70 |98.20
West Wales |92.19 |98.31
Wigan and Leigh |76.76 |97.61
Wiltshire |72.59 |97.00
Wirral |88.04 |98.72
Wolverhampton |95.35 |99.61
Yorkshire Pennine |84.33 |97.62
<1> BA Districts which did not meet the secondary target of 95 per cent.,
clearance in 20 days.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were successful in gaining an exceptional needs payment in the last year of operation of the scheme; and how many people were granted similar payments from the social fund in the last year for which figures are available. [32832]
Mr. Roger Evans: There were 1.1 million exceptional needs payments made in 1979 80, the last year of the scheme. There were 1.9 million awards from the discretionary social fund made in 1994 95.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how may (a) claimants and (b) organisations have made representations about difficulty experienced in the repayment of social security loans. [32830]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information requested is not available.
Mortgage Interest
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response he has made to representations from the mortgage insurance industry about the availability of private mortgage insurance for poor families. [32834]
Column 620
Mr. Roger Evans: I have had no such specific representations from the mortgage insurance industry about the availability of private mortgage insurance for poor families. However, the Association of British Insurers takes the view that if a person qualifies for a mortgage then there is no reason why they should not also qualify for insurance.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the implications of his proposals for cuts in mortgage interest payments for the 1991 agreement in respect of Council of Mortgage Lenders. [32835]
Mr. Roger Evans: From October this year, we expect the 1991 agreement to apply to cases where we continue to meet the full interest payments. In cases where the 1991 agreement no longer applies we would not expect to see an increase in arrears or repossessions as most borrowers will take out insurance.
We believe that it is important that lenders make clear to their borrowers their practice in relation to arrears, and that borrowers fully understand their obligations when entering into a mortgage contract. We are working closely with the council of Mortgage Lenders to develop a leaflet which sets out details of benefit entitlement and borrowers' rights and responsibilities in relation to lenders and insurers.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received alleging that inadequacy of income support in respect of mortgage interest payments is resulting in claimants going into rented accommodation and claiming the higher rate of housing benefit. [32836]
Mr. Roger Evans: I have had no such representations.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the cost in housing benefit in the last year of claimants formerly receiving income support in respect of mortgage interest payments and subsequently going into rented
accommodation. [32837]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information requested is not available.
Funeral Expenses
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his estimated savings will be (a) in restricting social fund funeral expenses towards the cost of embalming the body for a journey in excess of 25 miles, (b) by limiting social fund funeral expenses towards the cost of floral tributes to £25 and (c) by the alteration of the definition of close relative and partner in relation to the social fund payments of funeral expenses. [32707]
Mr. Roger Evans: We estimate the savings will be in the order of: (a) £2 million; (b) £2 million; (c) £1.3 million.
Social Security Expenditure
Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total annual spending on social security in (a) 1990 91, (b) 1991 92, (c) 1992 93 and (d) 1993 94; and if he will list the total (i) in real and (ii) in percentage terms of gross domestic product. [32951]
Column 621
Mr. Burt: The information requested is in the table.
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