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Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We continue to receive reports of human rights abuses in Croatia, including killing of civilians. We condemn these atrocities. With our EU
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partners, we will ensure that such reports are made available to the international tribunal on former Yugoslavia.Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Croatia in respect of human rights abuse and ethnic cleansing in Krajina. [40012]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We have condemned the human rights abuses in Krajina and called for the Serb refugees to be allowed to return to their homes if they so wish. Along with our EU partners we have repeatedly warned Croatia that its future relations with the EU are dependent on its respect for human rights and minorities.
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Croatia. [40014]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The United Kingdom has a resident ambassador in Zagreb. We established diplomatic relations with Croatia in January 1992.
Bangladesh
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Bangladesh. [40001]
Mr. Hanley: We have good and active relations with Bangladesh. We look forward to expanding our political, commercial and cultural links.
India
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with India. [39999]
Mr. Hanley: We have good and active relations with India. We look forward to expanding our political, commercial and cultural links.
Know-how Fund
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the amounts spent annually since 1989 on the British know-how fund; and if he will list the countries where it has been spent indicating the amount spent per country. [40086]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The amounts spent annually since 1989 on the British know-how fund are, in million pounds sterling:
1989 90: 63.888
1990 91: 13.676
1991 92: 33.395
1992 93: 44.866
1993 94: 57.750
1994 95: 77.286
Including 62 million from the Polish zloty stabilisation fund. Expenditure breakdown by country is as follows, in million pounds sterling:
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|1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albania |- |- |- |0.030 |0.361 |0.723
Armenia |- |- |- |0.014 |0.025 |0.079
Azerbaijan |- |- |- |0.081 |0.122 |0.441
Belarus |- |- |- |0.026 |0.086 |0.616
Bulgaria |- |- |1.034 |1.954 |1.857 |2.179
Czech Republic |- |- |- |- |2.768 |2.544
Former Czechoslovakia |- |1.954 |6.594 |7.238 |- |-
Estonia |- |- |0.008 |0.359 |0.310 |0.691
Georgia |- |- |- |0.026 |0.071 |0.496
Hungary |0.004 |1.487 |6.198 |5.794 |6.281 |4.599
Kazakhstan |- |- |0.005 |0.093 |1.012 |1.909
Kyrgyzstan |- |- |- |- |0.093 |0.436
Latvia |- |- |- |0.326 |0.259 |0.915
Lithuania |- |- |0.006 |0.404 |1.058 |0.900
Macedonia |- |- |- |- |0.174 |2.251<2>
Moldova |- |- |- |- |0.040 |0.124
Pan Baltic |- |- |0.036 |0.360 |0.627 |0.603
Poland |63.884<1>|10.067 |10.154 |10.586 |11.878 |10.973
Romania |- |- |0.926 |3.090 |3.741 |4.829
Russia |- |- |6.453 |9.024 |18.051 |30.088
Slovak Republic |- |- |- |- |2.569 |2.405
Slovenia |- |- |- |0.045 |0.492 |0.935
Tajikistan |- |- |- |- |- |0.081
Turkmenistan |- |- |- |- |0.001 |0.038
Ukraine |- |- |0.001 |2.879 |3.265 |5.330
Uzbekistan |- |- |- |0.190 |0.266 |0.302
Regional projects |- |0.168 |1.998 |2.346 |2.343 |2.799
<1>Including 62 million Polish zloty stabilisation fund
<2>Including 2.0 million economic support
On January 1 1993 the former Czechoslovakia divided into the Czech and Slovak Republics.
From then on assistance to these two countries is shown separately. Those joint programmes
which began before this date are still recorded under former Czechoslovakia.
Irish Territorial Claims
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government have raised the matter of the claim on the territory of the United Kingdom by the Irish Republic with international or regional bodies of which both countries are members. [39918]
Mr. Rifkind: No. Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom is not disputed in any international organisation of which the UK and the Republic of Ireland are both members. No purpose would therefore be served in raising the matter in any of these bodies.
Kashmir
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards relations between India and Pakistan in respect of their dispute over Kashmir. [40011]
Mr. Hanley: We have consistently encouraged the Indian and Pakistani Governments to resolve their dispute over Kashmir through bilateral negotiation.
Brazil (Makuxi Indians)
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Brazilian Government concerning the treatment of the Makuxi people by the Roraima state authorities. [38542]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The Government of Brazil are aware of our concern that the rights of the Makuxi and the other indigenous people of Brazil should be observed and protected. Our embassy in Brasilia keeps in regular touch with the Brazilian authorities and monitors the situation closely.
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Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to meet representatives of the Makuxi Indians of Brazil when they visit London later this month. [38543]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: Representatives of the Makuxi Indians will meet officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 1 November.
Former Communist Countries (Elections)
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about assistance provided by his Department to ensure free and fair elections in former communist countries. [37866]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We have provided a wide range of assistance to former communist countries, including advice on the drafting of constitutions and electoral laws, advice to a range of political parties on campaigning and party management, assisting the development of free and fair media as well as supporting the preparations for elections and election monitoring.
Visas
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out for each of the last five calendar years (a) the number of cases in which Ministers have reversed the decision of an entry clearance officer and (b) the country in which the entry clearance application was lodged. [40193]
Mr. Hanley: The information requested is not available for the years 1991 to 1993 as files are kept for only two years when a visa has been granted. For the years 1994 to 1995 the information is not available except at disproportionate cost.
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Arms Exports
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between his Department and BMARC between 1980 and 1992. [40103]
Mr. David Davis: Research undertaken in the context of the Trade and Industry Select Committee inquiry has revealed no evidence of any contact between BMARC and my Department between 1985 91. However, during the latter period my Department routinely saw export licence applications covering defence sales submitted by BMARC to the Department of Trade and Industry. Information is not readily available for the period prior to 1985. I will write to the hon. Member.
Intergovernmental Conference
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the 23 and 24 October meeting of the study group preparing for the
intergovernmental conference. [40395]
Mr. David Davis: I attended the 10th meeting of the study group, which took place in Brussels on 23 and 24 October, as the Foreign Secretary's representative. The meeting revisited a number of subjects which had come up in earlier discussions.
With regard to the European Court of Justice, I presented some British ideas for improving the operation of the court, and for helping to overcome problems which arise, especially where judgments may have disproportionate financial implications. Other members of the group had not yet examined our ideas in detail, but undertook to do so on the basis of a short paper which I had circulated to the group, and which has been placed in the Library of the House. The meeting considered a paper by the Council legal service on options for simplifying the treaties. I applauded the intention to increase transparency and public comprehension, but doubted whether it would be possible to simplify the structure or wording of the treaties very much without changing their effect. I agreed, nevertheless, that it should be possible to eliminate obsolete articles.
There was a brief discussion on the role of national parliaments. I again commended ideas in the European Legislation Committee's 24th report on the IGC, which had been circulated in the group. In particular, I supported the recommendation to introduce a formal treaty obligation that national Parliaments should have adequate time to scrutinise draft proposals before these are considered by the Council.
In a discussion of other Community institutions, I said that all of them needed to be reviewed in the light of experience of Maastricht, and in the expectation of further enlargements. In particular, I raise the question as to whether the Economic and Social Committee was still fulfilling the purpose for which it was intended now that the Commission was systematically engaging in direct consultation with interested parties through Green and White Papers, and following the creation of the Committee of the Regions.
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There was a brief discussion of ways in which fundamental rights are protected in the different member states, on the basis of a council legal service paper which has been placed in the Library of the House, together with other Council legal service papers on national parliaments, Council working methods and treaty simplification.Iran
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to improve relations with Iran following the public statements by the President and other members of the Iranian Government that they would play no part in any attempts on the life of Salman Rushdie. [40278]
Mr. Hanley: The Government of Iran have not yet given satisfactory assurances of Mr. Rushdie's safety. I urge them to do so.
Diplomatic Wing Cash Limits
Mr. Charles Wardle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he proposes to make in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits for 1995 96. [40634]
Mr. Hanley: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the following changes will be made: The cash limit for class II, vote 2--other external relations--will be increased by £80,001,000 from £211,632,000 to £291,633,000. The increase is in respect of contributions by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for international peacekeeping. The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the agenda of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting includes (a) reform of UN institutions, (b) good governance and (c) steps to reduce international debt. [40026]
Mr. Hanley: The Commonwealth Secretary-General, after consulting Heads of Commonwealth Governments earlier in the year, has proposed that each of these subjects be discussed at the Heads of Government meeting in New Zealand in November.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Prisoners
Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which prisons there are prisoners restricted to closed visits; and how many prisoners are involved. [38840]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
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Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Seamus Mallon, dated 30 October 1995:The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisons in which there are prisoners restricted to closed visits; and how many prisoners are involved.
On 26 October this year, there were fifteen prisoners in England and Wales subject to closed visits. Eight were at Belmarsh prison and seven were at Whitemoor.
Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for prisoners who are restricted to closed visits to have (a) visits from their legal advisers and (b) consular visits. [38843]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Seamus Mallon, dated 30 October 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the arrangements made for persons who are restricted to closed visits to have (a) visits from their legal advisors and (b) consular visits.
A policy of closed visits was introduced for category A exceptional risk prisoners on 20 June this year. The aim of the policy was to ensure the most secure conditions possible for the highest risk prisoners. Only the elimination of all contact between prisoner and visitor was regarded as ensuring this security. The position of legal advisors and consular officials was carefully considered before deciding that the policy should also be applied to them to avoid the possibility that they might become potential targets for intimidation, threats or taken hostage in order to coerce them into assisting escape attempts.
Visits for legal advisors and consular officials take place out of hearing, but in sight of, prison staff. Where it is necessary to pass documents from the visitor to the prisoner the documents can be placed in an envelope which is then passed through an X-ray machine. In the most exceptional circumstances, for example when there is a need to discuss matters with a large number of prisoners at the same time, an Operational Director may authorise an open visit.
Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A prisoners are currently in the prison system in (a) England and (b) Wales; and how many are in each
sub-category. [38847]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Seamus Mallon dated 30 October 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of category A prisoners currently held in prison establishments in (a) England and (b) Wales, and the number in each sub-category.
There are no prison establishments in Wales which hold category A prisoners on a permanent basis. For establishments in England, the information requested is given in the table below:
Number of category A prisoners held in prison
establishments in
England and the number in each escape risk
classification at
23October 1995
|Number
---------------------------------------------------
Exceptional escape risk |15
High escape risk |150
Standard escape risk |<1>645
Total number of category A prisoners |810
<1> Figure includes 19 young offenders.
Probation Services
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which ombudsman has jurisdiction to review the administration of probation and after care committees and their related probation services; and if he will make a statement. [39419]
Mr. Kirkhope: None. The operation of probation services is subject to inspection by Her Majesty's inspectorate of probation and to review by the Audit Commission.
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentages of the current probation service work force are (a) over 30 years, (b) male (c) from an ethnic minority background and (d) from a military, police or Prison Service background. [39624]
Mr. Kirkhope: The latest available information is as follows. At 31 March 1995, 35 per cent. of probation service staff--48 per cent. at probation officer grades--were male.
At 31 March 1994, 6.9 per cent. of probation service staff and the same proportion for probation officer grades were recorded as belonging to ethnic minority groups.
Statistics on the age and employment background of probation service staff are not collected centrally.
Excludes non-probation officer hostels staff and sessional supervisors.
Ms Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when circulars on changes to probation training were issued to chief probation officers and to relevant
universities. [39596]
Mr. Kirkhope: Copies of the decision document published on 2 October were sent the same day to each chief probation officer and university providing courses attracting Home Office sponsorship.
Ms Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for future financial arrangements of probation officer qualification training. [39595]
Mr. Kirkhope: As the decision document published on 2 October makes clear, the money now spent on supporting the sponsorship scheme will be devolved to area probation services to fund new training arrangements when the necessary plans and preparations have been satisfactorily made.
General Election Expenditure
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce limits to control the national spending by political parties in general elections. [39825]
Mr. Kirkhope: We have no such plans.
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Daylight Saving
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken and what plans he has for the future to press for the introduction of daylight saving time to reduce road casualties. [39822]
Mr. Kirkhope: Our policy on future summer time arrangements remain under review, including whether or not it would be right to move to central European time. The effect of any change on road traffic casualties is one of the many issues for consideration.
Religious Cults
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to allowing into the United Kingdom foreign nationals who are leaders of religious cults responsible for brainwashing and the breaking up of families. [40417]
Mr. Howard: All applications for entry are considered in accordance with the immigration rules, including the provisions relating to the refusal of entry on the ground that exclusion from the United Kingdom is conducive to the public good.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about Mr. Moon's application for entry into the United Kingdom. [40400]
Mr. Howard: I have directed that Mr. Moon should not be allowed entry to the United Kingdom, on the ground that his exclusion is conducive to the public good.
EU Common Visa List
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which date he expects visa requirements for entry into the United Kingdom to be determined by an EU common visa list in accordance with the regulation adopted at the Home Affairs Council meeting on 25 September. [39914]
Mr. Howard: From 3 April 1996. The common visa list is a list of countries to which a visa regime will be applied by all member states. Visas will remain national documents issued according to nationally determined criteria.
South Yorkshire Fire Service
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amendment is necessary to the Fire Services Act 1947 to enable South Yorkshire fire service to receive funding for a dedicated rescue vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [40002]
Mr. Kirkhope: Under section 1 of the Fire Services Act 1947 a fire authority has a duty to make provision for fire fighting purposes and, in particular, to secure the services of a fire brigade and equipment in order to meet efficiently all normal requirements. Section 3(1)(e) of the Act gives the fire authority discretionary
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powers to employ its brigade and use its equipment for purposes other than fire fighting. Fire authorities have been able to provide such services from within their existing resources.Bail Hostels, South Yorkshire
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail hostel places currently exist in South Yorkshire for (a) men and (b) women; and what was the figure for 12 months ago. [39564]
Mr. Kirkhope: There are currently 106 approved hostel places available in South Yorkshire for either men or women, and seven places designated for female residents only. In September 1994, there were 112 places available for either men or women, and five places designated for female residents only.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by location the number of places available in bail hostels in the county of South Yorkshire, at the latest available date and what were the figures 12 months ago. [39459]
Mr. Kirkhope: In September 1994 and September 1995, the number of places available in each of the South Yorkshire hostels was as follows:
|September 1994|September 1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Norfolk Park (Sheffield) |39 |39
Rookwood (Rotherham) |39 |39
Town Moor (Doncaster) |39 |35
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by location the occupancy rate for the hostels in the county of South Yorkshire at the latest available date; and what the figures were 12 months ago. [39460]
Mr. Kirkhope: In September 1994 and September 1995, the occupancy rate at each of the South Yorkshire hostels, as a percentage of funded beds, was as follows:
Percentage
|September 1994|September 1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Norfolk Park (Sheffield) |89 |87
Rookwood (Rotherham) |88 |91
Town Moor (Doncaster) |80 |86
Doncaster Prison
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 September checks have been made on alarm systems and security cameras at Doncaster prison; what are his Department's guidelines; and if he will make a statement. [39546]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
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