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Buckinghamshire County Council (Resources)
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the special transitional grant and the social services standard spending assessment available to Buckinghamshire county council in each financial year from 1993-94 to 1996-97; and if he will make a statement. [4697]
Mr. Bowis: The information is shown in the table. Total resources available to Buckinghamshire county council for personal social services next year will be 35 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1993-94.
| Standard spending assessment | Special transitional grant for community care | |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 45.920 | 4.268 |
| 1994-95 | 55.524 | 7.177 |
| 1995-96 | 62.001 | 6.515 |
| 1996-97 | 68.723 | 4.179 |
Figures for 1996-97 are provisional, issued for consultation.
Population Statistics
Mr. Marlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the non-white proportion of (a) the electorate of London, (b) the population of London as a whole and (c) the population of London under the age of 16 years. [4595]
Mr. Horam: The electorial register does not give an indication of the ethnic group of electors, but information on people of voting age is shown in the table, together with the other information requested.
| Age group within Greater London private household population | Estimated percentage of people in ethnic groups other than White during period June 1994 to May 1995 |
|---|---|
| Aged 18 or over | 19.2 |
| Age under 16 | 33.8 |
| All ages | 22.5 |
7 Dec 1995 : Column: 384
NORTHERN IRELAND
Arms Decommissioning
11. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the number and type of illegally held firearms and ordnance and the percentage which would have to be decommissioned in order for all-party talks to commence. [3041]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: The security forces maintain information on illegal weapons holdings and supplies, but it would not be appropriate to make this public. There must be a credible and verifiable start to the process of decommissioning, sufficient to create the necessary circumstances of confidence for all-party round table talks to commence.
16. Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which groups in Northern Ireland have expressed their support for the decommissioning of arms as a precondition for the commencement of all-party talks on the political future of Northern Ireland. [3047]
Mr. Ancram: The position of the individual groups on the decommissioning issue is a matter for them.
The Government's position is that we cannot see a way in which to secure the necessary confidence to bring all parties to the negotiating table without a start being made to the decommissioning of illegal arms.
19. Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on achieving the decommissioning of arms; and if he will make a statement. [3051]
21. Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards the establishment of a disarmament commission to deal with the disposal of illegal weapons in Northern Ireland. [3053]
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what quantity of arms has to date been decommissioned by Republican terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland. [3036]
Sir John Wheeler:
There have been no illegally held arms or equipment decommissioned to date. However, as the House will be aware, the British and Irish Governments announced on 28 November that they have agreed to establish an international body to provide an independent assessment of the decommissioning issue. That body has now been established and has been asked to report to the two Governments by mid-January 1996.
12. Mrs. Bridget Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on co-operation with the Irish Government to promote peace in Northern Ireland. [3042]
17. Mr. Miller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on the Government's twin-track approach to the Northern Ireland peace. [3049]
7 Dec 1995 : Column: 385
20. Mr. Barnes:
To the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest position concerning the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [3052]
Sir Patrick Mayhew:
I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Wigan (Mr. Stott), for Bolsver (Mr. Skinner), for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) and for Neath (Mr. Hain).
15. Mr. Canavan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had about furthering the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [3046]
Sir Patrick Mayhew:
I have had numerous recent discussions about furthering the peace process with the Tanaiste, and with the leaders of the Northern Ireland political parties. Final negotiations between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach led to agreement and publication on 28 November of the two Governments' proposals for a twin-track process.
18. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects all-party talks to commence on the future constitution of Northern Ireland. [3050]
Sir Patrick Mayhew:
As stated in the joint communique issued by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach on 28 November 1995, which announced the "twin track" process, our firm aim is to launch all-party negotiations by the end of February 1996. We believe that, with co-operation from all the relevant parties in both tracks, this should prove achievable.
13. Mr. A. Cecil Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the timetable for construction of flyovers at west link junctions. [3043]
Mr. Moss:
Schemes to provide flyovers at the Grosvenor road and Broadway junctions are included in the Department's six to 15 year major road works programme. However, the possibility of carrying out such schemes under the private finance initiative is currently being explored and this may lead to their earlier implementation.
14. Mr. Austin Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence about future Army strength in Northern Ireland. [3044]
Sir Patrick Mayhew:
Army force levels in support of the RUC are an operational matter for the Chief Constable and the General Officer Commanding. I discuss such matters with the Secretary of State for Defence as appropriate and in the light of advice from the chief Constable and the GOC.
22. Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average time taken to obtain the extradition from the United States of America to Northern Ireland of a person suspected of having committed fraud after directions to prosecute have been issued in the United Kingdom. [3054]
7 Dec 1995 : Column: 386
Sir Patrick Mayhew:
There are no records of any such extraditions having been sought.
23. Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many statutory instruments have been passed through Parliament as a result of European Community directives in the past year. [3055]
Sir John Wheeler:
My right hon. and learned Friend has not directly sponsored any statutory instruments through Parliament as a result of European Community directives in the past year.
24. Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the most recent figures in respect of the level of inward investment into Northern Ireland. [3056]
Mr. Ancram:
So far this year, the industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland has announced 11 inward investment projects which offer the prospect of 3,655 new jobs.
25. Mr. Molyneaux:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the standards of financial accountability in regard to funds allocated to Northern Ireland through the European Union. [3057]
Sir John Wheeler:
All structural expenditure which is borne on the votes of Northern Ireland Departments is subject to the normal requirements of government accounting and to audit by the Northern Ireland Audit Office and by the European Court of Auditors. I am satisfied that the standard of financial accountability in regard to EU funds is satisfactory and we will continue to operate procedures which seek to safeguard the taxpayers' interest.
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