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Natural Resources Institute
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress there has been in deciding the future ownership of the Natural Resources Institute. [6789]
Mr. Hanley: We have carefully considered indicative offers for the ownership of the Natural Resources Institute received by the closing date of 16 October. The Government's objective is a transfer of ownership which will continue to provide a centre of multidisciplinary expertise on the sustainable management of renewable natural resources for ODA and other customers, gives staff a fair future, and represents value for money for the taxpayer. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has decided to invite final offers by the end of January 1996 from:
Cranfield university;
A consortium of the university of Edinburgh, university of Greenwich, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine and Wye College, university of London;
Serco International Ltd. in association with the university of Wales.
14 Dec 1995 : Column: 750
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list all qualitative and quantitative research projects and surveys carried out for his Department into aspects of public attitudes and opinions (a) in general and (b) in relation to specific policy proposals in each of the past three years to December 1995, indicating for each project or survey (i) the date on which the research was commissioned, (ii) the amount which his Department spent, (iii) who carried out the research, (iv) the number of people surveyed or taking part, (v) the location and time scale and (vi) the number of people surveyed or taking part, (vi) which individuals and organisations have been given access to the findings. [5972]
Mr. Newton: No such surveys have been carried out for the Privy Council Office in the last three years.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Debates (Bilateral Agreements)
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Lord President of the Council in what circumstances it is his policy to accede to a request for a debate by an hon. Member on certain bilateral agreements or international treaties. [5410]
Mr. Newton: It is not possible to specify, in advance, the circumstances in which a request for a debate will be acceded to.
PRIME MINISTER
Official Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 December. [4475]
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 December. [4476]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is in Paris signing the Dayton agreement on Bosnia.
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with Chancellor Kohl the aspects of the Lockerbie issue pertaining to events at the Rhein-Main airport at Frankfurt in December 1988, and the desirability of a trial of two Libyan suspects at The Hague, under a Scottish judge, under Scottish rules of evidence. [4162]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has no plans to do so.
14 Dec 1995 : Column: 751
Television Licence Fees
Mr. Coe: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will announce the television licence fees which will take effect from 1 April 1996. [3911]
Mr. Sproat [pursuant to his reply, 30 November 1995, Official Report, c. 818]: After further detailed scrutiny, an administrative error has come to light regarding the rounding of the figure for the new colour television licence fee payable from 1 April 1996. As a result of this additional review, licence fee payers will now have to pay only £89.50 for a colour television licence rather than the £90 initially announced.
This change will not affect the BBC's ability to provide its wide range of television and radio services. The BBC's own financial planning should already have anticipated the level of funding that it could expect in the financial year 1996-97.
This announcement does not affect the new black and white television licence fee, which will be £30 from 1 April 1996. The necessary regulations will be laid before the House in due course.
Morocco
Mr. Anthony Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage the Government of Morocco to release Jamaa Ait Bakrim. [5660]
Mr. Hanley: Our embassy in Rabat have been in contact with the Moroccan Ministry of Human Rights about this case. We understand that Mr. Bakrim is accused of proselytising and that his case has gone to appeal.
Gibraltar
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's position on the future of Gibraltar. [6250]
Mr. David Davis: The then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones) made clear the Government's position in the House on 6 December 1990, Official Report, columns 188-89. It has not changed.
First, and most important, Britain stands by its commitment to the people of Gibraltar, enshrined in the 1969 constitution. The Government will not enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes.
Secondly, we continue to recognise the validity of the treaty of Utrecht, which established British title to Gibraltar. Article X of that treaty gave Spain the right of "first refusal" if Gibraltar ceased to be British. Any constitutional change would have to be compatible with the treaty of Utrecht and sustainable in practice.
14 Dec 1995 : Column: 752
Independence would be an option for Gibraltar only if Spain agreed.
Thirdly, Spain is Gibraltar's immediate neighbour. The Government recognise the importance of negotiations with Spain, including through the Brussels process, to overcome the existing differences over Gibraltar. Our ultimate goal is to achieve a lasting solution which is acceptable to all parties and mutually beneficial.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of bills to his Department were paid in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice in the last year for which figures are available. [5704]
Mr. Hanley:
Both wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are committed to the Confederation of British Industry prompt payment code, which requires all invoices to be paid within the agreed credit period or within 30 days of receipt where no credit period has been agreed. The following table shows the percentage of invoices paid on time by the diplomatic wing, the Overseas Development Administration and the executive agencies Wilton Park and the Natural Resources Institute.
| DW | ODA | WP | NRI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 92 | 87 | 95 | 96 |
| 1995-96(10) | 92 | 91 | 100 | 93 |
(10) April-November.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide revenue forecasts for the current year and the next five years of expenditure on schemes provided under the PFI. [5754]
Mr. Hanley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 7 November 1995, Official Report, column 694.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of administration costs incurred to date and forecast for the future on PFI work. [5743]
Mr. Hanley: The FCO--diplomatic wing and the Overseas Development Administration--has incurred £38,870 identifiable staff costs and £20,257 consultancy costs in administering the PFI to date. The resources required to administer the PFI are kept under review.
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all qualitative and quantitative research projects and surveys carried out for his Department into aspects of public attitudes and opinions (a) in general and (b) in relation to specific policy proposals in each of the past three years to December 1995, indicating for each project or survey (i) the date on which the research was commissioned,
14 Dec 1995 : Column: 753
(ii) the amount which his Department spent, (iii) who carried out the research, (iv) the number of people surveyed or taking part, (v) the location and time scale and (vi) which individuals and organisations have been given access to the findings. [5986]
Mr. Hanley: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given by the then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) on 27 October 1994, Official Report, columns 760-61, and by the then Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 20 March 1995, Official Report, columns 48-49. The opinion survey in question has been published in the House of Commons Library.
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