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Job Advertisements

Mr. Janner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for such job. [13824]

Mr. Howard: The following information relates to those posts advertised in the Home Office, including its agencies, other than posts advertised by prison establishments. Information about the latter could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

GradeNumber of postsApplications
Grade 51152
Grade 7117
Grade 7131
Senior Executive Officer120
Higher Executive Officer362
Executive Officer175
Administrative Officer1599
Administrative Assistant40175
Administrative Assistant123
Administrative Assistant245
Administrative Assistant110
Administrative Assistant210
Administrative Assistant (casuals)2691,058
Typist14
Typist26
Chaplain12
Chaplains111
Catering Manager19
Medical Officer17
Medical Officer19
Support Grade125
Support Grade218
Scientists383
Stores Attendant233

EU Legislation

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft EC legislation on the

12 Feb 1996 : Column: 410

grounds that a fiche d'imapct had not been correctly prepared. [13651]

Mr. Howard: The correct preparation of fiches d'impact is a very important part of our consideration of proposals for European Community legislation. It is one of the factors taken into account when Ministers consider the United Kingdom's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

Prisoners

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the relative cost, at the latest estimate, of keeping a prisoner in (a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related establishments. [14002]

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 Alan Walker to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 12 February 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the relative cost of keeping a prisoner in (a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related establishments.


"Haven't They Suffered Enough"

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what aid and assistance his Department proposes to give to the Refugee Council's appeal, "Haven't They Suffered Enough"; and if he will make a statement. [14244]

Mr. Kirkhope: We have no plans to provide assistance to the appeal.

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department issues on provision of accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees (a) to landlords and (b) to other bodies; and if he will make a statement. [14246]

Mr. Kirkhope: No guidelines on such matters are issued by the Home Office.

Wood Green Crown Court

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received regarding the quality of meals provided by Securicor at Wood Green Crown court; and what response his Department has made. [14582]

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.

12 Feb 1996 : Column: 411

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mrs. Barabara Roche, dated 12 February 1996:


Duchess of York

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times during each of the last three years police officers have travelled abroad as part of their duties in connection with the Duchess of York and her family. [14813]

Mr. Howard: For security reasons, it is not the practice to give details of the measures taken to protect the Duchess of York and her family.

Home Country Reports

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of all home country reports currently available; if he will undertake to place in the Library all such reports relating to countries designated as safe; and if he will place in the Library the home country report on Pakistan used by a Home Office presenting officer at an immigration appeal hearing in Leeds during 1995. [14120]

Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 8 February 1996]: Two country assessments--on Ghana and on Nigeria--have been completed and have been placed in the Library. Assessments on other countries, including Pakistan, are in preparation and will also be placed in the Library when they have been finalised.

PRIME MINISTER

Scott Inquiry

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister if he will ask Lord Justice Scott to disclose the names of journalists to be briefed and the dates of briefings in relation to the forthcoming report and the progress of the inquiry. [14269]

The Prime Minister: I have no plans to do so.

Rail Privatisation (Directorships)

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister what guidance he is giving retiring members or former members of his Administration or hon. Members in respect of their accepting directorships in privatised rail companies. [14144]

The Prime Minister: From the start of the current session of Parliament, Ministers who leave office will be expected to ask the independent advisory committee on business appointments about any appointment outside Government which they wish to take up within two years.

Senior Salaries Review Body

Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what is the average of the pay increases recommended by the Senior Salaries Review Body in the past year. [14617]

12 Feb 1996 : Column: 412

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Sir M. Shersby) on 8 February, Official Report, columns 294-96.

TRANSPORT

Crash Barriers

16. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used when deciding if crash barriers should be installed. [13033]

Mr. Watts: The criteria for the provision of crash barriers are contained in the Highway Agency's departmental standard TD 19/85. "Safety Fences and Barriers" and TD 32/93 "Wire Rope Safety Fences". Copies are lodged in the Libraries.

Disabled People (Access)

21. Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet representatives of the regional rail users consultative committees to discuss disabled persons' access to (a) railway stations and (b) trains. [13038]

Mr. Watts: My right hon. Friend meets members of the Rail Users' Consultative Committee from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

26. Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Rail Regulator to discuss disabled persons' access to the rail network. [13043]

28. Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Rail Regulator to discuss disabled persons' access to the rail network. [13045]

Mr. Watts: The Secretary of State meets the Rail Regulator on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of Rail Transport. His next meeting will be on Thursday 22 February.

29. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss disabled persons' access to, and safety on, air transport. [13046]

Mr. Norris: I have no plans to do so.

The Civil Aviation Authority is represented on the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee--DPTAC--working group on airports and on the Access to the Skies Committee.

Both these committees, on which my Department is also represented, are concerned with disabled persons' access to, and safety on, air transport.


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