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Buy American Act
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 December, Official Report, column 1176, what was the response of the US Government when he raised the question of "Buy American" clauses. [14805]
Mr. Arbuthnot: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence raised Her Majesty's Government's concerns over "Buy American" restrictions during his recent visit to Washington. The US Department of Defense has begun to remove such restrictions where they are not required for national security reasons or mandated by law, and is urging the US Congress to follow suit. Regrettably, Congress voted to retain several old restrictions and to introduce a number of new ones in this year's defence legislation. Her Majesty's Government will continue to press for the reversal of these damaging provisions.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Robin Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1 January 1995 (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) offficials in his Department have had contact with Lord Howe concerning his correspondence with the Scott inquiry. [14820]
Mr. Arbuthnot: Ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence have had no such contacts with Lord Howe.
Service Men, Bosnia
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to introduce a system of compensation or ex-gratia payments for service men injured in Bosnia, comparable to those available in Germany and Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [14921]
Mr. Soames:
Where an injury resulting in the death or invaliding of a service man or woman is attributable to service in Bosnia, benefits are paid both from the armed forces pensions scheme and from the Department of Social Security war pensions scheme. My Department also operates a scheme for criminal injuries compensation for members of the armed forces and their dependants who are victims of crimes of violence while serving overseas. Such compensation, however, is not payable where the injury to, or death of, a service man or woman was a result of war operations or, as in Bosnia, military activity by warring factions.
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A review of death and invaliding benefits for service personnel, and the criteria for their award, is currently being undertaken as part of the detailed study of the pensions recommendations made by Sir Michael Bett's independent review of the armed forces' manpower, career and remuneration structures.
Mr. Mans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of university air squadrons and air experience flights in Northern Ireland. [15283]
Mr. Soames:
The primary role of the university air squadrons is to attract new recruits of good quality and education into the Royal Air Force. The defence costs study "Front Line First" recognised the university air squadrons as a source of high calibre pilots for the RAF, but identified scope for rationalisation in the organisation as a whole. As part of rationalisation, it was proposed that the Queen's university air squadron--QUAS--being the least successful squadron in terms of providing pilot recruits for the RAF, should close. A consultative document covering this proposal was issued on 5 September 1995, recommending the closure of QUAS and, as a consequence, the closure of No. 13 Air Experience Flight based at Belfast.
My Department received a number of representations from Members of Parliament and other interested parties. The consultation included the trades unions and local authorities and full and careful consideration has been given to the representations received. Following this work, I am satisfied that no issues have been raised which call into question the viability of the proposals.
I have therefore decided with regret that QUAS and No. 13 Air Experience Flight should close at the end of this academic year. Air experience flying for air cadets will be provided by offering them places at summer camps on the mainland. We also propose to reactivate No. 664 Volunteer Gliding School at Belfast with immediate effect.
Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those officials in his Department who were authorised to sign F680 forms in the period June to December 1986. [14857]
Mr. Arbuthnot
[holding answer 12 February 1996]: No.
Mr. George:
To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Government responses to Select Committee reports have been made more than six months after the publication of the Committee's report in each parliamentary session since 1990. [15086]
Mr. Newton:
I shall write to the hon. Member with the information that he requests.
13 Feb 1996 : Column: 495
Mr. Rogers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the management costs for each health trust
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in Wales in (a) 1993-94 and (b) 1994-95 expressed as an actual figure and as a percentage of the total budget. [14453]
Sources:
(2) Welsh Office Management Costs Savings exercise--Audited data provided by the service.
(3) NHS Trusts Annual Accounts--management costs data were not recorded in annual accounts prior to 1994-95.
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13 Feb 1996 : Column: 495
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many beds there were in Welsh hospitals in each year since 1979. [14803]
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Schools Inspections
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of a school inspection per day for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Wales. [14530]
Mr. Richards:
This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales. I have asked Mr. Roy James to write to the hon. Member and will arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library of the House.
13 Feb 1996 : Column: 497
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14026]
Mr. Hague:
The Welsh Office issues guidance as appropriate to assist members of the public and others using Welsh Office services.
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