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NORTHERN IRELAND
Ulster-Scots Language
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make representations to the Arts Council to (a) accord the Ulster-Scots language the same recognition in future publications as it did to the Irish language on its final strategy report and (b) develop a similar approach to Ulster-Scots as it has to Irish in its strategy for the arts in Northern Ireland. [12825]
Mr. Ancram: No. The Arts Council for Northern Ireland is aware that the Government expect it to accord recognition to Ulster-Scots arts, just as the Scottish Arts Council does for work in the Scots language.
Mitchell Commission
Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of the Mitchell Commission; and what percentage of this was paid by (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the Irish Government. [14000]
Sir John Wheeler: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for North Down (Mr. McCartney) on 5 February 1996, Official Report, column 75.
Irish Language
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the Irish Government or the European Commission to have the rules governing Irish language qualifications for teaching appointments rescinded. [14547]
Mr. Ancram: This has been the subject of occasional discussion between officials from each jurisdiction. I am pleased to note that Mrs. Bhreathnach recently announced new provisions which ease the requirement in certain circumstances.
School Transport (Belfast)
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will create a special beneficial home-to-school free transport category for Belfast city centre grammar schools whose catchment area necessarily includes Greater Belfast and North Down; and if he will make a statement. [14548]
Mr. Ancram: No. Following consultation on proposals for revising the school transport arrangements, I have decided that there should be no change in the present arrangements in the school year beginning next September. My Department will, however, be writing to education and library boards about the arrangements for taking forward further detailed consideration of the options for reducing expenditure on home-to-school transport, including consultation with schools and other interests.
Student Grants
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applicants for student
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awards for fees and maintenance payments have been recently turned down because parents do not meet the three-year residency rule; and if he will consider an alternative rule for United Kingdom citizens who have spent the majority of the previous two decades within the United Kingdom. [14549]
Mr. Ancram:
In the 1995-96 academic year 36 applicants for mandatory and discretionary awards administered by the education and library boards were ineligible because of the residency rule. No applicants were ineligible on these grounds for the postgraduate awards made by the Department.
There are no plans to change the residence requirements, which are common throughout the United Kingdom.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of
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unemployed persons are (a) Protestant, (b) Catholic and (c) other; what are the ratios between the categories; and what number and percentage of each were (i) male and (ii) female. [14550]
Sir John Wheeler:
The 1991 census of population recorded information on the religion and employment status of individuals and results are available for the main denominations separately. Information is not presented on an amalgamated Protestant category as a specific question on this was not included in the census and the large number of small religions recorded make precise classification difficult. A comprehensive list of denominations included in the "other denominations" category is recorded on page xvi of the Northern Ireland census 1991 religion report. Requests for tables on amalgamations of individual religious denominations can be produced by the census office for Northern Ireland based on specifications supplied by users. Information on the main denominations and other groups approximating most closely that requested is provided in the table.
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(12) The unemployment rates are calculated by expressing the number recorded as economically active out of employment as a percentage of the total economically active.
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Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police cautions for burglary have been given in the last five years. [14552]
Sir John Wheeler:
I very much regret that the information is not at present available in the form requested. I am seeking to establish the means within the Royal Ulster Constabulary to ensure that it is available in future.
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Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the future of the Training and Employment Agency. [15310]
Mr. Ancram:
A prior options review and an evaluation of the Training and Employment Agency have been completed. On the basis of these Ministers concluded that the agency should continue as a next steps agency with the same operation responsibilities for a further five years. In November 1995, Ministers agreed a new framework document for the agency which, among other things,
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commits the agency to seeking further involvement of the private sector in the delivery of programmes and services. The new framework document has now been printed and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a replacement grant to the Northern Ireland Boys' Football Association in place of that withdrawn by the Sports Council; and if he will meet a delegation from the Sports Council to discuss its recent report on the organisational needs of ungranted non-school boys' football. [13803]
Mr. Ancram
[holding answer 8 February 1996]: The provision of grant is a matter for the Sports Council.
The council has advised that it has not sought a meeting, nor has it produced a report.
Mr. McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the criteria used by Price Waterhouse to argue for the abolition of the team grant in its review of the junior sports club scheme. [13804]
Mr. Ancram
[holding answer 8 February 1996]: Decisions in the light of the Price Waterhouse report were a matter for the Sports Council, and were taken on the basis that the promotion of sport for young people could be undertaken more effectively and efficiently by other means. Support for youth football is being maintained, but has been refocused to increase effectiveness and value for money.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, when the Church Commissioners decided that they would invest in companies producing armaments where armaments make up less than 30 per cent. of a company's portfolio; on what occasions in the last five years the cut-off point has been altered; and what it was previously. [14500]
Mr. Alison:
The commissioners do not operate this policy through the application of percentages. Those companies in which we invest and which derive a significant proportion of business from armaments or any of the other banned categories--tobacco, newspapers, gambling, brewing and distilling--are automatically put on the agenda for review by the ethical working group.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what talks the Church Commissioners have held with the General Electric Company; what was the subject of the talks; and what conclusions were reached. [14499]
Mr. Alison:
The commissioners met David Newlands, finance director of GEC, on 19 July 1995 to discuss the company's role in the defence industry and to gain a clearer understanding of its corporate strategy.
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We were informed that GEC is a multi-product company employing 86,000 people and assured that all military equipment sales made by GEC were to the Her Majesty's Government or sponsored by Her Majesty's Government and that they were subject to rigorous controls. The equipment is used in the defence of our country, our NATO partners and allies. Its corporate governance standards were deemed to be high.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, which (a) armaments companies and (b) other companies the Church Commissioners have disinvested from, or decided not to invest in, because of their ethical policies in the last five years. [14498]
Mr. Alison:
The commissioners refrain from investing in any company whose main business is in armaments, newspapers, gambling, brewing and distilling.
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