| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Married Quarters Estate
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters properties are empty (a) in Lancashire and (b) in each local authority area in the country. [21246]
Mr. Soames: My Department owns 417 family quarters in Lancashire, 21 of which are currently vacant. Of these, 11 are presently unallocated and 10 are awaiting repair due to flood damage, etcetera. All these properties are required to house service families.
The local authorities are:
Preston: 2
Mr. David Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials responsible for administration of the MOD married quarters estate had been (a) made redundant and (b) dismissed between 1 April 1992 and November 1995. [21378]
The Fylde: 17
West Lancashire: 2.
Mr. Soames: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
RAF Personnel Management Centre
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about agency status for the Royal Air Force's personnel management centre. [21869]
Mr. Soames: Elements of the Royal Air Force's personnel management centre at RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, are to be considered as a candidate for agency status. The range of business being considered is the formulation and implementation of personnel management policy, the manning of posts and the career management of RAF personnel--both regular and reserves. Some 450 staff, over half civilians, are currently employed on these activities. Trade unions will be consulted on any proposals that arise from this review.
A "prior options" study is being undertaken to establish whether agency status or other options would be appropriate. Comments are invited from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 2 April 1996 to:
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 126
Air Marshal D Cousins CB AFC BA RAF
The Air Member for Personnel
Headquarters Personnel and Training Command
RAF Innsworth
Gloucester
GL3 1EZ.
Royal Navy (Vessel Procurement)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the cost of construction of the seven Trafalgar class strategic submarines nuclear (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices; [21396]
- (2) what was the cost of construction of the five Sandown class mine counter-measures vessels presently in service (a) at the year of construction and (b) at 1996 prices; [21392]
(3) what was the cost of construction of each of the 12 type 42 destroyers remaining in service (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices; [21394]
(4) what was the cost of construction of the 14 type 22 frigates built for the Royal Navy (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices; [21397]
(5) what was the cost of construction of each of the 10 type 23 frigates accepted into service (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices; [21395]
(6) what was the total cost of construction of the 13 hunt class MCMVs (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices. [21393]
Mr. Arbuthnot: My hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Defence procurement set out on 14 January 1988 the basis for discontinuing the practice of publishing unit production costs of selected equipments, Official Report, column 373. This remains our position. We continue to make available to the Defence Committee of the House each year on a classified basis costs for those ships currently in production.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applicants have been waiting for more than a year for a decision from his Department in respect of an appeal against a refusal of an application for asylum. [21486]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to expedite his Department's processing of appeals against a refusal of an application for asylum. [21487]
Mr. Evans: Additional adjudicators have been appointed and further recruitment plans are in hand. The number of hearing rooms has already been increased and further expansion plans are under consideration.
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 127
New asylum procedure rules aimed at reducing delays in the appeals process are being prepared following the recommendations in the report by KPMG Peat Marwick. The Lord Chancellor will consult interested organisations about the proposed new rules in due course.
Northern Ireland Court Service
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current financial cost of the social security commissioners and child support commissioners within the Northern Ireland court service; what were the costs in each financial year from 1990 to 1995; and if he will provide a breakdown of the costs. [20520]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The estimated financial cost of the office of the social security commissioners and child support commissioners for the current financial year is as follows:
| Commissioners' salary costs | Staff salary costs | Ancillary costs |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ |
| 175,426.44 | 102,290.94 | 47,373.11 |
Ancillary costs include postage, rent, electricity, maintenance, cleaning, service charges, telephones and travel.
The figures for each of the financial years from 1990 to 1995 are as follows:
| Commissioners' salary costs | Staff salary costs | Ancillary costs | Total
| Year | £ | £ | £ | £
| 1990-91 | 119,444.79 | 90,590.06 | 32,396.00 | 242,430.85
| 1991-92 | 135,786.72 | 98,128.08 | 45,373.65 | 279,288.45
| 1992-93 | 153,751.28 | 97,606.59 | 65,960.82 | 317,318.69
| 1993-94 | 159,295.20 | 94,985.61 | 68,472.05 | 322,752.86
| 1994-95 | 168,385.91 | 103,583.58 | 294,284.51 | 566,254.00
| | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The following amounts should be deducted from the overall yearly totals as they are recouped from the Department of Health and Social Services for the percentage of time spent by the commissioners and staff on cases involving non-contributory benefit:
1990-91: £67,588.04
1991-92: £75,578.39
1992-93: £34,940.86
1993-94: £99,465.27
1994-95: £106,077.08
1995-96: £51,359.19.
Executive Action
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those areas of executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20538]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: No areas have been identified, from readily available sources, in which there is a specific requirement to give reasons.
19 Mar 1996 : Column: 128
NORTHERN IRELAND
Health and Social Services Expenditure
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland further to the press statement issued on 12 February concerning health and social services expenditure for 1996-97 in respect of relative spending on health and social services in Northern Ireland and England, what is spending on health and social services per head in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) England. [20552]
Mr. Moss: Based on the 1995 public expenditure survey settlement, spending in 1996-97 on health and social services in Northern Ireland will be £954 per head. The comparable figure for England will be £835 per head.
Commonwealth Day
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what celebrations, events or festivities were held in Northern Ireland to celebrate Commonwealth day; and what was the cost of those events in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [20595]
Sir John Wheeler: Northern Ireland Departments did not arrange any celebrations, events or festivities. However, the Department of Education encourages schools, by way of a circular which issues annually, to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the celebration of Commonwealth day to increase pupils awareness of the nature and significance of the Commonwealth and to extend the range of their knowledge and understanding of it.
Metropolitan Transport Research Unit Report
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the report of the metropolitan transport research unit submitted to his Department by the Balmoral residents association. [20873]
Mr. Moss [holding answer 18 March 1996]: The report has been considered and a detailed response is being prepared.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |