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Firearms
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many (a) handguns, (b) semi-automatic weapons and (c) automatic weapons were imported into the United Kingdom for non-military activity for each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement. [21713]
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Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 19 March 1996]: The information is not available because the system of classification under which United Kingdom trade is recorded does not separately identify handguns, semi-automatic and automatic weapons.
| Year | Number | Year £000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 192,605 | 12,578 |
| 1986 | 192,001 | 16,093 |
| 1987 | 182,203 | 16,438 |
| 1988 | 179,696 | 13,584 |
| 1989 | 178,153 | 14,986 |
| 1990 | 167,799 | 14,504 |
| 1991 | 167,796 | 13,081 |
| 1992 | 184,161 | 11,753 |
| 1993 | R | 12,657 |
| 1994 | R | 13,845 |
| 1995 | R | 15,599 |
Notes:
1. Non-Military arms are defined by heading 894.6 of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2) for 1985-1987, and heading 891.3 of SITC (REV 3) for 1988-1995.
R = Restricted due to commercial confidentiality.
Source:
Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.
Loan Guarantee Scheme
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the loan guaranteed by his Department to Queensbury International Ltd., Plymouth under the loan guarantee scheme in 1994. [22568]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 25 March 1996]: This information is commercially confidential between the Department and the lender.
Merseyside Dock Dispute
Mr. Parry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the latest development at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service in respect of the Merseyside dock dispute; and if he will make a statement. [22124]
Mr. John M. Taylor [holding answer 26 March 1996]: I understand that the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is in touch with the parties and is available to become involved if both sides so wish.
Departmental Secondment
Mr. Caborn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, Official Report, columns 637-40, he will describe the role of those on temporary secondment to his Department through (a) the export promoter initiative and (b) the programme of interchange of staff with the private sector; and if he will state the duration of the secondments. [22789]
Mr. John M. Taylor [holding answer 27 March 1996]: The role of individuals seconded into the Department as part of the export promoter initiative is to identify export opportunities and to advise UK companies on the best ways in which to pursue them. The role of individuals seconded
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into the Department as part of the on-going programme of interchange of staff with the private sector varies according to the division in which they work. Details can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The duration of export promoters' secondment is usually about two years. Other secondments vary in length, and are usually between one and three years.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Cyprus
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the retention of (a) sovereign bases and (b) troops at sovereign bases in Cyprus. [23040]
Mr. Soames: I have been asked to reply.
Under the 1960 treaty concerning the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus--Cmnd. 1252--the United Kingdom retained two sovereign base areas at Akrotiri and Dhekelia for use solely as military bases. The bases and the associated garrisons provide facilities for strategic communications, including the major airfield at RAF Akrotiri, as well as hot weather training. We do not envisage any significant changes in the requirement for the sovereign base areas.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Consultations
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the oral statement by the Prime Minister on 28 February, Official Report, columns 900-12, if he will list the names of the Northern Ireland parties which are qualified to be involved in the intensive consultations beginning on Thursday 4 March; and if he will list the names of those parties with a mandate which have not been invited to participate in the consultations.[18931]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: The following parties were involved in the intensive consultations announced in the Prime Minister's statement of 28 February 1996:
the Alliance party of Northern Ireland, Democratic Left, Progressive Unionist party, Northern Ireland Conservative Association, Social Democratic and Labour party, Ulster Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster Democratic party, Ulster Unionist party, Workers' party and Mr. Robert McCartney QC MP.
Quangos
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations there are in Northern Ireland; and how many there were (a) five and (b) 10 years ago. [22441]
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Sir John Wheeler: The current number of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations in Northern Ireland is 98. In 1990 and 1985 respectively, the number was 116 and 117.
Sir Len Peach
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what means Sir Len Peach is informed that persons proposed for public appointments are the nominees of the Government of the Irish Republic; and how many such persons have been appointed to which posts since Sir Len Peach took up his office. [22138]
Sir John Wheeler: The role of Sir Len Peach as Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland is to monitor, regulate and approve departmental appointments procedures, to publish guidance for Departments on the new procedures they will be expected to follow in making public appointments from July of this year, and to produce a code of practice and an annual report. The commissioner will not be involved in the process of making any public appointments and will not, therefore, receive identifying information on persons proposed by the Irish Government. Departments' procedures will be subject to audit. In addition, the commissioner will be able to investigate and deal with complaints.
Four persons proposed by the Irish Government have taken up public appointments since 18 December 1995, the date on which Sir Len Peach took up office. It is not my practice to publish details of individuals so appointed.
Public Bodies
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland distributed (a) in the last financial year, (b) five and (c) 10 years ago. [22437]
Sir John Wheeler: The information requested is as follows:
1994-95: £208,054,987
1989-90: £132,339,172
1984-85: £241,383,006.
Sir John Wheeler: The Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration investigates complaints of alleged injustice as a consequence of maladministration by Northern Ireland Departments, including their agencies, while the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints investigates similar complaints against local and public bodies.
In 1995, the Commissioner for Complaints received 291 complaints against non-departmental public bodies and, of these, 24 were upheld. The equivalent figures for five years ago and 10 years ago are as follows: 256 complaints received in 1990 of which seven were upheld; 338 complaints received in 1985 of which 10 were upheld.
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Mr. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people sit on the boards of non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland; how many people are on more than one non-departmental public body; and if he will list the names of those sitting on more than one non-departmental public body indicating the organisations concerned. [22438]
Sir John Wheeler:
The information requested by the right hon. Gentleman has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those American-owned businesses in Northern Ireland which operate the McBride principle. [22158]
Mr. Ancram:
This information is not held by the Government. It is a matter for the companies concerned.
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