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Manufacturing Exports
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the unit value of United Kingdom exports of manufactures for each quarter since 1974, the weighted average unit values for the main manufacturing countries less the United Kingdom and the index of United Kingdom competitiveness measured against those countries. [22966]
Mr. Oppenheim: I have been asked to reply.
Where available, the unit value indices data are published in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics". A measure of relative export prices is published in table 2.15 of "Economic Trends". Both publications are available on the central shared database, which can be accessed from the Library of the House.
PRIME MINISTER
Intergovernmental Conference
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what proposals Her Majesty's Government plan to introduce to the intergovernmental conference on openness; what response has been made to the Swedish Government's proposals for right of access to official documents; and if he will place in the Library a copy of all proposals submitted by EU member state Governments and received by him to the IGC on openness. [23818]
The Prime Minister: We are committed to greater openness in the European Union and have already supported a number of proposals to achieve this. We are considering our policy on openness in the intergovernmental conference, including how to respond to the Swedish ideas for a treaty right of access to official documents. We have already placed in the Library material from other Governments setting out their policy at the intergovernmental conference, including on openness.
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 2 April. [22607]
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 2 April. [22609]
The Prime Minister: This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
No. 10 Downing Street (Receptions)
Mr. Hall: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the dates on which the receptions were held for (a) the 45th winter ball and (b) the 46th winter ball. [24272]
The Prime Minister: A reception was held at No. 10 Downing street for the 45th winter ball on 7 November 1994.
The reception for the 46th winter ball was not held at No. 10 Downing street.
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 107
Mr. Hall:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all the functions and the dates on which they took place which were held at No. 10 Downing street since November 1990 where the costs have been met by (a) the winter ball, (b) the City and Industrial Liaison Council and (c) any of the regional industrialists councils which raise funds on behalf of the Conservative party. [24271]
The Prime Minister:
Two functions have taken place where the costs were met by the winter ball. These were on 8 December 1993 and 7 November 1994. There have been no functions where the costs have been met by the City and Industrial Liaison Council or any of the regional industrialists councils which raise funds on behalf of the Conservative party.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister (1) what action he proposes to take on concerns prompted by the Ames case and tainted intelligence referred to in paragraph 32 of the Intelligence and Security Committee report, Cm 3198; [24294]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to my letter of reply to the chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee at the front of the report in which I said:
(2) pursuant to paragraph 35, what action he proposes to take on significant lapses in the procedures for the briefing of Ministers as referred to in paragraph 32 of the Intelligence and Security Committee report, Cm 3198.[24295]
"In the light of what your report said about the Ames case, and as you suggested at our meeting, I have myself reviewed the evidence given to you. I feel satisfied that Ministers were adequately briefed on this case and that, on the evidence so far available, damage to United Kingdom interests was not great. But these are serious issues and I look forward to seeing your conclusions following your further investigations into these matters."
HOME DEPARTMENT
Deregulation
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals mechanisms, as laid out in section 6 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, he expects to establish by the end of 1996; how many staff each appeals system will employ; and what their estimated annual running costs will be. [23612]
Mr. Howard [holding answer 1 April 1996]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 1 April, Official Report, column 18.
Banned Drugs
Mr. Hawksley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will add gamma hydroxy butyrate to the list of banned drugs. [21963]
Mr. Sackville [holding answer 21 March 1996]: This substance is not currently under the control of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but I am asking the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to give the matter further consideration.
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 108
British Citizenship
Mr. Allason: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forms of political extremism are taken into account when applications for British citizenship are considered. [23843]
Mr. Kirkhope: In cases where the grant of British citizenship is discretionary, all aspects of an applicant's activities that might be relevant to the requirement that he is of good character are taken into account.
Prisoners (Mandatory Drug Testing)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the last 12 months have tested positive for using class C drugs as a result of mandatory drug testing; and if he will make a statement.[23828]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 2 April 1996:
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the last 12 months have tested positive for using class B drugs as a result of mandatory drug testing in (a) England and (b) Wales; and if he will make a statement. [23710]
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question regarding the number of prisoners who have tested positive for using class C drugs in the last 12 months.
Between February 1995 and January 1996 there were 186 random test results positive for benzodiazepines, the group of class C drugs for which tests are made. Results for February 1996 are not yet available.
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 2 April 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who have tested positive for using class B drugs in England and Wales during the last 12 months.
In English prisons, between February 1995 and January 1996, there were 2400 random test results positive for cannabis, amphetamines and barbiturates, the class B drugs tested for. The two Welsh prisons which began testing in December have had 17 positive random test results for class B drugs. Results for February 1996 are not yet available.
Doncaster Prison
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what negotiations have taken place between Premier Prison Services Ltd. and the Prison Service since the contract was signed, to alter (a) the catchment areas and (b) the courts from which prisoners are drawn; what decisions were made as a result of those negotiations; and on what dates; [23243]
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 109
- (2) to alter the terms under which particular prisoners can be transferred out of Doncaster; how many prisoners have been transferred under renegotiated terms; for what reason; and on what dates. [23244]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 2 April 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about what negotiations have taken place between Premier Prison Services Ltd and the Prison Service since the contract was signed to alter (a) the catchment areas; (b) the courts from which prisoners are drawn; and (c) the terms under which particular prisoners can be transferred out of Doncaster. You also asked what decisions were made as a result of those negotiations and how many prisoners have been transferred under renegotiated terms; for what reason and on what dates.
Miss Widdecombe:
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Person to Mr. George Howarth, dated 2 April 1995:
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 110
Doncaster on 20 June 1994; and what was the complement of full and part-time staff by grade on 20 March. [23242]
Miss Widdecombe:
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Mr. Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the complement of full-time and part-time staff by grade employed at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster on the first day of every month since December 1995; what proportion of the staff costs were met by the Prison Service under the terms of the contract with Premier Prison Services Ltd; and what proportion were met by the company. [23241]
There have been no negotiations and no change to the catchment area and therefore no change to the courts from which prisoners are drawn.
No change has been made to the transfer arrangements. Doncaster prison is a local prison and its function, as with other local prisons, is to hold prisoners who are remanded into custody and to ensure they are taken to courts in the catchment area for trial purposes. After conviction and sentence Doncaster prisoners, in common with other similar prisoners held in local prisons, are allocated to a training prison establishment, as vacancies arise.
Mr. Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the complement of full-time and part-time staff employed at Her Majesty's prison,
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the complement of staff at Doncaster prison.
The table below shows the complement of full-time and part-time staff (excluding sub-contractors) employed at Doncaster prison on the first day of each month since December 1995.
With the exception of the three Prison Service personnel at Doncaster prison, all staff (excluding sub-contractors) are employed by Premier Prison Services Ltd and funded through the contract fee paid by the Prison Service for the management of Doncaster prison. The deployment of these staff by grade is a matter for the company.
Month Full-time staff Part-time staff
December 1995 449 14
January 1996 449 18
February 1996 449 18
March 1996 449 18
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