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ATTORNEY-GENERAL
National Audit Office
Mr. Byers: To ask the Attorney-General how many files marked "Not for NAO Eyes" are currently held by his Department. [24855]
The Attorney-General: The marking "Not for NAO Eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between
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Departments and the NAO and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current. There are 13 such files held in the Departments for which I am responsible, two of which are divided into two parts.
PRIME MINISTER
Interception of Communications Tribunal
Mr. Luff: To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made following the expiry of the terms of appointment of the members of the interception of communications tribunal on 10 April; and if he will make a statement. [25619]
The Prime Minister: Sir David Calcutt QC has been appointed vice-president of the tribunal. He and Mr. Peter Scott QC have been re-appointed to the tribunal for a further period of five years. Two new members, Mr. Robert Seabrook QC and Mr. William Carmichael, have also been appointed for a term of five years.
Hong Kong
Mr. Byers: To ask the Prime Minister if he met (a) Li Ka Shing, (b) David Choy, (c) Rong Yien, (d) Stanley Ho, (e) T. T. Tsui and (f) C. H. Tung at events during his visit to Hong Kong. [24569]
The Prime Minister: I met a broad range of business men, politicians and other opinion formers during my recent visit. I understand that Mr. Li Ka Shing attended a dinner at which I was present and Mr. C. H. Tung was
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present at my meeting with the Executive Council, of which he is a member. I an not aware of any other occasion.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
British Council
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many posts he estimates will be lost in the British Council over the next three years; and at what United Kingdom locations; [24912]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the number of posts within the British Council which will be lost by redundancy over the next three years; and at what cost. [24913]
Mr. Hanley: Following the recent public expenditure survey settlement, the British Council is still discussing with us its proposal for future manpower levels and for the distribution of resources.
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the British Council has to close United Kingdom offices within the next three years. [24898]
Mr. Hanley: The British Council is looking at options for further restructuring its UK network. This could involve the closure of some offices.
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the annual budgets for the British Council for (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96 and (c) 1996-97; and what are the projected budgets for (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 1998-99. [24910]
Mr. Hanley: The information is as follows:
| 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outturn | Forecast | Supply estimates | Government figures from baselines, other income and agency income from plans | ||
| FCO: grant in aid | 97.6 | (12)102.7 | (14)98.3 | (14)95.3 | (14)95.5 See note 3 |
| ODA: grant in aid | 34.5 | (13)34.3 | (15)32.7 | (15)29 | (15)26 |
| Other income | 123.2 | 138.2 | 142.6 | 147.6 | 157.4 |
| Agency income | 171.6 | 165.5 | 156.8 | 145.9 | 147.2 |
| Total | 426.9 | 440.7 | 430.4 | 417.8 | 426.1 |
(12) This figure includes £2.2 million overseas price mechanism and £2 million 1994-95 provision for capital expenditure rolled forward to 1995-96.
(13) This figure includes £750,000 OPM.
(14) These figures include estimates for OPM of £2.4 million.
(15) These planning figures exclude OPM.
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Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the effect of his proposed reductions in the British Council's budget over the next three years on the council's overseas operations. [24914]
Mr. Hanley: The reductions in the British Council's budget will require some adjustment to its overseas operations. The council has proposed a number of options which are still under consideration.
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he proposes to fund future redundancies within the British Council. [24911]
Mr. Hanley: The question of the funding of future redundancies is under discussion.
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Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current United Kingdom staffing levels within the British Council by location. [24915]
Mr. Hanley: The latest figures available for the British Council United Kingdom staffing levels, including the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, are as follows:
| Area | Number of staff |
|---|---|
| London | (16)700.00 |
| Manchester | (16)498.00 |
| Belfast | 13.50 |
| Edinburgh | 19.00 |
| Glasgow | 6.50 |
| Aberdeen | 1.00 |
| Dundee | 2.00 |
| Cardiff | 6.00 |
| Aberystwyth | 0.25 |
| Bangor | 0.50 |
| Swansea | 0.25 |
| Cambridge | 2.50 |
| Colchester | 0.50 |
| Norwich | 0.50 |
| Nottingham | 2.00 |
| Loughborough | 2.00 |
| Birmingham | 2.50 |
| Southampton | 1.00 |
| Brighton | 1.00 |
| Guildford | 0.50 |
| Canterbury | 1.00 |
| Bristol | 3.00 |
| Plymouth | 1.00 |
| Oxford | 3.00 |
| Reading | 2.00 |
| Newcastle | 3.00 |
| Leeds | 2.00 |
| Hull | 0.50 |
| Huddersfield | 1.00 |
| Sheffield | 0.50 |
| Total | 1,277.50 |
(16) These figures are full time staff equivalents paid through Chessington Computer Centre, February 1996.
1. Numbers of posts in all the regions have been taken from the April 1996 UK regional directory.
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Taiwan
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Taiwan; and what plans he has to visit the country. [25158]
Mr. Hanley: Her Majesty's Government have no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Informal links in trade, investment, tourism and educational exchanges have increased and improved in recent years.
I also refer the hon. Member to my response during the Adjournment debate on our relations with Taiwan on 13 March, Official Report, columns 940-47.
Neither I nor my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary have plans to visit Taiwan.
Mr. Byers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many files marked "Not for NAO Eyes" are currently held by his Department. [24849]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
This department currently holds 16 files marked "Not for NAO Eyes". This includes one file held at an overseas post.
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The marking "Not for NAO Eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NAO are not automatically available to the NAO while they are current.
Mr. Fatchett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to introduce charter standards for the work of entry clearance staff; and if he will make a statement. [25344]
Mr. Hanley:
Entry clearance issuing posts conform with a set of standards laid down in "Best Practice", a copy of which will shortly be placed in the Library of the House. Those standards include the requirement that entry clearance sections operate within the spirit of the citizens charter.
Mr. Fatchett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters from hon. Members were answered by the migration and visa correspondence unit in 1994; and how many were answered within 15 working days. [25345]
Mr. Hanley:
The unit answered 6,137 letters. The number of letters to which the unit failed to reply within 15 working days in 1994 is not readily available, more than 93 per cent. of letters received in the first quarter of 1996 were replied to within 15 working days.
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