House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 7 May 1996 (pt 5)

British Service Men's Graves

Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department has evaluated about the recent plundering of graves of British service men killed on the Somme and at Ypres in the first world war; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement. [27931]

Mr. Soames: My Department deplores the desecration of previously unidentified war graves, wherever they may be discovered throughout the world. Individuals are expected to respect all past battlefields, which may be the last resting place of so many, and not to disturb them.

Where human remains are found, it is the responsibility of the individual to inform the local authorities who, in the case of remains dating back to either of the two world wars, will collaborate with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The commission, in turn, will arrange for a suitable military funeral in one of its military cemeteries, as close to the original burial site as possible. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is aware of the content of the article published in the Sunday Times for 28 April and has confirmed that appropriate action has been taken.

Rotary Wing Support Helicopters

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department first permitted women in the RAF to serve on rotary wing support helicopters. [28167]

Mr. Soames: The Department first permitted women in the RAF to serve on rotary wing support helicopters in 1991.

Business Subsidies

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the grants and loans provided by his Department to businesses, together with the criteria they have to meet in order to obtain the subsidy. [28185]

Mr. Arbuthnot: It is not the policy of the Ministry of Defence to provide financial subsidies to industry.

Phoenix

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce a decision of the future of Phoenix; and if he will make a statement. [28396]

Mr. Arbuthnot: I hope to make an announcement before the summer recess.

Works of Art

Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's works of art are classified as missing. [26935]

7 May 1996 : Column: 22

Mr. Arbuthnot: One hundred and seven works of art belonging to my Department's collection are classified as missing.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Public Servants (Forum)

Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if public servants are eligible to serve as delegates in the forum; under what conditions civil servants will be permitted to be candidates; and which social security benefit payments will be affected by delegates' allowances. [26730]

Sir Patrick Mayhew: Under the provision of the legislation public servants are eligible to serve as delegates in the forum. Pursuant, however, to the Northern Ireland civil service non-industrial pay and conditions of service code civil servants to whom the code applies will not be permitted to serve as delegates in the forum or to put themselves forward as candidates. Similar conditions apply to home civil servants.

The extent to which any social security benefit is affected will depend on the amount of the allowance and the individual's circumstances. Benefits which could be affected by delegates' allowances are: income support, unemployment benefit, invalid care allowance, disability working allowance, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance, retirement pension--if the member is a dependant on a spouse's claim--and family credit, for fresh and renewal claims.

"Making Belfast Work"

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many team leaders of the "Making Belfast Work" south and east team there have been in the past two years; how long the present acting team leader has been in position; when a permanent team leader will be appointed; and for what reasons there was no full-time replacement when the acting team leader was recently on leave. [27153]

Mr. Moss: "Making Belfast Work", south and east team has had two team leaders in the past two years. An acting team leader has been in post since February 1996.

A Northern Ireland civil service trawl competition is under way at present to appoint a permanent team leader to the team.

Another team leader has been covering the south and east area until the acting team leader returns from leave. In accordance with normal practice, a full-time replacement is not provided to cover periods of leave.

Dental Caries (Children)

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of five-year-old children in Northern Ireland had dental decay in (a) 1990, (b) 1992 and (c) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [27438]

Mr. Moss: Every two years the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry conducts a survey of dental caries prevalence in children aged five throughout the United Kingdom. However, the survey did not extend

7 May 1996 : Column: 23

to Northern Ireland until 1994 and figures are not therefore available for 1989-90 or 1991-92. Figures for 1995-96 will not be available until March 1997. The latest available information, for 1993-94, shows that the mean percentage of five-year-old children in Northern Ireland for whom there is evidence of caries experience is 59 per cent.

Employees' Rights

Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what provision is available to employees of his Department for (a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home-working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) workplace nurseries, (m) child care allowances, (n) carers' leave and (o) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case; [27586]

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)

(j)

(k)

(l)

(m)

(n)

(o)

Sir John Wheeler: The information requested is as follows:

Subject Provision Main eligibility criteria

a. maternity leave b. maternity pay 3 months and 1 week paid leave for monthly paid staff and 14 weeks for weekly paid staff Available to permanent staff who intend to return to work after childbirth, are in paid service at the time maternity leave begins and have rendered at least one year's such service.

c. paternity leave 2 days' paid leave Available to all male officers.

d. parental leave No specific provision. However in cases of urgent domestic distress, at Departmental or Agency discretion: (i) paid leave to a maximum of 5 days(ii) unpaid leave All staff are eligible to apply. Each application is considered sympathetically and a decision taken on the circumstances of the individual case, having regard to the effect of such leave on the business needs of Departments and Agencies.

e. flexible working hours Flexible systems for the attendance of staff are widely available providing scope for individuals to vary times of arrival and departure, length and timing of lunch break and to take time off if they work additional hours. Available to all staff unless, exceptionally, such provision would have an adverse effect on overall efficiency.

f. part-time work Available at Departmental or Agency discretion. All staff are eligible to apply. Each application is considered on the basis of the ability of Departments and Agencies to provide the facility requested and its effect on their business needs, but no request is refused unless there is appropriate objective justification.

g. job-sharing Available at Departmental or Agency discretion. As for part-time work (f) above.

h. leave to care for sick children Paid and unpaid leave available at Departmental or Agency discretion. As for parental leave (d) above.

i. home- working j. term-time contracts Available at Departmental or Agency discretion in a limited number of areas at present, with consideration being given to wider application. Where appropriate, applications are considered taking account of the circumstances of the individual case and having regard to the effect on the business needs of the Department or Agency.

k. annual hours contracts Not available. --

l. workplace nurseries Available on a limited basis, for the children of staff working in the Northern Ireland Office, London (See also Note 1) Places allocated in order of application.

m. childcare allowances At Departmental or Agency discretion where this can be justified on value for money grounds. At present the Child Support Agency and the Department of the Environment provide assistance towards the cost of an employee placing a child in a nursery of the parent's choice. (i) one of the parents/guardians must be an employee of the Department or Agency; (ii) the nursery must be registered with the relevant Health and Social Services Board; (iii) the allowance is payable only until the child begins primary school.

n. carers' leave At Department of Agency discretion: (i) paid leave to a maximum of 5 days; (ii) unpaid leave. As for parental leave (d) above.

o. career break schemes At Departmental or Agency discretion unpaid leave may be granted for any period from one year up to a maximum of 5 years. All staff are eligible to apply. Career Breaks are available for most purposes including further education, domestic responsibilities, starting a business, maintaining a family business or a stay abroad.

Subject	Provision	Main eligibility criteria
a. maternity leave b. maternity pay	3 months and 1 week paid leave for monthly paid staff and 14 weeks for weekly paid staff	Available to permanent staff who intend to return to work after childbirth, are in paid service at the time maternity leave begins and have rendered at least one year's such service.

c. paternity leave	2 days' paid leave	Available to all male officers.

d. parental leave	No specific provision. However in cases of urgent domestic distress, at Departmental or Agency discretion: (i) paid leave to a maximum of 5 days(ii) unpaid leave	All staff are eligible to apply. Each application is considered sympathetically and a decision taken on the circumstances of the individual case, having regard to the effect of such leave on the business needs of Departments and Agencies.

e. flexible working hours	Flexible systems for the attendance of staff are widely available providing scope for individuals to vary times of arrival and departure, length and timing of lunch break and to take time off if they work additional hours.	Available to all staff unless, exceptionally, such provision would have an adverse effect on overall efficiency.
f. part-time work	Available at Departmental or Agency discretion.	All staff are eligible to apply. Each application is considered on the basis of the ability of Departments and Agencies to provide the facility requested and its effect on their business needs, but no request is refused unless there is appropriate objective justification.

g. job-sharing	Available at Departmental or Agency discretion.	As for part-time work (f) above.

h. leave to care for sick children	Paid and unpaid leave available at Departmental or Agency discretion.	As for parental leave (d) above.

i. home- working j. term-time contracts	Available at Departmental or Agency discretion in a limited number of areas at present, with consideration being given to wider application.	Where appropriate, applications are considered taking account of the circumstances of the individual case and having regard to the effect on the business needs of the Department or Agency.

k. annual hours contracts	Not available.	--

l. workplace nurseries	Available on a limited basis, for the children of staff working in the Northern Ireland Office, London (See also Note 1)	Places allocated in order of application.

m. childcare allowances	At Departmental or Agency discretion where this can be justified on value for money grounds. At present the Child Support Agency and the Department of the Environment provide assistance towards the cost of an employee placing a child in a nursery of the parent's choice.	(i) one of the parents/guardians must be an employee of the Department or Agency; (ii) the nursery must be registered with the relevant Health and Social Services Board; (iii) the allowance is payable only until the child begins primary school.

n. carers' leave	At Department of Agency discretion: (i) paid leave to a maximum of 5 days; (ii) unpaid leave.	As for parental leave (d) above.

o. career break schemes	At Departmental or Agency discretion unpaid leave may be granted for any period from one year up to a maximum of 5 years.	All staff are eligible to apply. Career Breaks are available for most purposes including further education, domestic responsibilities, starting a business, maintaining a family business or a stay abroad.

Currently eight holiday play schemes, which are open to the children of all staff are assisted financially by the Department of Finance and Personnel.

7 May 1996 : Column: 25

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