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Armed Forces (Deaths)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths there have been among members of the armed forces since January 1991. [29646]
Mr. Soames: Since January 1991, the total number of deaths of serving personnel in the armed forces is 1,233.
Merchant Ships
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names and country of registration of all merchant ships chartered by his Department for Operation Purple Star. [29650]
Mr. Soames: The names and countries of registration of ships chartered for Exercise Purple Star is as follows:
Prince of Scandinavia: Danish
Dan Hafnia: Danish
Condock 3: German
Condock V: German
Kidira: Bahamian
Kapitan Mezentsyev: Ukrainian
Arcade Eagle: Norwegian
Arcade Falcon: Norwegian
Norcliff: Norwegian
Chodziez: Polish
Sochi: Maltese.
Suicides
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces have committed suicide since 1991. [29652]
Mr. Soames: Since January 1991, the total number of suicides by serving personnel in the armed forces is 135.
16 May 1996 : Column: 560
Kapitan Mezentsyev
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department chartered the Ukrainian merchant vessel, Kapitan Mezentsyev; what checks his Department made to ensure that it would meet American safety standards; when it was impounded by the American authorities; what were the reasons given by the American authorities for the impounding; what discussions his Department has had with the US authorities; if his Department has chartered a replacement vessel for Operation Purple Star; and who is financially responsible for the Kapitan Mezentsyev during Operation Purple Star. [29651]
Mr. Soames: The Kapitan Mezentsyev was chartered on 12 March 1996 on the basis that she complied fully with international port state control standards. She has passed an internationally recognised safety inspection carried out by the Dutch authorities in Flushing on 24 January. She was examined by my Department's marine superintendents on 8-9 April when she reported for loading. No serious defects were noted, and all her safety documentation was found to be in order.
The vessel was impounded on 22 April following a US port state control inspection, which identified a number of minor defects. These were subsequently remedied and, following a further inspection, the Kapitan Mezentsyev was released on 4 May. My Department naturally kept in close touch with the US authorities during the period when the vessel was confined to port.
The vessel was contracted to my Department for the purpose of transporting equipment to the US, and return, for Exercise Purple Star. The contract included a clause requiring the vessel to comply with US marine legislation. No charter fees were therefore attracted during the period she was impounded. Financial responsibility for effecting the repairs needed to satisfy the US authorities lies, of course, with the owners. There was no requirement to charter a replacement vessel.
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16 May 1996 : Column: 561
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many businesses in Northern Ireland have ceased trading (a) voluntarily and (b) involuntarily in each of the past five years. [28589]
Mr. Ancram:
The following information relates to companies for the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1995. The companies and insolvency report for the year ended 31 March 1995 contains further data and is available in the Library of the House.
| Companies which commenced winding up proceedings | Companies struck off the companies register | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year to 31 March | Members voluntary | Creditors voluntary | Court (Compulsory) | Total | |
| 1991 | 58 | 57 | 77 | 192 | 647 |
| 1992 | 57 | 69 | 100 | 226 | 787 |
| 1993 | 51 | 82 | 85 | 218 | 678 |
| 1994 | 50 | 76 | 74 | 200 | 522 |
| 1995 | 51 | 50 | 75 | 176 | 489 |
These figures do not include unregistered businesses which ceased trading voluntarily or involuntarily.
Brain Search Facilities
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) centres and (b) hospitals which provide minute brain search facilities; and if he will make a statement. [28636]
Mr. Moss: In Northern Ireland, all Health and Social Services trusts with acute hospital facilities are able to access neurological services. Regional neurosurgical services are provided by the Royal Group of Hospitals trust, Belfast. Further information can be obtained from the relevant chief executives.
Social Security Agency Customers
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Social Security Agency customers in receipt of unemployment benefit or income support in Northern Ireland currently sign on by post by reason of the distance of their place of residence from their local social security office; how many of these will be required to sign on and be interviewed in person after the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance at each social security office in Northern Ireland; if they will be provided with a travel warrant to cover the cost of a return journey between their place of residence and their local social security office; and how many additional client adviser posts will be created in each social security office to advise and help job seekers. [29143]
Mr. Moss: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
16 May 1996 : Column: 562
Letter from Alec Wylie to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 15 May 1996:
I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on Jobseeker's Allowance.
There are 20,781 customers in receipt of Unemployment Benefit or Income Support in Northern Ireland who currently sign on by post because of the distance of their place of residence from their local Social Security Office. Some 10,000 of these customers will be required to sign in person and be interviewed when Jobseeker's Allowance is introduced on 7 October 1996. After this date the criteria for postal signing will be revised whereby the jobseeker's journey from home to office or return would have to exceed one hour or their attendance would have to result in an overall absence from home (due to the infrequency of public transport) in excess of four hours. Any jobseeker who has a physical or mental disability which restricts their mobility would also be able to sign by post.
As is the case for all other jobseekers required to attend their local social security office on a regular basis, there will be no provision to meet the cost of travel. Travel expenses are only paid when a jobseeker has been requested to attend their local social security office on a day other than their signing day.
The staffing complement in the local Social Security Offices is presently being considered but it is estimated that the existing client adviser complement will be increased by 114 posts.
I hope this explains the position for you but I would be happy to provide any further information you require.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by constituency the number of (a) first visits and (b) repeat visits by potential inward investors and industrialists to Northern Ireland during the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996. [28979]
Sir John Wheeler: This information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on visits to Northern Ireland by potential investors and industrialists is recorded by district council area. A breakdown, on this basis, for the period requested is attached.
| District council | (15)Potential investors | (16)Industrialists | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Repeat | First | Repeat | |
| Antrim | 13 | 10 | 8 | -- |
| Ards | 1 | 2 | 4 | -- |
| Armagh | -- | 1 | -- | -- |
| Ballymena | 2 | 1 | 4 | -- |
| Ballymoney | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
| Banbridge | 2 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Belfast | 117 | 75 | 19 | -- |
| Carrick | 5 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
| Castlereagh | 7 | 2 | 13 | 1 |
| Coleraine | 1 | 2 | 4 | -- |
| Cookstown | 6 | 10 | -- | -- |
| Craigavon | 15 | 2 | -- | 1 |
| Derry | 23 | 10 | 4 | -- |
| Down | 2 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Dungannon | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Fermanagh | 5 | 7 | 4 | -- |
| Larne | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Limavady | 0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Lisburn | 27 | 18 | -- | -- |
| Magherafelt | -- | 4 | -- | 1 |
| Moyle | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Newry and Mourne | 12 | 6 | -- | -- |
| Newtownabbey | 15 | 9 | 17 | 2 |
| North Down | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Omagh | 2 | 4 | -- | -- |
| Strabane | 4 | 7 | -- | -- |
| Total | 274 | 188 | 98 | 9 |
(15) Potential Investors are defined as companies which visited Northern Ireland as a potential location for a mobile investment project.
(16) Industrialists are defined as companies which have visited Northern Ireland on a general fact finding basis, not related to a specific investment project--for example, inward missions from the Invest in Britain Bureau.
16 May 1996 : Column: 563
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