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Computers (Millennium)

Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made of the cost effects of the millennium date change on the computer systems operated by his Department. [32672]

Mr. Hague: An assessment of the effect of the millennium date change on my Department's computer systems has recently been undertaken. I do not expect there to be any major costs involved in ensuring that my Department's computer systems can cater for the year 2000.

Welsh Economic Performance

Mr. Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Welsh economy. [33147]

Mr. Hague: The Welsh economy has made great progress over recent years and is now acknowledged to have significant strength, not least in its manufacturing sector.

I have today published a comprehensive report, entitled "Meeting the Challenge", analysing Wales's current position. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Scottish Visitors

9. Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of visitors from Scotland to Northern Ireland in (a) 1995 and (b) 1994. [30931]

Mr. Ancram: The total number of visitors from Scotland to Northern Ireland in 1995 was 207,000--up 22 per cent. on the 170,000 of the previous year. The number of holidaymakers increased by 76 per cent. in that period.

Peace Process (Terrorists)

11. Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the

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number of persons with convictions for terrorist offences who are (a) members of the forum and (b) involved in the negotiating teams. [30933]

Sir Patrick Mayhew: The considerable difficulties involved in obtaining the information make it impossible for me to make available the details requested. Such investigations would require not only the full name, date of birth and current address of each individual concerned but, in order to be absolutely sure of correct identification, a full set of fingerprints.

Terrorist Murders Monument

12. Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to commission a national monument to those civilians and members of the police and armed forces who have been killed by terrorist action. [30934]

Sir John Wheeler: There are no plans to commission such a monument.

Peace Process

13. Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress in the peace process. [30935]

15. Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest position over political developments in Northern Ireland. [30937]

23. Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the all-party talks process at Stormont. [30947]

25. Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the peace negotiations in Northern Ireland. [30950]

Sir Patrick Mayhew: All-party negotiations began on Monday 10 June in plenary session involving negotiating teams from those parties invited to participate together with the British and Irish Governments.

The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach opened the proceedings. Following a round of intensive bilateral discussions on 10 and 11 June, Senator Mitchell assumed the chair of the opening plenary session. General de Chastelain and Mr. Holkeri were appointed as chairman of strand 2 and the business committee, and alternate chairman respectively. All the delegations present committed themselves to the Mitchell principles of democracy and non-violence and the Democratic Unionist party and Mr. McCartney also did so during later discussions. The parties are now conferring on various important procedural issues.

Arts Funding

14. Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current expenditure from public funds on the arts; what it was (a) five, (b) 10, (c) 15 and (d) 20 years ago in real terms; and if he will make a statement. [30936]

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Mr. Ancram: Government expenditure on the arts in the last year was £7.2 million compared, in real terms, with £6.5 million five years ago; £5.2 million 10 years ago; £3.8 million 15 years ago and £3.5 million 25 years ago.

Decommissioning

16. Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in decommissioning paramilitary-held weapons in Northern Ireland. [30938]

Sir John Wheeler: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Mrs. Prentice).

Terrorism

17. Dr. Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the level of the current terrorist threat. [30939]

21. Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make an assessment of the current terrorist threat. [30945]

Sir John Wheeler: The various terrorist gangs retain their structures and weaponry; they continue to train and to target individuals and installations. Recent activity has included robberies, punishment attacks and murders in Northern Ireland, and the renewed bombing campaign in London.

Punishment Beatings

18. Mr. Jacques Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the current levels of punishment beatings; and what assessment he has made as to the responsibility for them. [30941]

Sir John Wheeler: So far this year, there have been 124 so-called punishment attacks. Of these, 72 have been attributed to Republican groups and 52 to loyalist groups, including five victims who were shot.

These crimes are against all concepts of justice and human rights. There is no doubt that terrorist groups control these barbaric activities and that, if they wished to call a halt, they could do so immediately. Sinn Fein claims to have signed up to the principles set out in the report of the international body, but one of these principles calls for a commitment to try to stop "punishment" attacks and to take effective steps to prevent such actions. The House will note that to date there is no evidence of these attacks ceasing.

Deregulation (Small Businesses)

20. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making with regard to reducing costs to small businesses as a result of UK deregulation initiatives. [30943]

Mr. Ancram: Good progress has been made:

104 NI regulations affecting business have been repealed or amended;
food legislation and planning and building requirements have been simplified;
tax, national insurance and value added tax systems have been streamlined;

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a major initiative to simplify health and safety guidance and reduce paperwork is in hand.

Elections

22. Mr. Riddick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the outcome of the elections in Northern Ireland. [30946]

Mr. Ancram: As intended, the 30 May election opened the way to substantive all-party negotiations which began on 10 June and allowed the various parties to come fortified by an electoral mandate. The high turnout demonstrated the wish of the people of Northern Ireland for political dialogue.

Employment and Training

24. Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further measures are proposed to increase employment and training opportunities in Northern Ireland over the next 12 months. [30949]

Mr. Ancram: The Government continue to give a very high priority to those successful policies which have contributed to the development of the economy and provided increased employment opportunities. This is clearly evidenced by the high levels of employment being maintained, currently at 573,880 (March 1996). Our on-going commitment is further witnessed by the allocation in 1996-97 of some £455 million in support of a wide range of employment and training measures. Additionally, £7.3 million has recently been made available from the EU's special support programme for peace and reconciliation which will support a range of additional innovative programmes aimed at investment and employment development.

Grammar School Pupils

26. Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many primary school pupils who received grades other than A in the transfer procedure will obtain a grammar school place in Northern Ireland for the 1996-97 school year; and if he will publish a list of Northern Ireland grammar schools and the number of pupils in each grade to be admitted for the 1996-97 school year. [30951]

Mr. Ancram: The transfer procedure processes are not yet completed for the 1996-97 school year; and accordingly the information required is not yet available. It will be available in the autumn.

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