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Resource Accounting
Mr. Tim Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress his Department is making with the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting; and in respect of which financial year he expects to publish the first set of resource accounts. [4996]
Mr. Hague: The Welsh Office already has accruals accounting systems in place and is trialling the production of resource accounts at present. The Department, in common with others, is preparing to implement resource budgeting in time to form the basis for the year 2000 survey. As set out in Cm 2929, the first published resource accounts for the Department and all other Departments will be in respect of 1999-2000.
21 Nov 1996 : Column: 660
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
West Midlands Serious Crimes Squad
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what have been the legal costs met from public purse in respect of claims for compensation for people whose convictions were obtained with the help of evidence from the west midlands serious crimes squad and which were subsequently quashed in the Court of Appeal (a) in total and (b) for each case. [4999]
Mr. Kirkhope: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is not available.
Resource Accounting
Mr. Tim Smith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress his Department is making with the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting; and in respect of which financial year he expects to publish the first set of resource accounts. [4979]
Mr. Streeter: My officials are working closely with the Treasury towards the introduction of resource accounting. Systems to provide the information necessary for resource accounting are being procured through the private finance initiative. We plan to award the contract in August 1997. Resource accounts will then be produced and audited for 1998-99. Subject to our, and the National Audit Office's, satisfaction the first published account will be for the financial year 1999-2000.
Environmental Auditing
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the ways in which his Department has (a) demonstrated by example and (b) promoted externally, the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing; and if he will make a statement. [4536]
Mr. Streeter: My Department's areas of policy responsibility do not have major environmental impact. Environmental efficiency initiatives therefore concentrate on our impact as a consumer. The Department continues to improve energy efficiency. Both the Department and the Court Service have signed the declaration of corporate commitment to energy efficiency. There is an ongoing programme to maintain, and where appropriate upgrade, the historic buildings on our estate. The design of new court buildings takes full account of environmental concerns, particularly by requiring designs to obtain a "very good" marking under the Building Research Establishment environmental assessment method. Energy audits and environmental assessments have been commissioned for over 70 of our largest court buildings. The procurement of goods and services takes all reasonable steps to maximise the use of recycled and renewable resources.
The Department is now looking to develop initiatives in other areas of green housekeeping, particularly through a pilot waste audit as a first step to setting waste reduction targets by the end of this year, and investigating extending our sensitive waste collection contracts to increase recycling.
21 Nov 1996 : Column: 661
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor will respond to the recommendations made by Sir Richard Scott concerning inquiry procedures. [5827]
Mr. Streeter:
In February this year the Lord Chancellor invited public comment on Sir Richard Scott's recommendations on public inquiry procedures. The Lord Chancellor was grateful for the 33 responses received, which were referred to the Council on Tribunals--the independent advisory body set up in 1958 following the Franks report on administrative tribunals and inquiries--by a reference in the following terms:
"To consider and advise on the procedural issues that arise in the conduct of public inquiries set up by Ministers to investigate particular matters of public concern, having regard to the recommendations made in Sir Richard Scott's report, and to the views on those recommendations that have since been expressed."
The council has now submitted its advice on the issues raised in respect of inquiry procedures in the Scott report and in the consultation. The Lord Chancellor was most grateful to the Council on Tribunals for this authoritative advice, which will be of considerable value when setting up inquiries. The advice is expressed in broad terms which enables general application, and therefore refers only briefly to other proceedings which might affect the procedural aspects of such inquiries, such as for example, coroners' inquests or, in Scotland, fatal accident inquiries.
Copies of the council's advice have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Additional copies will be available from my Department on request. The council's advice and the Lord Chancellor's statement today constitute the Government's response to Sir Richard Scott's recommendations about inquiry procedures.
Pistols
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents have occurred since 1976 where pistols licensed only for target shooting have been used illegally. [4455]
Sir John Wheeler: The Chief Constable has now advised me that the information needed to answer this question is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Higher Education
Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the percentage change in spending per student in higher education between 1989-90 and 1995-96 in Northern Ireland. [4637]
Mr. Ancram: Spending per full-time equivalent student at Northern Ireland universities, based on constant prices and excluding student support, decreased by 18 per cent. between 1989-90 and 1994-95.
Spending per initial teacher training student at Northern Ireland colleges of education, based on constant prices, increased by 1.8 per cent. between 1989-90 and 1994-95.
Figures for 1995-96 are not yet available.
Ms Mowlam:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland remained in full-time education in each of the last five years. [4634]
21 Nov 1996 : Column: 662
Mr. Ancram:
The percentage of 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland remaining in full-time education in each of the last five years is as follows:
Mr. Ancram:
The information, which is available only for post-16-year-olds of working age--men 16 to 64 and women 16 to 59--is as follows:
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the percentage of post- 16-year-olds in full-time education in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [5024]
1991: 69 per cent.
1992: 75 per cent.
1993: 79 per cent.
1994: 78 per cent.
1995: 76 per cent.
| Post-16-year-olds in full-time education | |
|---|---|
| (Per cent.) | |
| Spring 1987 | 6.5 |
| Spring 1988 | 6.4 |
| Spring 1989 | 7.1 |
| Spring 1990 | 7.0 |
| Spring 1991 | 7.6 |
| Spring 1992 | 7.6 |
| Spring 1993 | 7.7 |
| Spring 1994 | 9.0 |
| Spring 1995 | 9.2 |
| Spring 1996 | 8.9 |
Source:
Northern Ireland Labour Force Survey, spring 1987-spring 1996.
Environmental Auditing
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the ways in which his Department has (a) demonstrated by example and (b) promoted externally the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing; and if he will make a statement. [4529]
Mr. Ancram: All Northern Ireland Departments have produced green housekeeping action plans and the industrial research and technology unit of the Department of Economic Development has applied for accreditation BS 7750.
(a) The Department of Economic Development provides financial assistance to industry and commerce in Northern Ireland for environmental auditing and environmental management leading to the adoption of standards such as BS 7750 or ISO 14001 or participation in the EC eco-management and audit scheme EMAS.
(b) The Department also promotes the benefits of environmental auditing and consequential action through the publication of case study booklets and liaison with industry groups.
Ms Mowlam:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage change there has been in Northern Ireland's manufacturing output between 1975 and 1995. [4633]
21 Nov 1996 : Column: 663
Mr. Ancram:
Over the period 1975 to 1995 manufacturing output in Northern Ireland has increased by 28.3 per cent.
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