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Naval Vessels (Assistance)
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to United Kingdom naval vessels regarding the assistance to be rendered when there is danger to life on the high seas in a non-combat situation. [11183]
Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom abides by customary international law, which recognises the requirement to render humanitarian assistance on the high seas whenever possible. This requirement is enshrined in the Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy, as well as in a number of other standing instructions and general guidance. All officers in command of Her Majesty's ships, vessels and establishments are required to observe and obey these regulations, and to ensure that their ships' companies do the same.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
European Union Aid
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the European Commission directorates concerned with the
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dispersal of aid have underspent in each of the past five years; for what reasons such underspend occurred; and what measures have been taken in response. [10971]
Dr. Liam Fox: All European Community external assistance directorates--Directorates-General VIII, DG, IA, DG, IB, and the EC Humanitarian Office, ECHO--have underspent against their initial annual budget in each of the five years 1991 to 1995 inclusive, except ECHO in 1991, 1992 and 1994 and DGIA in 1993 and 1994.
There are a number of reasons for the persistent underspending: over-ambitious increases in the external assistance budgets; weaknesses in forecasting systems; and insufficient staffing.
The UK Government consistently argue for both realism and restraint during EC budgetary negotiations. We are working with the Commission to improve its forecasting systems. We continue to press the Commission to address staffing issues. We also second ODA staff to Brussels and EC delegations to help improve aid delivery systems.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to increase the amount and percentage of European Union aid funds that are channelled through British non-governmental organisations. [10970]
Dr. Fox:
The Government press for fair competition for all European Community development co-operation spending, in order to ensure both value for money and effectiveness. British non-governmental organisations are extremely effective and well placed to benefit from this approach.
Miss Lestor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects of the Consortium for Street Children funded by the aid programme in 1995 and 1996 and the level of funding given; and if he will list the projects, and their cost, to be supported in 1997, 1998 and 1999, or the level of funding to be offered in these years if specific projects have not yet been agreed. [11248]
Dr. Liam Fox:
ODA has supported the following projects:
Outline proposals for 1997-98 are under consideration. The director of the Consortium for Street Children is aware that ODA cannot make multi-year commitments.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what locations in eastern Indonesia and East Timor reception tests were carried out to test the effectiveness of the transmitters installed under the shortwave radio transmitters project. [11645]
Dr. Liam Fox:
Reception tests were carried out by the Indonesian authorities. Neither the Overseas Development Administration nor the UK contractor has information regarding the locations at which tests were carried out.
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Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with the Government of Portugal regarding the developmental benefits to East Timor of the regional physical planning programme for transmigration, the national overview of land resources, and the regional physical map improvement and training projects in Indonesia. [11649]
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the Radio Republic Indonesia reports which his Department used to assess the developmental value of the radio studies rehabilitation project in Indonesia. [11646]
Dr. Fox:
No such reports are on file. The assessment was carried out by an appraisal team which visited Indonesia in September and October 1985.
Mr. John Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she received an application for grant-maintained status from the Pardes House and Beis Yaakov school; and when she expects to determine it. [11208]
Mr. Robin Squire:
The Department received the application from the Pardes House and Beis Yaakov School on 20 September 1996. A decision on the application will be made as soon as possible.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what assessment she has made of the reasons why so many young people cease to continue science studies after 16 years of age; [10958]
Mrs. Gillan:
It is of course ultimately for young people after 16, in consultation with their schools and colleges, to choose the right subjects for them. The Department undertook a review in 1994 on the supply and demand of newly qualified young people in mathematics and science. Most recently, Sir Ron Dearing's report last year on 16 to 19 qualifications made several recommendations on increasing take-up and achievement in both mathematics and the sciences. The joint committee of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and the National Council for Vocational Qualifications has been taking forward work on those recommendations. My right hon. Friend will of course consider carefully any further advice and specific proposals for action they make.
Sir Ivan Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures have been introduced since 1992 to help the long-term unemployed back to work; and what assessment her Department has made of their effectiveness. [10963]
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Mr. Forth:
Since 1992, new jobs have been created and unemployment has fallen. There is clear evidence that our labour market is now more flexible and working more effectively. The UK is the only major European country with unemployment below 2 million, and long-term unemployment has fallen consistently for almost three years.
The Government's labour market policies have sought to build on this progress, and to help long-term unemployed people in particular to compete successfully for the jobs becoming available. Through the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance, Employment Service advisers can now spend more time helping each individual jobseeker. We have also introduced a number of measures to improve incentives to work, and we have maintained year by year the level of 1.5 million opportunities for unemployed people in employment and training programmes.
We have kept the range of employment and training programmes under continual review, and since 1992 have introduced a number of new measures designed to do more to help long-term unemployed people back to work. New programmes for those unemployed for one year or more have included: 1-2-1, jobplan workshops, workwise--worklink in Scotland--restart courses and the jobfinder's grant. A number of other measures have also been piloted.
The Department's programmes and pilot programmes are fully evaluated, and evidence on the comparative effectiveness of individual measures has been used to improve the balance of provision for long-term unemployed people.
Production of a resource directory: £30,000 spread over two financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96;
Pilot project on girl street children: £16,100 in 1995-96; and legal handbook: £12,000 in 1996-97.
(2) what plans she has in respect of the science education at age over 16, for those who do not plan a career in a science-related job. [10959]
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