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Special Needs Teachers
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she has taken to ensure that the level of qualifications required by schools for teachers of hearing-impaired children is not reduced. [12424]
Mrs. Gillan: Teachers who teach classes of children with hearing impairments must gain an additional approved qualification to do so. The Government have no plans to discontinue this requirement.
College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies
Mr. Terry Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total of the salary, allowances and other remuneration paid to the principal of the College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies in Birmingham; and how much this total has changed since the college left the control of the city council in April 1993. [12349]
Mr. Paice: The Department does not collect this information. However, as a further education corporation, the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies is required to publish its audited accounts each year. The college is required to disclose the principal's remuneration in the notes to the accounts.
23 Jan 1997 : Column: 697
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
European Union Aid
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of European Union development aid has been channelled through non-governmental organisations in each of the last 10 years. [10968]
Dr. Liam Fox: In 1993 and 1994, the percentage of European Union external assistance channelled through non-governmental organisations was 22 per cent. and 24 per cent. respectively. To answer the question for the eight previous years would involve disproportionate cost.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of European Union development aid that goes through non-governmental organisations goes to British-based organisations; and how this percentage has changed over the past 10 years. [10969]
Dr. Fox: In 1993 and 1994, the percentage of the allocations of the non-governmental organisations co-financing budget line (B7-5010) channelled through UK organisations was 15.2 per cent. and 15.5 per cent. respectively. To provide a complete answer to the question would involve disproportionate costs.
Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in assessing the regional physical planning programme for transmigration project in Indonesia, what weight his Department attached to (a) concerns about the rights of the people affected by transmigration and the Indonesian Government's attitude to human rights and (b) possible political repercussions. [11647]
Dr. Liam Fox: The key consideration underlying our involvement in this World bank project was the developmental benefit to be gained, in the implementation of the transmigration programme, from sound land resource planning as a basis for improved decision making.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the legal and administrative difficulties involved in the wording of the project agreement with the Indonesian authorities in relation to the regional physical planning programme for transmigration in Indonesia; what were regarded as the sensitivities of the project at the time the extension of the project was approved in 1987; and what legal advice was received by his Department in 1987 regarding the extension of the project. [11648]
Dr. Fox: The difficulties related to the question of which agency on each side should be the contracting party to the agreement. While the developmental arguments were in favour of our continued involvement, sensitivities noted at the time of the extension were public perceptions of the transmigration programme, the wider relationship with the Indonesian Government and the World bank and the views of British environmental organisations which regarded our involvement as beneficial. Legal advice was not sought.
23 Jan 1997 : Column: 698
World Bank (Environmental Impact Assessments)
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mrs. Jackson) on 11 December, Official Report, column 216, if he will make a statement on the improvements the Government are pressing the World bank to make in its environment policy. [11924]
Dr. Liam Fox: The Government believe that the World bank's policy of screening all investment proposals for their potential environmental impact is the right approach. We continue to monitor the bank's performance to ensure that this policy is fully implemented in its environmental impact assessments.
Tied Aid
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the letter from the Minister for Overseas Development of 28 October, what recommendations resulting from the review of tied aid have been pursued. [10861]
Dr. Liam Fox: The report made a number of recommendations. On procedures, to ensure better value for money, the ODA's procurement procedures have been strengthened; guidelines on local procurement of goods have been revised; a staff training programme is under way; and procedures for local procurement of services are being examined. On the special programme for Africa, we pledged last month up to £250 million of new programme aid. Previous UK pledges have been 75 per cent. untied; we are currently considering the extent of untying this time around. On reporting, improvements to the ODA's management information system are under way to report statistics on aid tying to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development more accurately. We are actively supporting renewed efforts in the OECD to encourage the greater multilateral untying of development assistance programmes.
Food and Agriculture Organisation
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the letter from the Minister for Overseas Development of 3 December, what action his Department is taking to promote reform of the FAO; and if he will make a statement. [10854]
Dr. Liam Fox: The Government are promoting reform in the FAO, primarily by pursuing constructive dialogue with its secretariat, by applying pressure for efficiency savings and better focused activities in negotiation of its programme of work and budget for 1998-99, and by working for co-ordinated action for reform among its membership.
Montserrat
Mr. Terry Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people are living in communal shelters in Montserrat; and how many homes are currently being built for them. [12348]
Dr. Liam Fox: There are currently some 860 people living in community shelters; 188 people have already been provided with housing and the provision of new homes for a further 293 people will start shortly.
23 Jan 1997 : Column: 699
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Television Licences (Caravan Sites)
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what plans she has to extend the hotel licence scheme for television licences to cover caravan sites and holiday homes; [11537]
- (2) how many representations she has received from caravan site owners and those letting holiday homes expressing dissatisfaction with the regulations governing television licences for static holiday caravans and holiday homes. [11538]
Mr. Sproat: As announced on 18 July last year, Official Report, columns 601-02, the Government intend to bring forward regulations to take account of changes in the use of television in recent years, including use in vehicles and vessels. Since that date, the Government have received over 520 representations on the licensing requirements for second homes and caravans. Our records do not readily identify precisely how many of these were from caravan site owners and people letting holiday homes expressing dissatisfaction with the current regulations; however, we estimate that they make up only a very small proportion.
Caravan sites and holiday home complexes which provide units of overnight accommodation are already eligible for the special hotel licence. In the near future, the Government will make a detailed announcement on the new licensing requirements, including any that affect static holiday caravans and holiday homes. The new requirements will be incorporated into consolidated television licence fee regulations which will be laid so as to come into affect on 1 April 1997.
Child Care Facilities
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if Ministers are entitled to use child care facilities supported by her Department. [11583]
Mr. Sproat: Ministers of the Crown are entitled to use the child care facilities supported by my Department.
Digital Broadcasting (Highlands and Islands)
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many representations she has received from highlands and islands residents over the past year expressing their concern about the introduction of the new BBC digital service. [11668]
Mr. Sproat: We have received no such representations.
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