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Teacher (Early Retirement)
Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures are in place for auditing the cost to the teachers superannuation scheme of early retirements though ill health and for monitoring the causes of variations between local education authorities in the numbers of early retirements through ill health. [16099]
Mrs. Gillan: The teachers superannuation scheme is subject to an actuarial inquiry every five years, carried out by the Government Actuary's Department. Its report deals with the finances of the scheme and makes recommendations on the total contributions payable by teachers and employers which will meet the cost of benefits--including early retirements--debited to the teachers superannuation account.
We do not monitor the causes of variations between local authorities in the numbers of early retirements through ill health; each application is assessed on an individual basis.
Quantock School
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of Education and Employment what action her Department has taken in response to the recent Office for Standards in Education report on Quantock school, Somerset; and if she will make a statement. [16121]
Mrs. Gillan: Officials have written to the school about the weaknesses identified in the recently published Ofsted report and have sought firm commitments within two months on remedial action. We will consider what further steps may be necessary in the light of the response.
TRANSPORT
Minimum Age Requirements
Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15922]
Mr. Bowis:
I will write to the hon. Member when the information he requests is available and place a copy of my reply in the Library.
17 Feb 1997 : Column: 403
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current estimate of the average number of people each week driving with illegal levels of alcohol; and what were the equivalent figures in 1987.[15841]
Mr. Bowis:
Information is not available in this form as drivers are tested only following an accident, or on suspicion of having consumed alcohol or of having committed a traffic offence in a moving vehicle.
For several years, male drivers have been asked, in surveys conducted before the Department's Christmas drink-drive campaigns, if at any time in the previous week they had driven after having drunk six or more units of alcohol. In 1987, 7 per cent. admitted to doing this; by 1995, the latest year for which the figure is available, this had fallen to 4 per cent. The effect of consuming six units varies between individuals and circumstances and so this cannot be closely aligned with the legal limit. It does, however, give some indication of the trend.
Mr. Loyden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 10 February, Official Report, column 68, what financial arrangements have been made with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Discovery Channel; who will have editorial control over the programme; and if he will make a statement. [16039]
Mr. Bowis:
This is a matter for negotiation between Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Discovery Channel.
Prosecution Guidelines
27. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Attorney-General when the Attorney-General's guidelines on the prosecution of offences were last reviewed; and if he will make a statement. [14437]
The Attorney-General: The Attorney-General's criteria for prosecution issued in 1983 were superseded in 1986 by the code for Crown prosecutors. This was last amended in 1994 to clarify the realistic prospect of conviction test and the public interest factors in favour of prosecution. The fundamental principles have remained unchanged throughout.
Asil Nadir
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the current position on the prosecution of Asil Nadir. [14431]
The Solicitor-General:
Asil Nadir stands indicted before the central criminal court on 13 counts of theft. The Crown is ready to proceed. Mr. Nadir should return to the country forthwith.
17 Feb 1997 : Column: 404
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the work of the Government property lawyers. [14438]
The Attorney-General:
The Government Property Lawyers is an executive agency of the Treasury Solicitor's Department. It provides conveyancing and comprehensive lands advisory services to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies in England and Wales. The conveyancing services include purchases of land and properties, sales of surplus land, leases of office buildings and various other land transactions. Further information about the work of the agency is obtainable from the annual report and accounts 1995-96, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Albania
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for democracy in Albania; and if he will make a statement. [15780]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: There has been significant progress in democracy in Albania in recent years. However, Council of Europe reports make it clear that deficiencies remain. We continue to press the Albanian Government both bilaterally and through the EU for improvements in democratic practices and for the involvement of all parties in the process of constitutional reform.
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements exist to ensure that payments from the know-how fund and other aid funds to Albania are used effectively and are not subject to any corrupt practices; and if he will make a statement. [15784]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The know-how fund provides support for Albania by funding the costs of British expertise, or know-how, for specific projects. The fund closely monitors and evaluates all its projects, both as they are running and after they are complete. In this way, it can ensure that the projects are correctly and cost-effectively implemented and have achieved their objectives. The fund also employs independent consultants to assess the success and impact of the projects it funds.
Other British aid funds to Albania come from the emergency aid department of the Overseas Development Administration. In 1996-97 its support has so far consisted of a single grant of £100,000 to a World Health Organisation programme for prevention of poliomyelitis. This programme was evaluated in January 1997 by an EMAD staff member and found to be satisfactory.
For EC programmes, to which we also contribute, there are separate procedures, agreed by the member states, for ensuring that funds are correctly spent.
17 Feb 1997 : Column: 405
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Albanian authorities about the conduct of the Albanian police in dealing with recent public protests; and if he will make a statement. [15778]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
We are appalled by the violence used by both police and demonstrators in Vlora. We have made clear our views to the Albanian authorities.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the (a) role and (b) profits of United Kingdom consultancy firms in Albania; and if he will make a statement. [15779]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
There are a number of UK consultancies active in Albania, working under contract to a variety of organisations. We do not hold information on their respective profits.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the contribution of smuggling to the Albanian economy; and if he will make a statement. [15781]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
There are no reliable estimates of the effect of smuggling on the Albanian economy. Our aim is to see a prosperous and stable Albania. We therefore strongly support the work of the International Monetary Fund, which has implemented an economic reform programme in Albania.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the level of pyramid selling in Albania; when he expects that problem to be resolved; and what contribution Her Majesty's Government are making to resolving the problem. [15783]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
Albanian media reports suggest that 50 to 70 per cent. of the population may have invested money in pyramid schemes. The problem is therefore unlikely to be resolved quickly. The United Kingdom has offered technical expertise through the UK know-how fund to help the Albanian Government. With our EU partners, we are considering whether there is a role for the EU.
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