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Security Policy
Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between United Kingdom membership of (a) the WEU and (b) NATO in respect of United Kingdom security policy. [5723]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: NATO is the foundation of our defence and security. The Western European Union (WEU) is developing its capacity to contribute to European security and plays a key role in building the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) within the Alliance. It is pursuing its operational development as a means for Europeans to run crisis management operations, including operations using NATO assets and capabilities. The requirement that full members of the WEU are also NATO members, and the role of WEU in the arrangements for ESDI in the Alliance, mean that action taken by the WEU must be consistent with obligations in NATO.
Mr. Peter Lowes
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to answer the letter from the hon. Member for Aldershot, dated 13 May, concerning Mr. Peter Lowes. [6562]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The subject matter of the hon. Member's letter of 13 May was complicated and required wide consultation. A substantive reply has been sent by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
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Dr. Kumar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to accede to those international human rights instruments to which the United Kingdom is not yet party. [6915]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We will review over the next year the United Kingdom's position under various international human rights instruments. This will include the question of accession to Protocols to the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and acceptance of the rights of individual petition under other UN human rights treaties. We shall also examine whether any of the United Kingdom's reservations to human rights treaties can be withdrawn.
Ms Southworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom submitted its 1996 return to the UN register of Conventional Arms; and if he will place a copy of the submission in the Library. [6916]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The UK's return to the UN Register covering calendar year 1996 was submitted to the UN Secretary General on 29 April 1997. A copy of the return has been placed in the Libraries of the House and is available to members of the public on request.
As part of our commitment to increasing transparency in the field of defence exports, we shall work to strengthen the UN Register of Conventional Arms, encouraging greater disclosure of information on arms exports and arms transfers by all countries. We hope that the work of the UN Panel of Experts currently reviewing the operation and development of the Register will contribute to achieving this objective.
Better Regulation
Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about better regulation. [7045]
Dr. David Clark: The Government is committed to making government work better. My Department's White Paper on 'New Government', to be published later this year, will set out a unified programme for the renewal of government. Better regulation is an integral part of this renewal. Our aim is to ensure that regulations are simple, helpful and fair for business and the citizen.
It is essential that we involve those who are affected by regulation. We are committed to giving small business and ordinary citizens a greater voice on the Better Regulation Task Force. I have today appointed Christopher Haskins, Chairman of Northern Foods plc, to chair the Task Force. Their terms of reference are to advise the Government on action which improves the effectiveness and credibility of government regulation by ensuring that it is necessary, fair and affordable, and simple to understand and administer, taking account of the needs of small business and ordinary people.
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We will find practical measures that will respond to people's needs. For example, I have set up a cross-departmental initiative called 'Access Business' to assist small business. This will draw together regulatory advice and forms into a simpler, more unified service, in particular using modern technology. For the citizen we will look at key groups like the elderly, the young and the voluntary sector and identify how we can make improvements.
I will take the opportunity presented by the EU Presidency next year to promote better quality regulation at the European level. I am planning a centrepiece Better Regulation Presidency event in March looking at improving access to Government for citizens and business, keeping legislation simple and improving consultation. And we are working with the Austrian government to provide a sustained push to improve the quality of EU legislation throughout our consecutive Presidencies.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellors Department what was (a) the annual cost of legal aid for personal injury litigation before cost recovery and retention of contributions, (b) the amount of costs recovered, (c) the amount of contributions retained and (d) the net cost after deduction of costs recovered and contributions retained, for (i) all personal injury litigation, (ii) medical negligence cases only and (iii) personal injury cases only, excluding medical negligence, in each of the last four financial years. [5808]
Mr. Hoon:
A breakdown of legal aid expenditure and receipts in respect of personal injury litigation in each of the last four years for which information is available, in respect of cases that were closed in each year, was as follows:
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EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Further Education Colleges
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) management, (b) teaching and (c) support staff (i) were employed in 1992-93 and (ii) are employed in the current financial year by further education colleges in England and Wales. [5326]
Dr. Howells: Comprehensive information on the number of full and part-time further education staff for academic year 1992-93 is not available. The total "full-time equivalents" of further education lecturers in FE and sixth form colleges, as well as HE institutions, in England for 1992-93 are shown below.
| Academic | Number |
|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 67,700 |
| 1994-95 | Full-time equivalents (FTEs) |
|---|---|
| Teaching and learning | 56,000 |
| Supporting teaching and learning | 12,000 |
| Other support | 34,000 |
| Total | 102,000 |
Based on data from 374 out of 446 colleges.
| 1995-96 | Full-time equivalents (FTEs) |
|---|---|
| Teaching and learning | 56,000 |
| Supporting teaching and learning | 13,000 |
| Other support | 37,000 |
| Total | 106,000 |
Based on data from 342 out of 452 colleges.
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