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UK Exports Database
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the database of United Kingdoms exports accessible on line by all overseas posts will be completed; and at what cost. [7685]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 10 July 1997]: There is no single database of UK exporters but a customised CD-ROM directory of British business is being made available to UK overseas posts by the FCO. This has been developed by Reed Business Information following an open tender procedure managed by the FCO. The contractual arrangements are commercial-in-confidence. Overseas posts are also being equipped with facilities to access the Internet enabling them to utilise the increasing range of commercially available directory products now appearing on the world wide web. In addition my department is supporting a project under the Information Society Initiative Programme for Business called TradeUK which aims to help UK exporters gain profile on the Internet. Further use of electronic databases in support of UK exporters will be considered by the Export Forum.
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Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Government-funded services responsible for supporting small firms do not have representation from small firms; and if she will take steps to ensure that such businesses are represented. [7684]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 10 July 1997]: We are very keen that all Government-funded services and bodies responsible for supporting small businesses have adequate representation from the small business sector. My Department is looking at the current position and at how adequate representation can be achieved.
Mr. Wills:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many claims to industrial tribunals under the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 have been (a) settled through ACAS and (b) withdrawn since the date of implementation; [8711]
(3) how many applications have been issued to industrial tribunals under the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 since the date of implementation. [8713]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
Since the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 came into force on 2 December 1996, 483 applications have been made to the Industrial Tribunals under the employment provisions of the Act.
Thirteen of these applications have been settled through ACAS, 10 applications were withdrawn and a further six settled privately without hearing.
Twelve applications have been heard by a tribunal, of which one was successful.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cumulative cost is of this Department's support for the civil power in Northern Ireland since 1969. [8133]
Dr. Reid:
The information is not available in the precise form requested because the necessary departmental records are no longer extant and the adoption in 1991-92 of the New Management Strategy (NMS) means that comparable costs across the period cannot be calculated.
Estimates prepared in response to previous parliamentary questions are available for the additional costs of conducting military operations in Northern Ireland between 1969-70 and 1987-88. Insofar as can
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now be determined, these contrasted the estimated cost at contemporary prices of maintaining a garrison of the size established in 1969 with the actual cost of the garrison and all its associated expenditure in the year in question. The figures are:
(2) how many claims have been heard by industrial tribunals under the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 since the date of implementation; and how many of these claims have succeeded; [8712]
| Financial year | Additional cost of military operations £ million |
|---|---|
| 1969-70 | 1.5 |
| 1970-71 | 6.5 |
| 1971-72 | 14 |
| 1972-73 | 29 |
| 1973-74 | 33 |
| 1974-75 | 45 |
| 1975-76 | 60 |
| 1976-77 | 65 |
| 1977-78 | 69 |
| 1978-79 | 81 |
| 1979-80 | 96 |
| 1980-81 | 100 |
| 1981-82 | 149 |
| 1982-83 | 143 |
| 1983-84 | 141 |
| 1984-85 | 121 |
| 1985-86 | 135 |
| 1986-87 | 144 |
| 1987-88 | 168 |
Sources:
House of Commons Official Report for: 16 May 1977, Column 77; 26 March 1980, Column 593; and 16 June 1988, Columns 225-26.
I regret that I have been unable to trace any equivalent estimates for financial years 1989-90 to 1990-91.
The overall budgets held by the General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) for 1991-92 and subsequent financial years, for personnel, stores, services, lands and, except for 1991-92, works costs, are as follows:
| Financial year(14) | General officer commanding (Northern Ireland's) budget (final outturn) |
|---|---|
| 1991-92 | £355 million |
| 1992-93 | £436 million |
| 1993-94 | £489 million |
| 1994-95 | £510 million |
| 1995-96 | £475 million |
| 1996-97 | (15)£514 million |
| 1997-98 | (16)£508 million |
Notes:
(14) The General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) was vested as a Top Level Budget Holder on 1 April 1994., The figures for 1992-93 and 1993-94 are estimates of outturn prepared as comparators for the Class 1 Supply Estimates for 1994-95 (HC276-I) and 1995-96 (C271-I).
(15) This figure represents the estimated outturn given in Vote 1, section B of the 1997-98 Class I Supply Estimates (HC 335).
(16) This figure represents the provision made in Vote 1, section B of the 1997-98 Class I Supply Estimates (HC 335).
A more detailed explanation of these figures can be found in my predecessor's letter of 11 November 1996 to my right hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Marjorie Mowlam), a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
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Portsmouth Naval Base
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to harmonise the conditions of employment of casual and permanent employees at Portsmouth Naval Base. [7451]
Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from J. A. Trewby to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 16 July 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about harmonisation of conditions of employment of casual and permanent employees at Portsmouth Naval Base as this falls within my area of responsibility.
All civilian staff at Portsmouth Naval Base are employed in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Code and terms and conditions of employment are in keeping with National Agreements and as laid out in the Ministry of Defence Personnel Manual. There are no plans to harmonise conditions of employment of casual and permanent employees.
Territorial Army
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money is allocated to maintaining the Territorial Army in the current financial year; what this sum is as a percentage of the defence budget; and what the allocation will be in (a) cash and (b) as a percentage of the defence budget in the next three financial years. [8183]
Dr. Reid: Identifiable costs for the TA for 1997-98 are £334 million which is approximately 1.6 per cent. of the Defence Budget. This figure excludes provision for those items which are not readily separable from the rest of the Army, including the TA's share of equipment costs, fuel, ammunition and transport.
The allocation of funds to the TA for the next three years will be determined as part of the MOD's long-term costing which is the process by which the Department re-costs and adjusts its internal plans. The Department's internal plans represent projections and assumptions, which inform advice to Ministers on the affordability of particular elements of the Defence programme and it has been the policy of successive Governments not to publish detailed information arising from this. Accordingly, I am withholding the information requested in the second part of the question which constitutes internal discussion and advice, under exemption 2 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information".
Judicial Reviews
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many decisions by his Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Parliamentary session since 1994-95; and in how many cases (a) the Department's decision was upheld, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [7843]
Dr. Reid: Information for 1994-95 is not held centrally.
Eight decisions were challenged through judicial review in the sessions 1995-96 and 1996-97.
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The Department's decision was upheld by the courts in one case. In another case leave to apply for judicial review was at first refused; when later the application for leave was renewed, the case was settled without the court making any order on the application for leave. In a third case an applicant withdrew the application after being given leave. Five cases have yet to be considered by the courts. In three cases the application for leave has not yet been heard (or the Department has not yet been informed of the result). In two other cases leave has been granted and a substantive hearing is awaited. But in one of these cases this will need to await the conclusion of a reference by the court to the European Court of Justice.
There were no cases in which the courts found for the applicant. There were, therefore, no cases in which the question of an appeal by the Department arose.
Ms Hodge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1994-95 legislation has been introduced by the Department (a) to remove effects of judicial review decisions and (b) to implement them. [7835]
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