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Botswana
Mrs. Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Botswana to express concern at the forced expulsion of the Khwe Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. [9125]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: We have made representations to the Botswana Government, who have assured us that the Khwe Bushmen would not be evicted from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Our High Commissioner visited the central Kalahari area earlier this month and found no evidence that Bushmen had been forced away from the reserve. He is, however, pursuing with the Minister of local Government the need for better planning for managing the move of those bushmen who elected to leave the reserve.
Social Chapter
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will implement measures brought under the qualified majority voting section of the social chapter, in circumstances where these are contrary to Government policy. [9081]
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Mr. Doug Henderson:
We will negotiate constructively with the aim of ensuring that any EC legislation adopted by QMV takes into account UK policy.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the social chapter on the competitiveness of British companies. [9075]
Mr. Henderson:
Only two directives have so far been adopted under the Agreement on Social Policy. These simply introduce minimum standards which reflect good business practice and we do not believe that they will damage competitiveness.
We will use our influence in the EU to promote employability and competitiveness.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs what percentage of social chapter legislation is subject to qualified majority voting.[9123]
Mr. Henderson:
Both the two directives so far adopted under the Agreement on Social Policy were subject to QMV. The voting procedure for the draft directive currently under discussion (Burden of Proof) would also be QMV.
It is not possible to predict what percentage of future legislation under the Agreement will be subject to QMV.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances the European Parliament acting through co-decision making procedures is able to veto measures from the Council of Ministers. [9078]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The European Parliament is able to veto any legislative measure made through co-decision where agreement cannot be reached with the Council of Ministers.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas under common foreign and security policy which will operate under qualified majority voting. [9082]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Under the common foreign and security policy provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty, the Council will act by qualified majority when taking decisions on the basis of common strategies adopted unanimously by the European Council; and when adopting decisions implementing joint actions or common positions. Any Member State may, however, prevent such a vote being taken for important and stated reasons of national policy. In these circumstances the matter may be
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referred to the European Council for decision by unanimity. Qualified majority voting will not apply to decisions having military or defence implications.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate details provided by the Iraqi National Congress, a copy of which has been sent to him, of sanctions breaches in contravention of United Nations resolution 986. [9590]
Mr. Fatchett:
Yes. We take seriously all reports of violations of sanctions against Iraq. We remain committed to maintaining these sanctions, while alleviating the suffering of the Iraqi people through the mechanisms established under SCRs 986 and 1111.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9532]
Mr. Fatchett:
All Departments are required to pay their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service of a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could only be provided at disproportionate cost. We will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97 in the Autumn.
Ms Rosie Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the audited accounts and Annual Report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available; and what subject matter they will cover. [9995]
Mr. Robin Cook:
Copies of the Foundation's Annual Report for 1996-97 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Foundation received £2.5 million from this Department for its activities in 1996-97. With this grant it supported 278 projects in 58 countries. It directed most of its funds to supporting democratic institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Anglophone Africa, and also supported worthwhile projects in other parts of the world. It makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of democracy overseas. Projects have included work with political parties, parliaments, the independent media, trades unions, human rights groups, women's groups and other non-governmental organisations involved in political development.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what his Department's policy is on the
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timely payment of debt; and what its record has been on debt payment in the current financial year. [9321]
Dr. Howells:
All departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97 in the Autumn.
Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the average cost of an OFSTED inspection for a primary school with a roll of 200 pupils. [8343]
Mr. Byers:
The cost of school inspections is a matter for HMCI. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member, placing a copy of his letter in the Library.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools in the constituency of Torbay with pupils on the assisted places scheme, indicating in each case the number of pupils and the income which the school receives under the scheme in 1997-98. [8757]
Mr. Byers:
There are no schools participating in the assisted places scheme in the Torbay constituency.
Mr. Opik:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what the expenditure on the Youth Service was (a) in total and (b) per area in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; what is the planned expenditure for the next two years; and if he will make a statement; [9132]
Dr. Howells:
The following table sets out net current expenditure for the Youth Service from 1989-90 to 1995-96, the latest year for which figures are available, and the percentage changes in cash and real terms from 1986-87 and 1995-96 for the all-England totals. Information for each Local Education Authority prior to 1989-90 is not readily available. There are no planning figures for the next two years; LEAs' Standard Spending Assessments are not hypothecated and expenditure will depend upon decisions made at the local level.
(2) what was the percentage change in Youth Service funding in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms, in each of the last 10 years; what is the planned percentage change in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [9479]
(8) Information not available.
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Mr Opik:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make provision of the Youth Service a statutory responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [9137]
Dr. Howells:
Local authorities already have a duty under the existing Education Acts to secure provision in their areas of adequate facilities for further education, of which the youth service is a part. However, the Government is committed to raising the profile of the youth service which it values as an important provider of personal and social education for young people. Further details about my right hon. Friend's proposals for legislation to place the youth service on a clearer and more specific statutory footing will be included in the White Paper on Lifelong Learning in the autumn.
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