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Food Imports
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the quantity by weight of the main primary food products imported to the UK for the last two years for which figures are available. [17723]
Mr. Rooker: I have been asked to reply.
| Category | 1995 | 1996 |
|---|---|---|
| Bovine meat | 153 | 133 |
| Pig meat | 399 | 440 |
| Poultry meat | 229 | 234 |
| Sheep meat | 143 | 145 |
| Other meat | 42 | 48 |
| Total meat and meat preparations | 966 | 1,000 |
| Birds' eggs | 28 | 30 |
| Butter | 114 | 113 |
| Cheese | 213 | 252 |
| Milk and cream | 216 | 158 |
| Other milk products | 23 | 19 |
| Total dairy products and birds' eggs | 594 | 572 |
| Fish | 495 | 534 |
| Cereals | 3,202 | 2,848 |
| Fruit | 3,300 | 3,408 |
| Nuts | 98 | 85 |
| Vegetables | 3,060 | 2,898 |
| Total vegetables, fruit and nuts | 6,457 | 6,392 |
| Sugar | 2,314 | 2,188 |
| Coffee, tea, cocoa and spices | 557 | 661 |
| Oils and fats | 9,279 | 10,027 |
| Grand total | 23,865 | 24,222 |
These figures are provisional and subject to amendment. The majority of foods in the categories "Oils and Fats" and "Vegetables" are destined for human consumption, but include some products used for other purposes.
SCOTLAND
University Funding
Mr. Opik:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amount of university funding per student in Scotland in (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96, (c) 1996-97 and (d) 1997-98; and if he will make a statement. [17216]
26 Nov 1997 : Column: 577
Mr. Wilson:
The funding allocated to Scottish Higher Education Institutions by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council for teaching and research per full-time equivalent student since 1994-95 is set out in the following table:
| Financial year 1994-95 | Financial year 1995-96 | Financial year 1996-97 | Financial year 1997-98 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total funding available for allocation to institutions (£ million) | 508.6 | 541.6 | 535.2 | 545.5 |
| FTE students eligible for funding | 114,452 | 116,361 | 117,409 | 118,700 |
| Total funding expressed on a FTE student basis | 4,444 | 4,654 | 4,558 | 4,596 |
Training
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to the Department of Education and Employment concerning the decision to invite bids for the management of New Deal solely from private sector bodies; and if he will make a statement. [17331]
Mr. Brian Wilson: The decision to introduce a greater private sector role into the planning and delivery of the New Deal in an area of Scotland was taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.
WALES
Further Education
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many whole time equivalent students there were in (a) further and (b) higher education in May 1997. [17306]
Mr. Hain: Information on the number of further and higher education student full-time equivalents (FTEs) for the latest available years may be found in the following table:
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education courses(5) | 69,969 | n/a |
| Further education courses(6) | 56,319 | 60,683 |
(4) The information provided comes from the following Publications; "STUDENTS in Higher Education Institutions 1995-96" produced by the Higher Education Statistical Agency, and the "Further Education Funding Council for Wales" bulletin on "Further Education Early Student Enrolments 1995-96 and 1996-97".
(5) Student FTEs at higher education institutions at 1 December 1995. Excludes students on higher education courses at further education institutions. Data not yet available for 1996-97.
(6) Student FTEs on all further education courses at 1 November each year. Includes students at all further education and higher education institutions.
26 Nov 1997 : Column: 578
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's expenditure on further education. [17637]
Mr. Hain: Total expenditure made available through the Further Education Funding Council for Wales (FEFCW) in 1996-97 amounted to just over £180 million. The FEFCW's budget for 1997-98 is £177 million. Provision for 1998-99 will be announced shortly as part of the Department's expenditure plans for next year.
Flintshire LEA
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what share of additional resources he has given Flintshire local education authority for the restoration of the fabric of schools. [17643]
Mr. Hain: Flintshire local education authority was allocated £233,000 of the additional £5,025,000 made available in 1997-98 for capital works at schools in Wales.
North-East Wales Institute
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the funding of the North-East Wales Institute. [17642]
Mr. Hain: The funding of individual institutions is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, who will announce their allocations for 1998-99 in due course.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Peace Process
9. Mr. Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of progress in the Northern Ireland peace talks. [16239]
19. Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the progress of the political talks. [16250]
20. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the peace process in Northern Ireland. [16251]
21. Mr. Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the current state of relationships between the parties involved in the Northern Ireland peace talks. [16252]
27. Mr. Canavan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about the development of the peace process. [16258]
Majorie Mowlam: Since substantive discussions began on 7 October, the talks have covered a great deal of ground: a large number of papers have been tabled and discussed, covering all the essential elements of a settlement.
It is taking time to bring all the participants to engage on the key issues, but I believe there are increasing signs that they are doing so. The Government will do all that they can to facilitate progress towards a settlement.
26 Nov 1997 : Column: 579
10. Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the contribution made by the United States towards the achievement of peace and stability in Northern Ireland. [16240]
11. Mr. McWalter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the United States contribution to efforts to achieve peace and stability in Northern Ireland. [16241]
17. Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the contribution of the United States towards the achievement of peace and stability in Northern Ireland. [16248]
Marjorie Mowlam:
The United States Administration share our desire for an enduring peace and lasting political settlement in Northern Ireland. This was all the more evident during my recent visit to the United States. We greatly value their rejection of violence; their commitment to the talks process; their support for the principle of consent; and their continuing support for the International Fund for Ireland, which has contributed significantly to Northern Ireland's economy. The President himself takes a close personal interest in Northern Ireland affairs; the First Lady visited Northern Ireland last month and Senator George Mitchell and Donald Johnson are playing a vital independent role in the talks and on decommissioning respectively.
12. Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to increase employment in Northern Ireland. [16242]
Mr. Ingram:
As in the rest of the United Kingdom, we are pursuing a range of initiatives to improve employment prospects. From measures to improve the skill base through to Welfare to Work and New Deal we will be raising employability. Our targeted economic development programmes will help create jobs through promotion of investment, creation of growth and the raising of Northern Ireland's international competitiveness.
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