4 Feb 1999 : Column: 693
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 4 February 1999
CABINET OFFICE
Equal Opportunities
Mr. Miller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made towards equality of opportunity in the Civil Service. [69526]
Dr. Jack Cunningham: I am publishing today a statistical report on equal opportunities in the Civil Service: "Equal Opportunities in the Civil Service Data Summary 1998". Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House and will be made available on the internet.
The report shows a continuing improvement in the proportion of people from those groups which are currently under-represented in most Civil Service management grades: women, ethnic minority staff and staff with disabilities. For example, the proportion of women at Higher Executive Officer level and above has risen to 26% in 1998 from 11% in 1984. In the Senior Civil Service, women now represent 18% of staff. The representation of ethnic minority staff at the first management level (Executive Officer) has increased to 5.1% from 2.9% in 1989. The overall proportion of staff with disabilities has increased to 4% from 3.8% in 1997.
Progress has been made but much remains to be done before the Service, at all levels, reflects society.
Later today, Sir Richard Wilson, the Head of the Home Civil Service and I plan to launch a Charter for action to redress the under-representation of ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service agreed with the Civil Service trades unions. The Charter has been endorsed by all Civil Service Heads of Department.
I am personally committed to a fair Civil Service in which diversity and equality of opportunity are valued. I aim to ensure that equal opportunities issues generally receive a high profile.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many sports have formally undertaken to participate in the United Kingdom Sports Institute. [68113]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 28 January 1999]: The United Kingdom Sports Institute will offer a network of first class services and facilities to a range of Olympic and other non-commercial sports. Major spectator sports will also be able to tap into the top quality sports science, medicine, nutrition and coaching expertise available.
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The Sports Councils and Phoenix Sports Limited (the company established by the Sheffield Consortium) have been obtaining the views of Athletics, Netball, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis and Triathlon to confirm exactly what their requirements are at the site in Sheffield. In addition to this, my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport has written seeking confirmation that they are happy with current proposals.
In parallel, the Home Country Sports Councils have been developing the proposed network centres throughout the country. Proposals for Scotland have already been made public. In England, the English Sports Council has been consulting widely with the governing bodies of sport over the past six months. This has included discussion with the newly appointed Performance Directors who have brought their own views on the most appropriate high performance structure for their sport. They are best placed to tell us what their sport needs and it is only sensible that we listen to what they have to say. I plan to make a more comprehensive announcement soon.
Mr. Michael Jabez Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what are his plans for the King Edward VII Convalescent Home for Officers at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. [69804]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
After very careful consideration, my right hon. Friend has decided that it is no longer appropriate to run part of Osborne House as a convalescent and residential home for the benefit of members of the Armed Forces and Civil Service. My right hon. Friend will be seeking, therefore, Parliament's approval to repeal the provisions of the Osborne Estate Act 1902 which places this responsibility on him. In the meantime, the home will remain open. The demand for residential and convalescent facilities has declined. The current costs to the taxpayer of running the home are around £500,000 each year, net of income. English Heritage meets additional costs for the care of the fabric of the building.
Our immediate concern is the care of the current residents of the home. I am grateful to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund, who run the home on our behalf, for offering to work closely with my Department in finding new homes for current residents when the need arises. The convalescent home will remain open to convalescents, but not new residents, and will be run by the Civil Service Benevolent Fund until such time as Parliament approves its closure. This would be carried out in an orderly way, respecting the wishes and needs of the residents as far as possible.
The State Apartments at Osborne House will continue to be open to the public and managed by English Heritage who are currently making extensive plans to commemorate the centenary of Queen Victoria's death at Osborne in January 1901. I have also asked English Heritage to bring forward imaginative proposals for the use of the accommodation currently occupied by the convalescent home which will provide employment and help towards the costs of running the Osborne Estate.
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Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Ulster Orchestra over its future sponsorship arrangements. [69293]
Mr. Chris Smith:
Matters affecting arts organisations in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I have had no discussions with the Ulster Orchestra, but I am aware of their concerns.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with arts organisations over the timing of legislation to ban tobacco sponsorship. [69294]
Mr. Chris Smith:
Prior to the publication of the Government's White Paper "Smoking Kills" in December 1998, I received written representations from and on behalf of a small number of arts organisations and their sponsors. I also sought advice from the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts on the extent of arts sponsorship by tobacco companies.
Through negotiation, the Government ensured that the EU Tobacco Advertising Directive provided a reasonable time for arts and sports organisations to adapt and the White Paper explained that sports and arts organisations would be given the full five-year period allowed under the Directive to find alternative sponsors.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the present value to arts organisations of sponsorship by tobacco companies. [69295]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts has estimated that the total current financial value of tobacco arts sponsorship in the UK is between £1 million and £1.5 million per annum.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what licences have been issued for the export of British Aerospace Gripen fighters and Hawk aircraft, and GKN Westland Maritime helicopters to South Africa. [64499]
Dr. Howells:
I understand that none of these aircraft has previously been supplied to the South African Government by the UK. Some of the UK's leading defence companies have submitted bids against South African defence procurement requirements. No licences for the permanent export to South Africa of such aircraft have been issued by this Government. However, any subsequent applications for export licences will be considered against the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26-29, and against the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.
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Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the amounts of export credit guarantee covers provided to Alvis for the export of armoured vehicles to Indonesia and for the provision of upgrade components since 1988. [68780]
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Export Credits Guarantee Department cover was provided to Alvis for the export of armoured vehicles to Indonesia and the provision of upgrade components. [68705]
Mr. Wilson:
From data readily available the value of ECGD cover provided for such business since 1988 is as follows:
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | £2 million |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | £5.2 million |
| 1995 | US$105 million |
| 1996 | £65 million |
| 1997 | US$3.2 million |
| 1998 | 0 |
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