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Human Rights Commission
Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the known (a) religious and (b) political affiliations of the Commissioners recently appointed to the new body on human rights for Northern Ireland. [75291]
Mr. Paul Murphy [holding answer 8 March 1999]: The Secretary of State announced on 18 January and 1 March appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. There are 10 Commissioners including the Chief Commissioner. The religious background of candidates is established for monitoring purposes only. It is not the Government's policy to release the religious affiliation of each member, but we are satisfied that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. Candidates are asked to declare political activity over the last 10 years; only one of those appointed had declared any political affiliation, which was to the SDLP and the Women's Coalition.
Rev. Ian Paisley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for appointment to the Human Rights Commission were received; on what dates the posts were advertised; and in what journals. [75279]
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Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 8 March 1999]: There were 28 applications for Chief Commissioner and 154 for Commissioners. The Chief Commissioner post was advertised as follows:
| Date | |
|---|---|
| The Guardian | 5, 6 & 9 November |
| The Guardian Website | 25 November |
| Belfast Telegraph | 24 November & 1 December |
| Newsletter | 26 November & 3 December |
| Irish News | 26 November & 3 December |
| NIO Website | 5 November onwards |
The Commissioner posts were advertised as follows:
| Date | |
|---|---|
| The Guardian | 2 & 3 December |
| Belfast Telegraph | 1 December |
| Irish News | 3 December |
| Newsletter | 3 December |
| NIO Website | 1 December onwards |
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Mallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many herds were restricted due to evidence of tuberculosis, in each month, from January 1995 to January 1997. [74571]
9 Mar 1999 : Column: 111
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The information requested is provided in the following table.
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Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tuberculosis-infected animals were discovered in each veterinary division area, in each month, from January 1995 to January 1997. [74570]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The information requested is provided in the following table.
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| Armagh | Ballymena | Coleraine | Dungannon | Enniskillen | Larne | L'Derry | Newry | Newtownards | Omagh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1995 | 80 | 10 | 31 | 35 | 23 | 21 | 3 | 123 | 65 | 15 |
| February 1995 | 49 | 7 | 14 | 59 | 24 | 21 | 4 | 103 | 73 | 23 |
| March 1995 | 83 | 19 | 33 | 65 | 17 | 74 | 4 | 140 | 31 | 35 |
| April 1995 | 52 | 32 | 26 | 63 | 15 | 22 | 1 | 97 | 17 | 12 |
| May 1995 | 54 | 14 | 15 | 62 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 106 | 46 | 18 |
| June 1995 | 53 | 30 | 17 | 37 | 21 | 14 | 2 | 75 | 37 | 10 |
| July 1995 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 45 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 104 | 35 | 4 |
| August 1995 | 71 | 19 | 15 | 55 | 7 | 21 | 2 | 68 | 45 | 10 |
| September 1995 | 79 | 12 | 15 | 66 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 57 | 29 | 17 |
| October 1995 | 28 | 17 | 15 | 74 | 13 | 21 | 8 | 94 | 39 | 22 |
| November 1995 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 68 | 8 | 33 | 6 | 78 | 33 | 16 |
| December 1995 | 25 | 33 | 10 | 67 | 21 | 22 | 4 | 52 | 28 | 25 |
| January 1996 | 41 | 20 | 20 | 66 | 23 | 41 | 8 | 83 | 26 | 15 |
| February 1996 | 34 | 17 | 27 | 50 | 24 | 47 | 15 | 116 | 74 | 32 |
| March 1996 | 31 | 10 | 22 | 49 | 32 | 14 | 11 | 141 | 38 | 30 |
| April 1996 | 89 | 44 | 29 | 66 | 10 | 35 | 21 | 81 | 50 | 32 |
| May 1996 | 37 | 27 | 17 | 22 | 28 | 35 | 1 | 82 | 41 | 52 |
| June 1996 | 41 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 2 | 46 | 36 | 15 |
| July 1996 | 16 | 21 | 12 | 22 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 115 | 38 | 23 |
| August 1996 | 66 | 28 | 16 | 27 | 15 | 17 | 2 | 83 | 48 | 23 |
| September 1996 | 33 | 24 | 19 | 28 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 156 | 35 | 19 |
| October 1996 | 44 | 45 | 13 | 70 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 157 | 125 | 63 |
| November 1996 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 110 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 128 | 59 | 32 |
| December 1996 | 42 | 39 | 14 | 78 | 17 | 30 | 2 | 81 | 37 | 122 |
| January 1997 | 30 | 29 | 20 | 70 | 10 | 36 | 9 | 83 | 50 | 63 |
| Total | 1,139 | 559 | 471 | 1,374 | 416 | 597 | 135 | 2,449 | 1,135 | 728 |
| Grand total | 9,003 |
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Transatlantic Postal Services
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) the air cargo carriers which are currently contracted to transport post in each direction between the United Kingdom and the United States of America and (b) the weight which each carried in each of the last three years. [72881]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The contracting of air carriers to transport post to the United States of America is a
9 Mar 1999 : Column: 112
commercial matter for The Post Office. The air transport of post from the United States Postal Services to the United Kingdom is a matter for that administration.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to allow credit unions to gain easier access to post offices to (a) encourage saving and (b) publicise their activities. [73914]
9 Mar 1999 : Column: 113
Mr. Ian McCartney
[holding answer 3 March 1999]: Arrangements for access to post offices for credit unions are an operational and commercial matter for the Post Office and the credit unions. However, I have asked the Post Office to consider what actions can be taken to improve working relations between them and the credit unions, within the context of the Post Office's strategic plans.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those items of legislation since 1 May 1997 which originated from the Social Partners meetings at European Communities level. [75078]
Mr. Wilson:
The items of legislation since 1 May which originated from agreements between the Social Partners at European Communities' level are the Parental Leave Directive and the Part-Time Work Directive. These measures will be implemented through provisions in the Employment Relations Bill and through subsequent secondary legislation.
Mr. Lock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (i) the names of the beneficiaries of all the discretionary grants awarded by his Department to organisations within Worcestershire during 1998, (ii) their monetary value, (iii) their total value and (iv) the proportion that total sum comprises of the total sums awarded by his Department in discretionary grants in 1998. [75251]
Mr. Wills:
If organisations can be interpreted as companies, we can provide the following information about the RSA, Smart and SPUR schemes for the calendar year 1998 in Worcestershire.
| Company name | Value of offer (£) |
|---|---|
| Premier Bathrooms Ltd. | 35,000 |
| Advanced Casting Co Ltd. | 45,000 |
| Metal Pressings Group Ltd | 80,000 |
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(iii) Total value of these offers = £160,000
(iv) Total RSA offered in the West Midlands Assisted Area in 1998 was £36,614,000. On that basis, RSA offered in Worcestershire accounted for 0.43 per cent. of the total offered in the West Midlands.
Note:
Only a very small part of Worcestershire falls within the West Midlands Assisted Area.
(iii) Total value of these offers = £711,165
(iv) Total Smart and SPUR offered in West Midlands in 1998 = £2,862,665. Therefore, Worcestershire received 25 per cent. of all grant offered on these schemes in the West Midlands during the calendar year.
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