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NORTHERN IRELAND
Protected Tenancy Dwellings
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each council area in Northern Ireland the number of protected tenancy dwellings; and, of these, in each area how many are (a) restricted tenancies and (b) regulated tenancies. [112939]
Mr. George Howarth: The information requested is as follows:
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Household Division
Mr. DuncanSmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library his recent correspondence with the Major General commanding the Household Division. [115377]
Mr. Mandelson: The correspondence referred to is personal between myself and the Major General commanding the Household Division. It is therefore not appropriate to place a copy in the Library. I made public my regrets for my remarks during Northern Ireland questions in the House on 15 March, and the Major General has stated that he is perfectly content with my response and that the matter is closed.
Police Authority
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been spent by the Police Authority on works to their office accommodation in each of the last three financial years and in the current year to date for which figures are available. [115587]
Mr. Ingram: Sums spent by the Police Authority on works to their office accommodation in each of the last three financial years and the current year to the latest date are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 12,067 |
| 1997-98 | 62,597 |
| 1998-99 | 29,969 |
| 1999-2000 | 1,022 |
Prisoner Release
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his recent decision to suspend the licence of a prisoner who was released under the Good Friday Agreement. [116694]
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Mr. Mandelson:
This was the first time this power has been exercised but should I receive evidence that any other prisoners who have benefited from early release breach their license conditions, I will act immediately.
Prisoners released early in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement are released on license and are subject to strict licence conditions.
For a fixed-term prisoner, these conditions are:
I have made it clear that anyone of whom I have evidence that they have breached these conditions would have their license suspended and be returned to custody.
Given the circumstances of the case in question, I had no hesitation in suspending the licence in accordance with the legislation.
The matter has been referred to the Sentence Review Commissioners (the prisoner may apply to them should he wish his case to be reconsidered).
31. Mr. Paterson:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the Commissioners' policy on the conditions attached to the sale of redundant churches relating to their subsequent use. [114847]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
The Commissioners normally impose covenants on the new owner restricting the use to that approved and prohibiting unauthorised architectural changes, the disturbance of any human remains or memorials and demolition.
32. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate the Commissioners have made of the impact of "Common Worship" on the number of vocations. [114848]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
Liturgy and fostering vocations are not the direct responsibility of the Commissioners. It is not possible to demonstrate a correlation between new liturgy and the rise and fall in the number of ordinations and ordinands.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to his Department by the Chinese authorities regarding the policing of the Chinese state visit last October. [113744]
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Mr. Battle:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) on 28 October 1999, Official Report, column 993W.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings were held between his Department's officials and representatives of police services involved with policing the Chinese state visit. [113745]
Mr. Battle:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 4 November 1999, Official Report, columns 271-72W. There was one meeting with the Cambridgeshire Constabulary on 1 October 1999.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings were held between his Department and Chinese authorities regarding the policing of the Chinese state visit last October. [113742]
Mr. Battle:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 4 November 1999, Official Report, columns 271-72W.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the training programme for young citizens of the member states who will be attending the launch of the European Commission's Dialogue on Europe. [114135]
Mr. Vaz
[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The young people taking part in the launch of the European Commission's "Dialogue on Europe" were all participants in the long-standing programme of graduate traineeships with that institution. In 2000, 4.2 million euro have been allocated in the European Union budget for the operation of the traineeships programme.
The launch of "Dialogue on Europe" took place at the biannual welcome event for the new intake of trainees on 1 March 2000. The additional costs to the EU budget are estimated by the Commission at 25,000 euro.
The Government are keen to raise awareness of the European dimension of the work of UK Government Departments, and a secondment to one of the EU institutions serves that aim. Details of "stage" opportunities for UK civil servants are circulated biannually by the Cabinet Office, which also process the applications received. Staff input cannot be reliably quantified, but is not onerous. A maximum of five European Fast Streamers (the UK Government's development programme for British graduates who wish to make a career in the EU institutions) go on a "stage" in each biannual intake. Their salary and allowances while in Brussels are paid by the Cabinet Office.
Mr. Stevenson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise concerns on human rights abuses in Chinese-occupied
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Tibet in the United Kingdom's ministerial statements at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights. [115091]
Mr. Hain:
I delivered the United Kingdom's opening plenary statement at the Commission on Human Rights on 23 March. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The speech is also available on the Foreign Office website (www.fco.gov.uk).
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received relating to the safety of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his possible release from his captivity; what is the UK's policy on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [115924]
Mr. Battle:
We are concerned about the situation of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama's choice as the 11th Panchen Lama, and take every appropriate opportunity to press the Chinese Government to allow access to the boy to verify his health and living conditions. I did so myself when I met the Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister, Wang Yingfan, on 9 November 1999, following the disturbing reports that Gedhun had died. We subsequently received a written assurance that he was alive and well.
(a) that he does not support a specified organisation (within the meaning of section 3 of the Sentences Act), and
(b) that he does not become concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland.
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