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HEALTH
Abortions
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to hold centrally information by regional health authorities on the percentage of parents who decline to abort a pregnancy when told that their child may have a birth defect; and if he will make a statement. [61]
Mr. Sackville: There are no such plans.
Prescriptions (Students)
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many claims for free prescriptions have been made by students; and how many have been successful for the latest year for which figures are available. [1059]
Mr. Malone: During 1994-95, around 260,000 national health service low--income scheme claims were made by students, of which around 68 per cent. resulted in entitlement to free prescriptions.
Gulf War Syndrome
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he proposes to implement the report of the Defence Select Committee regarding Gulf war syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [563]
Mr. Soames: I have been asked to reply.
We will be considering the points made by the Defence Select Committee very carefully and will reply formally in due course.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Child Support Agency
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many liability orders have been placed on members of the armed forces by the Child Support Agency for each month since April 1993. [618]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 20 November 1995:
21 Nov 1995 : Column: 67
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about liability orders.
No data on the number of liability orders granted during 1993- 94 are available. It is unlikely that there will have been many during this period as few cases would have progressed to this stage from the start of the Agency.
A total of 226 liability orders were granted during 1994-95. From April 1995, a monthly breakdown is available, and this is shown in the table attached.
It is not possible to say how many of these liability orders have been granted against members of the armed forces--or any other employment group--as there is no business need for the Agency to collect this information. However, the vast majority of liability orders are directed towards the self employed, because non-compliant absent parents who are employees would normally be subject to deduction from earnings orders; nearly all members of the armed forces are employees.
Month Liability orders granted
April 63
May 125
June 115
July 108
August 153
September 134
Total 698
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Children's Play
Mr. Booth: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will announce the name of the organisation that will be carrying out work on children's play on behalf of her Department. [1665]
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: I am grateful to all those organisations that submitted tenders to carry out work in the areas of information dissemination, playwork education and training and play safety. I have today informed the National Playing Fields Association that, subject to the successful completion of post-tender negotiations, it will carry out all three functions for my Department from 1 January 1996.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Sri Lanka
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have recently been made to the Government of Sri Lanka. [565]
Mr. Hanley: Our high commissioner in Colombo is in frequent contact with members of the Sri Lankan Government. I refer the hon. Member to a declaration made by the European Union on 15 November. A copy is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which areas of Sri Lanka have been defined as safe for (a) Sri Lankan nationals and (b) others; and when he last reviewed this policy. [13]
Mr. Hanley: Our current travel advice for visitors to Sri Lanka is set out below. It is under constant review and was last updated on 15 November.
21 Nov 1995 : Column: 68
Peace talks between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam--LTTE--broke down on 19 April and fighting is on-going in the north and east. Do not visit these areas. On 7 August, a bomb exploded in central Colombo, killing 21 people and injuring over 50. There were further similar incidents in October and November. More can be expected. Curfews may be imposed from time to time. Although foreigners are unlikely to be directly targeted, visitors should exercise extreme caution in public places. The south and centre, including all the main tourist areas and the cultural triangle, remain largely unaffected. Further information may be obtained direct from the British high commission in Colombo: Tel: 437336, Fax 430308.
Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current political, military and refugee situation in Sri Lanka. [567]
Mr. Hanley:
We welcome President Kumaratunga's recent statements that the conflict in Sri Lanka can be resolved only through a negotiated settlement. We believe that the Government of Sri Lanka's devolution proposals form a basis for discussion on a settlement acceptable to all Sri Lankans.
We have urged both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam--LTTE--to make every effort to protect the civilian population. We welcome the Government's recent statements concerning the shipment of relief supplies to the north.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Acts of Parliament and consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [42]
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what dates his Department was informed of contracts relating to (a) Project Babylon, (b) Baby Babylon and (c) Supergun propellant; and what was the response his Department made. [1033]
Mr. Hanley:
It has not proved possible, in the time available, to establish the exact dates at which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was first informed of the contracts relating to the projects which subsequently became known as Project Babylon and Supergun. It is likely that the inquiry currently being conducted by Sir Richard Scott will comment further on these matters. Following the detention, on 10 April 1990 at Teesport by HM Customs, of eight steel tubes destined for Iraq, the FCO liaised with other interested departments and agencies while Her Majesty's Customs continued its inquiries.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the outcome of the investigations into possible offences by United Kingdom based companies or their subsidiaries in connection with the supply of products to the Iraqi plant at Ad Dwar and Salman Pak arising from information
21 Nov 1995 : Column: 69
passed to him by UNSCOM; if any of the investigations have indicated that Her Majesty's Government had prior knowledge or approved any of these trades; if all the documents and information in the possession of Her Majesty's Government relating to these matters have been passed to the Scott inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [329]
Mr. David Davis:
We are aware neither of offences against UK export control legislation by any British company associated with these sites, nor prior knowledge by the Government of illegal trade. The Scott inquiry has been kept informed of all matters within its remit.
We shall continue to support the UN special commission. Any allegations or evidence of wrong-doing by British companies will be investigated and, if appropriate, will be a matter for the courts.
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many former right hon. and hon. Members have been appointed as governors of dependent territories since 1979. [418]
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the Chilean authorities' investigation into the death of Jonathon Moyle; and if he will make a statement. [332]
Mr. Hanley:
The investigation by the Chilean authorities into the death of Jonathon Moyle is continuing. The Chilean Appeal Court ordered further investigations in October 1993, as did the Chilean Supreme Court in April 1995.
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