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NHS Trusts

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all NHS trusts (a) as of 30 November 1995 and (b) with effect from 1 April 1996. [4062]

Mr. Moss: At 30 November 1995 the following NHS trusts had been established in Northern Ireland.


In addition, the following units were approved for trust status on 8 November 1995 and will be established when a chairman has been identified:


It is anticipated that they will become fully operational on 1 April 1996.

US Financial Assistance

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total amount of financial assistance made available by the United States of America, either directly or through the International Fund for Ireland, to assist with the regeneration of Northern Ireland, and to what extent that aid is governed by those aspects of section 104(d) of the United States International Development and Food Assistance Act 1978 which requires that all nations receiving United States foreign assistance must take steps to reduce their rate of population growth; and if he will make a statement. [3984]

Sir John Wheeler: There has been no direct financial assistance made available by the United States of America to assist with the regeneration of Northern Ireland. The United States of America has contributed a total of $250 million to the International Fund for Ireland over the period 1986 to 1995 inclusive. Under the terms of the agreement establishing the fund approximately three quarters of its resources are to be disbursed in Northern Ireland. The US contributions to the fund are governed by the US Anglo-Irish Support Act 1986 and fall outside the terms of section 104(d) of the US International Development and Food Assistance Act 1978.

11 Dec 1995 : Column: 545

Forensic Science Laboratory

Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory was launched as a next steps agency. [5432]

Sir John Wheeler: I launched the Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory as a next steps agency on 1 September 1995, to be known as the Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland. The agency will continue to supply a wide range of forensic services to the RUC and the courts in Northern Ireland. The agency published its framework document and corporate and business plan in September and copies of both have been placed in the Library.

EC Directives

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the statement of the Secretary of State for the Environment of 21 November, Official Report, column 454, if he will make it his policy to review past legislation in respect of additional burdens imposed by regulations implementing European directives.[5070]

Sir John Wheeler: Within the NI departments, there is no such existing policy at the present time, but legislation influenced by EC directives is progressed on a parity basis with Great Britain. Any initiatives taken by Great Britain Departments to review past legislation implementing European directives which impose additional burdens will be closely monitored by departments.

Rugby League

Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) financial; and (b) other assistance to rugby league is made available by the Northern Ireland Sports Council.[4993]

Mr. Ancram: None. Rugby league has no governing body to which financial or other assistance could be made.

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many ministerial visits have been undertaken by each Minister in his Department between 6 July and 1 December; and how many and what percentage of these have involved the Minister travelling abroad.[4228]

Sir John Wheeler [holding reply 6 December 1995]: Ministers have spent the following numbers of days out of the office, each of which may have involved more than one visit:

Travelling abroad
Ministerial visits (Days) (Days) Percentage
Sir P. Mayhew252(8.0)
Mr. M. Ancram242(8.3)
Sir J. Wheeler233(13.0)
Baroness Denton9520(21.1)
Mr. M. Moss481(2.1)


11 Dec 1995 : Column: 546

Mobile Telephones

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many times mobile telephones used by Ministers in his Department have been cloned during (a) the last six months, (b) the last 12 months and (c) the last 18 months; and which Ministers within his Department have had their mobile telephones cloned; [4264]

Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 7 December 1995]: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and my hon. Friend the member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) both had their mobile telephones cloned within the last 12 months.

The five Northern Ireland Ministers have mobile phones fitted in their official London cars. There are also additional telephones carried by private secretaries which are available for use by Ministers as necessary.

WALES

Council Tax

Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to maintain the current differential between council tax bills in Wales and England. [4293]

Mr. Hague: In some years it will be necessary for local authorities to raise a greater proportion of their revenue locally. The actual level of council tax will be set by local authorities but I expect there to be a large differential between council tax levels in Wales and England for the foreseeable future.

Planning Policy Guidance

Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the organisations which have sent him responses to the draft planning policy guidance for Wales. [3423]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: The organisations are as follows:


11 Dec 1995 : Column: 547


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11 Dec 1995 : Column: 549

 Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the written responses his Department has received to the draft planning policy guidance for Wales. [4400]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

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