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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 4 February 1997
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Members' Staff
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Lord President of the Council how many right hon. and hon. Members employ (a) no staff, (b) one member of staff, (c) two members of staff and (d) more than two members of staff. [13088]
Mr. Newton: The information requested is as follows:
- (a) eight Members
(b) 92 Members
(c) 249 Members
(d) 299 Members
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Lord President of the Council how many staff are employed by right hon. and hon. Members. [13087]
Mr. Newton: At 31 January 1997 there were 1,753 staff employed by right hon. and hon. Members.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Magistrates Courts
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are his current proposals for the amalgamation of magistrates courts in England and Wales; if he will list the consultation processes on those proposals with starting dates and deadlines for submissions; what representations he has received so far (i) in favour and (ii) against the proposals; if he will list the costs of the proposed amalgamations; what account has been taken of (a) the number of cases to be heard in and (b) the catchment areas of and maximum travel distances to, the newly amalgamated courts; and if he will make a statement. [14108]
Mr. Streeter: I have no proposals for the amalgamation of magistrates courts in England and Wales. Magistrates courts are provided by the local paying authority for the use of the magistrates courts committee. Closure decisions are for the MCC to determine, after consultation with the paying authority. The paying authority can appeal to the Lord Chancellor against the MCC's decision within one month of its receiving written notice of the determination.
The following magistrates courthouse closures are currently the subject of appeal: Biddulph, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Cheadle, Kidsgrove, Llangollen, Otley and Pontadawe. There have been a number of written and oral
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representations both in favour and against these appeals. Costs, work load, catchment areas and maximum travel distances are all taken into account in reaching decisions on appeals.
Chequers
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister what have been the running costs of Chequers for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [13612]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 31 January 1997]: Chequers is established under the Chequers Estate Acts 1917 and 1958 and is administered by independent trustees who receive an annual grant from public funds towards its maintenance in accordance with the Acts. In the last five years the grant has been:
1992-93: £260,000
1993-94: £266,000
1994-95: £226,000
1995-96: £233,000
1996-97: £226,000.
1992-93: £428,287
1993-94: £251,460
1994-95: £301,960
1995-96: £221,280
1996-97: £240,000 (estimate).
The Prime Minister [holding answer 31 January 1997]: In the last five years, my family and I have made regular use of Chequers for a variety of purposes, in accordance with the wishes of the donor, Lord Lee, and the Chequers Estate Acts.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 February. [12877]
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 February. [12878]
The Prime Minister: This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact on the Lockerbie case of the recent acquittal by the United States authorities of Mr. Juval Aviv on charges of deception. [13089]
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The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the reply he received from the Minister of State, Scottish Office, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton), on 27 January, Official Report, columns 70-71.
The acquittal of Mr. Juval Aviv by a jury after trial in the New York southern district court on charges of deception has no bearing on the validity of the case against the two Libyans accused in respect of the Lockerbie bombing.
Ministerial Severance Payments
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister whether Ministers leaving office immediately following the general election will have their severance payments based on the salary scale in force on polling day or that applicable on the day after polling day. [14150]
Mr. Freeman: I have been asked to reply.
Severance payments will be made in accordance with the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 and will, therefore, mean that severance pay to former Ministers is based on the same rate as the salaries paid to new and continuing Ministers.
DEFENCE
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress there has been on inviting industrial consortiums to provide a permanent joint services command and staff college. [14588]
Mr. Soames: I am pleased to announce that the Joint Services Command and Staff College will be at Shrivenham from September 1999. The college will be a centre of military excellence, building on the worldwide renown of its prestigious predecessors to maintain our global reputation for command and staff training.
A Serco/Laing consortium, Defence Management, has been selected as the preferred bidder. We shall be assisted in the academic support for the new college by Kings college London which is world renowned for its contribution to military studies.
The new college will be in purpose built accommodation on a greenfield site within the perimeter of the Royal Military college of science. Subject to successful detailed negotiations Defence Management will be awarded a contract for the provision of the accommodation, facilities management and academic support required for the new college, in June 1997. Until the permanent site is available, we shall run courses at interim sites, mainly at Bracknell.
The staff college at Camberley has played an important and historic role for the Army. We intend to identify a fitting and appropriate military use for this historic building. I intend to report on our plans for its future occupancy before the summer recess.
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Trades unions were consulted fully when the decision to explore the options for private financing was made. In accordance with normal procedures, they are being informed of the choice of the preferred bidder and will be consulted again, after a contract has been placed, about the possible transfer arrangements for civilian staff working at the interim sites.
Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of cigarettes purchased at discounted or duty-free prices by service personnel serving outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what is the number of people eligible for those supplies. [12409]
Mr. Soames
[holding answer 28 January 1997]: I have made no such estimate. The figures requested are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the arms sales to Turkey assisted by the Defence Export Services Organisation in each of the last three years. [13936]
Mr. Arbuthnot
[holding answer 3 February 1997]: DESO facilitates contact between British industry and Turkish Government officials to help them promote their products and services. Comprehensive records are not kept of those export orders which result directly or indirectly from DESO involvement and such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the running costs of Admiralty house for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [13618]
Mr. Freeman
[holding answer 31 January 1997]: Responsibility for Admiralty house transferred from the Department of the Environment to the Cabinet Office on 1 April 1996. The approximate running costs for each of the last five years are as follows:
1992-93: £779,000
1993-94: £755,000
1994-95: £601,000
1995-96: £723,000
1996-97 (to date): £184,000.
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