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Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the annual budget of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [18392]
Ms Estelle Morris: The first budget of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will be agreed in consultation with the Authority in February 1998.
Supplementary Allowances
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if students in 1999-2000 and beyond who would be eligible for supplementary allowances under the existing system will continue to receive these allowances as grants. [17858]
Dr. Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer given on 18 November 1997, Official Report, column 160.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
European Courts
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 11 November 1997, Official Report, column 501, if he will seek agreement at the next European Council for the adoption of rules of procedure applicable to all its future meetings and for the adoption of those arrangements for other Heads of Government meetings. [17869]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The European Council is established by Article D of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), where there is no provision for rules of procedure. Other international organisations such as the G7, also operate without formal rules of procedure. It is for the Presidency, in consultation with other Member States, to structure discussions in the European Council.
European Council and the IGC
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates and times of (a) the meeting of the European Council and (b) the Inter-Governmental Conference held in Amsterdam in June; and what in each case was the smallest number of (i) Ministers and (ii) officials attending a session. [17915]
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 12
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The European Council met in Amsterdam from 9.30 am on 16 June until approximately 4 am on the morning of 18 June. The majority of time was spent discussing the Intergovernmental Conference, although other European Council business was also addressed. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary were present at all sessions. No UK officials attended the sessions, as is standard practice at European Councils.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British firms have contacted diplomatic missions in (a) Bombay and (b) New Delhi concerning trade opportunities in 1997. [18310]
Mr. Fatchett:
Precise figures relating to trade and investment inquiries from British companies are not recorded. However, from extrapolation of incoming fax inquiries during September 1997, the British Deputy High Commission in Bombay dealt with an estimated 860 written inquiries during January to October 1997 inclusive. In addition, Bombay received 272 British business visitors in the same period. The British High Commission in New Delhi received an estimated 2,000 written inquiries from British companies and briefed 304 British business visitors during the same period. Both offices also received many telephone inquiries from UK companies, but these are not automatically recorded. An even greater number of inquiries were received from Indian companies seeking trade and investment links with British companies. In addition, there were numerous contacts with members of the resident British business community.
Ms Shipley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual reports of (a) the Britain-Russia Centre and (b) the British East-West Centre will be published. [18276]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Copies of the Centres' Annual Report for 1996-97 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Centres received a grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of £237,000 to support their activities in 1996-97. In addition the Centres secured funding in 1996-97 of £237,227 for direct expenditure on projects. Their priority areas for assistance have been Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The Centres continue to make a valuable contribution to the strengthening of bilateral relations. Activities have included seminars and workshops; administering the British observer mission to the Russian presidential elections; work with the media in the republics of the Caucasus and senior level visits from Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Mr. Flight:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals are presently being considered at European Union level for the establishment of a museum of Europe; what discussions he has held with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on (a) which United Kingdom museum and (b) which United Kingdom collections will be affected; and if he will make a statement. [18155]
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 13
Mr. Fatchett:
At the Council of Culture and Audiovisual Ministers meeting held in Brussels on 30 June 1997, the Greek delegate proposed the foundation of a Museum of Europe. The proposal has not been considered since then and neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have had discussions with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about the matter.
Mr. Flight:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies he has undertaken of the effect of the increase in the use of qualified majority voting procedures under the Treaty of Amsterdam on the use by the European Parliament of its powers in these areas; and if he will make a statement. [18299]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
None. There is no direct link between the use of Qualified Majority Voting in the Council and the use by the European Parliament of its powers.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to publicise the opening hours of the British Deputy High Commission in Bombay. [18312]
Mr. Fatchett:
The opening times of our Deputy High Commission in Bombay (Mumbai) are readily available from the mission itself and from this Department. The Deputy High Commission is open from 0800 to 1300 and 1400 to 1600 local time.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British Ministers have visited India in 1997. [18313]
Mr. Fatchett:
Nine Ministers have visited India in 1997 including five since 1 May. The right hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Major), then Prime Minister, and Mr. Lang, then President of the Board of Trade, visited in January. The hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox), then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, visited in February. Mr. Nelson, then Minister of State for the Department of Trade and Industry visited in March. I also visited India in June. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister visited in September and November. My noble Friend, Baroness Symons, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, visited in September. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited in October. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade visited in November.
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Iraqi compliance with UN resolutions. [16816]
Mr. Fatchett:
Iraq is not yet in compliance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (SCRs). Iraq must comply with all the relevant SCRs before the process of lifting of sanctions can begin.
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 14
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the staffing establishment of the British High Commission Immigration Section in Lagos, Nigeria; and how many staff are in post. [18073]
Mr. Fatchett:
In our High Commission in Lagos there are 68 members of staff (19 UK-based and 49 locally engaged staff) on the establishment of the Immigration Section which is currently fully staffed. The total number of staff working in the High Commission is 246 (48 UK-based and 198 locally engaged).
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the average wait for an interview for (a) visa and (b) entry clearance at Her Majesty's High Commission in Lagos for each of the last three years. [18100]
Mr. Fatchett:
The average wait for an interview for entry clearance (or visa) at the High Commission in Lagos for each of the last three years was:
| Interview type | Average wait |
|---|---|
| 1997 | |
| Visit | 11 days |
| Settlement | 5 months |
| 1996 | |
| Visit | 6 days |
| Settlement | 5 months |
| 1995 | |
| Visit | 1 day |
| Settlement | 1 month |
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