Written Answers
DATE 22. ATED
COL.
VOL 137
L
JULY 1988
Members of Statistician Group1
Higher Draughtsman
Draughtsman
Information Officer
Written Answers
Members of Administration
Total
and other
2
groups
2
5
251
2
5
JF LIS
2/8
750
TOTAL
1 1979 and 1984 figures exclude Cadet Statisticians.
2 Includes all other non statistician group staff.
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Prime Minister what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of the Cabinet Office.
The Prime Minister: Seventeen staff are presently employed by the Cabinet Office, including the Central Statistical Office, the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service, and 10 Downing street on press and public relations activities.
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Prime Minister what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations offices of her office.
The Prime Minister: Including support staff, eight people are presently employed in 10 Downing street on press and public relations activities.
Public Relations
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Prime Minister what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by the Cabinet Office on press and public relations during 1988-89.
The Prime Minister: The information is not available in the precise form requested. The latest estimate of expenditure on press and public relations in 1988-89 by the Cabinet Office, including 10 Downing street, the Central Statistical Office and the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service, as well as on such services provided to the Office of Arts and Libraries, is £525,000.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Entry Clearance Charges
70. Ms. Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the recent increase in entry clearance charges to £60 per applicant; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Mellor: Letters on this matter have been received from 11 colleagues. The reason why the settlement and long-term entry clearance fee had to be increased at this time was given in the replies to the questions asked by the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 21 June at columns 517-18.
Malaysia
Mr. Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he will be making to the Government of Malaysia, regarding the continued detention without trial of 42 citizens of that
country.
Mr. Mellor: We shall continue to monitor the Internal Security Act detentions closely, in consultation with our
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European partners. Representatives of the Twelve have already discussed the matter with the Malaysian authorities and have made known our collective concerns. We shall ensure that the Malaysian authorities remain aware of those concerns. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the question of the detentions during his visit to Malaysia in April.
Live Monkey Brains
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take the necessary steps to prohibit the consumption of live monkey brains in Hong Kong restaurants.
Mr. Mellor: The consumption of live monkey brains in Hong Kong restaurants is already prohibited. Hong Kong's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance makes acts of cruelty to animals illegal and provides powers to arrest offenders. The Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, which gives effect to CITES, controls inter alia the import and possession of endangered species including all species of monkey.
The Hong Kong Government have no evidence of the consumption of live monkey brains in Hong Kong restaurants. Any reports would be investigated vigorously.
Public Relations
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what was the total spending by his Department on press, public relations and advertising, respectively, in 1987-88;
(2) what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations during 1988-89.
Mr. Mellor: I refer to the written answer of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 17 December 1987 at columns 629-30. Final outturns for 1987-88 are not yet available.
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of his Department.
Mr. Mellor: The number of staff employed in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office news department and Overseas Development Administration press office is 19.
Departmental Advertising
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest figure for the
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