22
EED
Written Answers
Polish Resettlement Act 1946
26 APRIL 1991
Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reach a decision on implementing some assistance under the Polish Resettlement Act 1947.
Mr. Forth: I have been asked to reply.
The Polish Resettlement Act 1947 was passed to enable the Government of the day to look after the welfare of members of the Polish armed forces and their dependents, in recognition of their gallant service alongside their British allies in the second world war, and Polish civilian refugees.
It enabled several Government Ministries to provide help for those Poles who elected to remain in this country and seek employment, or with arrangements and financial assistance for those who wanted to return to Poland or to emigrate to a third country.
There are no proposals to re-introduce assistance.
RMD
Press and Public Relations Staff
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts in the press and public relations office of his Department.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The full complement of staff including posts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing news department and the aid wing press office for each year from 1979-80 is as follows:
Year
Complement
1979-80
29.0
1980-81
28.0
1981-82
27.0
1982-83
26.0
1983-84
26.0
1984-85
26.0
1985-86
26.5
1986-87
25.5
1987-88
19.0
1988-89
18-0
1989-90
18.0
1990-91
18.0
1991-92
18-0
The number of staff actually employed on 1 April 1990 and 1991 was 18. Figures for staff actually employed on i April in the preceding years 1979-80 to 1989-90 are not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
MED
VN Iraq (Refugees)
Mr. Nellist: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position of insurgents and refugees in the south of Iraq and on the Iran-Iraq border; and what aid Her Majesty's Government has sent and is proposing to send specifically for this area.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 25 April to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn).
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, once the safe havens have
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been duly established in Iraq and have been in working order for a while, he will arrange for a delegation of hon. Members to visit these sites.
Mr. Douglas Hogg We shall certainly ensure that hon. Members are kept fully informed of progress on the establishment of safe havens for Iraqi refugees and shail consider how this can best be done, if appropriate by including visits to the sites.
Nuclear Suppliers Group
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the purpose of the meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in the Hague on 5 to 7 March; who represented the United Kingdom; when the previous Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting was held; what plans were made for the next Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting; and if he will make a statement on the role of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The meeting of states adhering to the Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines focused on the strengthening of existing nuclear-related export controls and possible expansion of the group. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Energy and the Department of Trade and Industry represented the United Kingdom. The last meeting of the full group had been in 1978. The participants in the recent meeting agreed to meet again in the future, but no firm date was set. The role of the group is to draw up and administer guidelines for the control of nuclear-related exports.
HKD
Hong Kong
Mr. Anthony Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report on Hong Kong will be laid before Parliament.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd: The report is being published and laid before Parliament today. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Doncaster Benefits Office
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the overall cost to date of the computerisation of the payment system of benefits to claimants at his Department's offices in the Doncaster area; and what will be the final cost on completion of the system.
Miss Widdecombe: The computerisation of the social security payment system, otherwise known as the operational strategy, is being undertaken on a nationwide basis and it is therefore impracticable to apportion development costs to any one location.
Widowed Parent Allowance
Mr. Hayward: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what would be the annual cost of extending widowed mothers' allowance to widowed fathers where at least one of the children is under five years;
(2) what would be the annual cost of extending widowed mothers' allowance to widowed fathers where at least one of the children is under 11 years.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.