TNAG-2708-FCO40-3914-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 50

305

Written Answers

5 MARCH 1993

I have welcomed in particular the removal of barriers to trade with the creation of the single market and will continue to look for opportunities for the promotion of educational exchanges, cultural contacts, community development projects, tourism, export promotion and measures to improve the infrastructure of Northern Ireland's economy. These were issues addressed during last year's talks which focused on relationships among the people of the island of Ireland, as well as those within Northern Ireland and between the two Governments. I hope that it will soon be possible to hold further talks to continue to address these issues as part of a comprehensive agenda.

Educational Administration

Mr. Stott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that any change in structure of educational administration in Northern Ireland, as advanced in the consultative document, will not result in any real cut in the appropriation of funds to the Department of Education, after the implementation of a revised administrative structure; and if he will make a

statement.

Mr. Hanley: While the stated objectives of the consultative document include achieving greater effective- ness, efficiency and economy so as to improve education services in Northern Ireland, the extent of any net savings cannot be evaluated until the Government has analysed the cost of setting up and operating any new structures. At that stage, the overall expenditure needs of the Department of Education, like those of other Northern Ireland Departments, will have to be decided in the public expenditure survey, in the usual way.

Assembly

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will establish an inquiry into the case for a Northern Ireland assembly elected by proportional representation, with a high degree of autonomy within the United Kingdom, with the ability to represent Northern Ireland directly to the institutions of the European Community; and if he will make a

statement.

Sir Patrick Mayhew: I continue to urge the need for further political dialogue on such issues. The talks which took place last year identified common themes and principles which should underlie any new political institutions in Northern Ireland and examined possible structures which might reflect these. Preliminary con- sideration was also given to the possible future relationship between any new political institutions in Northern Ireland and the institutions of the European Community. I hope it will be possible to agree a basis for fresh talks which could make further progress towards agreement on these and other relevant issues.

Police Interview Notes

Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many instances in each of the past three years criminal convictions have been referred back to the Court of Appeal following re-examination of the original police interview notes.

Mr. Mates: One case, involving four men, in 1991.

156 CW35/8 Job 2-1

Written Answers

306

Vehicle Registration

Mr. Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on vehicle registration for Derry city outlining the reasons for avoiding alphabetical sequence by progressing from EUI to GUI registration.

Mr. Atkins: In common with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Great Britain, the Department of Environment (NI) vets vehicle registration marks to avoid the issue of any combination of letters, or letters and numbers, which might cause, or be thought to cause, offence. FUI was regarded as such a combination.

PRIME MINISTER

Civil List

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will arrange for those payments to members of the royal family made through the civil list to be subject to audit and scrutiny by the National Audit Office.

The Prime Minister: The payments of the annuities to members of the royal family from the Consolidated Fund are already subject to National Audit Office audit. Her Majesty the Queen has agreed to refund those costs, except for the annuities for the Queen Mother and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Market Testing

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister what is the highest rank in the civil service or Government to which market testing will be applied.

Prime Minister: Market testing could apply in principle to any suitable activity and would, therefore, affect staff at any grade in market tested areas.

Nuclear Tests

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he received on nuclear testing during his recent visit to Washington.

The Prime Minister: During my visit I received one letter about nuclear testing from a United States congressman.

Scott Inquiry

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 February, Official Report, column 671, if he will list the titles of the papers his office has made available to the Scott inquiry.

The Prime Minister: No. It would not be appropriate to do so.

WALES

Tourism

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the latest figure for people employed in the tourist industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement;