To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding arts funding in the north-west.

I received a number of letters when the Arts Council made its allocations for 1994–95 to regional arts boards.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the Hallé orchestra in Manchester is facing financial difficulties? Is not it ironic that, just when the Arts Council is encouraging that orchestra to be more artistically ambitious, its funding should be cut? Does he think that more money could be made available, in recognition not only of the orchestra's excellent music but of its services to children with special educational needs?

The Arts Council's decision in relation to the Hallé was a matter for the council; but I am conscious that the council has conducted an internal review of regional orchestras and that the whole council has considered the matter.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that, throughout the north-west, we have not only excellent orchestras but excellent music societies, opera societies, choirs, brass bands and many talented artists? Can those people expect to get some money from the national lottery?

I join my hon. Friend's tributes to the musical qualities of the north-west. As for the national lottery, it will be up to organisations to bid, and it will then be for the Arts Council, if bids come to it, to decide whether they are within its terms of reference and acceptable.

Does the Secretary of State know that the Under-Secretary made a good impression when he recently attended a performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestra? Bearing in mind the excellence and world standing of that great orchestra—I should declare my life membership of the Philharmonic Society—may I persuade the right hon. Gentleman to allocate about £500,000 to enable the orchestra to get out of a rather sticky financial situation? The right hon. Gentleman should also remember that next year it must perform in the Liverpool Anglican cathedral.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary always makes a good impression. As for the allocation of £500,000, would that I were so rich! I am delighted with what has happened in respect of the Philharmonic hall. I am conscious that the orchestra will be moving into the cathedral during the closure of the hall, and I hope that that time goes well.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many (a) under 16-year-old and (b) under 18-year-old (i) boys and (ii) girls are estimated to attend sports clubs for coaching and team games; at what cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not held centrally. However, the Sports Council has commissioned a national survey of young people's involvement in sport which will ask about their membership of sports clubs.

Does my hon. Friend agree that all money going into sports clubs for young people is to be welcomed—and that there should be more of it? We must also support Ron Dearing's initiative of including physical education on the school curriculum, because that is how young people learn to handle themselves physically for the rest of their lives.

I thank my hon. Friend very much. I certainly pay tribute to the money that the Sports Council gives youth sport, which runs at about £4 million a year. I strongly agree, too, that, good though the sports clubs' work may be, and important though it is, it is absolutely essential that it should not be a substitute for proper sport in schools. That is what we want to work at.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy on independent television; and if he will make a statement.

Our aim is to increase diversity and choice for audiences and to encourage British broadcasters to compete in providing services in this country and elsewhere.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the BBC ought to be privatised forthwith to save pensioners their licence fee? Is he aware that the BBC is known by the British people as an annexe to Walworth road—in other words, that lot over there?

My hon. Friend shows some ingenuity in asking a question about independent television and then putting a supplementary about transferring the BBC to the private sector. I am not sure that his views about the BBC are widely held in the House.

In his contacts with the holders of the London commercial television franchise, will the Secretary of State take an early opportunity to remind them of their obligations to those millions of viewers outside the area covered by the former GLC? The franchise serves those viewers, but its news and current affairs programmes do not adequately reflect or take into account that fact. The people on the outer rim are not given fair coverage by London News Network and its related organisations.

It is for the Independent Television Commission rather than for me to remind franchisees of their obligations. One of the obligations that the ITC places on them is that 80 per cent. of regional programming should be produced in the area. I shall certainly see to it that the ITC's attention is drawn to the hon. Gentleman's question.

Will my right hon. Friend carry out a review of employment practices in the television companies to see how many of them give £75 and a honeymoon week to heterosexual couples, let alone to gay and lesbian couples?

My hon. Friend's supplementary also approaches the original question from the flank. It may help the House if I say that the BBC said today that it was taking very seriously the concern expressed on the subject of the equivalent of marriage allowances and gifts to single-sex couples. The corporation said that it was bringing forward a planned review of its special leave arrangements generally—and marriage gifts specifically —as part of its overall activity to modernise the benefits and conditions of service of its staff, and that, pending the outcome of that review, the award of one-off marriage payments would be suspended.

In promoting choice and variety for viewers, will the Secretary of State look favourably on the possibility of establishing Channel 5, and not allow arguments about digital to become confused with that question?

Issues relating to digital are part of the equation that has to be analysed, but we are examining with our technical advisers our capacity to go forward on both fronts at the same time.

Does the Minister have any policy on the financial probity of television programme makers? There is reason to believe that more than a five-figure sum disappeared from the accounts of a Channel 4 programme; but, rather than assist the police in bringing the guilty journalist to court, Channel 4 covered up the issue so as not to expose the inaccurate content of the programme, which I have raised in an Adjournment debate. Does the Minister have a view on such matters?

The individual broadcasting companies or independent producers acting on their behalf would obviously be answerable for the manner in which funds are spent. The hon. Gentleman's question is a little too detailed in terms of the question on the Order Paper.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the excellent progress that has been made by satellite and cable television and by all the independent television companies demonstrates to the BBC that it should look to become an independent television company without the benefit of a monopolistic licence fee? When does my right hon. Friend expect to abolish the licence fee?

The direct answer to my hon. Friend's leading question is that we shall fairly shortly publish a White Paper on the future of the BBC. On the issue of other services in which the BBC might engage, my hon. Friend will be aware of the corporation's announcement last week about its future partnership with Pearson's.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he is taking to encourage the private sponsorship of the arts.

Support by business makes a major contribution to the arts economy. The Government's own business sponsorship incentive scheme has done much to encourage that welcome development, bringing in more than £73 million in new money to the arts since its inception in 1984. In recognition of the success of the BSIS and the importance of business sponsorship, the scheme's budget has been increased to £4.8 million for this and the next two years.

Will my right hon. Friend congratulate Allied Lyons on its £3 million sponsorship of the Royal Shakespeare Company? Can he confirm that sponsorship by private companies is in addition to, rather than in place of, Government support?

Of course I salute Allied Lyons on the support that it is rendering to the RSC, just as I salute British Telecom on its support for orchestras, KPMG on its support for opera and all the other sponsors throughout the country on their support for the arts.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the preponderance of that investment is in the capital, London, and in Edinburgh? There is a dearth of funds in the provinces, which will lead to difficulties in bidding for lottery and millennium funds. Will he look in particular at the superb, world-class Breton Hall sculpture park, which is very deserving of support?

The hon. Gentleman knows that members of my family were born on the land where that sculpture park is now located, so I have a natural sympathy towards it and will always be anxious that it should thrive. However, the hon. Gentleman is not correct in his statement that business sponsorship is concentrated on the capital. Some 80 per cent. of the awards made by the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts, under BSIS, was to companies operating outside the capital.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy for the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement.

The Arts Council of England is the main channel for central Government funding of the arts. Under its new chairman and council and with very substantial public resources, it is responsible for providing a strategic policy framework for the arts; for managing grant in aid; and for the monitoring and appraisal of arts organisations. The council carries out those functions at arm's length from the Government.

Having made excellent appointments in Lord Gowrie and Miss Allen to head the Arts Council, will my right hon. Friend always strongly uphold the arm's-length principle to ensure that it is the Arts Council which decides which grants go where and that Ministers cannot be pressurised by endless arguments about the artistic merits of different artists and performers?

I am delighted to agree with my hon. Friend about upholding that principle. One of the minor disappointments of the recent arts debate was that we did not obtain a gloss on the Opposition's attitude to that principle, arising as it did out of plans that fell off the back of a lorry a little before the debate took place.

If the right hon. Gentleman reads the record he will see a clear statement of our position on the Arts Council and the arm's-length principle.

The hon. Gentleman referred to the arts debate, during which he was kind enough to call me a patrician—the first time I had ever been so called by an old Etonian. I want to take this first opportunity to return the compliment.

Will my right hon. Friend join the chairman of the Arts Council in warmly commending the smash-hit British film "Four Weddings and a Funeral" Next time highly paid actors and film makers come to him saying that they need taxpayers' funds to make and distribute successful films, will he point out to them that the message of that success is that, if they get their snouts out of the trough and make films that people want to see, they will be able to achieve success without dipping their hands into the pockets of people who are very much less well off than they are?

Inclement weather on Saturday afternoon drove me into the cinema, and I saw the film to which my hon. Friend has just alluded. I join him in congratulating its makers and actors on a remarkable film, but that does not of itself provide a reason for ending the dialogue between the Government and the British film industry on how the industry's success can be fully renewed.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the minutes of meetings with the chairman of the Arts Council.

I meet the chairman of the Arts Council on an irregular basis, as the need arises. The nature of those meetings is not such that publication of the minutes would be appropriate.

Is the Secretary of State aware that that question was tabled to try to elucidate just what goes on in the meetings between him and the chairman of the Arts Council? Do they talk about projects? Do they talk about the importance of the arts? Or do they just talk money? Can we have a bit of light shed on those very important meetings?

I am sorry that, having been tabled for that purpose, the question has not elicited information that would sustain the questions that the right hon. Gentleman subsequently asked, but I repeat that the nature of the meetings is irregular. We have a widespread agenda and it would be inappropriate for us to publish the conversations that we have in the context of specific arts institutions. The new code of practice under the open government initiative commits us to making available facts and analysis underlying policy decisions. It does not require the publication of minutes of meetings.

Has my right hon. Friend had an opportunity to discuss with the new chairman of the Arts Council his attitude towards the previous regime's policy of organising a beauty contest for the London orchestras? Has my right hon. Friend had an opportunity to tell the new chairman of the total opposition of the House to that proposal? Has he had the reassuring news from the new chairman that he proposes to drop any suggestion in future of reducing the funding to the London orchestras and thus the number of orchestras that remain in existence?

The issue to which my hon. Friend refers arose under the previous chairman of the Arts Council, but a line was drawn under that project. I do not think that there is any doubt that the Arts Council is fully apprised of the attitude of the House towards the exercise in which it engaged last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what part the Government played in the Women in Sport conference on 7 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what part his Department played in the Women in Sport conference on 7 May.

The Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, organised the international conference on Women, Sport and the Challenge of Change, which took place from 5 to 8 May. I was delighted to note the leading parts played in the conference by two of our recent appointees to the Council, Dr. Sarah Springman and Julia Bracewell.

But can the Minister explain why no Minister from his Department was present at that conference, as it was attended by all the relevant sporting organisations and by my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry), who is the shadow Minister for sport? Does not the lack of a ministerial presence at that conference illustrate the complete lack of commitment to the role played by women in sport in this country?

No, it certainly does not. I have expressed my support for such a role on previous occasions, and I take this opportunity to congratulate the England women's rugger and cricket teams on recent triumphs on the world stage. [Interruption.] Fifteen-a-side.

To make up for his failure to attend the conference, would the Minister be prepared to convene a meeting of representatives of television, radio and the press to find a way of promoting women in the media, and to help to encourage them to participate in sport?

I will certainly undertake to speak to Dr. Sarah Springman and Julia Bracewell to see whether they, as two women members of the Sports Council, have any further ideas following the Brighton declaration—which I have read; I should be surprised if other many hon. Members had done so. I will do what I can.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, in Scotland, we certainly do not notice women failing to compete in sport effectively and well? In fact, we are rather proud of the way in which they compete. Women are very good at gliding, the sport in which I indulge; indeed, we have had women champions in United Kingdom gliding teams.

I was not aware of the gliding component among women in Scotland, but I know that my hon. Friend is playing an honourable part in the D-day commemorations by gliding over the south of England. Moreover, Julia Bracewell, whom I mentioned earlier, actually comes from Scotland.

Is the Minister aware that he missed a very important conference? It was the first ever international conference on women in sport, and it happened in this country. There were 280 delegates from 82 countries, including Sports Ministers from many of those countries.

If more women wish to involve themselves in sport I shall be very glad for them to do so, but it is up to them. I read the declaration: it was political correctness in excelsis, but it nevertheless said some useful things.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimates have been made of the number of tourists visiting the United Kingdom from abroad in 1994–95.

The British Tourist Authority estimates that in 1995 around 21.7 million visitors from abroad will come to the United Kingdom. This represents an increase of 6 per cent. on the estimated figure for 1994. The figure for 1994 is around 20.4 million, which represents an increase of 7 per cent. on the provisional figure for 1993 of 19.1 million.

I am grateful for that reply. It is clearly important for us to attract as many visitors from abroad as possible, and a record figure has been achieved—almost 22 million. Is not it also important, however, to attract as many of those visitors as possible to the regions? Let me cite the region I know best, which is the north-west. If people have the opportunity to visit my constituency, they will see natural, beautiful countryside; within 20 miles of the Ribble valley is Blackpool, where they can see the Blackpool tower—which is celebrating its centenary—and the tallest, fastest roller-coaster in the world.

I agree that we want as many visitors as possible to come to this country and to get out into the many beautiful areas that it contains. According to the latest figures that we have, the total amount spent by all visitors to my hon. Friend's part of the world was some £978 million, which is a very large figure. The number of visitors to the area has risen by some 13 per cent. over the past 10 years, and some 175,000 people are employed in tourism—so we certainly take the matter extremely seriously.

Is the Minister aware that there were tourists outside the House of Commons today looking at disabled people who were trying to get in? Those people were refused admission through the main entrance and up the stairs, and were told to go round the side. They crawled on their hands and knees to the carriage gates, and then the gates—

Order. This is nothing whatever to do with the Minister. The question relates to tourists visiting the United Kingdom from abroad. I know exactly what the hon. Gentleman is referring to, and it is nothing to do with the Minister.

rose—

Will the Minister answer the first part of the question, which concerns United Kingdom visitors coming to the House of Commons?

I do not know how many of the visitors to whom the hon. Gentleman referred came from abroad, but I assure him that they were given a warm welcome from this country.

Does my hon. Friend agree that, despite the antics of Lancashire county council and the European Commission in their attempts to denigrate Blackpool, the Fylde coast, and Blackpool in particular, is still the premier tourist resort in Europe? Will he do all that he can to counter the efforts of the county council and the Commission to suggest that the beaches are not clean? The beaches have never been cleaner. Furthermore, will my hon. Friend take an early opportunity to have a go on the new ride at Blackpool?

I gladly join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to Blackpool. I think that I am right in remembering that turnover from tourism in Blackpool amounts to some £445 million a year and that there are more bed spaces in Blackpool than in the whole of Portugal.

We should remember that Britain has much to offer visitors from the European Community—history, buildings and beautiful countryside. Therefore, is not it desperately sad that Britain's image in Europe is one of half-hearted membership? Would not we have far more visitors from Europe if the Government adopted a more positive and constructive approach to the European Community?

We do adopt a constructive approach to the Community. The hon. Gentleman may be interested to hear that, for the first time, the number of visitors from France, a member of the European Union, has equalled the number of American visitors, although the French do not spend as much money.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects the national lottery to start.

That will depend on the plans of the operator who is selected by the Director General of Oflot to run the national lottery. It is possible that the first lottery draw will be held at the end of 1994 or early in 1995.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the high standard of bidders for the national lottery bodes well for its future and that it is recognised that there is great potential for success for the good causes that the lottery is designed to benefit?

I have not had access to the bids, but I have no doubt that, quantitatively, distinguished organisations entered the bidding as 375 boxes of information were placed in support of eight bids. The director general has had a lot to consider.

Does the Secretary of State agree that public confidence in the national lottery is being seriously impaired by the appointment of Tory "placepeople" to the quangos responsible for implementing and allocating the money? An example of that is the recent appointment of the Conservative party treasurer to head the Charities Board? When will the right hon. Gentleman start putting the interests of the nation before those of the Conservative party?

The hon. Lady talks out of both sides of her mouth on the subject of the lottery, and I have to say that it is not a pretty sight. The information that, through early-day motions or other briefings, she has allowed to percolate through to the nation has frequently been inaccurate, and she is not doing the lottery any good.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the national lottery is likely to start much earlier and to be a much greater success if an operator with true experience is selected, rather than gimmickry?

I have obviously seen the amendment that my hon. Friend tabled to an early-day motion on that subject. The director general will announce the name of the operator this week, so it would be improper of me to make any hypothetical observations on his announcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has had with the BBC concerning its "Marshall Plan of the Mind" project; and if he will make a statement.

I enjoyed attending the launch of the "Marshall Plan of the Mind" exhibition in the House, where I had various discussions but of a purely informal nature. The main responsibility for that initiative rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Why is this crude capitalist propaganda being pushed out in the Russian media with the help of the Government know-how funds, and why does it have charitable status? Why does not the programme show what life is really like in free market Britain, with 5 million unemployed, a third of our children living in poverty, 500,000 people on housing lists and 500,000 building workers out of work?

The hon. Gentleman misses the point of the programme. The purpose of the "Marshall Plan of the Mind" is to assist the people of Russia to make progress economically over a wide front and in a number of imaginative ways. The BBC has received extremely enthusiastic responses from the Russian audiences that have seen it and, frankly, the hon. Gentleman's question was a disgrace.

Has not that question at least provided my right hon. Friend with the opportunity to share with the House the true facts about the "Marshall Plan of the Mind" Would not it be a good thing if World Service Television and the "Marshall Plan of the Mind" were as successful as World Service on radio?

I am most grateful to my hon. Friend. The BBC's reputation around the world has been earned because the world knows that the BBC tells of life in this country as it is. I am likewise grateful to my hon. Friend for rebutting the suggestions made by the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes).

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last met the chairman of English Heritage to discuss the sale of Southall town hall.

I have not had cause to do so.

Does the Minister recall that I wrote to him and to the Prime Minister to express anxiety about the previous Tory council's decision to sell the town hall, which is a public property used for the benefit of the community? Will he join me in applauding the new Labour-controlled Ealing council's decision to take it off the market and preserve it for the benefit of the community? Does he agree that it was the unpopular policies pursued by the then Tory administration in Ealing which led to its losing heavily to the Labour party in the local election?

The hon. Gentleman's question has nothing to do with me in my capacity as a Minister at the Department of National Heritage but if he believes that the town hall should be listed, I should be glad to receive further evidence from him.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what analysis he has made of the latest figures on spending by tourists.

Domestic tourism generated approximately £19.7 billion in 1992 while overseas visitors spent £9.2 billion here in 1993, some 17 per cent. more than in 1992. An all-time record 19.1 million overseas visitors came to the United Kingdom in 1993, an increase of 3 per cent. on 1992. There are encouraging signs that 1994 will also be a good year for the industry.

Is not it significant that, despite a world recession, record numbers of tourists are coming to the United Kingdom and that their spending has increased vastly? Will my hon. Friend comment on the work of the British tourism authorities and the part that they have played, through their offices abroad, in that significant success?

Yes, I am glad to acknowledge the role played by the British tourism authorities. Their role is extremely important, which is why we have increased their funding at a time of recession and cuts elsewhere. As for visitors, the number coming from north America may have been underestimated; there may be more than we have accounted for so far.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what response he has received to the National Lottery etc. Act 1993; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a very positive response to the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 from a wide range of groups and individuals throughout the country.

Will my right hon. Friend do his best to ensure that, consistent with the requirement of the National Lottery etc. Act, the director of Oflot chooses as the operator of the lottery the company that can guarantee the largest possible return for the arts, sport, heritage and charities? That is, after all, the reason why the lottery was set up.

I have absolute confidence in the decision that the Director General of Oflot will make and that he will make it in accordance with the wording of the Act to which my hon. and learned Friend has just referred.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding deregulation and tourism; and if he will make a statement.

I have received an enormous number of representations, both orally and in writing, about the damaging effect of regulations on tourism businesses. Very few of these fall under my Department.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the burden of over-regulation on the tourism industry has been onerous? Although that problem may not fall directly on his Department, will he please liaise with the necessary Departments of Government so that he can impress on other Ministers exactly how important this industry is, especially to the west country, and how burdens are stopping small businesses, especially in the tourism areas, progressing?

Yes, I gladly agree with my hon. Friend, especially on tourism in the west country. She plays a major part in helping to draw the attention of the House to its importance. We have discovered more than 90 regulations that have impacted badly on the tourist industry. We have divided them into seven main sections and I have taken them up individually with the Ministers responsible in other Departments. We are certainly seeing some progress.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service not to call the former PC Giles as a witness in respect of the prosecution of Malcolm Kennedy.

Day-to-day decisions on the conduct of cases are matters for the independent prosecuting authorities and prosecution counsel.

Does the Attorney-General recall that when the Lord Chief Justice quashed Mr. Kennedy's conviction, he said that all the new evidence should be put before a new jury? Why, then, did the Crown Prosecution Service go to such lengths to keep the evidence of PC Giles from the jury? Is the Attorney-General aware that there is a widespread feeling among those who take an interest in those matters that a serious miscarriage of justice has occurred in this case?

The hon. Gentleman should remember that those are matters for the independent courts. The issue was fully canvassed before the court and ruled on by the judge. The defendant's advisers will, no doubt, be considering whether to take the matter further on appeal.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will pay an official visit to the Crown Prosecution Service in Essex to discuss its performance.

I visited the Chelmsford branch of the Crown Prosecution Service on 23 February this year.

May I draw my hon. and learned Friend's attention to the excellent working relationship between the Colchester police and the Crown Prosecution Service? Is not this an example that other forces should follow?

No visit to the Crown Prosecution Service is complete without a visit to the police administration support unit which serves it. The units ensure that files are properly prepared before the police submit them to the Crown Prosecution Service. When I was in Chelmsford, I found that there was excellent co-operation between administration support units and the CPS, including in the area to which my hon. Friend referred.

Does the Solicitor-General agree, having visited Colchester, as he visited other offices, that there is a persistent problem in the Crown Prosecution Service—the inconsistency in the decisions on whether to prosecute? Now that the number of areas has been reduced to 13, a greater consistency in prosecution policy should be achievable.

When I went to Sheffield, I had a long talk with one of the senior Crown prosecutors, who is known to the hon. Gentleman. Like the Crown prosecutors at Chelmsford and Colchester, she made no such complaint.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will be giving evidence again to the Scott inquiry.

I have received no request to give further evidence, but if I did, I would.

I note that reply. Would the Attorney-General do his very best to stop the way in which some Government supporters are undoubtedly orchestrating attempts to discredit the Scott inquiry before it reaches its conclusions? Should not the Scott inquiry be fully supported as it looks into the ways in which, undoubtedly, Parliament was lied to over arms being sent to one of the most criminal regimes?

Every aspect of the hon. Gentleman's question seems to me to be one of conjecture.

Is not the best advice that my right and learned hon. Friend can give that people should await the announcement of the results of the Scott inquiry, and then he would not have to put up with silly questions such as that?

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend.

Does the Attorney-General recall his recent answer that the special nature of the certificates signed by the President of the Board of Trade was expressly drawn to Lord Justice Scott's attention? He said that

"it leapt from the page".—[Official Report, 25 April 1994; Vol. 242, c. 14.]

I remind the right hon. and learned Gentleman of what I said last time, which was:

"Nobody reading that specially designed certificate who had any understanding of the subject of public interest immunity could fail to realise that it was a special certificate designed to leave the decision on whether the documents should be disclosed to the defence to the judge."—[Official Report, 25 April 1994; Vol. 242, c. 14.]

Did the Attorney-General give the same general advice to both the President of the Board of Trade and the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to their duty on disclosure? If he did, why do their evidence and their public statements appear to be so contradictory?

In fact, I was asked to advise only one Minister, and that was the President.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about delays in prosecuting cases by the Crown Prosecution Service.

It is the aim of the Crown Prosecution Service to work closely with the police and the courts to keep delays to a minimum.

I am grateful to the Attorney-General for the full investigations that he has made into the case of Mrs. Chappell, an elderly lady who was knocked over on a pedestrian crossing and who had to wait a year, which was far too long, before the magistrates court finally made a decision. Will he confirm that, although the Crown Prosecution Service was not at fault, there were delays, both in the courts and by the police? Will he ensure that some investigation is made so that the public have greater confidence in the speed at which justice is carried out and that there is not such incompetence as there was in that case?

The first thing to make clear is that, of course, the Crown Prosecution Service comes into a case only when it is drawn to its attention by the police. In that case, it took the police some time to investigate. However, it also took some time to bring the case on to trial, not least because of a request by the defence for quite a long adjournment.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will pay an official visit to the Crown Prosecution Service in Hereford and Worcester to discuss its performance.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General last visited offices of the Crown Prosecution Service in the Severn-Thames area, of which Hereford and Worcester is a part, in November of last year and will be visiting another office in the same area next month.

During those visits to Crown Prosecution Service offices, has my right hon. and learned Friend had his attention drawn to the fact that discontinuance rates are falling sharply all around the country? Should not that development be warmly welcomed?

My hon. Friend is quite right. Not only are discontinuances falling, but case loads are rising. The number of discontinuances fell from about 193,000 in 1992 to 175,000 last year. The number of cases received has risen in the magistrates court for the quarter ending March 1994 by 1.7 per cent. and in the Crown court by 2.4 per cent.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the work of the Crown Prosecution Service.

The main activity of the Crown Prosecution Service is the efficient and effective prosecution of criminal cases.

Is my hon. and learned Friend satisfied that assaults on members of the police force are being satisfactorily dealt with by various authorities? Is not it time to review all aspects of charging in the light of recent cases?

My hon. Friend's advice is well given. We have set up a working group, which will be staffed by both police and senior CPS lawyers, to ensure that there is greater consistency of charges in assault cases. If my hon. Friend were to spend 15 minutes behind the desk of the custody suite at his local police station, he would see the circumstances in which the custody officer has to decide what is the appropriate charge in any given case. If, a few weeks later, he were to go to his local branch office of the CPS and see the circumstances in which the same case were reviewed by a lawyer, who will have far more information available to him, he would recognise that it is not surprising that charges sometimes have to be altered. That is not a criticism of either the police or the lawyers who deal with a particular case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding from his Department was spent on development in Belize in 1993–94; and what is planned for the current year.

Expenditure for 1993–94 was in excess of £5 million and we expect to maintain that level in 1994–95.

Given the £9 million reduction in defence spending does the Minister feel that there is a case for increasing development aid to Belize? An increase would allow, as it were, for some of the difficulties that are continuing because of illicit drug trafficking. Would not increasing development in the area strengthen the economy and strengthen the fight against drug trafficking?

Aid has been increasing modestly over the past few years. From the year before last to last year it was increased. We hope to meet the problems that Belize has by retaining in part, in the defence area, a resident training programme of about 100 men and a substantial aid programme. The aid represents a large sum per head—it is £30 per capita. We are already helping with the Southern highway, and we shall possibly consider giving more aid.

Does my hon. Friend agree that, in the context of Belize and other lesser developed nations, it is quality that counts, not quantity, and that the British overseas aid programme is one of the finest in the world?

My hon. Friend is right. Our aid programme is one of the finest in the world. It is targeted to the poorest nations and it has proved extremely effective. It has often been commented on by international agencies when comparing one country's aid programme with another.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used in determining whether there has been gross human rights abuse in countries in receipt of British aid.

Judgments concerning human rights are based on assessments of individual country circumstances. Those are judged in the light of universal and internationally agreed standards.

Why is it that China is the fifth country in the list of countries receiving British aid, why is Indonesia the 11th, why has Britain's aid to China increased from £21 million to £35 million last year and why did we spend £21 million on Indonesia? Given their appalling human rights records—Tiananmen square on the one hand and East Timor on the other—why is it that we give aid and trade provision support to China and Indonesia?

I know that the hon. Gentleman takes an interest in Chinese affairs and is a member of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. The view that he expresses are very much out of line with those of the Select Committee, which in its report suggested that it was only right that we should continue to have a relationship with China. The principles of aid have to take into account not only human rights, which the hon. Gentleman has identified, but other factors. China is a large country in which we have a modest programme. It is wiser to be in there discussing matters and making our views known to the Chinese than to be breaking off any relationship with them.

As Rwanda must be one of the countries in which the most gross abuses of human rights are occurring, what steps will the Government now take to take further measures to save life in that country and to alleviate the desperate suffering that is occurring there?

My right hon. Friend raises the most dreadful and barbaric tragedy in the world at this moment. He will be aware that we have announced emergency relief aid worth £3.3 million in the past few weeks. I have no doubt that further consideration to other assistance will be given in due course.

Should not the human rights records of countries be considered consistently throughout the aid programme? Given that countries like Kenya and Malawi have, at various points in time, had aid withdrawn, why do large sums continue to be given to Indonesia, particularly given the record of East Timor?

As I have said, every country must be considered on a case-by-case basis. We make our concerns about human rights very clearly known in Indonesia. However, there are attempts to improve the situation and Indonesia has a terrific record of relieving poverty. The incidence of poverty in 1970 was 60 per cent. and that was reduced to 15 per cent. in 1990. Aid for what is still a relatively poor country, and for what was a very poor country, is being extremely well used.

Does the Minister agree that, despite its history, Uganda's human rights performance has improved immensely? In view of that, how are the Government going to respond to the President's plea for assistance to deal with the problem of the 40,000 or more bodies in Lake Victoria, which are a result of the genocide in Rwanda? Does not the international community have a responsibility to respond to that plea in the light of the forthcoming catastrophe in public health both in Uganda and in neighbouring countries?

Most certainly we recognise that terrible aspect of what is already a terrible problem. We are responding to the appeal of President Museveni by giving assistance to the Save the Children Fund, which is working with the Lutheran World Service to clear and to bury the bodies on the north-western shores of Lake Victoria.

Will my hon. Friend accept from the Conservative Benches that we, too, are deeply concerned about the situation in Rwanda and about the problems set out by the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) with regard to Lake Victoria? Will my hon. Friend also consider the fact that one of the reasons why Uganda would have difficulty in providing the necessary resources is that one third of its entire budget goes on paying back interest on debt? Would not it be sensible to recognise that Uganda has now, with the recent elections, established a degree of stability that should lead us to do everything possible to suspend the debt in Uganda as an example to the rest of Africa?

My hon. Friend will be aware that Britain was foremost in initiating the Trinidad terms for debt relief and that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, who was then Chancellor of the Exchequer, did so in 1990. Twenty-two countries have benefited, 17 in Africa. However, that debt relief is based on criteria which have been carefully worked out to help the poorest nations, not the middle-income nations. Those criteria must apply wherever debt relief is applied. If Uganda comes within those criteria—I cannot at the moment answer my hon. Friend on that point—it will be eligible for consideration by the Paris Club.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had in the European Union Council of Ministers about the levels of overseas aid provided by member countries.

Discussions in the European Union Council of Development Ministers, including the meeting held on 6 May, regularly cover the issues of aid volume and aid policy.

Has the Minister been able to explain to his European counterparts how Britain, alone among European Union countries to have the benefit of revenues from North sea oil over the past decade, spends only 0.30 per cent. of gross national product on overseas aid, which is well below the 0.45 per cent. average of European Community countries? Can he perhaps take advice from some of his counterparts in the EC about how that position might be improved?

The important thing for the hon. Gentleman to bear in mind is that in the past eight years our aid volumes have increased by 10 per cent. in real terms, that 80 per cent. of the aid is targeted to the poorest countries and that there is a substantial amount of private investment from Britain in the poor world—half of the European Community total of overseas investment, about £1.7 billion worth in 1992, came from Britain.

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the British Government play a major part in influencing the spending of the European development fund so that it fulfils the policy that we pursue with our fund, and therefore achieves the most good?

Yes, my hon. Friend is quite right. We play a leading role in aid co-ordination in the European Community and are great supporters of the Horizon 2000 initiative, which promotes co-ordination at all levels between member states. Several of our leading officials are seconded to the European Community to help the community to determine its aid budget priorities.