Hansard

Written Answers

Volume 463: debated on Monday 13 May 1985

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Written Answers

Eastern Bloc Citizens: Immigration

Lord Bethell

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Bulgarian, Czechoslovak, Hungarian, Polish, Soviet and Yugoslav citizens have been given permission to reside in the United Kingdom during the last five years for which figures are available.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office
(Lord Glenarthur)

The numbers of such citizens granted settlement in the United Kingdom is published annually in Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom; Table 18 of the issue for 1983 (Cmnd 9246) gave figures for 1978–83. In 1984, 10 Bulgarian, 30 Czechoslovakian, 40 Hungarian, 310 Polish, 50 Soviet and 130 Yugoslav citizens were granted settlement in the United Kingdom. These figures and the ones for earlier years do not include people with limited leave to remain, some of whom—for example, refugees—can normally expect to be granted settlement in due course.

Prisoners' Letters: Postcodes

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will instruct the governors of penal establishments to use postcodes on the address stamps of letters sent out by prisoners.

Lord Glenarthur

There are no immediate plans to do so but we shall consider this suggestion.

Northern Ireland: Compensation For Wrongful Imprisonment

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the review of the policy and practice for compensating people found to be wrongfully imprisoned in Northern Ireland will be completed; whether it will be published and whether they anticipate a need for legislation on this matter.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
(Lord Lyell)

No such review is being undertaken or currently contemplated in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland: Standing Advisory Commission On Human Rights

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to legislate for the wider statutory remit already agreed for the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights in Northern Ireland.

Lord Lyell

Any change in the statutory remit of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights will require amendment of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. The Government are not at present able to say when such legislation is likely to be introduced. Meanwhile my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made it clear in his response to the commission's tenth annual report that he recognises the commission's wider role in relation to the broad range of human rights issues in Northern Ireland.

Naval Forces And Arms Systems: Un Study

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:What part they are playing in the United Nations comprehensive study of the naval forces and naval arms systems, the third session of which has recently taken place.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Baroness Young)

The United Kingdom does not participate in this particular United Nations study group; only seven United Nations member states do so. However, to ensure that our views on the issues in question are taken fully into account the United Kingdom submitted a statement of our position in response to a request from the United Nations Secretary General.

Sea-Bed Resources

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it continues to be their view that the natural resources of the sea-bed beyond any zone of national jurisdiction are the common heritage of mankind.

Baroness Young

Any observation directed to the concept of the common heritage of mankind as applied to the resources of the sea-bed, if the observation stands on its own, is liable to give rise to misunderstandings, since there is no agreement on the content and implications of the phrase. We have in the past indicated a willingness to accept the concept in the context of an acceptable regime giving substance and effect to it; but the content of that regime as a whole will determine whether a reference to the concept as part of it is acceptable.

Mps And Meps: Salaries And Allowances

Lord O'Hagan

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a table showing the salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament and British Members of the European Parliament.

The Lord President of the Council
(Viscount Whitelaw)

The table below gives the information requested for Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. British Members of the European Parliament receive the same salary as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, £16,904 p.a. with effect from 1st January 1985. Dual mandate Members receive one-third (£5,635) in addition to their Member of Parliament's salary.As my noble friend is aware, the allowances payable to, and expenses which may be claimed by, British Members of the European Parliament are determined and paid directly by the European Parliament itself and information is not held centrally. My noble friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Arts was nevertheless able to provide my noble friend with material on the expenses and allowances of Members of the European Parliament with his reply on 19th December (

Official Report, vol. 458, col 720) and the material was also placed in the Library of the House. This material was provided by the United Kingdom Office of the European Parliament who have not received any further information from Luxembourg.

Members of Parliament

Salary

£16,904 p.a. with effect from 1st January 1985.

Notes:

  • (a) Abated for Ministers.
  • (b) London Supplement of £908 p.a. for Members representing London constituencies.")

    • Travel allowances

    1. Reimbursement of all travel within United Kingdom on parliamentary business.

    2. Reimbursement for 15 return journeys a year to Westminster for Member's spouse and each child under 18.

    Mode of transport allowed:

  • (i) by car, allowance as follows: engine capacity less than 1300 cc 19.2p per mile for first 20,000 miles in each financial year, 12.1p per mile for further mileage; engine capacity more than 1300 cc but less than 2300 cc 28.0p per mile for first 20,000 miles, 15.5 p per mile for further mileage; engine capacity more than 2300 cc 42.0p per mile for first 20,000 miles, 21.0p per mile for further mileage.
  • (ii) by first class rail.
  • (iii) by air.
  • (iv) by sea as necessary.

    • Subsistence allowances

    Allowed for:

  • (a) Provincial Member with London home staying overnight to carry out parliamentary duties in constituency.
  • (b) Provincial Member with constituency home staying overnight in London.
  • (c) Member with home neither in London nor in constituency, either for nights in London or for nights in the constituency (i.e. not for both).

    • Allowance: Maximum £6,696 p.a.

    Secretarial and Research allowances

    Allowed for general office expenses, secretarial and research assistance necessarily and exclusively incurred on Parliamentary duties.

    Allowance: Maximum £12,437 p.a.(1)

    Pro rata supplement payable in the event of sickness of secretary or research assistant lasting more than four weeks. Additional allowance of up to £1,243 to be paid into an approved pension scheme to provide a pension for Member's employees. Provision for nine return journeys a year between Westminster and constituency for Member's staff engaged on secretarial and/or research duties.

    1 To be increased from 1st April 1985, following increases in rates for senior personal secretaries and London weighting for non-industrial civil servants, which are currently under review.