PMQT Written Answers – 30 April 1993

Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 30th April 1993.

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PRIME MINISTER:

 

Exchange Rate Mechanism

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister what research studies he has commissioned into how fault lines in the ERM can be corrected; and what action he has initiated since September 1992 to correct them.

The Prime Minister : The European Council in Birmingham endorsed the view of Economic and Finance Ministers that the financial turbulence of last September called for reflection and analysis in the light of developments in capital markets and in the European and world monetary systems. This work is currently being carried forward.

 

Jabal Hamrayn, Iraq

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what information Her Majesty’s Government have concerning military activities at the Jabal Hamrayn site in Iraq.

The Prime Minister : Jabal Hamrin was the site where Iraq built one of its “superguns”. The gun was destroyed under United Nations supervision in 1991. There is currently no military activity at the site.

 

Equal Opportunities

Mr. Janner : To ask the Prime Minister how many and what percentage of officers in each grade from 1 to 7 and overall in the Cabinet Office are (a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled people.

The Prime Minister [pursuant to his reply 29 March 1993, column 45] : I regret that some of the figures quoted have been found to be incorrect. The correct information is as follows.

The figures for women employed in the Cabinet Office, including its executive agencies, are as follows :

Grade (and equivalents) |Women |Total |Per cent. Women

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1 |0 |3 |0

2 |2 |17 |12

3 |2 |24 |8

4 |0 |3 |0

5 |16 |62 |26

6 |21 |64 |33

7 |61 |265 |23

Overall |1,287 |2,495 |52

The ethnic monitoring programme was carried out on a voluntary basis and did not extend to the Cabinet Office’s agencies. Of those who responded, 62 people chose to register as non-white. One of these is at grade 7 level.

The Cabinet Office’s figures on staff with disabilities include only those who have chosen to register as disabled. Twenty-eight people are so registered. None is at grade 7 or above. The Cabinet Office employs other staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register.