Anguilla (Hansard, 24 February 1994)

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications of the forthcoming elections in Anguilla for the delivery of agreed aid.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The country policy plan, CPP, agreed with the Anguilla Government establishes the framework for the United Kingdom's bilateral aid programme with Anguilla. Following the elections in 1994, we shall continue to discuss the CPP with the new administration with a view to reconfirming our joint commitment to good government and the effective use of aid resources.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to whom the United Kingdom-based deputy commissioner of police in Anguilla reports.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
When appointed the United Kingdom-funded deputy commissioner of police will report to the Commissioner of Police, as is usual practice.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why a United Kingdom-based officer was chosen for the position of deputy commissioner for police in Anguilla; and how widely the job was advertised in the United Kingdom and in the Caribbean.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
In consultation with the Government of Anguilla a decision was taken to create two police posts; a local deputy commissioner to be responsible for support and management and a British deputy commissioner to be responsible for operational services. The availability of an experienced British officer will help strengthen police capacity and local training capabilities in line with the experience of the other Caribbean dependent territories.
The job was not advertised. Selection was made from a short list of candidates compiled from ODA's register of qualified people who have expressed a desire to work overseas under the aid programme.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the salary, including allowances, of the United Kingdom-based deputy commissioner of police in Anguilla; and what is the salary including allowances of the Anguillan commissioner of police.
398W

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I am unable to reveal renumeration details for individual technical co-operation officers but the average annual cost, including salary, accommodation and air fare is £70,000. In line with usual ODA practice, agreed with recipient Governments, the salary of the United Kingdom-funded deputy commissioner of police in Anguilla will be based on equivalent posts in the United Kingdom. The salary and allowances of the commissioner are entirely a matter for the Government of Anguilla.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans exist for upgrading the present court facilities in Anguilla.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The court building is part of the House of Assembly project. I refer the hon. Member to my answer on Monday 21 February at column.26.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training exists for local Anguillans in the top posts in customs.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
A comprehensive training programme exists for the three Customs administrative trainees which includes practical "on the job" training. Proposals for their attendance at United Kingdom training courses are currently under consideration by the Government of Anguilla.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is part of the job description of the new United Kingdom-based banking supervisor to train local Anguillans in offshore financial services.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Provision is made in the terms of reference of the superintendent of offshore finance in Anguilla for the development of sectoral training and employment to ensure that "Belongers" participate fully in the growth of the financial services industry there.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the capital projects started or finished within the six months leading up to the general election in Anguilla.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
A general election in Anguilla has not yet been called.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the top customs posts in Anguilla have gone to United Kingdom-based staff; and how widely these posts were advertised in the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.
399W

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Two officers on secondment from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are serving as technical co-operation officers in Anguilla. The posts were advertised in a departmental trawl. These appointments were agreed with the Government of Anguilla under a standing arrangement common to all aid recipient Caribbean Dependent Territories whereby United Kingdom customs officers are made available to strengthen local customs departments, particularly in the area of enforcement.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom-based deputy commissioner of police in Anguilla took up his post; and for how long is his contract.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
He is due to take up post on 1 March 1994; his contract is for two years.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Anguilla Parliament has no Parliament building; and what plans there are to build one.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Agreement for the construction of separate accommodation for Anguilla's House of Assembly features in the country policy plan, CPP, signed between the Government of Anguilla and ourselves in August 1993. The relevant section of the CPP calls for the drawing up of detailed plans for the building in the financial year 1994–95, with construction schedule to commence the following year.