§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the Government rates of pay and social welfare on St. Helena.
§ Mr. EggarThe St. Helena Government set these pay rates. Rates of pay, with effect from 1 April 1988, range20W from £1,284 up to £9,012. There are a total of 62 salary points on the scale. Weekly social welfare rates range from £4.75 for a dependent child up to £32.50 for a family.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many dwellings have been completed on St. Helena in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. EggarGovernment dwellings have been com-pleted on St. Helena in each of the last five years as follows:
Number 1983–84 12 1984–85 23 1985–86 11 1986–87 11 1987–88 0 In addition, planning approval for private dwellings are granted as follows:
Number 1983 34 1984 67 1985 35 1986 50 1987 60
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many donkeys there are on Ascension Island; whose responsibility they are; and what are the areas that they are allowed to graze.
§ Mr. EggarIt is estimated that there are about 60 donkeys on Ascension. They are protected under the Ascension Island ordinances and are the Administrator's responsibility. With the exception of the air base which is fenced off, the donkeys are free to graze on the island.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the reduction of feral cats on Ascension Island; and what estimate he can make of the remaining numbers.
§ Mr. EggarAscension Island Services and the organisations based on Ascension have an on-going culling programme for all sectors of the island, with the assistance, as appropriate, of the police. These measures are considered to be effective and it is estimated that more than 150 cats were destroyed last year. It is not known how many cats remain on the island.