§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications have been considered under the scheme to provide compensation for former mine workers who suffer from serious bronchitis and emphysema; how many of those have been accepted; and how many were secured and accepted in each region.
§ Mr. ScottThe information is not available in the form requested. The following table gives the information by Benefits Agency area directorate as at 19 June 1994, not all the claims received would have been decided by that date:
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of the international convention to combat desertification.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe text of the convention was adopted on 18 June. It is likely to come into force next year.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the United Kingdom has to ratify the international convention to combat desertification.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are studying the provisions of the convention. No decision has been taken on signature or ratification.