§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Governor of Anguilla regarding the international obligations of Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMinisters and officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in close and regular contact with the governor concerning our international obligations and the implications these have for Anguilla, as they are with the governors of all the dependent territories.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secetary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when her Majesty's Government intend to reinstate the offshore banking regime in Anguilla.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAnguilla has an extant offshore banking sector. Her Majesty's Government provide considerable assistance towards developing the sector's regulatory framework and expertise.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stake Her Majesty's Government have acquired in the privatisation of the Anguilla Electricity Corporation; and how much that acquisition cost.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHer Majesty's Government hold no shares in the Anguilla Electricity Corporation.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether senior customs officials in Anguilla are required to declare that they have businesses in the country.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe terms and conditions of employment for all public employees in Anguilla include a requirement to declare private business interests.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty will be staying at the governor's mansion when she visits Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHer Majesty did not stay at the governor's residence during her recent visit to Anguilla. The residence is currently undergoing refurbishment and is not suitable for accommodating guests overnight.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why offshore banks and financial services in Anguilla were closed down by Her Majesty's Government when they took over offshore financial services.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydA number of overseas financial institutions previously registered with Anguilla's offshore sector had their licence revoked in the past, due to activities incompatible with the provisions of that licence.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when is the latest date on which a general election can be held in Anguilla
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydUnder the present constitution in Anguilla, a general election must be called every five years, with a maximum permissible extension of two months beyond the date of the first sitting of the House of Assemby after the previous election. The present sitting of the Assembly commenced on 3 April 1989, following the election in February that year. The next election must therefore take place no later than 3 June 1994.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo 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-BoydAgreement 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 scheduled to commence the following year.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many offshore banks and insurance companies that had offices in Anguilla have been closed down since Her Majesty's Government took control of offshore financial services; and if he will list them.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe report of Mr. Rodney Gallagher, Coopers and Lybrand, on the survey of offshore finance sectors in the Caribbean dependent territories, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 19 January 1990, details on page 10, paragraphs 16 and 17, the number of banks and insurance companies in Anguilla prior to the offshore sector becoming a reserved power of the Governor.
At the beginning of 1994, three offshore banking licences had been issued to:
- Barclays Bank Plc
- Hansa Bank and Trust Company
- Maruya Bank and Trust Company.
At the same date, there was one insurance company licensed for offshore business, Physicians Excess Insurance Company Ltd.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the review of the Anguillan Companies Act; and when new legislation will be introduced to replace the Act.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe review of the Companies Act forms part of the larger exercise reviewing offshore finance legislation. The package of legislation was drafted by the Anguilla Financial Services Association and was recently forwarded to the United Kingdom for scrutiny by a British QC.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the appointment of the son of one of the Anguilla Government Ministers to the post of Chief Magistrate and Acting Judge; what representations the Governor has received about the age and experience of the new Chief Magistrate; and from whom.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe appointment of the Acting Magistrate and Registrar in Anguilla falls within the 27W reserved powers of the governor. It was a decision taken on the advice of the Attorney-General of Anguilla and has been endorsed by the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the contracts for auditing the accounts of the Government of Anguilla were put out to competitive tender.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe award of the contract to audit the accounts of the Government of Anguilla was made following the standard Overseas Development Administration tender procedure. The Dependent Territories Regional Secretariat offers close support to the Government of Anguilla in audit matters. The Financial Secretary of the Government of Anguilla will be attending the United Kingdom Government Auditors Conference, to be hosted by Her Majesty's Treasury.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to appoint a permanent judge in Anguilla.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNone. Anguilla is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. The Chief Justice has indicated that he intends to appoint a judge jointly for Anguilla and Montserrat.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what youth or community centres exist in Anguilla.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThis is a matter for the Government of Anguilla. However I understand that most churches in Anguilla have related youth and community centre facilities and that there are active scout and guide groups on the island. Part of the grounds at Government house forms a designated campsite for scouts and guides.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to prohibit senior customs officials from owning businesses in Anguilla.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydSuch a policy already exists.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the delays in the processing by customs officials of the goods of Anguillan business people.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe operation of customs in Anguilla is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Anguilla. Specific cases can be taken up direct with that Ministry.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given to the imminence of a general election in Anguilla when the decision as to the timing of Her Majesty's visit was taken.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe timing of the visit of Her Majesty the Queen to the Caribbean, Latin American countries and Bermuda in the spring of 1994 was not connected in any way with any political events.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the terms of28W reference of the review of offshore financial services in Anguilla; what were its recommendations; which ones were accepted by Her Majesty's Government; and who carried out the review.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe review was carried out by Mr. Rodney Gallagher of Coopers and Lybrand. His report, which covered all the dependent territories in the Caribbean, was ordered to be printed as an HMSO publication by the House of Commons in January 1990. A copy was sent to the hon. Member by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in December 1993.