St. Helena (Hansard, 25 March 1996)

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what television satellite services are available in St. Helena; at what cost to the consumer; and if he will make a statement. [22037]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
Cable and Wireless receives and re-broadcasts the CNN international satellite television channel. The cost to the consumer consists of an installation charge, which varies according to consumers' particular requirements, and a service charge of £5 per month.

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people in St. Helena are(a) employed in the private sector, (b) employed by the Government, (c) unemployed and (d) working on community projects. [22041]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
There are(a) 786 people employed in the private sector, (b) 1,282 employed by the Government, (c) 254 unemployed and (d) 122 working on community projects.

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British Ministers have visited St. Helena in each of the past 22 years; and on what dates. [22033]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
There has been one visit at ministerial level: the late Neil Marten represented the Minister for Overseas Development in January 1984.

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the trades, businesses, professions and vocations approved by the 411W governor of St. Helena since 1994 which are new to St. Helena, are likely to be continued in St. Helena and which have taken advantage of tax holidays. [22034]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
Coffee production—one. Cabinet making—one. They have both taken advantage of tax holidays.

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what banking licences have been granted on St. Helena in the past five years. [22038]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
No banking licences have been granted on St. Helena in the past five years.

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what activities on St. Helena have been privatised in the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [22040]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
No activities have been privatised in the past five years. However, the St. Helena Government have recently embarked on a public sector reform programme which they anticipate could lead to the privatisation of various activities and services in due course.