| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. MacGregor : The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has recently published the final comprehensive environmental evaluation of the proposed new British Antarctic Survey airstrip at Rothera Point. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary circulated the draft of this report to consultative parties to the Antarctic treaty ; copies were also made available to various non-governmental organisations. The helpful comments received were taken into account by the NERC in preparing the final report.
I commend this thorough report to hon. Members as further evidence of the Government's continuing concern for the environment.
National Curriculum
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his proposals for the national curriculum on the teaching in secondary schools of the history of the last war, and of the reasons why Britain declared war on Nazi Germany.
Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales are awaiting the final report of the national curriculum history working group, which they expect to receive by the end of the year. They will then publish their proposals for the history curriculum.
Student Loans
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assumptions as to real and nominal interest rates have been made in his calculations of the cost of the student loans scheme.
Column 186
Mr. MacGregor : The costings set out in annex E of Cm. 520 are expressed in constant prices, and are accordingly not affected by interest rate assumptions.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Environmental Protection
188. Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his ministerial colleagues in G7 to discuss measures to protect the environment.
189. Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his ministerial colleagues in G7 to discuss measures to protect the environment.
190. Mr. Michael Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his ministerial colleagues in G7 to discuss measures to protect the environment.
191. Mr. Wall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his ministerial colleagues in G7 to discuss measures to protect the environment.
Mr. Waldegrave : Environmental issues were among the subjects discussed when the G7 countries met in Paris for the economic summit on 14 to 16 July 1989. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs accompanied the Prime Minister to that meeting.
Information Technology
Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department at grade 3 and above have, since promotion to the level of grade 3, attended a course (a) specifically on information technology and (b) containing an element of information technology ; and what percentage each represents of all the staff in those grades in his Department.
Mr. Sainsbury : Seven such officials have attended courses specifically on information technology : this represents 23 per cent. of those relevant grades serving in both the diplomatic service and Overseas Development Administration wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Other officers in these grades have undertaken courses containing an element of information technology, but this information is not readily available.
Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many work stations excluding stand-alone word processors are currently installed in his Department ; and what is the ratio of such work stations to civil servants.
Mr. Sainsbury : In both the diplomatic service and Overseas Development Administration wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, at home and abroad, there is an approximate total of 2,800 work stations (computer terminals), excluding stand-alone work processors. The ratio of these to United Kingdom civil servants is three civil servants to one terminal, but many of the
Column 187
overseas terminals are used by locally engaged staff and the ratio (including both United Kingdom and locally engaged staff) is 5 : 1Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister in his Department is responsible for day-to-day management of his Department's information technology strategy ; and what proportion of his time was spent on this matter in the month up to Friday 13 October.
Mr. Sainsbury : The day-to-day management of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's information technology (IT) strategy is the responsibility of officials. The Ministers with overall responsibility for IT matters in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are my noble Friend Lord Brabazon of Tara in the diplomatic service wing, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Overseas Development. It would not be practicable to calculate what specific portion of a Minister's time is devoted to IT issues, since IT is now so well integrated into the Department's general business functions.
Porpoises
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Japanese Government in protest at the slaughter of 40,000 porpoises by Japanese fishermen in 1988.
Mr. Sainsbury : We have, through the International Whaling Commission made the Japanese Government fully aware of our view that there should be better international protection for porpoises and other species of small cetacea. We are investigatng reports of the slaughter to which the hon. Member refers.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Balance of Payments
12. Mr. Sillars : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the expected balance of payments deficit in the current year.
Mr. Lilley : A revised forecast will be published at the time of the Autumn Statement.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the deficit in the United Kingdom's balance of payments.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Tighter monetary policy is already slowing the growth of demand, and this will eventually lead to a reduction in the current account deficit. However, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has always made clear that the current account would be one of the last indicators to respond to the tightening of monetary policy.
52. Mr. George : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's balance of payments deficit in the first quarter and second quarter of 1989.
56. Mr. Ted Garrett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's balance of payments deficit in the first quarter and second quarter of 1989.
Column 188
157. Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's balance of payments deficit in the first quarter and second quarter of 1989.
184. Mr. John Garrett To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's balance of payments deficit in the first quarter and second quarter of the current year.
Mr. Norman Lamont : The deficit on the current account was £4.8 billion in the first quarter and £4.9 billion in the second quarter of 1989.
67. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has revised the forecast for the balance of payments in 1989 and 1990 since the Budget.
Mr. Norman Lamont : A revised forecast will be published at the time of the Autumn Statement.
Public Sector Debt
13. Mr. Hague : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on debt interest costs of the public sector debt repayments over the last two years.
Mr. Norman Lamont : The Government have made a net public sector debt repayment of £17.9 billion over the last two years, saving over £1 billion a year in debt interest costs.
86. Mr. Couchman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on debt interest costs of the public sector debt repayments over the last two years.
111. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on debt interest costs of the public sector debt repayments over the last two years.
Mr. Ryder : I refer my hon. Friends to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague).
Output
14. Mr. Stevens : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for output per hour worked in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Japan and (c) Germany.
99. Mr. Charles Wardle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for output per hour worked in (a) United Kingdom, (b) Japan and (c) Germany.
Mr. Ryder : Recent estimates show that output per hour worked in the United Kingdom economy in 1986 was about 50 per cent. higher than in Japan and only 5 per cent. lower than in Germany.
Public Expenditure
15. Mr. Snape : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending outturn for (a) health and (b) education.
Column 189
143. Mr. Soley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending outturn for (a) health and (b) education.
147. Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending outturn for (a) health and (b) education.
171. Mr. Spearing : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending outturn for (a) health and (b) education.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Estimates of outturn for 1989-90 will be published in the Autumn Statement.
18. Mr. Caborn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Treasury is taking to ensure adequate levels of efficiency and value for money in Her Majesty's Government's public expenditure programmes.
74. Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Treasury is taking to ensure adequate levels of efficiency and value for money in Her Majesty's Government's public expenditure programmes.
82. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Treasury is taking to ensure adequate levels of efficiency and value for money in Her Majesty's Government's public expenditure programmes.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Improving efficiency and value for money in public expenditure is a major Treasury objective, and the measures we have introduced have so far achieved estimated savings approaching £3 billion.
46. Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending planning total for 1989-90.
54. Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the public spending planning total.
87. Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the public expenditure planning total.
185. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending planning total for 1989-90.
186. Mr. Rogers : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending planning total for 1989-90.
Mr. Norman Lamont : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson).
47. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress about the level of public expenditure.
97. Dr. Bray : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress about the level of public expenditure.
124. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress about the level of public expenditure.
Column 190
Mr. Norman Lamont : My right hon. Friend receives representations from the CBI and the TUC from time to time concerning the level of public expenditure.
109. Mr. Jim Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the planning total for public spending in each of the next three years.
163. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the planning total for public spending in each of the next three years.
168. Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the planning total for public spending in each of the next three years.
179. Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the planning total for public spending in each of the next three years.
Mr. Norman Lamont : The public expenditure planning totals published in the 1989 public expenditure White Paper in January were £179.4 billion for 1990-91 and £191.6 billion for 1991-92 ; no planning total was set for 1992-93. Plans for all three years will be given in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's forthcoming Autumn Statement.
127. Mr. McLeish : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending outturn for 1989-90.
140. Mr. Martlew : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending outturn for 1989-90.
153. Mr. Madden : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending outturn for 1989-90.
155. Mr. Robertson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public spending outturn for 1989-90.
Mr. Norman Lamont : An estimate of outturn for 1989-90 will be published in the Autumn Statement.
138. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the Equal Opportunities Commission concerning priorities for public expenditure in 1990-91.
180. Mr. Sean Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the Equal Opportunities Commission concerning priorities for public expenditure in 1990-91.
Mr. Norman Lamont : My right hon. Friend has never met the Equal Opportunities Commission to discuss public expenditure.
New Businesses
19. Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the number of weekly net business start-ups in 1988-89 over 1987-88.
Mr. Lawson : In 1988, the number of new businesses started up, net of closures, averaged 1,200 a week, the highest level ever. The comparable figure for 1987 was 800 a week. In 1978, the last year of the last Labour Government, closures exceeded start-ups at the rate of 100 a week.
Column 191
80. Mr. Walden : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the number of weekly net business start-ups in 1988-89 over 1987-88.
158. Mr. Leigh : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the number of weekly net business start-ups in 1988-89 over 1987-88.
Mr. Norman Lamont : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo).
Tax Rates
20. Mr. Oakes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bands of marginal income tax rates exist (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other G7 countries.
61. Mr. Maxton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bands of marginal income tax rates exist (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other G7 countries.
121. Mr. Nellist : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bands of marginal income tax rates exist (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other G7 countries.
125. Mr. Murphy : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bands of marginal income tax rates exist (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other G7 countries.
Mr. Lilley : The United Kingdom has two bands of income tax rates. The number of bands in the other Group of Seven countries ranges from two to 12. With permission, I will place details in the Official Report.
Following is the information :
Table of Income tax rate bands Country |Number of bands ------------------------------------------------------------ Canada |<1>3 France |12 Federal Republic of Germany |<2>3 Italy |7 Japan |5 United States of America |<3>2 <1>Plus provincial tax: Quebec 5 bands, others 3 bands. <2>The middle band is a gradually rising rate according to a table which has 2,260 stages. <3>With an additional marginal rate band for some. Plus state income tax: e.g. California 6 bands, New York 5 bands.
Interest Rates
22. Mr. James Lamond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current short-term United Kingdom interest rate ; and what are the interest rates of each of the G7 countries.
Mr. Norman Lamont : On 18 October three-month money market rates were 15 per cent. in the United Kingdom, 8.6 per cent. in the United States, 6.4 per cent. in Japan, 8.3 per cent. in Germany, 10 per cent. in France, 13 per cent. in Italy, and 12.3 per cent. in Canada.
27. Mr. Knox : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of interest rates.
Column 192
102. Mr. Wilson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.
Mr. Ryder : Bank base rates are 15 per cent.
30. Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the United Kingdom base rate was in May 1988 ; and what is is today.
31. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the United Kingdom base rate was in May 1988 ; and what it is today.
57. Mr. Parry : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom base rate in May 1988 ; and what it is today.
Mr. Ryder : The base rate in the United Kingdom was 8 per cent. at the beginning of May 1988 and fell to 7 per cent. on 18 May of that year. The base rate is currently 15 per cent.
41. Mr. Janner : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current short-term interest rate in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Germany.
135. Mr. Illsley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current short-term interest rate in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Germany.
149. Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current short-term interest rate in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Germany.
| Next Section
| Home Page |