House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 Oct 1989

Footwear and Leather

51. Mr. Vaz : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal assistance he is proposing to give to the footwear and leather industries.

Mr. Lilley : My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce any special fiscal assistance for the footwear and leather industries.

Economic Growth

53. Sir David Price : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual rate of real economic growth in the United Kingdom through the 1980's.

69. Mr. David Martin : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual rate of economic growth in the United Kingdom in the 1980s.

Mr. Norman Lamont : Gross domestic product is estimated to have grown on average by 2 per cent. per annum since 1980. The seven years to 1988 have seen a combination of strong and steady growth not matched since the war.

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Employee Share Ownership

58. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has of the amount of use being made by companies of employee share ownership plans as a result of the measures announced in his March Budget.

Mr. Lilley : The employee share ownership measures included in this year's Finance Act were generally welcomed, and we are confident that they will contribute to the continuing success of our initiatives in this field. While it is too early to assess their impact, the Inland Revenue has received a number of inquiries concerning the establishment of employee share ownership plans (ESOPs).

Personal Equity Plans

60. Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has of the level of take-up of personal equity plans as a result of the measures announced in his March Budget.

187. Mr. French : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many personal equity plans have been taken out in the period since the 1989 Budget ; and how many were taken out in the corresponding period last year.

Mr. Lilley : About 130,000 plans were started between the Budget and the end of September 1989 compared with about 35,000 for the corresponding period in 1988.

Bank of England

62. Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England ; and what was discussed.

Mr. Ryder : My right hon. Friend meets the Governor of the Bank of England from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

Child Poverty

63. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss child poverty.

75. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss child poverty.

142. Ms. Abbott : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss child poverty.

Mr. Norman Lamont : I refer the hon. Members to the reply my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett).

Imports and Exports

64. Mr. Pendry : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of growth of exports over the last 10 years ; and what has been the rate of growth of imports.

70. Ms. Quin : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of growth of exports over the last 10 years ; and what has been the rate of growth of imports.

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71. Mr. Randall : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of growth of exports over the last 10 years ; and what has been the rate of growth of imports.

Mr. Norman Lamont : On a balance of payments basis, United Kingdom export volume in 1988 is estimated to have been 39 per cent. higher than in 1978. The corresponding estimate of the growth of imports is 70 per cent.

Directors (Pay)

66. Mr. Morley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in his discussions with the Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, he has raised the subject of pay rises awarded to directors of companies in 1989.

78. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in his discussions with the Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, he has raised the subject of pay rises awarded to directors of companies in 1989.

Dr. Moonie : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in his discussions with the Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, he has raised the subject of pay rises awarded to directors of companies in 1989.

123. Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in his discussions with the Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, he has raised the subject of pay rises awarded to directors of companies in 1989.

Mr. Norman Lamont : Pay is a matter for the parties involved to decide and it is not for the Government to intervene. This applies no matter whose pay is involved. But the Chancellor has made it clear that he will neither directly nor indirectly bail out employers who concede excessive wage settlements.

Privatisation

79. Mr. Corbett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from institutions in the City on privatisation issues.

89. Mr. Cousins : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from institutions in the City on privatisation issues.

144. Mr. Coleman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from institutions in the City on privatisation issues.

Mr. Lilley : My right hon. Friend receives a number of representations from time to time from institutions in the City on privatisation issues.

84. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of privatisation revenue.

122. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of privatisation revenue.

Mr. Lilley : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall).

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International Debt

81. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next intends to discuss international debt with other finance ministers ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is regularly in contact with Finance Ministers from other countries. I refer the hon. Member to my answer earlier today to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes).

Manufacturing Profitability

90. Mr. Ward : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase in manufacturing profitability during the latest full year for which figures are available.

148. Mr. Cash : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase in manufacturing profitability during the latest full year for which figures are available.

Mr. Norman Lamont : The net real rate of return on capital employed for manufacturing companies is estimated to be 9 per cent. in 1987, compared with 7 per cent. in 1986.

IMF Meeting

96. Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his recent meeting in Washington with the International Monetary Fund.

131. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the recent annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder : Finance Ministers of the major industrialised countries reaffirmed their support for economic policy co-operation, leading to low inflation and exchange rate stability. Strong support was given for plans to establish open, market-based economies, particularly in eastern Europe.

Ministers endorsed the strengthened debt strategy, developed by the fund and bank since the spring interim and development committee meetings, and welcomed the first cases of debt reduction which have been agreed.

No agreement was reached on the IMF's quota review : a decision is envisaged by the end of 1989.

Copies of the meeting communique s have been placed in the Library.

154. Mr. Ashley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the recent annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lawson : I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell).

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Investment and Consumption

98. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of (a) total investment and (b) total consumption over the past seven years.

136. Mr. Heddle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of (a) total investment and (b) total consumption over the past seven years.

Mr. Norman Lamont : Total investment grew by 76 per cent. in volume terms between 1981 and 1988. Over the same period, the volume of total domestic final consumption grew by 26 per cent. These estimates are derived from information in the CSO's "United Kingdom National Accounts", 1989 edition.

Labour Statistics

100. Mr. Franks : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much total employment has risen since 1983.

Mr Norman Lamont : Total employment has increased by 2,793,000 since March 1983.

115. Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much adult unemployment has fallen over the last three years.

139. Mr. Mans : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much adult unemployment has fallen over the last three years.

183. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much adult unemployment has fallen over the last three years.

Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much adult unemployment has fallen over the last three years.

Mr. Norman Lamont : Adult seasonally adjusted unemployment fell by 1,419,300 during the three years to September 1989.

Mr. Cran : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the total number of people in work ; and what was the figure 10 years ago.

Mr. Norman Lamont : The latest figures, released this morning, show that the total number of people in work in the United Kingdom was 26, 357,000 in June 1989. This is a new record. In June 1979 total employment was 24,987,000.

Tax Cuts

108. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the economic impact of top rate tax cuts.

112. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the economic impact of top rate tax cuts.

117. Mr Loyden : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the economic impact of top rate tax cuts.

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119. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the economic impact of top rate tax cuts.

Mr. Norman Lamont : The economic impact of top rate tax cuts, like that of any cuts in income tax, is to promote enterprise, discourage tax avoidance and retain talent in this country.

World Bank Meetings

128. Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the recent annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank ; and if he will make a statement.

133. Mr. Wells : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his recent meeting in Washington with the World Bank.

Mr. Ryder : I refer the hon. Members to the communique s issued by the interim committee of the IMF and the joint development committee of the IMF and the World Bank, which can be found in the Library of the House.

OECD

137. Mr. Clelland : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have overtaken the United Kingdom in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's list of the leading industrial economies in the last three years.

169. Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have overtaken the United Kingdom in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's list of the leading industrial economies in the last three years.

174. Mr. Clay : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have overtaken the United Kingdom in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's list of the leading economies in the last three years.

Mr. Ryder : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 27 July 1989 at column 1125 .

151. Mr. Fraser : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's position in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ranking of the largest industrial economies in december 1988 and in June 1989.

152. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's position in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ranking of the largest industrial economies in December 1988 and in June 1989.

175. Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's position in the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development ranking of the largest industrial economies in December 1988 and in June 1989.

176. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's position in the

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Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ranking of the largest industrial economies in December 1988 and in June 1989.

Mr. Ryder : From June 1989 the United Kingdom is sixth in the OECD's ranking of the leading industrial economies after Italy. The OECD ordering is based on GDP in an earlier year converted at market exchange rates. On the basis of a GDP comparison using OECD estimates of purchasing power parities, the United Kingdom would come before Italy in both 1987 and 1988.

Workplace Nurseries

141. Mr. John Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to meet representatives of the workplace nurseries campaign.

161. Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to meet representatives of the workplace nurseries campaign.

173. Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to meet representatives of the workplace nurseries campaign.

Mr. Lilley : My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

162. Mr. Denis Howell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to meet representatives of the workplace nurseries campaign.

Mr. Lawson : I have no plans to do so.

Gross Domestic Product

145. Mr. Richard Shepherd : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his latest figures for the growth of gross domestic product on an output basis ; and what are the comparable figures for other members of the European Community.

Mr. Ryder : Not all EC countries publish GDP on an output basis. The output measure of GDP at constant factor cost for the United Kingdom increased by 4.7 per cent. in 1988. GDP at constant prices grew more quickly in only two other EC countries, Luxembourg and Spain.

Funding Policy

159. Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the Government's present funding policy.

Mr. Ryder : The Government's funding policy is set out in paragraph 2.23 to 2.26 of the 1989-90 "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

Economic Policy

160. Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss United Kingdom economic policy.

170. Mr. Anderson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss United Kingdom economic policy.

Mr. Norman Lamont : My right hon. Friend meets representatives of the CBI from time to time, and a wide range of subjects are discussed.

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165. Mr. Archer : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss United Kingdom economic policy.

Mr. Lawson : I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Ms. Armstrong).

Information Technology

Mr. Warren : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. Ryder : Since promotion to the level of grade 3, two Treasury officials have attended courses exclusively on information technology (IT) and 13 have attended courses containing IT sessions. This represents attendance rates of 4.4 per cent. and 31 per cent. respectively.

Mr. Warren : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. Ryder : The Treasury which includes the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, Chessington computer centre and the Civil Service Catering Organisation, has 1,430 computer work stations. The overall ratio of work stations to staff is about 1 : 2.2. This figure includes all terminals and microcomputers, but excludes stand-alone dedicated work processors.

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