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Mr. Key : To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the criteria used by the Crown Prosecution Service in deciding whether or not to prosecute in respect of traffic offences.
The Attorney-General : In deciding whether or not to prosecute in respect of traffic offences, as with all criminal
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offences, the Crown Prosecution Service has to satisfy the two criteria set out in the code for Crown prosecutors, promulgated under section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. These require that there is sufficient admissible, substantial and reliable evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction and that the public interest requires a prosecution in the circumstances.Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes have been made to the cash limit and running cost limit for the Northern Ireland court service.
The Attorney-General : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XI vote 8 has been increased by £21,000 from £14,725,000 to £14,746,000 and the running costs limit by £21,000 from £11,700,000 to £11,721,000. This increase has been charged to the Reserve and will not add to the planned total of public expenditure. The increases arise from a policy decision which transferred responsibility for the funding of the PRAMIS computer project from Northern Ireland Departments 1 (NID 1) to individual Departments (including Northern Ireland Court Service). The corresponding decrease in NID 1's cash limit and running costs limit was announced on 13 July 1989.
42. Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what annual level of inflation has been used to calculate the projected cost of the student loan scheme.
Mr. Jackson : The costings set out in annex E of Cm. 520 were expressed in constant 1990 prices. To estimate the pace at which inflation will erode the real value of the grant, an inflation rate of 3 per cent. per annum was assumed.
43. Mr. John P. Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of the introduction of student loans.
Mr. Jackson : The preparatory work described in my right hon. Friend's statement on 19 June, Official Report, columns 21-22, is proceeding.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton, Official Report, 17 October, column 87, how many schools he estimates are currently in breach of the Data Protection Act ; and if he will place in the Library the guidance to schools he intends to publish.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The Department does not collect information about schools' compliance with the Data Protection Act. A copy of the promised guidance will be placed in the Library on publication.
Dr. Moonie : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the Committee of Vice Chancellors ; and what matters were discussed.
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Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend discussed a wide range of higher education matters with the committee at its annual meeting on 27 September. We meet representatives of the committee from time to time in the course of normal business.
Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grant assistance is provided by his Department to local education authorities to fund in-service training for teachers.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The main source of grant assistance is the local education authority training grant scheme, details of which are set out in Department of Education and Science circular 20/89, a copy of which is in the Library. In 1990-91 the scheme will support expenditure of £214.7 million with grant of £125.7 million.
Mr. Flannery : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure that teachers' negotiating rights are restored as soon as possible.
Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend is currently engaged in a series of meetings with the teacher unions and the employers at which a range of possibilities for new permanent pay determination arrangements is being discussed.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Research Council meeting in Luxembourg on 17 October.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I have been asked to reply.
I represented Her Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Community's Council of Ministers (Research) in Luxembourg on 17 October.
The Council adopted a common position on a Community programme of research on the competitiveness of agriculture and management of agricultural resources. The programme will receive Community funding of 55 mecu (37 million) over five years. Priority will be given to research work which helps to identify alternative outlets for products and uses for land, conserves natural resources and develops production systems in harmony with the environment.
There was also a further exchange of views on several aspects of the Commission proposal for a framework programme of Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1990-1994).
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the total amounts raised by domestic rates in each of the years 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88, (b) the rate in the pound in each year and (c) the estimated number of domestic
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hereditaments on which rates were payable for each year in the London boroughs of (i) Islington, (ii) Camden and (iii) Lambeth.Mr. David Hunt : The figures sought are :
|Domestic rate income |Average domestic rate|Number of domestic |poundage |hereditaments |£m |Pence |'000s -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Islington 1984-85 |49.1 |233.5 |68.6 1985-86 |46.9 |229.1 |69.0 1986-87 |42.8 |184.3 |69.4 1987-88 |41.5 |172.1 |70.5 Lambeth 1984-85 |62.3 |233.1 |104.6 1985-86 |60.4 |224.6 |105.4 1986-87 |58.4 |217.2 |106.6 1987-88 |54.5 |205.6 |108.3 Camden 1984-85 |59.2 |202.7 |78.2 1985-86 |60.9 |209.0 |79.2 1986-87 |62.6 |209.4 |80.1 1987-88 |65.1 |213.2 |81.5 Note: Figures for domestic rate income are net of rate relief grant and gross of rebates.
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the current cost of a revaluation of domestic properties for rateable purposes. Mr. David Hunt : The Government do not consider a revaluation of domestic property to be viable using rental values because of the lack of market rental evidence. I have therefore made no such estimate.
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy has applied since 1982 towards the revaluation of domestic properties for rateable purposes ; what estimates he has of the number of domestic properties in the London boroughs of (a) Islington, (b) Camden and (c) Lambeth, which have been revalued for rateable purposes since 1982 ; and what are the general reasons for those revaluations having taken place.
Mr. David Hunt : Since the last general revaluation in 1973 rateable values of domestic properties have been altered most commonly because of a change in the physical state of the property or in its environment. I estimate that some 3,200,000 alterations have been made to the rateable values of domestic property in England since 1982. No estimates are available for particular local authority areas.
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage registration for the community charge in the Cherwell district council area.
Mr. Chope : I understand that registration for the community charge is going ahead successfully in Cherwell and that to date some 98 per cent. of chargepayers have been registered.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the community charge.
Mr. Chope : I have received representations from individual local authorities and other bodies. My Department has also held a number of discussions with the local authority associations.
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Mrs. Maureen Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any consideration has been given to exempting foreign language assistants employed in the United Kingdom from paying the community charge.
Mr. Chope : It would not be appropriate to provide exemption for foreign language assistants. They will be subject to a personal community charge if they are solely or mainly resident in Great Britain. Foreign language assistants who fall within the definition of full-time students will be eligible for 80 per cent. relief of the charge. Decisions on whether an individual is solely or mainly resident in Great Britain, and is a full-time student, are initially for the community charges registration officer.
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has of the number of domestic properties in England that have been revalued for rateable purposes since 1982 ; and what are the general reasons for these revaluations having taken place.
Mr. David Hunt : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek permission from the author to publish the letter of resignation submitted by Mr. Rod Perriman, the former chief inspector of pollution.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : No. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Secretary of State for the Environment, my right hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 29 November 1988 at column 135.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now reached his decision on the future of the Property Services Agency in Cardiff ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope : The PSA is in the process of reorganising into two main businesses : PSA Projects dealing with major projects, and PSA Building Management dealing with maintenance, estate management and smaller projects. Both businesses intend to maintain offices in Cardiff, drawing their staffing initially from the existing PSA Wales Office.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an assessment of the recent report by Professor David Bowen of the University of Wales Institute of Earth Studies on the geological stability of the sub-seabed region off Sellafield and the geology below Sellafield with regard to plans to dispose of the radioactive waste underground near the British Nuclear Fuels Sellafield site.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : In the first instance it is for UK Nirex Limited to consider such reports in submitting proposals to Government for the development of an
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underground radioactive waste disposal facility for low and intermediate level waste. In assessing these proposals, HMIP will take into account any relevant information.Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the Government's response to the draft European Community directive on the protection of semi-natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora ; whether he will seek to amend the draft directive (a) to provide funding to encourage individuals to adopt management and development practices and (b) to tackle the devastation and destruction of habitats outside the envisaged network of special protection areas ; and whether he will seek to allow non-governmental organisations to attend meetings under the directive as observers.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We have made clear on several occasions that we, in common with all other member states, regard the present draft text as deeply flawed. The House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities reached a similar conclusion in its scrutiny report published in August.
We are keen to see progress towards a worthwhile Community measure in the field of nature conservation. It is for the French Presidency to decide how to take things forward, and I understand that discussions are taking place with a view to breaking the deadlock. Matters such as funding, protection of habitats outside special protection areas, and observer status for non- governmental organisations can be expected to feature in these deliberations. We shall continue to contribute constructively to the discussions on all aspects of the dossier.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new initiatives he will take to reduce the present level of homelessness in young people aged under 18 years of age ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope : The conclusions of our review of the homelessness legislation will be announced shortly.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has met the chairman or officials of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to discuss (a) environmental management of and (b) international safeguards applicability to plutonium contaminated wastes at civil nuclear facilities and safeguardable nuclear material balance areas in dual-purpose facilities.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My right hon. Friend has not yet met the chairman and members of Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, but plans to do so in January. The agenda for the meeting has yet to be decided.
Mr. Knowles : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total budget for the current year for Estate Action.
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Mr. Chope : A total of £190 million is being made available for my Department's Estate Action programme in 1989-90. In addition, local authorities are normally expected to contribute about 50 per cent. of the total cost of approved projects as a measure of their commitment to those schemes.
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the consultation document on the standard of safety glazing to be included in the building regulations.
Mr. Chope : I hope to be in a position to publish the consultative document shortly.
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent changes have been made to the ceilings of percentage in shares of Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace respectively which may be held by persons or bodies not within the United Kingdom ; what communications he has received from the Commission of the European Communities on this and the period within which any such new limitation shall operate ; and if he will place copies of any such correspondence in the Library.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 3 August that the Government had decided that, following discussions with the European Commission on Rolls-Royce, the limit on foreign shareholdings could reasonably be increased for both Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace from 15 per cent. to 29.5 per cent. Extraordinary general meetings of the two companies held respectively on 11 September and 16 August approved special resolutions to raise the limit to the new level. In reaching this decision the Government took into account not only the concern expressed by the Commission about the effect of the restriction on other EC nationals wishing to buy shares in Rolls-Royce, but the wishes of Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace to have the limit increased given the international nature of their business. As the discussions with the European Commission were confidential, documents cannot be placed in the Library. The Government agreed with the Commission that it would review at the end of 1992 the limit on foreign shareholdings in the light of any changes in the structure of the European defence industry and in the pattern of defence procurement over the period.
Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North, on 20 October, Official Report, columns 268-69, if he will estimate the cost to Her Majesty's Government arising from the closure of North East Shipbuilders Ltd., excluding any costs incurred by British Shipbuilders but including (a) unemployment benefit to redundant employees, (b) housing and other social security benefits to redundant employees, (c) remedial measures taken by Her Majesty's Government and (d) any other costs.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : It is very difficult to give an assessment of the Exchequer costs, because no one can reliably forecast the circumstances of Sunderland and other places that would have been affected had those decisions not been taken. For instance, had the Government decided not to close the yards at the end of 1988, very substantial redundancies would in any event have been necessary, and costs would have been incurred elsewhere, particularly on the Clyde, had other sales notified to the Commission in December 1988 been frustrated by delayed EC clearance.
Had the Government decided to notify new shipbuilding proposals in July, the likelihood would have been a delay to the economic recovery of Sunderland as a result of the uncertainty about the enterprise zone and other measures. On the other hand, talks are taking place between British Shipbuilders and interested parties about the use of various of the assets of NESL which in turn may generate additional employment to that likely to result from the enterprise zone. My right hon. Friend announced on 7 December a remedial package for Sunderland estimated at £45 million. Of that sum, £10.5 million is being provided through British Shipbuilders, to fund the activities of Sunderland Enterprise and Training Ltd., including those being administered by the Wearside Opportunity.
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now introduce regulations to require companies to report on their arrangements to meet the duty imposed by section 31A of the Insurance Companies Act 1982.
Mr. Redwood : I undertook on 26 July to consider introducing a new regulation requiring insurance companies to report on their arrangements to meet the duty imposed by section 31A of the Insurance Companies Act 1982. This section requires insurance companies to ensure that adequate arrangements are in force for securing that transactions affecting assets of the company (other than transactions outside its control) do not operate unfairly between different funds of the company. I have now made regulations, which come into effect on 1 March 1990, which have been laid before Parliament today. The regulations require a certificate to be signed by the directors, to be annexed to the annual report, which will state that for the past financial year the company has had in force arrangements to meet this duty.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give (a) the total number of applications for regional selective assistance received between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure for 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990 -91 and 1991-92 in cash and constant prices for each of the Department of Trade and Industry regions.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 30 October 1989] : The number of applications for regional selective assistance received between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989 was 2,542. The number of regional selective
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assistance applications approved between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989 was 1893 and the value approved was £165.2 million. Expenditure on regional selective assistance in 1988- 89 by the DTI region was as follows :|£ million --------------------------------------------- North East |34 North West |22 Yorkshire and Humberside |21 East Midlands |1 West Midlands |25 South West |4 England Actual |129 at 1989-90 prices |137
At the regional level the figures include only industrial and training grants. The England total also includes some unallocated project grants and expenditure under the business improvement services and exchange risk guarantee schemes which it is not possible to provide on a regional basis. The figures are net of domestic receipts.
The forecast provision for 1989-90 is £145 million ; this figure is contained in the Supply Estimates for 1989-90. The above figure is net of domestic receipts and includes expenditure on industrial and training grants, and the business improvement services and exchange risk guarantee schemes : Figures for future years will be reflected in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give (a) the total number of applications for investment grants and innovation grants from 1 April 1988 to 30 September 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for 1988-89, 1989- 90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 in cash and constant prices for each of his Department's regions.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 30 October 1989] : Regional enterprise grants (REGs) became available on 1 April 1988 in the development areas and on 1 September 1988 in South Yorkshire. The information requested, for the English regions for which the DTI is responsible, for 1 April 1988 to 30 September 1989 is as follows :
|Number of applications|Number of offers |Value of offers |£000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- North East |968 |692 |4,880 North West |857 |502 |4,240 Yorkshire and Humberside |516 |320 |3,289 East Midlands |78 |56 |612 South West |279 |197 |1,191 Total England |2,698 |1,767 |14,212 "Total expenditure for regional enterprise grants in 1988-89 was £0.9m (£0.95 million at estimated constant 1989-90 prices). The provision for investment and innovation grants as published in the June revised supply estimates, for 1989-90 is £27.6m. Plans for future years will be reflected in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper. The amount of expenditure which will be paid out in any particular area will depend on demand for the scheme and the appraisal of individual applications."
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Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give (a) the total number of applications for regional development grants outstanding at 31 March 1988, (b) the total number of applications processed by 30 September 1989, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated
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expenditure planned for 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 in cash and constant prices for each of his Department's regions.Mr. Douglas Hogg [Holding answer 30 October 1989] : The information requested in respect of the revised regional development grant scheme with regard to applications outstanding at 31 March 1988, the number of those processed by 30 September 1989 and the amount approved to date on those applications, is as follows :
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|North East |North West |Yorkshire & Humberside|East Midlands |South West ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of applications outstanding at 31 March 1988 |3,260 |2,740 |830 |240 |540 Number of those applications processed by 30 September 1989 |3,251 |2,736 |830 |240 |540 Amount approved £m |55 |36 |9 |7 |4
Expenditure in respect of the original and revised regional development grant schemes in 1988-89 by DTI region is as follows :
|£ million ------------------------------------------- North East |79 North West |50 Yorkshire & Humberside |19 East Midlands |8 South West |6 England Actual |162 1989-90 prices |170 Notes: The figures shown are net of domestic receipts. Planned provision in respect of both schemes for 1989-90 is £125 million (as contained in the Supply Estimates for 1989-90). This figure is net of domestic receipts. The level of provision is expected to be reduced in the forthcoming winter supplementary estimates. Figures for future years will be reflected in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper.
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will supply figures on the level of industrial output, in constant terms, for each standard planning region of the United Kingdom for every year since 1979 and for each month since 1 January.
Mr. Lilley [holding answer 23 October 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
The information is not available in the form requested. However current price estimates of regional gross domestic product by industry are published annually in Economic Trends. The latest published figures may be found in Economic Trends No. 421, November 1988 pages 92 and 93 : a copy is available in the Library. Constant price estimates are not made because there are no regional price indices.
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will supply figures on spending on investment expressed in constant value terms, for each standard planning region of the United Kingdom for every year since 1979 and for each month since 1 January.
Mr. Lilley [holding answer 23 October 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
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The information is not available in the form requested. However current price estimates of regional investment by selected industries and by the Government are published annually in Economic Trends. The latest published figures may be found in Economic Trends No. 421, November 1988 pages 97 and 98 : a copy is available in the Library. Constant price estimates are not made because there are no regional price indices.Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each year since 1974 the average annual increase in real income for (a) a married man with two children, (b) a single person and (c) a retired person, including tax changes and price rises.
Mr. Lilley : Consistent information since 1974 is available only for pensioners. This is given in table 1. A more limited range of years is available on a constant basis for the other family types and the average annual growth rates in real incomes are given in table 2. Figures are derived from the family expenditure survey and are subject to sampling variation.
Table 1 Percentage annual change in average real net income of pensioners |per cent. ------------------------------ 1974 |6.2 1975 |-0.5 1976 |-0.3 1977 |-1.1 1978 |7.0 1979 |-1.7 1980 |1.9 1981 |4.9 1982 |-0.9 1983 |10.5 1984 |-1.1 1985 |1.7 1986 |4.5 Notes: 1. The figures show, for the each year, the percentage increase over the previous year in average real net incomes (ie incomes net of tax, adjusted for changes in the Retail Price Index). 2. Pensioners are defined as all single people over the statutory retirement age together with married couples where the husband is over retirement age.
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Table 2 Perecntage change in average real net income at an annual rate |Married man with two |Single person |children (non-retired)|(non-retired) |per cent. |per cent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1979-81 |-2.3 |-2.1 1981-85 |3.1 |0.6 1985-86 |7.1 |8.6 Note: The figures express at an annual rate the increase between the years shown in average real net incomes (ie incomes net of tax and national insurance adjusted for changes in the Retail Price Index).
Mr. Batiste : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of United Kingdom quoted equities are held by (a) pension funds, (b) unit trusts and (c) investment trusts.
Mr. Lilley : Reliable up-to-date figures are not available, but I understand that the stock exchange will shortly be publishing a survey giving the proportion of equities held by different types of investor. I will write to my hon. Friend and arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library in due course.
Mr. William Powell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual yield of capital gains tax in each year since 1979 (i) at 1979 prices and (ii) at 1989 prices.
Mr. Lilley : Estimates of receipts of capital gains tax paid by individuals and trusts are as follows :
£ million Year of receipt |Actual receipts |At 1979-80 prices<1>|At 1989-90 prices<1> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1979-80 |431 |430 |860 1980-81 |508 |430 |850 1981-82 |526 |400 |800 1982-83 |632 |450 |900 1983-84 |671 |460 |910 1984-85 |730 |480 |950 1985-86 |908 |560 |1,120 1986-87 |1,064 |640 |1,270 1987-88 |1,379 |790 |1,560 1988-89 |2,323 |1,230 |2,450 1989-90<2> |2,100 |1,060 |2,100 <1> Converted using the GDP market price deflator. <2> Forecast.
Receipts in each year result from liabilities incurred over several previous years. These figures exclude receipts from capital gains of companies taxed within corporation tax.
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to amend the limit of the fiduciary issue as part of his anti- inflationary policy ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : No. Interest rates are the only way to deal with inflation.
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Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.
Mr. Ryder : Letters from hon. Members to Treasury Ministers receive a deadline for reply of not more than 15 working days. Most are replied to within this period.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate the number of shareholders in the northern region as a percentage of the adult population.
Mr. Lilley : The Joint Treasury-International Stock Exchange survey in January 1989 estimated that 13 per cent. of adults in the northern region were shareholders. This proportion will have increased as a result of the recent flotation of Abbey National plc.
Mr. Mans : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in consideration of the Delors report on economic and monetary union in the European Community.
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