| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mortgage Defaulters
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households defaulted on mortgage repayments in the latest available month ; and if he will give the figures for the same period in 1986, 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 6 November 1989] : The available information about mortgage arrears relates only to mortgages advanced by building societies and local authorities. The Building Societies Association records numbers of arrears relating to building society mortgages on a half-yearly basis. The latest information is for June 1989 and is compared with the figures for earlier years in the following table.
(
Building society mortgage arrears:
United Kingdom
Loans over 6 months in
arrears
June |Number |Per cent.
----------------------------------------
1986 |66,980 |0.97
1987 |63,150 |0.88
1988 |57,880 |0.79
1989 |54,360 |0.71
My Department collects annual information on arrears in respect of mortgages made by local authorities. The information for recent years is shown in the following table.
(
Local authority mortgage arrears:
England
Loans over 6 months in
arrears
March |Number |Per cent.
----------------------------------------
1986 |15,840 |3.1
1987 |13,200 |3.1
1988 |9,040 |2.5
1989 |7,760 |2.5
Column 511
ENERGY
North Sea Oil
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the total production of North sea oil since 1979.
Mr. Peter Morrison : My Department's most recent published figures show that the cumulative production of oil, condensate and natural gas liquids between the end of 1979 and August of this year stood at 1,069.2 million tonnes--this includes a provisional figure for the month of August.
Pressurised Water Reactors
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what studies he has undertaken into the financial viability of the pressurised water reactor programme announced by his predecessor.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The financial viability of new power station projects is a matter for the body concerned. The CEGB presented evidence to the Hinkley C inquiry on the comparison between the costs of a PWR and fossil-fuelled generation.
Flue Gas Desulphurisation
Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any proposals to speed up the flue gas desulphurisation programme.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The flue gas desulphurisation programme is an operational matter for the industry.
Electricity Privatisation
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will amend the Electricity Act so as to retain the discretion of the Secretary of State to award second-tier direct-contract electricity supply licences after privatisation to premises with a load under 1 MW.
Mr. Michael Spicer : No. The Electricity Act provides for the Secretary of State to exercise such discretion within his general duties under the Act.
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements he proposes for selling to the privatised British distribution companies electricity generated by French nuclear power stations and imported via the cross channel connectors ; what companies he proposes to establish for this purpose ; whether he has appointed any chairman- designate to such companies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Public electricity suppliers, or any other suppliers, will be free to enter into commercial arrangements with Electricite de France for the purchase of electricity. We have no intention of establishing a company to import electricity from France.
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of price per KW of the nuclear levy through which the area electricity boards will recoup the cost of meeting their non-fossil- fuel obligation after privatisation.
Column 512
Mr. Michael Spicer : The fossil fuel levy will depend on the prices charged for nuclear and fossil-fuelled electricity. Contract negotiations are currently taking place. I cannot anticipate their outcome.
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy with whom he proposes that the obligations to supply electricity will rest after privatisation.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Obligations to supply electricity will rest with those authorised to supply by licence or exemption under sections 5 and 6 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Internationally Traded Energy
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the change in internationally traded heavy fuel oil prices over the month to 25 September ; and what was the fluctuation in internationally traded coal prices over the same period.
Mr. Peter Morrison : The change in the spot price of heavy fuel oil at Rotterdam over the month to September 25, 1989 and the fluctuation in internationally traded coal prices over the same period are as follows :
|Fuel Oil |Steam Coal
|Rotterdam |Amsterdam/Rotterdam
|$/tonne |$/tonne
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 25 |87.0 |43.5
September 25 |98.0 |43.5
Percentage change |12.6 |0.0
Note:
All prices are FOB spot prices for 1 per cent. Sulphur content.
Sources:
Petroleum Argus.
Coal Week International.
Shell Ethylene Pipeline
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of Shell Chemicals United Kingdom Limited north western ethylene pipeline proposals.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Shell Chemicals UK Limited has submitted an application under the Pipelines Act 1962 for authorisation to construct a cross-country pipeline from Grangemouth to Stanlow for the conveyance of ethylene. It has been instructed to publish and serve the necessary notices under the Pipelines Act 1962, without prejudice to the right of the Secretary of State subsequently to refuse the application.
An environmental statement under the Electricity and Pipe-line Works (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1989, has been prepared by Shell.
Details of Shell's proposals and copies of the environmental statement are available for public inspection at the offices of planning authorities along the proposed pipeline route and at the offices of my Department.
Column 513
CIVIL SERVICE
Executive Agencies
Mr. Sean Hughes : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list both those executive agencies for the Civil Service already set up with their start up dates and those announced as candidates with their target dates, together with the number of staff in each agency or prospective agency.
Mr. Luce : The current list of those Government activities already established as executive agencies under the Next Steps initiative, together with the number of staff employed and their start up dates is as follows :
Executive agency |Staff numbers |Start up date --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vehicle Inspectorate |1,550 |1 August 1988 Companies House |1,150 |3 October 1988 HMSO |3,200 |14 December 1988 National Weight and Measures Laboratory |50 |18 April 1989 Warren Spring Laboratory |300 |20 April 1989 Resettlement Agency |550 |24 May 1989 Civil Service College |200 |6 June 1989 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre |50 |6 July 1989 Historic Royal Palaces |350 |1 October 1989 Laboratory of the Government Chemist |300 |30 October 1989
For the current list of candidates for executive agency status announced by Departments, together with the numbers of staff employed, I refer the hon. Member to the appendix to the Government reply to the Fifth Report from the Treasury and Civil Service Committee (CM841, published on 30 October). Target dates for individual launches are primarily a matter for the Ministers responsible.
Promotions
Mr. Sean Hughes : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will provide an estimate of the administrative cost per promotee in Civil Service promotions from executive officer to higher executive officer.
Mr. Luce : This information is not held centrally.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Parliamentary Questions
Mr Haselhurst : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the subjects on which he is not prepared to answer parliamentary questions.
Mr. Brooke [holding answer 3 November 1989] : It is not possible to provide a definitive and exhaustive list of subjects within my responsibilities on which I might exceptionally decline to answer questions on grounds other than cost and commercial confidence. Each question tabled to me will continue to be considered on its merits.
Ulster Museum
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to put the security arrangements for the Ulster museum out to competitive tender.
Column 514
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 6 November 1989] : The Department of Education is presently considering the results of a market testing exercise conducted by the Ulster museum into the possibility of putting a number of its services, including security, out to competitive tender.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Northern Region
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list major inward investment in the Northern region since 1983, giving the cost of each project, the amount of Government grant and the number of jobs involved.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Major inward investment decisions announced for the Northern region since 1 January 1983 are as follows:
Major Inward Investments in the Northern Region since 1983
Company |Jobs |Project Costs|RSA Grant
|£,000 |£,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamilton Ltd |217 |1,106 |225
Tolaram Polymers Ltd |61 |14,377 |350
Brandtex Ltd |127 |347 |25
Electrolux Ltd |101 |4,060 |611
S P Tyres Ltd |450 |2,132 |Nil
Nissan UK Manufacturing Ltd |2,700 |349,900 |35,000
NSK Bearings Europe Ltd |108 |15,093 |450
Black and Decker |500 |9,760 |1,000
Draeger Ltd |128 |2,385 |266
TC Industries of Europe Ltd |108 |5,970 |1,295
Tabuchi Electric (UK) Ltd |185 |2,983 |300
Superbadge Ltd |116 |1,402 |383
Stewart-Warner Ltd |100 |2,470 |350
Black and Decker |409 |22,000 |2,450
British Alcan Aluminium Ltd |367 |5,165 |1,500
Komatsu Ltd |262 |16,500 |1,200
Liner Manufacturing Ltd |202 |616 |200
NSK Bearings Europe Ltd |230 |32,000 |1,600
THC Fabricators UK Ltd |170 |6,151 |575
Philips Components Ltd |150 |9,909 |900
Kodak Ectona Fibres Ltd |237 |57,800 |2,000
Grove Coles Ltd |294 |4,395 |800
House of Mayfair |162 |6,500 |700
Black & Decker |665 |9,910 |2,000
Key Tech Europe Ltd |260 |11,288 |1,200
Philips Components |419 |4,279 |500
F Hills & Sons Ltd |377 |820 |80
Transfer All Purpose Foils Ltd |130 |5,344 |819
Swaddlers Ltd |135 |8,780 |950
Newcastle Chronicle and
Journal Ltd |250 |5,372 |700
Mitsumi Electric |400 |2,500 |Nil
TRW Repa Ltd |250 |900 |<1>Nil
Northern Contractors Ltd |250 |<1>- |Nil
Winchmore Knitting Factory
Ltd |285 |2,600 |Nil
Goldstar Electric Ltd |330 |8,000 |Nil
Basf Chemicals Ltd |100 |6,000 |Nil
Swilynn (UK) Ltd |505 |14,145 |2,950
Nissan UK Manufacturing Ltd |1,060 |216,000 |14,400
Millicom Info Systems Ltd |180 |3,047 |450
Cookson Fukuda Ltd |79 |24,318 |650
Millicom Cellular UK Ltd |300 |3,558 |450
Hashimoto Forming Industry
Co Ltd |135 |9,850 |1,500
Fujitsu Microelectronics Ltd |500 |400,000 |30,000
3M UK Ltd |112 |11,882 |1,700
<1> Not published.
1. Major inward investment projects have been defined as those first time investments,
or expansions of existing investment, by foreign owned companies which involve capital
costs of over £5 million and/or the creation or safeguarding of 100 or more jobs.
2. Figures supplied for government grant are for offers of Regional Selective
Assistance (RSA) accepted by foreign-owned companies since 1 January 1983. Comparable
information on other forms of assistance is not readily available. (Not all inward
investments receive RSA).
3. In accordance with usual practice the inclusion of individual cases has been
restricted to those already announced or published. Details of nine further inward
investment projects involving capital spend of £170.4 million and jobs of 3,132 have
yet to be published.
4. The Northern Region is the North East Region plus Cumbria.
Insider Dealing
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of suspected insider dealing were referred by the Stock Exchange to his Department in each year since 1979.
Mr. Redwood : Insider dealing did not become a criminal offence until 23 June 1980. Since then the number of cases of suspected insider dealing referred to the Department of Trade and Industry by the Stock Exchange each year is as follows :
|Number
------------------------
January |1
February |1
March |1
April |1
May |1
June |2
July |2
August |2
September |1
October |2
November |9
December |2
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many preliminary reports on suspected cases on insider dealing were sent by the Stock Exchange insider dealing unit in each month in 1988.
Mr. Redwood : The number of reports on suspected cases of insider dealing sent by the Stock Exchange insider dealing group to the Department of Trade and Industry in each month in 1988 was as follows :
|Number
------------------------
January |1
February |1
March |1
April |1
May |1
June |2
July |2
August |2
September |1
October |2
November |9
December |2
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the European co- ordinating regulations on insider trading.
Mr. Redwood : The EC Council of Ministers unanimously agreed a common position on the draft directive on co-ordinating regulations on insider dealing on 18 July 1989. This common position has now been
Column 516
considered by the European Parliament and the directive is likely to be adopted by the Council of Ministers on13 November. Member states will be required to implement it by 1 June 1992.On 13 September the United Kingdom became the first country to sign the Council of Europe convention on insider trading. Like the directive, the convention provides for co-operation between states that have ratified it but differs from the directive in not setting minimum standards for national regulations.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what circumstances he would now reopen cases referred to him by the Stock Exchange since 1979.
Mr. Redwood : I assume that the hon. Member is referring to possible insider dealing offences. Insider dealing did not become an offence until June 1980.
All cases are considered on their merits. If significant new evidence of a possible offence came to light my right hon. Friend would be prepared to reconsider a case where it had earlier been decided that no further action was appropriate.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the Government's policy towards granting the Stock Exchange powers of prosecution for cases of insider dealing.
Mr. Redwood : Clause 195 of the Companies Bill provides for the Secretary of State to consent to the bringing of prosecutions in respect of insider dealing offences by persons or bodies other than himself. It is intended to use this power to consent to such prosecutions by the International Stock Exchange in suitable cases.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest figure for the numbers employed in his Department to investigate cases of insider dealing.
Mr. Redwood : Most investigations into possible insider dealing offences are undertaken by inspectors appointed under section 177 of the Financial Services Act. There are currently 32 such inspectors, of whom one is an official of the Department. There is in my Department a unit of six staff, whose main task is to consider possible insider dealing cases for investigation by inspectors, to liaise with such inspectors and to follow up inspectors' reports. In addition, lawyers from solicitors branch give advice and conduct prosecutions as necessary. They are supported by professional investigation officers who are involved as needed.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of cases of suspected insider dealing where proceedings for prosecution were instituted by his Department in each year since 1979.
Mr. Redwood : Insider dealing did not become a criminal offence until 23 June 1980. Since then the number of cases of suspected insider dealing offences where proceedings for prosecutions were instituted by the Department of Trade and Industry in each year is as follows :
Column 517
|Number
----------------------
<1>1980 |0
1981 |1
1982 |1
1983 |1
1984 |0
1985 |0
1986 |2
1987 |3
1988 |3
<2>1989 |7
<1>From 23 June 1980.
<2>To date.
Prosecutions for insider dealing offences have also been instituted by other prosecuting authorities.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of insider dealing referred by the Stock Exchange to his Department have been reopened since the passage of the Financial Services Act 1986.
Ferranti
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the Coopers Lybrand interim report on the current Ferranti situation.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 2 November 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
No. This is a matter for the Ferranti board which commissioned the report.
THE ARTS
Libraries (Model Byelaws)
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make it his policy that paragraph 4 of the model byelaws for library authorities issued by his Department will not be used as justification for excluding people with physical disabilities, mental handicaps or AIDS from entering and using libraries.
Mr. Luce : Model byelaw 4 was intended to give library authorities the power to exclude from public libraries persons who are offensively unclean or suffering from infectious or contagious diseases. Application of the byelaw is at the discretion of library officers and they, I believe, in exercising their power, act reasonably and with justification in the interests of all the users of the library.
Mr. Hannam : To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from disability organisations regarding the model byelaws for library authorities issued by his office.
Mr. Luce : Within the last two years the only representation I have received has been from the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation about the public libraries' discretion to admit powered wheelchairs and library users with infectious or contagious diseases.
Mr. Hannam : To ask the Minister for the Arts when he proposes to revise the model byelaws issued to library authorities.
Column 518
Mr. Luce : I shall consider the need for a revision of the model byelaws after secondary legislation arising from the Local Government and Housing Bill 1989 is complete.
Mr. Hannam : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether the model byelaws issued by his Department for use by library authorities permit libraries to refuse admission to disabled people using powered wheelchairs ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Luce : Model byelaws allow local authorities, in framing their own byelaws, to regulate the use of their facilities and the conduct of persons in premises where these facilities are provided. Model byelaw 5 specifies that the consent of a library officer is required before a wheeled vehicle, other than an invalid chair, can be brought into a library. The model byelaw allows library authorities to limit the exception to hand-propelled invalid chairs. I believe that, where library authorities have chosen to give the library officers the power to exclude powered wheelchairs, this is done reasonably and with due consideration to the circumstances that prevail in the library at that time.
Non-professional Arts
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts how much his Department currently spends in supporting the non-professional arts.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 6 November 1989] : The Office of Arts and Libraries does not fund arts organisations directly : that is the responsibility of the Arts Council and the Regional Arts Associations. The council's policy is not to fund amateur activities which, by their nature, are largely self-supporting. It does provide professional support to some amateur activity, as well as funding festivals and other events which may include some amateur work, but it is not possible to cost this accurately.
EC Culture
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the competence of the European Community in cultural matters.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 6 November 1989] : The Treaty of Rome makes no specific provision regarding culture as such, although there is a reference in article 36 to the protection of national treasures.
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts what assessment he has made of the cultural dimension of the policies of the European Community.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 6 November 1989] : The meetings of the European Ministers responsible for cultural matters provide a useful opportunity to work together and exchange information on matters of mutual interest.
Arts Budget
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts what evidence he has that national arts companies and organisations are budgeting for a deficit.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 6 November 1989] : My attention has been drawn to the difficulties that some arts
Column 519
organisations have encountered as a result of price movements and other developments. The Arts Council expects those organisations to take account of these factors in setting their budgets for the coming year.Sale Room Prices
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts what his Department estimates is the rise in inflation of sale room prices for works of art over the past 10 years.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 6 November 1989] : Based on information available for the period September 1979--July 1989 the rise in prices is as follows :
|Percentage increase
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Master Paintings |266
19th Century European Paintings |254
Impressionist Paintings |974
Modern Paintings |880
Continental Ceramics |138
Chinese Ceramics |204
English Silver |188
Continental Silver |165
French and Continental Furniture |169
English Furniture |314
Aggregate |396
Tate in the North
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his latest estimate of the cost of opening all floors of the Tate in the North, at Liverpool.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 6 November 1989] : The development of the Tate gallery, Liverpool was planned in two phases. The second phase, which includes the conversion of a fourth floor, is estimated to cost £3 million at 1988 prices. The Tate gallery is raising these funds from the private sector.
School Visits
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his latest estimate of the fall in visits by school parties to (a) theatres and (b) museums.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 6 November 1989] : I am currently monitoring the information available with the help of the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Arts Council.
Column 520
Ministers of Culture
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will list the meetings of the European Ministers of Culture that (a) he and (b) his predecessor Ministers have attended to represent officially Her Majesty's Government since 1979.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 6 November 1989] :
(a) I have attended the following meetings as Minister for the Arts :
EC Ministers of Culture Brussels -20 December 1985
EC Ministers of Culture Amsterdam -13 June 1986
EC Ministers of Culture Brussels -12-14 November 1986
Council of Europe 5th Conference of -15-17 September 1987 European Culture Ministers, Sintra
EC Ministers of Culture Copenhagen -10-11 December 1987 EC Ministers of Culture Brussels -27 May 1988
EC Ministers of Culture Athens 28-30 November 1988
EC Ministers of Culture Santiago de -30-31 March 1989
Compostela
EC Ministers of Culture Brussels -17-18 May 1989
EC Ministers of Culture Blois -2 November 1989
(b) I regret that full information concerning my predecessors' attendances at the meetings concerned is not readily available.
| Next Section
| Home Page |