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Student Loans
Mr. Sedgemore : To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to discuss the future of the scheme for student loans with the chairman of Barclays bank.
Mr. Sedgemore : To ask the Prime Minister if she will dismiss the Secretary of State for Education and Science for his conduct in relation to the banks' decision to pull out of the student loan scheme ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : No. I was very disappointed that the banks decided to react to external pressure and withdrew from the memorandum of understanding with the Government to administer the student loans scheme. It is the students themselves who will now not have the benefit of access to the banks' branch networks to obtain the loans. But the banks' withdrawal does not affect in any way the objectives, principles or funding of the scheme. Preparatory work is well in hand.
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Mr. Sedgemore : To ask the Prime Minister if the Government have any plans to take fiscal or other action against those banks which pulled out of the Government scheme for student loans ; and if she will make a statement.The Prime Minister : The Government have expressed strong disappointment at the banks' withdrawal from the memorandum of understanding : at no stage has there been any question of action against the banks.
Hong Kong (Ivory Stocks)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons responsibility for the Hong Kong ivory stock rests with the Foreign and Commonwealth office.
The Prime Minister : Matters related to the CITES Convention are the prime responsibility of the Department of the Environment. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for questions arising from the administration of Hong Kong as a dependent territory.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Footwear
Mr. Fry : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he intends to take to reduce the current imbalance of tariff and non- tariff barriers in footwear trade with (a) Thailand, (b) Brazil, (c) Australia, (d) India and (e) Japan.
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Mr. Redwood : We and our Community partners fully support the objectives of the Uruguary round of multilateral trade negotiations in GATT, which include the specific aim of reduction or elimination by all participants of high tariffs and non-tariff measures. The European Commission negotiates for the Community in GATT. It has details of all the concerns expressed to us by the United Kingdom footwear industry, and these will be carefully taken into account in formulating the Community's position in these negotiations.
Trade Surplus
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report , a table showing in dollars for each year since 1985, and for 1989 to the latest available date at an annual rate, the trade surplus in manufactures and the balance of payments surplus for Japan, Germany, the United States of America and the United Kingdom with the world, the EEC and the United Kingdom.
Mr. Redwood : The available information is in the tables. Care should be exercised in comparing trade balances in manufactures with current account balances because of inconsistencies in valuation. The figures for 1989 relate to the periods shown because annualised figures can be unreliable as a guide to the outturn for the year.
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Table 2 Balance of payments US $ billion |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |January to |September ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Japan with: World |49.2 |85.8 |87.0 |79.6 |46.7 European Community |8.0 |14.8 |17.7 |19.8 |n.a. United Kingdom |0.3 |1.5 |2.0 |1.4 |n.a. Federal Republic of Germany with: World |15.2 |35.2 |45.1 |48.5 |44.4 European Community |-0.4 |9.9 |18.7 |25.4 |n.a. United Kingdom |3.2 |7.3 |10.5 |14.0 |n.a. United States of America with: World |-115.1 |-133.2 |-143.7 |-126.5 |-85.2 European Community |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. United Kingdom |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. United Kingdom with: World |4.2 |0.1 |-6.0 |-26.0 |-25.8 European Community |-4.1 |-13.6 |-21.0 |-29.1 |n.a. n.a.=not available. Sources: OECD and national statistics.
Table 2 Balance of payments US $ billion |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |January to |September ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Japan with: World |49.2 |85.8 |87.0 |79.6 |46.7 European Community |8.0 |14.8 |17.7 |19.8 |n.a. United Kingdom |0.3 |1.5 |2.0 |1.4 |n.a. Federal Republic of Germany with: World |15.2 |35.2 |45.1 |48.5 |44.4 European Community |-0.4 |9.9 |18.7 |25.4 |n.a. United Kingdom |3.2 |7.3 |10.5 |14.0 |n.a. United States of America with: World |-115.1 |-133.2 |-143.7 |-126.5 |-85.2 European Community |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. United Kingdom |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. United Kingdom with: World |4.2 |0.1 |-6.0 |-26.0 |-25.8 European Community |-4.1 |-13.6 |-21.0 |-29.1 |n.a. n.a.=not available. Sources: OECD and national statistics.
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Accounting
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he has asked the accountancy profession to develop any standard on price level accountancy ;
(2) whether he has any plans to introduce a system of current value accounting for company accounts.
Mr. Redwood : The Government support the new accounting standards arrangements recommended by the Dearing committee in 1988, including the creation of a Financial Reporting Council and an Accounting Standards Board. In determining the work programme of the board, the council will no doubt take note of the existing commitment of the Accounting Standards Committee to explore effective means of developing a standard on accounting for the effects of changing prices.
Accountancy Firms
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make it his policy not to appoint inspectors from firms of accountants which have been criticised in inspectors' reports.
Mr. Redwood : No. My right hon. Friend will continue to appoint competent inspectors.
Export Services
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will supply figures for spending by his Department on export services, in constant prices, for each year since 1979.
Mr. Redwood : The following figures show gross and net expenditure by the Department on export services in constant price terms :
£ million (1979-80 prices) |Gross |Net Year |expenditure |expenditure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1979-80 |25.7 |21.2 1980-81 |19.5 |15.8 1981-82 |19.4 |15.4 1982-83 |21.0 |16.6 1983-84 |20.8 |15.5 1984-85 |<1>24.6 |<1>18.8 1985-86 |<2>24.6 |<2>17.4 1986-87 |24.6 |15.5 1987-88 |<3>23.4 |<3>14.7 1988-89 |<4>25.4 |<4>16.6
All figures have been converted using the implied GDP factor cost deflator.
Car Exports
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received assurances from each member state of the EEC that they will permit the import, without restriction, of cars produced in the United Kingdom by firms in Japanese ownership ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ridley : The European Commission received an assurance from the French Government in April last year that cars produced in Sunderland by Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd. would be allowed to enter France without restriction and quite independently of the level of car imports into France from Japan.
No member state currently restricts in any way the import of cars produced in the United Kingdom.
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The Commission has suggested that, during the transitional period over which it envisages that existing restrictions on imports of cars from Japan should be phased out, it may be necessary to take into account in some way the production of cars by Japanese-owned firms in the EC. The Government have made it clear that there is no question of the United Kingdom accepting any arrangement in which cars produced by Japanese-owned firms in the United Kingdom, or anywhere other than Japan, count towards ceilings on imports from Japan.Japanese Car Imports
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the purpose of the voluntary restraint arrangement which limits Japanese car imports to 10.8 per cent. of the United Kingdom market ; when it was introduced ; and if he will now take steps to remove it.
Mr. Ridley : The voluntary restraint arrangement on imports of cars from Japan came into operation in 1975 following discussions between the vehicle industries of the United Kingdom and Japan.
The Government will consider the future of the arrangement within the context of Community-wide moves toward liberalisation of the European car market.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what restrictions are imposed on the import of Japanese cars by each member of the EEC ; and if the EEC has any plans to remove these restrictions.
Mr. Ridley : In addition to the United Kingdom industry's arrangement, France has an unofficial limit on Japanese penetration of the market. There are formal quotas in Italy, Portugal and Spain. Although the Commission has not yet put forward detailed proposals, it envisages that restrictions should be phased out progressively over a transitional period which would extend beyond 1992.
Financial Services
Mr. Grylls : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the directives on financial services which have been issued by the European Communities in the last year and the directives that are still required to be issued during the next six months to achieve a fair competitive environment in such services in the member countries.
Mr. Redwood : The second banking co-ordination directive, the solvency ratios directive, the own funds directive, the insider dealing directive, the bank branches directive and the prospectus directive have been adopted by the Council of Ministers in the last year.
The investment services directive, the life insurance services directive, the directive on the annual accounts of insurance undertakings, the motor insurance services directive, the third motor insurance directive and the mutual recognition directive (of stock exchange listing particulars) might be adopted by the end of 1990. The Commission has indicated its intention to submit to the Council of Ministers during 1990 texts of a capital adequacy directive for investment business, a non-life insurance framework directive and of a life insurance framework directive.
Adoption by Council of these further directives would represent important progress towards completion of the
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single market through a fair competitive environment in financial services. The investment services and insurance directives are especially important to British businesses wanting to do business on the continent of Europe.Environmental Technology
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to meet the Ministers for Planning and the Environment of the Soviet Union to discuss opportunities for the sale of environmental clean-up and pollution abatement technology developed in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 19 January 1990] : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is planning to visit the Soviet Union in the near future and will discuss all the main commercial opportunities available with Soviet Ministers during his visit.
Consumer Protection
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has indicating the percentage of the population supporting a change in legislation to strengthen consumer protection.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 19 January 1990] : No such information is available.
Consumer Guarantees
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received from bodies opposed to the definition of a consumer guarantee in legislation ; and how many of these bodies did not give evidence on the subject to the National Consumer Council.
Mr. Forth : A formal public consultation exercise has not been undertaken, but, following publication of the National Consumer Council report "The Consumer Guarantee", representations have been made both for and against the proposed overall approach and on various detailed aspects. It would be inappropriate to quantify the bodies involved in the same way as it would be to name them, since their views have been expressed in confidence.
Juno Project
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline progress in raising funds for the Juno project ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 19 January 1990 : The Juno project is being financed entirely by the private sector. While I wish it every success, Her Majesty's Government are not a sponsor and the hon. Member will need to seek the information he wishes from the project organisers.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Brazilian Rain Forests
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit to Brazil of Dr. Synott of the Oxford Forestry
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Institute in November/December 1989, to discuss details of projects in sustainable forestry management and genetic resources of forests ; and when such projects are likely to begin.Mrs. Chalker : During this visit a number of possible projects were discussed with Brazilian institutions. These included the Tapajos forest management project, a tropical forest research project, a project to assist biological research in the Ducke reserve and a Varzea (floodplain forest) management study. Project proposals are currently being prepared for ODA consideration which will need to be cleared with the Brazilian Government. Implementation of these projects could begin in the second quarter of this year. Proposals for further projects are awaited from Brazil.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether work has begun on the joint five-year project by Brazilian scientific institutions and the Institute of Hydrology to improve knowledge of the critical effect of rainforests on climate ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Chalker : We have submitted a detailed proposal for this project to the Brazilian Government for their agreement. While we understand that the proposal is generally acceptable to the Government, we still await confirmation of their agreement to proceed. We hope to receive this within the next few weeks, in time to allow the participating institutions to start the first field season in July as planned.
Cambodia
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to Cambodia by officials of the Overseas Development Administration.
Mrs. Chalker : During their visit to Cambodia officials identified a number of areas for potential ODA support, in co-operation with British non -governmental organisations and multilateral agencies. These included priority sectors such as food production, primary education and health care. There are also increasing opportunities for NGOs to extend their activities beyond Phnom Penh into the provinces. Severe skill shortages among Cambodians could be alleviated by the provision of volunteer experts (VSO) and by appropriate technical training. The ODA is actively discussing possible projects with the NGOs. In addition, as I announced in answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 8 January, I am making available a further £1 million to multilateral agencies for their programmes inside Cambodia in 1990-91.
Ethiopia
Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation on the famine in Ethiopia ; and what steps the Government have taken to alleviate starvation.
Mrs. Chalker : The international relief effort continues to be hampered by the civil conflict in northern Ethiopia. The most pressing need is to secure free access for relief supplies across the battle lines. We have been active in recent diplomatic efforts to try and secure this. It was
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reported on 18 January that agreement had been reached between the Ethiopian Government and the joint relief partnership of local church organisations on the necessary arrangements, but further details are awaited. We are meanwhile continuing to provide food and other emergency aid via British non-governmental organisations. The total value of our food and emergency aid in 1989 was nearly £18.5 million, including our share of the cost of assistance provided by the European Community.Aid
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the proportion of gross national product given in aid by British Governments to developing countries, excluding commercial aid packages, in 1975, 1978, 1983, 1985 and 1989.
Mrs. Chalker : The aid and trade provision has been an integral part of Britain's aid programme since its inception. However, excluding aid reported to the development assistance committee of the OECD under the heading "Grants and Loans included in Associated Financing Packages", the figures are :
- |per cent. ------------------------------1975 |<1>0.35 1978 |0.45 1983 |0.33 1985 |0.31 <1> No associated financing was reported in 1975. The figure for 1989 is not yet available.
Britain's bilateral aid programme finances sound development projects and programmes of benefit to the recipient country. The bulk of it is tied to the procurement of British goods and services.
Forestry
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits he plans to make in order to evaluate the effectiveness of Britain's support for sustainable forestry projects.
Mrs. Chalker : I plan to visit East Africa and India in the spring. I expect to discuss our ongoing and planned forestry assistance during both these visits. The subject will also be covered during other visits later in the year.
WALES
Uniform Business Rate
14. Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the overall expected change in rateable values in Wales as a result of the publication of the provisional list of revised valuations for the uniform business rate.
Mr. Peter Walker : Rateable value of business properties in Wales have increased by a factor of 8.4 overall.
Mr. Coleman : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the operation of the uniform business rate in Wales and its effect upon small business.
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Mr. Peter Walker : I have received a number of representations.Rechem
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a further statement on the arrangements for the incineration of toxic waste at the Rechem plant.
Mr. Grist : My right hon. Friend has been assured by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution that the plant is operating to current requirements.
Welsh Language Board
19. Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reponse he has made to the proposals of the Welsh Language Board for a new Welsh Language Act.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend is considering the proposals.
River Pollution 20. Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from bodies concerned about river pollution in (a) Clwyd and (b) Wales.
Mr. Grist : We have received a number of representations from organisations through Wales.
Health Authorities
21. Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet the chairmen of the health authorities ; and what matters he proposes to discuss.
Mr. Grist : The date and agenda for the next meeting have not yet been agreed.
Ambulance Service
22. Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of the ambulance services in Wales ; and when he plans to meet them again.
Mr. Grist : My right hon. Friend met a group of ambulance men during a visit to Merthyr on 7 November, while I talked to members of the Clwyd service in December. There are no plans for any further meetings.
Water Privatisation
23. Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the shares in the recently privatised Welsh Water share flotation was allocated to applicants resident in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on Tuesday 19 December.
Ronald Greedy
25. Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the decision to transfer Ronald Greedy to Whitchurch hospital, the basis on which he was accommodated, the physical security arrangements and his subsequent escape.
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Mr. Grist : My officials have already instituted inquiries of the district health authority into the discharge of the conditions which attached to Mr. Greedy's transfer to Whitchurch hospital. I shall write to my hon. Friend when I have considered its advice.
Batteries and Accumulators
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps his Department has taken to promote research aimed a reducing the dangerous substance content and increasing the use of less-polluting substitute substances in batteries and accumulators, and into methods of recycling ;
(2) what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of spent batteries and accumulators in household waste.
Mr. Grist : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Consumer Affairs on Friday 19 January, at column 444.
North Wales Initiative
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors changed during the previous six months which led him to announce his new north Wales initiative in early December.
Mr. Peter Walker : I announced in the Welsh Grand Committee in December 1988 that I had asked the Minister of State to discuss with local authorities and other bodies in north Wales how the opportunities presented by the upgrading of the A55 could best be grasped. These discussions resulted in the document "A55--The Road of Opportunity" which sets out the developments which will take place in the next few years and indicates the decisions and activities required to maximise the potential brought by the road. As I said to the hon. Gentleman in my answer on 26 May a formal initiative for north Wales is unnecessary as existing mechanisms are adequate to allow continued improvement.
National Museum of Wales
Mr. Faulds : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1989 reported by the National Museum of Wales, including its outstations, with the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1988.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : A total of 482,080 people visited the National Museum of Wales during 1989--42 per cent. fewer than the attendance reported for 1988. The difference is largely accounted for by the lower recorded numbers at the main Cathays park museum and, in this connection, I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Members for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells) and for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 6 November 1989. The transfer of responsibility for the former national museum outstation, Yr Hen Gapel, Tre'r Ddol, from 1 January 1989 has also affected the totals.
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Local Government
Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are employed in Welsh local government and what were the corresponding figures for 1970 and 1980.
Mr. Peter Walker : The numbers of persons employed in Welsh local government in 1980 and 1989 are shown in the table. Corresponding information is not available for 1970.
Number of employees as at September |1980 |<1>1989 ----------------------------------------------------Full-time |107,135|99,108 Part-time |46,646 |55,670 Total full-time equivalents |126,100|121,753 <1> Provisional.
Out-patient Clinics
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what number of patients in each county in Wales had to travel distances of (a) over 10 miles, (b) over 20 miles and (c) over 30 miles in order to attend hospital out-patient clinics in 1988 and 1989 ; (2) what percentage of patients in each county in Wales had to travel distances of (a) over 10 miles, (b) over 20 miles and (c) over 30 miles in order to attend hospital out-patient clinics in 1988 and 1989.
Mr. Grist : The information is not available centrally.
Chernobyl
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) holdings and (b) sheep, remain subject to post-Chernobyl movements and sale restrictions in north Wales.
Mr. Peter Walker : Approximately 416 holdings and 300,000 sheep.
Radiation Monitoring
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether his Department has received any correspondence from the Friends of the Earth's radiation monitoring unit about post-Chernobyl contamination in north Wales ; and if he will make a statement. (2) whether his Department will review its sheep monitoring programme in the derestricted area between Bala and Lake Vyrnwy.
Mr. Grist : No correspondence has been received by the Department from the Friends of the Earth's radiation monitoring unit about its recent report about post-Chernobyl contamination in north Wales. The area between Bala and Lake Vyrnwy referred to in the report was derestricted in 1986 and monitoring then and subsequently has shown that radiation levels in sheep are well within the action level of 1, 000 bq/kg.
Llanelli General Hospital
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the new Llanelli general hospital will open.
Mr. Grist : East Dyfed health authority advises that, on current programming expectations, the new Llanelli
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hospital should be open for out-patients at the end of February 1990 and for in-patients towards the end of April 1990.Family Practitioner Committees
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the general managers of family practitioners committees, their qualifications and their date of appointment.
Mr. Grist : All eight family practitioner committees have now appointed general managers. The table indicates the dates on which appointments were or are to be taken up.
Family Practitioner |General Manager |Date of Committee |Appointment ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Gwent |Mr. H. T. Watkins |10 November 1989 Gwynedd |Mr. R. A. Thomas |10 November 1989 Mid Glamorgan |Mr. M. V. Jenkins |1 January 1990 Powys |Mr. R. G. T. Phillips|10 November 1989 South Glamorgan |Mr. B. A. Ruddy |10 November 1989 West Glamorgan |Mr. G. Plunkett |1 December 1989 Clwyd |Mr. C. N. Last |1 May 1990 Dyfed |Mr. J. P. French |1 May 1990
Information about the academic, professional or other qualifications of individual general managers is a matter for each family practitioner committee as the employing body.
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