House of Commons Hansard Debates for 14 Feb 1990

Post Office

19. Mr. Ted Garrett : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the chairman of the Post Office ; and what was discussed.

40. Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the chairman of the Post Office ; and what was discussed.

84. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the chairman of the Post Office ; and what was discussed.

Mr. Forth : I last met the chairman of the Post Office, Sir Bryan Nicholson, on 11 January. We discussed various matters of mutual interest.

Insider Dealing

20. Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last reviewed the regulations to deal with insider dealing ; and whether he has any plans to bring forward amendments.

39. Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last reviewed the regulations to deal with insider dealing ; and whether he has any plans to bring forward amendments.

Mr. Redwood : As I told the House on 8 December, the Government that day published a consultative document on proposals for changes to the law on insider dealing. A copy is in the Library. I will consider carefully any constructive proposals that may emerge from the consultation.

Product Safety

21. Mr. Graham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is considering to ensure greater product safety.

47. Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is considering to ensure greater product safety.

75. Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is considering to ensure greater product safety.

Mr. Forth : Product safety will continue to be a high priority for my Department. Provision is being made for the collection and analysis of accident statistics, the promotion of effective safety campaigns to raise public awareness, and for comprehensive statutory protection against unsafe goods. The Consumer Protection Act 1987, for example, makes it a criminal offence to supply any consumer product that is not safe. This is supported by specific safety regulations where necessary, and by my approval of specific safety standards, and the promotion of reasonable standards of safety in the marketing of consumer products.

Telephones (Number Displays)

22. Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make it his policy to encourage the telecommunications industry and Oftel to promote the introduction of telephones which display the caller's number.

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Mr. Forth : The provision of calling line identification facilities is primarily a matter for the network operators. I know that the Director General of Telecommunications, Sir Bryan Carsberg, is keeping the position under close review.

Japan

23. Mr. Buchan : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current trade deficit with Japan ; and how much of the deficit is accounted for by manufactured goods.

102. Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current trade deficit with Japan ; and how much of the deficit is accounted for by manufactured goods.

Mr. Redwood : In 1989 the deficit in total visible trade with Japan was £4.8 billion. In the same period the deficit for manufactured goods was £5.0 billion. Last year United Kingdom exports to Japan increased by £525 million to £2.3 billion, an increase of 30 per cent. over 1988.

Technological Standards

24. Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he will be making to the report produced for the European Commission by the university of Louvain in respect of its assessment of the United Kingdom's technological standards ; and if he will make a statement.

93. Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he will be making to the report produced for the European Commission by the university of Louvain in respect of its assessment of the United Kingdom's technological standards ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The report does not actually highlight the United Kingdom's technological backwardness. The Government are well aware of the challenge of 1992 and we have policies in place to help firms in all regions to rise to it.

Trade Deficits

25. Mr. Eadie : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the European Economic Community countries with which the United Kingdom has a manufacturing trade deficit.

61. Mr. Eastham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the European Economic Community countries with which the United Kingdom has a manufacturing trade deficit.

104. Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the European Economic Community countries with which the United Kingdom has a manufacturing trade deficit.

Mr. Redwood : In 1989 the United Kingdom had a manufacturing trade deficit with the following countries :

France

Belgium/Luxembourg

Netherlands

Federal Republic of Germany

Italy

Denmark

Portugal.

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Public Ownership

26. Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the Government's policy as to the circumstances under which they would consider taking an industry or company into public ownership.

37. Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on taking industries or companies into public ownership.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Government's policy is to return industrial and commercial activities to the private sector wherever practicable. I can think of no industry or company now in the private sector which would benefit from nationalisation.

Manufactured Imports

27. Mr. Clelland : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the growth in imports of manufactured goods from the European Community since 1979.

105. Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the growth in imports of manufactured goods from the European Community since 1979.

Mr. Redwood : Imports of manufactured goods from the European Community have risen from £16 billion in 1979 to £52.5 billion in 1989, an increase of £36.5 billion.

Credit Unions

28. Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken to encourage the growth of the credit union movement in inner-city areas ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : My Department has not taken any action to support credit unions in the inner cities.

Information Technology

29. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans to encourage research and development in information technology.

67. Mr. McWilliam : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans to encourage research and development in information technology.

86. Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans to encourage research and development in information technology.

Mr. Forth : DTI policy and arrangements to encourage research and development in information technology were set out in the White Papers "Information Technology" (Cm. 646) and "DTI--the department for Enterprise" (Cm. 278). The Government have no plans to change these arrangements.

Trade Barriers

30. Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to ensure that the European Economic Community does not erect protectionist trade barriers.

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Mr. Redwood : I am against protectionism. I will certainly ensure that any European Community proposals for protectionist trade policy action are rigorously opposed by the United Kingdom.

Monopolies and Mergers Commission

31. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to change the role of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

90. Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to change the role of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

Mr. Ridley : I have no such plans.

Eastern Europe

32. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's balance of trade in manufactures in 1989 with (a) the USSR, (b) East Germany, (c) Poland, (d) Czechoslovakia and (e) Romania.

76. Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's balance of trade in manufactures in 1989 with (a) the USSR, (b) East Germany, (c) Poland, (d) Czechoslovakia and (e) Romania.

Mr. Redwood : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier to the question of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short).

46. Mr. Butterfill : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage increased trade between the United Kingdom and eastern Europe.

85. Mr. Irvine : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department is doing to promote trade and investment by British companies in eastern Europe.

Mr. Redwood : My Department is encouraging business men to look hard at the new commercial opportunities in eastern Europe. DTI Ministers are playing their part both by receiving incoming delegations and by leading business missions themselves. At the end of last year the Minister for Trade and I led business teams to the USSR and Hungary respectively. In the course of the next two months the Secretary of State and I will be taking business men to the USSR, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania whilst the Minister for Trade will be visiting British stands at the Leipzig fair in the GDR. My Department is also encouraging British business to take full advantage of the several United Kingdom, EC and multilateral assistance schemes becoming available to help explore the new opportunities for direct investment, joint ventures and other forms of industrial co-operation.

Financial Institutions (Self-regulation)

33. Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of self- regulation of the financial institutions.

34. Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of self- regulation of the financial institutions.

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98. Mr. Geoffrey Robinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of self-regulation of the financial institutions.

Mr. Redwood : The Securities and Investments Board is responsible for ensuring that the appropriate standard of protection for investors is provided by the self-regulating bodies recognised under the Financial Services Act.

EC Financial Markets

35. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made in discussions within the European Economic Community on the opening up of financial markets throughout the Community.

Mr. Redwood : We are fully committed to the liberalisation of the EC's financial services sector. It is a fundamental element of the single market programme not only because of the beneficial effects of liberalisation which will be passed on to other sectors.

The capital liberalisation directive adopted on 24 June 1988 will enable the free movement of capital across the Community. Remaining exchange controls will be abolished. Many member states have already removed most if not all their controls.

More recent progress includes the adoption of the second banking co- ordination directive on 15 December 1989, which sets out the conditions on which credit institutions (broadly banks and building societies) may establish a branch in, or provide a wide range of cross-border services into, another member state on the basis of home state authorisation. The related solvency ratios directive adopted on 18 December and own funds directive adopted on 17 April set out minimum standards of capital adequacy for credit institutions. The life services directive awaits the opinion of the European Parliament. The directive lays down rules for the writing of life assurance by an insurer established in a member state other than that of the policyholder.

Other measures at an earlier stage of discussion will, when implemented, open further the single market in financial services. The investment services directive will provide a similar single passport for investment firms to that available to banks under the second banking co-ordination directive. The supporting capital adequacy directive has not yet been presented to the Council, but the Commission hopes to propose a draft text in March. Its aim is to set out capital requirements for firms doing investment business. The Commission has recently announced plans for a single licence approach to life and non-life insurance, similar to the single passport concept in the banking and investment service fields.

Manufacturing Industry

36. Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry.

60. Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry.

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71. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry.

103. Mr. Cunliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : My Department maintains regular and frequent contacts with the Confederation of British Industry at all levels on a wide range of matters relating to manufacturing industry.

78. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the prospects for manufacturing industry ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : I have met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry on several occasions recently, and discussed with them matters relevant to the prospects of manufacturing industry.

101. Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the competitiveness of British manufacturing industry.

119. Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the competitiveness of British manufacturing industry.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : Most contacts that my Department has with industry and commerce involve matters having a bearing on United Kingdom competitiveness.

64. Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council to discuss manufacturing industry.

79. Mr. John Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council to discuss manufacturing industry.

106. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council to discuss manufacturing industry.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : I expect to meet the director general of the National Economic Development Office on 4 April, at the next meeting of the National Economic Development Council. The council will discuss several items relevant to manufacturing industry.

Consumer Guarantees Bill

38. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has had from consumer organisations in respect of the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

97. Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has had from consumer organisations in respect of the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

116. Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has had from consumer organisations in respect of the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

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Mr. Forth : There have been representations from various organisations both for and against aspects of the proposal. Unless agreed otherwise with the parties concerned, these representations have been made in confidence and it would be inappropriate to name the organisations or to indicate the interests they represent.

100. Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations he has received for or against the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

117. Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations he has received for or against the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

Mr. Forth : There have been numerous representations both for and against various aspects of the proposal. Unless agreed otherwise with the parties concerned, these representations have been made in confidence and it would be inappropriate to list them.

Technology (Co-operation)

41. Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to submit new proposals for co-operation in technology within the conference on security and co-operation in Europe process at the forthcoming conference on economic co-operation in Europe to be held in Bonn on 19 March to 11 April.

Mr. Redwood : It is intended that proposals by the 12 member states of the European Community will be co-ordinated at Community level, but we will be considering whether or not to propose any separate national initiatives to complement the Community's efforts.

1992

42. Mr. Allen Adams : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the European Commission to discuss the implications of 1992 for British industry.

52. Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the European Commission to discuss the implications of 1992 for British industry.

Mr. Redwood : I continue to keep in close contact with the EC Commission across a broad range of issues.

118. Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent by his Department on awareness- raising about the implications of the single European market among British businesses ; and if he will launch a survey of how many British companies are aware of the implications of 1992.

Mr. Redwood : Expenditure to date on the DTI's "Europe Open for Business" campaign to encourage businesses to prepare for the single market is £13.6 million. A weekly survey of business attitudes to the single market amongst firms employing 10 or more people is already undertaken on behalf of DTI. A hundred different firms are surveyed each week. The results show that business awareness of the single market is in excess of 95 per cent. Some 50 per cent. of firms are currently taking action to prepare themselves for the single market.

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94. Mr. Ingram : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the most recent assessment that his Department has made of the effects upon British industry of the completion of the European single market in 1992.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The single market will provide enormous opportunities and challenges to firms in all parts of the United Kingdom. The overall impact will depend on how individual firms respond. About 50 per cent. of firms throughout the United Kingdom are now taking action to prepare for the single market and a further 10 per cent. are considering action.

Consumers' Association

43. Mr. Orme : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Consumers' Association ; and what was discussed.

91. Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Consumers' Association ; and what was discussed.

111. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Consumers' Association ; and what was discussed.

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