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Mr. Forth : I visited the Consumers' Association on 6 February 1989 and a number of current issues relevant to consumers were discussed.
EC Ministers
44. Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet his European Economic Community counterparts ; and what subjects will be discussed.
63. Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet his European Economic Community counterparts ; and what subjects will be discussed.
109. Mr. Bidwell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet his European Economic Community counterparts ; and what subjects will be discussed.
Mr. Redwood : I continue to keep in close contact with my EC counterparts on a whole range of matters.
Industrial Development
45. Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has met the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss the financing of industrial development.
107. Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has met the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss the financing of industrial development.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Yes. I find it most helpful to discuss industrial financing and other matters of mutual interest with the governor from time to time.
Privatisation
48. Mr. Lee : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have been returned to the private sector by his Department since 1979.
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Mr. Redwood : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 9 January at columns 517-18. My Department has primary responsibility for returning seven companies to the private sector.Product Warranties
49. Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is considering taking to ensure that products carry effective warranties.
95. Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is considering taking to ensure that products carry effective warranties.
99. Mr. Watson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is considering taking to ensure that products carry effective warranties.
Mr. Forth : The issue is being considered in the context of the private Member's Bill on consumer guarantees being put forward by the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones). The Government are considering their position on the Bill and will make a statement in due course. The Government's concerns about the implications of the Bill are already on record.
Textiles
50. Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which issues he will raise in relation to the international trade in textiles when he next meets his European Economic Community counterparts.
Mr. Redwood : The main issues for discussion with European Community colleagues will be the further development of the Community's position in the GATT Uruguay round negotiations on the return of trade in textiles and clothing to strengthened GATT rules. Discussion will be likely to focus on the method of phasing out the MFA after the current arrangements expire next year and the parallel strengthening of GATT rules and disciplines. These issues were fully debated in the House on 12 January 1990.
57. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in the textile industry.
88. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in the textile industry.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Latest available figures show that imports of textiles (SITC division 65) exceeded exports by £1,576 million in the 12 months to November 1989.
Hosiery and Knitwear
51. Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the hosiery and knitwear industry in Leicestershire concerning the United Kingdom's trading position in this sector.
Mr. Redwood : The difficulties facing the knitwear industry in Leicestershire were the subject of an Adjournment debate in the House on 12 December 1989.
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They have also been the subject of correspondence and meetings between industry representations and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Trade.Securities and Investments Board
54. Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board ; and what will be discussed.
56. Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board ; and what will be discussed.
69. Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board ; and what will be discussed.
Mr. Redwood : My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss a range of topics concerning the regulation of financial services as frequently as is necessary. No date has been fixed for the next such meeting.
West Germany
55. Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in manufactured goods with West Germany.
120. Mr. Boateng : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in manufactured goods with West Germany.
Mr. Redwood : In 1989 imports of manufactures from the Federal Republic of Germany exceeded United Kingdom exports to that country by £9.6 billion.
Structural Funds
58. Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage British firms to compete for structural funds-related business.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Government attach considerable importance to British firms competing effectively for structural funds-related business. To that end, my Department has organised two major conferences. These have been supplemented by a number of regional events. The Department also offers an information service to United Kingdom business men interested in pursuing opportunities. The more recent conference on 23 November 1989 was timed to coincide with the publication of the approved spending plans for the less developed regions of the Community. I addressed the conference and referred to the need for industry, Government and our diplomatic staff overseas to work together in order to identify the opportunities available. It is the efforts and enterprise of those in the private sector which will then determine how much of this new business is won by Britain.
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Package Holidays
59. Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to introduce any further measures to offer greater consumer protection to people who contract for package holidays and travel arrangements ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : The Government have no imminent plans to introduce further measures in this area. However the common position reached by EC Ministers at the 21-22 December Council on the draft package travel directive portends that consideration will need to be given in due course to its implementation in the United Kingdom. The Asociation of British Travel Agents has already announced that its new codes of practice will take effect during this year.
Consumer Protection
62. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to increase consumer protection.
70. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to increase consumer protection.
73. Mr. Stott : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to increase consumer protection.
Mr. Forth : We intend to improve the protection given to consumers in a number of ways including the introduction of an order under the Prices Act 1974, as amended, on price indications and unit pricing, and changes to other legislation affecting consumers' interests.
Bankruptcies
65. Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest figures for bankruptcies.
Mr. Redwood : During 1989, a total of 8,115 bankruptcy orders were made against individuals.
Exporters
66. Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any new plans to assist British exporters.
83. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any new plans to assist British exporters.
Mr. Redwood : My Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provide through the export initiative a wide range of practical help, advice and support.
It is only a year since my Department announced a significant package of improvements to our export promotion effort to ensure that it meets United Kingdom exporters' needs more effectively. Response to the package has been encouraging and we continue to monitor the performance and relevance of our services to United Kingdom exporters' demands closely.
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Industrial Activity (North-West)
68. Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to meet representatives of the Manchester chamber of commerce and industry to discuss the chamber's recent survey of industrial activity in the north-west.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I was pleased to see the results of the recent survey published by the Manchester chamber of commerce and industry, however I have no plans to meet any of its representatives.
Car Manufacturers
72. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the major car manufacturers ; and what will be discussed.
115. Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the major car manufacturers ; and what will be discussed.
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the major car manufacturers ; and what will be discussed.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Government have regular contacts with the major car manufacturers on a range of issues of interest to the industry. No meetings are currently planned.
CBI Regional Bodies
74. Mr. Allan Roberts : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met a Confederation of British Industry regional body ; and what was discussed.
82. Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met a Confederation of Business Industry regional body ; and what was discussed.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : My Department maintains regular contact with the CBI at all levels on a wide range of matters relating to industry.
C. J. How
77. Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will initiate an investigation under the Companies Acts into the activities of the finance company C. J. How.
Mr. Redwood : No. On 7 November 1989, a bankruptcy order was made in the Cheltenham county court against Mr. Christopher John How, financial consultant, of the Coach House, Winchcombe road, Sedgeberrow, near Evesham. His affairs are under investigation by the Official Receiver pursuant to section 289 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
Departmental Structure
80. Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the future structure of his Department.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans for the reorganisation of his Department.
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Mr. Ridley : I am reviewing various aspects of the work of my Department but have no changes to announce at present.Stock Exchange
81. Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the stock exchange ; and what will be discussed.
110. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the stock exchange ; and what will be discussed.
Mr. Ridley : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) earlier today.
Dixons Group (Takeover Bid)
87. Mr. Franks : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to reach a decision on the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the proposed acquisition of Kingfisher plc of Dixons Group plc.
Mr. Redwood : The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is due to submit its report on the proposed acquisition to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by 27 April this year. The report will be published as soon as is practicable after that. It would be inappropriate to speculate about its possible findings.
Exports
89. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken by his Department to further increase exports.
Mr. Redwood : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 12 February at column 45.
Electrical Goods
92. Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has recently received about competition in the electrical goods sector.
Mr. Redwood : I have received various representations from hon. Members and others about competition issues, including
representations specifically about the proposed acquisition of Dixons Group plc by Kingfisher plc which is currently under investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
Securities Industry (Supervision)
96. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is considering transferring any departmental securities industry supervision functions to the SIB.
Mr. Redwood : I have no plans for any major change in the distribution of powers between my Department and the SIB.
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No-dividend Policy
108. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the effects of a no- dividend policy upon British industry ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : None. Dividend policy is a matter for the directors of individual companies.
Sunderland
112. Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last visited Sunderland ; and what was discussed.
Mr. Ridley : My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry visited Sunderland on 5 October 1989, when he met Tyne and Wear development corporation, Sunderland borough council, the Wearside Opportunity and the Sunderland shipyards campaign committee. My right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster visited Sunderland on three occasions in 1989. On these occasions discussion centred upon NESL and the package of remedial measures, following its closure. My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry was in Newcastle on 25 January and met representatives of Sunderland borough council to discuss these issues.
Regional Aid
113. Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of regional selective assistance.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : An evaluation of regional selective assistance (RSA) by DTI and the Scottish and Welsh Offices was completed last year. Its main conclusions were that offers of RSA made in the evaluation period (1980-84) had assisted the creation or safeguarding of over 1.1 million net job years (or 56,000 permanent jobs) in assisted areas in Great Britain at a cost of some £580 per job year (or £11,600 per job), after taking account of jobs which were not additional and of displacement effects. The report on the evaluation is due to be published by HMSO in the near future.
North East Shipbuilders Limited
114. Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his current plans regarding the facilities of North East Shipbuilders Ltd. ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : British Shipbuilders remains in discussion with the two parties interested in purchasing the assets of North East Shipbuilders Ltd. We are seeking to progress outstanding issues as quickly as possible. I hope these will be resolved soon.
Japanese-owned Industry
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the percentage of manufacturing industry output and employment in Britain which is Japanese owned.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The results of the latest (1987) annual census of production indicate that Japanese-owned
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companies had 0.22 per cent. of employment in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. The figures for gross output and net output respectively were 0.45 per cent. and 0.21 per cent.Petrol
Mr. Grylls : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on petrol ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ridley : I am today publishing the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of petrol by wholesale in the United Kingdom.
The Monopolies and Mergers Commission has concluded that petrol wholesaling is a competitive industry at present. It has found that neither the structure, the practices nor the profits in the industry operate against the public interest. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission has accordingly made no recommendations for change. The supply of petrol is a key part of the nation's economy and a matter of considerable interest to individual consumers. Petrol alone accounts for 3 per cent. of consumer expenditure. Any defects in competition could have serious consequences for the public interest. It is right that issues that have caused public concern should have been subjected to close and careful scrutiny and I am grateful for the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's expert work in carrying out this investigation.
The main findings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are that :
the price of petrol is primarily governed by movements in the underlying price of crude oil and the international market price for petrol, and particularly by their prices on the Rotterdam market ; United Kingdom pump prices are not out of line with those in European countries or movements in consumer prices ;
price rises are not implemented more quickly than price falls ; there is no evidence of collusion between the companies ; petrol exchanges between wholesalers reduce costs to consumers and are pro-competitive ;
petrol company profits on wholesaling have been no more than moderate in recent years and on their downstream operations as a whole they have been low ;
there are no significant barriers to entry to the wholesale market ;
the hypermarkets and independent chains provide strong and growing competition in the retail market, and
most consumers can choose from a range of prices and standards of service.
The Monopolies and Mergers Commission found that a complex monopoly exists in favour of 69 oil companies that supply over 95 per cent. of the market. However, it concludes that the facts found do not operate against the public interest, that no steps are being taken by the monopolists to exploit the situation, and that the market is a competitive one. Since there are no adverse findings in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report, the question of remedies does not arise.
I have received the Director General of Fair Trading's advice on the report. He endorses the overall conclusions the Monopolies and Mergers Commission has reached on the public interest. The director general agrees with the Monopolies and Mergers Commission that future changes could increase the scope for anti-competitive behaviour in the industry. Accordingly he believes that his office should, in three years' time subject to any developments in the meantime, carry out a review of company ownership in the
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industry and an assessment of developments in competition. In the meantime, he will keep under review any major changes which affect conditions of competition in the industry, though without seeking all the further more detailed information suggested by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. I agree that the director general should proceed in this way and I shall keep the House informed of any developments. I accept the analysis in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report and am grateful to the commission for having produced a substantial document reflecting the outcome of a wide-ranging and intensive investigation.Toyota Factory, Derbyshire
Mr. Gerald Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the European Commission is conducting, or proposes to conduct, an investigation into the proposed Toyota factory in Derbyshire.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 12 February 1990] : When the Toyota project was announced in April 1989, the Government informed the European Commission that the company had decided to locate in the United Kingdom without seeking any financial assistance from the Government ; that discussions were in progress between the company and the local authorities in Derbyshire about a possible modest package of local measures ; and that, once the elements of the package had been defined, the Government would consider whether any of them required notification to the Commission under the terms of the Community's rules on state aids to the vehicle sector. My Department has recently told the Commission that in our view the package envisaged included nothing which could be regarded as an aid to Toyota. We have made clear our readiness to meet Commission officials to explain the content of the package and the reasons for our conclusion.
Amateur Radio
Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many complaints concerning abuse on the amateur bands have been received by his Department from the Radio Society of Great Britain ;
(2) how many complaints of abuse on GB 35L, GB 3BM and GB 3NA have been received by his Department ;
(3) what response he has made to the Radio Society of Great Britain with regard to its criticism of amateur radio repeaters in the categories GB 35L, GB 3BM and GB 3NA which are licensed by his Department.
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