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Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake to instruct the Inland Revenue to establish criteria for the approval of occupational and personal pensions schemes that provide payments of an amount related to a person's accrued or prospective retirement pension under the scheme, such payments to be made throughout any period in which that person is entitled to the payment of an invalidity pension from the national insurance fund and to cease at the end of that period.
Mr. Major : As I explained in reply to a question from the right hon. Member on 13 February, Official Report, column 128, the main purpose of occupational pension schemes is to provide a pension in retirement. Occupational pension schemes are voluntary arrangements, and, subject to the conditions laid down to obtain exempt status, individual employers are free to determine the range of benefits that they wish to provide. It would not be appropriate to require them to provide benefits of a particular type or amount.
Customs and Excise
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the site or sites for the proposed relocation of Customs and Excise headquarters work from London and the south-east have yet been decided ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : Having fully considered the work of an internal review team on potential relocation sites, together with the views expressed by staff and the departmental trade union side in a consultation exercise, the Paymaster General and the Board of Customs and Excise have decided that Liverpool and the Manchester area should receive the relocated posts. A synopsis report of the work of the internal review team will be placed in the Library.
Accordingly, over the next three to four years, some 1,250 VAT posts will be transferred to Liverpool from Southend whilst the Manchester area will receive about 430 posts from London. In addition, I expect these
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changes to produce significant benefits both in terms of costs and staffing. Accommodation costs in particular will be reduced, and the opportunities for recruitment and retention of staff outside the problem area of the south-east will be substantially improved. At least 1,300 of these jobs will be available for filling locally which will give a boost to the economy of the north-west of England in accordance with the regional and inner city policies of Her Majesty's Government.In addition, as part of the phased relocation exercise, a further 250 or so existing posts will be transferred from London to Southend to offset the 1,250 posts being moved to Liverpool.
Soviet Rouble
Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when he last met his Soviet counterpart, he discussed the status of the rouble ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Ryder [holding answer 27 February 1990] : Since becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend has not met his Soviet counterpart. A new rouble exchange rate for tourism and business travel was announced in October 1989.
Taxation
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average individual cumulative gain (a) in current prices, (b) in 1988-89 prices and (c) in 1990-91 prices to those earning £5,000, £10,000, £15,000, £20,000, £25,000, £30,000, £40,000, £50,000, £60, 000 and £70,000 as a result of changes in taxation and national insurance since 1979.
Mr. Lilley [pursuant to his answer of 20 February 1990, Official Report, column 680] : I regret that one of the two tables relating to my answer was omitted. This is as follows :
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1989-90 Income Tax and NIC Liability Compared with 1978-79 Indexed Regions
Average Change Per Tax Unit Liable (+increase, -reduction) and Percentage Changes
Income Income Tax National Insurance Income Tax and National
Contributions Insurance Contributions
|Average |Percentage |Average |Percentage |Average |Percentage
|change |change |change
£ per annum |£ per annum |£ per annum |£ per annum
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 5,000 |-120 |-39.9 |-70 |-31.4 |-150 |-36.9
5,000-10,000 |-330 |-28.6 |+20 |+4.6 |-310 |-21.4
10,000-15,000 |-650 |-28.5 |+120 |+19.2 |-550 |-19.4
15,000-20,000 |-950 |-27.7 |+240 |+30.2 |-730 |-17.5
20,000-25,000 |-1,330 |-27.7 |+330 |+37.6 |-1,030 |-18.3
25,000-30,000 |-1,830 |-28.2 |+380 |+42.0 |-1,470 |-20.0
30,000-40,000 |-2,640 |-27.9 |+450 |+45.6 |-2,220 |-21.4
40,000-50,000 |-4,590 |-30.4 |+490 |+49.1 |-4,150 |-25.9
50,000-60,000 |-7,300 |-34.0 |+490 |+48.3 |-6,870 |-30.6
60,000-70,000 |-10,690 |-37.4 |+480 |+48.4 |-10,260 |-34.8
Over 70,000 |-32,630 |-46.6 |+470 |+48.1 |-32,220 |-45.5
|---- |---- |---- |---- |---- |----
All |-1,080 |-31.6 |+150 |+24.1 |-930 |-24.3
-------
Total tax units liable
(million) |22.6 |19.5 |23.3
Total change (£ billion) |-24.5 |+2.8 |-21.7
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Accountancy Firms
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the eight inspectors mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 27 November 1989, Official Report, column 92 ;
(2) if he will name the accountancy firms mentioned in his reply of 27 November 1989, Official Report, column 92 ; and how much money has been paid to them by his Department.
Mr. Forth : Details are as follows :
Name of Inspector |Firm of Accountants ------------------------------------------------------------ Mr. M. G. Lickiss |Grant Thornton Mr. A. Ridler |Pannell Kerr Foster Mr. H. G. C. Aldous |Robson Rhodes Mr. D. L. Spence |Grant Thornton Mr. M. D. Boohan |Grant Thornton Mr. J. R. Venning |Robson Rhodes Mr. J. C. Morton |Price Waterhouse Mr. A. Sutton |Price Waterhouse
The total of moneys paid by my Department to the accountancy firms mentioned could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to legislate to ensure that the accountancy firms who act as auditors should derive more than 50 per cent. of their income from audits.
Legal Advisers
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dover of 15 February, Official Report, column 391, if he will name the legal advisers referred to ; and if he will publish the text of their letter giving the assurances that certain activities had ceased.
Mr. Ridley : No. It is not my practice to reveal the contents of confidential correspondence.
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Companies Act 1989
Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further plans he has to commence the provisions of the Companies Act 1989.
Mr. Redwood : On Monday I signed two orders ; one of which commences most of part I (company accounts) of the Act, and certain provisions of part V (appointment and removal of auditors, and written and elective resolutions, amongst others) ; the other commences most of part VIII (amendments of the Financial Services Act 1986) and transfers functions under the Financial Services Act to the Securities and Investments Board. The dates of commencement are 1 April 1990 for the relevant provisions of parts I and V, and 15 March 1990 for part VIII. The orders provide for various transitional and saving provisions ; the provisions in part I relating to preparation and delivery of company accounts will apply only to accounts for financial years starting after 22 December 1989. I have placed copies of the orders in the Library.
Task Forces
Mr. William Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to make any changes to the location of inner city task forces ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Government's inner city task forces have proved highly successful in creating jobs, encouraging training opportunities and stimulating enterprise in the country's most deprived areas. Today, I have published a report, "Task Forces In Action" which shows how task forces are helping to achieve the Government's aim of regenerating the inner cities. Since they began, task forces have committed some £49 million to over 1,700 projects to help the people of inner city communities.
The task force budget for 1990-91 will be £23.2 million, representing an increase of approximately 21 per cent. on this year's budget. I have today given approval for some 59 further task force projects involving funding of over £2 million.
Task forces have always been part of a rolling programme, tackling difficult areas and then moving on. I am delighted to be able to announce that I have decided to establish two new task forces : one in the Wirral, one in Derby.
I am also extending the existing task force, in north Kensington, into a part of the neighbouring borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. These task forces will work closely with the business community and with the local authority to improve the job and training opportunities for those in their area. They will all be starting their work as soon as possible.
The two new task forces, like the existing ones, are not intended to be permanent. One of their aims is to foster the development of local organisations which can capitalise on the task force work when the task forces themselves leave.
The task forces in Doncaster and Rochdale have now made significant progress in meeting those objectives, and I have consequently decided that they should close in the autumn. In the meantime, they will continue to build up the capacity of local bodies to take over their work in the future.
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A number of important new projects by these task forces are among those I have announced today, and they will continue to welcome new proposals until the end of April 1990. Funding will also continue to be provided for a limited number of projects after the closure of the task forces.I can also add that, over recent months, I have made 44 offers of regional selective assistance totalling over £17 million, which could create or safeguard over 3,200 jobs--most of them new ones--in inner city areas.
Multi-fibre Arrangement
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that any phasing-out of the multifibre arrangement is based on the principle of equal opportunities for all the producing nations.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 23 February 1990] : The EC is committed in GATT to phasing out the MFA after its expiry next year if a satisfactory overall deal can be reached which benefits the EC as a whole. The United Kingdom has made it clear that the MFA cannot be looked at in isolation and that among other things there must must be a greater commitment to market opening especially from newly industrialised economies. We are convinced that equal opportunities for all trading partners can best be achieved by the development of a more open, viable and durable trading system, pursued multilaterally under the aegis of GATT.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the cost to his Department of answering questions tabled by the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) since 1 December 1989.
Mr. Ridley [holding answer 27 February 1990] : The hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) has tabled in excess of 160 questions to my Department since 1 December 1989. Detailed information about the cost of providing each answer is not recorded, but the total cost to the Department has probably been between £10, 000 and £20,000.
Shipbuilding
Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ask the United Kingdom permanent representative in Brussels to seek clarification as to whether the guidance given by Sir Leon Brittan in his letter of 15 February to the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) represents the considered view of the European Commission.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 27 February 1990] : Sir Leon Brittan makes clear in his letter of 15 February that the views expressed do not represent the definitive position of the Commission. That could only be given on the basis of a specific proposal put forward by Her Majesty's Government. The letter did, however, provide a sufficiently clear indication of the Commission's thinking alongside which we could judge our own consideration of the merits or otherwise of the proposals concerned. In particular, Sir Leon Brittan has made clear that were we to notify now proposals predicated on the resumption of
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shipbuilding at NESL, that would cause the Commission to reconsider all aspects of the December 1988 notification, including its decision on the enterprise zone. The Government have always made it clear that that is not something we would be prepared to risk.Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library any notes from officials arising from discussions between officials of his Department and officials of the European Commission concerning the future of NESL between 22 February 1988 and the present time.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 27 February 1990] : No. Such notes are confidential. Contacts with the Commission on this matter were explained in a note placed in the Library on 24 July 1989 by my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton) ; in a letter I wrote to the Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee on 10 October 1989 ; in the evidence I gave to the Trade and Industry Committee on 18 October 1989 ; and in the statement I made to the House on 20 February 1990.
Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the specific reasons why the bid by Mr. Nat Puri to acquire NESL in 1988 was rejected.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 27 February 1990] : I refer to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton) on 14 November 1988, Official Report, column 748.
Wood
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the United Kingdom's trade deficit for wood and wood products during 1989 ; and what proportion of it was constituted by hardwood.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 27 February 1990] : The crude trade deficit in wood and wood products was £5,898 million in 1989 ; the proportion represented by hardwood was 5 per cent.
Moss Side and Hulme Task Force
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of spending undertaken by the Moss Side and Hulme task force since its inception including projects assisted, number of jobs created or estimated for each project, and cost per job.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 27 February 1990] : Since its launch in 1986, the Moss Side and Hulme task force has supported 96 projects with a total committed spend of around £3.5 million. The projects have also drawn in some £5 million other public spending and around £1 million from the private sector. Total jobs achieved to date are 524, together with 475 businesses supported and 1,942 training places provided. A cost per job figure is not available, mainly because project funding may be directed towards several objectives of which job provision is only one. I will write to the hon. Member with details of projects involving job creation.
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if participation in employment training is a necessary condition for assistance by the Moss Side and Hulme task force ; and if any reference is made to such conditions to applicants.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 27 February 1990] : No. However, projects that the task force considers for assistance must demonstrate clearly that they will offer economic benefits by way of employment or training opportunities for task force residents, and/or encouragement for local enterprise. Employment training is an obvious choice for projects involving training and is used wherever possible. All applicants are made aware of this.
PRIME MINISTER
Royal Society Lecture
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if she willseek to obtain a transcript of the lecture on the environment by Dr. Martin Holdgate given at the Royal Society on 26 February for her Office's library.
The Prime Minister : I have seen the transcript of the lecture by Dr. Holdgate and I understand my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be placing a copy in the House Library.
Community Charge
Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop : To ask the Prime Minister whether, in respect of England, any one Minister has the duty of recording, both individually and cumulatively, the additional costs falling to be paid by community charge resulting from obligations laid on local authorities pursuant to new Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments and departmental circulars.
The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment monitors the costs of all central Government initiatives which are likely to have resource implications for local authorities. In assessing the level of total standard spending appropriate for a particular year, we take full account of new burdens on local authorities and the scope for savings.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Treaty of Rome (Revision)
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what comment or dissent was offered by the United Kingdom to the decision of the European Community General Affairs Council of 5 February to ask Ireland formally to request the revision of the treaty of Rome and table framed treaty revision proposals ; whether there will be an intergovernmental conference ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : The President of the European Council at Strasbourg noted that the necessary majority existed to convene a conference charged with preparing an amendment of the treaty with a view to the final stages of EMU. The Foreign Affairs Council on 5 February considered the procedural technicalities required to give effect to the relevant conclusions of the Strasbourg European Council, in particular the requirement to obtain an opinion from the European Parliament.
We have made clear that, though we believe the convening of the intergovernmental conference was premature, we will nevertheless participate in it.
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Agenda
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there has been any discussion between his Department and the Angolan Government concerning the latest outbreak of hostilities between the MPLA and UNITA ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : We have expressed our concern at the recent escalation in the fighting in Angola both to the Angolan Government and representatives of UNITA and have called on them to agree to an early ceasefire and negotiations for a political settlement. And on 19 February we joined with our European partners in issuing a statement calling for an end to the fighting and a ceasefire. A copy of the statement has been placed in the Library of the House.
Pamyat Group
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any information on the steps taken by the Soviet Government to control those activities of the Russian nationalist group Pamyat which are a threat to human rights.
Mr. Maude : There are encouraging signs that the Soviet authorities are prepared to take action when non-governmental organisations such as Pamyat are in breach of the law. On 15 February the Moscow city procuracy opened criminal proceedings against Pamyat under article 1 section 74 of the Russian criminal code which covers
"deliberate actions aimed at causing national or racial emnity or discord".
On 21 February the Soviet Ministry of the Interior announced that it was investigating an incident at the central house of writers at which Pamyat allegedly broke up a meeting of reformists.
Anti-Semitism
Mr. Latham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Soviet Government regarding recent anti-Jewish publicity ; and whether he will seek an assurance that the Soviet authorities will discourage such outbursts.
Mr. Maude : We have made numerous representations to the Soviet authorities about the plight of Soviet Jewry. Incitement to racial hatred is illegal in the Soviet Union. It is encouraging that the extremist organisation Pamyat is currently being prosecuted under this law.
Nuclear Non-proliferation
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to meet representatives of the Government of Namibia after 21 March to ascertain if Namibia will sign and ratify the nuclear
non-proliferation treaty.
Mr. Maude : It is our policy to take every suitable opportunity to raise non-proliferation issues, and the non-proliferation treaty in particular, with states that are not parties to the treaty.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the meeting of the
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European Foreign Affairs Council in Dublin on 20 February, the matter of encouragement to South Africa to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty was discussed.Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the report, "New Concepts In Nuclear Arms Control : Verified Cutoff And Verified Disposal", by Warren H. Donnelly and Lawrence Scheinman, published in February by the Programme For Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation.
Mr. Maude : A copy of the report "New Concepts in Nuclear Arms Control : Verified Cut off and Verified Disposal" by Warren H. Donnelly and Lawrence Scheinman, published by the Programme for Promoting Nuclear Non- Proliferation, will be added to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office library in due course.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the working group on nuclear non -proliferation of the European Political Co-operation Committee met in each year since 1985 ; which matters were discussed in each meeting ; and how Her Majesty's Government were represented.
Mr. Maude : The working group on non-proliferation in European political co-operation has met four times in each year since 1985 to discuss matters relevant to the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We are represented by appropriate officials.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas), 15 December 1989, Official Report, column 839, what was the outcome of the meeting proposed with the European proliferation information centre, to which he makes reference.
Mr. Maude : A meeting with the European proliferation information centre has not taken place, but exchanges of correspondence with the centre about funding continue.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which organisations have received from his Department a grant in aid in 1989-90 to assist in the fostering of greater public understanding of nuclear non-proliferation issues and the role of the fourth review conference of the non-proliferation treaty.
Mr. Maude : No organisation has received a grant in aid in the period 1989-90 for the purpose described in the question. Some funding has been made available to the programme for promoting nuclear non- proliferation (PPNN) for specific purposes.
Bananas
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what benefits are expected to accrue to African, Caribbean and Pacific and European Community banana producing countries as a result of the creation of the single European market in 1992.
Mr. Curry : I have been asked to reply.
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The European Commission has not yet come forward with a proposal for the arrangements to apply for bananas post- 1992, and it is not possible at present to say what impact the creation of the single European market will have on African, Caribbean and Pacific and European Community banana-producing countries. The Community has made it clear, however, that to safeguard the interests of these countries will be a major aim of any new arrangements.Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for the creation of a common import regime for bananas in the European Community in 1992 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : I have been asked to reply :
The European Commission is currently considering the possible arrangements for bananas post-1992 but has not yet come forward with proposals. We have encouraged the Commission and other member states to ensure that any new arrangements fulfil our commitments to our Commonwealth Caribbean suppliers and Lome partners, and that they take account of consumer interests and of the competition and efficiency objectives of the single market initiative.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Alcohol
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of public funds have been made available since 1987 by (a) the Department of Health and Social Services and (b) the area health and social service boards to (i) the Northern Ireland Council on Alcohol, (ii) the Council on Alcohol Related Problems and (iii) the Northlands centre in Londonderry.
Mr. Needham : The information requested is as follows :
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Year |Northern |Council on |Northlands
|Ireland |alcohol |centre
|Council on |related
|Alcohol |problems
|£ |£ |£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Funding from the Department of Health and
|2 |Social Security
1987-88 |67,676 |23,812 |30,000
1988-89 |76,721 |28,960 |50,750
1989-90 |79,275 |26,208 |43,000
B. Funding from Health and Social Services Boards
1987-88 |18,264 |- |45,000
1988-89 |14,063 |- |45,000
1989-90 |18,000 |- |45,000
Road Closure, Castlereagh
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates he took the decision to close Alanbrooke road, Castlereagh under the powers granted by the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978.
Mr. Cope : On 1 November 1989, I signed an order under section 19(2) of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 on behalf of the Secretary of State, authorising Short Bros plc to close off Alanbrooke road for security reasons.
NATO Exercises
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contributions his Department will make to the NATO exercises due to be held in Norway during March.
Education (Maintenance Allowances)
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claimants there have been for educational maintenance allowances in each education and library board in Northern Ireland for each of the last three years for which figures are available ; and how many awards were made for each of these three years.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
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Board 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89
|Applications|Awards |Applications|Awards |Applications|Awards
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belfast |327 |230 |316 |109 |203 |67
Western |1,301 |575 |1,272 |398 |1,094 |171
North-Eastern |442 |179 |307 |93 |213 |65
South-Eastern |330 |130 |266 |82 |247 |51
Southern |1,199 |389 |1,005 |303 |767 |192
Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects Lord Colville's report on the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts of 1978 and 1987 to be available.
Mr. Cope : Copies have now been placed in the Library and are available in the Vote Office.
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