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Mr. Marlow : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that on each future occasion when he publicises the retail prices index he will also publicise the annual increase in the cost of living excluding mortgage rate and such taxes as the community charge.
Mr. Lilley : A series is already published in the monthly press notice for "all items excluding housing" which is very close to the index requested, since two thirds of the weight for housing is accounted for by mortgage payments and domestic rates/community charges.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of Inland Revenue executive officers who resigned from the service in the years 1988 and 1989.
Mr. Lilley : One hundred and eighteen and 92 respectively.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue executive officers applied for the internal trawl for the AT-HEO D' scheme in the months of May and June 1989 ; and how many were successful.
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Mr. Lilley : Ten executive officers from the Inland Revenue applied for this scheme, of whom one was successful.
Mr. Stern : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the annual cost to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of administering the value added tax on the sale of gold coins and bars in the latest available year ;
(2) what was the annual value added tax revenue accruing from the sales of gold (a) coins and (b) bars in the latest available year ;
(3) what was the annual value added tax revenue accruing from the sale of Britannia gold coins in the latest available year.
Mr. Ryder : I regret that the information requested by my hon. Friend is not available.
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth will receive a reply to his letter dated 6 March referring to Mr. Allan Gear of the Henry Doubleday Research Association.
Mr. Lilley : I replied to my hon. Friend's letter on 11 May.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 30 April, Official Report, column 444, if he will give the expenditure on energy consumption, broken down by fuel, of the buildings occupied by his Department, for the latest year available.
Mr. Ryder [holding answer 10 May 1990] : The information, which covers major offices only, is as follows :
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|Gas |Electricity |Solid/Liquid Fuel |£000 |£000 |£000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Government Offices, Great George Street, London, SW1 |38.6 |189.6 |4.4 Chessington Computer Centre, Surrey |0.3 |39.7 |10.3 Alencon Link, Basingstoke, Hampshire |0.2 |5.8 |2.6 Grosvenor House, Basingstoke, Hampshire |1.8 |3.1 |- Riverwalk House, London, SW1 |13.7 |73.3 |- Note: All figures reflect consumption in calendar year 1989.
I regret that a figure given to the hon. Member in response to his previous question was incorrect. The figure for gas consumption for Chessington should be 1,000 therms not 71,000 as quoted.
Mr. Soley : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether the Royal Opera house has applied for additional funds.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 11 May 1990] : The Royal Opera house has consistently argued for additional Government funding. At the end of last year it alerted the chairman of the Arts Council and me to the prospect of a £2 million deficit in the coming year. This was despite an 11 per cent. increase in its grant from the Arts Council and
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a severe pruning of projected expenditure plans. I recognise the excellent record of the Royal Opera house in increasing its self-generated income but, in reply, I made it clear that all arts organisations must, like any other business, demonstrate a commitment to good housekeeping and to controlling costs. It is also an important part of Arts Council policy that all arts organisations receiving grant-in-aid should balance their books over a three year period. I expect the Royal Opera house to discuss with the Arts Council how that policy can be complied with.Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when his Department first knew that Dr. Gerald Bull had a connection with SRC ;
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(2) to which Iraqi Government agency the order seized by Customs and Excise was being sent ;(3) what action was taken in respect of the Iraqi armaments order after it was known that the Space Research Corporation was involved in the order ;
(4) what is now known of the destination of the Iraqi pipe order now in Iraq ;
(5) what information he has on the intended use of the armament being produced for the Iraqis ;
(6) what action was taken to investigate the Iraqi export order after the death was reported of Gerald Bull of the Space Research Corporation ;
(7) what information he has as to (a) the military purpose of the armaments order of Iraq and (b) the possible uses of the completed order.
Mr. Ridley : In the light of the criminal charges laid against individuals and in the light of the continuing investigations by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information on these matters.
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when his Department was first made aware of a meeting in Brussels between Sheffield Forgemasters and the Space Research Corporation in June 1988, and of additional meetings that took place in Brussels in July 1988 between those parties ;
(2) if he has any information on the fire-testing in Iraq of any equipment provided for Iraq by Sheffield Forgemasters and Walter Somers.
Mr. Ridley [holding answer 26 April 1990] : In the light of the criminal charges laid against individuals and in the light of the continuing investigations by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information on these matters.
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he first received information about the activities of SRC Composites ;
(2) when he became aware of the project of SRC Composites to develop in Northern Ireland ;
(3) when he was first aware of SRC Composites' involvement with Iraq ;
(4) what investigations took place into Space Research Corporation after its involvement in the Iraqi export order became known.
Mr. Ridley [holding answer 30 April 1990] : In the light of the criminal charges laid against individuals and in the light of the continuing investigations by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information on these matters.
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further steps he will take to raise funds from the capital markets to reduce the costs of the fixed rate export finance scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : As part of a programme of measures to reduce the cost of ECGD's fixed rate export finance scheme, the Guaranteed Export Finance Corporation plc (GEFCO) issued a second £250 million bond issue on 8 May which again carried the guarantee of the Secretary of State. The previous issue was launched last July and further periodic issues are envisaged.
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Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the working of (a) the Securities and Investments Board, (b) FIMBRA, (c) the Financial Services Act 1986 and (d) recognised professional bodies in the financial services industry ; and from whom.
Mr. Redwood : My right hon. Friend and I regularly receive a variety of representations on these matters from a wide range of sources.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will visit the state of California to study its regulatory system in the financial services industry.
Mr. Redwood : Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any plans at present to visit California.
Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the nature and level of capital adequacy for firms involved in the small independent intermediary sector of the financial services industry.
Mr. Redwood : I have received a number of representations from organisations and firms in the independent financial intermediaries sector about capital adequacy requirements. Their views will be taken into account during the forthcoming negotiations on the proposed capital adequacy directive.
Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out in the Official Report an outline of the nature of the stance he will be adopting with regard to any European Commission proposals in respect of the harmonisation of the financial services industry prior to 1992 with particular regard to the small independent intermediary sector.
Mr. Redwood : The Government welcome proposals from the European Commission which are designed to create a single market in financial services and which are based upon mutual recognition of member states' competent authorities and agreement on key standards. Our response to such proposals will be based upon two principles : first, that such measures should not undermine the Community's international competitiveness and, secondly, that they should not erect unnecessary barriers to market entry.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the Hoylake bid for British American Tobacco ; and from whom.
Mr. Redwood : I have received many representations from hon. Members and others about various aspects of Hoylake Investments' bid for BAT Industries, but none since Hoylake announced on 23 April that it would not renew its offer for BAT.
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number and value of grants made by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to South Africa for each year since 1985.
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Mr. Redwood [holding answer 10 May 1990] : The ECGD has not made any grants to South Africa in the period in question. Since ECGD's normal fixed-rate export finance arrangements apply to medium and long-term export credits to South Africa, some grants to banks in Britain supporting such export credits will have been made as part of the overall arrangements.Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin), Official Report , 30 April, column 386 , what steps he is taking to increase the number of laboratories accredited by the NAMAS scheme, in the north-east, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 10 May 1990] : The national measurement accreditation service, NAMAS, actively encourages laboratories to become accredited for calibration and testing measurements. In conjunction with the Department's regional offices, promotional seminars have already been held in the north-east, Wales and Scotland. A seminar in Northern Ireland is currently being planned.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken or has suggested that the National Physical Laboratory takes to increase the number of laboratories accredited with the national measurement accreditation service for radiological calibration ; and if he will name the accredited laboratory.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 10 May 1990] : Discussions are taking place between the national measurement accreditation service (NAMAS), involved in the radiological field of measurements both for calibration and testing with the view of increasing the number of accreditations in this area. The laboratory currently accredited for radiological calibration is Amersham International plc. Three further laboratories are currently being assessed prior to accreditation.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what staff committment is devoted through the National Physical Laboratory to ensuring as wide as possible membership to the national measurement accreditation service ; and how this staff commitment is broken down between accreditations awards to calibration laboratories and testing facilities.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 10 May 1990] : The total number of staff currently employed in the national measurement accreditation service is 52. Of these, eight are directly involved in the accreditation of calibration laboratories and 25 in the accreditation of testing laboratories. In addition, three further staff are directly involved in accreditation of both calibration and testing laboratories.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 30 April, Official Report, column 387, if he will give the expenditure on energy consumption, broken down by fuel, of the buildings occupied by his Department for the latest year available.
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Mr. Forth [holding answer 10 May 1990] : Expenditure on energy consumption in buildings occupied by the Department of Trade and Industry in 1988-89, the latest full year for which figures are available, was as follows :
|£ million -------------------------------- Electricity |2.3 Gas |0.7 Oil |0.3
May I also apologise for an error in my answer to the hon. Gentleman on 30 April at column 387. The figure for gas consumption in the Department of Trade and Industry in 1988-89 should have read 2.3 million therms.
48. Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Attorney-General what information he has on the number of prosecutions which have been initiated under the provisions of the Perjury Act of 1911 relating to persons wilfully making statements false in a material particular to judges or persons with the legal status of judges.
The Attorney-General : The only information available to me relates to convictions rather than proceedings instituted. Eighty-four persons were convicted for offences contrary to section 1 of the Perjury Act 1911 during 1988. All such convictions related to false statements made in judicial proceedings.
49. Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received recently about the operations of the courts.
The Attorney-General : The Lord Chancellor frequently receives correspondence from Members of this House, legal practitioners and members of the public about the operations of the courts. All these are responded to by the Lord Chancellor or his officials.
50. Mr. Winnick : To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss prosecution policy.
53. Mr. Greville Janner : To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions ; and what matters were discussed.
The Attorney-General : I refer to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).
51. Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Attorney-General whether he plans to have any discussions with the Law Reform Committee on the length of time for which covenants should be in force ; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General : There are no plans to refer any aspect of the law relating to covenants to the Law Reform Committee.
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52. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the operation of the Crown prosecution service.
The Attorney-General : The operation of the Crown prosecution service has been the subject of very recent scrutiny and report by the Home Affairs Select Committee of this House. The Committee recognised the impressive progress made by the Crown prosecution service despite its initial difficulties and confirmed our confidence that by proper assertion of its independence the CPS has contributed to a fairer and more just prosecution system. The Government will be responding to its recommendations in the normal manner.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Attorney-General whether he will prosecute Professor Wilhelm Feldberg for a contravention of section 1 of the Protection of Animals Act 1911.
The Attorney-General : A decision about the commencement of a prosecution could be properly taken only on the basis of evidence assembled through a criminal investigation. The investigation of an alleged criminal offence is a matter for the police service. The proper course for any person having evidence suggesting the commission of an offence is to make the evidence available to the police.
It is to be noted that by virtue of section 1(3) of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and section 27(2) and schedule 3 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 the provision to which hon. Member refers does not apply to anything lawfully done in accordance with the 1986 Act.
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions have been mounted in (a) the Republic of Ireland, (b) Northern Ireland and (c) Great Britain
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under the terms of the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Acts ; and what is the outcome of each prosecution for each year since the passing of the legislation for 1990 until the earliest convenient date.The Attorney-General : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) on 19 December 1988, at column 92. All the prosecutions listed in that answer as having taken place in the United Kingdom took place in Northern Ireland. Those trials took place in the following years : 1978
Fearon
Morgan
O'Rourke
1981
Gormley
1982
Smyth
Hannigan
Callaghan
Ward
Patterson
1986
McCormack
1987
Collins
1988
Ellis
Orr
Clements
Verner
McKenna
Since my previous answer another person has been tried in Northern Ireland, in 1990, for offences allegedly committed in the Republic of Ireland :
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