House of Commons Hansard Debates for 14 Jun 1990

Mr. Freeman : I understand that the locomotive was used in conjunction with one of the driving trailers which are to be introduced on Liverpool Street to Norwich InterCity services later in the year. The train was driven by a traction inspector who was fully qualified to drive both the locomotive and driving trailer. Two other, similarly qualified inspectors were also on board. Had a driver been present he would only have assisted with route knowledge and all three traction inspectors were fully competent in that respect. The railway inspectorate assures me that safety was not compromised.

Competitive Tendering

Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money he estimates to have been saved by compulsory competitive tendering in road and other transport schemes in each of the last five years.

Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 June 1990] : Competitive tendering has been the long-term policy for the construction of the Department's motorway and trunk road schemes. Fee competition for consultants responsible for the preparation, design and supervision of construction of these schemes was introduced in January 1985. This has resulted in projected savings of about 25 per cent. on the total whole life costs of commissions placed in the first five years. Local authority highway works have been increasingly exposed to compulsory competitive tendering since 1981 but information on which to base estimates of savings is not available. The Audit Commission has begun a study of effects of the 1987 and 1988 regulatory changes, which require all highway works over £25,000 and 60 per cent. of work at or below that threshold to be subjected to compulsory competitive tender.

Marine Pollution

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give full details of the ships, aircraft and other pollution control equipment available to the marine pollution control unit ; where these ships and aircraft are based ; and what plans he has to augment the unit's equipment.

Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 12 June 1990] : The list of directly owned or contracted counter-pollution resources available to the marine pollution control unit is extensive ; copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

In addition, the unit can also hire equipment from commercial sources in the United Kingdom and can call

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on assistance from other North sea states under the terms of the Bonn agreement for co-operation in dealing with oil spillages. A full review of United Kingdom preparedness to deal with an oil spill at sea was completed last year after the Exxon Valdez incident in Alaska. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 6 March 1990, Official Report, columns 551-52.

Channel Tunnel

Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has supplied to the European Commission on arrangements concerning the transport of nuclear fuel and waste through the channel tunnel ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman : When Eurotunnel puts forward proposals covering the movement of dangerous goods and radioactive materials, they will be considered by the intergovernmental commission established by the channel tunnel treaty to oversee safety, and any necessary advice sought.

The European Commission does not at present have any direct influence in this field.

THE ARTS

European Audiovisual Industry

Mr. Riddick : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the European Commission's proposals to encourage the production of more European-made programmes for television.

Mr. Luce : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon West (Miss Nicholson) on 6 June, Official Report, column 607, on Her Majesty's Government's support for the Commission's proposed 250 million ecu budget to promote the European audiovisual industry.

EMPLOYMENT

Special Needs Training

Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy that the cost of funding special needs training will continue to be underwritten by the Government.

Mr. Eggar : The Government will continue to ensure that all eligible people with special training needs who join youth training or employment training have access to suitable training programmes. The cost of such training will in part be met by the contributions of scheme sponsors and employers, and in some cases by training and enterprise councils out of their own self-generated funds. The Government contribute funds, totalling more than £2 billion, for youth training and employment training in 1990-91, to ensure that its declared guarantees and aims for youth and adult training are fully met.

Genetic Manipulation

Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list any prosecutions, enforcement notices or improvement notices issued under the Genetic Manipulation Regulations 1989.

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Mr. Nicholls : Since the Health and Safety (Genetic Manipulation) Regulations 1989 came into force on 1 November 1989 a total of five improvement notices have been served by the Health and Safety Executive to enforce the requirements of these regulations. Three of the notices were served on the City and Hackney health authorities at St. Bartholomew's hospital, London and a further two were served on a department head at the hospital.

Employment Exchanges

Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give full consideration to the social value of a local part-time employment exchange before considering any proposal for its closure ;

(2) if he will ensure that the local authorities covering any part of the area served by a part-time local employment exchange are fully consulted and that full weight is given to their response before considering any proposal to close any such office ; and if he will make a statement ;

(3) if he will list any part-time local employment exchanges in Wales which his Department is currently considering closing ; (4) if he will undertake a full process of public consultation with any community served by a local part-time employment exchange before considering any proposal for its closure.

Mr. Eggar : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 13 June.

In considering the closure of a part-time local office, full consideration is given as to how best to provide the most effective service to ES clients. Larger full-time offices offer a comprehensive range of services and are better able to help unemployed people back to work.

The following part-time local offices in Wales are scheduled for closure by the end of July :

Bethesda

Brynamman

Clydach

Cwm

Hirwaun

Merthyr Vale (Aberfan)

New Tredegar

Pembroke

Senghenydd.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Industry Council

Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the European Economic Community Industry Council meeting of 28 May.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Industry Council on 28 May discussed the involvement of small and medium sized enterprises in public procurement and EC R&D programmes, and the implications for such firms of the business environment. The Council considered the subject of semiconductors and held a first debate on the Commission's proposal for a seventh directive on aid to the shipbuilding industry. The Commission also presented its views of prospects for the EC steel industry over the next five years. The business was both uncontroversial and routine in character.

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Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Britain was represented at ministerial level at the recent meeting of the European Community Industry Council at which steel was discussed.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Kingdom was represented by the United Kingdom permanent representative to the Community, Sir David Hannay, supported by senior DTI officials.

Steel Industry

Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to meet the chairman of British Steel to discuss the proposed closure of the strip mill at Ravenscraig.

Mr. Ridley : I last met Sir Robert Scholey on 5 June when we had a confidential discussion.

Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the chairman of the British Steel Corporation to discuss the future of the steel industry ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ridley : I last met Sir Robert Scholey on 5 June when we had a confidential discussion.

Financial Services Act

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any representations about the working of the Financial Services Act.

Mr. Redwood : I receive a considerable number of representations on a variety of topics relating to the regulation of financial services.

Chartered Accountants

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has for fresh legislation to cover the chartered accountants profession ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Redwood : We have no plans to legislate in respect of chartered accountants in particular or the accountancy profession in general. However, the implementation of part II of the Companies Act 1989 and of Directive 89/48/EEC on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications will affect parts of the accountancy profession, including chartered accountants.

Greenhouse Effect

Ms. Abbott : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information his Department collects on the production of chemicals which may have a harmful effect on the ozone layer ; if he will break down this information by manufacturer for the most recent 12-month period available ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Forth : There are only two United Kingdom manufacturers of chlorofluorocarbons, one of which also manufactures halons. They are obliged, under EC Regulation 3322/88, to report their production of these substances to the European Commission at six-monthly intervals. They do so on a commercially confidential basis, and copy the data to my Department and to the Department of the Environment.

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There are no reporting arrangements for the production of other ozone-depleting substances.

British Steel

Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the date of his last meeting with the chairman of British Steel ; and what matters were discussed.

Mr. Ridley [holding answer 11 June 1990] : I last met Sir Robert Scholey on 5 June when we had a confidential discussion.

National Consumer Council

Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much is paid from public funds to the National Consumer Council ; for what purpose those funds are paid ; and who are the members of the council.

Mr. Forth [holding answer 12 June 1990] : For the financial year 1990-91 the total grant-in-aid to the National Consumer Council will be £2.178 million. This amount includes the grants-in-aid to the Scottish Consumer Council, Welsh Consumer Council and Consumers in the European Community Group which are paid via the National Consumer Council.

The grant is paid to the National Consumer Council to enable it to carry out the functions described in its memorandum of association, that is to promote action for furthering and safeguarding the interests of consumers, to ensure that those who take decisions which will affect the consumer can have a balanced and authoritative view of the interests of consumers before them and to insist that the interests of all consumers, including the inarticulate and disadvantaged, are taken into account.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that the National Consumer Council reflects the views of consumers.

Mr. Forth [holding answer 12 June 1990] : On many subjects there may be no one consumer view. However, I am satisfied that in so far as it is possible to do so, the National Consumer Council reflects the views of consumers.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are taken by his Department to check claims made by the National Consumer Council before those claims are made public knowledge.

Mr. Forth [holding answer 12 June 1990] : The Department does not check the claims made by the National Consumer Council (NCC) before they are made public knowledge, nor does it believe that it would be appropriate for it to do so.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to increase the accountability of the National Consumer Council to consumers.

Mr. Forth [holding answer 12 June 1990] : No. I am satisfied that the National Consumer Council adequately takes account of the views of consumers.

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Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to phase out the funding of the National Consumer Council ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Forth [holding answer 12 June 1990] : No.

Export Licences

Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences have been granted under the powers given to him by the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939 to firms seeking to export equipment to (a) Jordan, (b) Syria, (c) Libya, (d) India, (e) Pakistan, (f) Israel, (g) Saudi Arabia, (h) Egypt and (i) Argentina in the last 10 years.

Mr. Redwood [holding answer 12 June 1990] : This information is not readily available and could be provided only at extremely disproportionate cost.

Trade Licences

Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences have been granted under the powers given to him by the Import, Export and Custom Powers (Defence) Act 1939 to (a) Matrix Churchill Ltd., (b) TMG Engineering Ltd., (c) Technology and Trade Development Group Ltd. and (d) Canira Technical Corp. Ltd., in the last 10 years.

Mr. Redwood [holding answer 12 June 1990] : It is not the practice to publish such information.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Crime Statistics

10. Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chief constable of Warwickshire to discuss crime figures.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : My right hon. and learned Friend meets chief officers of police on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of policing matters, but he has no present plans for a meeting with the chief constable of Warwickshire to discuss crime figures in particular.

17. Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the Chief Constable of Cumbria to discuss crime figures.

20. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chief constable of Gwent to discuss crime figures.

Mr. John Patten : My right hon. and learned Friend meets chief officers of police on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of policing matters, but he has no present plans for a meeting with the chief constable of Gwent to discuss crime figures in particular.

24. Mrs. Golding : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chief constable of Staffordshire to discuss crime figures.

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Mr. John Patten : My right hon. and learned Friend meets chief officers of police on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of policing matters, but he has no present plans for a meeting with the chief constable of Staffordshire to discuss crime figures in particular.

28. Mr. Jim Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chief constable of Leicestershire to discuss crime figures.

42. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the Chief Constable of Wiltshire to discuss crime figures.

49. Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the Chief Constable of Surrey to discuss crime figures.

73. Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the Chief Constable of Sussex to discuss crime figures.

80. Mr. John P. Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the Chief Constable of Derbyshire to discuss crime figures.

95. Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester to discuss crime figures.

Mr. John Patten : My right hon. and learned Friend meets chief officers of police on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of policing matters, but he has no present plans for meetings to discuss crime figures in particular.

37. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what comparable figures he has on international levels of crime and on the level of crime in England and Wales.

46. Mr. Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the level of crime in England and Wales, in each member country of the European Community and in the United States of America.

Mr. John Patten : I refer my hon. Friend and my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Irvine).

British Summer Time

13. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received in respect of proposed changes to British summer time.

Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received in respect of proposed changes to British summer time.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones).

Car Security

14. Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with motor manufacturers in the last year on improving the quality of car security.

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Mr. John Patten : My right hon. and learned Friend has had no discussions with motor manufacturers in the last year but he has written recently to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to invite them to discuss what more can be done by motor manufacturers to improve the quality of car security. I have also written to the Consumers Association to invite it to meet me to consider how consumer demand for improved car security can be encouraged.

59. Sir David Price : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about the quality of car security.

76. Mr. Day : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the quality of car security.

86. Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about the quality of car security.

Mr. John Patten : So far this year, we have answered two parliamentary questions, four letters from Members of Parliament and three letters from members of the public about car security. The parliamentary questions and one letter from a Member were concerned about the action taken by the motor manufacturers to improve the quality of car security.

Crime Prevention

15. Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will next meet the chief constable of West Yorkshire to discuss crime prevention initiatives.

Mr. John Patten : My right hon. and learned Friend has, at present, no plans to meet the chief constable of West Yorkshire, but officials maintain regular contact with the West Yorkshire police to discuss crime prevention issues.

Birmingham Pub Bombings

16. Mr. Flannery : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the remaining scientific evidence in the Birmingham pub bombings case, in the light of the statements to the May inquiry that forensic evidence in the Maguire case can no longer be considered reliable.

33. Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the remaining scientific evidence in the Birmingham pub bombing case, in the light of the statements to the May inquiry that forensic evidence in the Maguire case can no longer be considered reliable.

44. Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the remaining scientific evidence in the Birmingham pub bombings case, in the light of the statements to the May inquiry that forensic evidence in the Maguire case can no longer be considered reliable.

Mr. Waddington : I have said on many occasions that I will consider any new evidence which appears to call into question the safety of the convictions of the Birmingham Six. I will of course take into account any evidence presented to the May inquiry which may be relevant to those convictions.

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19. Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to have the results of the Devon and Cornwall police investigation into aspects of the Birmingham pub bombings case.

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