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Departmental Structure
103. Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the future structure of his Department.
Mr. Lilley : I am proud to have been given responsibility for this great Department of State. I plan to consolidate recent changes in the Department's structure, building on the fine traditions which the DTI and its precursor Departments have established over two centuries in helping markets work and promoting enterprise.
Trade with Europe
104. Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet his European counterparts to discuss Britain's trade with the rest of Europe.
117. Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet his European counterparts to discuss Britain's trade with the rest of Europe.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Ministers meet their European counterparts on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues of common interest.
Taiwan
106. Mr. Yeo : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received regarding access for British exporters to the Taiwanese market.
Mr. Redwood : My Department receives frequent representations from individual companies and trade associations about the few remaining obstacles to access to the Taiwanese market for British exporters.
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The most frequent complaints have been about protectionist duties on Scotch whisky, about the favour shown to United States suppliers for public sector projects, and about the difference between the exhaust emission standards applied to domestic and imported vehicles.The authorities in Taiwan are well aware of United Kingdom concerns. Her Majesty's Government themselves have no formal dealings with the authorities there but the British Overseas Trade Board's area advisory group for Taiwan, the Anglo-Taiwan Trade Committee, takes every opportunity to draw our concerns on these matters to their attention, both in Taipei and London.
Money Advice Funding Working Party
107. Mr. Boateng : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further representations he has received on implementing the recommendations of the Money Advice Funding Working Party.
Mr. Forth : I have received no such representations. The Money Advice Funding Working Party, under the chairmanship of Lord Ezra, did not make any specific recommendations addressed to Government. I have however welcomed the report, in particular its main conclusion, that the private sector could and should make a greater contribution to the funding of money advice.
Exhibition, Kiev
119. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effects of the British exhibition in Kiev in terms of the promotion of United Kingdom trade and exports.
Mr. Redwood : British exports to the Soviet Union are up 35 per cent. so far this year but we believe this largely reflects orders taken some 18 months to two years ago. Given that such time lags are normal in trade with the Soviet Union, it would obviously be premature to assess the effects of last month's British trade exhibition in Kiev.
The trade exhibition was part of a month-long British presence in Kiev comprising more than 25 different events, the centrepiece being an FCO exhibition depicting life in modern Britain. More than 40 British companies took part in the trade exhibition and accompanying seminar programme, which ran from 4-14 June and demonstrated British expertise in areas of major potential for business in the Ukraine. I can assure my hon. Friend that the trade exhibition, like the British month as a whole was a considerable success. Participating companies were delighted with the attention which they received from business visitors and I am confident that they will follow this up vigorously to convert these leads into the basis for increased economic co-operation, including British exports to the Soviet Union.
Exporters (Assistance)
121. Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new proposals to help British exporters.
Mr. Redwood : My Department offers a wide range of advice and support to assist United Kingdom exporters which many firms make use of. We continue to monitor the performance and relevance of our services to ensure they fully meet the needs of our customers.
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The continuing growth of the volume of our exports, reflecting the strong position of United Kingdom industry, is encouraging.81. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new proposals to help British exporters.
Mr. Redwood : My Department offers a wide range of advice and support to assist United Kingdom exporters which many firms make use of. We continue to monitor the performance and relevance of our services to ensure they fully meet the needs of our customers. The continuing growth of the volume of our exports, reflecting the strong position of United Kingdom industry, is encouraging.
Hallmarking
122. Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that the British system of hallmarking is safeguarded when legislation to harmonise hallmarking is introduced.
140. Mr. Orme : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that the British system of hallmarking is safeguarded when legislation to harmonise hallmarking is introduced.
Mr. Forth : The EC Commission has recently indicated that it intends to put forward proposals on the control and marking of precious metals. We shall seek to maintain an adequate level of protection for the consumer in the United Kingdom in discussion on any proposals which are put forward.
Mr. Crowther : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure the continued mandatory hallmarking of silver cutlery made in Britain following the creation of the single European market.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 17 July 1990] : The European Community Commission has recently indicated that it intends to put forward proposals on the control and marking of precious metals. We shall seek to maintain an adequate level of protection for the consumer in the United Kingdom in discussions on any proposals which are put forward.
Shipbuilding
138. Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the prospects of the shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The future of the United Kingdom's shipbuilding industry depends on its ability to win orders in the face of international competition. Substantial support is provided by the Government to assist the industry to return to normal competitive conditions.
Innovation Advisory Board
139. Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the report entitled, "Innovation : City Attitudes and Practices" by the Innovation Advisory Board of his Department.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : The report "Innovation : City Attitudes and Practices" was prepared by the Innovation Advisory Board as a discussion paper for the conference on innovation and short-termism held in London on 25 June. The proceedings of that conference are due to be published shortly.I understand that the Innovation Advisory Board is considering follow-up action from the conference and I am at present awaiting its recommendations.
Investment
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on short-termism in British finance and industry.
Mr. Lilley : Like my right hon. predecessor, to whom I pay tribute, I recognise the importance of this issue. Companies' ability to invest in the long term is a function of their profitability. The profitability of British industry has returned of late to the highest levels for 20 years and business investment has consequently reached record levels.
Financial Reporting Council
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the individual amounts contributed by accountancy firms criticised by the inspectors towards the establishment and running of the Financial Reporting Council.
Mr. Redwood : The financial contribution of the accountancy profession to the Financial Reporting Council is made by the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies and the source of the funding is a matter for the bodies constituting that committee.
British Airways
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he received any communication from the Commission of the European Community as a result of the visit by its officials to the offices of the chairman and chief executive of British Airways when they examined their private papers and personal bank statements.
Mr. Lilley : No. It is not usual for the Commission to report on visits made in the course of competition investigations.
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there was any communication between the Commission of the European Community and his Deprtment before officials of the Commission carried out a search of the offices of the chairman and chief executive of British Airways to examine their private papers and personal bank statements.
Mr. Lilley : In accordance with usual practice, the Commission notified the Office of Fair Trading in advance about the proposed visit to British Airways on 23-24 February, which had already been arranged with the company, and an official from the office accompanied the Commission officials on the visit. So far as we can establish, no personal bank accounts were examined nor were other private papers called for.
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Data Protection
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many subject access requests under the terms of the Data Protection Act his Department has received ; what was his estimate of the number of requests that would be received ; what consideration he is giving to the subject access fee charged by his Department as a result ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : The Department has records of three subject access requests under the terms of the Data Protection Act, all received over the period since November 1987. No prior estimates were made on expected applications.
In view of the small number of requests and the absence of complaints there are no plans to review the subject access fee. The Department does not charge staff for access to their records.
Chinese Bicycles
Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the ratio is of Chinese bicycles imported into the European Community to the level envisaged under present generalised system of preferences rules ; and what proportion of these imports enter the United Kingdom.
Mr. Redwood : There are no fixed limits on imports of Chinese bicycles under the generalised system of preferences at the present time.
Full details of Community imports of Chinese bicycles under the GSP for the first half of 1990 are not yet available from the European Commission. My Department will write to my hon. Friend with this information as soon as it becomes available.
Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will press for a review of (a) general systems of preference status of Chinese bicycle imports and (b) China's undeveloped nation status for trading purposes.
Mr. Redwood : I have no plans at present to seek a review of the status of Chinese bicycle imports within the EC, or China's current status as a beneficiary under the GSP. My Department will, however, continue to monitor the situation regarding the imports of Chinese bicycles.
Monopolies and Mergers Commission
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to formulate his response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report of the inquiry at which Mr. Nigel Harris of the AUEW, Mr. Alan Harris, Mr. Bill Menzies and the hon. Member for Linlithgow gave evidence.
Mr. Redwood : The Secretary of State will formulate his response when he receives the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, which is expected by 3 August.
Import Penetration (EC)
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish a table showing the latest figure for import penetration from the European Economic Community as a percentage of home demand on the same basis as in table 15.10 of the Monthly Digest of Statistics ; and if he will add the figures for 1970 and 1979 on a broadly comparable basis.
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Mr. Redwood : My Department does not make regular estimates of import penetration ratios for particular groups of trading partners. However, estimates broadly comparable to those published in the Monthly Digest of Statistics are as follows :
EC imports as a proportion of
home demand (manufacturing)
|Percentage
---------------------------------
1970 |5
1979 |12
1988 |19
Computers
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of United Kingdom exports of computers consists of re-exports.
Mr. Forth : The information requested is not readily available.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the United Kingdom content of United Kingdom exports of computers in 1973, 1979, 1985 and the latest year for which an estimate is feasible.
Mr. Forth : Information on which to base a reliable estimate is not available.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has completed his review of the computer industry ; and whether he intends to publish his findings.
Mr. Forth : A voluntary exercise has been undertaken to collect figures for the "balance of trade" in electronic and IT goods of some of the larger IT companies in the United Kingdom. The results will be published soon.
Civil Aviation Authority
Mr. Irvine : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the Civil Aviation Authority will be published ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The report is published today. In contrast to its more wide-ranging 1983 report, the commission was asked to focus its attention particularly on the authority's arrangement for managing its investment programme and for identifying and implementing improvements in efficiency.
The commission found that the authority was not pursuing a course of conduct which operated against the public interest.
The commission recognised the authority's achievement in maintaining its excellent safety record in the face of the marked growth of air traffic in recent years. While disappointed that the authority had initially been slow to implement the recommendations of its 1983 report, the commission found that the new management team appointed from 1986 onwards was now tackling the
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authority's problems. For example, an extensive investment programme is under way and there had been a market recent improvement in the authority's record of project control.The commission made a number of recommendations, giving particular priority to :
(a) the implementation of effective corporate manpower planning, in particular to address the shortage of air traffic control officers ;
(b) the use of corporate planning to illustrate trends in performance ;
(c) implementation of improvements in project management to the authority's suggested time-scale ;
(d) greater transparency in and explanation of charges. The authority will be producing a preliminary response to the commission's findings within three to four months, in the light of which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will make a statement.
Company Registers
Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for introducing regulations under section 143 of the Companies Act 1989 on the inspection and copying of company registers ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : My Department issued a consultative document today on the issues to be covered by regulations under section 143. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies are available from my Department by telephoning 071-215 3093 or writing to DTI, room G07, 10-18 Victoria street, London, SW1H 0NN. The deadline for comments is 14 September 1990.
Industry Council
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what matters will be discussed at the European Community Industry Council to be held on 21 September.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 17 July 1990] : At the moment, no agenda has been formally agreed for the 21 September meeting of the Industry Council.
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he plans to attend the European Community Industry Council proposed for 21 September.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 17 July 1990] : At the moment, it is my intention to attend the 21 September meeting of the Industry Council.
Companies Act Investigations
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing for each year since 1980 the number of reports under the Companies Acts completed, the number published after completion and the cost of such investigations, showing separately the costs of those reports published from the costs of reports not published.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 16 July 1990] : Following is the information :
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----------------------------------------------------------------- 1980 |14 |4 |2 |8 |0 Costs £000 |575 |<3>575 |- |- |- 1981 |10 |6 |0 |3 |1 Costs £000 |1,218 |1,218 |- |- |- 1982 |2 |0 |1 |1 |0 Costs £000 |- |- |- |- |- 1983 |3 |0 |0 |3 |0 Costs £000 |- |- |- |- |- 1984 |2 |0 |1 |1 |0 Costs £000 |<1>149 |- |149 |- |- 1985 |5 |2 |1 |1 |1 Costs £000 |<1>400 |- |- |400 |- 1986 |5 |0 |1 |4 |0 Costs £000 |<1>184 |- |- |<1>184 |- 1987 |7 |3 |0 |4 |0 Costs £000 |3,153 |<2>1,259|- |<3>1,894|- 1988 |7 |4 |0 |1 |2 Costs £000 |<4>1,875|<4>1,875|- |- |- 1989 |7 |1 |0 |3 |3 Costs £000 |<4>1,588|1,088 |- |<3>500 |- 1990 |1 |0 |0 |1 |0 Costs £000 |<1>1,243|- |- |1,243 |- Notes: <1>Costs of investigations to interim report stage are not readily available. <2>The cost of investigations by Departmental officers and in one case by outside inspectors is not readily available. The number of reports completed each year for which cost of investigations are available is shown in brackets after the cost. <3>The decision whether to publish 13 of the unpublished reports completed since 1985 remains under consideration. <4>Reports were not necessarily published in the same year they were completed.
Financial Institutions
143. Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss the other self-regulatory organisations.
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 meeting of this sort.
Financial Services
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the persons who have conducted investigations on his behalf under the Financial Services Acts.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 17 July 1990] : The following individuals have either been authorised under section 106 or appointed as inspectors under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 by the Secretary of State to carry out investigations : B. R. Addison FCA
D. Anton FCA
M. Austin-Smith
B. R. Bacon
J. M. Barney FCA
R. M. Beales
J. M. Beckett
D. M. Blair
J. A. Blair-Gould
M. Boohan FCA
D. Botterill FCA
D. R. Brailsford
A. Bray FCA
M. Bromley-Martin
Sir Henry Brooke
M. J. Burton
A. H. F. Campbell FCA
K. S. Carmichael CBE FCA
D. Caruth
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R. L. CrocombeP. Crozier
C. J. Dent
M. J. Deveson
Dr. A. Evans QC
His Honour Judge Fabyan Evans
M. O. Feltham
G. Flather QC
J. A. Gardner
D. Gorick
M. R. A. Haan FCA
A. D. Harverd FCA
Miss H. Helbron QC
P. L. Heslop QC
W. M. Hoffman FCA
O. M. Holmes FCA
G. Hulbert FCA
A. H. Isaacs
A. Issard-Davies
P. Jennings
M. Kalisher QC
J. B. Katto
B. A. Kemp FCA
G. N. Kennedy
T. G. R. Lawrence FCA
M. H. Lawson
G. S. Lawson Rogers
R. P. G. Lewis FCA
J. Lindsay QC
N. R. Lyle
M. McIver
R. H. MacIntyre FCA
D. J. MacLeod FCA
J. Mann
Mrs. B. J. L. Mills QC
J. C. Morton FCA
A. Muir
T. Nash
T. W. Owen
Professor J. Percy FCA
D. Perry
N. Purnell QC
A. C. Rapazzini FCA
E. E. Ray CBE FCA
A. S. Ridler FCA
D. V. Robertson FCA
P. Rook
J. Scannell
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