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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 19 November 1990
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
George Kenyon
Mr. Pike : To ask the Attorney-General what information he has regarding the decision of the Crown prosecution service not to proceed with the case against David Holt for the alleged manslaughter of George Kenyon on 24 May 1988.
The Attorney-General : The decision not to proceed with the case against David Holt for the alleged manslaughter of George Kenyon followed a review of the case against him after the case was committed for trial. The Crown prosecution service accepted the advice of leading counsel that there was not a realistic prospect of satisfying a jury beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Holt was guilty of
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manslaughter. He was, however, prosecuted and convicted for the offence of operating a machine after a prohibition notice had been served.I have written to the hon. Member with fuller details regarding the decision.
Mr. Pike : To ask the Attorney-General whether he has received any representations regarding the case against David Holt and Norman Holt for the alleged manslaughter of George Kenyon on 24 May 1988 ; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General : Prior to receiving the hon. Member's question, I have received representations in correspondence from two hon. Members regarding the case against David Holt and Norman Holt for the alleged manslaughter of George Kenyon.
Immigration Appeals
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom, together with the numbers of appeals considered by each of them in each of the past five years for which figures are available.
The Attorney-General : The information requested is set out in the table.
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1. Cases<1> considered by Immigration Adjudicators
|Thanet House, |Harmondsworth<2>|Birmingham |Leeds<3> |Manchester
| London
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986<4> |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a.
1987 |3,092 |1,392 |1,046 |905 |749
1988 |3,335 |2,016 |1,181 |926 |778
1989 |5,934 |2,760 |2,368 |1,628 |1,271
1990<5> |6,112 |2,437 |1,416 |1,049 |824
<1> Figures are only available for cases, which can consist of more than one appellant. Figures relate to cases
allowed, dismissed and withdrawn.
<2> Includes hearings at Belfast and Cardiff.
<3> Includes hearings at Glasgow and Edinburgh.
<4> Immigration Adjudicators disposed of 8,483 cases in 1986, but a breakdown for the individual centres is not
readily available.
<5> January-September
2. Cases<1>considered by the Immigration Appeal Tribunals<2> -------------------- 1986 |1,004 1987 |1,127 1988 |1,029 1989 |706 1990<3> |614 <1> Figures are only available for cases, which can consist of more than one appellant. Figures relate to cases allowed, dismissed and withdrawn. <2> The Immigration Appeal Tribunal sits at Thanet House, London. <3> January-October.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Attorney-General what provisions exist for bringing forward the dates of appeal hearings when there have been significant delays by foreign embassies in forwarding appeal papers for the immigration appellate authorities.
The Attorney-General : The immigration appellate authorities give full consideration to all applications made to them from either party for the early hearing of any appeal.
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Multiple Share Applications
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Attorney-General (1) what representations he has received from (a) the Metropolitan police, (b) the Serious Fraud Office and (c) sponsor Departments for further computer runs to detect illegal multiple share applications in the privatisation of (a) British Gas, (b) British Airports, (c) British Airways, (d) British Steel and (e) the 10 regional water and sewerage companies ;
(2) when he expects to see completed all inquiries into illegal multiple share applications in the privatisation of (a) British Gas, (b) British Airports, (c) British Airways, (d) British Steel and (e) the 10 regional water companies.
The Solicitor-General : The fraud investigation group of the Crown prosecution service has worked in liaison with the Metropolitan and City police commercial fraud squad to identify and investigate possible criminal offences arising out of multiple applications submitted in the course of the issue of shares for British Gas plc, British Airways plc, Rolls-Royce plc, British Airports Authorities plc and the 10 regional water companies. In each case they have had the assistance of a report by the auditors appointed for the issue by the sponsor Department. It is accompanied by
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computerised data. The majority of cases arising from the earlier issues have been concluded ; most of those relating to the water privatisation issues remain outstanding.It is, however, the practice of the CPS and the police when considering suspect cases relating to the water issue to examine all available data relating to earlier issues to ascertain whether any previous dealing by the suspect is revealed which may be relevant to either the evidential or public interest aspect of the decision whether to prosecute. The computerised data are held by the police and are freely accessible by them.
PRIME MINISTER
Community Charge and Electoral Registration
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is her estimate, to the latest available date, of the total numbers of persons in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales who have not registered their names in connection with the poll tax ; and if she will make a statement ;
(2) what action has been taken to warn people in Scotland, England and Wales of the implications of failure to register for poll tax purposes for the appearance of names on the electoral registers.
The Prime Minister : The community charges register and the electoral register are separate entities and are compiled with reference to different criteria and for different purposes. There is no question of anyone being denied the right to vote simply because their name does not appear on the community charges register. I refer the hon. Member to the full answer being given today to him on this subject by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) on 15 November 1990 at column 703.
Malaysia
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all visits of Government Ministers or officials to Malaysia, with dates, since 1979.
The Prime Minister : I have visited Malaysia in April 1985, August 1988 and October 1989. Other ministerial visits, in the period since May 1979 are as follows :
1979
June Mr. Parkinson, Minister of State, Trade and Industry June Lord Carrington, Secretary of State, FCO
1980
January Mr. Blaker, Minister of State, FCO
March Mr. Blaker, Minister of State, FCO
March Lord Carrington, Secretary of State, FCO
1981
January Lord Trenchard, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence February Lord Ferrers, Minister of State, Agriculture
April Mr. Baker, Minister of State, Trade and Industry September Mr. Rees, Minister of State, Trade and Industry October Mr. Nott, Secretary of State, Defence
1982
February Lord Carrington, Secretary of State, FCO.
1983
Nil
1984
February Mr. Luce, Minister of State, FCO.
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May Mr. Baker, Minister of State, Information.August Lord Bellwin, Minister of State, DOE.
1985
July Mr. Channon, Minister of Trade.
September Mr. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, MOD. November Mr. Heseltine, Secretary of State, MOD.
1986
February Mr. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, MOD. June Mr. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, MOD. June Mr. Renton, Minister of State, FCO.
September Mr. Patten, Minister of State, DOE.
October Mr. Jopling, Minister of Agriculture.
1987
March Mr. Younger, Secretary of State, MOD.
April Lord Hailsham, Lord Chancellor.
September Mrs. Chalker, Minister of State, FCO.
1988
March Mr. Younger, Secretary of State, MOD.
April Sir Geoffrey Howe, Secretary of State FCO.
October Mr. MacGregor, Minister of Agriculture.
October Mr. Sainsbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, MOD.
October Mr. Forth, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DTI. November Lord Glenarthur, Minister of State, FCO.
1989
February Mr. Atkins, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DTI.
March Mr. Atkins, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DTI. April Mr. Younger, Secretary of State, MOD.
October Mr. Howard, Minister of State, DOE.
October Mr. Major, Secretary of State, FCO.
1990
January Lord Brabazon, Minister of State, FCO.
February Mr. Maude, Minister of State, FCO.
A record of visits by officials is available only at a disproportionate cost.
Sub-post Offices
Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop : To ask the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for decisions as to the rules governing liability of sub-post offices to the uniform business rate.
The Prime Minister : Policy on non-domestic rating, including the valuation hypothesis used in determining rateable values which is set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1988, is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The assessment of rateable values is undertaken by the Inland Revenue valuation office, responsibility for which rests with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
ENERGY
Electricity Companies
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what arrangements he has agreed for cost recovery by the electricity distribution companies for actions undertaken by them in response to directions from him under section 96 of the Electricity Act 1989 in connection with the outbreak of war in the Gulf ;
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(2) what discussions he has had with the Director General of Electricity Supply regarding the formal arrangements for cost recovery by the electricity distribution companies for complying with directions from him under section 96 of the Electricity Act or the Energy Act 1976 in the event of the outbreak of war in the Gulf.Mr. Baldry : My Department has had discussions with the Office of Electricity Regulation on the subject of cost recovery in the event of electricity supply emergencies. I see no connection with the possibility of war in the Gulf.
There are no formal arrangements for cost recovery in the event of directions under the Energy Act 1976 or section 96(1)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989. The director general has said that in the event of such directions being given there would be a strong case for considering favourably a request from any company or companies affected for suspension or modification of particular licence requirements to allow them to recover costs necessarily incurred.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what policy considerations led him to conclude his agreement with the leading underwriters in the privatisation of the electricity distribution industry to insert a force majeure clause relating to the risk of war breaking out in the Gulf.
Mr. Baldry : My right hon. Friend decided that the satisfactory underwriting of the sale of shares in the 12 regional electricity companies required specific arrangements to deal with the particular risk of hostilities in the Gulf causing a fall in the market during the offer period. Failure to make such arrangements would, at best, have adversely increased the cost of underwriting and reduced the proceeds from the sale.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will insert a Gulf war risk warning on the advertisements for the flotation of the electricity distribution companies.
Mr. Baldry : The purpose of the advertising campaigns is to publicise the offers for sale of the 12 regional electricity companies. All such advertising contains a warning that shares can go down as well as up and the public should consult an appropriate professional financial adviser if they need advice.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the impact of a direction under section 96 of the Electricity Act on the profitability and cash flow of the 12 regional electricity companies.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the 12 chairmen of the area boards to discuss emergency arrangements arising from a possible outbreak of war in the Gulf and its impact on electricity costs and prices and their companies' cash flow and profitability.
Mr. Baldry : My right hon. Friend and I meet the regional electricity company chairmen from time to time to discuss a wide range of issues.
Fuel Security Code
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met or next expects to meet the Director General of Electricity Supply to review the cost recovery and audit mechanisms in the fuel security code.
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Mr. Baldry : I have not met, and have no plans to meet, the Director General of Electricity Supply for this purpose.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had in the last three weeks with the National Grid Company regarding the implementation of the fuel security code and of directions under section 96 of the Electricity Act.
Electricity Appliances (Retailing)
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what discussions he has had with the 12 chairmen of area electricity boards regarding the sale of their appliance retailing chains and Government participation in the receipts thereof ;
(2) what policy considerations led him to exempt sales of the appliance retailing chains from the property clawback arrangements in the privatisation of the electricity distribution companies.
Mr. Baldry : The regional electricity company--REC--prospectus includes relevant information on the retailing businesses including the directors' view of the prospects for those businesses. I expect to get appropriate value for the taxpayer for all parts of the RECs' business on flotation and see no reason why the Government should expect to participate in any subsequent disposal of the retailing business as a going concern.
Coal Supply Contracts
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he anticipates receiving a letter of comfort from the competition directorate of the European Commission regarding the exemption of the coal supply contracts between British Coal, National Power and PowerGen from article 85(3) of the treaty of Rome.
Mr. Baldry : The coal purchase contracts between British Coal and National Power and PowerGen were notified to the European Commission by British Coal. British Coal has received a letter from the Commission's directorate-general for competition indicating that it is preparing a draft decision for the Commission to exempt these agreements under article 85(3) of the treaty of Rome.
South Wales Small Mines Association
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when he next expects to announce the commencement of enhanced prices for coal produced by the members of the South Wales Small Mines Association, pursuant to his conditional letter of offer to the association dated 24 October ;
(2) what response he will be making to the comments dated 30 October of the director of the competition directorate of the European Commission on his letter of offer of enhanced coal prices dated 24 October to the South Wales Small Mines Association.
Mr. Baldry : The offer made by National Power and British Coal to the South Wales Small Mines Association was set out in a paper handed to the association on 24
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October at a meeting in my Department. The European Commission's view of the terms of this offer was conveyed in a letter dated 30 October addressed to the solicitors representing the association. I understand that members of the association have voted to reject the offer. It will now be for the Commission to reach a decision on the complaint made by the association which gave rise to the recent negotiations. My Department stands ready to provide the Commission with any further information or assistance it may need.Sizewell B
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met and next expects to meet the chairman of Nuclear Electric to discuss the contract with the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency on behalf of the regional electricity companies for purchasing electricity from the Sizewell B nuclear power station.
Mr. Baldry : This is a commercial matter and I have no plans to discuss it with the chairman of Nuclear Electric.
Renewable Energy
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the Director General of Electricity Supply to discuss the Director General of Electricity Supply's study into the environmental impact of renewables projects, pursuant to page 46 of the pathfinder prospectus for the flotation of the electricity distribution companies.
Mr. Baldry : The Director General of Electricity Supply's study of the environmental impact of renewables projects was made in the context of a review of the draft contracts submitted to him by the 12 regional electricity companies, and preparatory to advising the Secretary of State on the appropriate level of the first renewables order. As I informed the House on 30 October, 0fficial Report, columns 443-44, my right hon. Friend set the level of the renewables order--SI 1990 No. 1859--in accordance with the director general's advice. In these circumstances my right hon. Friend has no plans further to discuss the director general's advice with him.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to make a further non-fossil fuel obligation order in respect of projects involving renewable energy sources.
Mr. Baldry : My right hon. Friend intends to bring forward the first additional renewables tranche of the non-fossil fuel obligation next year.
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