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ENERGY
Energy Conservation
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to accelerate energy conservation programmes for domestic housing.
Mr. Baldry : My Energy Efficiency Office is taking a number of initiatives further to promote energy efficiency in housing. These include the introduction from 1 January 1991 of the home energy efficiency scheme, which provides a new system of grants for insulation and advice on energy for low-income households ; a winter advertising campaign promoting a new set of informational material targeted on home movers and those improving their homes ; and an information campaign which aims to draw landlords' attention to the opportunities and benefits of improving the energy efficiency of their residential property. In addition, the EEO will be working with commercial labelling systems, such as MVM Starpoint and the national home energy rating scheme, in seeking to promote the benefits of home energy labels.
The EEO is also supporting work to improve the energy efficiency of housing under its best practice programme. Independently monitored case studies and guidance literature are available to building professionals and those responsible for the management of our housing stock. This information is backed up by a comprehensive programme of seminars and workshops, some involving other organisations active in the housing sector. In addition, funds are available to contribute towards relevant research work.
Nuclear Safety
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the prototype computerised safety system for Sizewell B to receive clearance from the nuclear installations inspectorate ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : A prototype of the computer-based element of the proposed protection system for Sizewell B is currently being tested, but no part of the prototype hardware will be used on the reactor. The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate--NII--will continue to assess the protection system throughout the construction of the plant. The NII will not permit fuel loading, currently programmed for December 1993, until it has approved Nuclear Electric's safety case for the complete protection system.
Civil Defence
Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many civil servants are currently employed (a) full time and (b) part time by his Department on civil
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defence ; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties were in 1989-90 ; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties are expected to be in 1990-91 ; and whether he has any plans for these staff to be transferred to work on other duties.Mr. Wakeham : The information requested is as follows :
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Future levels of staffing and expenditure on civil defence will depend on the outcome of the review announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 16 October, Official Report, column 773.
Gas Prices
Mr. McWilliam : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the percentage increase in price in each of the last 10 years from November 1980 for gas consumers using 25,500 therms per annum.
Mr. Wakeham : The increase over the year to November 1990 was 8.8 per cent. Prices at this specific level of consumption are not available to the Department prior to 1989. Should the hon. Member write to British Gas the company might be able to provide earlier data.
Coal Prices
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library (a) a copy of the favourable position notice issued in July by the competition directorate of the European Commission in relation to the exemption of the three-year contracts between British Coal, National Power and PowerGen, (b) a copy of the correction notice issued to that notice in August in relation to the outstanding complaints as regards discriminatory coal pricing and (c) any further correspondence between the Commission and the Department of Energy on this issue.
Mr. Baldry : The notices referred to are contained in the Official Journal of the European Communities dated 31 July 1990--No. C 191--and 13 September 1990--No. C 228--copies of which are already held in the Library of the House.
It has been the policy of successive Governments to treat correspondence with the Commission as confidential.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to place in the Library a copy of the letter of comfort from the competition directorate of the European Commission, relating to contracts between British Coal, National Power and PowerGen.
Mr. Baldry : My reply of 19 November referred to the letter from the Commission's directorate-general for competition to British Coal. Any release of that letter is a matter for them.
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Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what supporting evidence, in the form of artisitic works, was adduced by MCA Merchandising of Universal Studios to substantiate its claim for (a) licence fees and (b) redress for alleged breach of copyright re the Frank N. Stein advertising campaign for the flotation of the electricity distribution companies and his similarity to Herman Munster of the Munsters.
Mr. Baldry : Visual evidence and supporting explanations were supplied by MCA Merchandising, in support of its claim for licence fees. The claim for alleged breach of copyright is a matter between the advertising agency, WCRS, and MCA Merchandising.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what policy considerations in relation to intellectual property rights affected the decision to authorise payments (a) in purchase of a licence and (b) as settlement for alleged breach of copyright to the MCA Merchandising subsidiary of Universal Studios in respect of Herman Munster's similarity to Frank N. Stein.
Mr. Baldry : The payment of a licence fee was a commercial decision based on legal advice. No policy considerations in relation to intellectual property rights applied in this respect. The settlement for alleged breach of copyright was a matter for WCRS and MCA Merchandising.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Food Products, Devon
Mr. Speller : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 12 November, Official Report, column 68, if he will list the sales of speciality food or drink products from Devon that Food From Britain has supported during 1989 and 1990.
Mr. Curry : Since March 1987 Food From Britain has provided Devon Fare, a speciality food group in Devon, with financial assistance under the speciality food groups scheme amounting to more than £21, 000 and with professional and technical advice. The group has supported its members in a variety of ways, and thus sales of many of their products have benefited from Food From Britain's help. However, neither Food From Britain nor this Department holds lists of these sales.
Live Animals (Export)
Sir Charles Irving : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether lorry drivers have sole responsibility for the implementation of safeguards and directives in the transport of live animals to foreign countries ; and who receives and acts upon the safeguards and directives once they are handed over.
Mr. Maclean : Community directives on the protection of animals during international transport are implemented by each member state under its national law. United Kingdom welfare legislation places a duty of care on all persons involved in the carriage of animals. Companies as well as individuals have been successfully prosecuted for causing or permitting injury or unnecessary suffering to animals during transport.
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Wine and Beef Exports
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of wine and beef which was exported from the European Community in the most recent annual period for which figures are available ; what subsidy was available for such sales expressed in pence per litre or pence per pound, respectively ; and what was the range of sale prices after export subsidies and other grants.
Mr. Curry : The total amount of wine and beef exported from the European Community for the most recent annual period for which figures are avaailble were as follows :
Beef (July 1989-June 1990) 763,105 tonnes (product weight) Wine (May 1989- April 1990) 11,095,709 hectolitres
Official statistics on the range of sale prices after the payment of export refunds are not available.
Rates of export refund for beef vary according to the category of animal, type of meat and destination ; those applicable at the end of the period for the export figures provided were published in the Official Journal of the European Communities--Reference L129/0 of 19 May 1990 page 21. The export refunds are set in ecu per unit weight or unit volume. One ecu/tonne converted at the United Kingdom agricultural conversion rate is equal to 0.03614 pence/pound. Rates of export refund for wine during the period for the export figures provided were published in the Official Journal of the European Communities--Reference No. L73 of 17 March 1989 page 20. The rate of conversion applicable was :
up to 31 August 1989 one ecu/hectolitre = £0.675071/litre up to 10 January 1990 one ecu/hectolitre = £0.701383/litre from 11 January 1990 one ecu/hectolitre = £0.704335/litre
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Steel Industry
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's policy on the retention of Glasgow as a British Steel price-basing point.
Mr. Leigh : Price-basing points are a matter for the European Commission under article 60 of the treaty of Paris. So far as I am aware, neither the Commission nor British Steel has suggested that the Glasgow point should be removed.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out in detail the powers within British Steel which he may exercise as the holder of the golden share.
Mr. Leigh : The rights attaching to the special rights redeemable preference share in British Steel plc are set out in article 5 of the company's articles of association. The special share is held by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and allows him, or his duly authorised representative, to attend and to speak, but not to vote, at any general meeting or at any meeting of any class of shareholders of the company. The special share also provides that written consent of my right hon. Friend is required : for changes to article 46 of the company's articles of association which currently prohibits any person, other than as specifically permitted, from retaining
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an interest, either alone or as part of a voting concert party, in 15 per cent. or more of the company's share capital ; for the creation or issue in certain circumstances of shares with voting rights attached ; for changes to article 5 of the articles of association, or to the definition of "special share" and "special shareholder" in article 2 ; and for the voluntary winding up of the company.Consumer Goods
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the reasons why the output of consumer goods has remained static since mid-1988.
Mr. Leigh : The performance of the consumer goods sector as a whole is clearly influenced by developments in the economy generally. But the performance of individual companies in the sector depends on the extent to which they meet the needs of their customers.
Rainham Marshes
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on assistance given or offered to MCA and Universal Studios in respect of the proposed theme park development at Rainham Marshes.
Mr. Leigh : The Government have made no offer of financial assistance to MCA for the development of its proposed theme park at Rainham Marshes. However, the Government have offered MCA limited financial assistance for further site survey work at Rainham Marshes to establish the degree of contamination of the site and the likely remedial costs.
Morocco
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any arms are being sold by British companies to Morocco.
Mr. Sainsbury : Defence and defence-related equipment for sale to Morocco or elsewhere which is subject to export control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989 requires an export licence. In the past 12 months nine licences have been issued to British companies for the export of such equipment to Morocco.
Multi-fibre Arrangement
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement outlining the principles which are currently being adopted by United Kingdom negotiators on the future of the multi-fibre arrangement.
Mr. Sainsbury : The United Kingdom supports the EC's policy that the multi-fibre arrangement should be phased out over a transitional period after the expiry of its latest extension next year. This would be part of a general settlement of the GATT Uruguay round bringing about stronger GATT rules and disciplines and improvements in market access which will assist British textile exporters.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on the numbers of jobs lost in each of the next
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10 years if the multi-fibre arrangement is phased out prior to agreements being reached to tighten general agreement on tariffs and trade rules on dumping, subsidies, protection of intellectual property and increased access to markets.Mr. Sainsbury : The study of Professor Silberston for my Department concluded that the termination of the MFA would lead to job losses of between 16,000 and 33,000 in the textile and clothing industry. It was based on the assumption of an immediate end to the MFA, but did not specify over what period the jobs would be lost. Furthermore, the estimate took no account of the effect of changes in the GATT rules mentioned by my hon. Friend. Such changes, and the phasing out being over a period of years, will mitigate considerably the effect of the ending of the MFA. It is not practical to make assessments in the form he suggests. In any event, it remains the European Community's policy, which the Government support, that the phasing out of the MFA should be part of a final Uruguay round package covering agreements on market access and strengthened rules and disciplines.
Rolls-Royce Engines
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken regarding the proposed export of attack/trainer aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines by Yugoslavia to Burma in contravention of the United Kingdom's export licensing agreement for the engines.
Mr. Sainsbury : It has been the practice of this and previous Administrations not to comment on individual export licensing cases.
Aid and Trade Provision
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if his Department has considered criticisms made by the National Audit Office of the administration and control of aid and trade provision ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if his Department has considered comments made by the Public Accounts Committee on the administration and control of aid and trade provision ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 14 November 1990] : The aid and trade provision--ATP--forms part of Britain's overseas aid programme. It is jointly administered by my Department and by the Overseas Development Administration. Both Departments consider all reports which comment on the administration and control of ATP. In particular they have considered the recent National Audit Office report on "Bilateral Aid to India" and the subsequent Public Accounts Committee report.
The ODA reply to the Public Accounts Committee report on bilateral aid to India was published in a Treasury minute on the 19-25 report from the Committee of Public Accounts in October 1990 (Cm 1247). A copy is available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has considered comments made by the Foreign Affairs Committee on the administration and control of aid and trade provision ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 14 November 1990] : The aid and trade provision--ATP--forms part of Britain's overseas aid programme. It is jointly administered by my Department and by the Overseas Development Administration. Both Departments consider all reports which comment on the administration and control of ATP. In particular they have considered the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee "Bilateral Aid : Country Programmes" published in 1987.
The Government's reply to the report was published in observations by the Government to the report published in October 1987. A copy is available in the Library of the House.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Millionaires
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the number of millionaires in Britain in 1974, 1979, 1984 and 1989, or the latest convenient date.
Mr. Maude : Estimates of the number of individuals in the United Kingdom owning wealth of £1 million or more in each of the years 1979 to 1988 are available in table V.3 of an article entitled "Estimates of the distribution of personal wealth" in the October 1990 edition of Economic Trends. The estimates for 1987 and 1988 are provisional. Estimates for 1974 are not readily available.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report up-to-date figures, on the same basis as those provided to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) in the Official Report , 5 July, columns 699-708, giving figures for Scotland only and including the effects of the introduction of the community charge.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 19 November 1990] : It is not possible to produce separate estimates for Scotland.
EC Taxation
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his present policy in respect of the introduction of European Community- wide taxation measures.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 19 November 1990] : We shall continue to support progress towards removing fiscal barriers where this is necessary to achieve the efficient working of the single market, but centrally determined tax harmonisation is neither necessary nor desirable for this purpose.
Monetary Aggregates
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his latest estimates for the growth in monetary aggregates ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maples [holding answer 16 November 1990] : The provisional money figures for October are contained in the Bank of England's press release of 20 November, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House. The growth rate of narrow money, MO, was inside its target range of 1 to 5 per cent. for the third successive month.
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HEALTH
Expenditure
14. Mr. Moate : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest figures for capital expenditure and revenue expenditure on the national health service hospital services ; and what were the comparable figures in 1979.
Mr. Waldegrave : This year expenditure on the hospital and community health services in England is expected to be some £17.2 billion, a real terms increase of 40 per cent. over the 1978-79 figure of £4.9 billion.
South East Thames RHA
15. Mr. Bellotti : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to increase the funding for the South East Thames regional health authority.
Mr. Dorrell : Between 1978-79 and 1989-90 spendingin the South East Thames region has increased from£419 million to £1,220 million, or nearly 25 per cent.in real terms. I am confident that South East Thames will continue to benefit from the development of the NHS made possible by this Government's stewardship. Specialist Services
16. Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has in place for the monitoring of specialist services provided to health authorities in the Northern region.
Mr. Dorrell : The provision of health services in any region is a matter for district and regional health authorities.
Waiting Lists
17. Mrs. Currie : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the initiatives by the John Yates Consultancy on hospital waiting lists.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This initiative has been very successful. The number of patients wating over one year in the 43 lists studied by John Yates's team last year has virtually been halved. Early results from this year's study of 100 long lists are very encouraging--numbers waiting over one year have already reduced by a quarter, and further reductions are expected by the end of March 1991.
Breast Cancer
19. Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on recent developments in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The United Kingdom is the first country in the European Community to launch a nationwide programme of breast cancer screening based on computerised call and recall. By detecting cancers at an early stage the programme will help to reduce mortality from this disease. It will make a significant contribution to the health of the women of this country.
Dentists
20. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the level of dentists' remuneration will be affected by the new dental contract.
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Mr. Dorrell : The amount dentists are paid is a matter for the independent doctors and dentists review body.
North East Thames RHA
21. Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the capital expenditure of the North East Thames health authority he expects it to obtain from sales of land.
Mr. Dorrell : I understand from North East Thames regional health authority that it currently expects that £23.7 million of total capital expenditure by authorities within the region will be funded from land sales. This is equivalent to 23 per cent. of total capital spending.
Financial Deficits
22. Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action health authorities are taking to clear financial deficits.
Mr. Dorrell : Measures to be taken by individual health authorities are for agreement between the region and the district concerned.
Health Services, Wakefield
23. Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the chairman of the Yorkshire health authority to discuss health services in Wakefield.
Mr. Dorrell : My right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for Health met Sir Bryan Askew on 26 September 1990 to discuss health service issues.
Minor Surgery
24. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been in the number of minor surgery sessions being carried out by general practitioners since April.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Following the introduction on 1 April 1990 of a specific payment for GPs providing minor surgery, over 40, 000 minor surgery sessions have been held. This means that some 200, 000 patients have been saved the inconvenience of attending out-patient departments. Earlier information is not available.
Residential Care
25. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implications for his policy on residential care of the findings of the General Medical Association's recent survey.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I understand that the hon. Member's question concerns a survey carried out among its members by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities which inquired about the funding of independent care homes. Our policy remains that residential care should continue to be available for those who need it. The Government's community care proposals, which become fully effective from April 1993, should ensure that this is the case.
27. Mrs. Golding : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that persons in residential care are enabled to have individual rooms if they so desire.
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Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Grant) earlier today.NHS Trusts
26. Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the first round of applications for self-governing trust status.
29. Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce his decisions on national health service trust applications.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Public consultation has finished on applications for self-governing status. My right hon. Friend will consider the results of the consultation together with the applications and will announce his decision shortly.
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the letters of interest submitted to the trust unit for consideration for possible trust status applications.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : All units which expressed an interest following the issue of EL(89)MB 64, a copy of which is available in the Library, are shown in the table. Not all of these subsequently made a formal application to become a trust in April 1991. Expressions of interest are now being received from units which may wish to become NHS trusts from April 1992. My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement soon.
National Health Service Trusts--List of expressions of interest Northern
Aycliffe Hospital and Mental Health Services
Blood Transfusion Service (Northern RHA)
Darlington Hospital and Community Services
Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
Hartlepool District
Mental Illness Services in Gateshead
Newcastle General Hospital
Newcastle Mental Health Services
Northumbrian Ambulance Service
Northgate Hospital
North Tyneside District
North Tees Hospital and Community Services
North West Durham hospital and community services
Royal Victoria Infirmary and Dental Hospital
South West Durham Community Services
South West Durham Mental Health Services
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Yorkshire
Bradford Acute Services
Bradford--Psychiatric Unit Hospital Trust
Calderdale Hospitals, Calderdale Health Authority
Leeds General Infirmary and associated Hospitals
Grimsby DGH and associated services
High Royds Hospital Mental Health Services, Leeds Western St. James's University Hospital, Leeds
Seacroft and Killingbeck Hospitals, Leeds Eastern
Wakefield District--Mental Health Unit
Wharfedale General Hospital, Leeds Western
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Trent
Bassetlaw
Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital
Lincolnshire Ambulance Service
Nether Edge Hospital, Sheffield
Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
University Hospital, Nottingham
Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield
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