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Mrs. Chalker : My officials from ODA have held discussions with those from the Development Bank of Southern Africa on a number of occasions. The two organisations have not engaged in any joint activities. We do not have information readily available on links between the Development Bank of Southern Africa and other overseas development organisations.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Stationery
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the number and quantities of chlorine-free and recycled paper products bought for the use of the House in 1990.
Mr. MacGregor : The number and quantities of recycled paper products bought for the use of the House in 1990 by HMSO were :
|Quantity
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-paid white envelopes |(23-146) |250,000
Pre-paid buff envelopes |(HC 130) |322,500
Pre-paid buff envelopes |(HC 131) |66,000
Various buff stock envelopes |<1>-
Compliment slips |20,000
Printed memos |(HC 91B) |3,000
Printed memos |(HC 92B) |3,000
Printed memos |(HC 93B) |3,000
A4 die-stamped letterheadings |(19-116) |250,000
A4 typing topsheets |(19-30) |30,000
A5 typing topsheets |(HC 66) |20,000
File covers |(6-59 and 6-56) |<1>-
Ruled writing paper |(18-165) |<1>-
Toilet tissue |(13-22 and 13-34)|<1>-
<1> Quantities of these items are not available without incurring disproportionate
cost.
Because of the unknown origins of waste materials used for recycled papers, it is not possible to give accurate guidance on the presence of chlorine in the listed products.
European Organisations
Sir Geoffrey Finsberg : To ask the Lord President of the Council what decisions have been reached concerning the improvement of communications facilities between the House, the Western European Union and the Council of Europe.
Mr. MacGregor [holding answer 18 February 1991] : The Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) last week approved in principle the provision to Members of free postage and telephone calls to certain European institutions.
These will largely comprise the main institutions of the European Community, but, as I have already indicated in correspondence with my hon. Friend, it is intended that direct dialling facilities should also be made available from the start to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and the assembly of the Western European Union in Paris, and it is my hope that the new postage arrangements will similarly extend to these institutions.
Subject to the approval of the House of Commons Commission, which has financial responsibility for the provision of postal and telephone services, it is hoped that the new arrangements can be brought into effect early in the next financial year. A further announcement will be made in due course.
SCOTLAND
Jordanhill College
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will show the number of places available at Jordanhill College of Education for the BEd degree course in the present academic year and for next year.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : In the current academic session there are 671 funded places in the primary BEd course at Jordanhill college of education. In session 1991-92 the number of funded places will rise to 711.
House Revaluation
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he intends to make for 1991-92 to continue phasing in the effects of the 1990 revaluation.
Mr. Lang : We are committed to limiting annual increases in non- domestic rate bills resulting from revaluation to a maximum of 20 per cent. in real terms, and to only 15 per cent. for those ratepayers occupying properties with rateable values of less than £10,000. These arrangements will continue, but I intend to provide additional protection next year in the case of part-residential properties such as small hotels and guest houses with rateable values of less than £10,000. The increase in notional rateable values for these properties in 1991-92 will be limited to 10 per cent. In order to maintain the level of non-domestic rate income to authorities this year we arranged to limit decreases in non- domestic rate bills resulting from revaluation to 11.5 per cent. in real terms, and to 16.5 per
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cent. for those ratepayers occupying properties with rateable values of less than £10,000. The limits for those who benefited from the revaluation will reduce by a further 11.5 per cent. and 16.5 per cent. in real terms in 1991-92.These changes will be set out in regulations which I shall lay before Parliament in the near future. The regulations will prescribe the multipliers to be applied to the rateable values of properties in the valuation roll on 31 March 1990 to determine the upper and lower notional rateable values for the purpose of calculating non-domestic rate bills for 1991-92. The multipliers for the upper limits will be 1.936 for properties with rateable values as at 1 April 1990 of £10, 000 or more, 1.778 for those with rateable values of less than £10, 000 and 1.701 for part- residential properties with values of less than £10,000. The multipliers for the lower limits will be 1.052 for properties with rateable values as at 1 April 1990 of £10,000 or more and 0.937 for those properties with values of less than £10,000.
Assisted Places
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has decided on the level of fee remission grant which will be available to parents under the assisted places scheme in school session 1991-92.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. Friend is making £8.492 million available for fee remission in 1991-92. As in 1990-91, 59 schools across Scotland will participate in the scheme. The funding now available should increase the number of pupils benefiting towards the planned level of about 3,000 by the end of the session.
Local Health Councils
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that members of local health councils fully reflect the views of the community they serve.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 18 February 1991] : Health boards have been advised to ensure that council members are drawn from throughout their area and that selection is made after consultation with all appropriate bodies.
Health Records
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total sum paid by the Scottish Home and Health Department to the firm GPASS for computerising health centre records ; and how many general practitioners and how many sites are covered by the work done.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : GPASS is an NHS-managed and funded computerised administration system for general practitioners and is in direct competition with commercial suppliers of GP computer systems. The cost of developing and maintaining the system is therefore commercially confidential and it would be inappropriate to divulge this information. The latest figures available indicate the GPASS software is used by 2,212 GPs in 622 practices which equates to nearly 66 per cent. of GPs and 55 per cent. of practices in Scotland.
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THE ARTS
School Libraries
Mr. Flannery : To ask the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to update his survey into school libraries.
Mr. Renton : School libraries are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
"School Libraries : the Foundations of the Curriculum" was a report of a working party set up by the Library and Information Services Council for England to consider the future of school library services. There are no plans to update this, but the council maintains a regular interest in school libraries and associated services.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
New Forest
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are placed on the holding of cash collections in the New Forest by Forestry Commission byelaws ; and under what circumstances and by what authority these byelaws may be waived.
Mr. Curry : The Forestry Commission byelaws do not place any restrictions on the holding of cash collections in the New Forest.
Battery Farms
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many battery hen farms were visited by his Department's veterinary inspectors in each of the last five years ; and what other efforts are made by his Department to monitor compliance with the code of recommendations for the welfare of domestic fowl.
Mr. Maclean : The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Officers of the state veterinary service monitor welfare whenever they visit livestock farms and will advise farmers on the welfare codes whenever necessary.
Tobacco
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total sum devoted by the EC to tobacco production in the most recent annual period for which figures are available ; and how much was expended by the community in the storage and export of such EC produced tobacco.
Mr. Curry : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 11 February, Official Report, col. 376.
Low-energy Light Bulbs
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage the use of low-energy light bulbs in his Department's offices and other buildings.
Mr. Curry : As part of the Department's campaign to save energy by all practical means, more energy-efficient lighting has been installed in our regional office at Reading
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and is currently being installed in the headquarter offices in Whitehall and Whitehall place and in the central science laboratory at Slough. In other locations similar measures are under consideration and these will be carried forward wherever practicable.Botswana (Beef Imports)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef on average is imported into the United Kingdom from Botswana each year.
Mr. Curry : Imports into the United Kingdom of fresh, chilled and frozen beef and veal from Botswana over the most recent three years for which figures are available are as follows :
(tonnes product weight) Year |Quantity --------------------------- 1989 |4,848 1988 |2,600 1987 |2,499 Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the import by the EC of beef from Botswana
Mr. Curry : Under the Lome convention the Community provides a reduced levy annual import quota for 18,916 tonnes of beef from Botswana. In the last three years for which figures are available the following quantities of beef have been imported into the Community :
|Tonnes
---------------------
1989 |9.988
1988 |6.118
1987 |8.322
Source: Eurostat.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Income Tax
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest forecast collection of receipts from the higher rate of income tax in 1990-91 ; and what was the comparable figure for the collection of receipts from the higher rates of income tax in 1978-79.
Mr. Maude : In 1978-79 income tax liability at the higher rate was about 9 per cent. of total income tax liability. In 1990-91 it is estimated that liability at the higher rate will be about 20 per cent. of total liability.
TESSAs
Mr. French : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many financial institutions known to him have introduced tax-exempt special savings accounts.
Mr. Maude : A total of 150 so far.
Mr. French : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the level of savings deposited in tax-exempt special savings accounts.
Mr. Maude : It is too early to make a firm estimate.
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Banks (Loans to Employees)
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has concerning the number of employees who currently receive loans at non-commercial rates from employers in the banking and financial sectors.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 15 February 1991] : I have no firm data on the number of banking and financial sector employees currently receiving cheap loans from their employers.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the influence on the effectiveness of his interest rate policy of the current policy of many banks in making reduced- rate loans to their employees.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 15 February 1991] : I have made no such assessment.
Reduced-rate Mortgages
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he would make of the annual value to an employee with an average- sized mortgage on his home of a reduced-rate 5 per cent. loan from his employer compared to a similar employee borrowing a similar amount at commercial rates.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 15 February 1991] : The value for 1990-91 for a basic rate taxpayer is just over £2,000 after taking account of mortgage interest tax relief.
Reduced-rate Loans
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to treat reduced-rate employee loans as a taxable perk ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 15 February 1991] : The benefit of interest free or cheap loans provided for employees by employers is already taxable as a benefit-in-kind.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he makes of the potential revenue to the Exchequer if reduced-rate employee loans were treated for tax purposes in a similar manner to company cars.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 15 February 1991] : The estimated yield for 1990-91 from the existing tax charge on loans made to employees by their employers is £65 million.
Married Women's Income Tax
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the annual income tax payable under the new arrangements by married women with a gross daily income of (a) £0.5 million, (b) £1 million and (c) £1.8 million.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 18 February 1991] : If all the income were subject to tax and the only relief available were the personal allowance, the income tax liability for 1990-91 would be : (a) £72,995,693
(b) £145,995,693
(c) £262,795,693
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Wine Imports
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the quantity of wine imported into Britain from non-EC countries, giving the country, and also the import levy paid for each of the last five years.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 18 February 1991] : Wine from non-EC countries has not been liable to import levy during the last five years although an import duty may be payable.
I regret that the detailed breakdown which the hon. Member requests would be available only at disproportionate cost. But the "Overseas Trade Accounts", copies of which are in the Library, show that the total quantities of wine imported from non-EC countries in each of the last five years were as follows :
Imports of Wine from Non-EC Countries
Year Quantity Value
|(Tonnes) |(Litres) |(£000s)
-------------------------------------------------------
1986 |54,183 |47,992,883|31,245
1987 |66,014 |56,942,130|41,361
1988 |74,302 |63,360,450|59,037
1989 |78,316 |67,262,938|68,427
1990 |94,883 |79,006,661|89,054
EMPLOYMENT
Disabled People
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers employed at least five per cent. of their workforce from people who are registered as disabled in 1990 in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Scotland, (c) Strathclyde region and (d) Renfrew district.
Mr. Jackson : The information requested is not collected centrally. It could be obtained--in respect of employers in Scotland, Strathclyde region, Renfrew district and separately in Great Britain and Northern Ireland--only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names of all the organisations which submitted a response to the consultative document, "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities".
Mr. Jackson : My Department has received responses from 333 organisations. My noble Friend Lord Ullswater will write to the right hon. Member with a list of the organisations and place a copy of his reply in both Libraries.
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to introduce to allow people with disabilities to participate fully in the work force.
Mr. Jackson [holding answer 18 February 1991] : My Department already operates an extensive range of measures designed to help people with disabilities to participate fully in the workplace. These services and schemes were recently reviewed, following which we invited comments on a number of issues and proposals from a wide range of interested parties. We are presently considering responses to these consultations and will decide what changes to the existing measures are required in the light of comments received.
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Fit-for-Work Awards
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many fit-for-work awards were given to employers in the last year in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Scotland, (c) Strathclyde region and (d) Renfrew district.
Mr. Jackson : Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
Public Sector Pay
Mr. Higgins : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the public sector pay negotiations he expects to be concluded in the next six months.
Mr. Forth : The timing of the conclusion of public sector pay negotiations is a matter for the employing organisations and the unions concerned.
Euratom
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when and where European Community directives 80/836 Euratom and 84/467 Have been implemented in United Kingdom law.
Mr. Forth : European Council directive 80/836/Euratom, as amended by European Council directive 84/647/Euratom, was implemented in the United Kingdom in 1985. The bulk of the requirements were covered by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 and supporting approved code of practice. The residual requirements were covered by existing legislation :
The Radioactive Substances Act 1960.
The Food Act 1984.
The Medicines (Administration of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1978.
Vocational Training
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with the chairman of South Glamorgan TEC regarding the setting up of a centre of excellence in the vocational training field in Cardiff.
Mr. Jackson : My department has had no consultations with the chairman of the South Glamorgan TEC about the establishment of such a centre.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will institute a study jointly with South Glamorgan TEC into the most convenient location or locations for vocational training activities dependent on public funds.
Mr. Jackson : TECs contract with my Department to meet the training needs of their local communities. It is for the TEC and their providers to determine the most convenient locations for training.
Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what duties training and enterprise councils have in the field of urban regeneration.
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Mr. Jackson : TECs contract with my Department to meet the training and enterprise needs of their local communities, including urban areas where relevant.Astra Training Services
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan TEC concerning the cessation of Astra Training Services activities at the skill centre, Western avenue, Galbalfa, Cardiff, and any alternative arrangements to accommodate Astra at premises owned by Cardiff Bay development corporation.
Mr. Jackson : I have had no such consultations.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Paper Industry
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make it his policy to restrict the import of chlorine- bleached pulp into the United Kingdom.
Mr. Leigh : Pulp mills in Sweden are going over to other methods of bleaching and those in north America are refining their methods to produce much lower levels of dioxins. United Kingdom industry is voluntarily going over as quickly as possible to wood pulp bleached by other methods, or to unbleached pulp. So there is no need to restrict imports.
Trust Ports
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list and place in the Library copies of all the reports which his Department's marketing initiative has requested relating to trust ports, including that by GP Wild International Ltd. in February 1990.
Mr. Leigh : No. All consultants' reports produced as a result of projects carried out under my Department's consultancy initiatives scheme are commercially confidential in nature. It would not be appropriate therefore for me to list or place in the Library copies of such reports.
1851 Exhibition
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the holder of his office last attended a meeting of the royal commissioners for the exhibition of 1851.
Mr. Leigh : According to the royal commissioners' records, neither the current Secretary of State for Trade and Industry nor the holder of his office has attended commissioners' meetings in the past five years.
Software Directive
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will reconsider the proposed language of the EC software directive to ensure that legitimate activities, hitherto legal under United Kingdom law, do not become inadvertently violative of copyright ;
(2) what work his Department has undertaken to study the legislative implications in the United Kingdom of the draft EC software directive.
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Mr. Leigh : My Department has kept legislative implications continually under review during negotiations on the directive. The Department's assessment of those implications was set out in the explanatory memorandum submitted to the Scrutiny Committee on 20 November 1990. The directive will require member states to give copyright protection to computer programs as literary works, which is already the case in the United Kingdom. The protection affordable and the legality of current activities will not change to any significant degree.
Bottled Gas
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage increase in the price of bottled gas since the beginning of the Gulf crisis ;
(2) what representations he has received regarding recent changes in the price of bottled gas.
Mr. Redwood : My Department does not collect information on price changes for bottled gas. I have received a number of representations about increases in the price of liquefied petroleum gas following recent developments in the Gulf. Copies of all correspondence received have been passed to the Director General of Fair Trading who is making some inquiries into recent changes in the price of LPG. His purpose is to establish whether action is warranted under the competition legislation.
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