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Low-energy Light Bulbs
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the use of low-energy light bulbs in his Department's offices and other buildings.
Mr. Leigh : The Department's energy efficiency unit is tasked with promoting energy efficiency awareness in all the Department's accommodation management teams, including awareness of the benefits to be gained from energy-efficient lighting.
The Department incorporates energy-efficient lighting schemes in all its building modernisation projects.
FIMBRA
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to review the role, responsibilities and funding of FIMBRA.
Mr. Redwood : These are matters for the Securities and Investments Board.
Insolvency
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many directors were disqualified under the Insolvency Act 1986 during each of the years 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, respectively ; and how many individual and how many corporate insolvencies there were in each of those years.
Mr. Redwood : There are no provisions in the Insolvency Act 1986 which disqualify directors but every individual who is declared bankrupt by the courts is prohibited from acting in the management of a company for the duration of the bankruptcy, usually three years. There were provisions relating to director disqualification in the Insolvency Act 1985 and the Companies Act
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1985. However, these were consolidated into the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. The number of directors disqualified under these Acts and the number of individual and corporate insolvencies from 1987 to 1990 are as follows :
|Corporate |Individual |Disqualification
|insolvencies |insolvencies |orders
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987 |15,030 |7,427 |193
1988 |14,226 |8,507 |333
1989 |16,305 |9,365 |352
1990 |23,630 |13,987 |382
There were 561 disqualification applications against directors awaiting hearing by the courts as at 31 December 1990.
Kuwait (Reconstruction)
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 168 firms mentioned in his letter to hon. Members on 12 February concerning the reconstruction of Kuwait ; and if he will explain the basis on which these firms have been selected.
Mr. Lilley : Details of these companies are set out in the prospectus on "Restructuring Kuwait", copies of which are in the Library of the House. They were selected as providing good examples of United Kingdom industry's experience and capabilities in the areas likely to be of greatest importance for the reconstruction of Kuwait, in close consultation with the six Government-industry sectoral sub-groups which are co- ordinating the United Kingdom's proposals. The prospectus recognises that there are many other British companies capable of assisting Kuwait.
Major Shareholdings Directive
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish a consultative document on implementation of the EEC major shareholdings directive.
Mr. Redwood : My Department has today published a consultative document on proposals for implementing the EC directive on the information to be published when a major shareholding in a listed company is acquired or disposed of. Copies are being placed in the Library. The closing date for comments on the proposals is 15 April.
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the funding over the next three years of DTI grant in aid to the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and Citizens Advice Scotland.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 11 February 1991] : Details of the DTI grant in aid to NACAB and CAS for the next three years are not available. Expenditure plans for 1991-92 will be published next month in the supply estimates.
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux to discuss Department of Trade and Industry grant in aid.
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Mr. Leigh [holding answer 11 February 1991] : Ministers from my Department meet NACAB from time to time to discuss matters of mutual concern, including funding. The last such meeting was on 11 October when the then Minister for Consumer Affairs, Lord Hesketh, met the chairman and some of the members of the NACAB council.
Secondment of Staff
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many secondments there are in his Department from (a) the Confederation of British Industry and (b) the Trades Union Congress.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 11 February 1991] : None.
Export Credits
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the total amounts of the cover provided, and expenditure incurred, by the insurance services division of the ECGD and what proportion of these sums relates to the export of services through the years 1983 to 1990.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 12 February 1991] : In the financial years 1983-84 to 1989-90, ECGD insurance services covered short- term exports worth £82.5 billion of which 1.6 per cent. related to the export of services.
ECGD's published annual trading accounts include an analysis of the costs of operating ECGD as a whole but do not separately identify the costs of operating the insurance services group.
EC Consumer Policy
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress the Council of Ministers and the European Commission have made in securing common policies at EC level to protect consumer interests.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 12 February 1991] : The Government's White Papers on developments in the European Community, which are published every six months, list measures which have been agreed by the Council of Ministers. A Council resolution on future priorities for relaunching consumer protection policy was adopted in November 1989. Draft directives on general safety, unfair terms in consumer contracts and liability for services have been submitted to the Council by the Commission.
Inward Investment
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his best estimate of the percentage of United Kingdom inward investment projects going to (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) the northern region of England as measured by jobs promised in the period (i) April to October 1989, (ii) October to March 1989-90 and (iii) April to October 1990.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 14 February 1991] : The table sets out the number of investment decisions known to the Invest in Britain Bureau for the periods 1 April 1989 to 30 September 1989, 1 October 1989 to 31 March 1990 and 1 April to 30 September 1989 and the jobs anticipated for each of the regions specified as a proportion of total inward investment known for the United Kingdom during those periods.
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The decisions recorded include the establishment of new business, expansion or acquisition of an existing business and involvement in joint venture. The figures are based on information provided by the companies themselves at the time of the investment and take no account of subsequent developments.Column 131
Inward Investment decisions and expected new jobs from April 1989-October 1990, broken down into 6 month periods
for Wales, Scotland
and North East England as a proportion of the total
Wales Scotland North East Total numbers of
|Projects|Jobs |Projects|Jobs |Projects|Jobs |Projects|Jobs
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 April to 30 September 1989 |12.4 |15.6 |10.6 |19.2 |10.6 |15.9 |161 |17,030
1 October 1989 to 31 March 1990 |22.8 |7.6 |9.3 |29.0 |9.8 |6.4 |193 |15,661
1 April to 30 September 1990 |16.9 |9.5 |10.4 |31.8 |13.0 |8.9 |154 |12,028
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his best estimate of the percentage of United Kingdom inward investment projects going to (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) the northern region of England as measured by capital investment in the period (i) April to October 1989, (ii) October to March 1989-90 and (iii) April to October 1990.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 14 February 1991] : The information requested by the hon. Gentleman is unavailable.
Departmental Purchases
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of (a) the furniture and (b) office equipment and computers purchased by his Department since 1979 was made in the United Kingdom ; and what is his Department's policy towards purchasing foreign goods where a British supplier is available.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 February 1991] : Details of the British-made proportion of DTI purchases since 1979 in the categories listed are not maintained centrally.
The Government's policy is that Departments should base all procurement of goods and services on value for money, including quality (or fitness for purpose) and delivery against price. In accordance with that policy, goods and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Under EC rules, and the GATT Government procurement agreement where appropriate, my Department is obliged to award relevant contracts in accordance with prescribed procedures aimed at avoiding discrimination on grounds of nationality.
Bankruptcies
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the bankruptcies or receiverships in industry, by sector, specifying in particular coal mining, ship building, iron and steel, and agriculture, for each year from 1979 until the latest available date.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 February 1991] : The available information on company insolvencies in England and Wales and in Scotland is published in the annual reports on companies ; that on personal insolvencies in England and Wales is in the annual report on bankruptcy up to 1987, and for 1988 and 1989 in the annual report on insolvencies. Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House of Commons.
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Consumer Protection
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give figures for forecast outturn for 1990-91 and planned expenditure for 1991-92 to 1993-94 for (a) consumer and investor protection, including separately (i) nationalised industries consumer councils, (ii) miscellaneous consumer protection and advisory services, (iii) investor protection and (b) regulation of trade and consumer protection grants in aid including separately, (1) the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, (2) consumer groups councils and (3) the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 February 1991] : For each of the services mentioned, the forecast outturn for 1990-91 was reflected in the winter supplementary estimate for class IV vote 2, and planned provision for 1991-92 will be set out in the supply estimates to be published in March. The Department's overall plans for expenditure on statutory and regulatory work, including technological support, and consumer protection are set out in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991-92 to 1993-94 : Trade and Industry" (Cm. 1504).
DEFENCE
The Gulf
10. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development of and support given to groups assisting the families of those serving in the Gulf.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The services have a well-established structure which combines the work of official and voluntary organisations in the support of personnel and their families. Since deployment to the Gulf began, steps have been taken to provide increased welfare support to families and we are particularly grateful for the many offers of help we have had from groups and individual people. We have encouraged the establishment of local Gulf support groups and contact points for them have been set up in the Ministry of Defence.
17. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his estimates of the cost of replacing equipment lost in the Gulf war to date.
Mr. Tom King : To date the value of equipment lost and ammunition consumed since hositilities began is approaching £250 million. No decisions have yet been taken on the replacement of lost equipment.
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18. Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the level of civilian casualties in the Gulf war.Mr. Tom King : Allied policy is to attack only military targets and facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. Great care is being taken to minimise the risk of injuring civilians and we greatly regret any that occur. Iraq has made various claims, but we have no way of checking them.
19. Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate for the cost of the British contribution to the Gulf operation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Tom King : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) earlier today.
21. Mr. Litherland : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to monitor radioactive fallout following air strikes on nuclear installations in Iraq.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) on 29 January, at column 504. We have no evidence of any release of radioactivity from Iraq's nuclear installations.
22. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of persons killed on both sides in the Gulf war.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Vauxhall (Miss Hoey) and for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 18 February at column 62.
24. Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review his "Options for Change" proposals in the light of experiences in the Gulf conflict.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Gulf conflict does not invalidate the work done so far on "Options for Change", which reflects the need to retain the capability to react to such emergencies. However, we will ensure that lessons learnt in the Gulf are incorporated in our planning.
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to deploy fixed-wing naval aircraft in the Gulf.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence has no plans at present to deploy fixed-wing naval aircraft to the Gulf.
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many qualified plastic surgeons are available in the middle east to deal with burns and soft tissue injuries.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is not our practice to give details of support provision for the Gulf operation. Sufficient plastic surgery facilities are available in theatre to deal with burns and soft tissue injuries before medical evacuation of casualties to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the tour of duty of television correspondents currently with British troops in the Gulf has been extended ;
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(2) whether he will publish a table showing the proposed dates of rotation for television correspondents attached to allied troops in the Gulf.Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence has not established a fixed programme for rotation of TV correspondents attached to British units in the Gulf.
Atomic Weapons Establishment
20. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received recently about the Government's proposed contractorisation of AWE.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Recently I have received a number of written questions from right hon. and hon. Members which have, in the main, raised various concerns, in particular the future of pensions and other conditions of service for AWE personnel. There have also been similar letters from individual members of the AWE staff.
Brawdy Defence Establishment
23. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he would make a statement on the future of the defence establishment at Brawdy in Dyfed.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We are continuing to examine the scope for rationalisation across the range of defence activities. Any decisions will be announced in the normal way.
Defence Review
25. Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any further progress has been made in his Department's review of Britain's defence commitments.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State indicated on 21 January, Official Report, column 103, we are continuing to study the proposals in "Options for Change" which were announced last July. We intend to proceed with rationalisation and other support changes where these do not affect our efforts in the Gulf.
The Gulf conflict does not invalidate the approach we took last summer, which foresaw the need to retain the capability to react to such emergencies. However, the lessons learnt in the Gulf will be incorporated in our planning in due course.
Holy Loch Base
26. Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the reduction of United States navy personnel at the Holy Loch submarine base at Faslane.
29. Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the reduction of United States navy personnel at the Holy Loch submarine base at Faslane.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said on 5 February, the United States navy will, by the end of this year, no longer have a requirement for its submarine support facility at the Holy Loch and this facility will therefore close. The exact
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date of closure has yet to be determined, but is likely to be some time in 1992. The Royal Navy base at Faslane is unaffected by the United States decision to withdraw from the Holy Loch.European Co-operation
27. Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to meet the Secretary General of NATO to discuss European co- operation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the Secretary-General of NATO. Their next scheduled meeting is in the spring. A range of defence issues will be discussed.
Staff Relocation
28. Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past five years Defence Department Ministers have made parliamentary statements concerning the relocation of MOD staff subsequently to renege on the promises given.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : None. Of course, during the planning stages all relocation proposals are kept under review to ensure that they continue to meet the requirement to be operationally and economically viable.
Departmental Achievements
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the principal achievements of his Department since June 1987.
Mr. Tom King : The Ministry of Defence has continued its work, in concert with other Government Departments, to sustain national security, principally through a resolute commitment to the North Atlantic alliance. We have played a full part in NATO's response to changing security circumstances in Europe, as outlined in the London declaration of July 1990.
We are looking at "Options for Change" in our own armed forces to reflect the improved security situation in Europe, which should allow us to maintain strong defences with lower levels of armed forces. Following Iraq's unprovoked invasion of Kuwait, British forces are now engaged in the international effort to secure Iraqi withdrawal and to restore international peace and security in the area, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. We have supported and contributed to NATO's efforts to establish closer relations with the Soviet Union and the countries of eastern Europe, and have been actively engaged in European arms control talks. We have worked to strengthen the European pillar of the alliance, and through our chairmanship of the independent European programme group have helped to promote closer European co-operation in defence.
We continue to seek greater efficiency in the management of defence and are implementing a number of
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programmes to safeguard and build upon the Department's generally good record of protecting the natural environment.British Aerospace plc
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions Her Majesty's Government places on its contracts with British Aerospace plc concerning the locations where consequential manufacturing and employment occurs.
Mr. Alan Clark : As a general rule, my Department does not, in its contracts with British Aerospace or any other company, stipulate where work is to be carried out.
Ceremonies
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current estimated annual cost of ceremonial horses and soldiers in the defence budget ; what percentage of the whole budget this represents ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Members of the Household Division and King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery are required to perform both military and ceremonial duties and therefore it is not possible, without disproportionate effort and cost, to separately identify the personnel costs of each of these roles. However, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery have approximately 400 horses which are used for ceremonial duties at an estimated cost of £0.47 million for financial year 1990-91. This represents 0.0022 per cent. of the defence budget.
Iraqi Nationals
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the status of Iraqi nationals held at Roleston ; and by what authority they are held there.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Iraqi nationals at Rollestone are considered to be members of the Iraqi armed forces and, as such, are being held in accordance with the provisions of the 1949 Geneva convention relating to prisoners of war.
British Airways Tristars
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department is having with British Airways about purchasing its redundant Tristar aircraft.
HMS Endurance
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether HMS Endurance will end active duty at the end of her current cruise.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No such decision has been taken.
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