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Tourism
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of financial support his Department has given to tourism in Scotland in each of the past five years.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 14 March 1991] : The information is as follows :
Financial |Expenditure
year |£ million
|(cash)
------------------------------------
1985-86 |18.0
1986-87 |21.5
1987-88 |17.3
1988-89 |18.7
1989-90 |22.0
Notes:
1. The figures for 1985-89 are in
respect of expenditure on the
promotion of tourism by the
Scottish Tourist Board, the
Highlands and Islands Development
Board and the Scottish Development
Agency. The figure for 1989-90 is
in respect of the Scottish Tourist
Board and the Highlands and Islands
Development Board only.
2. Information in respect of the
Scottish Development Agency for
that year could only be obtained at
disproportionate cost. The Scottish
Development Agency is involved in
many projects with a tourism
element, including training
initiatives relevant to tourism,
support for conferences held in
Scotland, strategic studies,
physical works, small business
advice and environmental renewal.
3. Provision by the Highlands and
Islands Development Board is
through its marketing and projects
programmes and under its section 8
assistance scheme; the figures do
not include salary and
administration costs incurred by
the Board.
4. Total expenditure by the
Scottish Tourist Board is provided,
including salary and administration
costs, in performing its statutory
functions of promoting Scotland as
a tourist destination, both within
the United Kingdom and overseas,
and encouraging investment in
tourism infrastructure.
Shackleton Crash (South Harris)
Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons it was decided not to hold a fatal accident inquiry into the RAF Shackleton crash on South Harris in 1990.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 March 1991] : I have been asked to reply.
On behalf of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, who has responsibility for fatal accident inquiries, I advise the hon. Member that the question
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whether such an inquiry should be held received careful consideration. It is not the practice of the Lord Advocate, however, to divulge his reasons for deciding not to hold an inquiry.TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Telephone Use
15. Mr. Hayes : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on proposals relating to low telephone users.
Mr. Lilley : British Telecom has agreed to introduce an improved and better targeted low user scheme this year. Low users will be able to opt to pay only half the standard rental, and get 30 free call units per quarter. The new scheme will be focused to benefit people who rely on the telephone as a lifeline. BT expects that more than 2 million people will be eligible for the new scheme.
Telecommunications
19. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the growth in telecommunications since 1984.
Mr. Lilley : The United Kingdom has one of the fastest growing telecommunications markets in the world. The number of connections on the fixed network has grown by over 25 per cent. since 1984, and the volume of calls has increased by more than 60 per cent. in the same period. The growth in mobile services is even more spectacular, and there are now more than 1.1 million cellular radio subscribers. The United Kingdom equipment market has grown by over 60 per cent. since 1984, and the range of choice has increased substantially, and the United Kingdom has by far the largest value added services market in Europe.
2. Mr. Watts : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the Government's telecommunications policies.
Mr. Lilley : I set out the Government's proposals for liberalising the United Kingdom telecommunications market in my statement to the House on 5 March. My aim is to build on the policies of competition, choice and private enterprise that have been so successful, and to create the most open and dynamic telecommunications market in the world. The White Paper, "Competition and Choice : Telecommunications Policy for the 1990s", is available in the Library for Members who may wish to study the proposals in more depth.
30. Mr. Charles Wardle : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on consumer choice of the introduction of equal access, outlined in his Department's White Paper on telecommunications policy.
Mr. Lilley : The introduction of equal access will widen consumer choice substantially. It will make it simpler for consumers to select which operator carries their long-distance calls. They will be able to choose the operator providing the best or cheapest service.
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Trade Statistics
20. Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and (a) Poland, (b) Australia and (c) South Africa last year ; and what were the principal elements for each.
Mr. Sainsbury : In 1990, the United Kingdom had a positive visible trade balance of £606.5 million with Australia and £34.9 million with South Africa accounted for mainly by machinery and transport equipment. The balance of trade deficit with Poland was £135.7 million, the main elements of which were iron and steel.
Domestic Products (Labelling)
21. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with trading standards officers about misleading labelling of domestic products.
Mr. Leigh : While I have not met trading standards officers specifically to discuss the subject of misleading labelling the question of environmental claims in respect of goods was raised as part of a general discussion I had with representatives of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration, when I met them on 20 February.
North Devon Manufacturers Association
22. Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received any adverse comments about the work of the North Devon Manufacturers Association.
Mr. Lilley : On the contrary. I have heard nothing but good of its efforts to represent and support industry in the north Devon area throughout its 20 years of existence, and I wish it well in the future.
Exporters
23. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the categories of companies that have performed best in export markets over the last four years ; and what assessments he has made of the reason for their success.
Mr. Sainsbury : The greatest success is achieved by companies that make a long-term commitment to export markets. We believe that the level and quality of management involvement is an important factor in success. Manufacturing exports increased by 70 per cent. in volume over the past 10 years.
Bulgaria
25. Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the Bulgarian Ministers of Trade and Industry to discuss ways of increasing British assistance to Bulgaria ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : Within the past few weeks I have met Mrs. Todorova and Mr. Daskalov, two of the three Bulgarian deputy Ministers of Foreign Economic Relations. The Government are providing assistance to Bulgaria through the IMF and the European Community and bilaterally via the know-how fund administered by my
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right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. My Department will continue its efforts to stimulate trade and investment, supplemented by the support of the East European Trade Council whose chairman is visiting Bulgaria this week.Consumer Affairs
26. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the local authorities trading standards officers to discuss consumer affairs.
Mr. Leigh : Although my right hon. Friend has not had any such meetings, I met representatives of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration last month to discuss consumer affairs.
Advice Agencies
27. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further assessment his Department has made of the implications of the poll tax on the workload of citizens advice bureaux and other advice-giving agencies.
Mr. Leigh : Citizens advice bureaux have had to deal with a number of inquiries arising from the introduction of the community charge, just as they used to on rates. The number of inquiries on the community charge rose in 1989-90 compared to 1988-89, but there was no significant change in the total number of inquiries dealt with by bureaux in 1989-90 compared to 1988 -89. Figures relating to the current financial year are not yet available.
The Department of Environment has agreed to give the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux £36,000 this year to help with the costs of training bureaux workers to deal with these inquiries. The Scottish Office has also given Citizens Advice Scotland £36,000 over the last two years for the same purpose.
Inward Investment (USA)
28. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on inward investment from the United States of America.
Mr. Leigh : The United Kingdom continues to be the preferred location for United States investment in Europe. United States Department of Commerce figures show that at end 1989 Britain's share of United States direct investment into the European Community stood at 41 per cent., representing a stock figure of over £30 billion.
Kuwait
29. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's role in helping British firms to play a part in the reconstruction of Kuwait.
Mr. Lilley : The Kuwait reconstruction co-ordination team in my Department is working closely with industry to help develop links with the Kuwaiti authorities responsible for planning and implementing reconstruction and to disseminate information about opportunities. A number of DTI/industry sectoral groups have been set up for this purpose to cover the areas most relevant to Kuwait's likely requirements. A prospectus setting out the experience and
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capabilities of United Kingdom industry and listing more than 160 companies was presented to the Government of Kuwait by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 9 February. The DTI has also helped set up a small team of business representatives in Kuwait to promote British industry's interests, and one of my officials accompanied a group of senior business men on a visit to Kuwait on 10 and 11 March. A list is being compiled of companies which have expressed an interest in reconstruction work.35. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the investment of United Kingdom firms in the reconstruction of Kuwait.
Mr. Lilley : Many British companies wish to take part in the reconstruction of Kuwait and have invested considerable time and resources in developing proposals and in responding to invitations to tender. The DTI is helping British firms to establish working relations with the Kuwaiti authorities which warmly welcome British interest in participating in the reconstruction process.
Mr. Janman : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by when his Department hopes to have created a database of British companies interested in competing for contracts with the Government of Kuwait after the initial emergency programme ; and if he will list the companies included, by category.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 14 March 1991] : About 2,500 companies are now registered on the data base. My Department is still receiving many inquries from companies wishing to register their interests. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, I cannot reveal their names.
Information Technology
31. Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his most recent estimate of the balance of trade in information technology with Japan.
Mr. Sainsbury : There is no statistically recognised definition of information technology. However, divisions 75 and 76 of the standard international trade classification include information technology products and the estimated crude deficit in these divisions in 1990 was£1.8 billion. Our exports to Japan in these categories in 1990 increased in value by 17 per cent. over 1989.
Industrial Development (North of England)
32. Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will visit the north of England to meet representatives of industry to discuss matters relating to his Department's activities in industrial development.
Mr. Leigh : During recent visits to the north of England, my colleagues and I have met a broad spectrum of local business leaders and discussed matters relating to industrial development. In the near future the Secretary of State will be meeting representatives of the Manchester financial and professional forum and the Tyne and Wear chamber of commerce. I have two planned visits to the north-east, where I have a particular interest in view of my position as godparent Minister for the region.
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Eastern Europe
33. Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the prospects for trade with the countries of eastern Europe.
Mr. Sainsbury : The short-term prospects for trade with most of the countries of eastern Europe have worsened this year. However, the prospects of investment in and longer term trade with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, are continuing to improve as their governments press ahead with reform and establish a proper legal and fiscal framework for business.
Steel Industry
34. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to meet the chairman of British Steel to discuss the future of the steel industry.
Mr. Leigh : My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of British Steel whenever appropriate. Their last meeting was on 7 September, and there are no plans for a further meeting at this stage.
International Trade
36. Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the development of simpler international trade procedures.
Mr. Sainsbury : The development of simpler international trade procedures is largely the responsibility of the
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Simpler Trade Procedures Board--SITPRO--a non-departmental public body supported by the Department. SITPRO's central aims are the development of international standards for electronic data interchange where it has made a particularly significant contribution to what has become known as UN/EDIFACT--United Nations electronic data interchange for administration, commerce and transport. Secondly, they work for elimination of procedural barriers to trade with particular reference to measures associated with the creation of the single European market.Production Statistics
37. Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the increase/decrease in the production of the principal import competing and exporting industries between 1973 and 1990.
Mr. Sainsbury : There is no officially recognised definition of "principal import competing and exporting industries".
Imports and Exports
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will show the crude balance of imports and exports of (a) cereals and cereal preparations, (b) motor vehicles and (c) electrical goods in 1979, 1984 and 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : The information requested is in the table.
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s United Kingdom visible crude trade balances £ million<2> Division of SITC<1> |1979 |1984 |1989 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 04 Cereals and cereal preparations |-404.0 |363.7 |229.4 77 Electrical machinery etc. |46.9 |-1,041.4 |-1,630.4 78 Road vehicles |-795.1 |-2,638.8 |-6,932.2 <1> Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), 1979 and 1984=Revision 2; 1989=Revision 3. <2> At current prices. Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of (a) imports and (b) exports in 1980, 1985 and 1990 at current prices of(i) cereals, (ii) all agricultural products, (iii) motor vehicles,
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(iv) coal, (v) steel and (vi) electrical goods ; and if he will show the net increase or decrease since 1980 in money and percentage terms.Mr. Sainsbury : The information available is shown in the tables.
Table 1-United Kingdom visible imports
£ million<1>
Section/Division of SITC<2> |1980 |1985 |1990 |1990 less |Net change
|1980 |since 1980
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 Agricultural products<3> |5,478 |8,107 |10,409 |4,931 |90
of which
04 Cereals<4> |603 |713 |785 |182 |30
32 Coal, coke and briquettes |239 |740 |655 |416 |174
67 Iron and steel |1,448 |1,716 |2,677 |1,229 |85
77 Electrical machinery etc. |1,519 |4,277 |6,924 |5,406 |356
78 Road vehicles |3,352 |6,801 |12,587 |9,235 |276
Table 2-United Kingdom visible exports
£ million<1>
Section/Division of SITC<2> |1980 |1985 |1990 |1990 less |Net change
|1980 |since 1980
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 Agricultural products<3>2,051 |3,252 |4,325 |2,274 |111
of which
04 Cereals<4> |456 |833 |1,046 |590 |129
32 Coal, coke and briquettes |180 |179 |122 |-58 |-32
67 Iron and steel |983 |1,856 |3,036 |2,053 |209
77 Electrical machinery etc. |1,799 |3,380 |5,649 |3,850 |214
78 Road vehicles |3,158 |3,911 |7,301 |4,143 |131
<1> At current prices.
<2> Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), 1980 and 1985 = Revision 3.
<3> Section O of the SITC is defined as Food and Live Animals. A definition of Agricultural Products does not exist in the SITC.
<4> Cereals and cereal preparations.
Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.
Table 2--United Kingdom visible exports
£ million
Section/Division of SITC 1980 1985 1990 1990 less 1980 Net change since 1980 (per cent.)
0 Agricultural products 2,051 3,252 4,325 2,274 111
of which
04 Cereals 456 833 1,046 590 129
32 Coal, coke and briquettes 180 179 122 58 32
67 Iron and steel 983 1,856 3,036 2,053 209
77 Electrical machinery etc. 1,799 3,380 5,649 3,850 214 78 Road vehicles 3,158 3,911 7,301 4,143 131
At current prices.
Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), 1980 and 1985 = Revision 2 ; 1990 = Revision 3.
Section 0 of the SITC is defined as Food and Live Animals. A definition of Agricultural Products does not exist in the SITC. Cereals and cereal preparations.
Source : Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give comparative figures in money and percentage terms in exports of (a) cereals and
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(b) all agricultural products and the percentage change in the remainder of British exports, broken down also into its principal sections between 1980 and 1990.Mr. Sainsbury : The information available is shown in the table.
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Table-United Kingdom Visible Exports 1980 and 1990
Section/Division of SITC (1) |1980 |Per cent. |1990 |Per cent. |1980-90
|£ million |of total |£ million |of total |per cent.
|trade |trade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 Agricultural products (2)
of which: |2,051 |4.3 |4,325 |4.2 |110.9
04 Cereals (3) |456 |1.0 |1,046 |1.0 |129.4
1 Beverages and tobacco |1,206 |2.5 |2,770 |2.7 |129.7
2 Inedible crude materials, except fuels |1,379 |2.9 |2,163 |2.1 |56.9
3 Mineral fuels, lubricants |6,429 |13.6 |7,801 |7.5 |21.4
4 Animal and vegetable oils etc. |71 |0.1 |88 |0.1 |23.5
5 Chemicals and related |5,286 |11.2 |13,183 |12.7 |149.4
6 Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material |8,754 |18.5 |15,821 |15.2 |80.7
7 Machinery and transport equipment |16,267 |34.3 |42,155 |40.6 |159.1
8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles |4,504 |9.5 |13,347 |12.8 |196.4
9 Other visible trade |1,411 |3.0 |2,559 |2.5 |81.3
Total United Kingdom visible exports |47,364 |100.0 |103,911 |100.0 |119.4
Total less agricultural products (2) |45,313 |95.7 |99,586 |95.8 |119.8
Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom
(1) Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), 1980=Revision 2; 1990=Revision 3.
(2) Section 0 of the SITC is defined as Food & Live Animals. A definition of agricultural products does not exist in the SITC.
(3) Cereals and cereal preparations.
Shipbuilding
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the work of the shipbuilding task force within his Department.
Mr. Leigh : The objective of the shipbuilding task force is to reduce state involvement in the shipbuilding industry, working for the elimination of production and development aids internationally while encouraging United Kingdom shipbuilders and marine equipment manufacturers to operate competitively in international markets and in the defence sector.
To that end, the task force is resolving any remaining problems arising from the disposal of British Shipbuilders ; managing expenditure on the home shipbuilders credit guarantee scheme and the shipbuilding intervention fund ; ensuring that the European Community seventh directive on aid to shipbuilding is operated in line with Ministers' objectives ; attempting to ensure further progress in the European Community and the OECD in negotiating an agreement to end state aids for shipbuilding worldwide ;
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and maintaining appropriate liaison with the Ministry of Defence on the future naval shipbuilding programme and on projects likely to affect shipyard capacity utilisation.Inward Investment
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the percentage of United Kingdom inward investment projects going to (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) the north-east, both as a percentage of total projects and in terms of numbers of jobs promised in the periods (i) June 1987 to the most recently available date and (ii) January 1989 to the most recently available date.
Mr. Leigh : The table sets out the number of investment decisions known to the Invest in Britain Bureau from 1 July 1987 to 31 December 1990 and from 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1990 for Scotland, Wales and the north-east. The numbers of jobs expected to be created from such projects and the percentage share of both projects and jobs as part of the total for the United Kingdom as a whole is also given.
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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 163
Table showing numbers of inward investment projects and associated created jobs for certain
regions over specified time periods, and their
respective percentage share of the overall inward investment figures for the United Kingdom
Region |Number of |Percentage of |Number of |Percentage of
|projects |all United |jobs created<3>|jobs created
|Kingdom
|projects
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland
1987-90<1> |151 |12.9 |22,484 |22.9
1989-90<2> |73 |10.8 |14,298 |24.8
Wales
1987-90<1> |192 |16.4 |14,114 |14.4
1989-90<2> |114 |16.9 |6,330 |11.0
North East
1987-90<1> |120 |10.2 |11,320 |11.5
1989-90<2> |88 |13.0 |7,049 |12.2
<1>1 July 1987 to 31 December 1990.
<2>1 January 1989 to 31 December 1990.
<3>Created jobs are those jobs that the inward investor anticipates will be created by the
project over the next three years.
Bloodstock Sales
Mr. Wiggin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the total worth of overseas earnings from the sale of bloodstock in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 18 March 1991] : Statistics in this area are not separately identified in "Overseas Trade
Statistics"--standard international trade classification division 00.
RECHAR
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from organisations seeking full additionality within the regions for the RECHAR programme.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 March 1991] : My right hon. Friends and I have received a number of representations from Members of Parliament, local authorities and the Coalfield Communities Campaign on various aspects of the proposed RECHAR programmes.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what allocations of RECHAR funds to the United Kingdom have been withheld by the Community on grounds of lack of additionality.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 March 1991] : European Commission decisions are awaited on applications made in July 1990 for RECHAR grants of £109 million from European Community funds to United Kingdom coalfield areas. As is usual with applications for grants from the European Community structural funds, discussions with the Commission are proceeding on various aspects of them.
Structural Fund
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a breakdown of the claims made, by year from 1987, for each EC structural fund operational programme area, compared with the allocation awarded to each programme within the United Kingdom.
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Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 March 1991] : Fifty current operational programmes have to date been approved by the Commission for the United Kingdom. Details of the claims made for each of these could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that EC structural fund support for the regions of the EC has an additional economic impact in those regions ;
(2) what steps he intends to take to ensure that local authority spending of EC structural funds is exempt from current United Kingdom capital and revenue controls to ensure that there is a net benefit to regions with severe economic structural problems in receiving EC support.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 March 1991] : Expected levels of receipts from the European Community structural funds, as of other receipts from the Community, are taken into account when the Government decide the size of United Kingdom public expenditure programmes. Structural fund grants to local authorities are paid in full to the authorities concerned.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a detailed breakdown of how much of the EC structural fund support designated for programmes to take place in the eligible United Kingdom regions has been spent on United Kingdom Government Department schemes of assistance.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 March 1991] : The Community support frameworks agreed between the Government and the European Commission do not in general specify in detail the Departments and other authorities whose measures the European Community structural funds will support. Until each operational programme has been concluded it is not possible to say how the expenditure from it has been allocated.
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