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Column 305

(3) whether he envisages having to compel any of the personnel of Nos. 16, 15, 19, 92 and 20 Squadrons to become redundant ; and if he will make a statement ;

(4) what discussions he has with local housing authorities about the future housing requirements of personnel from Nos. 16, 15, 19, 92 and 20 Squadrons.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are no plans to make any of the personnel of Nos. 15, 16, 19, 20 or 92 Squadrons redundant, nor to offer them special terms for premature voluntary release. Squadron personnel will be posted to other units in the normal way. There is no need to hold discussions with local authorities about the future housing requirements of these personnel.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Cambodia

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any planning for the deployment of a United Nations military force in Cambodia has taken place.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We understand that the United Nations secretariat has been working on preliminary arrangements for the implementation of all the provisions of the draft comprehensive settlement document, including those relating to the military aspects.

Mr. Ishtiaq Ahmed

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Ishtiaq Ahmed, date of birth 1 January 1974, reference IMM/A4162, applied to the post in Islamabad for entry clearance to the United Kingdom ; and when a decision is to be taken on his application.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd : In accordance with the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred the question to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit as soon as possible.

Foreign Affairs Council

Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 and 14 May.

Mr. Garel-Jones : A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council took place in Brussels on 13 and 14 May. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom.

The Council agreed on a 60 million ecu package of emergency assistance to help those suffering in Bangladesh. The aid will be financed by bilateral contributions from member states.

At the request of the United Kingdom, the Council discussed proposals for strengthening EC-Turkey relations. It instructed the Committee of Permanent Representatives to examine the proposals in more detail and to report to the Foreign Affairs Council in July.


Column 306

The Council discussed the situation in Yugoslavia. It decided that the visit by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and the President of the Commission, which was agreed by the informal European Council in Luxembourg, should take place soon.

After a brief discussion by the Council, the Commission agreed to continue funding for the international fund for Ireland.

EC and EFTA Ministers met on 13 May to review progress in the negotiations for a European economic area, which will extend the single market to the EFTA countries. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry represented the United Kingdom. Substantial progress was made on the outstanding issues and EC and EFTA Ministers confirmed their commitment to conclude the negotiations before the summer. They agreed a comprehensive joint declaration setting out the main elements of the European economic area. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The ninth EC-Israel co-operation council on 14 May reviewed economic co- operation between the European Community and Israel. EC Ministers raised the appointment of a Commission representative in the occupied territories and the question of EC participation in a peace conference.

Political Union

Mr. Lord : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the ministerial meeting of the inter-governmental conference on political union on 13 and 14 May.

Mr. Garel-Jones : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I attended the ministerial meeting of the inter-governmental conference on political union on 13 and 14 May. The meeting discussed presidency proposals on social policy, cohesion and European citizenship. In discussion on social policy my right hon. Friend stressed that in the United Kingdom's view the existing treaty struck a just balance between the scope for Community action and the diversity of national practices and customs and that we saw no need for any change.

Spain, supported by other southern member states, argued that further measures to promote cohesion were necessary as the Community embarked on a new stage of political and economic integration. We, together with other northern member states, took the view that the IGC was not an appropriate forum to open a discussion on financial and budgetary issues, which would be raised in the context of next year's review of Community finances.

In the discussion on citizenship, many member states expressed the view that any new text should go no further on rights of free movement and residence than existing legal provisions. We made it clear that there should be no question of any concept of European citizenship cutting across member states' own nationality legislation.

Discussion of these and other aspects of the inter-governmental conference on political union will continue at future meetings of special representatives and Ministers. A further ministerial session will be held on 17-18 June. The inter-governmental conference will be on the agenda of the European Council to be held on 28 and 29 June.


Column 307

Indo-Chinese Refugees

Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the fourth meeting of the steering committee set up by the 1989 international conference on Indo- Chinese refugees.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The fourth meeting of the steering committee created by the international conference on Indo-Chinese refugees met in Geneva on 30 April and1 May. The joint United Kingdom and Hong Kong delegation drew attention to the worsening situation in the colony caused by a sharp increase in the number of Vietnamese migrants arriving in Hong Kong, coupled with a low number of departures. Copies of the final statement are being placed in the Library of the House. The statement reaffirms the strong commitment of participants to implement the comprehensive plan of action of June 1989 in its entirety, and in particular that non-refugees are not eligible for resettlement and must return to their country of origin. The British Government fully support the Hong Kong Government's efforts to resolve this intractable problem through the full and balanced implementation of the comprehensive plan of action. The British Government intend to consult urgently with the principal countries concerned over alternative and additional measures for accelerating the return of non-refugees to the country of origin, which remains crucial if an effective and durable solution to the problem is to be found.

SCOTLAND

GPs' Contracts

Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the higher and lower targets for primary immunisation, pre-school booster immunisation and cervical cytology set in the contract for general medical practitioners which came into force on 1 April 1990 ; what percentage of general medical practitioners have (a) now achieved and (b) not achieved these targets ; what were the comparable figures in March 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : The higher target for primary

immunisation--that is, of children aged two and under--and for pre-school booster for children aged five and under is 90 per cent ; and the lower target for these two categories is 70 per cent. The higher target for cervical cytology is 80 per cent., and the lower 50 per cent.

The percentages of general medical practitioners reaching target levels as at 1 October 1990, in comparison with the position as at 1 April 1990, are shown in the table. The figures show that considerable progress has been made since the new GP contract was introduced on 1 April 1990 and that the incentives provided by the Government under the contract are indeed producing results.



General Medical Practitioner Target Achievement Levels                                                  

SCOTLAND: Percentage of GMPs Reaching the Target Levels                                                 

Target Category and       |1 April 1990             |1 October 1990                                     

   Target Levels Achieved                                                                               

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Primary Immunisation                                                                                    

  90-100                  |64.0                     |73.4                                               

  70-<90                  |29.6                     |23.4                                               

  <70                     |6.4                      |3.2                                                

                                                                                                        

Pre-School Booster                                                                                      

  90-100                  |41.6                     |58.4                                               

  70-<90                  |29.0                     |17.8                                               

  <70                     |29.5                     |23.9                                               

                                                                                                        

Cervical Cytology                                                                                       

  80-100                  |45.7                     |61.2                                               

  50-<80                  |45.5                     |34.4                                               

  <50                     |8.8                      |4.4                                                

Note: Cervical cytology figures exclude Greater Glasgow Health                                          

Board, which has a variation on the standard targets payments                                           

system in operation.                                                                                    

Public Libraries

Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to allocate resources towards the promotion of public library services for blind and partially sighted people ; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The allocation of resources to public library services is not a matter for the Secretary of State, but for individual local authorities--usually the district and islands councils, but Highland, Borders and Dumfries and Galloway regional councils in their respective areas--which have a statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate library facilities for all persons resident in their area.

Right to Buy

Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been commissioned into the effects of the right-to-buy legislation.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Since the right-to-buy legislation was introduced in 1980, the Scottish Office has commissioned three research projects into its effects. The first, "Council House Sales in Scotland", was published in 1985 and is available in the Library. The other two projects, "The Right to Buy--Survey of Tenants" and "The Right to Buy-- Survey of Purchasers", are still in progress and will be published in due course. Other agencies, including Scottish Homes, have also commissioned research projects about aspects of the right to buy.

Council Housing

Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage of council housing stock relative to the total housing stock, including private and rental, for each district council.

Mr. Lang : The latest available information, which relates to 31 March 1989, is set out in the table.



Council housing as a percentage of total stock  

at 31 March 1989                                

Area                      |Local                

                          |authority            

                          |percentage           

------------------------------------------------

Scotland                  |38.4                 

Borders                                         

  Berwickshire            |27.7                 

  Ettrick and Lauderdale  |26.5                 

  Roxburgh                |33.2                 

  Tweeddale               |21.2                 

                                                

Central                                         

  Clackmannan             |45.2                 

  Falkirk                 |49.9                 

  Stirling                |36.9                 

                                                

Dumfries and Galloway                           

  Annandale and Eskdale   |31.4                 

  Nithsdale               |30.6                 

  Stewartry               |22.0                 

  Wigtown                 |33.6                 

                                                

Fife                                            

  Dunfermline             |39.4                 

  Kirkcaldy               |37.4                 

  North East Fife         |23.5                 

                                                

Grampian                                        

  Aberdeen                |38.3                 

  Banff and Buchan        |33.5                 

  Gordon                  |18.8                 

  Kincardine and Deeside  |17.8                 

  Moray                   |29.0                 

                                                

Highland                                        

  Badenoch and Strathspey |19.3                 

  Caithness               |34.1                 

  Inverness               |26.9                 

  Lochaber                |35.7                 

  Nairn                   |25.3                 

  Ross and Cromarty       |30.4                 

  Skye and Lochalsh       |15.0                 

  Sutherland              |25.7                 

                                                

Lothian                                         

  East Lothian            |40.4                 

  Edinburgh               |24.0                 

  Midlothian              |35.8                 

  West Lothian            |35.7                 

                                                

Strathclyde                                     

  Argyll and Bute         |24.8                 

  Bearsden and Milngavie  |11.5                 

  Clydesbank              |56.9                 

  Clydesdale              |43.1                 

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |18.6                 

  Cumnock and Doon Valley |54.5                 

  Cunninghame             |36.8                 

  Dumbarton               |38.9                 

  East Kilbride           |5.1                  

  Eastwood                |7.9                  

  Glasgow                 |52.9                 

  Hamilton                |52.0                 

  Inverclyde              |46.5                 

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun  |48.7                 

  Kyle and Carrick        |37.8                 

  Monklands               |72.8                 

  Motherwell              |71.2                 

  Renfrew                 |43.2                 

  Strathkelvin            |33.9                 

                                                

Tayside                                         

  Angus                   |31.5                 

  Dundee                  |47.6                 

  Perth and Kinross       |27.3                 

                                                

Island Councils                                 

  Orkney Islands          |17.4                 

  Shetland Islands        |29.2                 

  Western Isles           |18.4                 

Source: Valuation roll.                         


Column 310

Bus Companies

Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were (a) the numbers of buses owned, (b) the numbers of staff employed and (c) the net book value of the assets of the Scottish Bus Group subsidiary, Eastern Scottish, at the time of its sale ; and what were the net proceeds from the sale.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The following information relates to the position as at 22 April 1990 :

(a) 391.

(b) 1,119.

(c) £6,574,000. The net assets are stated on an historical cost basis, with the exception of heritable land and buildings which were re-valued on a current use basis.

Sale prices for the subsidiaries of the Scottish Bus Group will be made public only after privatisation of all subsidiaries has been completed.

Islay

Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if there are any plans to designate the Isle of Islay an environmentally sensitive area ; what consultations are under way to review the present arrangements ; what consultations are under way or planned by the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and other interested parties ; when he expects consultations to conclude ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. Friend has no plans to designate the Isle of Islay as an environmentally sensitive area. He is, however, currently reviewing the present arrangements for such areas and will, if necessary, honour his statutory obligation to consult the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and the Countryside Commission for Scotland on any proposal to change these arrangements flowing from the review.

Local Government Finance

Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the maximum net weekly incomes that would qualify for a local tax rebate in each property band in every local authority in Scotland if the exemplifications recently published by him applied with 100 per cent. rebates of those on income support and a 15 per cent. taper applied for (a) a married couple with two children under 11 years, (b) a married couple with no children and (c) a pensioner couple aged 60 to 74 years.

Miss Widdecombe : I have been asked to reply.

Estimates of rebates under the council tax cannot be provided, since the detailed arrangements have yet to be determined.

Social Work (Scotland) Act

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will state the number of voluntary and caring organisations which have received reductions in Scottish Office financial assistance in 1991-92, given under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 together with the amount of such reductions and the amount for each organisation affected ;

(2) if he will state the numbers of organisations which have received grants under the Social Work (Scotland) Act


Column 311

1968 for each of the past five years ; and how many organisations have been eliminated from such financial assistance during the period.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : Grants are made available to voluntary and other organisations under sections 9 and 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Grants were made to the following organisations in 1990-91 :



Organisation                                            |Total                    

                                                        |grant                    

                                                        |paid                     

                                                        |£                      

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Age Concern Scotland                                    |96,128                   

Association of Lanark Voluntary Organisations           |21,098                   

Alzheimers Scotland                                     |75,341                   

Annandale and Eskdale Council of Social Service         |1,250                    

Apex Scotland                                           |164,350                  

British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering             |30,000                   

Banff and Buchan Resource Information and                                         

   Development Group Exchange                           |21,818                   

Badenoch and Strathspey Council of Social Services      |21,897                   

Barra and Vatersay Council of Social Services           |20,664                   

Berwickshire Association of Voluntary Service           |11,548                   

Borders Federation of Councils of Voluntary Service     |895                      

Brittle Bone Society                                    |9,963                    

Broxburn/Uphall Handishop                               |286                      

Bute Community Links                                    |17,480                   

Caithness Voluntary Group                               |22,411                   

Call Centre                                             |16,200                   

Care in Action Scotland                                 |18,936                   

Carers National Association                             |18,538                   

Childline Charitable Trust                              |10,000                   

Childline Scottish Appeal                               |25,000                   

Church of Scotland (Designated Place, Inverness)        |3,350                    

Community Service Volunteers                            |17,000                   

Confederation of Scottish Counselling Agencies          |20,000                   

Crossroads (Scotland)                                   |23,856                   

Cruse Bereavement Care                                  |9.975                    

Dementia Services Development Centre                    |66,372                   

Dial Scotland                                           |10,373                   

Disability Scotland                                     |264,474                  

Disablement Income Group                                |4,448                    

Disfigurement Guidance Centre                           |6,581                    

East Sutherland Council of Social Services              |15,116                   

Ettrick and Lauderdale Council of Social Service        |10,903                   

Gingerbread Scotland                                    |28,061                   

Glasgow City Aid                                        |6,770                    

Gordon Rural Area Information Network                   |21,963                   

Hamilton and East Kilbride Befriending Project          |28,363                   

Harris Council of Social Service                        |15,043                   

Highland Federation of Councils of Social Service       |3,641                    

Home-start Consultancy                                  |20,000                   

Intermediate Treatment Resource Centre                  |75,137                   

Inverness Voluntary Organisations Group                 |15,149                   

Islay and Jura Council of Voluntary Service             |25,182                   

Isle of Arran Council of Social Service                 |12,888                   

Kincardine and Deeside Council of Social Service        |26,098                   

Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes Association of Voluntary                                 

   Organisations                                        |5,016                    

Kyle and Carrick Council of Social Service              |10,852                   

Levenmouth Council of Social Service                    |2,454                    

Lewis Council of Social Service                         |29,935                   

Marriage Counselling Scotland                           |90,668                   

ME Association                                          |15,115                   

Midlothian Council of Social Service                    |6,195                    

Mobile Projects Association Scotland                    |15,875                   

Moray Youth Project                                     |54,000                   

National Children's Home                                |47,177                   

National Foster Care Association                        |20,925                   

National Institute for Social Work                      |8,200                    

National Schizophrenia Fellowship Scotland              |11,178                   

Nithsdale Council of Voluntary Service                  |15,070                   

North and West Sutherland Council of Social Service     |11,074                   

Penumbra                                                |22,512                   

Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service      |14,533                   

Planning and Development Unit, Tayside                  |6,000                    

Play Matters                                            |3,500                    

Plus Self Help Association                              |39,993                   

Positive Help                                           |20,000                   

Quarriers/SCAFA (Borders Development)                   |13,010                   

Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to                           

   Children                                             |133,074                  

Renfrew Council on Alcohol                              |25,000                   

Richmond Fellowship                                     |42,705                   

Ross and Cromarty Council of Social Service             |21,308                   

Roxburgh Association of Voluntary Service               |13,356                   

Samaritans                                              |5,000                    

Save the Children Fund (Renton Project)                 |42,000                   

Scottish Association for the Deaf                       |7,356                    

Scottish Association of Family Conciliation Services    |60,236                   

Scottish Association for Mental Health                  |104,304                  

Scottish Adventure Playground Association               |14,800                   

Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters      |32,112                   

Scottish Child and Family Alliance                      |58,685                   

Scottish Child Minding Association                      |40,492                   

Scottish Council for Single Parents                     |33,027                   

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations            |298,191                  

Scottish Home Visiting Resources and Training Unit      |25,814                   

Scottish Pre School Play Association                    |92,321                   

Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped           |31,500                   

Scottish Association for Care and Resettlement of                                 

   Offenders                                            |150,086                  

Scottish Action on Dementia                             |500                      

Scottish Child Law Centre                               |40,790                   

Scottish Council on Alcohol                             |31,550                   

Scottish Down Syndrome Association                      |8,005                    

Scottish Institute of Human Relations                   |16,010                   

Scottish Play Council                                   |2,000                    

Scottish Refugee Council                                |4,583                    

Scottish Spina Bifida Association                       |14,187                   

Scottish Spinal Cord Injury Association                 |13,869                   

Scottish Training Advice Service                        |28,500                   

Scottish Womens Aid                                     |111,520                  

Scottish Council for Single Homeless                    |8,078                    

Sense in Scotland                                       |54,684                   

Shetland Council of Social Service                      |22,862                   

Skye and Lochalsh Council of Social Service             |20,038                   

Speyside and District Council of Social Service         |18,071                   

Stepping Stones                                         |26,817                   

Stewartry Council for Voluntary Service                 |17,802                   

Still Birth and Neo-natal Death Society                 |2,750                    

Stirling Council of Social Service                      |18,266                   

Student Community Action Scotland Development                                     

   Unit                                                 |15,469                   

The Princes Trust                                       |8,000                    

Tweeddale Association of Voluntary Service              |9,437                    

Uist Council of Social Service                          |20,668                   

University of Glasgow                                   |21,300                   

University of Stirling                                  |5,624                    

Volunteer Development Scotland                          |60,031                   

Visualise                                               |10,000                   

Victim Support Scotland                                 |397,937                  

Voluntary Association of Nairn Groups                   |11,585                   

Voluntary Services Orkney                               |28,940                   

West Lothian Council of Social Service                  |17,890                   

West Lothian Voluntary Council for Disabled People      |28,574                   

Who Cares? Scotland                                     |30,769                   

Wigtown Council for Voluntary Service                   |13,418                   

Note: A number of organisations received more than one grant.                     

The following seven organisations will receive a lower level of grant in 1991-92 :



Organisation                      |Grant paid in|Grant likely               

                                  |1990-91 (£)|to be paid in              

                                                |1991-92 (£)              

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 9 grants                                                            

Age Concern (Scotland)            |47,700       |45,100                     

Marriage Counselling (Scotland)   |13,400       |11,000                     

Victim Support (Scotland)         |22,100       |20,600                     

                                                                            

Section 10(1) grants                                                        

SENSE                             |36,050       |31,250                     

Brittle Bone Society              |9,950        |5,200                      

Disfigurement Guidance Centre     |6,600        |3,150                      

Scottish Spina Bifida Association |14,200       |10,200                     

In addition, grants to 10 organisations were not renewed in 1991-92. Two section 9 grants were not renewed. These grants are based on three-year blocks of funding and are subject to renewal only in exceptional circumstances. Of the eight section 10(1) grants which were not renewed, five were for time-limited projects which had come to an end. In the other cases, one organisation did not submit an application for grant in 1991-92, one organisation was no longer representative following a reduction in membership and one organisation had largely completed the development work for which it was being funded.

The numbers of grants given to organisations, and grant which ceased, in each of the past five years are as follows :


Year                 |Number of|Number of          

                     |grants   |grants             

                               |which              

                               |ceased             

---------------------------------------------------

Section 9 grants                                   

1986-87              |15       |0                  

1987-88              |18       |0                  

1988-89              |17       |0                  

1989-90              |21       |0                  

1990-91              |19       |4                  

Section 10(1) grants                               

1986-87              |144      |12                 

1987-88              |136      |21                 

1988-89              |134      |24                 

1989-90              |122      |33                 

1990-91              |134      |11                 

Section 9 grants

1986-87 15 0

1987-88 18 0

1988-89 17 0

1989-90 21 0

1990-91 19 4

Section 10(1) grants

1986-87 144 12

1987-88 136 21

1988-89 134 24

1989-90 122 33

1990-91 134 11

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

Salmon

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the causes of the decline in rod-caught salmon during the 1990 season.

Mr. Curry : Only provisional rod data for 1990 are so far available. I am aware of reports that in some cases rod catches were lower than in previous years. The distribution and variation in catches is being analysed by scientists in the Fisheries Departments and by the National Rivers Authority. It is too early to draw firm conclusions. Year on year fluctuations in catches of migratory fish are normal and can be the result of a number of factors, including low water levels due to drought and higher than normal levels of natural mortality. It is not yet known whether there are any other abnormal factors in relation to the 1990 catches.

Tuberculosis

Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether his Ministry has carried out post mortems on rats found on farms where a herd


Column 314

outbreak of tuberculosis occurred to establish whether the rats themselves were carriers of the disease ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) if he will make a statement about the work his Ministry is carrying out into investigating the possibility that rats might be vectors of tuberculosis, passing the disease on to cattle ; (3) if he will list all the mammals which have been investigated by his Ministry as possible vectors of tuberculosis ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer : Rats are not examined as part of an investigation into a cattle herd breakdown. Past studies have looked at the possibility of rats and other wildlife being involved in the transmission of tuberculosis to cattle. This work was reviewed by Professor Dunnett in his report on badgers and bovine tuberculosis in 1986. No actual lesions have been revealed, other than in deer, and it has been concluded that where visible lesions are absent infected animals are not likely to be infectious. Appendix 8 of Professor Dunnett's report lists those species examined and information on wildlife examined is published annually in the reports on bovine tuberculosis in Badgers which are available in the Library of the House.

NATIONAL FINANCE

EC (Finance Ministers)

Mr. Conway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest informal meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Ministers.

Mr. Norman Lamont : The Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Community met informally on 10 to 12 May. The Governor of the Bank of England and I represented the United Kingdom. Discussion of economic and monetary union focused on the content of stage 2 and the transition to stage 3. Differing views emerged on a number of issues and, in particular, the date for the establishment of a European system of central banks.

I made it clear that the United Kingdom was not prepared to commit itself to moving to stage 3 without a further vote by the House of Commons in the future. There was some suggestion that it might be possible to meet the United Kingdom's concern on this point. I took the view that this was a constructive step in our direction but that the IGC was still at an early stage in negotiations and that many issues, including the content of stage 2, would have to be resolved before this question could be addressed in detail.

A proposal from the Presidency setting out frameworks for the approximation of VAT and excise duties in the Community was also discussed. I argued that the approximation of VAT rates at Community level was not necessary for the removal of fiscal frontiers in the single market and I also emphasised the importance to the United Kingdom of continuing to apply our existing zero rates. In the discussion of excise duties, I argued for high minimum duty rates or effective restrictions to take account of the important health and social concerns attached to alcohol and tobacco. In both discussions other Ministers also expressed their different concerns and no agreements were reached.


Column 315

The President of the Commission gave an account of his approach towards future financing issues in the Community over lunch. In a brief discussion of aid for Bangladesh, I urged that aid should be given through national channels and through the Community's existing budgetary resources.

Interest Rates

Mr. Lawson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each quarter from the first quarter of 1977 to the first quarter of 1991 inclusive, the total United Kingdom short-term interest rate, using (a) the retail prices index excluding mortgage interest payments and (b) the retail prices index as the deflator.

Mr. Norman Lamont : The information requested is in the following table :



                Percentage increase                         

                on a year earlier                           

               |3 month       |3 month                      

               |interbank rate|interbank rate               

               |less RPI      |less RPI                     

               |excluding                                   

               |mortgage                                    

               |interest                                    

               |payments                                    

------------------------------------------------------------

1977                                                        

Q1             |-3.8          |-3.9                         

Q2             |-8.0          |-8.0                         

Q3             |-8.3          |-8.3                         

Q4             |-6.9          |-6.5                         

                                                            

1978                                                        

Q1             |-3.3          |-2.6                         

Q2             |0.6           |1.2                          

Q3             |1.5           |1.6                          

Q4             |3.5           |3.3                          

                                                            

1979                                                        

Q1             |3.7           |2.8                          

Q2             |2.5           |1.4                          

Q3             |-0.9          |-1.6                         

Q4             |-0.7          |-1.3                         

                                                            

1980                                                        

Q1             |-0.3          |-1.2                         

Q2             |-2.8          |-3.6                         

Q3             |0.7           |-0.2                         

Q4             |1.2           |0.2                          

                                                            

1981                                                        

Q1             |0.6           |0.6                          

Q2             |0.2           |0.7                          

Q3             |2.2           |2.7                          

Q4             |3.1           |3.3                          

                                                            

1982                                                        

Q1             |3.3           |2.9                          

Q2             |4.0           |3.6                          

Q3             |3.5           |3.2                          

Q4             |2.9           |3.5                          

                                                            

1983                                                        

Q1             |4.6           |5.9                          

Q2             |5.3           |6.1                          

Q3             |4.6           |5.0                          

Q4             |4.3           |4.1                          

                                                            

1984                                                        

Q1             |4.6           |3.9                          

Q2             |4.1           |3.9                          

Q3             |6.7           |6.2                          

Q4             |5.8           |5.1                          

                                                            

1985                                                        

Q1             |7.8           |7.1                          

Q2             |7.0           |5.3                          

Q3             |6.0           |5.1                          

Q4             |6.1           |5.8                          

                                                            

1986                                                        

Q1             |7.6           |7.2                          

Q2             |6.7           |7.2                          

Q3             |6.5           |7.2                          

Q4             |7.6           |7.6                          

                                                            

1987                                                        

Q1             |6.7           |6.4                          

Q2             |5.4           |4.8                          

Q3             |6.0           |5.3                          

Q4             |5.0           |4.9                          

                                                            

1988                                                        

Q1             |5.1           |5.4                          

Q2             |3.8           |4.0                          

Q3             |5.9           |5.6                          

Q4             |7.0           |5.6                          

                                                            

1989                                                        

Q1             |7.1           |5.0                          

Q2             |7.1           |4.9                          

Q3             |7.7           |5.8                          

Q4             |8.5           |7.0                          

                                                            

1990                                                        

Q1             |8.5           |6.9                          

Q2             |6.5           |4.9                          

Q3             |5.5           |4.1                          

Q4             |4.2           |3.5                          

                                                            

1991                                                        

Q1             |4.3           |4.1                          

Interbank Rates

Mr. Lawson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each month from January 1986 to the present (a) the average three-month interbank rate, (b) the average three-month interbank rate in real terms, using the retail prices index excluding mortgage interest payments as the deflator and (c) the percentage growth in bank and building society lending over the same month in the previous year.

Mr. Norman Lamont : The information requested is in the following table :


Column 317


                     |Average 3 month     |Average 3 month     |Percentage growth in                     

                     |interbank rate      |interbank rate less |bank and building                        

                                          |RPI excluding mips  |society lending over                     

                                                               |same month in                            

                                                               |previous year                            

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1986                                                                                                     

January              |12.8                |7.6                 |16.2                                     

February             |12.7                |7.5                 |17.3                                     

March                |11.7                |7.4                 |16.6                                     

April                |10.5                |6.8                 |16.5                                     

May                  |10.2                |6.9                 |16.5                                     

June                 |9.8                 |6.2                 |17.2                                     

July                 |10.0                |6.4                 |17.8                                     

August               |9.8                 |6.2                 |18.4                                     

September            |10.1                |6.6                 |18.1                                     

October              |11.0                |7.5                 |18.8                                     

November             |11.2                |7.6                 |19.6                                     

December             |11.4                |7.6                 |20.2                                     

                                                                                                         

1987                                                                                                     

January              |11.1                |7.2                 |20.5                                     

February             |10.9                |6.9                 |19.8                                     

March                |10.0                |5.9                 |19.1                                     

April                |9.8                 |6.0                 |19.6                                     

May                  |8.8                 |4.8                 |19.5                                     

June                 |8.9                 |5.2                 |19.3                                     

July                 |9.2                 |5.3                 |19.6                                     

August               |10.0                |6.1                 |18.9                                     

September            |10.2                |6.4                 |20.1                                     

October              |10.0                |5.9                 |19.3                                     

November             |9.0                 |4.8                 |18.9                                     

December             |8.8                 |4.7                 |19.1                                     

                                                                                                         

1988                                                                                                     

January              |9.0                 |5.1                 |20.1                                     

February             |9.3                 |5.5                 |20.0                                     

March                |8.9                 |4.9                 |20.9                                     

April                |8.3                 |3.9                 |21.9                                     

May                  |8.0                 |3.5                 |22.3                                     

June                 |8.9                 |4.0                 |22.9                                     

July                 |10.6                |5.3                 |23.6                                     

August               |11.4                |6.1                 |24.1                                     

September            |12.2                |6.6                 |24.3                                     

October              |12.0                |6.6                 |24.7                                     

November             |12.3                |6.9                 |24.6                                     

December             |13.1                |7.6                 |24.6                                     

                                                                                                         

1989                                                                                                     

January              |13.1                |7.2                 |24.5                                     

February             |13.0                |6.9                 |24.3                                     

March                |13.1                |7.0                 |24.3                                     

April                |13.1                |6.8                 |23.5                                     

May                  |13.1                |6.7                 |23.3                                     

June                 |14.2                |7.8                 |22.5                                     

July                 |13.9                |7.7                 |21.6                                     

August               |13.9                |7.7                 |21.9                                     

September            |14.0                |7.8                 |22.1                                     

October              |15.0                |8.4                 |21.4                                     

November             |15.1                |8.5                 |20.9                                     

December             |15.1                |8.5                 |21.2                                     

                                                                                                         

1990                                                                                                     

January              |15.2                |8.5                 |20.4                                     

February             |15.1                |8.4                 |20.7                                     

March                |15.3                |8.5                 |20.4                                     

April                |15.2                |6.8                 |19.7                                     

May                  |15.2                |6.5                 |19.3                                     

June                 |15.0                |6.3                 |18.7                                     

July                 |14.9                |6.1                 |17.7                                     

August               |15.0                |5.4                 |16.7                                     

September            |14.9                |4.9                 |15.7                                     

October              |14.0                |4.1                 |15.5                                     

November             |13.6                |4.1                 |15.4                                     

December             |13.8                |4.4                 |13.8                                     

                                                                                                         

1991                                                                                                     

January              |14.0                |5.0                 |13.1                                     

February             |13.3                |4.3                 |12.4                                     

March                |12.4                |3.7                 |11.1                                     



Column 319

Tobacco Taxation

Sir David Price : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made towards the harmonisation of tobacco taxation within the European Community ; and what effect this will have on the current level of tobacco taxation in the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 16 May 1991] : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Conway).

There has been no agreement on tobacco tax rates and the Government view remains that centrally imposed tax harmonisation is unnecessary for completion of the single market. The United Kingdom remains free to set its own duty rates.


Column 320

Civil Research and Development

Mr. Wray : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 8 May, Official Report, column 461, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, what are the comparable figures of per capita spending on civil research and development in 1989 for Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan and Sweden.

Mr. Maples [holding answer 16 May 1991] : The information is not available in the form requested. Relevant information currently available for these countries relating to the years 1984 to 1990 is published in table 6 of the OECD publication "Main Science and Technology Indicators 1990(2)", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.


 

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