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Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will give for each available year from 1978 the energy consumption, broken down by fuel, of the buildings occupied by the Cabinet Office, expressing the figures in (a) cash terms, (b) 1990-91 money terms and (c) units of consumption
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for electricity in kilowatt hours, gas in therms, liquid fuel in litres and solid fuel in tonnes ; and if he will give the square footage of accommodation to which these figures relate.The Prime Minister : The figures requested are available only in cash and 1990-91 money terms and only for the following years :
|Electricity |Gas |Liquid fuel |Total of
|accommodation<1>
|£ |£ |£ |in sq. ft.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |268,523 |74,797 |56,511 |616,899
|<2>(330,693) |<2>(92,114) |<2>(69,594)
1988-89 |294,485 |53,904 |39,906 |586,843
|<2>(337,582) |<2>(61,782) |<2>(44,738)
1989-90 |295,126 |56,575 |42,000 |545,861
|<2>(317,998) |<2>(60,959) |<2>(45,255)
1990-91 |300,542 |58,033 |48,988 |547,481
<1> As at 30 September of start year.
<2> 1990-91 money terms.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will give the number of dedicated energy managers in the Cabinet Office and the number of person- years devoted to energy management in the latest year.
The Prime Minister : The Cabinet Office has one part-time energy manager.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will give for each available year from 1978 the amount invested in improving the energy efficiency of the Cabinet Office in (a) cash terms and (b) 1990-91 money terms.
The Prime Minister : The only information available relates to 1990- 91 when approximately £78,000 was spent on measures aimed at improving energy efficiency in the Cabinet Office. This excludes expenditure on planned maintenance and the use of energy-efficient lighting in refurbishment programmes which is not separately identifiable from other costs.
Council of Europe
Mr. Burns : To ask the Prime Minister whether he has made any changes to the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the 43rd session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The Prime Minister : At the request of the Leader of the Opposition the representatives and substitutes for the Labour party on the delegation to the 43rd session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will now be :
The hon. Members for: |Representatives
------------------------------------------------------------------
Wentworth |Mr. Hardy
Wallsend |Mr. Garrett
Tooting |Mr. Cox
Liverpool Riverside |Mr. Parry
Wansbeck |Mr. Thompson
Lord Kirkhill
The hon. Members for: |Substitutes
Warley, East |Mr. Faulds
Newham, North West |Mr. Banks
Cunningham, South |Mr. Lambie
Falkirk, East |Mr. Ewing
Manchester, Central |Mr. Litherland
Don Valley |Mr. Redmond
Newport, East |Mr. Hughes
In addition, I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames) from the Government Benches as a substitute delegate in succession to my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord), taking effect from 28 June 1991.
Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the invitations to official functions at No. 10 Downing street to which Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi has been invited since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 May 1991] : Mr. Bedi attended a general reception at No. 10 Downing street on 1 December 1986.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Speeches
45. Mr. Hind : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the criteria for placing in the Library speeches made by Members of Parliament.
Mr. MacGregor : The texts of non-parliamentary ministerial speeches and of speeches by Opposition Front-Bench spokesmen are received and filed by the Library as a matter of course, where these are issued by Government Departments or by party headquarters. Texts of speeches by the Leader of the Opposition are normally received from his office in the House.
Non-parliamentary speeches by other Members are sometimes obtained on request for a Member, or in anticipation of demand by Members.
The Gulf
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hours in (a) Government time, (b) official Opposition time, (c) Scottish National party time, (d) private Members' time and (e) statement time have been devoted to matters relating to the Gulf since15 January.
Mr. MacGregor : The information requested is as follows : (a) 6 hours ;
(b) 6 hours ;
(c) 3 hours ;
(d) 3 hours ;
and 11 hours on private notice questions and statements.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Beef Carcases
Mr. Speller : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make representations to other EC countries seeking the prosecution of those exporting
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beef carcases which contain illegal drugs and the withdrawal from those convicted of all rights to export beef.Mr. Maclean : We will continue to give our full support to any steps taken by the authorities concerned to deal with the illegal use of veterinary medicines in those EC member states where it is found to occur.
Consultation
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of those organisations which his Department consults on Government or European Community legislation or directives relating to the horticultural industry.
Mr. Curry : The Department consults a wide range of organisations on a wide range of matters affecting horticulture. In order to save costs and to reduce the burden on these organisations, we consider the need for consultation in each case and consult only those organisations with an interest in the relevant proposal.
Sports Turf Management
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much his Department contributes towards research into sports turf management ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The Department does not contribute financially towards research into sports turf management. However, ADAS is actively seeking opportunities for commercial research and development with a number of organisations that are involved in this area of work.
Agriculture Council
Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the meeting of the Agriculture Council on 21 and 22 May ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made to the House earlier today.
Dogs
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish details of all dogs imported into the United Kingdom, by breed or description, age and sex for each of the last five years.
Mr. Maclean : The information is not held in the form requested.
Farming Statistics
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers, partners, directors and farmworkers were employed on a county-by-county basis in England in June 1990.
Mr. Gummer : The information requested is given in the table. Data are taken from the June 1990 agricultural census and hence exclude estimates for minor holdings not in the annual census.
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Distribution of farmers and workers by county
June 1990 census (England)
|Principal farmers|Other partners or|Spouses of |All other workers|Total
|or partners |directors |farmers/partners
|or directors
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England
Avon |1,619 |577 |559 |3,837 |6,592
Bedfordshire |995 |454 |360 |2,015 |3,824
Berkshire |643 |219 |221 |1,529 |2,612
Buckinghamshire |1,529 |625 |471 |2,460 |5,085
Cambridgeshire |2,955 |1,371 |1,002 |7,345 |12,673
Cheshire |3,537 |1,326 |1,409 |5,111 |11,383
Cleveland |364 |154 |118 |477 |1,113
Cornwall |5,771 |1,790 |2,408 |5,366 |15,335
Cumbria |5,324 |2,235 |2,389 |4,723 |14,671
Derbyshire |3,071 |1,221 |1,112 |3,331 |8,735
Devon |9,175 |2,897 |3,920 |9,090 |25,082
Dorset |2,438 |932 |990 |4,269 |8,629
Durham |1,832 |735 |700 |1,984 |5,251
East Sussex |1,775 |587 |671 |3,664 |6,697
Essex |2,844 |1,437 |1,036 |7,145 |12,462
Gloucestershire |2,608 |920 |952 |4,107 |8,587
Greater London |346 |174 |138 |1,192 |1,850
Greater Manchester |1,208 |497 |435 |1,484 |3,624
Hampshire |2,374 |903 |848 |6,929 |11,054
Hereford and Worcester |5,479 |2,050 |2,079 |9,922 |19,530
Hertfordshire |974 |426 |339 |2,050 |3,789
Humberside |2,918 |1,566 |853 |6,497 |11,834
Isle of Wight |419 |144 |172 |792 |1,527
Isles of Scilly |55 |8 |29 |77 |169
Kent |3,336 |1,366 |1,192 |16,393 |22,287
Lancashire |4,545 |2,010 |1,938 |7,203 |15,696
Leicestershire |2,193 |969 |721 |3,226 |7,109
Lincolnshire |4,835 |2,463 |1,729 |13,252 |22,279
Merseyside |407 |178 |160 |871 |1,616
Norfolk |4,075 |1,700 |1,271 |13,580 |20,626
North Yorkshire |7,287 |3,214 |2,590 |10,836 |23,927
Northamptonshire |1,586 |745 |513 |2,365 |5,209
Northumberland |1,989 |934 |677 |2,911 |6,511
Nottinghamshire |1,573 |801 |500 |3,153 |6,027
Oxfordshire |1,654 |684 |566 |3,491 |6,395
Shropshire |4,057 |1,578 |1,642 |5,695 |12,972
Somerset |4,697 |1,664 |1,898 |6,604 |14,863
South Yorkshire |1,183 |530 |412 |1,572 |3,697
Staffordshire |3,652 |1,339 |1,440 |5,012 |11,443
Suffolk |2,823 |1,335 |956 |7,817 |12,931
Surrey |1,360 |411 |514 |3,701 |5,986
Tyne and Wear |229 |91 |72 |391 |783
Warwickshire |1,931 |770 |665 |3,043 |6,409
West Midlands |368 |152 |134 |752 |1,406
West Sussex |1,735 |632 |670 |6,523 |9,560
West Yorkshire |2,488 |904 |845 |3,066 |7,303
Wiltshire |2,362 |921 |817 |4,533 |8,633
Consultancy Contracts
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount spent by the intervention board in the 1990- 91 financial year on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the intervention board in 1990-91, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
Mr. Curry : This is a matter for the chief executive, who will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount spent by his Department in the 1990-91 financial year on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded
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by his Department in 1990-91, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm, the subject of the assignment and, if appropriate, the executive agency for which the contract was carried out.Mr. Curry : Our expenditure on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases in the 1990-91 financial year was £4,556,695. A list of contracts awarded in 1990-91 is as follows :
Management consultancy contracts awarded in 1990-91 Company and contract--
Touche Ross--Dairy Crest Foods : Monitoring of the agreement between MAFF, the Milk Marketing Board and the Dairy Trades Federation KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock--Training needs analysis
Training Review
Human resource development project
Assistance with efficiency scrutiny on staff attitudes
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Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte--Regional structure review : administration of grants and subsidiesIT computer consultancy contracts awarded in 1990-91
Company and contract--
Asterisk Computer Services--Development of food science sub-strategy
Mouncey and Partners--Support on business analysis
PA Consulting Services--Support on business analysis
University of Bristol--Development of national food survey FI Group Ltd.-- Development of national food survey
Ernst and Young--Support for the accounts payable/purchase order project
Touche Ross--CRAMM security review
Softlab--CRAMM security review
Asterisk Computer Services--Development of R and D system for chief scientists group
TRIAD Special Systems--Design of HECTOR personnel system Ingres--Conversion of applications programs for fisheries Kinderquest Ltd.--Support on the child care nursery project D M Shaw--Support of the post implementation review
IBM (UK) Ltd.--Operations productivity study
TRIAD Special Systems--Development of applications software for pesticides safety division
Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte--Video conferencing
EOSYS--Development of local area network strategy
Grafton--Development of ADAS sub-strategy
Asterisk Computer Services--Development of ADAS sub-strategy TRIAD Special Systems--Development of ADAS sub-strategy
Tech Op--Development of ADAS sub-strategy
Exeter University--Development of ADAS sub-strategy
PA Consulting Services--Development of ADAS sub-strategy Price Waterhouse-- Development of ADAS sub-strategy
Intergraph--Development of ADAS sub-strategy
TRIAD Special Systems--Support for regional administration project Asterisk Computer Services--Support to regional administration project
Quanta Learning Systems--Support to regional administration project
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Energy Efficiency
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give for each available year from 1978 the amount invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in (a) cash terms and (b) 1990-91 money terms.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his earlier question on 25 June 1990 at col. 29. In the 1990-91 financial year £231,038 was spent on specific energy saving measures by this Department. This sum does not reflect the cost of other works which have led to energy saving alongside other benefits but in which this element cannot be specifically identified. Nor does it include expenditure undertaken by the Property Services Agency. Figures for years prior to 1989 -90 are not available.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give for each available year from 1978 the energy consumption, broken down by fuel, of the buildings occupied by his Department, expressing the figures in (a) cash terms, (b) 1990-91 money terms and (c) units of consumption for electricity in kilowatt hours, gas in therms, liquid fuel in litres and solid fuel in tonnes ; and if he will give the square footage of accommodation to which these figures relate.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his earlier question on 5 June 1990 at col. 503. The information requested is not yet available for the 1990-91 financial year. The area of accommodation occupied by this Department at the end of 1990 was 595,665 sq m, that is, about 6.4 million sq ft.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of energy audits carried out in his Department in the past five years and for each audit a statement of its main conclusions.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his earlier question on 5 June 1990 at column 503. Since then, five further energy audits have been carried out. In London the consultants' report recommended changes to tariffs, improvements to heating controls and changes to time switches, metering arrangements and electrical capacities. At Slough recommendations centred on improvements to lighting, radiators and windows. In the Ministry's South Eastern region an audit proposed draught proofing and the insulation of plant and water heaters. In Midlands and Western region two audits were carried out which recommended tariff and time clock changes, modifications to and installation of thermostats, time switches and control systems, boiler adjustments and fitting energy efficient lighting.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of dedicated energy managers in his Department and the number of person-years devoted to energy management in the latest year.
Mr. Curry : The position in the Department has not changed since the answer given to the hon. Member on 5 June 1990 at column 503.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Hostages
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest information he has concerning the whereabouts of John McCarthy ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We receive a number of reports on the whereabouts of John McCarthy, Terry Waite, and Jack Mann but we have no definite information as to their exact whereabouts at any particular time. We wish these and all other hostages to be released as soon as possible.
Ascension Island
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, column 459, if he will enlarge his review of the problem of feral cats on Ascension Island to include that of rats.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The Non-Governmental Organisations' Forum for Nature Conservation in the United Kingdom dependent territories is planning to assess the impact of feral cats and rats on Ascension Island's bird life. We look forward to studying its conclusions.
St. Helena
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the rates of pay for make-work on St. Helena and the relevant rate of inflation for the last 10 years.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The weekly wage for workers engaged on the three- day work scheme is £22.86. The tables below record the percentage change in wages paid under the three-day work scheme since annual reviews were introduced on 1 April 1988. The retail prices index is given since 1981.
Date of review of three-day work
scheme wage and percentage
change from previous year
|per cent.
---------------------------------
1 April 1988 |4
1 April 1989 |3
1 April 1990 |3
1 April 1991 |0
Annual percentage change in retail price index from previous year Year<1> |Per cent. ------------------------------ 1981 |17.3 1982 |12.2 1983 |8.7 1984 |9.5 1985 |4.7 1986 |-2.0 1987 |4.2 1988 |3.7 1989 |4.9 1990 |2.2 <1>All figures based on 4th quarter.
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EC Council of Ministers
Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 3 June and Ministers are likely to discuss VAT and excise rates, in particular VAT special schemes for mail order and exempt bodies. Discussion on technical systems is not expected.
The Telecommunications Council will meet on 3 June and Ministers will consider a proposal for a decision to establish the second phase of the TEDIS programme, (trade, electronics data interchange system). The programme proposed includes actions on standardisation, legal aspects and security of EDI measures. It is expected that a statement will be made outlining the progress of discussions with interested parties on a memorandum of agreement for the promotion of the MAC technology standards for satellite broadcast. Ministers will also re-examine proposals for a Council directive on frequencies for the introduction of cordless digital telecommunications (DECT). There will also be a proposal for a Council recommendation on the co-ordinated introduction of cordless digital telecommunications. A common position has been reached on these measures, which are for adoption at this meeting. Ministers will consider Commission reports, on the results of the public consultation on the Green Paper on satellite communications, progress on a Green Paper on postal services which has been in preparation since September 1989 and a draft proposal for discussion on the proposed directive on the adoption of standardised international area codes.
The Health Council will meet on 4 June and Ministers will discuss the Commission's proposals for amending the existing directive on the labelling of cigarette packets to include other tobacco products, (this amendment also includes a ban on the marketing of oral snuff), a proposal for a programme of action against AIDS, a declaration on the use of drugs in sport, actions for the reduction of drug abuse and a report on the Europe against cancer programme. Statements are expected to be made by the Commission on progress on the establishment of a public health committee, the European year of nutrition and co-operation between the EC and World Health Organisation.
The Culture Council will meet on 7 June and Ministers will consider a draft resolution on the development of theatre in Europe, training of arts administrators, temporary entry into the United States for European artists, and draft conclusions on copyright and neighbouring rights. Ministers will also consider a progress report on the implementation of the resolutions of 18 May 1989 concerning the promotions of books and reading, and the nomination of Navplion as European city of culture for 1997. Ministers will discuss the protection of national art treasures under the single market post-1992 and a Commission report on priority projects in the cultural field.
The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 10 June and Ministers will discuss G24 assistance to eastern Europe and European investment bank lending outside the Community with a view to examining the possibility of extending EIB operations to other countries and regions.
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Ministers will also consider the proposal on passenger baggage and possibly will continue discussing the abolition of fiscal frontiers. A directive on money laundering may be formally adopted. The EIB governors (12 Finance Ministers) will be having their annual meeting in the morning on 10 June. In the afternoon, the ministerial meeting of the inter-governmental conference on economic and monetary union will hold a discussion on a draft report by the Presidency for the European Council. On 11 June, the ministerial inter-governmental conference will hold an inter-institutional meeting with the European Parliament.The Environment Council will meet on 13 and 14 June and Ministers will consider proposals for regulations on the importation of certain furs and the northern seas action programme (NORSPA) and the proposed directive on nitrate. Ministers will discuss proposals for a directive on habitats and its associated regulation on action relating to the environment (ACNAT), regulations concerning environmental labelling, and an environment fund (LIFE).
The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 17 and 18 June. Ministers will prepare for the European Council on 28 and 29 June and review progress in the EC/EFTA negotiations on a European economic area in preparation for a joint meeting of EC/EFTA Ministers in the margins of the FAC. Ministers may consider the development of relations between the Community and dependent territories of member states and are likely to discuss political developments in Albania and EC/Albania relations. Ministers may also discuss the question of non-European participation in the European energy charter and the future integration of the Canaries, Madeira and Azores into the EC. There will also be a ministerial session of the inter-government conference on political union on 17 and 18 June.
The Internal Market Council will meet on 18 and 19 June and Ministers will discuss a number of important issues including insurance company accounts, the baggage regulation, public procurement, the Intrastat regulations and the draft Council regulation on trans-European networks.
The Transport Council will meet on 20 and 21 June and Ministers will discuss, and possibly adopt, proposals on the mutual recognition of cockpit crew licences, technical harmonisation of aviation requirements, harmonised driving licences, roadworthiness tests for cars, and the extension of inland waterway cabotage. Agreement may also be reached on proposals for the development of Community railways, public service contracts and the Loran C radionavigation system. Ministers are likely to spend some considerable time on the problem of third country transit, and may also discuss bus and coach liberalisation and road safety (including seat belt wearing). The Labour and Social Affairs Council will meet on 25 and 26 June and Ministers are likely to discuss the proposed directives on medical assistance on board ships, health and safety on construction sites, proof of employment contract, protection of pregnant workers, protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos, atypical work (article 118A), and, possibly, working time. Ministers will also consider a report on the free movement of workers between Spain and Portugal and other member states. The decisions on the PETRA youth training programme and on the European year of health and safety are also likely to be discussed. The second day of the Council is expected to focus particularly
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on youth issues : items which may be included are the youth for Europe programme and a resolution on priority measures for young people.The Agriculture Council will meet on 25 and 26 June and Ministers will discuss health conditions for the production and placing on the market of fishery products, and live bivalve molluscs, veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries, health rules for the production and placing on the market of fresh meat, certification aspects of food quality and geographical indications, and EC-accepted plant protection products. Ministers may also continue discussions on the 1991 agriculture price-fixing proposals and organic production of agricultural products.
The European Council will meet in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 June. Heads of Government will discuss progress in the inter-governmental conferences on political and economic and monetary union. There is likely to be discussion on the single market, GATT, and a range of international and EC external issues.
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