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Mr. Leigh : Government expenditure on support for civil space activities in the last five years has been :
Year |£ million ------------------------------------ 1986-87 |116 1987-88 |122 1988-89 |137 1989-90 |143 1990-91 |148
Medicines
Dr. Hampson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received from United Kingdom generic manufacturers (a) not in favour of any supplementary patent provision for medicinal products and (b) in support of the principle of supplementary protection but with a shorter period than that proposed by the European Commission, since 12 June.
Mr. Leigh : The only representation we have had from United Kingdom generic manufacturers since 12 June was when the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for
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Industry and Technology met representatives of the European Generics Forum on 27 June. The representatives were not in favour of any supplementary patent protection for medicinal products.Dr. Hampson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the generic manufacturers who belong to the Standard Formulary Medicines Register of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, expressing support for the EC proposal on patent term restoration for medicinal products ; and what proportion these manufacturers represent of generic sales to the national health service.
Mr. Leigh : The Standard Formulary Medicines Register of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has expressed support for the EC proposal subject to changes to make it easier for generics manufacturers to carry out development work before expiry of protection. I do not have information on the proportion of generic sales to the national health service represented by the companies on the register.
Toy Rockets
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about his inquiries into the safety of and risks posed by large toy rockets now on sale in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Leigh : We have tested these rockets and have found them to be safe in normal use provided that the users obey the instructions and stand at a reasonable distance. The Civil Aviation Authority has advised us that the rockets are unlikely to damage aircraft coming into land, but that they could distract the pilot. We are looking into what might be done to restrict the use of such products within five miles of a major airport.
Accountancy Bodies
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers he has to seek revisions to the royal charters of the accountancy bodies.
Mr. Redwood : My right hon. Friend has no express power to initiate revisions to the royal charters of the accountancy bodies. However, he will have certain powers under part II of the Companies Act 1989 relating to compliance with the criteria for recognition, international obligations and competition, the exercise of which might result in changes being sought to the royal charters of the charters recognised supervisory bodies and recognised qualifying bodies. In addition, the exercise of the Secretary of State's functions under the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Companies Act 1985, in relation to insolvency practitioners and large partnerships, respectively, could prompt the chartered accountancy bodies to seek revisions to their charters.
Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions in the past five years BCCI failed to file its annual accounts with the authorities within the statutory time limits.
Mr. Redwood : The Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA (BCCI) has established places of business
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in both London and Glasgow and has registered with the registrars of companies in both England and Wales and in Scotland. At no time during the past five years has the bank failed to deliver its accounts to either registrar within the statutory time limits.Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will appoint departmental inspectors under the Companies Act to investigate BCCI.
Mr. Redwood : There is already an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into the company and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has just announced an independent inquiry into the supervision under the Banking Acts of Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA. There would appear to be no purpose in having another inquiry under the Companies Acts which would inevitably overlap with those already in train.
Auditing Standards
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers he has under which he can launch an independent investigation of the auditing standards of individual companies.
Mr. Redwood : I have no power to investigate the standard of work performed by a company's auditors, although the matter may arise in the course of an investigation into the affairs of the company. However, under the Companies Act 1989, which will provide a new supervisory system for company auditors, a recognised supervisory body must have effective arrangements for the investigation of complaints against persons eligible under its rules to be appointed as company auditors, including complaints referred to it by my Department.
Supervisory Bodies
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review proxy voting procedures under (a) the Building Societies Act and (b) bodies offered recognition as supervisory bodies under the Companies Act 1989.
Mr. Redwood : Questions arising under the Building Societies Act 1986 are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. No supervisory bodies have yet been recognised under the Companies Act 1989. All matters relevant to recognition of a body as a supervisory body under the Companies Act 1989 will be taken into account before recognition.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to seek Parliament's approval of the supervisory body applications made by the accountancy trade association.
Mr. Redwood : The use of the power in paragraph 2 of schedule II to the Companies Act 1989, to recognise supervisory bodies, is not subject to parliamentary approval.
Non-audit Fees
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the statutory instrument relating to publication of non-audit fees will come into force.
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Mr. Redwood : I expect to make these regulations soon, but no decision has been taken on the date on which they will come into force.
Securities and Investments Board
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the procedure and responsibility for the appointment of the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board.
Mr. Redwood : The chairman of the Securities and Investments Board is appointed by the Secretary of State and the Governor of the Bank of England acting jointly.
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about his responsibilities in respect of the operations policy and expenditure of the Securities and Investments Board.
Mr. Redwood : The operations, policy and expenditure of the Securities and Investments Board are the responsibility of the board. Section 117 of the Financial Services Act requires SIB to report at least once in each year to the Secretary of State on the discharge of functions transferred to it under section 114 of the Act, and requires the Secretary of State to lay copies of the reports before Parliament.
Energy Consumption
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 391, what proportion of the global billing of the Property Services Agency for energy consumption was attributed to his Department in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Mr. Leigh : I do not have this information.
Insolvency
Mr. Graham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in Scotland and Strathclyde are in receivership ; and if he will name them.
Mr. Redwood : There are 716 Scottish companies in receivership. Figures can be supplied only for Scotland as a whole and cannot be broken down into any specific region. It is not possible to supply a list of company names within the parliamentary question timescale, but the chief executive of Companies House executive agency will write direct to the hon. Gentleman, enclosing the list, as soon as possible.
Computer Security
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to encourage greater computer security (a) in government and (b) in the private sector ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 15 July 1991] : The DTI is supporting a three-year programme, directed mainly at smaller and medium- sized enterprises, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of security in all aspects of information technology. A major purpose of the awareness programme is to stimulate business users of computer systems into examining their security requirements and to help them adopt appropriate practical solutions that meet their needs effectively.
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The campaign, now in its second year, provides advice and guidance on the measures which businesses can take to combat both deliberate and accidental threats to their computer systems. A key message of the campaign is that action taken to prevent such threats is more effective than dealing with breaches of security after they have occurred.The DTI is also involved in promoting greater awareness of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and of its implications for business. In a further initiative, launched on 1 May 1991, DTI has introduced a national scheme for the evaluation and certification of the security of IT systems and products. The purpose of the scheme is to promote an efficient and effective market in IT security, offering benefits to users and vendors alike. The scheme provides for independent security evaluation services to be made available to all sectors of industry, commerce and government. These services are backed by a certification scheme whereby evaluations performed by commercial bodies licensed as commercial licensed evaluation facilities (CLEFs), are certified as meeting the necessary standard. A primary objective of the scheme is to provide for international mutual recognition of evaluation certificates and by such means to make the market place an international one, with a wider choice of certified products available.
The DTI, in consultation with other Government Departments, is now promoting co-ordination of IT security studies, and research and development activities across European Community programmes. It is thus seeking to ensure that the security needs of business within the soon to be completed internal market can be met.
Within government, a range of security measures has been developed to protect computers and the data that they process according to an assessment of the threats they face. It is the responsibility of individual Departments to apply these measures to their own systems, taking account of interdepartmentally agreed guidance. This guidance is kept under constant review.
Youth Training
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) the number of youth training places in his Department and (b) the number of places occupied in May for each of the years 1989, 1990 and the current year.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 18 July 1991] : The information is as follows :
|1989|1990|1991
-------------------------------------------
Number of places |40 |40 |24
Places occupied in May |9 |19 |24
PRIME MINISTER
Greenhouse Gases
Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to stabilise the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to combat global warming.
The Prime Minister : The Environment White Paper (Cm. 1200) sets out the first set of measures to limit the
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United Kingdom's carbon dioxide emissions and we will publish a report in the autumn showing how our efforts are being put into practice.Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to raise nuclear non-proliferation with his Chinese counterpart.
The Prime Minister : As a depository state of the nuclear non- proliferation treaty, it is our policy to take every opportunity both to raise the importance of nuclear non-proliferation with all non-parties to the NPT and to lobby them to accede to the NPT as soon as possible.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's current assessment of the capability of (a) Israel and (b) Pakistan to make a nuclear weapon.
The Prime Minister : We have no firm evidence either to confirm or to deny rumours that Israel may have a nuclear weapons programme. As regards Pakistan, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave him on 27 February at column 497.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what recent ministerial meetings have taken place with other depository powers of the non- proliferation treaty ; what matters relating to the treaty were discussed ; and what future meetings he proposes to hold in 1991.
The Prime Minister : The Government attach great importance to nuclear non-proliferation and the subject is frequently raised during bilateral ministerial meetings with the United States and the Soviet Union. However, no recent ministerial meetings specifically to discuss the NPT have taken place nor are any currently planned. Regular trilateral and bilateral meetings of the depository powers of the NPT take place at official level, most recently in June.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Graham : To ask the Prime Minister how many Government Ministers have visited Renfrew, West and Inverclyde on official business since 1987 ; and if he will list the events and the Ministers concerned.
The Prime Minister : The information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Colin Wallace
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will institute a full review, under the direction of the head of the civil service, of the case of Mr. Colin Wallace with a view to (a) bringing to book those responsible for conspiring to pervert the due process of the Civil Service Appeal Board, (b) ensuring that those responsible for misleading Ministers so as to mislead Parliament are disciplined and (c) that safeguards are put in place to prevent a repetition of these events.
The Prime Minister : No. I do not accept the hon. Member's description of what occurred. Safeguards are already in place to prevent a repetition of what went wrong.
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Army Boards of Inquiry
Mr. John Browne : To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward legislation to require Army boards of inquiry in cases which may lead to claims for compensation (a) to provide full discovery of documents to those seeking to prove negligence, (b) to take evidence in person from all relevant witnesses and (c) to recommend ex gratia payments in special circumstances.
The Prime Minister : There are no plans to introduce such legislation.
Migrant Workers
Dr. Godman : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow on 1 July, Official Report, column 35, when the hon. Gentleman can expect to receive a letter on migrant workers ; and if he will place a copy of his letter in the Library.
The Prime Minister : I have replied to the hon. Member today.
Government Expenditure
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what are the sizes of the total committed and target expenditure by Her Majesty's Government for the next financial year on (a) the environment, (b) overseas aid and (c) defence.
The Prime Minister : Table 4.4 of the statistical supplement (Cm. 1520) sets out the latest plans for central Government expenditure on environmental services, overseas aid and defence in 1992-93. Data on local authority plans for expenditure on environmental services in 1992-93 are not available.
EC Intervention Grain
Mr. Michael : To ask the Prime Minister whether he will make it his policy to press for the grain stored by the EC to be used to combat the plight of people who currently face starvation in Africa.
The Prime Minister : The European Commission is already using substantial quantities of grain drawn from intervention stocks to meet the needs of the special programme of food aid for Africa which was agreed in May. We strongly support this, when appropriate cereals are available and their use is cost-effective. Many surplus commodities held in stock, including cereals such as barley are, however, not generally suitable for use as emergency food aid.
Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 17 July, what was the actual date on which he was told of the fraud.
The Prime Minister : I was informed on 28 June.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 17 July, what action he took, with regard to BCCI, following the information given to him that there was fraud.
The Prime Minister : The action, following the uncovering of the widespread fraud, was for the Bank of England, using its statutory powers. The Government entirely supported the action they proposed to take.
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CIVIL SERVICE
Next Steps Agencies
40. Mr. Lester : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many next steps agency chief executives have been appointed through open competition.
Mr. Renton : The Government's objective in appointing agency chief executives is to get the right person for the job. Open competition is now the presumption and 29 of the current chief executives have been recruited in this way.
Equal Opportunities
41. Mr. Fraser : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish his Department's equal opportunity policy ; and if he will make a statement about the way it is monitored.
Mr. Renton : My Department's basic equal opportunities policy statement is made available to all members of staff. The position is kept under review.
Recruitment
42. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he next expects to meet civil service trade union leaders to discuss methods of recruitment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton : I meet civil service trade union representatives from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.
Occupational Health Service
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the occupational health service as an executive agency ; and whether the cost was borne by the parent Department or the new agency.
Mr. Renton : This is a matter for the chief executive and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member direct.
THE ARTS
Southern Arts
29. Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Minister for the Arts what proportion of the Arts Council grant in 1991-92 has been allocated to Southern Arts ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton : In 1991-92 Southern Arts received 6.3 per cent. of the total Arts Council grant to the 12 English regional arts associations.
Arts Companies (Income)
30. Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Minister for the Arts what proportion of the income of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal National theatre, Royal Opera house, and English National Opera is now raised by the companies themselves.
Mr. Renton : In 1990-91 the Royal Shakespeare Company raised 64 per cent. of its income ; the Royal
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National theatre 52 per cent. ; the Royal Opera house 63 per cent. ; and English National Opera 47 per cent. The comparable figures for 1980-81 were : Royal Shakespeare Company 62 per cent. ; Royal National theatre 35 per cent. ; Royal Opera house 48 per cent. ; and English National Opera 30 per cent. in 1983-84, the earliest year in which comparable figures are available for that company.Local Authorities (Arts Spending)
31. Mrs. Currie : To ask the Minister for the Arts what advice he gives local authorities on their expenditure on arts and libraries.
Mr. Renton : The Government believe that local authorities themselves are best placed to take decisions on arts and libraries expenditure in the light of local needs, priorities and resources. In the case of libraries, local authorities have a duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service and as part of my oversight of their services I issue guidance on good practice. I also work with the regional arts associations, both directly and through the Arts Council, to promote local authority support for the arts.
European Art Objects
32. Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he plans any discussions with his EC counterparts on a policy towards art objects of European origin held in museums and art galleries in member states.
Mr. Renton : I most recently met my European Community counterparts in Luxembourg on 7 June. At that meeting the European Commission indicated that it planned to issue proposals on external frontiers and on a possible restitution scheme for objects illegally exported after 1992. I will be attending a further meeting under the Dutch presidency in the autumn this year.
Museums
33. Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Minister for the Arts how many museums have registered under the scheme being administered by the Museums and Galleries Commission.
Mr. Renton : By July 1991, 830 museums and galleries had been accepted on to the Museums and Galleries Commission's register.
WALES
Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the Training Agency invested in the technical and vocational education initiative in 1990-91, and is proposing to invest in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mr. David Hunt : In 1990-91 the amount invested by the Training Agency/Training Enterprise and Education Directorate in the training and vocational education initiative was £9,104,301. In 1991-92 and 1992-93 planned investment by TEED in TVEI is £9,319,197 and £8,350, 865 respectively. Provision in each year is determined by the patterns of expenditure proposed by local education authorities.
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Casualty Animals
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the threat to human, animal and environmental health from the improper disposal of the carcases of casualty animals ; and if he proposes to take any further action to require the proper disposal of such animals.
Mr. David Hunt : The improper disposal of animal carcases is both illegal and environmentally unacceptable. The state veterinary service monitors the disposal of such carcases, and liaises with local authorities on the enforcement of the relevant legislative controls.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce measures to prohibit the use of unprocessed or uncooked casualty farm animals as animal feed.
Mr. David Hunt : Existing controls are already adequate. Under the Processed Animal Protein Order 1989 and the Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973 (as amended) material derived from animals must be processed or rendered microbiologically safe before it can be included in feeding stuffs for livestock or poultry.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the threat to animal health from tape worm infection from parasites spread by hunting dogs fed on uncooked sheep carcases.
Mr. David Hunt : No specific assessment has been made. Observations by the veterinary investigation service indicate that infestations regularly occur among farm livestock in Wales, but these infestations will have been derived from farm and other dogs as well as hunting dogs.
Colliery Buildings
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request Cadw to evaluate the heritage value of the Penallta pithead baths and other colliery buildings.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The inspectorate of historic buildings has visited those of British Coal's working, deep mines in South Wales where buildings of possible interest have been identified. My right hon. Friend will be considering whether statutory protection should be extended to any structure in the light of their advice, and consultations with local authorities and British Coal. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman when a decision is made and place a copy in the Library of the House.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to place interim protection orders on historic colliery buildings to prevent their demolition before Cadw has completed an evaluation of their heritage value.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 places a duty on my right hon. Friend to list buildings of special architectural or historic interest. The Act requires that certain consultations are undertaken before my right hon. Friend decides to list a structure. The same legislation enables a local planning authority to serve a building preservation notice, which lasts six months, where it appears that a structure of special interest is in danger of demolition.
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