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1992 1991
Final register
Draft register
Constituency |Total |Attainers |Total |Attainers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland |3,909,185 |46,101 |3,914,590 |47,275
Aberdeen North |59,056 |430 |60,219 |457
Aberdeen South |58,583 |402 |58,681 |453
Angus East |63,461 |488 |62,769 |706
Argyll and Bute |48,493 |558 |48,068 |677
Ayr |66,190 |925 |66,126 |882
Banff and Buchan |65,781 |853 |64,136 |868
Caithness and Sutherland |31,227 |304 |31,120 |338
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley |55,833 |799 |55,999 |879
Central Fife |56,069 |391 |56,307 |380
Clackmannan |49,392 |536 |49,140 |497
Clydebank and Milngavie |47,567 |585 |47,861 |738
Clydesdale |62,529 |915 |62,325 |811
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |46,911 |704 |46,895 |752
Cunninghame North |55,222 |774 |55,390 |770
Cunninghame South |49,601 |843 |49,728 |794
Dumbarton |57,398 |750 |57,730 |724
Dumfries |61,696 |727 |61,235 |689
Dundee East |58,787 |400 |58,935 |387
Dundee West |59,499 |475 |60,218 |419
Dunfermline East |50,187 |313 |50,369 |363
Dunfermline West |51,020 |411 |51,186 |482
East Kilbride |64,685 |849 |64,365 |873
East Lothian |67,133 |1,060 |67,223 |1,004
Eastwood |64,344 |991 |64,276 |983
Edinburgh Central |55,486 |354 |56,048 |336
Edinburgh East |45,577 |543 |46,800 |601
Edinburgh Leith |56,040 |638 |57,415 |569
Edinburgh Pentlands |55,863 |998 |56,453 |825
Edinburgh South |60,886 |747 |61,682 |665
Edinburgh West |59,357 |841 |60,556 |789
Falkirk East |52,353 |537 |52,307 |541
Falkirk West |50,589 |579 |50,479 |484
Galloway and
Upper Nithsdale |54,868 |576 |54,855 |596
Glasgow Cathcart |45,120 |516 |45,835 |558
Glasgow Central |48,094 |302 |48,862 |328
Glasgow Garscadden |41,340 |418 |42,270 |408
Glasgow Govan |45,959 |412 |46,720 |445
Glasgow Hillhead |56,621 |346 |56,003 |460
Glagow Maryhill |48,277 |392 |48,393 |469
Glasgow Pollok |46,487 |580 |47,206 |498
Glasgow Provan |37,082 |473 |37,838 |432
Glasgow Rutherglen |53,277 |706 |53,777 |724
Glasgow Shettleston |52,319 |525 |52,129 |517
Glasgow Springburn |46,047 |410 |45,873 |410
Gordon |80,914 |1,136 |78,438 |1,074
Greenock and
Port Glasgow |52,281 |638 |53,267 |710
Hamilton |62,220 |933 |62,543 |1,036
Inverness, Nairn and
Lochaber |69,891 |784 |68,848 |781
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |62,576 |883 |62,513 |911
Kincardine and Deeside |67,468 |679 |65,660 |828
Kirkcaldy |52,050 |272 |52,419 |370
Linlithgow |61,749 |1,053 |61,812 |1,061
Livingston |61,628 |1,220 |62,070 |1,247
Midlothian |60,774 |1,079 |60,875 |1,002
Monklands East |48,904 |761 |49,226 |847
Monklands West |49,723 |754 |50,132 |869
Moray |64,325 |786 |63,357 |729
Mortherwell North |57,780 |920 |58,215 |929
Mortherwell South |50,600 |709 |51,236 |727
North East Fife |53,521 |504 |53,399 |500
North Tayside |56,027 |421 |55,252 |475
Orkney and Shetland |31,749 |420 |31,355 |409
Paisley North |46,872 |525 |47,770 |546
Paisley South |48,236 |555 |49,091 |658
Perth and Kinross |65,548 |436 |65,135 |588
Renfrew West and
Inverclyde |58,700 |860 |58,460 |901
Ross, Cromarty and Skye |56,088 |660 |55,174 |648
Roxburgh and Berwickshire |43,915 |472 |43,758 |525
Stirling |58,723 |630 |58,296 |651
Strathkelvin and Bearsden |61,493 |898 |61,806 |946
Tweeddale, Ettrick and
Lauderdale |39,923 |484 |39,608 |485
Western Isles |23,199 |253 |23,073 |241
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HLCA
Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the average length of delay in 1991 and 1990 respectively for the dispatch of hill livestock compensatory allowance applications forms ; when he hopes this year's application forms will be sent out ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 16 January 1992] : Application forms for the 1992 HLCA scheme were issued to producers on 13 January. The corresponding dates in 1991 and 1990 were 8 February and 28 December respectively.
Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to review the administrative arrangements governing the sending out and subsequent processing of hill livestock compensatory allowance applications ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 16 January 1992] : We aim to ensure that 85 per cent. of HLCA payments are made by the end of March each year. That remains our target for the 1992 scheme.
Committee of the Regions
Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the places allocated to the United Kingdom in the Committee of the Regions will be allotted to Scotland ; how he intends to ensure fair geographical distribution and fair political balance ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 16 January 1992] : Membership of the Committee of the Regions will be determined unanimously by the Council of Ministers acting on a proposal from each of the member states. The committee is not expected to be established until 1993. Over the coming months the Government will be considering how the 24 United Kingdom seats will be allocated as between the different parts of the United Kingdom and how those seats should be filled.
THE ARTS
Lyceum Theatre
Mr. Gregory : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he has any plans to assist towards the establishment of a dance theatre on the present Lyceum theatre site ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton : The Foundation for Sport and the Arts has given a grant of £65,000 to the Lyceum theatre dance house project for a preliminary study on the possible operation of the theatre as a national dance theatre. We must now await the outcome of that feasibility study.
I look forward to the eventual restoration of this magnificent, but sadly deteriorated, theatre. Although it is a splendid idea, I understand that the dance house project is not the only possibility for the future of the Lyceum.
Column 706
NATIONAL FINANCE
VAT
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those goods and services which the Council of Ministers of the European Community currently agrees can be subject to a reduced rate of 15 per cent. VAT, showing those that are currently exempt from value added tax, or zero rated respectively, in the United Kingdom and any commodity of each category not featuring in the Council's current list.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : There has been no discussion by the Council of Ministers on the application of a reduced rate of VAT of 15 per cent. However, a political agreement was reached at ECOFIN on 24 June 1991 to apply a minimum standard rate of VAT of 15 per cent. from 1 January 1993. Agreement was also reached providing for the retention of existing United Kingdom zero rates. It was further agreed that member states may apply either one or two reduced rates of VAT below their standard rate, and that these reduced rates may not be less than 5 per cent. The reduced rate shall only apply to supplies of goods and services defined in a list of categories, the basis of which was agreed at ECOFIN on 18 March 1991. The list is as follows. Items included in each category which are zero-rated in the United Kingdom under schedule 5 of the Value Added Tax Act are identified by reference to the group number of that Act.
Category Number and Description Zero-rated
|under
|Schedule 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. |Foodstuffs for human and animal |Group 1
| consumption (excluding alcoholic
| beverages).
2. |Water supplies. |Group 2
3. |Pharmaceutical products. |Group 14
4. |Medical equipment for the disabled. |Group 4 and
|Group 14
5. |Passenger transport. |Group 10
6. |Books, newspapers and periodicals. |Group 3
7. |Admissions to shows, theatres, circuses, fairs,
| concerts, museums, zoos, cinemas,
| exhibition, libraries and access to
| television.
8. |The output of writers, composers, performers
| etc. and copyright
9. |Social housing. |Group 8
10. |Farm inputs. |Group 1
11. |Hotel accomodation.
12. |Hire of camping sites.
13. |Admission to sporting events.
14. |Use of sporting facilities.
15. |Welfare and charitable activities. |Group 16
16. |Funeral undertakings, cremation.
17. |Medical care in hospitals, spas etc., dental |Group 14
| services
18. |Street cleaning, refuse collection.
At ECOFIN on 24 June 1991 Ministers agreed that the list of categories be extended to include supplies of natural gas and electricity.
Ministers also agreed that for supplies of restaurant services, young children's clothing and footwear, and all housing ; a reduced rate may continue to be applied by those member states applying a reduced rate to these products on I January 1991 ; and for Spain and Luxembourg a reduced, or super reduced rate may be applied. The goods and services which are zero -rated in the United Kingdom and which are not included in the list of reduced-rate categories are sewerage services ; fuel and power for domestic and charity use ; housing not provided as part of a social policy ; reconstruction, and supplies of services in connection with the alteration, of protected buildings ; residential houseboats and caravans ; clothing and footwear for young children ; protective boots and helmets for industrial use ; motor-cycle helmets.
Negotiations are continuing on the reduced rate list.
The inclusion in a reduced rate list of goods and services which are specifically exempted from VAT, or for which a
Column 708
technical zero rate may apply, by provision in the 6th VAT directive is not necessary. Other exemptions are provided for by derogation under article 28(3) of the 6th VAT directive.Note : Zero rates do not fall within the definition of reduced rates.
Energy Tax
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive results of Treasury models of the social effects of the EC energy tax proposals ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : The European Commission has yet to produce a formal proposal for a carbon/energy tax and the communication presented to the Council was not specified in sufficient detail to allow the likely social impact of the measure to be estimated. The effects would depend both on the specification of the tax and the use made of the revenue it would generate.
Mortgage Payments
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the letter on mortgage payments given in his answer of 18 July 1991, Official Report, columns 251-52, and give the information on a monthly basis.
Mr. Maude : The current costs net of basic rate tax relief for average new building society mortgages in the second quarter of 1988 are shown in the table.
Column 707
Monthly interest payment<1>
Region |Average new |June 1988<2> |Current<3> |Increase
|building society
|mortgages
|quarter 2, 1988
|£ |£ |£ |£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern region |22,200 |135.98 |159.56 |23.58
Yorkshire and Humberside |23,000 |140.88 |165.31 |24.43
East Midlands |27,000 |165.38 |194.06 |28.68
East Anglia |34,800 |222.95 |261.63 |38.68
Greater London |54,900 |387.10 |454.25 |67.15
South East |44,500 |302.17 |354.58 |52.41
South West |34,900 |223.77 |262.58 |38.81
West Midlands |28,100 |172.11 |201.97 |29.86
North West |24,300 |148.84 |174.66 |25.82
Wales |23,900 |146.39 |171.78 |25.39
Scotland |24,200 |148.23 |173.94 |25.71
Northern Ireland |24,300 |148.84 |174.66 |25.82
United Kingdom |32,900 |207.43 |243.42 |35.99
<1> Assuming endowment mortgage, net of basic rate tax relief.
<2> At an interest rate of 9.8 per cent.
<3> At an interest rate of 11.50 per cent.
Company Cars
Mr. Lawson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the income tax, and where applicable, national insurance contributions, payable on the benefit conferred by possession of a typical company car in each of the financial years (a) 1979-80, (b) 1984-85, (c) 1989-90 and (d) 1991-92 ; and what would have been the amount payable (i) in 1984-85 if the car scale benefit rates had remained those applicable during 1979-80, (ii) in 1989-90 if the car scale benefit rates had remained those applicable during (1) 1979-80, (2) 1984-85 and (iii) in 1991-92 if the car scale benefit rates had remained those applicable during (A) 1979-80, (B) 1984-85), (C) 1989- 90.
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Mr. Norman Lamont [holding answer 16 January 1992] : The information requested is as follows :
|Basic rate |Scale charge
|of tax |for a typical
|company car<1>
|Per cent. |£
------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |30 |250.00
1984-85 |30 |480.00
1989-90 |25 |1,850.00
1991-92 |25 |2,650.00
Column 709
|£ |£ |£ |£
-------------------------------------------
Income tax charge at basic rate due on
car scale charge applicable for:
1979-80 |75.00 |75.00 |62.50 |62.50
1984-85 |- |120.00|120.00|120.00
1989-90 |- |- |462.50|462.50
1991-92 |- |- |- |662.50
<1>A typical company car is taken as one
which is less than four
years old, in the middle range of cylinder
capacity (1301cc to
1800 cc for 1979-80 and 1984-85, 1401 cc
to 2000 cc for 1989-90
and 1991-92) and with an original market
value below the
relevant limit (£ 8,000 for 1979-80,
£ 16,000 for 1984-85 and
£ 19,250 for 1989-90 and 1991-92). It is
also assumed that
business mileage is between 2,500 and 18,
000.
Employers' national insurance contributions on the car scale benefits rates were introduced from 1991-92. The contributions payable in respect of 1991- 92 for the car scale benefit rates at levels applicable in 1979-80, 1984- 85, 1989-90 and 1991-92 for a typical company car would be £26, £49.92, £192.40 and £275.60 respectively.
Iraq Supergun
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to investigate the business connections between the British firms Walter Somers (Halesowen) and Forgemasters (Sheffield) and the Swiss firm Von Roll Steel Products, regarding the provision of recoil systems and breechblocks to Iraq for its supergun project.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 16 January 1992] : The hon. Member should be aware that the business activities of Walter Somers (Halesowen) and Forgemasters Engineering Ltd. (Sheffield) in relation to the Iraqi supergun project were the subject of an investigation by Customs and Excise in 1990 which was brought to a halt when criminal charges were withdrawn in the magistrates court on 15 November 1990. Customs and Excise will take account of any new information not already covered in their investigation in deciding what, if any, further investigation would be appropriate.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Southwark Diocese
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what is the net income over expenditure or expenditure over income contributed to the funds of the Church by the diocese of Southwark for the last year for which records are available.
Mr. Alison : The total cost of ministers' stipends in the diocese of Southwark in 1991-92 is expected to be nearly £6 million, 46 per cent. of which is likely to be met through giving by Church people in the diocese, 40 per cent. by Church Commissioners' allocations and 14 per cent. from fees and other local income.
Column 710
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Sri Lanka
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to review economic or military aid to Sri Lanka in light of its record on human rights.
Mrs. Chalker : As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs stated in his written reply of 24 July 1991 to a question from the hon. Member, following the Sri Lanka Government's expulsion of our previous high commissioner in Colombo we took a number of measures including delaying consideration of major new aid commitments pending the appointment of a new high commissioner and a further review of the human rights situation.
Our new high commissioner took up his post in November, and the review will take place in the near future, with the benefit of his advice.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the Students for Human Rights organisation in Sri Lanka ; and what efforts he has made on behalf of its secretary Camunu Yasus Senviratne who disappeared on 9 December 1989.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We are aware of the Students for Human Rights organisation but have had no recent contacts with them. Our High Commissioner and other heads of mission in Colombo made representations to the Sri Lankan authorities about Mr. Senviratne's disappearance at the time. The Sri Lankan Government are in no doubt about our deep concern at the number of disappearances in recent years.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many political prisoners he estimates to be in Sri Lankan jails ; and if he will call through the United Nations for the abolition of the emergency regulations.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Authoritative figures are not available, and estimates vary considerably. We have regularly encouraged the Sri Lankan Government to review the need for all its emergency regulations, but have no plans to raise the matter in the United Nations.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding human rights abuses in Sri Lanka in the past three months.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I receive regular reports on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. The most significant recent development has been the Sri Lankan Government's undertaking on 12 December to implement most of the recommendations made by Amnesty International in its September 1991 report on "Sri Lanka--The North East". We welcome this and will continue to watch the situation closely.
Visa Office (Tehran)
Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to provide a full-scale visa issuing office in Tehran, and when the facility will be opened.
Column 711
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Visas for some categories of visitors from Iran are already issued by our embassy in Tehran. I do not envisage a full scale visa operation at the embassy in the near future, but it may be possible to expand the operation in stages as circumstances allow.Visa Office (Taipei)
Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visas have been issued in Taipei since the visa handling office has been established there ; and whether the income received equals or exceeds the cost of operating this facility in Taiwan.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The numbers of visas issued by the visa handling office in Taipei from 1989-1991 was 78,782.
The income during this period was :
|£
------------------------------
1989-90 |824,456
1990-91 |1,019,975
<1>1991 |689,903
<1> April-October.
The total cost of the visa operation was :
|£
---------------------------
1989-90 |56,917
<1>1990-91 |206,030
<1> April-October costing
figures not yet available.
Cambodia
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving to the Cambodian Government with clearing their minefields.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : UN Security Council Resolution 728 of 8 January expanded the mandate of the United Nations advance mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC) to include training in mine clearance and the initiation of a demining programme. The United Kingdom will contribute financially through payment of our assessed contribution (6.1 per cent.) to the costs of UNAMIC and later to the costs of the UN transitional authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
In response to a request from the UN Secretariat, we have agreed in principle to provide additionally a number of experts to UNAMIC's mine clearance training unit. We have also donated £60,000 to the Halo trust, a British non-governmental organisation, to help its mine survey work in Cambodia on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
New Embassies
Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Community partners with a view to sharing the
responsibilities in the new embassies to be established in eastern and central Europe.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We favour practical co-operation between EC missions in third countries. EC missions are already co-operating practically in fields such as emergency planning and medical care. We hope that the
Column 712
responsibilities opening in central and eastern Europe will extend the scope for practical co-operation. We are therefore discussing this with several of our EC partners.Cyprus
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the new Turkish Government on a new initiative for a settlement to the present dispute in Cyprus ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : We remain committed to the search for a solution in Cyprus, and continue to work actively in support of the UN Secretary General's mission of good offices. We maintain regular contact with all parties to the dispute. I have had valuable discussions recently with both the Turkish and Cyprus Foreign Ministers and also discussed the next steps with the UN Secretary General.
Lockerbie
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the efforts of the Government of Libya to prosecute the Libyan nationals alleged to have committed offences in connection with the Lockerbie bombing ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : No. We believe that Libyan intelligence services are heavily involved in the functioning of the Libyan judiciary. As is clear from the Lord Advocate's announcement on 14 November, it is alleged that the Libyan intelligence services are implicated in the bombing of Pan Am 103. There can therefore be no confidence in the impartiality of a Libyan court.
Libya
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extradition agreement exists between the United Kingdom and Libya.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : There is no extradition agreement between the United Kingdom and Libya.
Foreign Affairs Council
Sir Marcus Fox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held between 10 to 11 January.
Mr. Hurd : My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 10 January.
The Council agreed that the Community and member states should play a full part in the Washington conference on help to the former Soviet Union planned for 22-23 January. The Council had a preliminary discussion on the Community's relations with the newly-independent states of the former Soviet Union and invited the Commission to make specific proposals.
Ministers issued a statement welcoming the reconvening of the peace conference on Yugoslavia in the presence of all parties to the conflict. They noted the contribution by Montenegro towards creating the conditions necessary for the continuation of the conference. Ministers expressed
Column 713
their readiness to apply positive measures to Montenegro, similar to those agreed for Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia- Herzogovina and Macedonia.Ministers also discussed my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's proposal to hold a special meeting of the UN Security Council on 31 January. In a brief discussion of South Africa, Ministers confirmed their agreement that the EC ban on imports of iron, steel and krugerrands should be lifted and invited the Commission to submit a proposal to this effect to a future Council for formal adoption. After the Council, Trade and Agriculture Ministers had an informal discussion on the GATT Uruguay round and reviewed the prospects for a successful conclusion of the round in the light of the draft agreement proposed by Mr. Dunkel, the GATT Director-General.
ENERGY
Sizewell B
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of Nuclear Electric regarding the extension or amendment of the existing nuclear plant operating agreement to cover Sizewell B PWR nuclear power station ; and if he will place a copy of the agreement in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no such discussions. He is unaware of any agreement with the title "existing nuclear plant operating agreement".
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has given guarantees to the chairman of Nuclear Electric concerning the relationship of the Sizewell B PWR nuclear power station with the National Grid Company and the electricity generator and distributor pool and operating arrangements on completion of the Sizewell B station.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : There will be no unique arrangements in respect of output produced at Sizewell B. The non-fossil fuel obligation and levy arrangements will treat the output from Sizewell B in the same way as output from Nuclear Electric's existing portfolio of stations. The arrangements run until 1998. The Government will undertake a wide ranging review of the future prospects for nuclear power in the United Kingdom in 1994.
Energy Management Assistance Scheme
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many small and medium companies he anticipates will be assisted under the energy management assistance scheme--EMAS--what provisions he is making for publicising the availability of consultancy advice under EMAS ; what steps he is taking to ensure an even distribution of awareness of the availability of EMAS grants in each United Kingdom region ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My energy efficiency office has set itself the target of 500 successful applications for grants under the energy management assistance scheme during the 1992-93 financial year, with 1,000 grants in each of the subsequent two years. The scheme will be open to
Column 714
applicants throughout Great Britain and I understand that the Department for Economic Development is considering a similar scheme for Northern Ireland.There was some preliminary publicity about EMAS at the national energy management exhibition and conference in December, when consultants and equipment suppliers from throughout the United Kingdom were able to learn about the principles of the scheme. This information was reported in four trade journals, leading to over a hundred inquiries from all parts of the United Kingdom.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy will launch the scheme formally through the technical press in February and detailed guidelines and application forms for EMAS will be printed in preparation for this. The Energy Efficiency Office's own journal "Energy Management", which has a very wide circulation, will also publicise EMAS.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Rubber (Recycling)
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his department is giving to United Kingdom firms in recycling used motor tyres into rubber granules.
Mr. Leigh : Companies engaged in recycling activities, including firms recycling used motor tyres into rubber granules, are able to apply for grant aid from a number of schemes run by the Department. For example, the Department offers, on a regional basis, assistance via its enterprise initiative. The Department also operates two specifically environment- related schemes : the environment technology innovation scheme--ETIS--which aims to support pre-competitive industrial research on a collaborative basis ; and the DTI environmental management options scheme--DEMOS--which encourages the wider adoption of proven best practices in environmental technology.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance he is giving to market United Kingdom produced rubber granules to substitute for imports.
Mr. Leigh : It is open to United Kingdom manufacturers of rubber granules to apply for assistance for marketing consultancy under the Department's enterprise initiative.
EC Regional Assistance
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the regional share of successful applications for assistance under SPUR, support for products under research, SMART, the small firms merit award for research and technology, LINK and other innovation schemes, for each United Kingdom standard region in 1989-90, 1990-91 and up to 31 October this year.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 20 December 1991] : The table gives the share of successful applications for assistance for the major schemes falling under the Department of Trade and Industry's innovation budget for each region of the United Kingdom for 1989-90, 1990-91 and until 31 October 1991 in the current financial year.
Department of Trade and Industry Innovation Budget
Share of successful applications by United Kingdom
region
[TIRTE]
---------------------------------------------------------
SMART
East Midlands |8 |8 |5
North East |6 |4 |5
Northern Ireland |4 |3 |5
North West |10 |10 |10
Scotland |9 |11 |11
South East |25 |27 |26
South West |11 |11 |12
Wales |10 |9 |6
West Midlands |11 |9 |11
Yorkshire and Humberside |6 |8 |9
|-------|-------|-------
Total |100 |100 |100
SPUR
East Midlands |0 |0 |9
North East |0 |0 |9
Northern Ireland |0 |0 |0
North West |0 |0 |13
Scotland |0 |0 |17
South East |0 |0 |22
South West |0 |0 |2
Wales |0 |0 |4
West Midlands |0 |0 |11
Yorkshire and Humberside |0 |0 |13
Total |0 |0 |100
LINK, EUREKA, ATP,
GICP
East Midlands |9 |10 |8
North East |2 |1 |3
Northern Ireland |0 |0 |0
North West |9 |7 |8
Scotland |3 |3 |8
South East |51 |50 |52
South West |6 |7 |5
Wales |0 |2 |3
West Midlands |16 |15 |11
Yorkshire and Humberside |4 |5 |2
|-------|-------|-------
Total |100 |100 |100
Notes:
1. SPUR was not launched until 1991-92.
2. Figures for the year to date are not necessarily
representative
of the expected full-year picture.
3. Figures for LINK, EUREKA, ATP (Advanced Technology
Programmes), and GICP (General Industrial Collaborative
Programmes) have been aggregated because they share the
characteristic of collaborative schemes that information
is
recorded on the region of the lead organisation but not
on the
location of other collaborators. Care needs to be taken
therefore in interpreting the regional significance of
the figures.
4. Other activities under the innovation budget-notably
technology transfer-do not have the location of the work
recorded because they are conducted on a national scale.
5. Support for activities in Northern Ireland is largely
provided
through other budgetary mechanisms by the Northern
Ireland
Department.
Iraq (Military Nuclear Programme)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to investigate the links identified by the United Nations special investigation commission in Iraq between the London- based Meed International Company and the Technology and Development Group and the German companies H. N. Metalform of Drensteinfurt, Machinenbau Technikhandel Magdeburg, Dieburg, Schenk Werkzeug Machinenbau and Rittal- Werk Rudolf Lok in supplying high technology equipment to the Iraqi military nuclear programme.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 15 January 1992] : I am aware that the inspections in Iraq by the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency has revealed the names of many companies around the world which have traded with Iraq, including some from Britain. It is possible that more names will be revealed as time goes on.
Any indications of wrongdoing will be investigated urgently.
Sunday Trading
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will refer the opening of large stores on Sundays to the Office of Fair Trading.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 16 January 1992] : No. Competition legislation is not designed to apply to the opening of large stores on Sundays.
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