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Mr. Leigh : I am arranging for copies of the current corporate plans to be placed in the Library for Accounts Branch--now Accounts Services Agency--and for the Patent Office executive agency, together with the summary corporate plan for Companies House executive agency.
In cases where commercial confidentiality, or the need to protect other sensitive information means it is not possible to make an agency's corporate plan public, information about its corporate strategy should be available from the annual report. In addition to the statutory reports required to be laid before Parliament, I am arranging for copies of the most recent annual reports to be placed in the Library for the following agencies :
Insolvency Service Executive Agency.
Laboratory of the Government Chemist Executive Agency.
National Engineering Laboratory Executive Agency.
National Physical Laboratory Executive Agency.
National Weights and Measures Laboratory Executive Agency.
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Radiocommunications Executive Agency.Warren Spring Laboratory Executive Agency.
EC (Aid Distribution)
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline the differences between the proposals by the European Commission for the distribution of regional and other aids and the practice of the United Kingdom Government ; and what proposals the Commission has for public authorities and other bodies to make direct application to Brussels for such aid or grants.
Mr. Leigh : The Commission has suggested that the allocation of Community structural funds should be completely separated from other central Government allocations in the United Kingdom public expenditure system.
The Government believe that expenditure financed by the funds should be approved by Parliament. The funds therefore feature in the supply estimates of relevant Departments.
As regards the possibility of public authorities and other bodies making direct application to Brussels for grants, the Commission has made no such proposals formally. Article 14(1) of Council regulation (EEC) 4253/88 requires applications to be submitted by the member state concerned or by any body it may designate to do so. As it is not expected that the increase in the appropriations for the Funds will lead to any increase in the United Kingdom's receipts from them, the Government believes that Article 9 has no practical impact on the United Kingdom.
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline the nature of the changes agreed by the EC on the distribution of regional grants in 1988, and the impact these changes have for the established practices of the United Kingdom Government on the distribution of such grants.
Mr. Leigh : Article 9 of Council regulation (EEC) 4253/88 provides that
"In establishing and implementing the Community support frameworks, the Commission and the Member States shall ensure that the increase in the appropriations for the Funds provided for in Article 12(2) of Regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88 has a genuine additional economic impact in the regions concerned and results in at least an equivalent increase in the total volume of official or similar (Community and national) structural aid in the Member State concerned, taking account of the macro-economic circumstances in which the funding takes place."
Article 12(2) of Council regulation (EEC) 2052/88 states, inter alia, that
"Commitment appropriations for the Structural Funds shall be doubled in real terms in 1993 by comparison with 1987."
As it is not expected that the increase in the appropriations for the funds will lead to any increase in the United Kingdom's receipts from them, the Government believe that article 9 has no practical impact on the United Kingdom.
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the sums allocated by the EC for regional aid to the United Kingdom is spent only for that purpose.
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Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much aid from the EC is being delayed on account of the procedural issues raised by the EC Commission ; and if Her Majesty's Government will delay comparable amounts in their payments to the EC.
Mr. Leigh : (a) Approximately £135 million ; (b) No.
Foreign Telecommunications Companies
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from foreign telecommunications companies that wish to commence business in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Redwood : The Government's pro-competitive telecommunications policy has already led to major overseas investment in the United Kingdom, most notably with a projected £5 billion commitment by cable television companies. Of the 24 applications for licences to run telecommunications systems since the duopoly review, 12 are from foreign companies or companies with a significant foreign shareholding. A further 30 firms, both British and foreign owned, have expressed an interest in applying for a licence. I welcome the investment and jobs that will be created by foreign companies and the wide range of innovative services they plan to offer. This further confirms that the United Kingdom is the preferred location in Europe for inward investment in telecommunications.
Home Income Investment
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers Regulatory Organisation and other regulatory bodies on the subject of home income investment bond schemes and related debt incurred by older people.
Mr. Redwood : I have encouraged the Securities and Investments Board to take the lead in ensuring that everything possible is done to help clients who were sold unsuitable schemes, and to prevent such difficulties in the future.
Home Income Investment Bonds
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the losses incurred by pensioners taking out home income investment bond schemes.
Mr. Redwood : I have received a number of representations on this subject, which I have referred to the appropriate regulatory bodies.
Data Protection
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress towards agreement on the proposed European directive on data protection and
telecommunications.
Mr. Redwood : Member states have given initial views on the directive in a working group of the Council, though detailed discussions have to date been delayed pending consideration of the draft general directive on data protection. The European Parliament's opinion on the directive is expected shortly.
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Eureka
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to implement the agreements on Eureka worked out at Helsinki in 1991.
Mr. Leigh : The United Kingdom is actively involved in the Eureka high-level group, which is responsible for the implementation of the agreements worked out at The Hague in 1991. Current major issues under discussion are the new medium-term plan, strategic projects, interaction between EC research and development and Eureka, and new members. My noble Friend the Under Secretary of State for Industry and Technology and other European Ministers will review the progress made at the Finnish ministerial conference, which will be held in Tampere, Finland in May 1992.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to involve small firms in the Eureka project.
Mr. Leigh : Participation in Eureka projects is a matter for individual companies, but the DTI offers preferential rates of funding to small firms and is constantly improving the flow of information to enable them to consider the Eureka option.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he is having with the CBI on framework programmes for Eureka.
Mr. Leigh : My Department maintains good contacts with the CBI on European R and D issues. Over recent months, senior departmental officials have been involved in discussions with the CBI on the EC's framework programme for R and D--for example at the round-table meeting organised by the CBI in September of last year.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what help he is giving to British Industry by providing case studies on Eureka.
Mr. Leigh : Twelve case studies have just been published to illustrate the benefits of Eureka collaboration to potential project participants in the United Kingdom. The case studies will be primarily targeted at United Kingdom industry to enable them to consider the Eureka mechanism in developing their own European and world market strategies.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he is providing to British firms about potential partners across Europe for Eureka projects.
Mr. Leigh : The main promotional tool for Eureka in the United Kingdom is the Eureka handbook which is produced by the DTI's Eureka unit. The handbook contains details of the Eureka database in Brussels, which can be used as a contact mechanism for potential partners, and of DTI feasibility studies which can be used for partner search activities.
Also, through the use of consultancies, the DTI provides information to United Kingdom industry on Eureka in general as well as details of European partnering and marriage broking events in Europe aimed at generating Eureka projects.
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Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what encouragement he is giving to British industry to back large strategic projects in relation to Eureka.
Mr. Leigh : In some cases, the DTI actively encourages United Kingdom industry to participate in large strategic projects by holding workshops, and launching targeted consultancy activities and mailshots. More generally, the DTI's Eureka unit is constantly improving the flow of information to United Kingdom firms to enable them to consider the possible role of the Eureka mechanism in developing their own European and world market strategies.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what help he is giving to British industry in clarifying the start-up procedures for the Eureka project.
Mr. Leigh : The Eureka unit has produced a handbook, which details how Eureka works and summarises the process of seeking Eureka status and Government support for a project. Information on Eureka and copies of the handbook are available from the Eureka inquiry point. Staff in the Eureka unit regularly give presentations to industry covering the start-up processes in detail, while project officers from DTI line divisions give advice to companies on the specifics of Government grants when sought.
Line divisions also run consultancies in their own areas of policy responsibility. This activity disseminates information on Eureka to companies having no prior knowledge of the Eureka initiative, in order to help them participate in new Eureka projects.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he is giving to the conditions for the withdrawal of the Eureka grant if a project does not perform well over a period of years.
Mr. Leigh : The assistance the Department gives to Eureka projects is governed by standard conditions.
While the Department, in supporting projects, recognises the inherent financial and technical risks involved in pan-European collaboration, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may, under the terms of the Department's offer letter, terminate payment of grant, and, if appropriate, reclaim grant already paid, if certain specified conditions are not met.
Circumstances that might trigger withdrawal of grant include : (
(i) that the future of the project is in jeopardy ;
(ii) that in the opinion of the Secretary of State progress towards completion of the project is unsatisfactory.
Instances of withdrawal of Eureka grant are rare.
The matter of funding for United Kingdom firms participating in Eureka projects is quite distinct from the issue of Eureka status for projects. Introducing a mechanism for withdrawal of such status from projects which do not perform as expected, was one recommendation of the international Eureka assessment panel which reported last year ; it is being pursued in the high-level group of representatives from Eureka countries.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to help management resources in small companies bidding to participate in European and Eureka projects.
Mr. Leigh : There are no immediate plans to give additional help to small companies in this way.
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The DTI's enterprise initiative currently offers consultancy advice to small companies on making better use of technology, and advice on participation in Eureka projects is always readily available from the Eureka unit, DTI line divisions and regional offices.Financially, small and medium-sized companies may be eligible for 50 per cent. funding for a pre-Eureka feasibility study. In recognition of the higher technical and commercial risks associated with European collaboration, the United Kingdom Government can offer a higher overall grant rate to small and medium-sized enterprises for participation in a Eureka project.
Intermediate Goods
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the percentage difference in the volume of imports of intermediate goods recorded in December 1991, compared to December 1985 ; and what assessment he has made of the factors which led to this change.
Mr. Redwood : The volume of imports of intermediate goods increased by 63 per cent. between the fourth quarters of 1985 and 1991. The change is due to decisions by United Kingdom industry to import goods at the later stage of manufacture, in order to obtain the best value for money and thereby maintain competitiveness.
Interest-free Credit
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what concerns have been expressed to his Department in relation to the advertising of interest-free credit ; how many complaints about the advertising of interest-free credit have been received by his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 4 February 1992] : The National Consumer Council and the Consumers Association are concerned that advertisements for interest-free credit should include information about repayments. In the last year there have been no complaints about such advertisements. I shall give careful consideration to the views on interest -free credit which have been expressed in reply to the consultation document "Revised Proposals on Credit Marketing".
Photocopiers and Fax Machines
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in improving the rights of lessees of photocopiers and fax machines by amending the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 7 February 1992] : A number of possible amendments to the Consumer Credit Act are being examined. However, no decisions have been taken. If it should be decided to amend the Act, implementation of that decision would have to await parliamentary time for primary legislation.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to reply to the letter sent to him on 10 January 1991 by the information secretary of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents concerning alleged misrepresentation by salesmen of fax machines and photocopiers.
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Mr. Leigh [holding answer 7 February 1992] : A reply was sent on 4 February.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Earnings Disregards
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the additional annual cost to the Exchequer of paying benefits while applying an earnings disregard for (i) child care costs, (ii) fares to work and (iii) other reasonable expenses connected with work.
Mr. Jack : In the absence of specific assumptions about the size of such disregards, information is not available to make a reliable estimate of the costs involved. However, the estimated additional annual cost of increasing earnings disregards by £1 per week for all claimants in income support, community charge benefit, housing benefit and family credit is around £25 million in total at 1991-92 prices and benefit levels.
Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986-88 family expenditure surveys and the 1990 annual statistical inquiry.
Cold Weather Payments
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether pensioner couples aged 60 to 74 years who are not entitled to income support since the April 1991 pension uprating will be entitled to cold weather payments for the current winter.
Mr. Scott : No. To qualify for a cold weather payment a pensioner must be getting income support with the pensioner premium.
Attendance Allowance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, following the social security commissioners' decision CA/380/90, what are his plans to identify children who were under the age of two before April 1990 and refused attendance allowance under the pre-1990 law.
Mr. Scott : We have no plans to do so. Children who were refused attendance allowance on age grounds cannot benefit from the commissioners' decision. This is because legislation prevents the payment of arrears where claims have been adjudicated upon and a review is then sought following a reinterpretation of the law.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations have been received to date concerning payment of attendance allowance for a child under two in the period before April 1990.
Mr. Scott : We have received a number of representations on individual cases, to which we are replying.
Maternity Payments
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are claiming maternity payment as a proportion of the people who are eligible for this payment.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is not available.
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Data Information Systems
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what data information systems his Department has (a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in ; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems ; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems ; what data protection provisions apply to them ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : The data information systems in use in the Department are detailed in the Information Technology Services Agency's annual business plan 1991-92 and reported on in the agency's annual report 1990-91 both of which have been placed in the Library. All the systems are registered under, and fully comply with, the Data Protection Act which compels the listing of all those to whom data might be provided.
Departmental Annual Report
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what date he expects the Department's annual report to be available to hon. Members in the Vote Office.
Miss Widdecombe : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 30 January at columns 634 -35.
Home Visits
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give (a) the total number of home visits to claimants, (b) the total mileage covered in carrying out those visits and (c) the total travel expenses paid out for home visits by staff at the Maryhill road, Atlas road and Pitt street, Glasgow Department of Social Security offices, respectively, in each year from 1979 to 1991 ; and also give the total number of (i) staff employed, (ii) benefit claimants interviewed and (iii) benefit claimants serviced at those offices in those years.
Miss Widdecombe : The administration of benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Benefit Payments (Delays)
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement explaining in full the action which was taken by (a) his private office and (b) his Department following the inquiry made in December on behalf of the hon. Member for Macclesfield in connection with the delay in the payment of benefits to Mr. Manning of 3 Renfrew close, Macclesfield.
Mr. Scott : I will write to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement explaining the assistance to which Mr. Manning of 3 Renfrew close, Macclesfield is entitled in connection with his increased responsibilities and commitments in providing a home for his two nephews ; and if he will set out the reasons why no payments have yet been made in this respect to Mr. Manning.
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Mr. Scott : The administration of benefit payments is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend shortly and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Orphans
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the assistance which is available from his Department to assist young orphans with the cost of the provision of the funerals of their parents.
Mr. Scott : An adult who receives income support, family credit, housing benefit or community charge benefit, and who is responsible for arranging a funeral, will be entitled to a funeral payment from the social fund. A young orphan would not be entitled in his own right because he could not receive any of the qualifying benefits.
Social Fund
Dr. Kumar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was (a) the budget loan awarded and (b) the crisis loan awarded under the social fund for the year 1990-91 and the first six months of 1991-92.
Mr. Scott : Information on budget and crisis loan awards for 1990-91 and the first six months of 1991-92 is in the Library.
Dr. Kumar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claimants applied for grants or loans under the social fund during the financial year 1990-91 and the first six months of 1991-92 in each of the benefit offices in North Tees and South Tees area ; (2) how many claimants were refused grants or loans under the social fund during the financial year 1990-91 and the first six months of 1991-92 in each of the benefit offices in North Tees and South Tees ; and for what reason ;
(3) under the social fund, what was the average size of the grant awarded for the year 1990-91 and the first six months of 1991-92 in each of the benefit offices in North Tees and South Tees area.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
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