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Mr. Eggar : I have today announced the conditional award of 26 new exploration licences for blocks in England, Wales and Scotland. The licences allow companies to search and drill for petroleum, subject to the requirements of the planning system and the technical approval of my Department.
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Details of the awards have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.I am encouraged by the interest shown in onshore petroleum operations which contributes both to our knowledge of our oil and gas reserves and to their development.
This round was notable for the presence of companies new to the onshore petroleum exploration scene. Onshore exploration can offer significant opportunities to the smaller companies to gain experience in the petroleum business as well as contributing to the general development of the industry.
In 13 of the new licences, the licensees are primarily interested in the potential for the exploitation of methane gas which occurs in and around coal seams. I am very encouraged by this continuing interest. This is a relatively new venture in Great Britain. The first licences to explore the potential for coal bed methane were awarded in the fourth round. Although it is early days yet to make any forecasts on the potential for the exploitation of this resource in the United Kingdom, we remain confident that it could represent a valuable addition to our future energy supplies.
Japanese-owned Companies
Mr. Ingram : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 19 May, Official Report , column 105 , if he will give such information relating to the number of employees and the location of Japanese-owned companies as is available to him.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 8 June 1992] : The Department of Trade and Industry's invest in Britain bureau (IBB) has information only on Japanese companies manufacturing in the United Kingdom. Copies of the IBB's list of Japanese manufacturing companies in the United Kingdom has been placed in the Library. This gives information on the location of Japanese manufacturers in the United Kingdom and the employment created at the time of the announcement of the project.
British Standards Institution
Mr. David Porter : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the current legal and financial basis of the British Standards Institution ; and what charges he expects to be made in it when the single market is complete.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 8 June 1992] : The British Standards Institution (BSI) is an independent body, incorporated by royal charter. It is not part of Government and its legal basis is therefore not a matter for the Government.
The Government's financial involvement with BSI is limited to a grant contribution, to the income of BSI Standards. The institution also comprises two other operating divisions, BSI quality assurance and BSI testing, which are run on a purely commercial basis without Government grants.
Generating Plants
Mr. Evennett : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been received and are outstanding for the construction of gas-fired power generating plants.
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Mr. Eggar [holding answer 8 June 1992] : Thirteen.Mr. Evennett : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many applications have been received and are outstanding for the construction of non-fossil fuel power generating plants ; (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy concerning the approval of new non-fossil fuel generating plants.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 8 June 1992] : One application is outstanding. Each application for consent is considered on its merits.
DNA Sequencing
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he is giving to the legal position of job and insurance applications, in relation to DNA sequencing ; and what consideration he is giving to laws on codes of practice to prevent misuse of information.
Mr. Neil Hamilton [holding answer 8 June 1992] : DNA screening should be carried out only with the consent of the individual concerned. The results of these tests are subject to the same degree of confidentiality as apply to other personal health information. Such information should not be provided for purposes other than those for which the individual has given consent. The Government are aware of the concern about the potential impact of information gained via genetic screening and are keeping a close watch on developments in human genetics.
The United Kingdom insurance industry does not intend to seek mass screening for genetic information within the foreseeable future, but when individuals have had a specific genetic test as part of their medical treatment these tests may fall into the same category as other medical tests and will need to be declared on proposal forms. It is only by obtaining relevant information and by careful judgment by the underwriters that risks can be properly assessed and premiums appropriate to the risk charged.
With regard to job applications, employers are free to attach whatever conditions they consider appropriate to an offer of employment, including conditions relating to health or medical capability, provided that they do not discriminate unlawfully, for example on grounds of sex or race. The terms on which employers offer jobs and on which applicants accept them are in general a matter for the parties concerned, and it would be neither desirable nor practicable for the Government to intervene.
Hunterprint
Mr. Dobson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what printing contracts the company Hunterprint had, or has outstanding, for work associated with privatisations by the Department of Trade and Industry or the Department of Energy since 1979 ; and if he will give the dates and the privatisation in question for each contract.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 5 June 1992] : Hunterprint has not been the main contract printers for any privatisations by the Department of Trade and Industry or the former Department of Energy. Comprehensive information on minor printing contracts is not held centrally. However, Hunterprint did print two brochures which were part of the electricity privatisation marketing campaign : one on the offer of shares in the regional
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electricity companies, issued in August 1990, and the second on the offer of shares in the generating companies, issued in November 1990.Anti-dumping Measures
Mr. Ashton : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current anti-dumping controls in shoe and other fast fashion industries.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 5 June 1992] : It is for the European Commission to assess the effectiveness of anti-dumping measures. In the shoe and fast fashion industries, espadrilles from China are the only goods on which EC anti-dumping remedies are currently in force.
Footwear Industry
Mr. Ashton : To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will support the EC proposals to apply quotas in value terms on imports of footwear from China from 1 July and demand backing for this from other EC countries.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 5 June 1992] : In common with a number of other member states, the Government have pressed the Commission to present a proper economic case in support of their proposal for an EC- wide quota regime. We shall then weigh the evidence, taking into account not only the United Kingdom footwear industry's support for the measure but also the opposition to it from some United Kingdom importers and retailers.
Mr. Ashton : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take to prevent the unfair dumping of shoes from China into the United Kingdom and the European Community.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 5 June 1992] : It is for the industry concerned in the United Kingdom or elsewhere in the European Community to make a case to the European Commission about alleged dumping of goods from third countries and for the Commission to investigate it. I am not aware of any recent complaints about dumping of shoes from China.
Defence Industry (Decline)
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will be submitting an application for funds from the European Commission programme for areas affected by the decline of the defence industry ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 22 May 1992] : Applications for grants have been submitted under the European Community PERIFRA programme, which is intended, among other objectives, to aid regions facing major structural change because of arms industry conversion to civil production.
PERIFRA is one of a number of programmes in the 1992 European Commuity budget for which there is no underlying legal authority for expenditure. We place considerable importance on ensuring that the requirements of budget discipline apply to all Community spending, in order to protect the interests of taxpayers.
The United Kingdom intends to continue its dialogue with the Commission, Council colleagues and the
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European Parliament with a view to ensuring that the treaty and budgetary decisions are respected. In the meantime, applications under PERIFRA will proceed.DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Personal Files
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy on increasing access by individuals to personal files kept on them by Government Departments.
Mr. Waldegrave : There is already extensive access to computer records under the Data Protection Act 1984 and the Government are willing in principle to extend individuals' access to personal information held on them by Departments where it is practicable and in the public interest to do so.
Aquatic Environment
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what responsibilities and duties the Duchy has in relation to inshore waters, intertidal areas and maritime land ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : The Duchy of Lancaster owns areas of foreshore, tidal rivers and beds of creeks within the boundaries of the County Palatine. The Duchy also owns ponds, lakes and rivers which are not tidal.
The Duchy manages and controls its interests in these areas in the same manner as any other landowner and it is Duchy practice to ensure that any statutory duties are observed.
The Duchy has no responsibility for the sea bed on the seaward side of the line of low tide.
Science (Advisory Structure)
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his consultations within the scientific community to see whether changes should be made to the advisory structure.
Mr. Waldegrave : Following the establishment of the Office of Science and Technology, I shall be considering the full range of the office's responsibilities as well as the structures needed to discharge them effectively. I am always ready to listen to the views of the scientific community on the advisory structures as on all other relevant matters.
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what research is currently being carried out into toxic shock syndrome.
Mr. Waldegrave : The Medical Research Council is the main agency through which the Government support medical research in this country. While not at present supporting any research specifically into toxic shock syndrome, the Medical Research Council is supporting some basic research in staphylococcus which may have some relevance to it. The Medical Research Council is
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always willing to consider soundly based research proposals in competition with other applications. Information is not collected centrally on relevant publicly funded research which may be being carried out by universities, medical schools or health authorities, nor on research by charities.Public Bodies
Mr. Mills : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the cost of funding public bodies in 1979, 1985, 1990 and currently ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will list the number of public bodies existing in 1979, 1985, 1990 and currently ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : These details are shown in "Public Bodies 1991", published in December 1991. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
SCOTLAND
Sheriff Ewan Stewart
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he will take on the findings of the inquiry into the conduct of Sheriff Ewan Stewart carried out by the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Lord Justice Clerk.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Following initial consideration of the report submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Lord Justice Clerk, Sheriff Ewan Stewart was invited to comment on its findings. The conclusions of the report and the sheriff's comments which have now been received are being carefully examined and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce his decision as soon as possible.
Prescriptions
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prescription of (a) evening primrose oil and (b) other homeopathic medicines by the national health service.
Mr. Allan Stewart : One evening primrose oil product is licensed by the licensing authority for the treatment of atopic eczema and is prescribable on the NHS for that purpose. No evening primrose oil preparation has satisfied the licensing requirements of safety and efficacy for any other medical condition.
The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances advises the Health Departments as to the circumstances in which unlicensed products may be regarded as drugs and has considered the unlicensed evening primrose oil products, which are generally regarded as food supplements, but has not been satisfied that they have any therapeutic use. They have therefore been prohibited for prescription on the NHS. Evening primrose oil is not a homeopathic medicine. The use of homeopathic treatments is a matter for decision by individual doctors. Doctors in contract with the national health service can provide these treatments for their patients in the same way as with allopathic medicines.
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Argyll and Clyde Health Board
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the (a) name, (b) city, town or village of residence and (c) occupation of the chairman, vice-chairman and each member of Argyll and Clyde health board.
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Mr. Allan Stewart : The latest information known to us is as follows :
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Name |Position |Area of |Occupation
|Residence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. R. R. Reid |Chairman |Rothesay |Farmer
Dr. J. Moffat |Non-executive member |Greenock |Retired consultant
|(Vice Chairman) |psychiatrist
Mr. N. M. Faccenda |Non-executive member |Connel |Business man
Mrs. M. A. Foggie |Non-executive member |Greenock |Housewife, former solicitor
Mrs. E. S. Lander |Non-executive member |Kilmacolm |Company director
Mrs. J. C. Le Roux |Non-executive member |Dunoon |Housewife
Mr. C. H. Parker |Non-executive member |Kilmacolm |Company managing
|director
Mr. K. Brewer |Executive member |Paisley |Director of finance
Dr. A. A. Reid |Executive member |Glasgow |Director of public health
Mr. I. C. Smith |Executive member |Barrhead |General manager
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to make appointments to or dismissals from the membership of Argyll and Clyde health board ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Allan Stewart : My right hon. Friend expects to make appointments early in 1993 to fill vacancies which will arise on 31 March 1993 in the membership of Argyll and Clyde health board. Appropriate consultation will be carried out before the appointments are made.
Credit Unions
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the development of the credit union movement in Scotland.
Mr. Nelson : I have been asked to reply.
Based on the annual returns from credit unions to the Registry of Friendly Societies, there were 57 credit unions in Scotland at the end of 1990 with aggregate assets of £5,051,000, equivalent to nearly 30 per cent. of the total assets of the movement in Great Britain. Those 57 unions together had over 19,000 members, representing 35 per cent. of the total in Great Britain. Currently, there are 70 Scottish unions on the register which represent 20 per cent. of the total number of credit unions in Great Britain.
Woodlands
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about changes affecting the area of ancient semi- natural woodland since 1962.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 2 June 1992] : The Government's broadleaves policy and the changes introduced in 1984 to the criteria for granting felling licences and in 1985 to the volume of timber which may be felled without a licence have done much to slow the decline of ancient semi-natural woodland in Scotland. Further measures to remove the remaining causes of decline are being considered.
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The Government have also introduced measures to encourage the management of existing ancient semi-natural woodlands and the creation of new native woodlands. Early indications are that these measures are proving a success.Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to double the planting of native broadleaf species in those counties which have lost more than one third of their ancient woodland since 1930.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 8 June 1992] : The area of broadleaves planted in Britain has quadrupled over the last decade. Some 7,500 hectares of broadleaves have, on average, been planted each year during the last five years, as compared with an average of 1,800 hectares during the previous seven years. Nearly all the planting was carried out with native species.
The Government's policy is that there should be a continuing expansion of the area of native woodland in Britain.
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 369, he will make a statement about the number of hectares of non-native species and native broadleaf species that have been planted in each year since 1984.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 8 June 1992] : Information in this detail is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Local Enterprise Companies
Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make extra money for out-of-school care available to LECs in Scotland on the same basis as to training and enterprise councils.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 8 June 1992] : Our manifesto made it clear that we would introduce a new grant to help employers, voluntary groups or schools to set up after-school care and holiday arrangements for the
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children of working mothers and that this would be paid through local enterprise companies. We shall take the need to resource such grants into account in our planning of future public expenditure provision for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.SOCIAL SECURITY
Appeal Tribunals
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of members of disability appeal tribunals are also members of social security appeal tribunals.
Mr. Scott : Responsibility for the recruitment of people to serve as members of disability appeal tribunals lies with the president of the Independent Tribunals Service, his honour Judge Holden, and the hon. Member may wish to contact his office direct to obtain this information.
Young Persons (Benefit)
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefits are available to a young person with a permanent home who is not on a youth training scheme.
Mr. Burt : Young people may be entitled to the following benefits subject to meeting the qualifying conditions :
Non-contributory Benefits
Child Benefit
Community Charge Benefit
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Working Allowance
Family Credit
Guardian's Allowance
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Invalid Care Allowance
One Parent Benefit
Severe Disablement Allowance
Social Fund payments
Statutory Maternity Pay
Statutory Sick Pay
Contributory Benefits
Invalidity Benefit
Maternity Allowance
Sickness Benefit
Unemployment Benefit
Widows Payment
Widowed Mother's Allowance
Resettlement
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met the chief executive of the Resettlement Agency ; and what was the result of the meeting.
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