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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Cash flows from lower to upper income countries can be limited through debt relief and through pursuance of policies by lower income countries which attract investment and discourage capital flight.
The Government have consistently taken the lead in promoting debt relief measures for the poorest countries. Agreement to begin implementing the Prime Minister's Trinidad terms initiative to relieve the burden of debt on these countries was achieved in December 1991. Five countries have already benefited from the terms, and we expect more to do so over the coming months. As these new arrangements take effect, we can expect a significant reduction in repayments due to Government creditors. In addition, the ODA has relieved developing countries of around £1,000 million of old aid loans since 1980.
The United Kingdom has supported and provided its share of the finances needed to implement a 1989 agreement, known as the Brady plan, to help deal with the problems of a commercial bank debt. Under the Brady plan, the IMF and World bank set aside a part of their existing lending to indebted countries to support commercial debt reduction operations. They do this by financing debt buy-backs at a discount, or by providing collateral for reduced principal or interest payments. We are now seeing the fruits of this agreement and arrangements to cancel substantial proportions of commercial bank debt have been agreed, or are likely to be agreed soon, with most of the largest debtors.
The pursuit of policies aimed at sustained economic growth is fundamental to overcoming the problem of outward financial flows. One of the main aims of our aid programme is to help developing countries do this as effectively as possible. Recent experience in Latin America shows that determined adjustment and policy reform
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efforts can quickly attract considerable amounts of foreign direct investment. There has been progress also, particularly in Mexico and Chile, regarding the effective mobilisation of domestic resources, including substantial return of flight capital.Commodity Prices
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being undertaken by the Overseas Development Administration to support and stabilise commodity prices in lower income countries.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We participate as part of the European Community in Stabex and Sysmin, schemes under the Lome convention for compensating African, Caribbean and Pacific countries for loss of commodity export earnings. We also participate in a number of international commodity agreements, the purpose of which is to assist the flow of commodity trade between producer and consumer countries. The overall trend of prices is of course determined by the state of global supply and demand for individual commodities.
Air Pollution
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is currently granted by the Overseas Development Administration to help lower income signatory countries to implement action under (a) the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer and (b) the Geneva convention on long range transboundary air pollution.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : On (a) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 June.
On (b) , the Government contribute about 5 per cent. to the United Nations budget which funds the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe which administers the long-range transboundary air pollution convention. In addition, the United Kingdom contributed about £63,000 direct to the convention trust fund in 1991. The United Kingdom also supports a number of research activities under the convention amounting to about £370,000 per annum.
Drainage Basins
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made by the Overseas Development Administration to encourage the use of drainage basins as units for land and water management ; and what support is granted towards the evaluation of the economic value of each basin's ecosystem.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We recognise the importance of drainage basins as units for land and water management. Research on catchment protection is a component of the ODA's renewable natural resources research strategy. The importance of catchments is also recognised in the ODA "Manual of Environmental Appraisal". The 1990-91 annual report on the RNRR strategy and the revised and updated "Manual of Environmental Appraisal" have been placed in the Libraries of the House. While no specific work has been undertaken by ODA on the economic value of drainage basin ecosystems, the
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ODA commissioned work by the Overseas Development Institute, published in June 1991 as a book "Values for the Environment : A guide to Economic Appraisal" by J. T. Winpenny, which provides guidance on quantifying environmental costs and benefits of development projects. Copies of this book have been placed in the Libraries of the House.Development Programmes
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being undertaken by the Overseas Development Administration to improve planning integration of technical co- operation within overall and sectoral development programmes of recipient countries.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Technical co-operation, which comprises mainly the provision of British expertise overseas and the provision of training in the United Kingdom, is made available as an integral element of aid to projects, sector programmes and broader national development efforts. Effective integration of all forms of aid, including technical co- operation, from all donors is also sought by means of multi-donor co- ordination meetings with the authorities of individual recipient countries.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Bass
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his French counterpart about the conservation of bass stocks.
Mr. Curry : No specific discussions have been recently held with the French. However when the EC minimum landing size for bass, introduced in 1990, was being negotiated, the Government discussed the issue with other member states as well as with the European Commission.
I am willing to take up any issue concerning fisheries conservation with any opposite numbers when there is clear evidence of cause for concern.
Under-sized Fish
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his French counterpart about the landing and sale of under-sized fish at channel ports and towns.
Mr. Curry : I raised this issue when we met earlier this month, and at the Council in Luxembourg on 9 June, when improving enforcement was a major item of discussion.
Fisheries Council
Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 9 June ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : I attended the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg on 9 June 1992 together with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office.
The Council continued its consideration of the mid-term review of the common fisheries policy. The
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Commission will now be preparing proposals for consideration during the next four months to implement improvements to the policy on better enforcement, measures to reduce discards and the development of fisheries management in the Mediterranean.The Council accepted the need for improved enforcement by member states, and at the EC level, and asked the Commission to make urgent proposals for strengthening the powers of the Community inspectorate. The Council also recognised the importance and complexity of the problem of discards and asked the Commission to press ahead with the examination of ways of reducing them.
I urged the Council to follow the United Kingdom lead in introducing a one- net rule and announced that to achieve stronger co-operation between the national control authorities we have arranged a meeting for the principals of these authorities to take place in the United Kingdom during our presidency.
The Commission undertook to study the position of sole and whiting in the North sea, the southern North sea fishery and the application of a one-net rule in Community waters.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Industrial Policy
15. Mr. Cousins : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next intends to meet representatives of the European Commission to discuss industrial policy.
Mr. Sainsbury : I will attend the meeting of the Industry Council on 17 June at which representatives of the European Commission will be present.
33. Mr. Patchett : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will next meet representatives of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional CBI to discuss industrial policy.
Mr. Heseltine : I have no meetings planned with the Yorkshire and Humberside regional CBI in the immediate future.
34. Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will next meet representatives of the south-east regional CBI to discuss industrial policy.
Mr. Heseltine : I have no meetings planned with the CBI's south-east regional council in the immediate future.
Coal Privatisation
22. Mr. Ashton : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Coal regarding the privatisation of the industry.
Mr. Eggar : I meet the chairman of British Coal on regular occasions and discuss a variety of issues.
23. Mr. Illsley : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish his proposals for the privatisation of the mining industry.
Mr. Eggar : No decision has yet been taken on the form or timing of the Government's policy announcement on coal privatisation.
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Privatisations (Competition)
24. Mr. Beith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any plans to increase competition in industries which have been privatised.
Mr. Heseltine : The Government are committed to promoting competition throughout the economy. The telecommunications market is already open, and plans have been announced to increase the scope for competition in the markets for gas, electricity and water services.
Textile Industry
25. Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the textile industry in relation to the GATT talks ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : I and my officials are in regular contact with the textiles and clothing industry. We share its view that its best interests will be served by an early and successful conclusion to all aspects of the GATT Uruguay round, including the phase-out of the multi-fibre arrangement linked with strengthened rules and disciplines over international trading practices.
Regional Policy
26. Mr. Milburn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for regional policy.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Government remain committed to an effective, well-focused regional policy. I announced to the House yesterday a review of the United Kingdom assisted areas map.
Shark Products
27. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to ban the import of all shark products.
Mr. Needham : No. Sharks are not currently recognised as being endangered. If evidence were produced that any species of shark was becoming endangered, consideration could be given to controlling the trade under either the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976.
Shipbuilding
28. Mr. Denham : To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the state of the glass-reinforced plastic ship building industry in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sainsbury : Two United Kingdom yards have the capability of building glass-reinforced plastic ships. One yard put its facility on a care and maintenance basis in 1984.
Due to reduced demand, the other yard is actively pursuing warship export orders and greater diversification into commercial activities.
Manufacturing Output
29. Mr. John Evans : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to boost manufacturing output.
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Mr. Sainsbury : Our policies of reducing barriers to trade and enterprise will help British companies.Cars
30. Mr. Robert Ainsworth : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on United Kingdom car production and new car sales.
Mr. Sainsbury : A total of 138,106 cars were sold in the United Kingdom in April, 9 per cent. more than in the same month last year. This is the first time since October 1989 that new car sales have been higher than the comparable month in the previous year, and clearly indicates that the market is recovering.
Colliery Manpower
31. Mr. Clapham : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Coal concerning future levels of colliery manpower after the expiry of the long-term bulk coal purchase contracts with National Power and PowerGen in April 1993.
Mr. Eggar : I look forward to continuing to meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.
Trade and Industrial Activity
32. Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry on matters relating to trade and industry activity.
Mr. Heseltine : I met representatives of the CBI and its National Manufacturing Council on 29 April and at the CBI annual dinner on 19 May. On both occasions we had a wide-ranging discussion on trade and industry matters.
Gas Turbine Generating Stations
35. Mr. Raynsford : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the number of applications before his Department for the construction of new combined-cycle gas turbine generating stations.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. Friend is currently considering 12 applications for his consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct new combined-cycle gas turbine generating stations.
Traditional Industries
36. Mr. Janner : To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to assist traditional industries in Leicester.
Mr. Sainsbury : The DTI already has in place a number of schemes that are helping companies in Leicester and elsewhere.
Consumer Credit
37. Mr. Merchant : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with his Department's consumer credit marketing proposals.
Mr. Leigh : The responses to the recent consultation have been examined and a number of possible modifications to the draft regulations are being considered.
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Coal Imports
4. Mr. Stevenson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next proposes to meet the chairman of British Coal concerning the future level of coal imports.
Mr. Eggar : I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.
Regional Assistance
Mr. Morgan : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for ensuring that economic under-achievement criteria other than the present Department of Employment count or percentage unemployment rate are taken into account in reviewing assisted area status ; and if he will list other appropriate criteria and the weight to be given to them.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the promised review of the assisted areas map will begin ; and what criteria will be applied to judge each area's status.
Mr. Sainsbury : I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 9 June, at the column 127.
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Ms. Richardson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to require manufacturers of tampons to publicise a warning about toxic shock syndrome on the outside of packets.
Mr. Leigh : I have no plans to require manufacturers to put a warning about toxic shock syndrome on the outside of the packet. At the request of Government, manufacturers of tampons have improved the warning label on the outside of the packet and advise women to read and retain the leaflet on safety included in the packet. The leaflet warns the user about the risk of toxic shock syndrome, describes the symptoms and advises her to consult a doctor if they occur.
Fabric Safety
Mr. Fraser : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations his Department has made into the safety of the fabric known as ramie.
Mr. Leigh : Ramie is a natural fibre that has long been used in clothing fabrics. If it is used to give a fluffy effect to the surface of the fabric, loose fibres can catch fire. However, the flammability of a garment can be reduced when other fibres are introduced.
My Department will be holding an early meeting with major clothing retailers to discuss what might be done about the marketing of potentially unsafe fashionwear.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many incidents of garments containing ramie catching fire have occurred in the past 18 months.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 8 June 1992] : Available statistics on clothing fires do not give information on the fibre content of the garments involved.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce safety standards for flammable materials in garments.
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Mr. Leigh [holding answer 8 June 1992] : My Department has commissioned an initial research project into the burning behaviour of fabrics, particularly those used in lightwear garments. This work will be presented to the British Standards Institution as a basis for the preparation of appropriate safety standards.Data Protection
Mr. Cohen : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the plans he has to make progress on the draft directive on data protection and telecommunications in the period 1 July to 31 December ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : The Commission is at present considering its proposals in the light of the European Parliament's opinion, which was adopted on 13 March. The possibilities for progress on the directive will be considered once the Commission has submitted its revised proposal to the Council.
Maxwell Pensions
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if investigators from his Department will contact Dr. Werner Keicher in connection with the recovery of monies due to the Maxwell pension funds and their trustee companies.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : As my hon. Friend will now know, on 8 June the President of the Board of Trade announced that he had appointed Mr. J. L. Thomas QC and Mr. R. T. Turner FCA as inspectors under section 432(2) and 442 of the Companies Act 1985 to investigate and report on the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers plc. The inspectors have been asked to look in particular at the offers for sale of the company's shares in early 1991. How inspectors conduct their inquiry and whom they contact is a matter for them.
AAH Holdings plc
Mr. Gapes : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his interim order under section 74 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 concerning AAH Holdings plc is due to expire ; and whether he will extend the order.
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Mr. Neil Hamilton : The Merger Situation (Medicopharma NV and AAH Holdings plc) (Interim Provision) Order 1992, which was made under section 89 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 on 7 May 1992, revoked the Merger Reference (Medicopharma NV and AAH Holdings plc) Order 1991 and the Merger Reference (Medicopharma NV and AAH Holdings plc) (Amendment) Order 1991, which had been made under section 74 of the Act. The effect of these earlier orders, limited to the Grampian and Highland regions, is reproduced in the new order. This new order has no expiry date.
Inward Investment
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he expects information about inward investment into the United Kingdom for 1991 to be made available ;
(2) what was the regional breakdown of inward investment into the United Kingdom in 1990 ;
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs safeguarded or created by inward investment in 1990 ;
(4) how many inward investment projects were begun in the United Kingdom in 1990, 1989 and 1988.
Mr. Sainsbury : Information about inward investment into the United Kingdom for the financial year 1991-92 has yet to be finalised and will be announced in my Department's Invest in Britain bureau's annual report.
A regional breakdown showing the number of projects notified to the IBB and the number of jobs created and safeguarded for the period 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1991 is in the table, together with the same information for the calendar years 1988 and 1989.
The decisions recorded include the establishment of new business, expansion or acquisition of an existing business and involvement in a joint venture. These figures are based on information provided by the companies themselves at the time of the investment and take no account of subsequent developments.
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Region |Number of |New jobs |Safeguarded|Total jobs
|projects |jobs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91
Scotland |41 |9,799 |798 |10,595
Wales |70 |2,636 |7,166 |9,802
Northern Ireland |23 |1,248 |2,186 |3,434
North East |44 |2,714 |2,972 |5,686
North West |53 |1,810 |8,697 |10,507
Yorkshire and Humberside |26 |2,464 |2,091 |4,555
East Midlands |15 |820 |1,572 |2,392
West Midlands |73 |4,410 |6,815 |11,225
East |3 |135 |700 |835
South East |4 |475 |25 |500
South West |3 |580 |0 |580
Other |1 |0 |2,300 |2,300
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |356 |27,181 |35,230 |62,411
1989
Scotland |34 |4,551 |645 |5,198
Wales |42 |3,564 |2,050 |5,614
Northern Ireland |17 |1,187 |8,558 |9,745
North East |46 |4,495 |1,438 |5,933
North West |52 |2,646 |4,538 |7,184
Yorkshire and Humberside |11 |600 |1,100 |1,700
East Midlands |11 |4,073 |2,420 |6,493
West Midlands |87 |5,629 |7,035 |12,664
East |2 |0 |0 |0
South East |21 |2,163 |610 |2,773
South West |8 |1,848 |40 |1,888
Other |0 |0 |0 |0
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |331 |30,756 |28,434 |59,190
1988
Scotland |58 |5,429 |1,978 |7,407
Wales |56 |6,006 |2,085 |8,091
Northern Ireland |22 |2,610 |916 |3,526
North East |22 |2,041 |31 |2,072
North West |30 |1,763 |3,844 |5,607
Yorkshire and Humberside |23 |1,790 |380 |2,170
East Midlands |18 |1,139 |880 |2,019
West Midlands |69 |3,671 |7,840 |11,511
East |0 |0 |0 |0
South East |46 |2,400 |983 |3,383
South West |5 |479 |0 |479
Other |3 |325 |0 |325
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |352 |27,653 |18,937 |46,590
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much inward investment there was from the rest of the world into each EC member state in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Sainsbury : The information is as follows :
|c|Direct investment into EC member
states 1989|c|
|£ million
---------------------------------------
Belgium-Luxembourg |4,304
Denmark<1> |5
France |6,274
Germany |4,001
Greece |459
Ireland |52
Italy |1,548
Netherlands |3,620
Portugal |989
Spain |5,140
United Kingdom |19,629
<1> 1984 latest available data.
Source: IMF Balance of Payments
Statistics.
Telecommunications
Mr. Congdon : To ask the President of the Board of Trade which operators will be required to comply with the telecommunications provisions of the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992.
Mr. Leigh : The Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 will apply only to those telecommunication operators which have been designated under the provisions of section 10. The power to designate can be exercised only if the President is satisfied that the operator provides at least 25 per cent. of the voice telephony services supplied within the area in relation to which he is a public telecommunications operator. Only BT and Kingston Communications (Hull) plc meet that criterion and I have signed an order today so designating them.
South Africa (Oil)
Mr. Congdon : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if exports of crude oil from the United Kingdom continental shelf will be permited to South Africa
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following the EC's decision to lift its embargo ; and whether United Kingdom companies can now ship oil of other origin to South Africa.Mr. Eggar : Following the decision taken by EC Ministers on 6 April 1992 to lift the EC embargo on oil movements to South Africa there are no restrictions imposed by the Government on United Kingdom companies exporting oil to South Africa either from the United Kingdom continental shelf or elsewhere.
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