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Nuclear Materials
Mr. Flynn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what involvement Her Majesty's Government expect to have in the forthcoming review conference of the convention on the physical protection of nuclear materials.
Mr. Eggar : Given the United Kingdom's degree of expertise on physical protection, which has long been recognised internationally, Her Majesty's Government expect to play an important and constructive role in the forthcoming conference.
Multi-level Marketing
Mr. Rowe : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints about multi-level marketing companies were received by his Department in the latest 12 months for which figures are available.
Mr. Leigh [holding answer 12 June 1992] : Over the last 12 months we have received more than 500 written queries and possibly twice as many telephone queries on aspects of this subject. Most question the legality of schemes. Pyramid selling and similar selling schemes as specified in the Fair Trading Act 1973 are legal provided they comply with the relevant legislation.
British Footwear Manufacturers Federation
Mr. Trimble : To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates his Department replied to the faxes from the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation dated 12 and 29 May.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 12 June 1992: The fax message sent to my officials on 12 May contained information from the federation and thus called for no immediate reply. As regards the fax message sent to me on 29 May, my officials discussed it with the federation by telephone that day and I replied in writing on 9 June.
Expo 92
Mr. Steen : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the country of origin of the bottled water being served in the English pavilion at Expo '92 in Seville ; and how many restaurants and bars there are in the pavilion ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the reasons why no English wine is being served in the British pavilion at Expo '92 in Seville ; (3) what is the country of origin of the wine being served in the English pavilion at Expo '92 in Seville ; and what quantity of wine is held by each outlet.
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Mr. Needham [holding answer 15 June 1992] : A range of English wines is served in the British pavilion at Expo '92. At present the caterers hold a central stock of more than 50 cases as supplies for the three restaurants and one bar in the British pavilion. These stocks are replenished as required. Also, all the bottled water served in the British pavilion is British.
EC Proposals
Mr. Barnes : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the experts his Department consults on European Community proposals relating to trade and industry matters.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 15 June 1992] : My department undertakes extensive consultation with a range of expert bodies and individuals in respect of European Community proposals. They are too numerous to list.
Military Equipment
Mr. Flynn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of total visible exports were accounted for by items falling under those tariffs heading which have been identified as covering purely military equipment in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 15 June 1992 : Military equipment accounted for 2 per cent. of United Kingdom visible exports in 1991. Information for 1990 is not available.
Note :
1. Military equipment is defined, in terms of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 3), as aircraft and associated equipment (all tariff headings in division 79 other than those identified as "civil" ; and excluding spacecraft and launch vehicles) ; warships (tariff heading 890600 100) and arms and ammunition for (military purposes) (division 98).
Plutonium
Mr. Flynn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether plutonium originating in United Kingdom reactors has been exported to, or imported from foreign countries in (a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) the current year to date ; and what plans there are for the export and import of plutonium in the remainder of the current year.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 15 June 1992] : Information about the imports and exports of civil plutonium is included in the plutonium figures published annually. For the 1989-90 and 1990-91 financial years, I refer the hon. Member to the press releases issued by the former Department of Energy and placed in the Library of the House on 18 October 1990 and 17 October 1991 respectively. Similar information will be published later this year in respect of the 1991-92 financial year. Future plans are a commercial matter for the importers and exporters of the plutonium.
Sellafield
Mr. Flynn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels plc as to when the company intends to commission the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.
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Mr. Eggar [holding answer 15 June 1992] : The commissioning process is already under way. Radioactive fuel will be progressively introduced into the various sections of the plant starting in late 1992.Pressure Vessel Integrity Committee
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the names and qualifications of the Pressure Vessel Integrity Committee ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 15 June 1992] : The Pressure Vessels Consultative Committee acts as a forum for discussion of relevant national and EC legislation, and is one of the bodies consulted by the Department concerning proposed EC directives in its field. Its present membership is :
PVCC Membership Name ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mr. B. J. Darlaston |Berkeley Research Laboratories Mr. G. Francom |Associated Offices Technical | Committee Mr. M. R. Collyer |Air Products Ltd. Mr. R. K. Jones |British Standards Institution Mr. A. Dewar |National Power Ltd. Mr. D. C. Hoskins |PowerGen plc Mr. J. N. Ruggles |Cornhill Insurance plc Dr. K. Walkin |Health and Safety Executive Dr. A. A. Denton |Noble Denton International Ltd. Mr. J. L. Bayley |- Mr. R. Houston |British Gas plc Mr. J. M. G. Clark |British Standards Institution Mr. M. Hayter |Department of Trade and Industry Mr. R. F. R. Towndrow |ICI Mr. J. A. W. McDonald |Health and Safety Executive Mr. E. Crooks |Health and Safety Executive Mr. J. Kimber |Lloyds Register Mr. J. L. Hardy |Power Generation Contractors | Association Mr. T. V. Lipscomb |NEI International Combustion Ltd. Mr. R. H. Shipman |LPGITA Dr. R. Wallace |Eagle Star Insurance Co. Ltd. Dr. J. R. West |Babcock Energy Ltd. Mr. M. J. Willerton |Beel Industry Boilers Mr. A. Morrow |British Steel plc
Coal Privatisation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make public details of all communications he receives from the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission on the safety consequences of coal privatisation.
Mr. Eggar [pursuant to the reply, 22 May 1992, c. 332] : I have today received a letter from Sir John Cullen on the safety implications of the privatisation of the coal industry. Copies of Sir John's letter have been placed in the Library of the House. I welcome the constructive and positive approach the Commission have adopted.
Coal Industry Safety Inspectors
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many coal industry safety inspectors per 1,000 men were employed in each year from 1985 to 1991.
Mr. McLoughlin : I have been asked to reply.
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Available estimates of the number of Health and Safety Executive district mines inspectors per 1,000 employees in coal mining are :
|Number ----------------------1985-86 |0.30 1986-87 |0.35 1987-88 |0.40 1988-89 |0.42 1989-90 |0.43 1990-91 |0.41
WALES
Council Sales
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount of receipts realised by each county council in Wales from the sales of buildings and land and the amount of receipts currently retained ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : The information available, which includes receipts from the sale of land, buildings, vehicles and other equipment, is given in the table :
£000 ---------------------------------------Clwyd |17,955|6,586 Dyfed |4,851 |296 Gwent |15,948|1,296 Gwynedd |1,975 |2 Mid Glamorgan |5,759 |545 Powys |2,571 |200 South Glamorgan |37,895|1,255 West Glamorgan |5,021 |0 Total counties<3> |91,975|10,180 <1> Capital receipts in the period 1986-87 to 1990-91 inclusive. Information relating to earlier years is not readily available. <2> Reserved part of capital receipts, set aside but not yet redeemed, at 31 March 1991. <3> Excluding joint police authorities.
Council House Sales
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the amount of cash realised from the sale of council houses in each of the district and borough councils in Wales giving the numbers of houses sold in each location and indicating the current amount of receipts retained by each local authority ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : Information relating to numbers of houses sold is given in the table. Regarding receipts from council house sales, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Monmouth on 4 February 1992. For receipts set aside and not yet redeemed, the latest available information is that included in the reply given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 22 January 1992.
Council houses sold 1981-82 to 1990-91 inclusive |Number ----------------------------------Alyn and Deeside |1,484 Colwyn |801 Delyn |1,355 Glyndwr |1,255 Rhuddlan |919 Wrexham Maelor |3,547 Carmarthen |1,192 Ceredigion |1,421 Dinefwr |892 Llanelli |3,350 Preseli Pembroke |2,277 South Pembrokeshire |879 Blaenau Gwent |2,363 Islwyn |3,675 Monmouth |1,878 Newport |4,050 Torfaen |3,723 Aberconwy |1,724 Arfon |1,382 Dwyfor |392 Meirionnydd |897 Ynys Mon |1,654 Cynon Valley |1,503 Merthyr Tydfil |2,276 Ogwr |4,609 Rhondda |751 Rhymney Valley |3,712 Taff Ely |3,900 Brecknock |1,444 Montgomeryshire |1,350 Radnorshire |573 Cardiff |7,663 Vale of Glamorgan |2,827 Port Talbot |3,486 Lliw Valley |1,916 Neath |2,427 Swansea |4,068 Total |83,615
Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 9 June, Official Report, column 119, what information he has on the election of chairmen or women by the training and enterprise councils in Wales ; on what dates they were each elected ; for what period they were elected ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : The following information is provided in respect of TEC chairmen in Wales :
TEC |Chairman |In post from ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------North West Wales |Mr. T. Jones |March 1990<1> North East Wales |Mr. J. Troth |November 1989<1> Powys |Mr. D. Margetts |April 1990<1> Mid Glamorgan |Mr. J. Phillips |September 1989<1> Gwent |Mr. L. Quinn |March 1990<1> to |October 1990 |Mr. G. Canning |October 1990 South Glamorgan |Mr. R. Helliwell |January 1990<1> to |Mr. E. Crawford |April 1992 West Wales |Mr. P. Allen |November 1989<1> to |July 1990 |Mr. R. Hastie |July 1990 <1> Commencement of TEC development phase.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 9 June, Official Report, column 119, if he will place in the Library a copy of the eligibility criteria for the chairmen of training and enterprise councils in Wales.
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Mr. David Hunt : The eligibility criteria for the TEC directors and chairmen are laid out in paras 6.3 and 6.4 of the TEC operating agreement 1992-93, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Cardiff Bay Barrage
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of Cardiff Bay development corporation concerning the rise in the cost of construction of the proposed Cardiff bay barrage since November 1990 ; to what extent such an increase is attributable to (a) inflation and (b) design changes ; for (b) if he will give details ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : I have regular discussions with the chairman of Cardiff Bay development corporation about a range of issues, as do my officials and officers of the corporation.
In November 1990 the development corporation issued and EC prequalification notice which showed the estimated cost of construction of the proposed Cardiff bay barrage as £86 million at November 1988 prices. No recosting exercise was undertaken for the purposes of the prequalification notice since it was intended to be purely indicative for companies with an interest in tendering formally at a later stage. The equivalent figure in the prequalification notice issued this month was £112 million at 1991 -92 prices.
Of the change, £7.9 million is attributable to design changes and the remainder to inflation and roundings in the November 1988 price figure.
The main details of the design changes were :
(i) outer harbour dredging ;
(ii) additional fish pass requirements ;
(iii) change to the way in which the barrage meets land at Queen Alexandra dock ;
(iv) change of embankment cross section ;
(v) amendments to the design and size of the then proposed feeding ground at Wentloog lagoon.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will extend his policy of strict control over development proposals for sites of special scientific interest to one of complete protection unless there is a question of public safety at stake. Mr. David Hunt : The revised arrangements published in Welsh Office circular 1/92 should ensure that nature conservation interests are adequately protected in the consideration of applications for planning permission. I have no proposals to extend them.
Parc Slip Opencast Site
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish his inspector's report on the public inquiry held last July into the British Coal opencast executive's application to extend the Parc Slip opencast site at Cefn Cribwr towards Kenfig hill.
Mr. David Hunt : The inspector's report will be published when my decision letter on the planning appeal is issued. The case is currently receiving consideration and a decision will be issued as soon as possible.
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Minerals Planning Guidance 3
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the review he is undertaking of minerals planning guidance 3.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : As part of the monitoring of minerals planning guidance Note 3, views were sought on how well the guidelines were operating and whether they had created any problems. The responses of consultees are currently being evaluated and, in the light of the results of that evaluation, we shall consider whether there is a need for any revision of minerals planning guidance note 3. A decision will be announced as soon as possible.
National Opera House
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a copy of the report he commissioned into the engineering and financial feasibility of the proposed new home in Cardiff bay for the Welsh national opera house.
Mr. David Hunt [holding answer 12 June 1992] : I hope to do so shortly.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Lignite Resources
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the quality and extent of lignite resources confirmed in the Ballymoney area of Co. Antrim.
Mr. Atkins : Consultants have, on behalf of the Department of Economic Development, carried out an initial study which estimated a lignite resource at Ballymoney of almost 350 million tonnes. The licensee has carried out more extensive prospecting work and estimates the total resource to exceed 600 million tonnes. In general terms, lignite has an energy value approximately one third of that of hard coal. Precise details on the quality of the Ballymoney resource are commercially confidential.
Schools
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils are at each of (a) the primary and (b) secondary schools in the constituency of Newry and Armagh in (i) the maintained, (ii) the controlled and (iii) the integrated sectors of education.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested is as follows :
|Numbers -----------------------------------------------------------------Primary schools maintained Anamar, Crossmaglen, Newry |76 Armagh Christian Bros, Armagh |463 Carrickrovaddy, Newry |34 Clady (St. Michael's), Armagh |38 Clay, Keady, Armagh |70 Clonalig, Newry |181 Cloughoge, Newry |379 Collegeland, Dungannon |42 Dromintee, Newry |133 Glassdrummond, Armagh |88 Jonesborough, Newry |142 Killeen, Newry |111 Lissummon, Newry |36 Loughgall, Loughgall |45 Middletown boys', Armagh |52 Mount St. Catherine's, Armagh |467 Newtownhamilton (St. Michael's), Newtownhamilton |97 Our Lady's, Keady |43 St. Brigid's, Newry |139 St. Brigid's, Belleeks, Newry |85 St. Clare's Convent, Armagh |248 St. Clare's Convent, Newry |654 St. Colman's Abbey, Newry |721 St. Colmcille's, Armagh |29 St. James', Markethill |48 St. James', Tandragee |68 St. Jarlath's, Dungannon |157 St. Joseph's Convent, Newry |453 St. Joseph's, Armagh |133 St. Joseph's, Poyntzpass, Newry |91 St. Joseph's, Killeavy |175 St. Joseph's, Bessbrook, Newry |406 St. Lawrence's, Belleeks, Newry |54 St. Louis' Convent, Middletown |51 St. Malachy's, Armagh |76 St. Malachy's, Chapel Lane, Armagh |210 St. Malachy's, Camlough, Newry |283 St. Malachy's Carnagat, Newry |454 St. Mary's Boys', Keady, Armagh |233 St. Mary's, Tassagh, Armagh |69 St. Mary's, Jerrettspass, Newry |53 St. Mary's, Mullaghbawn, Newry |226 St. Mochua's, Keady, Armagh |104 St. Oliver Plunkett, Newry |92 St. Oliver, Plunkett, Armagh |111 St. Patrick's Boys', Newry |382 St. Patrick's, Crossmaglen, Newry |323 St. Patrick's, Armagh |533 St. Patrick's, Cullyhanna, Newry |282 St. Peter's, Bessbrook |274 Tullyheron, Mountnorris |48 Tullymore, Armagh |56 Tullysaran, Armagh |77 Primary schools controlled Aghavilly, Armagh |90 Ahorey, Portadown |21 Annaghmore, Portadown |79 Armstrong, Armagh |400 Bessbrook, Newry |118 Cabra, Tandragee, Portadown |30 Clare, Tandragee, Craigavon |69 Collone, Armagh |127 Cormtamlet, Newry |39 Darkley, Armagh |110 Derryhale, Portadown |80 Drumhillery, Armagh |68 Drumsallen, Armagh |47 Foley, Armagh |102 Hamiltonsbawn, Armagh |112 Hardy Memorial, Armagh |492 Keady, Armagh |44 Killylea, Armagh |85 Kingsmills, Armagh |27 Kinnego, Dungannon |23 Lisdrumchor, Armagh |27 Lisnadill, Armagh |71 Mountnorris, Armagh |76 Mullaghglass, Newry |69 Mullavilly, Tandragee |68 Newry Model, Newry |35 Newtownhamilton, Newry |119 Poyntzpass, Newry |69 Tandragee, Tandragee |321 The Cope, Armagh |113 Tullyroan, Dungannon |40 Windsor Hill, Newry |216 Secondary schools maintained St. Brigid's High, Armagh |278 St. Catherine's College, Armagh |843 St. Joseph's Boys' High, Newry |451 St. Joseph's High, Crossmaglen |568 St. Mary's Girls' High, Newry |550 St. Patrick's High, Keady |843 St. Paul's High, Newry |1,265 Controlled Armagh, Armagh |579 Markethill High, Markethill |445 Newry High, Newry |570 Newtownhamilton High, Newtownhamilton |97 Tandragee Junio High, Tandragee |318 Grammar schools voluntary Abbey, Newry |710 Our Lady's Newry |812 Sacred Heart, Newry |807 St. Colman's College, Newry |770 The Royal School, Armagh, College Hill, Armagh |643 There are no integrated schools in the area. Notes: <1> Enrolment figures are taken from the annual school census, completed at January each year. <2> Pupils enrolled in nursery classes in primary schools are included in the enrolment figures.
Metal-framed Windows
Mr. Peter Robinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive into the replacement of metal-framed windows and the fairness of the programme in the various parts of the Province.
Mr. Atkins : I am advised by the chairman of the Housing Executive that the executive is carrying out a survey into the extent of the replacement of metal windows over the last three years. The survey will also list the stock which still has metal windows. It is intended to provide a data base which will be kept updated as renovation schemes are completed and dwellings sold or demolished. Although this is an internal executive survey, I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Gentleman with the results when the work is completed in a few weeks.
Housing Grants
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 9 June, Official Report, column 109, what was the basis for the decision at his Office to refuse to accept all new preliminary applications after 28 February for housing grants other than applications for special grants and grants dealing with statutory notices ; and when it is expected that the new renovation grants scheme will be introduced.
Mr. Atkins : It is anticipated that the new renovation grant scheme will come into operation on 1 October 1992. The suspension of the acceptance of new preliminary applications for grant is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chairman has advised me that the decision was taken to enable those preliminary applications already in the pipeline to be processed to formal application stage, where possible, before the introduction of the new legislation, since from that date the executive will be statutorily debarred from accepting formal applications under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983. Grant applications approved or processed to
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the formal stage by that date can be paid under the 1983 order because transitional arrangements for these have been included in the proposed new legislation. The executive was conscious that, had it continued to accept preliminary applications it would have done so in the knowledge that applicants who may have incurred expenditure would not have been able to progress their applications to formal application stage by October 1992.NATIONAL FINANCE
Relocation
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what future plans he has to relocate civil service posts from the south-east of England to elsewhere in the United Kingdom ; what departments and how many staff will be affected ; what is their expected relocation ; and if he will will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The table lists, with likely timings, the plans which Departments and agencies have announced for relocations or locations away from the south-east which have still to be implemented or completed.
Department and dispersal location |Number ofposts |Likely timing |July 1990 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Defence Bristol |3,000 |1995-96 Brampton or Wyton |380 |1994-95 Bath |250 |1994 Insworth |120 |1994-95 |3,750 Inland Revenue Middlesbrough |185 |1991-92 Sunderland |190 |1991-92 Barnsley |170 |1992 Birkenhead |170 |1992 Dundee |160 |1992 Falkirk |160 |1992 Hull |180 |1992 Leicester |160 |1992 St. Austell |160 |1992 Swansea |165 |1992 Wrexham |180 |1992 Nottingham |1,800 |1992-95 Washington |60 |1992 |3,740 Social Security Leeds |662 |1992-93 Belfast |500 |1993 Birkenhead |500 |1993 Dudley |500 |1993 Falkirk |500 |1993 Plymouth |500 |1993 |3,162 Home Office Ruddington |120 |1992 Birmingham |12 |1992-93 Derby |1,700 |1993-95 |1,832 Customs and Excise Liverpool |1,290 |1990-95 Manchester |390 |1990-95 Newry |94 |1992-93 |1,774 Employment Group Runcorn |400 |1990-93 Sheffield |848 |1990-93 Aberdeen |85 |1992-94 Bootle |56 |1992-94 |1,389 Health Leeds |1,200 |1992-93 MAFF York |1,000 |1994-96 Land Registry Birkenhead |110 |1992-93 York |110 |1992-94 |220 Treasury Norwich |200 |1992-95 Crown Prosecution Service York |50 |1993-94 Total |18,317
Premium Bonds
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to change the premium bond prize scheme when the national lottery is introduced ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nelson : I have no present plans to change the existing premium bond prize scheme.
Market Testing
Mr. McAllion : to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".
Mr. Portillo : Following the publication of "Competing for Quality", a review of the scope for market testing services in the Treasury has been undertaken and an announcement about the target for market testing in 1992- 93 will be made shortly.
Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purpose of the meeting between Treasury officials and Mr. Jerry Walters from Messrs. Simmonds and Simmonds concerning BCCI on 10 June ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nelson : A delegation including Mr. Jerry Walters attended a meeting at the Treasury on 10 June to discuss European directives. BCCI was not raised.
North Sea Oil
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's total income, to date, from North sea oil since 1979.
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Mr. Dorrell : Total revenues to the Exchequer from the North sea since 1979-80 have been £71 billion.
Lloyd's Underwriters
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total estimated value of the tax changes provided in the Lloyd's Underwriters (Tax) (1989-90) Regulations 1992, SI 1992 No. 511 which came into force on 28 March ; what consultations were held with which parties prior to laying the regulations on 6 March ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The regulations involve no change in underwriters' tax liabilities or retrospective tax concessions. They renew for a further year the improved administrative arrangements, introduced last year, whereby the underwriter's agent is made responsible for accounting for tax due at the basic rate on the underwriter's profits. Before their introduction in 1991, these new arrangements were discussed with Lloyd's.
Charitable Status
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss to tax revenue if the governing bodies of amateur sport were to be granted charitable status.
Mr. Dorrell : I regret that the information requested is not available. Charities enjoy exemption from tax only on income which is applied to charitable purposes, or where it arises as part of the exercise of a primary purpose of the charity or from a trade carried out by the beneficiaries of the charity. Sport is not a charitable activity.
Stamp Duty
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to public funds hitherto of the provisions of the Stamp Duty (Temporary Provisions) Act 1992.
Mr. Dorrell : The cost of the increase in the stamp duty threshold from £30,000 to £250,000 for eight months from 20 December 1991 will be about £400 million--£110 million in 1991-92 and £290 million in 1992-93.
Agencies
Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance the Treasury is providing on the setting of targets for executive agencies.
Mr. Portillo : A booklet prepared by HM Treasury entitled "Executive Agencies : A Guide to Setting Targets and Measuring Performance" is today published by HMSO. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
A draft of this guide was printed in the report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on the "next steps" initiative, in July 1991 (No. 496).
The guide describes targets for financial performance, quality, efficiency, and other aspects of performance, and makes suggestions on how to assess the results. Although primarily addressed to advisers in Government Departments, it will be of interest to managers in all the public services, and to all who are concerned with improving the performance of their organisations in accordance with the citizens charter.
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VAT
Mr. Michael : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list those commodities and services currently rated for VAT (a) at zero and (b) at a level below the maximum and indicate which of those would be enshrined or protected by the terms of the Maastricht treaty ;
(2) if he will list those commodities and services currently rated for VAT (a) at zero and (b) at a level below the maximum and indicate which of those would be enshrined or protected by the terms of the draft European directive on VAT.
Sir John Cope [holding answer 15 June 1992] : Those goods and services which are currently zero-rated for VAT are as follows. There is no reduced rate category in the United Kingdom.
Food, including animal feeding stuffs (i)
Sewerage services and water (ii)
Books, booklets, pamphlets and leaflets, newspapers, journals and periodicals, sheet music, maps, charts and topographical plans. Talking books for the blind and handicapped and wireless sets for the blind.
Fuel and power (ii)
Construction of buildings (iii)
Reconstruction of protected buildings
International services
Transport (iv)
Residential caravans and houseboats (v)
Gold (vi)
Bank notes.
Drugs, medicines, aids for the handicapped.
Certain supplies connected with imports and exports to overseas bodies in connection with international collaboration on defence projects.
Certain supplies made by or to charities.
Young children's clothing and footwear.
Protective boots and helmets.
Notes
(i) excludes the supply of food in the course of catering and certain items such as confectionery, crisps and packaged pet food. (ii) zero-rating applies to domestic use only.
(iii) excludes commercial buildings.
(iv) excludes the supply of ships and aircraft used for recreation or pleasure.
(v) excludes holiday accommodation.
(vi) zero-rating applies to transactions between central banks and the London Gold Market.
The latest text of the EC draft directive on the approximation of VAT rates contains provision for member states which as at 1 January 1991 applied a lower rate, including zero-rates, than the minimum laid down for the reduced rate, in accordance with Community law then in force, to retain those rates.
VAT rates are not affected by the Maastricht treaty.
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