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Mr. Eggar : Targets for the exploitation of renewable energy are under consideration as part of the current review of the Government's renewable energy programmes and of the review announced on 26 October, Official Report, columns 522-23.
Sportsworld plc
Mr. Byers : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will investigate the conduct of Sportsworld plc in organising holidays to the Barcelona olympics.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : Investigation of anti-competitive practices or monopolistic behaviour is the responsibility of
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the Director General of Fair Trading. I understand the director general is considering this matter, following which he will decide what action, if any, he should take.Mr. Byers : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will bring forward proposals to prevent the establishment of a monopoly in the supply of tickets to major international sporting events.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : It is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading to keep all markets under review and to refer them to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission where he considers it necessary.
Offshore Installations
Dr. Godman : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many persons have been proceeded against in Northern Ireland because of failures or defaults in adhering to the conditions laid down by him relating to the carrying out of abandonment programmes under section 9 of the Petroleum Act 1987 ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) how many notices have been issued, under the terms of section 1 of the Petroleum Act 1987, in each of the past four years to persons in order to enable them to carry out abandonment programmes ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) how many proposals under section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1987, for abandonment programmes he has (a) accepted and (b) rejected in each of the past four years ; and if he will make a statement ; (4) how many abandonment programmes have been carried out under the terms of section 8 of the Petroleum Act 1987 ; and if he will make a statement ;
(5) what vetting procedures are used in the assessment of (a) the capability and (b) the financial resources of those persons who have submitted or have given notice of submitting proposals for abandonment programmes under the terms of the Petroleum Act 1987 ; and if he will make a statement ;
(6) who carries out the inspection of sites following the completion of abandonment programmes under the terms of the Petroleum Act 1987 ; and if he will make a statement ;
(7) how many persons have been proceeded against in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales because of failures or defaults in adhering to conditions laid down by him, relating to the carrying out of abandonment programmes under section 9 of the Petroleum Act 1987 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : The following notices have been issued under the terms of section 1 of the Petroleum Act 1987 in each of the past four years :
|1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |<1>1992
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Offshore installations |280 |12 |29 |164 |132
Offshore pipelines |186 |56 |189 |155 |35
<1> To date.
During the same period, abandonment programmes have been approved in respect of the following installations : Piper Alpha, Crawford, Blair and Argyll, Duncan and Innes. None has been rejected. The abandonment programmes in respect of Piper Alpha, Crawford and Blair have been carried out. The first
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phase of the programme in respect of Argyll, Duncan and Innes is currently under way and the second phase will be carried out during the summer of 1993. All these programmes are subject to continuing monitoring obligations.The obligation to submit programmes and to carry them out when approved is joint and several. The Department has satisfied itself in respect of every installation for which notice has been served under section 1 of the Act that there is among the parties served at least one capable of meeting the entire abandonment obligation. Where inspection of the site is appropriate, the President of the Board of Trade requires certification that relevant conditions attached to the abandonment programme have been complied with. The certifying body varies according to requirements.
There have been no proceedings under section 9 of the Act against any party in relation to default in carrying out programmes.
Oil and Gas Exploration
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement regarding the licences awarded to Hamilton Oil Company to explore for oil and gas in the Lleyn peninsula ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : Hamilton Oil Company was awarded two blocks north-west of the Lleyn peninsula in the twelfth round of offshore oil and gas licensing. In view of the environmental importance of this area, the then Nature Conservancy Council proposed special licence conditions designed to safeguard the environment. All the conditions were accepted. They include bans on drilling in a 7 km safety zone around Bardsey island and in the rest of block 107/6 between March and September, when seabirds are breeding.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received since August regarding exploration for fossil fuels in (a) the Lleyn peninsula, (b) Cardigan bay, (c) the Pembrokeshire islands, (d) the Bristol channel and (e) Lundy island ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : I have received a small number of letters since August expressing concern about any possible environmental effects of exploration for fossil fuel in one or more of these areas. I have been able to reassure correspondents that special conditions have been and will be attached to licences in these areas to safeguard their marine ecology. In total, the numbers of references to each area has been as follows :
|Number
---------------------------------------
a. Lleyn peninsula |7
b. Cardigan bay |11
c. Pembrokeshire islands |3
d. Bristol channel |2
e. Lundy island |Nil
Areas adjacent to the Pembrokeshire islands and Lundy have not been offered for licensing.
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Iraq
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what export licences have been granted since 1980 to International Military Services and to W. S. Atkins and Partners in connection with Iraq.
Mr. Needham : It is not our practice to discuss such matters, on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.
Manufacturing
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take further to assist the United Kingdom's manufacturing industry.
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 12 November 1992] : I fully appreciate the vital role manufacturing industry plays in securing the United Kingdom's long term prosperity. The underlying theme of the Government's policy towards manufacturing industry is to help businesses to win in the increasingly international market place, both at home and abroad.
The first strand of the Government's strategy is to create the right climate for manufacturing industry to thrive. Low inflation is the key to sustainable growth. Interest rates are now at their lowest level for nearly 15 years. The cut by 8 percentage points over the past two years represents a £10 billion a year reduction in industry's costs. Industry is also now able to take advantage of a very competitive exchange rate.
Secondly, DTI and ECGD assist manufacturing industry. In order to achieve this there must be an effective dialogue with industry. I have recently reorganised the DTI to help in this by creating a clear contact point for each sector of manufacturing industry. I have also established an industrial competitiveness division, which among other functions is examining what lessons can be learnt from other leading industrial countries.
My current initiatives include strengthening our support of exporters. A further £700 million of ECGD cover is being made available, and some of the constraints on cover for individual countries eased. So as to help exporters take advantage of the current opportunities I have now invited over 100 British companies to second 100 top quality men and women to DTI to help in our export promotion work.
I am also working with the CBI, chambers of commerce, training and enterprise councils and local authorities on arrangements for one stop shops to provide support and advice for smaller businesses. Thirdly, other Government policies are important for the health of manufacturing industry. Examples include initiatives like the TECs to help provide the training and enterprise support best suited to local needs, and those set out in the recent White Paper on education which are designed to help provide industry with the future work force it will need.
A very clear example of the importance of wider Government policies is the autumn statement. The abolition of special car tax will bring benefits not only to the automotive industry, but also to its suppliers. It will also help customers, many of whom are industrial. The measures on capital allowances should also assist British industry not only by helping each firm to invest but also by enhancing the domestic market for United Kingdom manufacturers. Similarly the new arrangements for
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leasing, and for the private financing of capital projects, create new opportunities for British businesses. This is in addition to those which will arise from the priority given by the Government to capital expenditure within the tight overall public expenditure settlement.Column 75
PRIME MINISTER
Private Detectives
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister what use his Department has made of private detectives in each of the last five years ; at what cost ; and if he will list the firms involved.
The Prime Minister : My Office has not made use of private detectives.
President Yeltsin
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent visit of President Yeltsin of Russia.
The Prime Minister : President Yeltsin paid a highly successful visit on 9 and 10 November, the first official visit to the United Kingdom by a President of Russia. During his visit he addressed Members of both Houses in the Royal Gallery, attended a luncheon given by Her Majesty the Queen and met businessmen at the London Stock Exchange. I hosted a dinner for the President in the painted hall of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
President Yeltsin and I signed a treaty on the principles of relations between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation and five other agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed by representatives of the two Governments during the visit. In discussions with the President, I welcomed the new and friendly relations between the United Kingdom and Russia and underlined the Government's support for the process of economic and political reform in Russia.
Classless Society
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made towards the creation of a classless society in Britain.
The Prime Minister : The Government's policies are aimed, and will continue to be aimed, at widening choice and opportunity for all members of society. Most recently, progress has been made through the introduction in the 1992 Budget, of a new lower rate band which reduced the marginal rate to 20 per cent. for almost 4 million people on low incomes, including over 1 million working wives ; through our recent reforms in education and health ; and through other public service initiatives, including the introduction of the citizens charter.
Environment
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made on implementing the involvement of young people in environmental awareness following the decisions agreed at the 1992 Earth summit ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Many of the recommendations relating to young people in Agenda 21 have already been implemented in the United Kingdom ; for example, the requirements of a number of subjects in the national curriculum include studies relevant to the environment. We are also supporting informal environmental education initiatives through the Department of the Environment's
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grant schemes. Chapter 17 of the Second Year Report (Cm 2068) on the anniversary of the "Environment" White Paper explains our action in detail.Office Telephone Lines
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 November, Official Report, column 672, regarding facilities for the public to telephone his Office, if he will give details of the existing practice.
The Prime Minister : I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 10 November at column 672.
Iraq
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) on 10 November, Official Report, columns 737-38, what was the start date for the application of the full embargo on the supply of arms to Iraq.
The Prime Minister : The full embargo came into force at midnight on 8 August 1990 in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 661.
All relevant issues will be covered by Lord Justice Scott's inquiry whose terms of reference will be :
"Having examined the facts in relation to the export from the United Kingdom of defence equipment and dual use goods to Iraq between December 1984 and August 1990 and the decisions reached on the export licence applications for such goods and the basis for them, to report on whether the relevant Departments, Agencies, and responsible Ministers operated in accordance with the policies of Her Majesty's Government ; to examine and report on decisions taken by the prosecuting authority and by those signing public interest immunity certificates in R v Henderson and any other similar cases that he considers relevant to the issues of the inquiry ; and to make recommendations".
The terms of reference have not been restricted to Matrix Churchill. They include the supergun and other defence and dual-use sales.
The terms of reference relate not just to arms questions but to decisions taken on the prosecution of companies and on public interest immunity.
All Ministers who are called will give evidence.
All civil servants who are called will be instructed to co-operate.
All papers that the inquiry calls for will be made available. Lord Justice Scott will be entirely free to decide on the publication of his report and of the evidence he takes.
If Lord Justice Scott finds that his powers are in any way insufficient, he can invite the Government to alter the basis of his inquiry and the Government would agree to do so.
The inquiry will report to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
Cabinet Committees
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Prime Minister whether the rules of collective responsibility for decisions made in a Cabinet Committee are applied only to those attending the meeting.
The Prime Minister : Decisions reached by the Cabinet or Ministerial Committees are binding on all members of the Government.
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SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Fund
Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total administrative cost of social fund payments for the last 12- month period for which figures are available, for (a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) crisis loans ; and if he will provide separate figures for each district office.
Mr. Scott : Information on social fund adminstration costs for 1991- 92 is in the Library. Information about administrative costs by application type and district office is not available.
Personal Damages Awards
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to uprate the £2,500 limit in personal damages awards below which no recovery of social security payments is made by the compensation recovery unit in his Department.
Miss Widdecombe : We have no such plans but we are keeping the figure under review.
Incomes
Ms. Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answers of 16 July, Official Report, columns 946-47, and 28 October, Official Report, column 738, what is the additional cost of (a) providing information for the mean as well as the median for subdivisions of the income distribution and (b) distinguishing 1988 and 1989 income date from data for both years combined.
Mr. Burt : Additional costs are not a material consideration in the use of median rather than mean data. The reasons for the use of median measures are explained in paragraphs 4.72 to 4.25 of the "Stocktaking" report, a copy of which is in the Library. Paragraphs 2.8 to 2.12 of the report also explain why years of data are combined for reasons of statistical reliability rather than cost.
Costs are the determining factor in not providing results covering every year from 1979 to 1989, as stated in my reply of 16 July at columns 946-47. Databases consistent with households below average income methodology as recommended in the "Stocktaking" report are available only for the years 1979, 1981, 1987, 1988 and 1989. To produce databases for the other years would cost in the order of tens of thousands of pounds, and would delay the next edition of HBAI.
Ms. Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answers of 13 July, Official Report, column 454, and 28 October, Official Report, columns 738-39, what consideration his Department has given to presenting family expenditure survey data in the form presented in the households below average income "Stocktaking" report for (a) 1990 and (b) for 1989 and 1990 combined, in July.
Mr. Burt : Improvements in timeliness will enable us to publish the next edition of HBAI in mid-1993 using the most recent data. This will feature figures for 1990 and 1991 as well as 1988 and 1989 ; there are no plans to give
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figures for 1990 on its own. This complies with the recommendations of the 1991 "Stocktaking" report, a copy of which is in the Library.Invalidity Benefit
Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make available statistics relating to the take-up of invalidity benefit by region.
Mr. Scott : Information is held on the number of recipients of invalidity benefit, by standard statistical region, which is in the table .
Region |Numbers
---------------------------------------------
Scotland |181,400
Wales |146,600
England
Northern |126,300
Yorkshire and Humberside |124,500
East Midlands |74,200
East Anglia |28,800
South East |219,200
South Western |71,900
West Midlands |105,900
North Western |219,800
Overseas |7,400
|----
Total |1,306,000
<1> Information from a 1 per cent. sample of
claimants as at 30 March 1991.
Emphysema and Bronchitis
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he now expects to make a statement on the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's report on emphysema and bronchitis in metal workers and miners ; how many intended beneficiaries of its recommendations have died since the report was submitted to the Government ; and how many are now terminally ill.
Mr. Scott : The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's report will be published by the end of November and a statement will be made then. The information requested is not available.
Invalidity Benefit Appeal
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has concerning the timing of the hearing of the appeal, at the Court of Appeal, of the chief adjudication officer against a commissioner's decision (CS/27/91) ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : A date for this case to be heard by the Court of Appeal has not yet been set since a decision is awaited on another case dealing with related issues and which is currently before the European Court of Justice.
Independent Living Fund
Mr. Gerrard : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what date the last claims for the independent living fund will be accepted ; and on what date outstanding independent living fund claims will cease to be processed.
Mr. Scott : The independent living fund is an independent charitable trust administered by trustees. The
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issues of policy and administrative arrangements, including the processing of applications, are matters for the trustees of the fund.Disability Allowances
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps were taken to inform all recipients of mobility allowance under the age of 66 years of the new disability living allowance ; and what instructions he has issued to adjudication officers in respect of late claims.
Mr. Scott : Since January 1992, 16 million tailored letters have been issued to some 1.5 million beneficiaries of attendance allowance and mobility allowance, giving advice about disability living allowance. These letters were in a series of 16, eight of which were designed by mobility allowance recipients and people who had been refused mobility allowance. The letters enclosed an explanatory leaflet which set out how the changes would affect individuals and, where appropriate, recipients were invited to claim extra benefit available through disability living allowance. Regulations allow awards of this extra benefit to be backdated to 6 April, if the person was entitled to attendance allowance or mobility allowance at that date.
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications from Hartlepool, north Tees and Cleveland county have been received for the disability living allowance by the disability living allowance unit ; how many of these have resulted in awards ; how many of these awards have been at the lowest rate of the care component ; and how many have been at the lowest rate of the mobility component.
Mr. Scott : I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Agencies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the health and safety policy of each of the agencies within his Department.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Copies of the health and safety policies of the Natural Resources Institute and of Wilton Park have been placed in the Library.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Sir Lanka concerning the protection of workers and the promotion of environmentally sound techniques on re-privatised tea plantations.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : No. The plantation restructuring unit, which is responsible for overseeing the privatisation process, is looking to appoint an independent company to monitor the estates. It will take environmental issues into account, particularly sustainability. The plantation workers are represented by unions which are active on their behalf.
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Mr. Arjumand Naqvi
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Abu Dhabi authorities concerning the death in detention of Mr. Arjumand Naqvi.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Following Mr. Arjumand Naqvi's death on 3 November 1992 our embassy in Abu Dhabi formally requested a copy of the post mortem report.
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he took, before the death in Abu Dhabi of Mr. Arjumand Naqvi, to encourage the Abu Dhabi authorities to (a) release him, (b) charge him, (c) provide proper legal representation and (d) provide proper medical attention.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have made repeated representations to the Abu Dhabi authorities asking them either to charge or release all those detainees, including the late Mr. Arjumand Naqvi, for whom we have consular responsibility. The detainees are free to engage legal representation. A doctor pays regular visits to the detainees.
Bosnia
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which United Kingdom posts in Bosnia are able to supply visa application forms to Bosnian nationals wishing to visit the United Kingdom ; and what delay there is between a post receiving such applications and decisions being taken ;
(2) how many British officials are present at United Kingdom posts in Bosnia dealing with those applying for visas to visit the United Kingdom ; how many interpreters are available to assist at interviews ; and in what languages application forms and guidance notes are printed.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : There is no British post in Bosnia.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been authorised to issue visas on behalf of the United Kingdom to Bosnian nationals wishing to visit the United Kingdom ; what documentation is required by UNHCR before visas are issued ; how many applicants have (a) been granted visas to date, (b) been refused visas to date and (c) appealed against refusal of visas.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : UNHCR has not been authorised to issue United Kingdom visas.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being made to send humanitarian relief by air to those parts of Bosnia difficult to supply by road.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Lack of airfields and security risks makes delivering supplies by air impractical. With the onset of winter UNHCR are concentrating their efforts on supplying humanitarian relief by road. UNPROFOR's mandate was extended by UNSCR 776 to protect road convoys, a more effective way to distribute relief. The Sarajevo airlift continues and has delivered over 17,500 tonnes of aid.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications have
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