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Chemical Weapons
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to set up a national authority to oversee the United Kingdom compliance with the chemical weapons convention ; if he will ensure it is fully independent of the Department of Trade and Industry and if it will include experts from outside Government ; what parliamentary involvement he proposes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 11 January 1993] : The national authority will deal largely with requirements falling on United Kingdom industry, such as provision of information. My Department will therefore be responsible for setting up the national authority. Its structure and organisation will be the subject of consultation with interested bodies in due course.
Board of Trade
Mr. Redmond : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the date for the next meeting of the Board of Trade ; what will be the agenda ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Heseltine : I have no present plans for a further meeting of the Board of Trade.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Cabinet Papers
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what communications he has had recently from the Institute of Contemporary History in regard to the release of Cabinet and departmental papers from the Public Record Office.
Mr. Waldegrave : Under cover of a letter dated 21 December 1992, Dr. Brian Brivati of the Institute of Contemporary British History, sent me the final report of a conference held on 25 November 1992 at which my invitation to historians to suggest blocks of records for release was considered. I replied to Dr. Brivati on 12 January 1993. I have placed a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.
PRIME MINISTER
Nuclear Materials
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister what changes there have been since 27 October 1987 in the guidelines for exports of nuclear materials, equipment and technology by the United Kingdom set out in the statement by the then Foreign Secretary on 31 March 1976.
The Prime Minister : An expansion to the guidelines set out on 31 March 1976 was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in a statement issued on 24 September 1991 when he introduced the policy of fullscope safeguards as a condition of supply. This means that we do not allow the export of any significant new nuclear supplies or materials to any country, other than the nuclear weapon states, where there are any unsafeguarded nuclear installations.
Edinburgh Summit
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment was made by the European Council at Edinburgh of the net effect of its conclusions on the contributions and receipts of each member state ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The European Council did not explicitly consider the effect of its conclusions on future financing on the contributions and receipts of each member state.
Macedonia
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the presidency's special representative on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the EC summit at Edinburgh on 12 December.
The Prime Minister : I hope that we can place a copy of this report in the Library soon. But discussion of Macedonian accession to the United Nations is now at a delicate stage in New York. It would not be helpful to this process to make the report public at this time.
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Lockerbie Air Crash
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what response he has given to the petition presented to him on the fourth anniversary of the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 January 1993] : I have received a letter signed by some of the relatives of those who died, and have replied. I sympathise with their loss. I do not believe that there is a good case for an independent public inquiry into the disaster. There has already been a fatal accident inquiry and the criminal investigation is continuing.
The Government continue to put pressure on the Libyans to comply with the United Nations resolutions and to surrender the two suspects for trial in Scotland or the United States.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Income Tax
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the yield of restricting (a) the personal tax allowance, (b) the married couple's allowance and (c) the age allowances and the major tax reliefs to (i) the basic rate of tax and (ii) the lower tax rate of 20 per cent. in 1993-94.
Mr. Dorrell : The latest estimates of the direct revenue yields in a full year at 1993-94 levels of income and using the autumn statement assumption of a 3.25 per cent. increase in 1992-93 levels of allowances and thresholds are as follows :
|Restriction to 25 |Restriction to 20
|per cent. £ million|per cent. £
|million
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal allowance (excluding age
related addition) |1,100 |5,200
Married couple's allowance |320 |1,100
Age allowances<1> |0 |100
Pension contribution reliefs<2> |480 |1,150
<1> The higher levels of the age-related personal and married couple's allowance given to
those aged 65 and over subject to the income limit.
<2> Employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes and contributions to personal
pensions including retirement annuity premia and free standing additional voluntary
contributions.
Mortgage interest relief is currently restricted to the basic rate of tax. Restricting it to 20 per cent. would yield £1,000 million in 1992-93 assuming interest rates remain at current levels for the rest of the year. The yield for 1993-94 has not been shown since it would depend on the pattern of borrowing, the eligibility of borrowers for mortgage interest tax relief, tax rates and interest rates in that year.
No account has been taken of possible behavioural change resulting from such restrictions, and the figures shown represent the yield from restricting each allowance separately. If two or more allowances were restricted, the total yield would be greater than the sum of the figures for individual allowances.
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Cigarette Tax
Mr. Stern : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the amount of tax paid on a pack of the most popular price category cigarettes in each EC member state and the average price of a pack of 20 cigarettes in each country ; and what the figures were in 1990.
Sir John Cope : We do not have information on the average price of a pack of cigarettes in other member states. The tables show the price of the most popular price category--MPPC.
(b) Tax and price on the MPPC in 1990, based on exchange rates
as on 20 December 1990.
|Total tax (pence) |Most popular price
|(pence)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |79 |110
Denmark |197 |229
France |70 |104
Germany |103 |141
Greece |32 |45
Ireland |131 |179
Italy |62 |86
Luxembourg |56 |78
Netherlands |72 |102
Portugal |42 |57
Spain |18 |31
United Kingdom |131 |180
(b) Tax and price on the MPPC in 1990, based on exchange rates
as on 20 December 1990.
|Total tax (pence) |Most popular price
|(pence)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |79 |110
Denmark |197 |229
France |70 |104
Germany |103 |141
Greece |32 |45
Ireland |131 |179
Italy |62 |86
Luxembourg |56 |78
Netherlands |72 |102
Portugal |42 |57
Spain |18 |31
United Kingdom |131 |180
European Monetary Union
Mr. Jenkin : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the German Government on the mechanisms for moving to stage three of economic and monetary union, following the steps taken towards ratification of the treaty on European union by Germany on 2 December.
Insider Dealing
Mr. Darling : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of insider dealing were reported to the authorities in each year since 1987.
Mr. Nelson : Alleged cases of insider dealing are generally detected by the stock exchange through its monitoring of share dealing. Following a preliminary
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investigation, the stock exchange informs the Department of Trade and Industry when it believes that there is a prima facie case. That Department has powers to investigate and to bring prosecutions where appropriate. The cases referred to the DTI in this way since 1987-88 are set out in the table.
Alleged cases of insider dealing reported to
the DTI by the stock
exchange between 1987-88 and 1992-93<1>
Year |Cases reported
---------------------------------------------
1987-88 |29
1988-89 |33
1989-90 |21
1990-91 |8
1991-92 |11
1992-93 |2
|-------
Total |104
<1> A case may have led to more than one
person being prosecuted. The information for
1992-93 relates to cases which were reported
to the DTI between April and the end of
December 1992.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of insider dealing have been prosecuted in each year from 1987 to date ; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in (a) conviction and (b) acquittal.
Mr. Nelson : The information is given in the table.
Insider dealing prosecutions between 1987-88 and 1992-93<1>
Year |Cases |Prosecutions|Convictions |Acquittals
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |3 |3 |3 |0
1988-89 |1 |1 |0 |1
1989-90 |10 |14 |4 |9
1990-91 |1 |2 |2 |0
1991-92 |5 |8 |3 |5
1992-93 |1 |5 |4 |1
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |21 |33 |16 |16
<1> The figures in the final three columns reflect the number of individual
defendants who were prosecuted, and the verdict reached, in the 21 insider
dealing cases which have been concluded since April 1987.
The figures for 1989-90 include one prosecution which was subsequently withdrawn.
Car Leasing
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place a copy of the guidance produced by the Treasury's central unit on purchasing on car contract hire or lease schemes for public bodies in the Library.
Mr. Portillo : A copy of the guidance will be placed in the Library today.
Management Buy-outs
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines he has set for the funding of merchant banking consultancy advice in relation to proposed management buy-outs of the whole or part of the operations of non-departmental public bodies, (a) pursuant to statutory approval, (b) without statutory but with ministerial approval and (c) without either statutory or ministerial approval ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : The Treasury has issued written guidance to Departments on aspects of trade sales, including the
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funding of management buy-outs--MBOs. It also advises Departments on the funding of MBOs on a case-by-case basis.Investment Business
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the licences granted by his Department to firms or sole traders to conduct investment business under the provisions of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958, since 27 February 1988, with the date in each case ; and what was the reason for granting each licence.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 11 January 1993] : Principals' licences were issued to the following on the date shown :
Licensed dealer |Date --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spencer Thornton Investment Management Services |7 March 1988 York Australia (UK) Ltd. |7 March 1988 Oxford Seedcorn Co. Ltd. |7 March 1988 Securities and Commodities Investments plc |21 March 1988 London and Bishopsgate International Investment Management plc |25 April 1988
Under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 persons wishing to carry on the business of dealing in securities required a licence from the Secretary of State unless they were exempted dealers or members of a recognised stock exchange or recognised association of dealers in securities. The Secretary of State was obliged to issue a licence unless, on the basis of the criteria specified in the Act, they appeared not fit and proper.
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications were made to his Department in each six-month period since 27 August 1987 to obtain a licence for conducting investment business under the provisions of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 ; and how many of these applications were granted.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 11 January 1993] : Twenty-one applications for principals' licences under the Act were received between 27 August 1987 and 27 February 1988. One application was received between 27 February 1988 and 29 April 1988 when the Act was repealed. All of these applications were granted.
Post Office Savings
Mr. Viggers : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the increase or decrease in turnover in sub-post office business following the latest increase in the minimum amounts for deposits into the national savings investment account and the ordinary account, and for the purchase of premium bonds by parents and other for children aged under 16.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 11 January 1993] : The work carried out by Post Office Counters Ltd.--(POCL)--in respect of all national savings products represents less than 5 per cent. of POCL's total business. The Department for National Savings expects to save about £4 million in agency charges in a full year from the planned changes. This represents less than 0.5 per cent. of total POCL turnover of £1 billion.
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WALES
Labour Statistics
Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1992, Official Report, columns 628-30, if he will give the total percentage of economically inactive males aged 16 to 64 years in the valleys programme districts.
Mr. David Hunt : The latest available figures for the percentage of economically inactive males in the valleys programme districts are for 1991 and are given in the table.
Percentage of economically inactive population in 1991 (males aged 16 to 64) District<1> |1981<2> |1991<3> --------------------------------------------------- Dinefwr |14.2 |21.7 Llanelli |12.9 |22.6 Blaenau Gwent |15.2 |22.9 Islwyn |12.9 |20.6 Torfaen |12.4 |18.5 Cynon Valley |14.4 |23.8 Merthyr Tydfil |15.2 |23.8 Ogwr |13.7 |19.3 Rhondda |16.9 |25.4 Rhymney Valley |13.3 |22.8 Taff Ely |11.7 |18.6 Brecknock |12.5 |18.0 Lliw Valley |12.9 |20.1 Neath |12.6 |21.6 Port Talbot |14.2 |24.7 Swansea |12.8 |20.7 Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. <1> District figures include areas outside the Valleys Programme boundary. <2> 1981 data are extracted from the 1981 Census. <3> 1991 data are extracted from the Census County Monitor series CEN 91 CM.
The 1981 census recorded all students as economically inactive whereas the 1991 census distinguished between those economically active and inactive.
In answering this question, it has become apparent that the estimate of the economically active percentage of the adult male population in Brecknock in 1981 given in my answer on 24 November 1992, at column 629, should have been 87.5 and not 87.3.
Orimulsion
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile), of 26 October 1992, Official Report , column 473 , what further consultations he has had with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution regarding National Power's application to burn orimulsion at Pembroke power station ; and when he expects to receive Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution report.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution announced on 22 December 1992 that National Power had written to the inspectorate seeking to withdraw for now its proposals for the use of orimulsion at Pembroke power station.
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Health Service, South Glamorgan
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from the British Medical Association central consultants and specialists committee concerning cancelled operating sessions and bed and ward sessions in South Glamorgan.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Angola
13. Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in respect of international efforts to establish peace in Angola.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The international community continues actively to support the efforts of the United Nations to secure full implementation of the Bicesse peace agreements in Angola. We fully endorse the recent call by the president of the Security Council for an end to fighting and a dialogue between both sides.
Yugoslavia
14. Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the conflict in the former republic of Yugoslavia ; if he will bring pressure to bear on the republic of Serbia to prevent further escalation of conflict ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received many representations on this subject. The Edinburgh European Council declared that the Serbian nation faced a clear choice : if there were a radical change of policy it would be gradually readmitted into the international community. But if the Belgrade regime continued its present policies, existing sanctions would be tightened and extended to isolate Serbia totally.
United States of America
15. Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relationship with the United States of America.
Mr. Hurd : The United Kingdom's relations with the United States are in excellent shape and we expect them to remain so.
29. Mr. Whittingdale : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what importance he attaches to the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Britain and the United States have a close bilateral relationship to which both Governments attach high value.
31. Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to meet President-elect Clinton to discuss the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister looks forward to meeting the President-elect and the Secretary of State designate at the earliest opportunity.
Indonesia
16. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Indonesia.
Mr. Goodlad : The United Kingdom maintains friendly and constructive relations with Indonesia. I visited Indonesia last October and my hon. Friend the Minister of Trade was there a few days ago.
European Political Co-operation
17. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent common policy initiatives have been taken by EC Foreign Ministers under the European political co-operation procedure.
Mr. Garel-Jones : During the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Community we initiated and co-ordinated EC action in many areas of foreign policy. These included attempts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, encouragement of a constitutional settlement in South Africa, efforts to provide effective aid to Somalia and support for the coalition force implementing United Nations Security Council resolution 794, participation in the middle east peace process and playing a leading role in CSCE discussions. The United Kingdom Presidency also saw the development of EC co-operation and political dialogue with many countries and regional groups, including the United States of America, Japan and central European countries. The EC has also played an active role during the United Kingdom Presidency in the human rights field.
Japan
18. Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Japan.
35. Mr. Hague : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on recent developments in the United Kingdom's relations with Japan.
37. Mr. Mills : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Japan.
Mr. Goodlad : Relations between the United Kingdom and Japan are excellent. They are marked by regular contacts between British and Japanese Ministers and senior officials. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had a constructive and friendly meeting with Prime Minister Miyazawa in July. Since the mid-1980s our trading relationship has greatly improved, with a considerable increase in British exports to Japan over that period. There is a longstanding and continuing welcome for Japanese investment in the United Kingdom. We aim to broaden and improve the relationship yet further.
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Bosnia
19. Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on safe havens for refugees in Bosnia ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration his Department has given to the establishment of safe havens for non-combatants in Bosnia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Nations protection force, which includes British troops, is helping the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to deliver humanitarian relief to refugees and others trapped by the conflict in Bosnia. We believe that their activities are creating de facto relief areas which are a more effective and viable way of providing protection and relief than specifically demarcated militarily protected safe havens.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the number of aircraft flights that have transported (a) Serbian, (b) Croatian, and (c) Muslim forces in Bosnia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The United Nations Secretary-General has issued regular reports to the Security Council giving details of violations of the no-fly zone established by resolutions 781 of 9 October and 786 of 11 November. It is clear from these that, to varying degrees, all parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina have conducted flights outside the terms permitted in the resolutions. We have no firm evidence that any of these flights were carrying troops.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the number of aircraft flights that have been used by (a) Serbian, (b) Croatian, and (c) Muslim forces in Bosnia for the purposes of military reconnaissance ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The United Nations Secretary General has issued regular reports to the Security Council giving details of violations of the no-fly zone established by resolutions 781 of 9 October and 786 of 11 November. It is clear from these that, to varying degrees, all parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina have conducted flights outside the terms permitted in the resolutions. It is likely that some of these flights will have been used to carry out visual reconnaissance.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been provided by his Department's personnel to the United Nations about human rights violations in Bosnia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The preliminary report of the investigative mission on the treatment of Muslim women in former Yugoslavia, led by Dame Anne Warburton, has been submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General. Its full report will be drawn up after the second phase of the mission. This will be submitted to the United Nations commission of experts.
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EC Decision-making
20. Mr. Hoon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next be meeting the President of the European Commission to discuss the reform of the European Community's decision-making process.
Mr. Garel-Jones : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to discuss further reforms of the Community's decision-making process with the president of the Commission in the immediate future. The Maastricht treaty, when it enters into force, will involve some changes. Before that, following agreement at Edinburgh a number of changes designed to ensure subsidiarity is respected will be given effect immediately.
Somalia
21. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his counterparts representing the member states of the Security Council of the United Nations to discuss the peacekeeping activities of the United Nations in Somalia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hurd : Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Security Council have not met to discuss Somalia. Our ambassador to the United Nations joined in the discussion which led to Security Council resolution 794 and keeps in close contact with the Secretary General and other Security Council members.
Pakistan
22. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to discuss the state of democracy there ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to meet Mr. Kanju or any other member of the Pakistan Government.
Russia
23. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Russia.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Relations are excellent. President Yeltsin paid a highly successful official visit to Britain in November during which the first general treaty on British-Russian bilateral relations since 1766 was signed. Our two countries are working together on an unprecedented range of subjects, including key international problems.
Maastricht Treaty
24. Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to discuss ratification and implementation of the Maastricht treaty with other EC Foreign Ministers.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The Maastricht treaty will enter into force on the first day of the month after the last member
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state has ratified. Denmark and the United Kingdom have still to ratify the treaty. Foreign Ministers regularly review the state of the ratification process, with a view to implementation. We will continue to do so.33. Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts about the expected date for ratification of the Maastricht treaty ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The Maastricht treaty will enter into force on the first day of the month after the last member state has ratified. Ten member states have completed the parliamentary ratification process ; three of these still have to complete formal ratification. Denmark needs to hold a further referendum. In the United Kingdom ratification follows passage of the necessary legislation through Parliament.
Hong Kong
25. Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the safeguards in place to protect British-owned assets and investments in the Crown colony of Hong Kong, on the return of the colony to the People's Republic of China in 1997 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad : The laws of Hong Kong will safeguard all foreign-owned assets and investments after 1997, as they do now. This will include British-owned assets and investments. The Sino-British joint declaration of 1984 provides for the continuation of the legal and financial systems which are the foundation of Hong Kong's status as an international centre of finance.
Commonwealth of Independent States
26. Mr. Fabricant : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding Britain's relations with the independent states within the CIS.
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