| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Key : The Department of National Heritage is still in the process of setting up a central database of public appointees and therefore the information to answer this question is not yet available.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Office of Public Service and Science
Mrs. Browning : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to change the 1992-93 cash limit or running costs limit for the Office of Public Service and Science.
Mr. Waldegrave : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for the Office of Public Service and Science (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by a token £1,000 from £41,752,000 to £41,753,000. The Department's gross running costs limit will be decreased by £17,000 from £64,144,000 to £64,127,000. The principal changes being due to reductions in running cost cover for the Office of Science and Technology and for Chessington computer centre ; and an increase in running cost cover for the CCTA.
The running costs change also reflects the transfer of running costs from H.M. Treasury (class XVIII, vote 1) in respect of Chessington computer centre. The running cost limit for the Civil Service college has been decreased by £163,000 from £1,800,000 to £1, 637,000 reflecting greater than anticipated receipts from the provision of training courses. The changes will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.
Science Vote
Mr. Brazier : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes he proposes to the estimates class XI, vote 5 (Science) for 1992- 93.
Mr. Waldegrave : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XI, vote 5 (Science) will be increased by £1,551,000 from £1,050,181,000 to £1, 051,732,000.
Of the increase £480,000 is to enable the Royal Society to increase its programme of support for scientists in the former Soviet Union as part of the programme announced by the Prime Minister on 20 May 1992, at column 137. Of this £230,000 is offset by reductions in cash limits of £100,000 for class I, vote 1 (Ministry of Defence : personnel costs, support and other services), £50,000 for class IV, vote 2 (Department of Trade and Industry : support for industry, international trade, statutory and regulatory work, consumer protection and administration), £50,000 for class 3, vote 4 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food : Agricultural, Food and Fishing Services) and £30,000 for class XIX, vote 1 (Cabinet Office). The remaining £1,071,000 is to enable the Natural Environment Research Council to meet the costs of the
Column 251
conversion of the RRS Discovery falling in 1992-93. The grant paid to the NERC in 1991-92 was reduced by this amount to take account of delay in the completion of this work.£230,000 of the increase will be offset and the remainder charged to the reserve, and so there will be no increase in the planned total of public expenditure as a result of these changes.
Appointments
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will update the information given in his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley on 28 October 1992, Official Report , column 668 ; and if he will state the political affiliation of the appointees where known.
Mr. Robert Jackson : My right hon. Friend has made the following appointments since 28 October 1992 :
c
Civil Service appeal board
Appointee |Period of
|appointment
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrs. J. Collingridge<1> |2 November 1992-28 February 1993
Mrs. C. Coltman |1 February 1993-31 January 1995
Miss B. Findlay |1 February 1993-31 January 1995
Mr. J. Renton |1 February 1993-31 January 1995
Mrs. M. B. Sloman<1> |2 November 1992-31 May 1995
<1>Re-appointed.
Economic and Social Research Council
Appointee |Period of
|appointment
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Professor M. Anderson,<1><2>
BA, MA, PHd, FRSA |1 August 1993-31 July 1994
<1>Re-appointed.
<2>Professor Anderson receives an honorarium of £4,420, the same amount as the
other members.
Information is not held on the political affiliation of appointees other than where an hon. Member is appointed to a research council. No such appointments have been made by my right hon. Friend.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Press Gallery
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how many offices and desks are currently allocated to the Press Gallery.
Mr. Ray Powell : Twenty-two offices and 95 desks are currently allocated for use by the Press Gallery.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many telephones are currently allocated to the Press Gallery.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : The Press Gallery currently has 129 telephone lines allocated to it from the Palace of Westminster exchange. Of that number six are for administrative use by staff of the House.
Column 252
Car Parking (Journalists)
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many car spaces in the underground car park are allocated to lobby journalists ; what is the estimated annual value of this facility ; and whether any charge is made.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : Eighteen members of the Press Gallery have been issued with a permit which allows them to park on the fourth floor of the underground car park on a first-come-first-served basis. It is not possible without disproportionate cost, separately to identify the annual value of this facility. No revenue is received for its provision.
Veal
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee how many times veal has been served in the canteens in the Palace of Westminster and Parliament street over the last year ; and what was its country of origin on each occasion that it was served.
Mr. Colin Shepherd : This is a matter for the Director of Catering Services, but I understand that, at the request of our predecessor Committee, all veal purchased by the Refreshment Department continues to be of British origin.
Security Costs
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission what is the cost of the policing of the Palace of Westminster ; and what is the cost of the non- police security guards employed in the Palace.
Mr. Beith : Based on the latest available figures, the House of Commons' share of the annual cost (excluding VAT) of policing the parliamentary precincts (the Palace of Westminster and the parliamentary outbuildings) is estimated at £8 million, of which approximately £4.3 million is the cost of civilian staff including security officers, firemen and administrative staff.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Diplomatic Wing
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he proposes to make in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running cost limits for 1992- 93.
Mr. Goodlad : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates the cash limit for class II, vote 1 (overseas representation) will be increased by £16,668,000 from £721,101,000 to £737,769,000 and the gross running costs limit on the vote will be increased by £4,311,000 from £519,529,000 to £523,840,000. For class II, vote 2 (other external relations) the cash limit will be increased by £241,337,000 from £178,791,000 to £420,128,000 ; for class II, vote 3 (external broadcasting and monitoring) by £3,142,000 from £162,711,000 to £165,853,000 and for class II, vote 4 (the British Council) by £2,994,000 from £88,669,000 to £91,663,000. For vote 1 the cash limit increase of £16,668,000 is made up as follows : adverse overseas price movements
Column 253
(£15,436,000), take up of capital end year flexibility (£829,000) as announced to the House by the Chief Secretary on 15 July 1992 (Official Report) columns 698-702), and transfers from other Government Departments (403,000) of which £173,000 is from Property Holding and £230,000 from the DTI.The increase in the gross running costs limit of £4,311,000 reflects adverse overseas price movements (£6,638,000), transfers from other Government Departments (£403,000) and a payment from the private sector for the Taejon exhibition (£70,000), offset by a transfer of £2,800,000 out of running costs into Vote 2.
For vote 2 the cash limit increase of £241,337,000 is made up as follows : Programme increase (£204,312,000), adverse overseas price movements (£20,200,000), transfers from other Government Departments, (£525,000) of which £440,000 is from ODA and £85,000 from Department for Education, a transfer of provision from class II, vote 1 (£5,000, 000), and an increase in VAT refunds (£11,300,000).
For vote 3 the cash limit increase of £3,142,000 reflects take up of capital end year flexibility as announced to the House by the Chief Secretary on 15 July 1992 (Official Report columns 698-702). For vote 4 the cash limit increase of £2,994,000 is for adverse overseas price movements.
All the increases will either be offset by underspends elsewhere or charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
Cambodia
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards, and what representations he is making to other countries in respect of, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
Mr. Goodlad : We deplore the refusal of the Khmer Rouge to fulfil its obligations fully under the Paris agreements and to co-operate with the United Nations transitional authority in Cambodia. We shall continue to work with the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and other countries closely involved in the Cambodian peace process to ensure that the Paris agreements are implemented as successfully as possible.
Sudan
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the present problems in the Sudan.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We are deeply concerned at the Sudanese Government's poor record on human rights, the lack of progress towards more accountable government acceptable to all parts of the country, continuing difficulties in the provision of humanitarian aid, and the Government's apparent equivocation towards international terrorism. The concern is widely shared, as witness the United Nations General Assembly's adoption by a huge majority of a resolution condemning Sudan's human rights record. We are with our European partners exploring means of maximising international pressure to induce the Sudanese Government to mend their ways.
Column 254
Jaffna
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when an official of the British High Commission in Colombo last visited Jaffna.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : A member of the staff of the High Commission visited Jaffna in May 1990. Since the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam renewed fighting against the Sri Lankan Government in June 1990, visits have not been possible.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conflict in Nagorno -Karabakh ; what plans there are to install NATO or United Nations observers in the region once a ceasefire has been arranged ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh continues, although fighting has slackened because of the harsh winter conditions there. Thousands have died as a result of this dispute and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and impoverished by economic blockades associated with it. At the British initiative the CSCE started a year ago to mediate between the parties to this dispute. We welcome recent statements by the United Nations Secretary General and the Security Council Chairman that the CSCE should remain the focus for such talks, the latest round of which is due to be convened later this month. The CSCE has undertaken to deploy monitors to Nagorno-Karabakh, subject to a full and effective ceasfire. The details of this deployment are being worked out. NATO has promised support for this.
United Nations Security Council
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with United Nations members, and permanent and non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with regard to the continuing necessity of (a) the veto and (b) permanent members in the light of post-cold war development ;
(2) what discussions he has had with the other members of the United Nations Security Council on extending (a) permanent and (b) non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) what representations he has received on extending (a) permanent and (b) non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Reform and revitalisation of United Nations institutions and the United Nations secretariat is a current subject of discussions in New York and in various bilateral and other meetings. The United Nations Special Committee on the charter regularly discusses Security Council reform at its meetings. Cuba and Libya have been active in recent years in pressing the case for abolition of the veto. The wish of Japan, currently a Security Council member, to become a permanent member is well known. At Maastricht, we agreed that Britain and France, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, will in the execution of their
Column 255
functions ensure the defence of the positions and the interests of the union without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations charter.Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on reform of the United Nations Security Council ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on extending (a) permanent and (b) non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Any reform of the current structure of the Security Council including expansion of permanent and non-permanent members would require an amendment to the United Nations charter, and negotiations on this would be long and complex. In the meantime we would wish to ensure that the Security Council continues to operate effectively.
Appointments
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will update the information given in his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 29 October 1992, Official Report, column 790 ; and if he will state the political affiliation of the appointees where known.
Mr. Goodlad : The updated information is as follows :
Public appointments
Public body and name |Appointment expires |Remuneration
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anglo-Irish Encounter
Sir David Goodall |Indefinite |Nil
Commonwealth Foundation
Dr. J. B. Wood |1996 |Nil
Commonwealth Institute
Mr. Stephen Cox |1996 |£45,000 pa
Mr. R. A. Fyjis-Walker |1993 |£15,000 pa
Sir Mark Russell |1994 |Nil
Mr. D. A. Thompson |1994 |Nil
Mr. Stuart Maclure |1994 |Nil
Mr. Cy Grant |1994 |Nil
Mr. G. Oakes |1995 |Nil
Mr. C. Shepherd |1994 |Nil
Dr. Ann Robinson |1995 |Nil
Miss Diane Warwick |1993 |Nil
Sir Victor Garland |1993 |Nil
Hon. David Douglas-Home |1993 |Nil
Lady Reid |1993 |Nil
Baroness Flather |1996 |Nil
Diplomatic Service Appeal Boards
Sir Derek Day |1993 |per diem expenses
Mr. Frank Trew |1995 |per diem expenses
Sir David Culcutt, QC |1993 |per diem expenses
Sir Mark Russell |1995 |per diem expenses
Mrs. Jacqueline Dyson |1995 |per diem expenses
Mrs. Juliet Campbell |1995 |per diem expenses
Diplomatic Service Appeal Boards
Mr. Rodney Bedford |1993 |per diem expenses
Miss Sally Bull |1995 |per diem expenses
Government Hospitality Fund Advisory
Committee for the Purchase of Wine
Sir Ewen Fergusson |1998 |Nil
Major John Surtees |1995 |Nil
Mr. David Cossart |1993 |Nil
Mr. Anthony Hanson |1994 |Nil
Mr. Mark Savage |1995 |Nil
Imperial War Museum
Sir E. Jackson |1993 |Nil
Mr. I. Smart |1994 |Nil
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
Sir Donald Tebbit |Indefinite |Nil
Miss Sheila Browne |1993 |Nil
Prof. Sir James Ball |1993 |Nil
Prof. H. T. Dickinson |1994 |Nil
Sir Roger Banninster |1994 |Nil
Ms. Sue MacGregor |1995 |Nil
Sir Arthur Bryan |1994 |Nil
Dr. K. J. R. Edwards |1993 |Nil
Prof. Christine Bolt |1995 |Nil
Prof. Lord Desai |1995 |Nil
London University School of
Oriental and African Studies
Lord Wilson of Tillycorn |1997 |Nil
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Sir James Spicer |1995 |per diem expenses
Mr. George Robertson, MP |1995 |per diem expenses
Sir Russell Johnston, MP |1995 |per diem expenses
Mr. Tony Clarke |1995 |per diem expenses
Mrs. Margaret Ewing, MP |1995 |per diem expenses
Prof. Peter Frank |1995 |per diem expenses
Mr. Timothy Garton-Ash |1995 |per diem expenses
Lady Howe, JP |1995 |per diem expenses
Mr. Gavin Laird |1995 |per diem expenses
Mr. Ralph Land |1995 |per diem expenses
Mr. Patrick Nicholls, MP |1995 |per diem expenses
Dr. Michael Pinto-Duschinsky |1995 |per diem expenses
Mr. Ian Taylor, MP |1995 |per diem expenses
Ms. Carol Tongue, MEP |1995 |per diem expenses
Wilton Park Academic Council
Mr. Michael Kaser |1995 |Nil
Mr. John Drew |Ex-officio |Nil
Mr. John Scates |Ex-officio |Nil
Dr. Connie Martin |Ex-officio |Nil
Prof. Jack Spence |Ex-officio |Nil
Mr. John Hanson |Ex-officio |Nil
Dr. Janet Morgan |1995 |Nil
Mr. Bruce George, MP |1995 |Nil
Mr. John Lyons |1995 |Nil
Mrs. Liliana Archibald |1995 |Nil
Mr. Peter Temple-Morris, MP |1993 |Nil
Sir Julian Bullard |1993 |Nil
Ms. Brenda Dean |1994 |Nil
Wilton Park Departmental Board
Miss Valerie Le Moignan |1995 |Nil
Miss Ruth Watts Davies |1995 |Nil
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Sir Michael Caine |1993 |Nil
Dr. A. Sloman |1993 |Nil
Prof. R. A. Howie |1994 |Nil
Prof. B. Clayton |1993 |Nil
Prof. J. G. G. Ledingham |1995 |Nil
Mrs. D. L. Wedderburn |1994 |Nil
Prof. S. Marks |1995 |Nil
Prof. Gillian Beer |1993 |Nil
Dr. C. Booth |1995 |Nil
Dr. R. O. Iredale |Ex-officio |Nil
Mr. P. Parsloe |1995 |Nil
Prof. A. Little |1993 |Nil
Prof. D. Jennings |1993 |Nil
Mr. R. Francis |Ex-officio |Nil
Prof. A. Diplock |1994 |Nil
Overseas Service Pension Scheme
J. V. Kerby |Ex-officio |Nil
D. S. Fish |Ex-officio |Nil
C. D. Stenton |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Miss D. R. Phillips |Unspecified |per diem expenses
D. H. Loades |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Indian Family Pension Scheme
Mr. D. S. Fish |Ex-officio |Nil
Maj. Gen. D. L. T. Horsford |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Major R. J. Henderson |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Lt. Col. P. Kemmis-Betty |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Major R. Mottram |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Mr. R. V. Fenton |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Mr. J. M. Phelps |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Mr. J. P. C. Coventry |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Mrs. P. Lamarque |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Mrs. M. Ramsay-Brown |Unspecified |per diem expenses
Commonwealth Development Corporation
Sir Peter E. Leslie |1995 |£12,000
Sir Michael Caine |1994 |£5,001 - £10,000
| band
Mrs. A. E. Wright, JP |1994)
Prof. M. L. O. Faber |1994)
Mr. M. McWilliam |1995) |£1 - £5,000 band
Mr. E. B. Waide |1995)
Prof. I. D. Carruthers |1995)
Mr. J. B. Zochonis |1995)
Crown Agents<1>
Mr. D. H. Probert |1993 |£30,000
Dr. A. I. Lenton |1993 |£5,001 - £10,000
| band
Mr. P. F. Berry |1994 |£65,100<2>
Mrs. D. Miller, MBE, JP |1993)
Miss K. Mortimer |1993)
Mr. A. K. Stewart-Roberts |1993) |£5,000 - £10,000
Mr. F. Cassell |1994) |band
Mr. J. D. Andrews |1995)
Mr. F. I. Sumner |1993)
<1> When members are appointed to this board they are also
appointed to the Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board.
<2> Excluding pension contributions.
ODA Advisory Committee on Economic
and Social Research Overseas
Mr. J. B. Wilmshurst |Ex-officio |Nil
Mr. R. Allen |Ex-officio |Nil
Dr. S. Conlin |Ex-officio |Nil
Dr. R. Thomas |Ex-officio |Nil
Ms. C. Coppard |Ex-officio |Nil
Miss R. Philipson |Ex-officio |Nil
Mr. P. J. Ackroyd |Ex-officio |Nil
Dr. C. O. N. Moser |1995 |per diem expenses
Prof. A. W. Rew |1995 |per diem expenses
Prof. J. F. J. Toye |1995 |per diem expenses
Dr. H. Afshar |1995 |per diem expenses
Prof. P. Blaikie |1995 |per diem expenses
Prof. K. Davey |1995 |per diem expenses
Ms. D. Elson |1995 |per diem expenses
Dr. J. Heyer |1995 |per diem expenses
Prof. N. Stern |1995 |per diem expenses
Note: For Crown Agents and Commonwealth Development Corporation, figures are taken from 1991
published accounts.
Information on the exact period for which each appointment was made and the relevant qualifications of the appointees is not held centrally.
There are eight appointments vacant across four committees. The Irish Pensions Appeals Tribunal has been wound up.
Information on the political affiliation of appointees is not held centrally. Appointees who are Members of Parliament or Members of the European Parliament are so designated in the list.
Column 258
Council of Europe
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received concerning plans for Azerbaijan and Armenia to seek membership of the Council of Europe ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have applied for special guest status in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, though not to join the Council itself. This is a matter for the Parliamentary Assembly itself, but I understand that both applications are going through the usual channels. The Council secretariat has discussed with Armenia and Azerbaijan areas for future co-operation.
Azerbaijan
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the current political, economic and civil circumstances of the Armenian community resident in Azerbaijan.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Most of the Armenian community in Azerbaijan live in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Their economic conditions are dire as the result of an armed dispute over the region's future since 1988. We have given £250,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross for relief work in Nagorno-Karabakh. We fully support talks under the auspices of the CSCE to settle this dispute and believe that the only solution likely to be stable should involve autonomy for the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh under Azerbaijani sovereignty. Elsewhere in Azerbaijan around 20,000 Armenians remain. Most of these are in mixed marriages with Azeris. Over 200,000 Armenians have fled Azerbaijan. We have provided £200,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for relief work amongst Armenian refugees.
Peru
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Peru.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The United Kingdom and Peru have traditionally enjoyed good relations. Following recent steps towards the restoration of democracy, including elections to the constituent congress, we and our EC partners continue to review the measures, including the suspension of most aid, adopted after President Fujimori suspended constitutional government in April 1992.
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Peru on human rights issues ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : We take every opportunity, both bilaterally and with our EC partners, to emphasise to the Peruvian authorities the level of concern felt here about human rights violations, most recently, I raised the matter with President Fujimori when I visited Peru from 7-9 January 1993.
Column 259
EC-Israel Co-operation Council
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the meeting of the EC- Israel Co-operation Council on 1 February.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The EC-Israel Co-operation Council on 1 February reviewed co-operation under the 1975 agreement, and agreed that the Commission should continue its exploratory discussions on updating this agreement. EC Foreign Ministers subsequently reiterated their support for the peace process and repeated their condemnation of the Israeli deportation of over 400 Palestinians which risked endangering the peace process and preventing the updating of the agreement.
Palestinian Deportees
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States of America on the appropriate steps that they will take to ensure Israel complies with UN Security Council resolution No. 799 regarding the Palestinian deportees.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has discussed the question of the Palestinian deportees with the new US Secretary of State. They have agreed to work closely together to ensure the earliest possible resolution of the problem.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the imposition of sanctions against Israel with regard to the Palestinian deportees.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have received some letters on the subject of the Palestinian deportees, some of which call for sanctions to be imposed on Israel. We do not believe that the adoption of sanctions against Israel would be helpful to the prospects for the peace process, which remains the best hope for all the parties to resolve their differences.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Plutonium
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the annual figures on plutonium for 1991-92 will be published.
Mr. Eggar : The information requested is being published today and copies of the press release placed in the Library of the House.
Tobacco Industry
Mr. Cummings : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his most recent estimate of the contribution made by the United Kingdom tobacco industry towards the United Kingdom balance of payments.
Mr. Needham : The United Kingdom had a crude trade surplus in manufactured tobacco products worth £614.9 million in 1991 and £727.4 million in January to November 1992.
Column 260
1. Crude trade surplus = exports (fob) less imports (cif). 2. Manufactured tobacco products are defined as heading 122 of the Standard International Trade Classification (revision 3).Pneumoconiosis
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the average length of service of miners who have subsequently been affected by pneumoconiosis ;
(2) what sums have been paid in compensation to former miners suffering from pneumoconiosis in each of the last 10 years, together with the average figure paid to individuals for each of those years.
Mr. Eggar : This is a matter for British Coal.
Fuel Report
Mr. Cummings : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will commission Caminus Energy Consultants to prepare a report investigating the comparative cost advantages of gas, nuclear power and coal ; and if he will ensure that their report is made available to the House at the earliest opportunity.
Mr. Eggar : The relative costs of electricity generated from different sources are being considered as part of the coal review. As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 14 December, at column 25, Ernst and Young has been appointed to assist in the examination of the avoidable costs of nuclear generation and related issues. There are no plans to commission further work in this area.
KS Construction Ltd.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the report from the liquidators of KS Construction Ltd. on the conduct of its directors in the two years prior to its liquidation.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : A return under rule 4, the Insolvent Companies (Reports on Conduct of Directors) No. 2 Rules 1986, was submitted by the liquidator of KS Construction Ltd on 21 October 1989.
Liquidation (Directors' Conduct)
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the average time between a company entering into liquidation and his Department receiving a report on the conduct of the directors.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The statistics requested are not kept by my Department.
Insolvency Service
Mr. Cousins : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the caseload of the insolvency service in each year since 1989 and the average processing time per case each year since 1989.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The following number of compulsory insolvencies fell to be dealt with by official receivers.
Column 261
|1989 |1990 |1991 |<1>1992
----------------------------------------------------------------
Bankruptcies |8,138 |12,058 |22,632 |32,106
Compulsory liquidations |4,020 |5,977 |8,368 |9,732
|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |12,158 |18,035 |31,000 |41,838
<1> Provisional.
In addition, the service's disqualification unit dealt with the following number of reports/returns by insolvency practitioners under the provisions of the Company Directors Disqualifications Act 1986 :
|Numbers
------------------------------------------------
1989 |6,537
1990 |12,463
1991 |18,509 |1992 |20,468
Information on the average processing time per case is not maintained and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Regulations
Mr. Sproat : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a list of all the regulations for which his Department is currently responsible with a descriptive title for each individual regulation.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : A provisional list of regulations which impact on business has recently been put together. Consideration will be given to placing the list in the Library once it has been fully checked for accuracy and consistency of definition.
Radioactive Products (Safety) Regulations
Mr. Garrett : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to issue the Radioactive Products (Safety) Regulations.
Mr. Leigh : The Government have decided not to proceed with making the Radioactive Products (Safety) Regulations, which would have implemented directive 80/836/Euratom, as amended, following a recommendation from the European Commission not to proceed with such legislation in view of the Commission's intention to make proposals for revising this directive.
Sizewell B
Mr. Morgan : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to amend the payment of nuclear levey money towards the construction cost of Sizewell B ; and what consultations he has had with the Office of Electricity Regulation and with Nucler Electric on such amendments.
Mr. Eggar : The coal review currently being undertaken by my Department is considering the implications of the non fossil fuel obligation and the operation of the fossil fuel levy.
Nuclear Electric
Mr. Morgan : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions exist on the purposes on which Nuclear Electric may spend payments received from the
Column 262
nuclear levey ; what amounts and proportion of such funds have been spent on (a) decommissioning costs and (b) other costs ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Eggar : Nuclear Electric receives income from two main sources : premimum payments on a given proportion of its output, which is financed by the levy ; and revenue from electricity sales into the pool. From this total income--the management of which is the responsibility of Nuclear Electric's board--the company must finance its current operations and make provisions in respect of longer term liabilities. Income from the levy is not hypothecated to any one activity. Nuclear Electric's payments against provisions are clearly set out in the company's report and accounts, a copy of which rests in the Library of the House of Commons.
International Atomic Energy Agency
Mr. Hain : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the United Kingdom currently contributes towards funding the International Atomic Energy Agency ; and if he will list figures for the last 10 years.
Mr. Eggar : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 26 October 1992 at column 515.
Cash Limits
Mr. Rowe : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes are being made to his Department's cash limits and nationalised industries' external financing limits for 1992-93.
| Next Section
| Home Page |