| Previous Section | Home Page |
Liberia
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what diplomatic exchanges have taken place with forces in Liberia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The United Kingdom has played an active role in consideration of Liberia at the United Nations and maintains regular diplomatic contacts with those West African states contributing troops to the ECOMOG--Economic Community of West African States Monitoring and Observing Group--peace-keeping force.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Nigeria concerning the operation of the Economic Community of West African States Ceasefire Monitoring Group forces in Liberia.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have regular exchanges with the Government of Nigeria and have expressed our support for the important role which Nigeria is playing in the efforts being made by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and by the ECOWAS Monitoring and Observing Group, ECOMOG, forces to bring an end to the conflict in Liberia.
Gambia
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of the Gambia concerning arbitrary arrests and abuse of human rights ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Gambia has a good record of human rights and there is no evidence to suggest that arbitrary arrests and abuse of human rights are taking place. No recent representations have therefore been made to the Government of the Gambia.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Company Car Tax
Mr. Mills : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his assessment of the effect of his proposals on company car tax on the sale of cars at the upper end of the price range.
Mr. Dorrell : The switch from scale charges to 35 per cent. of list price as the basis for personal tax liability on company car use will remove distortions in the new car market. Each car will be taxed on the basis of its individual list price, in response to the weight of views expressed during consultation. Our assessment is that these changes coupled with the abolition of car tax, the lowest interest rates in the EC, a competitive exchange rate, low inflation and sustainable economic recovery- -will have a positive effect on sales of United Kingdom manufacturers' cars across the whole price range.
VAT
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the thresholds in each of the member countries of the EEC before registration for VAT purposes is required.
Column 244
Sir John Cope : The latest available information is as follows :
Registration threshold as at 1 April 1993
|In national currency|Approx sterling
|equivalent
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Kingdom |£37,600 |£37,600
Belgium |nil |nil
Denmark |DK 10,000 |£1,060
France |FF 70,000 |£8,415
Germany |DM 22,000 |£10,150
Greece |nil |nil
Ireland |Goods:
|IP 32,000 |£31,745
|Services:
|IP 15,000 |£14,880
Italy |nil |nil
Luxembourg |LF 200,000 |£3,950
Netherlands |nil |nil
Portugal |ESC 800,000 |£3,500
Spain |nil |nil
Inland Revenue
Mr. Robert Ainsworth : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of pay-as-you-earn packs distributed by private companies following tendering procedures have been successfully delivered ; and what cost has been incurred by the Inland Revenue (a) on checking the process and (b) providing replacements.
Mr. Dorrell : The Inland Revenue's inquiries indicate that the vast majority of employers annual PAYE guidance packs have been safely delivered and those that have not carry an Inland Revenue return address allowing them to be reissued. The Inland Revenue does not have a central record of the cost of checking the process or providing replacements. Although there have been some additional postage and other costs in reissuing employee code notices to employers, overall there will still be substantial savings this year compared with the cost of issuing last year's annual pack.
Mr. Robert Ainsworth : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what privacy clauses were included in the contracts issued for the delivery of pay-as-you-earn packs by private sector companies.
Mr. Dorrell : The tender document that formed part of the contracts for assembly and distribution of the employers annual PAYE guidance pack contained the standard Inland Revenue confidentiality clause which makes reference to the provisions of section 182 of the Finance Act 1989.
European Monetary Institute
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the implications of no decision being made on the seat of the European Monetary Institute by the end of 1992 in accordance with article 13 of the protocol on the European Monetary Institute of the treaty on European union, page 108, Cm. 1934.
Column 245
Income Tax Forms
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the failure of the Inland Revenue to ensure dispatch before the end of the 1992-93 tax year of PAYE forms and tax tables to employers in the Oxford area ; how many employers are affected ; which other areas of the country are affected ; what action is being taken to rectify the situation ; and if he will allow employers who have not received forms by the usual date an extended period in which to complete their returns before the imposition of penalties.
Mr. Dorrell : Despite the printing errors which resulted in some of this year's annual PAYE guidance and stationery packs for employers being wrongly addressed, the Inland Revenue's inquiries indicate that the vast majority of employers throughout the country received their packs before the end of the 1992-93 tax year. All packs carry an Inland Revenue return address allowing those which are not delivered to be reissued. To ensure that all employers can operate the correct PAYE codes for their employees from the start of the new tax year, notices giving details where these codes have changed were reissued before 6 April 1993. Employers have until 19 May to send in their 1992-93 end of year returns but will not face penalties provided these are received by 19 June. This later cut-off date has nothing to do with the issue of the annual pack--the summary end of year return form is issued separately--but is in keeping with the previously announced approach of allowing employers time to get up to date before 1995 when automatic penalties may be taken for any return not sent in by 19 May.
Banks (Charges)
Mr. Byers : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission a report from the Bank of England into the extent to which the clearing banks raise charges to their customers in a co-ordinated way ; and what steps he will take to stop this practice.
Mr. Nelson : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has no plans to commission such a report and is not aware of any evidence that banks are raising charges in a co-ordinated way. The decision by a bank to increase its charges is a matter for its own commercial judgment. The then Director of Fair Trading, Sir Gordon Borrie, announced on 24 October 1991 that, after considering material relating to banking practices passed to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, which covered fees and charges, he had concluded that there were no grounds to justify any further action under the competition legislation. The Bank of England's recent review of bank lending to small businesses also showed that there were divergences between individual banks both in the level of their charges and in their attitude to implementing them.
Mrs. Jane Kennedy : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received concerning the practice of high street banks charging customers for certificates showing annual interest and tax paid required by the Inland Revenue in order to claim for tax rebates ;
(2) if he intends to introduce measures to compensate individuals charged by high street banks for certificates showing annual interest and tax paid required by the Inland Revenue in order to claim for tax rebates.
Column 246
Mr. Dorrell : Following a number of representations last year, the British Bankers Association and the Building Societies Association were asked to remind their members that they have a statutory duty to provide tax deduction certificates on receipt of a written request. No charge should therefore arise. There have been no recent reports of institutions continuing to charge.
North Sea Oil Tax
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which bodies his Department consulted prior to his announcement of changes in the North sea oil tax regime.
Mr. Dorrell : My officials keep in regular contact with representative bodies and individual oil companies. But they were not consulted on specific Budget proposals. Advance consultation on budgetary measures of this sort would have created uncertainty likely severely to have disrupted investment and tax yield.
EC Economic and Finance Council
Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.
Mr. Lamont : The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community--ECOFIN--met in Luxembourg on 19 April. I represented the United Kingdom.
The main agenda item was follow-up to the Edinburgh European Council declaration on promoting economic recovery. The Council discussed a paper prepared by the Commission containing a summary of the action taken both by member states and at Community level. Council conclusions were agreed on the results of the Edinburgh declaration and on the importance of economic relations between the EC and the United States to promoting economic recovery internationally. I highlighted the significant measures taken by the United Kingdom consistent with the Edinburgh declaration, including in particular those in the Budget and Autumn Statement, and welcomed progress made by other member states and with the Community measures. I stressed the importance of early progress towards a GATT agreement and drew attention to the favourable growth prospects in the United Kingdom by comparison with those of other major EC member states. The Council discussed progress in negotiations with the European Parliament on a new inter-institutional agreement on budget discipline and agreed that the presidency should continue to work towards an agreement consistent with the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council.
There was a brief discussion of the draft seventh VAT directive which covers the VAT treatment of second hand goods. The main outstanding United Kingdom objective remains to secure a final text which protects the essential interests of the United Kingdom art market.
The Commission urged progress with its proposed directive abolishing withholding tax on interest and royalty payments between companies in different member states. The Council agreed to have a substantive discussion of the directive at a future meeting. Following a brief discussion of possible European investment bank lending to Albania, it was agreed that the Council would return to this issue at a later meeting.
Column 247
The Council took no formal votes. The conclusions on promoting economic recovery and economic relations with the United States were agreed by consensus.Although not part of the formal Council proceedings, there was also a meeting of Finance Ministers from EC and EFTA countries in Luxembourg on the same day. There was general agreement on the value of dialogue on economic issues between EC and EFTA countries. Discussion centred on promoting economic recovery in Europe and the results of the joint meeting of Foreign and Finance Ministers from G7 countries on 14 and 15 April.
House Prices/Earnings Ratio
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 January, Official Report, columns 751-2, if he will publish figures for the average house price to earnings ratio for each region for the lastest quarters.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 22 April 1993] : Estimates for the fourth quarter of 1992 are given in the following table :
Average house price to earnings ratio
fourth quarter 1992
Region |Number
---------------------------------------
Great Britain |3.56
North |3.17
Yorkshire and Humberside |3.28
East Midlands |3.65
East Anglia |3.59
South East
Greater London |3.51
Rest of South East |4.21
South West |3.83
West Midlands |3.74
North West |3.58
England |3.61
Wales |3.42
Scotland |3.15
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will itemise British expenditure on the European bank for reconstruction and development.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 19 April 1993] : I have been asked to reply.
By the end of March 1993, United Kingdom expenditure on the European bank for reconstruction and development since its inauguration in April 1991 was about £90 million. A breakdown of this figure is shown in the table. As a shareholder of the bank, the United Kingdom will contribute £255 million to its capital : £53.4 million has already been contributed ; the remainder will be paid in the period to the end of 1995-96 by a combination of cash and promissory notes.
The European Community has a 6 per cent. shareholding in the bank and contributes 6 per cent. of the capital. In addition, the EBRD manages technical assistance funds for the EC. The United Kingdom share of this Community expenditure is 16 per cent.
Column 248
£ million
|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93
-----------------------------------------------------
Capital Subscription |- |21.6 |31.8
Headquarters grant |0.7 |12.3 |21.8
Annual Meetings |- |0.7 |0.02
Transitional Support |1.9 |- |-
ecu million |1991 |1992
PHARE/TACIS (technical
assistance) |40 |40
WALES
Mental Handicap Hospitals
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average total cost per patient per week of providing in-patient care to residents of long-stay mental handicap hospitals in Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The average total cost per patient per week is not available.
Patient treatment services for in-patients and day cases in mental handicap hospitals in Wales in 1990-91--the latest comprehensive figures available-- averaged £45.80 per person per day, or £320.60 per week. Figures for general services such as catering, laundry, building and engineering maintenance, etc., which are estimated to add around a further 40 per cent. to the cost, are not included because, although they are available as an overall figure, they cannot be disaggregated into patient types.
Tourism
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the origin of British domestic holidaymakers to Wales according to each United Kingdom standardised region for each year since 1985 ; and if he will indicate in each instance the percentage from each region embarking on (a) all holidays, (b) short stays of one to three nights and (c) long stays of four nights and over.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The requested figures are given in the following tables. This information is derived from sample surveys so may be subject to sampling variability.
Origin of British domestic holiday tourists to Wales by standard
region and length of stay
1985 per cent.
|All holidays|1-3 nights |4+ nights
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
North |2 |2 |2
Yorkshire and Humberside |4 |3 |4
North West |27 |31 |25
East Midlands |3 |3 |3
West Midlands |24 |24 |23
East Anglia |1 |1 |2
South East |18 |14 |21
South West |4 |2 |4
Wales |15 |20 |13
Scotland |2 |- |2
Column 249
1986 per cent.
|All holidays|1-3 nights |4+ nights
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
North |1 |- |1
Yorkshire and Humberside |4 |1 |5
North West |30 |25 |33
East Midlands |3 |3 |3
West Midlands |20 |24 |18
East Anglia |2 |1 |4
South East |18 |12 |19
South West |4 |6 |3
Wales |17 |28 |11
Scotland |1 |- |2
1987 per cent.
|All holidays|1-3 nights |4+ nights
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
North |2 |1 |3
Yorkshire and Humberside |6 |5 |7
North West |26 |22 |29
East Midlands |5 |4 |6
West Midlands |24 |30 |20
East Anglia |1 |- |1
South East |14 |12 |15
South West |5 |3 |6
Wales |15 |21 |12
Scotland |2 |1 |2
1988 per cent.
|All holidays|1-3 nights |4+ nights
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
North |3 |3 |2
Yorkshire and Humberside |5 |3 |7
North West |19 |24 |16
East Midlands |8 |2 |12
West Midlands |20 |25 |17
East Anglia |1 |- |1
South East |20 |12 |25
South West |6 |8 |5
Wales |17 |23 |13
Scotland |1 |- |1
Source: British Tourism Survey (monthly).
Origin of British domestic holiday tourists to Wales by standard
region and length of stay
1989 per cent.
|All holidays|1-3 nights |4+ nights
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
North |2 |1 |2
Yorkshire and Humberside |3 |2 |4
North West |20 |20 |20
East Midlands |5 |3 |7
West Midlands |20 |22 |19
East Anglia |1 |1 |2
South East |17 |10 |22
South West |7 |7 |7
Wales |22 |32 |15
Scotland |2 |- |2
Origin of British domestic holiday tourists to Wales by standard
region and length of stay
1990 per cent.
|All holidays|1-3 nights |4+ nights
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
North |2 |1 |3
Yorkshire and Humberside |4 |3 |5
North West |21 |18 |24
East Midlands |4 |3 |6
West Midlands |21 |25 |18
East Anglia |1 |2
South East |18 |17 |20
South West |6 |6 |7
Wales |20 |28 |13
Scotland |1 |2
Origin of British domestic holiday tourists to Wales by standard region and length of stay ------------------------------------- North |1 |- |2 Yorkshire and Humberside |5 |4 |6 North West |24|23|24 East Midlands |4 |3 |5 West Midlands |21|21|21 East Anglia |1 |1 |1 South East |16|10|20 South West |4 |5 |4 Wales |22|34|15 Scotland |1 |- |2 Source: British Tourism Survey ( monthly).
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the expenditure of the Wales tourist board in each year from 1985-86, broken down into (a) grant-in-aid and (b) projects.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The requested figures are in the following table :
Wales Tourist Board expenditure £ thousand Year |Grant-in-aid|Projects ---------------------------------------------------- 1985-86 |5,195 |2,500 1986-87 |5,345 |2,542 1987-88 |5,736 |3,101 1988-89 |5,891 |3,453 1989-90 |6,532 |3,419 1990-91 |7,249 |3,378 1991-92 |7,754 |3,617 1992-93 |9,972 |3,810 Source: Wales Tourist Board.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the distribution of non-business overseas visitors in Wales in each year since 1985, indicating (a) the number of visits, (b) the number of nights stayed and (c) the amount spent in (i) North Wales, (ii) Mid Wales, (iii) South Wales and (iv) unspecified parts of Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The requested figures are given in the following tables. Visitors from Ireland and the Channel Islands are excluded. This information is derived from a sample survey and so may be subject to sampling variability.
Column 251
Number of visits of non-business overseas visitors to Wales
Thousands
|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990|1991
-------------------------------------------------------------------
North Wales |173 |147 |153 |138 |163 |168 |156
Mid Wales |67 |68 |68 |76 |71 |67 |69
South Wales |273 |242 |278 |267 |309 |320 |306
Unspecified parts of Wales |38 |19 |27 |32 |26 |46 |28
Source: International Passenger Survey.
Column 251
Number of nights stayed by non-business overseas visitors in Wales
Millions
|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990|1991
-------------------------------------------------------------------
North Wales |1.0 |0.9 |0.9 |0.8 |1.1 |1.0 |1.2
Mid Wales |0.5 |0.5 |0.5 |0.4 |0.5 |0.6 |0.4
South Wales |2.7 |2.4 |2.4 |2.4 |3.3 |2.7 |2.5
Unspecified parts of Wales |0.1 |0.1 |0.1 |0.1 |0.2 |0.2 |0.2
Source: International Passenger Survey.
Column 251
Expenditure of non-business overseas visitors in Wales
£ millions
|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990|1991
-------------------------------------------------------------------
North Wales |21 |18 |23 |19 |24 |27 |26
Mid Wales |8 |8 |15 |8 |8 |15 |10
South Wales |53 |48 |54 |46 |56 |63 |61
Unspecified parts of Wales |3 |2 |8 |5 |4 |5 |6
Source: International Passenger Survey.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures on the section 4 grants and loans assistance given to tourist projects in Wales in each year since 1985-86, indicating (a) the number of projects
Column 252
approved, (b) the level of grant/loan approved, (c) the capital cost of the projects (d) the average assistance given and (e) the average capital cost.Sir Wyn Roberts : The requested figures are given in the following table.
Column 251
Section 4 grants and loans assistance given to tourist projects in Wales
Number of schemes |Grant approved |Capital cost |Average grant |Average capital
|assistance |costs
|£ |£ |£ |£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985-86 |162 |3,398,351 |15,689,278 |20,977 |96,847
1986-87 |130 |2,907,594 |15,838,420 |22,366 |121,834
1987-88 |103 |2,259,549 |15,520,350 |21,937 |150,683
1988-89 |218 |3,888,399 |22,675,916 |17,837 |104,018
1989-90 |167 |3,843,485 |42,170,319 |23,015 |252,517
1990-91 |164 |3,253,776 |20,313,392 |19,840 |123,862
1991-92 |249 |3,979,585 |22,628,716 |15,982 |90,878
1992-93 |486 |4,790,045 |26,722,226 |9,856 |54,984
Source: Wales Tourist Board.
Special Educational Needs
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the spending by each local education authority in Wales on special educational needs in the latest available year.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Information is available in respect of expenditure on special education in special schools, home teaching, individual teaching in hospitals and expenditure in social services establishments charged to education. Current expenditure in special education units attached to primary and secondary schools is excluded and not available separately.
The information is given in the following table.
Column 252
Expenditure on special education<1><4> 1990-91
|Net current |Gross capital
|expenditure<2>|expenditure<3>
|£000 |£000
-------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |7,810 |75
Dyfed |4,164 |20
Gwent |6,643 |80
Gwynedd |2,908 |50
Mid Glamorgan |7,898 |3
Powys |2,006 |33
South Glamorgan |6,641 |35
West Glamorgan |3,703 |0
|------- |-------
Total Wales |41,773 |296
<1>Information taken from local education authority revenue
and capital outturn forms.
<2>Net current expenditure is defined as expenditure on
employees and running expenses, less sales, fees, changes,
internal recharges and other non-grant income but gross of
specific government grants.
<3>Gross capital expenditure is defined as the provision,
acquisition
and enhancement of tangible fixed assets which continue to
be of value long after their acquisition.
<4>Includes expenditure in special education units attached
to primary and secondary schools.
Public Buildings (Disabled Access)
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to acquire Welsh local authorities to make public buildings accessible to disabled people if these buildings are currently inaccessible ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : It is for owners of public buildings including local authorities, to use their own judgment as to the need for access and the extent to which it is practicable and affordable to improve it.
Statutory powers in respect of existing buildings are limited. Where planning permission is required for development, section 76 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 places a duty on local planning authorities to draw applicants' attention to their statutory obligations in this regard under sections 4, 7, 8 and 8A of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
The building regulations require that access and facilities for the disabled are provided in all new non-domestic buildings including extensions. Research is in progress to see how similar measures might be applied when non-domestic buildings are being altered.
Community Care
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to ensure that Welsh local authorities correctly allocate and spend the money they are receiving to provide community care.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Additional resources for local authorities' new community care responsibilities are included in the 1993-94 Welsh local government revenue settlement. Within those totals, the amounts in respect of the new duties for each county council have been identified in accordance with their own wishes. The Welsh Office has worked closely with each local authority in the preparation of their social care plans and will continue to do so in monitoring progress on the implementation of community care.
Sight Tests
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that all deaf and hard of hearing people in Wales have access to national health service sight tests ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : There are no plans to extend the categories of those eligible for national health service sight tests which already provide free sight tests to those most in need, for example, children, those on low income and people most at risk at developing serious eye disease. These examination groups cover approximately 45 per cent. of the population of Great Britain.
South Glamorgan TEC
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consulations he has had with South Glamorgan training and enterprise council in relation to a proposed merger with the Cardiff chamber of commerce and the Cardiff and Vale Enterprise Agency.
Column 254
Pit Closures
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 20 October 1992, Official Report, columns 283-84, what progress he has made in allocating the £4.8 million he announced for employment and training measures in the areas affected by pit closures and job losses ; how much of the £4.8 million has already been announced and on what it has been spent ; what the residual amount unspent will be spent on ; and what evaluation he has made of the best value for money schemes in improving employment and training prospects.
Mr. David Hunt : The introduction of special additional employment and training measures will depend on the future employment position at individual pits. No final decision has yet been taken to close any of the Welsh pits involved in the review.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Beer
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be able to complete his assessment of the impact of the new duty-paid allowances on sales of beer in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Cope : I have been asked to reply.
We are monitoring the impact of cross-border shopping in the single market, but seasonal variations in beer sales and the novelty of cross-border shopping make it unsafe to draw firm conclusions for the moment. Customs are meeting the Brewers Society to discuss the society's statistics on duty -paid beer imports. We shall continue to keep a close watch on the position through surveys and other relevant information sources.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Radio Telephones
Mr. Redmond : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to have the conclusions from his Department's research study of the physical interaction of fields from hand-held radio telephones and the human head ; which other organisations are assisting his Department in this study ; whether the full results of the study will be published ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : The project, called "Interaction of the Body with Radio Emissions from Hand Held Transceivers", is part of the LINK personal communications programme. Industry provides 50 per cent. of the funding ; the Government contribution is provided by the DTI and the Science and Engineering Research Council. The project was launched in June 1992 and is due to complete by December 1995.
The four research organisations involved in this study are : University of Bradford
Brunel University
University of Surrey, and
University Microwave Ltd.
It is managed by a team including officials from my
Column 255
Department, the National Radiological Protection Board, and Multiple Access Communications Ltd. A panel of independent monitors has also been appointed. On completion of the project a document summarising the results will be made public.Electricity Generation
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek a report from OFFER listing the type, scale, nature and ownership of electricity generation in Greater London, Kent and Essex.
Mr. Eggar : It is for the Director General of Electricity Supply to determine what reports to commission. The National Grid Company is required to produce a seven-year statement and update it at least annually. This includes information about existing generating capacity.
Markets Overt
Mr. Hutton : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to reform the law relating to the operation of markets overt.
Mr. Leigh : I hope shortly to issue a consultation paper on the law relating to transfer of title. This will invite opinions on whether reform is needed to the rule of sales in market overt.
Fuel-conditioning Devices
Ms Walley : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what results have been achieved by Warren Spring Laboratory in tests of in-line fuel- conditioning devices based on tin alloys or magnetic cores ; and whether he will issue guidance on the effectiveness of such products in reducing energy use.
Mr. Leigh : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Warren Spring Laboratory under its chief executive, Dr. Cormack. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Doug Cormack to Ms Joan Walley, dated 21 April 1993 :
Your written Parliamentary Question to ask the President of the Board of Trade what results have been achieved by Warren Spring Laboratory in tests of on-line fuel conditioning devices based on tin alloys or magnetic cones : and whether he will issue guidance on the effectiveness of such products in reducing energy use.
As your question relates to operational activities at Warren Spring Laboratory I have been asked to reply.
Over the past twelve months or so Warren Spring Laboratory has continued to be contracted by the motor vehicle industry to test and assess modifications to motor car designs in respect of fuel consumption and vehicle emissions., I regret that, as this work has been undertaken on a commercial-in-confidence basis, it is not possible for me to publicise the results. I do, however, enclose some background information about the work of our vehicle emissions team. You would be most welcome to visit Warren Spring Laboratory to meet the team and to see the facilities that we use in testing and assessing vehicle emissions.
Collieries
Mr. Cummings : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the six mothballed collieries to be licensed to the private sector.
Column 256
Mr. Eggar : The timing of possible licensing to the private sector of those pits being placed on a care and maintenance basis by British Coal is a matter for British Coal, but I expect progress to be rapid.
Mr. Cummings : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with representatives of private mining companies which have expressed an interest in the collieries scheduled for mothballing or closure.
| Next Section
| Home Page |