| Previous Section | Home Page |
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. Kenneth Clarke : The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community--ECOFIN--met in Luxembourg on 7 June. The Paymaster General and I represented the United Kingdom.
The Commission informed the Council of its intention to publish revised economic projections for the Community on 16 June. These are likely to indicate less favourable growth prospects for most member states than the forecast contained in the annual economic report for 1993. By contrast, the revised forecast is expected to contain improved growth prospects for the United Kingdom and confirm the Commission's assessment earlier in the year that GDP growth in the United Kingdom will be greater than in any other major member state. There was a brief preparatory discussion for the Copenhagen European Council's examination of the economic situation in the Community. The Council discussed the draft seventh VAT directive intended to provide a harmonised system for taxing second-hand goods and works of art. I indicated that the United Kingdom could consider a very low rate of VAT for imported works of art for the duration of the transitional VAT system, but only as part of an acceptable compromise on other outstanding aspects of the proposal. It was agreed that this issue would be considered further by officials before returning to the Council.
In discussion of the Commission's proposals for a carbon/energy tax, I made it clear that the Government had already announced measures in the Budget that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom ; and that we did not see a need for a harmonised tax at Community level. The topic was remitted for further consideration by officials.
The Commission urged early progress on the proposed directive to abolish withholding taxes on cross-border interest and royalty payments between companies. There was no substantive discussion of this proposal.
The Council adopted conclusions on the Commission's annual report on fraud against the Community budget. I welcomed the Commission's recent efforts to address this problem and stressed the need for clear and measurable objectives and target dates in the Commission's action plan. The Council invited the Commission to provide an assessment of further specific improvements needed to increase the effectiveness of the fight against fraud. The presidency also reported on recent discussions with the European Parliament on a new inter-institutional agreement on budget discipline.
The Council reached a political agreement on the principle of Euratom loans for nuclear safety in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Final adoption of the Council decision will take place once the European Parliament's opinion is available.
Column 366
Finally, there was a brief general discussion of the Commission's proposed directive for deposit protection arrangements for credit institutions. There was broad support for the principle of a minimum directive in this area, although I stressed the importance of the principle of subsidiarity in this context.The Council took no formal votes. The conclusions on the Commission's annual report on fraud and the political agreement on the principle of Euratom loans were approved by consensus.
Exchange Rate Mechanism
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his timetable for re-entry to the exchange rate mechanism.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 10 June 1993] : The Government have no timetable for re-entry to the ERM.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list details of (a) orchestral concerts, (b) rock concerts, (c) opera, (d) theatre, (e) films, (f) ballet and (g) other dance performances he attended in his official capacity, since his appointment.
(a) a concert by the Guildhall Chamber Orchestra at St. James's, Piccadilly (14 October)
a memorial concert for Sir Andrzej Panufnik at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (18 October)
a concert in honour of Sir Georg Solti at Buckingham Palace (22 October)
a concert for the Scandinavian Festival of the Arts at the Barbican (10 November)
the reopening of the Wigmore Hall (12 November)
a Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall (23 November)
the Soiree d'Or at the Royal College of Music (11 December) a concert by the London Philharmonic at the Royal Festival Hall (26 January)
a concert for Australia Gala day at the Royal Opera House (31 January)
a concert for the "Festival of Britten" at the Barbican (16 March)
a concert at the Wigmore Hall (2 April)
(c) The Duenna, performed by Opera North at the Grand Theatre, Leeds (2 October)
Turandot, at the Royal Opera House (20 February)
L'Assedio di Calais, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (3 March)
(d) Three Birds Alighting on a Field, at the Royal Court (6 November)
Carousel, at the Royal National Theatre (8 December)
Hamlet, at the Barbican (18 December)
Poor Beast in the Rain, at the Gate Theatre (22 December) (e) Chaplin (16 December)
(f) Mayerling, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (13 November)
the Bolshoi ballet at the Royal Albert Hall (9 January) (g) A Royal Gala for the Chicken Shed Theatre Company (14 December).
Parliamentary business precluded my attendance at a number of events to which I had planned to go : for instance, on 4 March, a concert of the Halle orchestra ; on
Column 367
25 March, a concert of the Philharmonia orchestra ; "Arcadia", at the Royal National Theatre on 15 April ; and "Tristan and Isolde", on 19 April, at the Royal Opera House.Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the occasions he has visited the royal palaces in his official capacity since his appointment.
Mr. Brooke : I attended a concert in honour of Sir Georg Solti's birthday at Buckingham palace on 22 October ; a dinner for editors of regional newspapers at the Tower of London on 15 December ; and opened the medieval palace at the Tower of London on 30 March. I have held several receptions at the Banqueting House on behalf of the business sponsorship incentive scheme and attended one given there by the GB Sports Council.
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the visits he has made in his official capacity, since his appointment, to schools or colleges in connection with instruction and training in (a) drama, (b) dance, (c) music, (d) art and design, (e) architecture, (f) athletics and (g) other sports.
Mr. Brooke : I visited the Architecture Foundation on 8 December ; the Royal College of Music on 11 December and the Guildhall school of music and drama on 3 March. I opened an exhibition on the art of the design process at the Royal Institute of British Architects on 17 March. Invitations to most institutions in this area are more likely to go to Ministers in the Department for Education.
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will list details of minority sports events that he has attended in his official capacity since his appointment ; (2) if he will list details of (a) equestrian, (b) association football, (c) rugby league, (d) rugby union, (e) athletics, (f) swimming, (g) tennis, (h) golf, (i) cricket, (j) basketball, (k) rowing and (l) other water sports events he has attended in his official capacity, since his appointment.
(a) the Badminton Horse Trials on 9 May
(b) England versus Turkey on 18 November
Bolton Wanderers versus Leyton Orient on 6 March
the FA Cup Final on 15 May
(c) the World Cup Final on 24 October
(d) England versus South Africa on 14 November
Barbarians versus Australia on 28 November
(h) the amateur golf championships at Royal Portrush on 28 May I also attended the ice hockey championships final at the Wembley arena on 25 April and the European hockey club championships at Havant on 31 May. On 6 March, my Parliamentary Private Secretary attended a fencing championship on my behalf. I look forward to attending events in others of the categories listed as opportunities arise.
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when, in his official capacity, he last went to a soccer match held between clubs at a senior level of the game in leagues in the pyramid below those of the Football League.
Column 368
Sports Governing Bodies
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last met the governing bodies of (a) association football, (b) rugby league, (c) rugby union, (d) cricket, (e) athletics and (f) swimming.
Mr. Brooke : I met representatives of the Football Association on 15 December. I have met informally representatives of others of the bodies listed and will meet them formally as the need arises. I have met representatives of the GB Sports Council on several occasions.
Official Dinners
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list details of the official dinners he has attended since his appointment.
Mr. Brooke : I have attended the following official lunches and dinners :
a lunch for those working on the built heritage at Admiralty House (16 November) ;
a lunch for women in sport at Admiralty House (14 December) ; a lunch in honour of the President of Israel and Mrs. Herzog at 10 Downing Street (26 February) ;
a state banquet in honour of the Portuguese President at Buckingham Palace (27 April) ;
a dinner in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Mulroney at 10 Downing Street (11 May ) ; and
a lunch for the Irish Minister of State for Arts and Culture at Admiralty House (14 May).
St. Frideswide's Mission
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will reconsider his decision to refuse the granting of listed status to St. Frideswide's mission, Follett street, within the borough of Tower Hamlets ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : No. St. Frideswide's mission was assessed for listing last year, and I accepted English Heritage's recommendation, made following detailed research, that the mission buildings do not possess sufficient architectural or historic interest to merit listing.
DEFENCE
Rapid Reaction Corps
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the training in peacekeeping roles undertaken by the rapid reaction corps.
Mr. Hanley : In accordance with the developing NATO peacekeeping concept and as part of their annual training programme, the headquarters staff of the Allied Command Europe rapid reaction corps undertook a period of peacekeeping training earlier this year. United Kingdom units assigned to the corps which have deployed or may deploy to the former republic of Yugoslavia have also carried out peacekeeping training.
Depleted Uranium Ammunition
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use by British armed forces of depleted uranium ammunition.
Column 369
Mr. Hanley : The British armed forces are currently equipped with two kinds of ammunition containing depleted uranium : 120mm tank ammunition, small quantities of which were fired by Challenger tanks during the Gulf conflict ; and 20mm ammunition for the Royal Navy's Vulcan Phalanx point defence weapons system, which, apart from some rounds fired for proving purposes, was not used in the Gulf. During peacetime training at sea, the Royal Navy also fires Vulcan Phalanx ammunition at towed air targets ; DU ammunition is not used by the Army for peacetime training purposes.
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by his Department of the health risks posed to members of the armed forces who served in the Gulf war, arising from the use of depleted uranium tank and artillery rounds.
Mr. Hanley : The Ministry of Defence knows of no evidence that there was any health risk to any United Kingdom service personnel who served in the Gulf war, due to the handling or use of depleted uranium ammunition.
Medical Discharges
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces who served in the Gulf war have since been discharged from the services on health grounds ; what were the medical grounds for their discharge ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Those members of the armed forces who received a medical discharge as a result of injuries or illness directly attributable to events occurring in the Gulf war are as follows :
Admissions of working holidaymakers at United Kingdom ports
Number of persons
Nationality |1990, May to |1991 |1992 |1993, January to
|December |March<1>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia |11,600 |14,200 |15,400 |3,540
Canada |1,800 |1,750 |1,750 |230
Jamaica |50 |30 |70 |<2>
Malaysia |30 |40 |30 |<2>
New Zealand |6,440 |7,260 |6,500 |1,290
Zimbabwe |160 |190 |170 |50
Other Commonwealth |120 |120 |130 |50
|--- |--- |--- |--
Total |20,100 |23,600 |24,000 |5,160
<1> Data are provisional.
<2> Five or fewer.
Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Orangeleaf and Argus
g Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the award of the contract to refit RFA Orangeleaf and Argus.
Mr. Aitken : We expect to let contracts for the refits of RFA Orangeleaf and RFA Argus at around the end of this month.
Iraq (No-fly Zones)
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received of recent breaches of the no-fly zones over Iraq by (a) Iraq and (b) Iran ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 370
gMr. Hanley : There have been no recent indications of any breaches of either no-fly zone by Iraqi aircraft. We are aware of media reports on alleged recent incursions by Iranian aircraft but are unable to confirm them.
TRADE
EC Structural Funds
g Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made in submitting projects for funding through EC structural funds.
g Mr. Sainsbury : Of the structural funds grant totals allocated to the United Kingdom for the current period, from 1989 to 1993 approximately 80 per cent. have been committed to projects. The remaining 20 per cent. are to be committed before the end of the year.
Electricity
g Mr. Hain : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of (a) households and (b) the population has electricity supply.
g Mr. Eggar : Only isolated areas, containing a very small proportion of United Kingdom households and population, are without electricity supply. My Department has no precise estimates.
Auditors (Remuneration)
g Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any plans to amend the statutory requirements on disclosure of auditors' remuneration.
g Mr. Neil Hamilton : My Department has today issued a consultative document seeking views on a proposed technical amendment to the Companies Act 1985 (Disclosure of Remuneration for Non-Audit Work) Regulations 1991.
The regulations seek to foster the independence and integrity of audit firms by requiring their client companies to disclose in their annual accounts any remuneration paid to the firm or its associates for non-audit services. The proposed amendment would offer clear deregulatory benefits to both the client company and the audit firm without detracting from the purpose of the regulations.
As many audit firms provide other services such as consultancy or tax advice, in some cases through separate but connected organisations, the definition of associate was made sufficiently wide to include all such entities. However, audit firms with insolvency practices can find themselves with numerous associates, as presently defined, because they are entitled to control 20 per cent. or more of a company's voting rights solely by virtue of an insolvency appointment.
Any receipt of remuneration by such companies is unlikely to be relevant to the independence and integrity of the audit firm. Moreover, it can be an onerous task both for the audit firm to compile a list of such associates and for the client company to check whether payment has been made to any of them for non-audit services. The proposed amendment aims to correct this situation. For similar reasons, the consultative document also seeks views on whether trustees, or certain types of trustee, should also be excluded from the definition.
Column 371
A copy of the consultative document has been placed in the Library of the House. Comments should reach my Department by 30 July.
Regional Development Grants
g Mr. Wareing : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when a decision of the European Council can be expected on the proposal to grant Merseyside objective 1 status ; what is his position on this matter ; what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the subject ; and if he will make a statement.
g Mr.Sainsbury [holding answer 27 May 1993] : I do not expect a decision on the list of objective 1 regions for some time. The Foreign Affairs Council, which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended, discussed the issue briefly and inconclusively on 8 June. The Government will continue to press their demand for objective 1 status for Merseyside.
HEALTH
Ultrasound Scanning
g Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department has on the cost-effectiveness of antenatal ultrasound scanning ; and on what research evidence it is based.
g Mr. Sackville : It is widely accepted among clinicians that antenatal ultrasound scanning is a valuable diagnostic facility. Studies undertaken on the cost effectiveness of ultrasound are reviewed in the publication "Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth". The national perinatal and epidemiology unit is currently considering further work in this area.
Specialty Reviews
g Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the specialty reviews will be published ; if she will publish them in full ; and what plans she has for public and professional scrutiny of the specialty review findings.
g Dr. Mawhinney : The specialty reviews will be published, in full, later this month and will therefore be available for public scrutiny. They are independent advice to Ministers and the national health service, not policy and will form only one part of a complex jigsaw informing decisions about the pattern of hospital services in London. Where appropriate, there will, of course, be full public consultation about any proposals to close or move services.
Hospital Beds
g Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of NHS beds per 10,000 resident population by status category, in all acute specialties, in (a) London district health authorities, (b) London special health authorities and (c) non-London comparators, dividing the figures into areas categorised as (i) inner deprived, (ii) urban, (iii) high status and (iv) total.
g Dr. Mawhinney : This information is not available centrally.
Column 372
"Making London Better"
g Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the reduction of beds suggested in "Making London Better" applies to inner London ; and if she will give details of the proposed reductions by specialty and geographical area.
g Dr. Mawhinney : "Making London Better" sets out the framework for delivering strategic change to improve London health services. Detailed proposals for change are being developed at local level.
Purchasing Authorities
g Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the name and address of each purchasing authority.
| Next Section
| Home Page |