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Renewable Energy
Mr. Temple-Morris : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the work of the renewable energy advisory group and the timetable of that
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work, with particular reference to wind energy ; and when he expects to make the next non-fossil fuel obligation order.Mr. Eggar : The report of the renewable energy advisory group (REAG) was published in December 1992 and a copy placed in the Library of the House. The Government will publish a renewable energy strategy document later this year which will include wind energy. An announcement will be made on the next renewable energy order under the non-fossil fuel obligation as soon as possible.
Power Plants
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current output from nuclear power plants ; and what was the projected United Kingdom ouput for 1993 given in the Windscale inquiry report.
Mr. Eggar : In the first quarter of 1993 nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom supplied 21.8 terawatt hours of electricity. No projected United Kingdom power plant output for 1993 was given in the Windscale inquiry report.
Post Office
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers he has to review a decision by the Post Office for the award of an agency contract.
Mr. McLoughlin : My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no specific powers to direct the Post Office on the award of individual agency contracts. Since the Post Office became a public corporation in 1969, it has been the policy of successive Governments that matters relating to the day to running of the Post Office are the responsibility of the Post Office Board.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what standards his Department lays down for the award of agency contracts by the Post Office.
Mr. McLoughlin : My Department does not lay down standards for the award of agency contracts for sub-post offices as this is a commercial and operational matter for the Post Office.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many agency Post Office contracts have been awarded to senior Post Office staff for the period for which records are available.
Mr. McLoughlin : Of the 617 directly operated post offices converted to agencies between April 1989 and May 1993, 189 have been awarded to former Post Office employees. The Post Office keeps no separate records of awards by grade nor of unsuccessful applications by its employees, but the number of senior personnel involved is thought to be very small.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints there have been about the award of agency contracts by the Post Office.
Mr. McLoughlin : My Department has in recent years received representations in two previous cases about the award of agency contracts.
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Mr. Barry Field : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the remedies available for a review of a decision by the Post Office.
Mr. McLoughlin : Other than the general remedies provided under the law, there is no specific right of appeal against non-appointment to an agency contract which is a commercial matter for the Post Office. Customers who have unresolved complaints about Post Office services may approach the Post Office Users' National Council.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the criteria used by the Post Office for the award of contracts to senior staff.
Mr. McLoughlin : No. This is a matter for the Post Office in the day -to-day management of its business. The basic principle followed by the Post Office in the award of all contracts to run agency post offices is to appoint the most suitable candidate in order to provide high-quality services to its customers and clients and to safeguard Post Office assets.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many agency contracts for post offices on the Isle of Wight have been awarded to senior Post Office personnel.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last visited Ventnor post office ; and when he next intends to do so.
Mr. McLoughlin : My right hon. Friend the President of the Boad of Trade has not visited Ventnor post office and has no plans to do so.
South America
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what policy he has to enable the Export Credits Guarantee Department to make risk assessments which would allow British firms to compete with foreign competition in south American markets.
Mr. Needham : The provision of ECGD cover for all markets is determined by an assessment carried out under its portfolio management system. This seeks to strike a balance between enabling British exporters to compete for business overseas with Government support, and the potential cost to the taxpayer if ECGD sustains losses.
Latin America
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what increases have taken place in Export Credits Guarantee Department rates to Latin America for medium and long-term capital gains schemes, for convenient dates over the last decade.
Mr. Needham : Figures are not readily available for premiums charged during the 1980s. Since 1991, the cost of ECGD cover has been more directly linked to the assessment of the risks. Premium rates area also individually tailored according to ththroughout this period have been :
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|Per cent
---------------------------
1991 |+10
1992 |-29
1993 |+22
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what he is doing to encourage medium-sized British companies to operate in Latin America.
Mr. Needham : My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade led a business mission to Mexico and Argentina in June 1993. Bilateral trade facilitation groups have been established with Colombia and Mexico, and the Proyecto Venezuela initiative is being continued. In addition, there is a full programme of outward and inward trade missions, exhibitions, seminars and other promotional activities organised with the help of the Latin American Trade Advisory Group (LATAG). The programme aims to encourage small and medium-sized British companies to operate in Latin America.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the results of his exports promotion scheme in relation to six major Latin American markets.
Mr. Needham : The new export promotion scheme is in its initial stages. Each of the six major Latin American markets will be allocated at least one industry secondee and one market desk officer dedicated to the promotion of that market. The export promoter and dedicated market official will be responsible for the development and implementation of an export strategy for their market.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to bring in people with experience of Latin American markets into relevant posts (a) at his Department's headquarters and (b) in British missions abroad.
Mr. Needham : My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has written to a large number of United Kingdom companies inviting them to provide secondees to the Department. So far, two export promoters have been appointed for Latin America, and we hope to recruit a further seven. The majority of commercial staff in British missions overseas are recruited from the local private sector.
Argentina
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the credit offered by competitors of the United Kingdom in deciding the level of Export Credits Guarantee Department cover in Argentina.
Mr. Needham : The recent restoration of cover for Argentina was decided on the basis of an assessment of the risks involved. Although account was taken of the position of export credit agencies (ECAs) in other countries, it is not Government policy to seek to match other ECAs when determining cover arrangements and premium charges.
Company Accounts
Mr. Betts : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many companies registered with Companies House ceased trading in each of the last five years ; what
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reasons were recorded for this ; and in how many cases the company concerned had failed to submit accounts in the previous year ; (2) how many companies failed to provide Companies house with a full set of accounts in each of the last five years ; what percentage of registered companies this represents ; and in how many cases directors were prosecuted for this failure.Mr. Neil Hamilton : Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the chief executive of Companies House executive agency for which my Department is responsible. I have therefore asked Mr. David Durham to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from D. Durham to Mr. Clive Betts, dated 12 July 1993 : On 7 July you tabled the following two Parliamentary Questions : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many companies registered with Companies House ceased trading in each of the last five years ; what reasons were recorded for this ; and in how many cases the company concerned had failed to submit accounts in the previous year.
To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many companies failed to provide Companies House with a full set of accounts in each of the last five years ; and
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what percentage of registered companies this represents ; and in how many cases directors were prosecuted for this failure. Following the answer given by Mr. Hamilton, I am replying as Chief Executive of Companies House.I am unable to provide the precise figures you require but the figures contained in the attached five tables provide similar information to that requested. This and other information will be made available in the report made each year by the Secretary of State to Parliament under section 729 of the Companies Act 1985. In the meantime, last year's report "Companies in 1991-92" may be of further help.
I am sorry that I cannot provide precisely the information you require but most of the figures are not kept or aggregated in the form you request. Specifically, we do not keep aggregated information on whether a company in receivership or liquidation has filed accounts for its previous financial year. Because of the limited court time available to Companies House and the length of time it takes to get a case to court, I am also unable to provide figures that establish a direct relationship between prosecutions for non-filing and a company's financial year to which the offence relates.
As it is not a statutory requirement to inform Companies House of the reasons why a company discontinues trading and, there is no requirement for a company that ceases to trade to be removed from the register, I am unable to give the number of companies that have ceased to trade in the terms that you specify. Finally, as Section 246 Companies Act 1985 allows companies to file abbreviated accounts in certain circumstances, the "compliance table" (table F3) interprets the words "full accounts" in the widest sense to mean that accounts have been received that comply with the requirements of the Act.
I hope that this reply covers the points tabled in your questions.
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Section A-Analysis of The Companies Register
Table A1 Summary of changes in the number of companies on the register, 1988-89 to 1992-93
Thousands of companies
|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain
On register at start of period |1,115.2|1,133.2|1,175.4|1,186.9|1,180.2
New companies incorporated |135.0 |126.3 |115.5 |112.0 |108.8
Dissolved |118.2 |85.6 |105.4 |119.9 |153.9
Restored to the register |1.2 |1.5 |1.4 |1.2 |1.4
On register at end of period |1,133.2|1,175.4|1,186.9|1,180.2|1,136.4
Of which: in liquidation |63.2 |65.1 |72.3 |84.3 |92.9
In course of removal |97.1 |100.6 |82.7 |116.1 |82.9
Effective numbers on register at end of period |972.8 |1,009.7|1,031.9|979.8 |960.6
England and Wales
On register at start of period |1,061.3|1,075.9|1,115.0|1,125.1|1,117.9
New companies incorporated |128.1 |119.3 |108.7 |105.4 |102.7
Dissolved |114.6 |81.6 |99.9 |113.8 |147.2
Restored to the register |1.1 |1.4 |1.3 |1.1 |1.3
On register at end of period |1,075.9|1,115.0|1,125.1|1,117.9|1,074.6
Change on previous year (per cent.) |1.4 |3.6 |0.9 |-0.6 |-3.9
Of which: in liquidation |60.1 |61.6 |68.3 |80.5 |88.8
In course of removal |92.2 |95.0 |78.5 |111.2 |78.9
Effective numbers on register at end of period |923.5 |958.4 |978.3 |926.2 |906.8
Change on previous year (per cent.) |6.6 |3.8 |2.1 |-5.3 |-2.1
Scotland
On register at start of period |53.9 |57.3 |60.4 |61.8 |62.3
New companies incorporated |6.9 |7.0 |6.8 |6.5 |6.1
Dissolved |3.6 |4.0 |5.5 |6.1 |6.7
Restored to the register |0.1 |0.1 |0.1 |0.1 |0.1
On register at end of period |57.3 |60.4 |61.8 |62.3 |61.8
Change on previous year (per cent.) |6.3 |5.4 |2.3 |0.8 |-0.7
Of which: in liquidation |3.1 |3.5 |4.0 |3.8 |4.1
In course of removal |4.9 |5.6 |4.2 |4.9 |4.0
Effective numbers on register at end of period |49.3 |51.3 |53.6 |53.6 |53.8
Change on previous year (per cent.) |10.1 |4.1 |4.4 |0.0 |0.4
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Section C-Removals from the Register and Liquidations
Table C1 Companies removed from the registers, 1988-89 to 1992-93
Thousands of companies
|April-June |July-September |October-December|January-March
|1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1992 |1992 |1992 |1993
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain
Struck off and dissolved |106.0 |72.4 |93.6 |107.9 |137.2 |24.7 |30.9 |41.8 |39.8
Wound up voluntarily or |12.3 |13.2 |11.8 |11.9 |16.7 |3.7 |4.2 |3.6 |5.2
subject to the supervision
of the Court under the
Companies Acts
Total removed from the |118.3 |85.6 |105.4 |119.9 |153.9 |28.4 |35.1 |45.4 |45.0
register
Less:
Restorations to the |1.2 |1.5 |1.4 |1.2 |1.4 |0.3 |0.3 |0.3 |0.5
register
Net total of removals |117.1 |84.1 |104.0 |118.7 |152.5 |28.1 |34.8 |45.1 |44.5
England and Wales
Struck off and dissolved |103.0 |69.0 |88.6 |102.9 |131.1 |23.7 |29.0 |40.5 |37.9
Wound up voluntarily or |11.7 |12.6 |11.3 |10.9 |16.1 |3.6 |4.1 |3.4 |5.0
subject to the supervision
of the Court under the
Companies Acts
Total removed from the |114.7 |81.6 |99.9 |113.8 |147.2 |27.3 |33.1 |43.9 |42.9
register
Less:
Restorations to the |1.1 |1.4 |1.3 |1.1 |1.3 |0.3 |0.3 |0.3 |0.4
register
Net total of removals |113.6 |80.2 |98.6 |112.7 |145.9 |27.0 |32.8 |43.6 |42.5
Scotland
Struck off and dissolved |3.0 |3.4 |5.0 |5.0 |6.1 |1.0 |1.8 |1.3 |1.9
Wound up voluntarily or |0.6 |0.6 |0.5 |1.1 |0.6 |0.1 |0.2 |0.1 |0.1
subject to the supervision
of the Court under the
Companies Acts
Total removed from the |3.6 |4.0 |5.5 |6.1 |6.7 |1.2 |2.0 |1.5 |2.1
register
Less:
Restorations to the |0.1 |0.1 |0.1 |0.1 |0.1 |<1>- |<1>- |<1>- |<1>-
register
Net total of removals |3.5 |3.9 |5.4 |6.0 |6.6 |1.1 |2.0 |1.4 |2.0
<1>- Fewer than 50 companies.
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Table C2 Liquidations and receiverships notified, 1988-89 to 1992-93
Number of companies
|April-June |July-September |October-December|January-March
|1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1992 |1992 |1992 |1993
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain
Compulsory liquidations |3,789 |4,655 |7,043 |9,210 |9,861 |2,681 |1,804 |2,879 |2,497
Creditors' voluntary |6,011 |6,981 |10,610 |14,127 |15,164 |3,521 |3,957 |3,787 |3,899
liquidations
Total insolvencies |9,800 |11,636 |17,653 |23,337 |25,025 |6,202 |5,761 |6,666 |6,396
Members' voluntary |4,063 |4,215 |4,172 |3,985 |3,719 |905 |693 |931 |1,190
liquidations
Total liquidations |13,863 |15,851 |21,825 |27,322 |28,744 |7,107 |6,454 |7,597 |7,586
Receiverships notified |1,252 |2,423 |5,580 |8,756 |7,815 |1,987 |1,962 |1,959 |1,907
Administrator |187 |160 |237 |176 |123 |37 |54 |15 |17
appointments
Company voluntary arrangements |52 |49 |75 |129 |67 |16 |23 |12 |16
England and Wales
Compulsory liquidations |3,544 |4,433 |6,786 |8,911 |9,542 |2,609 |1,710 |2,796 |2,427
Creditors' voluntary |5,837 |6,783 |10,378 |13,808 |14,786 |3,434 |3,867 |3,677 |3,808
liquidations
Total insolvencies |9,391 |11,216 |17,164 |22,719 |24,328 |6,043 |5,577 |6,473 |6,235
Members' voluntary |3,809 |3,984 |3,941 |3,741 |3,501 |851 |659 |852 |1,139
liquidations
Total liquidations |13,200 |15,200 |21,105 |26,460 |27,829 |6,894 |6,236 |7,325 |7,374
Receiverships notified |1,133 |2,266 |5,327 |8,503 |7,522 |1,904 |1,899 |1,906 |1,813
Administrator |179 |152 |222 |162 |121 |36 |53 |15 |17
appointments
Company voluntary |52 |49 |75 |129 |67 |16 |23 |12 |16
arrangements
Scotland
Compulsory liquidations |235 |222 |257 |299 |319 |72 |94 |83 |70
Creditors' voluntary |174 |198 |232 |319 |378 |87 |90 |110 |91
liquidations
Total insolvencies |409 |420 |489 |618 |697 |159 |184 |193 |161
Members' voluntary |254 |231 |231 |244 |218 |54 |34 |79 |51
liquidations
Total liquidations |663 |651 |720 |862 |915 |213 |218 |272 |212
Receiverships notified |119 |157 |253 |253 |293 |83 |63 |53 |94
Administrator |8 |8 |15 |14 |2 |1 |1 |0 |0
appointments
Company voluntary |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
arrangements
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Table D3 Prosecutions by the Department under the Companies Act 1985
Section and Offence |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England and Wales
241(3) and 243(1)
Failure to deliver Accounts
(Number of Offences)
Prosecutions |4,543 |4,443 |5,680 |7,534 |6,451
Convictions |2,452 |2,513 |3,030 |3,270 |3,315
Percentage convictions |54.0 |56.6 |53.3 |43.4 |51.4
Number adjourned to a later hearing date |287 |196 |386 |527 |309
Number of charges where a conviction was not obtained |1,764 |1,614 |2,271 |3,667 |2,770
365(3)
Failure to deliver Annual Returns
(Number of Offences)
Prosecutions |2,467 |2,359 |3,050 |3,780 |3,843
Convictions |1,269 |1,245 |1,581 |1,549 |1,897
Percentage convictions |51.4 |52.8 |51.8 |41.0 |49.4
Number adjourned to a later hearing date |137 |108 |212 |286 |152
Number of charges where a conviction was not obtained |1,032 |930 |1,282 |1,921 |1,708
Number of directors involved in proceedings |2,639 |2,800 |3,356 |4,122 |3,421
Number of directors convicted |1,125 |1,558 |1,864 |1,661 |1,826
Percentage directors convicted |42.6 |55.6 |55.5 |40.3 |53.4
Number of companies involved in proceedings |1,595 |1,763 |2,208 |2,504 |2,145
Number of companies in which directors convicted |956 |1,005 |1,284 |1,080 |1,168
Percentage companies in which directors convicted |59.9 |57.0 |58.2 |43.1 |54.5
Scotland
241(3) and 243(1)
Failure to deliver Accounts
(Number of Offences)
Prosecutions |178 |368 |258 |1,159 |587
Convictions |35 |55 |52 |210 |98
Percentage convictions |19.7 |14.9 |20.2 |18.1 |16.7
Number adjourned to a later hearing date |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Number of charges where a conviction was not obtained |143 |313 |206 |949 |489
365(3)
Failure to deliver Annual Returns
(Number of Offences)
Prosecutions |58 |160 |122 |381 |462
Convictions |18 |22 |46 |34 |48
Percentage convictions |31.0 |13.8 |37.7 |8.9 |10.4
Number adjourned to a later hearing date |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Number of charges where a conviction was not obtained |40 |138 |76 |347 |414
Number of directors involved in proceedings |358 |709 |497 |835 |767
Number of directors convicted |53 |77 |98 |55 |89
Percentage directors convicted |14.8 |10.9 |19.7 |6.6 |11.6
Number of companies involved in proceedings |180 |347 |251 |442 |406
Number of companies in which directors convicted |33 |40 |40 |32 |60
Percentage companies in which directors convicted |18.3 |11.5 |15.9 |7.2 |14.8
Notes:
1. The majority of charges where convictions were not obtained was as a result of the annual returns and accounts being filed and the prosecutions not proceeded with.
2. A number of prosecutions dealt with in the above were started before April 1992.
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Table F2 Annual accounts registered at Companies House by type, 1989-90 to 1991-92
Thousands and percentages
|1989-90 000s|Percentage |1990-91 000s|Percentage |1991-92 000s|Percentage |1992-93 000s|Percentage
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain
Full |443.9 |55.8 |425.2 |54.3 |436.8 |53.0 |453.2 |51.3
Abbreviated:
Small |253.7 |31.9 |252.3 |32.2 |268.2 |32.5 |300.1 |34.0
Medium |3.6 |0.5 |3.8 |0.5 |4.4 |0.5 |5.2 |0.6
Group |21.8 |2.7 |24.0 |3.1 |22.2 |2.7 |19.2 |2.2
Dormant |71.6 |9.0 |78.1 |10.0 |92.7 |11.2 |106.0 |12.0
Interim/initial |0.2 |0.0 |0.2 |0.0 |0.2 |0.0 |0.2 |0.0
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |794.8 |100.0 |783.6 |100.0 |824.3 |100.0 |883.8 |100.0
England and Wales
Full |421.7 |55.9 |403.4 |54.4 |415.4 |53.2 |430.6 |51.5
Abbreviated:
Small |239.9 |31.8 |237.7 |32.0 |252.7 |32.3 |281.6 |33.7
Medium |3.4 |0.4 |3.5 |0.5 |4.1 |0.5 |4.8 |0.6
Group |20.7 |2.7 |22.7 |3.1 |20.9 |2.7 |18.0 |2.2
Dormant |68.5 |9.1 |74.4 |10.0 |88.3 |11.3 |101.0 |12.1
Interim/initial |0.2 |0.0 |0.2 |0.0 |0.2 |0.0 |0.2 |0.0
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |754.3 |100.0 |742.0 |100.0 |781.6 |100.0 |836.1 |100.0
Scotland
Full |22.2 |54.8 |21.8 |52.4 |21.3 |49.8 |22.7 |47.6
Abbreviated:
Small |13.9 |34.2 |14.6 |35.1 |15.5 |36.3 |18.5 |38.8
Medium |0.2 |0.6 |0.2 |0.6 |0.3 |0.7 |0.4 |0.8
Group |1.1 |2.7 |1.3 |3.2 |1.3 |3.0 |1.1 |2.4
Dormant |3.1 |7.6 |3.6 |8.7 |4.3 |10.1 |5.0 |10.4
Interim/initial |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |0.1
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |40.5 |100.0 |41.6 |100.0 |42.7 |100.0 |47.6 |100.0
Column 571
Table F3 Compliance rates for annual returns and accounts, 1988 to 1993
Thousands of companies
Per cent. of effective register
|June |June |June |June |June |September|December |March |June
|1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1992 |1992 |1993 |1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain
Effective register |917 |985 |1,016 |984 |974 |973 |969 |960 |954
Companies up-to-date in filing:
Annual returns |814 |859 |916 |846 |874 |875 |876 |866 |870
Percentage |88.8 |87.2 |90.1 |86.0 |89.7 |90.0 |90.4 |90.2 |91.2
Accounts |783 |831 |874 |850 |894 |902 |904 |883 |898
Percentage |85.4 |84.4 |86.0 |86.4 |91.8 |92.7 |93.3 |92.0 |94.2
Both returns and |734 |774 |829 |769 |828 |835 |840 |823 |841
accounts
Percentage |80.0 |78.6 |81.6 |78.2 |85.0 |85.8 |86.7 |85.7 |88.1
Companies in default:
Total Per cent. |20.0 |21.4 |18.4 |21.8 |15.0 |14.2 |13.3 |14.3 |11.9
England and Wales
Effective register |872 |936 |964 |931 |921 |919 |915 |906 |900
Companies up-to-date in filing:
Annual returns |775 |817 |868 |799 |825 |825 |826 |817 |821
Percentage |88.8 |87.3 |90.0 |85.8 |89.6 |89.8 |90.3 |90.1 |91.2
Accounts |742 |787 |827 |802 |844 |851 |853 |833 |848
Percentage |85.1 |84.1 |85.7 |86.1 |91.6 |92.6 |93.2 |92.0 |94.2
Both returns and |697 |734 |784 |725 |781 |787 |792 |776 |792
accounts
Percentage |79.9 |78.4 |81.3 |77.9 |84.8 |85.6 |86.5 |85.6 |88.0
Companies in default:
Total Per cent. |20.1 |21.6 |18.7 |22.1 |15.2 |14.4 |13.5 |14.4 |12.0
Scotland
Effective register |45 |52 |53 |53 |53 |54 |54 |54 |54
Companies up-to-date in
filing:
Annual returns |39 |42 |48 |47 |49 |50 |50 |49 |50
Percentage |87.0 |86.2 |92.0 |88.8 |91.5 |93.3 |92.5 |91.8 |92.5
Accounts |41 |44 |47 |48 |50 |51 |51 |50 |51
Percentage |92.0 |90.7 |91.1 |91.8 |93.5 |94.3 |94.3 |92.7 |94.1
Both returns and |37 |40 |45 |44 |47 |48 |48 |47 |48
accounts
Percentage |82.2 |81.8 |87.1 |84.2 |88.0 |90.2 |90.0 |87.8 |89.4
Companies in default:
Total Per cent. |17.8 |18.2 |12.9 |15.8 |12.0 |9.8 |10.0 |12.2 |10.6
National Engineering Laboratory
Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the National Engineering Laboratory for 1993-94.
Mr. McLoughlin : When it was launched as an executive agency in October 1990, the National Engineering Laboratory was set the target of recovering its full costs through "arms-length" contracts from customers by 1994-95. This is still its primary target.
Other key targets I have set the laboratory for 1993-94 are as follows :
to obtain the return of and review at least 60 per cent. of contract completion questionnaires from clients ;
to carry out customer consultations and post-completion reviews of 20 per cent. of all contracts valued in excess of £250,000 ; to achieve laboratory-wide ISO 9001 accreditation by 31March 1994 ;
to increase the number of non-DTI customers who provide revenues of more than £100,000 per annum by 50per cent. ; and
to complete the training of nominated staff in eight competences covered by the four current training programmes.
I have also set the chief executive of the agency the target of replying within 10 working days to letters from MPs delegated to him for reply.
Deregulation
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the regulations which have been abolished, with dates, since the establishment of the deregulation unit.
Mr. Neil Hamilton [holding answer 13 July 1993] : Records are not kept in this form. The deregulation unit has the job of encouraging Government Departments to take proper account of the impact on business of their policies and does not use the number of regulations abolished as a measure of success.
Much regulation is necessary but over-burdensome and is being examined with a view to simplification without prejudice to the legitimate protection of the public.
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The aim is to make regulatory costs proportionate to the benefits.RECHAR
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those organisations which his Department intends to consult in relation to the European Commission proposal to introduce RECHAR II from 1 January 1994.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 13 July 1993] : RECHAR I has been one of fourteen "Community Initiatives" under the European structural funds. The Commission has issued a Green Paper on Community initiatives after 1993, but has so far made no formal proposals. The future of Community initiatives, including any RECHAR II, will be considered by the Council later this year.
Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Barnes : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch), 6 July, Official Report, columns 105-6, what were the voting figures for each decision taken at the European Community's Foreign Affairs Council held on 2 July ; and if he will make it his policy to include in future statements on council meetings information on whether formal votes were taken and which member states voted in favour, against or abstained on particular measures.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 13 July 1993] : No formal votes were taken at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 2 July. I regret that this was not made clear in my answer of 6 July, in accordance with the undertaking given to the hon. Member that statements to the House following meetings of the Council of Ministers will either include details of the vote whenever a formal vote is taken, or report that no formal votes were taken.
Chlorofluorocarbons
Mr. Cousins : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what help his Department is giving to those small businesses affected by the phase- out of CFC 113.
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Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 13 July 1993] : CFC 113 is largely used as an industrial solvent. My Department commissioned a study on the phase-out of CFCs in the solvents sector and the availability of substitutes ; the implications for small and medium-sized enterprises were specifically addressed. The Department has since supported a series of regional seminars organised by the Engineering Employers Federation, to make practical advice about alternatives available to small firms in particular ; and a booklet encapsulating that advice is about to be issued. DTI has also supported a study concerning CFC elimination in the cleaning of electronic assemblies and the results have been published. As part of a general campaign by my Department to alert businesses to the phasing-out of ozone-depleting substances, a one-page flier about CFC 113 phase-out was circulated by the Health and Safety Executive to all dry cleaners.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Arts Council
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions grants have been made available by the Northern Ireland Arts Council under its (a) bursaries to writers scheme and (b) writers in residence scheme during the last five years to applicants who were neither resident in Northern Ireland nor had any connection with Northern Ireland.
Prisoners (Appeals)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to date in respect of convicted prisoners attempting to establish their innocence on appeal, when the Royal Ulster Constabulary cannot trace the original statements taken down by that force's detectives ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : The safe guarding of police interview notes is a matter for the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. I understand that a force instruction, which came into effect in September 1992, directed that notes of interviews with terrorist suspects were to be made in booklets, electronically date and time stamped upon issue and following completion of the interview. The instruction also introduced additional measures to safeguard the long-term storage and security of those interview notes.
General Medical Practices
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many general medical practices there are in Northern Ireland ; and how many operate from (a) publicly-owned health centres and (b) privately-owned premises.
Mr. Ancram : At 1 July 1993, there were 355 general medical practices in Northern Ireland, of which 177 were operating from health centres and 178 from private premises.
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Special Waste
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) hydrocarbons and their oxygen, nitrogen and/or sulphur compounds, (b) inorganic cyanides, (c) inorganic halogen-containing compounds, (d) inorganic sulphur-containing compounds, (e) laboratory chemicals, (f) lead compounds, (g) mercury compounds, (h) nickel and nickel compounds, (i) organic halogen compounds, excluding inert polymeric material and (j) peroxides, chlorates and azides ;
(2) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) acids and alkalis, (b) antimony and antimony compounds, (c) arsenic compounds, (d) asbestos (all chemical forms), (e) barium compounds, (f) beryllium and beryllium compounds, (g) biocides and phytopharmaceutical substances, (h) boron compounds, (i) cadmium and cadmium compounds, (j) copper compounds, (k) heterocyclic organic compounds c of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) solvents-S halogen/mixed, (b) mineral oil sludges, (c) contaminated industrial waste, (d) empty contaminated drums, (e) pressurised cylinders/aerosols, (f) contaminated soil, (g) mixed laboratory chemicals, (h) biocides-solid, (i) biocides- liquid, (j) biocides-aqueous diluted, (k) resins-organic and (l) filter material-organic ;
(4) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) solid metal bearing, (b) solid inorganic, (c) solid CN, (d) solid organic, (e) solid asbestos, (f) filter material-inorganic, (g) acid metal bearing, (h) acid-inorganic, (i) acid-organic, (j) alkalis metal bearing, (k)
alkalis-inorganic, (l) alkalis-organic and (m) aqueous cyanide ; (5) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste arising (a) within the county and deposited within the county, (b) within the county and exported out of the county and (c) outside the county and deposited within the county ;
(6) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) pharmaceutical and veterinary compounds, (b) phosphorus and its compounds, (c) selenium and selenium compounds, (d) silver compounds, (e) tarry materials from refining and tar residues from distilling, (f) tellurium and tellurium compounds, (g) thallium and thallium compounds, (h) vanadium compounds and (i) zinc compounds ;
(7) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste arisings and deposits ; (8) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) pharmaceutical waste, (b) mixed organics in drums, (c) metal compounds, (d) non-toxic metal compounds, (e) metals-elements, (f) metal oxides, (g) inorganic compounds, (h) other inorganic material, (i) organic compounds, (j) polymeric
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material and precursors, (k) fuels, oils and greases, (l) fine chemicals and biocides, (m) miscellaneous chemicals waste, (n) filter materials and sludges, (o) miscellaneous waste and (q) construction waste ;(9) if he will list, by year for the last five years, and by county, the number of tonnes of special waste production in the waste categories of (a) neutral metal bearing, (b) neutral-inorganic, (c) neutral-organic, (d) neutral-oily (one to 15 per cent.), (e) mineral oil and 20 per cent. others, (f) mineral oil and 20 per cent. others, (g) oil 20 per cent. water 85 per cent., (h) grease/fat/wax/vegetable oil, (i) tars/phenols, (j) solvents-non halogen, (k) solvents-halogenated, (l) solvents-mixed (including water) and (m) solvents-S non halogen.
Mr. Atkins : Special wastes are defined in the Pollution Control (Special Waste) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1981. Under the Regulations, a producer of such waste, before it is removed from his premises, is required to complete a consignment note which contains details of the composition and quantity of the waste. Copies of these notes and the details they contain are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Midwives
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many whole time equivalent midwives there are at each incremental point of each pay scale.
Mr. Ancram : I will write to the hon. Member once the information has been collated.
RUC
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the result of the review carried out by the Royal Ulster Constabulary into its guidelines concerning informants and agents ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : Consideration of the relevant issues is continuing.
Community Services
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the involvement of local authorities in Northern Ireland in community care and other community services.
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 12 July 1993] : Northern Ireland's four health and social services boards, through their community-based units of management, are responsible for the provision of community care services and other health and social care given outside hospital.
Local authorities in Northern Ireland have no responsibility for community care.
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the
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suggested proposals to create community trusts in Northern Ireland ; and what duties they will be responsible for.Mr. Ancram [holding answer 12 July 1993] : The Government regard health and social services trusts as the best way of delivering health and personal social services in Northern Ireland. My noble Friend Lord Arran has already approved 10 applications for trust status, including the four community units of management in the Eastern board area. These community units will, subject to the passage of further legislation by Parliament, become fully operational as trusts on 1 April 1994. A proposal for further legislation was published on 17 June. This amending legislation will enable trusts providing community services to discharge certain statutory functions which are at present restricted to boards. In bringing this forward our objectives are to enable as many units as possible to take advantage of the significant benefits that trust status offers.
Units of management which are approved as trusts continue to be responsible for the full range of services they already provide, thus preserving the integrated nature of the services in Northern Ireland.
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations have taken place with social workers, doctors and other interested people in Northern Ireland on the future care of the mentally ill, the handicapped and the disabled with the introduction of the new community care system ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 12 July 1993] : The Department of Health and Social Services has consulted widely on the Government's proposals for community care contained in the 1990 policy paper "People First" and on specific aspects of the new community care arrangements which came into operation on 1 April 1993.
A comprehensive information strategy, incorporating consultative papers and booklets for advisors, clients, carers, home owners and general practitioners was implemented in advance of the new arrangements and culminated in a major community care conference for Northern Ireland on 15 March 1993 attended by representatives of the voluntary, private and statutory sectors.
In addition, health and social services boards and their community-based units of management have consulted with clinicians, social services and other professional staff, providers and users in their areas in developing the new community care systems. Boards are expected to continue to consult regularly with interested parties in bringing forward proposals for development of services and the purchasing of care. The Department will be monitoring the effectiveness of the consultation undertaken by boards.
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