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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Government adhere to the UN arms embargo against South Africa and other related EC and Commonwealth restrictions. Any request for a South African air force aircraft to land on British soil would be considered in the light of the circumstances of the request and the sanctions then in force.
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Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to encourage and support the transition to non-racial democracy in South Africa.
Mr. Hurd : The British Government have been following the multi- party negotiations in South Africa closely, and are glad that agreement has been reached to hold fully democratic elections on 27 April 1994.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I had useful talks with both Nelson Mandela and Chief Buthelezi during their recent visits to London. We made clear that the British Government strongly support the need for a successful outcome to the constitutional negotiations and will help where we can. We are in regular touch with President de Klerk.
The British Government are already helping in practical ways. We helped to arrange the sending of international observers to South Africa--from the UN, EC and Commonwealth--and led the troika visit of EC Foreign Ministers last autumn, which set the seal on the EC observer mission. We have contributed the services of five senior policemen ; two with the EC mission, one with the Commonwealth mission, one to help the Goldstone Commission task force, and another to help with the investigation into the assassination of Mr. Chris Hani. The mandates of the UN, EC and Commonwealth missions to South Africa have all been extended. Their work is greatly appreciated in South Africa and theya are making a significant contribution towards containing the violence. We have also made clear, through the EC, that we would be willing to join in any international effort to provide observers for the elections if this is the wish of all the parties.
We are also heavily involved through our aid programme. Last financial year we spent over £11 million in bilateral aid, plus a similar amount as our share of the EC positive measures programme. We expect our aid to increase during the transition. Our aid provides for the training of more than 1,100 black South Africans in the United Kingdom and South Africa, including tailor-made courses in public administration for future senior black civil servants. It also supports many projects in education, health, and the promotion of small businesses in the townships, and in rural development. Last month we opened a new regional aid office in Pretoria to run our aid projects in South Africa.
Only South Africans themselves can build a new, united non-racial, democratic South Africa, but we are doing what we can to help.
Slovak Republic
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation Her Majesty's Government have in in the Slovak Republic ; what is that state's present representation in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Her Majesty's Government are represented in the Slovak Republic through an embassy, headed by a charge d'affaires, Mr. Michael Bates. Her Majesty's ambassador to the Slovak Republic is Mr. David Brighty, who is concurrently ambassador to the Czech Republic and resides in Prague. He visits the Slovak
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Republic regularly. It is our intention to appoint a resident ambassador to Bratislava once the embassy is properly established. Following the dissolution of the Czechoslovak Federation, on 31 December 1992, separate Czech and Slovak embassies were established in London. On 1 January 1993, the former Czechoslovak ambassador was accredited to the Court of St. James as Slovak ambassador. Mr. Vilikovsky is supported by six diplomatic and three administrative and technical staff.ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Torture
Mr. Boateng : To ask the Attorney-General (1) what procedures exist for an individual to present a petition or application for permission to prosecute under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to him for his consideration ;
(2) what procedures exist for obtaining his consent to prosecutions under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 concerning the prosecution of those accused of torture present in the United Kingdom ;
(3) how many times he has consented to prosecutions being brought under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 since its enactment ;
(4) on what criteria he bases his decision to grant or withhold consent to prosecutions under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
The Attorney-General : The criteria applicable to applications for my consent to proposed prosecutions under sections 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 are the same as for any other criminal offence. First, there must be sufficient admissible and reliable evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction ; secondly, the circumstances must be such that it would be in the public interest for there to be a prosecution.
The prospective prosecutor must submit to my office evidence in proper form to satisfy the evidential test described above together with sufficient background information to satisfy me that a prosecution would be in the public interest. This procedure applies to prosecuting authorities--likely to be the Crown Prosecution Service--as well as to individuals.
No proceedings have been authorised under section 134 and 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 since its enactment.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
National Audit Office Reports
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission if he will make arrangements for hon. Members to be notified in advance of publication dates of National Audit Office reports.
Sir Peter Hordern : National Audit Office reports are listed in the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons when they are laid before Parliament prior to publication. They are also recorded on the daily papers list produced by the Vote Office which lists all parliamentary papers published on a particular day. This list is displayed in the Members' Lobby.
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The National Audit Office also give notification of its intention to publish reports in a monthly press notice. This is supported by press notices on each individual report which are released under embargo 36 hours in advance of publication. All these press notices are available at the press notice desk of the House of Commons Library.An advance press notice listing forthcoming reports in August will be published within the next two or three weeks.
The Best of Northern Ireland"
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "The Best of Northern Ireland" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 6 to 10 December.
Daylight Saving
Dame Angela Rumbold : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what consideration he has given to an application for an exhibition relating to daylight saving to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 19 to 23 July.
Schizophrenia
Mr. Wells : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Schizophrenia--The Facts" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 29 November to 3 December.
Disabled Staff
Mr. Barnes : To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the total number of staff employed by the Commission throughout the Palace of Westminster and its associated buildings ; how many of these are registered disabled ; and how many are registered disabled due to hearing difficulties.
Mr. Beith : The Commission employs 1,232 staff, of whom 16 are registered disabled. Of these, four have hearing difficulties.
Secretarial Allowances
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members have their secretarial allowance paid into private limited companies.
Mr. Newton : Approximately two thirds of all Members have, this year, authorised payments from their office costs
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allowances direct to companies or other organisations, including constituency associations. It is not always possible to identify the precise status of these companies or organisations.EC Legislation
Mr. Page : To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans the Government have to give greater prominence to costs to business in the information provided to Parliament on Community legislation.
Mr. Newton : The Government prepare compliance cost
assessments--CCAs--in order to assess the impact of legislative proposals on business costs. From 19 July, CCAs will accompany all explanatory memoranda--EMs--relating to EC proposals with significant cost implications for business. This will aid parliamentary scrutiny by affording an early opportunity to take account of such implications in considering particular proposals. It will also put CCAs in the public domain on a consistent basis and will thus help other interested parties make their own assessment. It is not intended, however, that the new arrangements should hold up the submission of EMs ; if a full CCA cannot be prepared to the time scale for EMs, the EM will carry the best possible initial assessment and the CCA will follow as quickly as possible.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Television Companies
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he is undertaking with other European Community member states about mergers and takeovers of television companies, including issues of competition and regulation ; what proposals have been made concerning these issues ; and what position is taken on these proposals by Her Majesty's Government.
Mr. Brooke : Officials of my Department are playing an active part in the work of a Council of Europe committee of experts on media concentrations and pluralism, on which a number of other EC member states, as well as the European Commission, are represented. The committee has yet to produce firm proposals.
We have also drawn the Commission's attention to what appear to be discriminatory provisions in the legislation of a number of EC member states concerning ownership of broadcasters. The European Court has recently found against Belgium on this issue ; and the Commission has opened proceedings against Portugal.
Arts Bodies, Merseyside
Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the names, addresses, occupations, current employers and addresses of any chairmen and any appointees which are within his power to make for any boards, trusts or other form of arts or heritage body on Merseyside and to grant with any payment, expenses or other form or remuneration which they receive.
Mr. Brooke : While I do not appoint the chairman of North West Arts, which is the regional arts board covering the Merseyside area, my consent is required before such an
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appointment can be made. This post is unpaid and is currently vacant. There is no equivalent regional body responsible for heritage matters.National Lottery
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is now the proposed starting date of the national lottery.
Mr. Sproat : We hope that the National Lottery Etc. Bill will receive Royal Assent later in the year ; and the licence will be awarded after that. It is not possible to predict the date of the first draw, but we hope that the lottery will be up and running by around the turn of the year 1994-95.
Mr. Gorst : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received about the possible impact of the national lottery on small stake recreational wagering industry gaming machines ; and if he will make it his policy to consult industry organisations of any sectors of the gaming industry adversely affected by the national lottery in order to find ways of alleviating adverse effects on their enterprises.
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 16 July 1993] : My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations from the gaming machine industry about the impact of the national lottery on their businesses and officials from my Department have met representatives from the industry.
We do not believe that this or other sectors of the gaming industry will be adversely affected by the introduction of the lottery. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is always ready to consider, on their merits, proposals for changes to the regulatory regime under which the industry operates.
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Royal Armouries Project, Leeds
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the progress towards obtaining private sector funding for the royal armouries project at Leeds.
Mr. Sproat : I am pleased to say that the royal armouries has identified a potential lead investor, who is in active discussion with the armouries and other interested investors. This lead investor has nominated a chairman and chief executive designate for the proposed operating company. They are currently verifying the business plan and developing a package on which commitments can be made. This is good news for the project and for Leeds.
Art Exports
Mr. Faulds : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art during the half year ended 5 July, specifying in each case the valuation and whether an item was exported or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the acquiring institution ; if he will list any items for which licences have been withheld but the final disposal of which is not yet decided, specifying in each case (a) the valuation and (b) the relevant time limit ; and if a press notice will be issued by his Department covering the information given in his reply, including that relating to the outcome in individual cases.
Mr. Sproat : The information is as follows :
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Description of Item |Valuation |Outcome
|£
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A painting St. Peter Penitent' by Jusepe de |850,000 |Export licence granted
Ribera
A drawing St. John the Baptist pointing to |150,000 |Export licence granted
the Saviour', by Annibale Carracci/
Gianangelo Canini.
A painting, David with the head of Goliath', |2,000,000 |Export licence granted
by Guido Reni
The ledgers and account books of Messrs |4,080 |Purchased by Westminster
Fribourg and Treyer 1764-1816. |City Archives
A George III library table 1778 designed by |315,000 |Decision deferred until after
Thomas Chippendale. |26 July 1993
A pair of candelabra by Matthew Boulton. |80,820 |Decision deferred until after
|4 August 1993
A painting, Van Tromp, going about to |11,000,000 |Decision deferred until after
please his masters, ships at sea, getting a good |26 July 1993
wetting', by J.M.W. Turner.
A painting, the Fortress of Konigstein' by |6,290,781 |Export licence granted
Bernardo Bellotto.
Details of the items on which decisions were deferred were given in press releases issued at the time of the reviewing committee's recommendations were accepted.
Welsh Writers
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on how many occasions grants have been made by the Welsh Arts Council under its (a) bursaries to writers scheme and (b) writers in residence
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scheme during the last five years to applicants who were neither resident in Wales nor had any previous connection with Wales.Mr. Brooke [holding answer 14 July 1993] : The information requested is as follows : (a) none, (b) three, of a total of 36 grants.
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NATIONAL FINANCE
Media Sector
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the financial size of the media sector of the British economy.
Mr. Nelson : There is no generally accepted definition of the coverage of the media sector. However, information on the newspaper printing and publishing industry is given in "Business Monitor PA475-- Printing and Publishing". Information on film and recording studios, cinemas, radio and television is included in the "Business Monitor SDA29-- Service Trades", but is not separately identifiable. These annual publications are available from the House Library.
Full Employment
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the establishment of full employment.
Mr. Nelson : The Government's aim is to achieve high levels of employment consistent with low inflation, through broadly based growth and labour markets which are competitive and flexible.
Drug-related Offences
Mr. Kilfoyle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been detained for drug-related offences in Harwich by HM Customs and Excise in the past three years.
Sir John Cope : Over the period June 1990 to date, 688 people have been detained by Customs at Harwich for drug-related offences.
Tax Allowances and Reliefs
Mr. Forman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra revenue would be raised in a full year if tax relief were confined to the 20 per cent. rate for (a) occupational pension schemes and (b) contributions to personal pensions.
Mr. Dorrell : The estimated full year yields at 1993-94 income levels are as follows :
U
|Restriction to 20
|per cent.
|£ million
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Relief for:
Employee's contributions to occupational pension
schemes |700
Personal pensions contributions<1> |300
<1> Includes retirement annuity premia and free standing additional voluntary
contributions.
No account has been taken of possible behavioural changes resulting from such restrictions.
Income Tax
Mr. Stephen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was raised by income tax levied at 40 per cent.; and how many income tax payers were chargeable at 40 per cent. in the last financial year for which figures are available.
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Mr. Dorrell : At 1993-94 levels of income, it is estimated that individuals' tax liability at the 40 per cent. rate will be £12.8 billion and that 1.6 million taxpayers will be liable at this rate.
Pharmaceutical Companies
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the total tax take from pharmaceutical companies.
Mr. Dorrell : I regret that the information is not available. Classification of companies by industry for corporation tax is by the summary trade classification within which pharmaceutical companies are included with all other chemical companies.
Tax Returns
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of Inland Revenue forms (a) 11K (1993) and (b) 12FR (1993) he has had printed.
Mr. Dorrell : The Inland Revenue printed 99,000 copies of form 12FR (1993) and 98,685 copies of form 11K (1993).
Pensions
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield in 1993-94 and 1994-95 from capping all qualifying incomes for pensions at £75,000, including those employees who joined schemes prior to 1989.
Mr. Dorrell : This information is not available.
Betting Duty
Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of whether the conditions attached to the decision to extend the reduction of pool betting duty announced in March 1992 by the right hon. and learned Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) have been met ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Cope : In the 1990 Budget, pool betting duty was reduced from 42.5 to 40 per cent. for five years to help finance the implementation of the Taylor report, and in particular the achievement of all-seating at football grounds. The former Chancellor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont) has since made it clear that the Government will be prepared to extend the reduction to the year 2000 provided that the football leagues and football clubs produce satisfactory financial plans for their own contribution to further necessary ground improvements. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage will shortly be presenting a costed case to the Treasury, based on information supplied by the Football Trust and the clubs themselves, in support of an extension of the reduction.
Additionality
Sir David Steel : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards additionality of EC funds with respect to the Government's own regional and structural funding.
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Sir John Cope : At the Foreign Affairs Council on 2 July, member states agreed new additionality regulations to ensure that Community funds were genuinely additional to domestic public spending. The United Kingdom will be implementing them fully.
EC Membership
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will prepare a table for the last financial year showing the debit and credit accounts of United Kingdom membership of the EC.
Sir John Cope : Details of the United Kingdom's EC transfers on a balance of payments basis, for the period up to and including the first quarter of 1993, were published on 22 June in the Central Statistical Office's balance of payments press notice CSO(93)90.
Concessionary Coal (VAT)
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East of 12 July, Official Report, column 371, whether the VAT on concessionary coal will be paid by British Coal or by the recipients of coal allowances.
Sir John Cope : VAT on concessionary coal will be paid by British Coal.
Value Added Tax
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated average household cost of adding VAT to fuel bills in each region.
Sir John Cope : The latest estimates of average weekly household spending on domestic fuel and power in each region are published in table 25 of the 1991 family expenditure survey. The average cost of VAT on domestic fuel bills will depend on future levels of fuel prices and on the effect of the introduction of VAT on household consumption patterns.
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek the agreement of the European Commission that it will not seek to challenge in the European Court the opinion of Her Majesty's Government that they have full entitlement to retain zero rates for VAT after 31 December 1996 ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Cope : There is no need for the Government to seek such an agreement.
At ECOFIN on 24 June 1991, all member states agreed that, under transitional arrangements to last at least until the end of 1996, member states which at 1 January 1991 applied to certain goods and services zero rates for VAT in accordance with the provisions of Community law in force, would have the option of retaining them. The sixth VAT directive 77/388/EEC, as amended by Council directive 91/680/EEC, provides that the transitional period will continue beyond the end of 1996 if there is not unanimous agreement on the definitive VAT system to operate from that date. The United Kingdom has made it clear that one of the conditions for such an agreement must be our right to retain zero rates.
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the items subject to zero rate for
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VAT purposes which have resulted in applications to the European Court ; and what was the result of such applications.Sir John Cope : The following zero-rated items resulted in applications to the European Court :
(i) animal feeding stuffs, seeds, live animals yielding food for consumption (all supplies) ;
(ii) sewerage services and water (supplies to industry) ; (
(iii) news services (all supplies) ;
(iv) fuel and power (supplies other than to final consumers) ; (
(v) construction of buildings (supplies other than to final consumers) ;
(vi) protective clothing and footwear (supplies to employers). The Court ruled that zero-rating is lawful in respect of : private housing ;
animal feeding stuffs, seeds, live animals yielding food for consumption.
However, the Court ruled that the following zero rates did not comply with Community law :
construction of buildings for industrial and commercial use and in the community and civil engineering sector ;
fuel and power other than to final consumers ;
sewerage services and water supplied to industry ;
news services to undertakings which themselves provide services which are not zero-rated ;
protective boots and helmets supplied to employers.
The United Kingdom implemented the Court's judgment with effect from 1 April 1989 in the case of construction, news services and protective clothing and from 1 July 1990 for fuel and power and water and sewerage services.
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