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Column 515
|c|The 1992-93 figures will be available by December 1993.
Figures are not available for future years.|c|
Regional health
authorities gross
expenditure
£ 000
RHA |1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |46,185 |55,691 |64,234 |71,150 |63,474
Yorkshire |70,463 |70,801 |76,187 |94,300 |65,094
Trent |73,401 |81,274 |77,848 |111,458|174,284
East Anglian |27,606 |29,435 |29,440 |42,595 |45,648
North West Thames |50,360 |59,999 |65,161 |102,830|57,619
North East Thames |55,687 |76,422 |69,967 |80,198 |189,715
South East Thames |63,769 |66,668 |76,734 |77,299 |250,032
South West Thames |103,166|110,282|131,677|123,865|149,077
Wessex |55,523 |56,683 |86,441 |71,823 |25,017
Oxford |33,377 |43,945 |50,165 |56,482 |49,363
South Western |41,357 |45,207 |54,589 |63,013 |86,185
West Midlands |106,307|82,442 |112,625|137,810|111,014
Mersey |46,641 |26,245 |24,357 |42,580 |23,961
North Western |88,869 |88,340 |87,673 |91,032 |65,151
Source: Annual accounts of regional health authorities. (Figures
are not adjusted for inflation).
Notes to the table:
1. The figures for the years prior to 1991-92 vary between RHAs
as regions were managed in an integrated way and the balance of
management between RHAs and their respective district health
authorities (DHAs) differed between regions. The figures were
also affected by other factors including differences in the
geographical size of regions, in the number of DHAs they included
and in the extent to which RHAs directly managed operational
services.
2. Following the implementation of the NHS reforms the role of
RHAs is changing and this has a major impact on the figures for
1991-92. There are significant variations in the extent to which
RHAs have retained or devolved management, support and
operational services functions and in the extent to which their
costs are borne or recharged to users. Some RHAs are directly
involved in the purchaser function while the figures for others
include additional significant costs-notably the payment of funds
for nursing and other staff training to health providers.
Live Births
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the tables published on pages 26 and 32-33 of HC 624, for what percentage of live births in
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1990-91 the data for the maternity tail of the hospital episodes statistics were submitted from the South Western and West Midlands regional health authorities.Column 517
Mr. Sackville [holding answer 20 July 1993] : Neither health authority submitted any of the additional data collected within the hospital episode statistics "maternity tail".
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Manufacturing Investment
Mr. Henderson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new measures his Department proposes to stimulate increased levels of manufacturing investment in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sainsbury : Investment will be encouraged by the profitable and competitive manufacturing base which our policies are designed to ensure.
Creative Accounting
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to make under which the sale of creative accounting schemes by auditors to their audit clients would become an offence.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : I have no plans to limit companies' freedom to seek accountancy advice.
A. F. Budge (Construction)
Mr. Hood : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he or his Department have had with A. F. Budge (Construction).
Mr. Neil Hamilton : A. F. Budge (Contractors) Limited went into administrative receivership on 4 January 1993 and compulsory liquidation on 24 February of the same year. There are provisions requiring the receiver to make a note on the public record at Companies House and to advertise his appointment from which my department would become aware of the receivership.
Mr. Hood : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he was informed of the receivership of A. F. Budge (Construction) ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : A. F. Budge (Contractors) Limited went into administrative receivership on 4 January 1993 and compulsory liquidation on 24 February of the same year. I am not aware of any discussions between my department and the receivers or the company except matters relating to the administration of the insolvency proceedings.
Fossil Fuel Decarbonisation
Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the research projects undertaken by his Department into fossil fuel decarbonisation schemes since April 1992 ; and what plans he has to develop fossil fuel decarbonisation demonstration projects.
Mr. McLoughlin : My Department is taking part with British Coal, and with support from National Power and PowerGen, in a study programme under the auspices of the International Energy Agency--the IEA greenhouse gases research and development programme--to evaluate the feasibility and costs of capture and safe disposal of
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carbon dioxide from large fossil fuel combustion plant. This began in 1991 and is due for completion in autumn, 1994. A total of thirteen countries, and the European Commission, are cooperating in this programme.In addition, my Department is contributing to a complementary review, by the British Geological Survey and British Coal under the European Community's JOULE II research programme, of the scope for permanent, underground storage of carbon dioxide in Europe. This two-year review began in January 1993.
It would be premature to develop demonstration projects ahead of the completion of these initial feasibility studies.
British Standards
Mr. Wigley : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to secure that any future revision of British standards include specific reference to the needs of disabled people.
Mr. McLoughlin : Any future revision of a British Standard is a matter primarily for the responsible Committee of the British Standards institution. The Institution is independent of Government. I am advised that where appropriate the needs of disabled people are taken into account when British standards are prepared.
Assisted Areas
Mr. Pickles : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the timing for changes he will be making to the assisted areas map ; and what arrangements will be made for grant applications from businesses in areas which are to lose status caught up by those changes.
Mr. Sainsbury : The European Commission cleared yesterday the Government's proposals for the new assisted areas map of Great Britain. I have today signed the order to bring the new map into effect. It will be laid before Parliament today.
My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have today written to all hon. Members to advise them of the changes. We have issued jointly a background document setting out the new map and explaining how the review of the map was conducted. Copies of this document are available in the Vote Office. The new map will come into operation on 1 August. This allows nine days' notice so that businesses which have been engaged in pre-application discussions with departments under the various regional schemes will have an opportunity to complete formal application procedures before the changes take effect. Offers which have already been made will be honoured.
Oil and Gas Exploration
Mr. Ainger : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce the next round of offshore licensing for oil and gas exploration.
Mr. Eggar : No decision has been taken yet as to whether or when there will be another round of offshore oil and gas licensing.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that discharges of all
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oil contaminated cuttings from exploration and appraisal wells are prohibited in line with Her Majesty's Government's commitment at paragraph 28.1(iii) of the final declaration of the third international conference on the protection of the North sea ; and by what date he expects the prohibition to take effect ;(2) by what date Her Majesty's Government expect to prohibit discharges of all oil contaminated cuttings in United Kingdom waters in line with their commitment at the third international conference on the protection of the North sea (paragraph 28.1(i) of the final declaration) ; and what steps he is taking to ensure this commitment is met.
Mr. Eggar : At the meeting of the Oslo and Paris Commissions on 22 September 1992, Ministers approved a PARCOM decision on the use of oil- based muds. This decision did not prohibit discharges of oil-contaminated cuttings, but set out definitions, rules and principles to avoid marine pollution from this source. The rules and principles state that the average oil content on cuttings discharged into the sea shall not exceed the target standard of an average 10 grammes of oil per kilogramme of dry cuttings. This standard is to be achieved as soon as possible and practicable and, in any event, have full effect for exploration and appraisal drilling no later than 31 December 1993 and for all wells no later than 31 December 1996. Discharge of oil cuttings is an offence under section 3 of the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971, unless an exemption from this provision has been granted under section 23. All exemptions are subject to conditions which require the operator to comply with the PARCOM decision, and to sample, analyse and report to the Department the oil content of the discharged cuttings.
Deregulation Unit
Mrs. Helen Jackson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade which of the regulations governing environmental and pollution control the deregulation unit is examining.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : All regulations affecting business are being reviewed by the deregulation task forces and by Government Departments.
Mrs. Helen Jackson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members and advisers of the deregulation unit.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : There are 49 civil servants in the deregulation unit, including seven full-time secondees from the private sector. A list of the membership of the deregulation task forces is in the Library.
Radiocommunications Agency
Mr. Deva : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the Radiocommunications Agency for 1993-94.
Mr. Sainsbury : I have set the agency a range of key targets for 1993-94 which will appear in the agency's annual report for 1992-93. In addition to achieving an efficiency improvement of 4 per cent., it will also be required to meet the following quality of service targets covering its licensing work and enforcement activities :
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Licensing 99 per cent. of new aeronautical and aircraft applicants and amendments to be processed within three working days ;90 per cent. of ships' radio licences to be issued within one month ;
98 per cent. of maritime business radio cases to be processed within one month ;
99 per cent. of new on-site paging applications and amendments to be processed and despatched within four working days ;
90 per cent. of new private mobile radio applications and amendments that require no international co-ordination to be processed and despatched within 15 and 20 working days respectively. Enforcement
100 per cent. of safety of life services complaints to be handled within 24 hours ;
98 per cent. of business complaints to be handled within five working days ; and
98 per cent. of domestic complaints to be handled within one month.
In addition, I have set the chief executive of the agency the personal target of replying within 10 working days to letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.
EC Directives
Sir Cranley Onslow : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the EC directives affecting British industry which have been implemented in the United Kingdom before the actual date on which they were required to take effect.
Mr. Needham : The detailed information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In general, EC directives are implemented on the actual date on which they are required to take effect.
EC Standards
Sir Cranley Onslow : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effect on British manufacturing industry's investment planning of delays in agreeing EC standards.
Mr. Needham : No such estimate has been made by my Department. We are, however, concerned that the rate at which CEN and CENELEC produce the standards for use in relation to single market legislation is too slow and will be discussing with Community partners and national standards bodies what steps might be taken to improve the position. The Government are engaged in a review of future United Kingdom resourcing of the preparation of standards ( Official Report, 10 June 1993, column 302 ) and welcome views on the best approach to the United Kingdom's input to European standards' committees.
Co-operative Projects
Mr. Purchase : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what projects have been funded since January 1990 under the arrangements, consequent to the winding up of the Co-operative Development Agency, for providing £200,000 a year for three years for innovative co-operative projects ; if he will list the dates on which the funding commenced and the amount provided ; and how many applications were rejected.
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Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 19 July 1993] : The Government have contributed or committed in excess of £475,000 since January 1991 to fund 16 development projects to help improve the business performance and competitiveness of co-operative businesses. Twenty-eight proposals have not been supported. The list of supported projects is shown in the table.
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Contractors |Project(s) |Start date |Budget
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Kingdom Co-operative Council |Pump-priming United Kingdom |1 April 1991 |90,000
(UKCC) | Co-operative Council
Industrial Common Ownership |Kitemark-Workers Code of Practice |3 April 1992 |30,000
Movement (ICOM)
Industrial Common Ownership |Promotion of Co-ops to Corporate |3 April 1992 |40,000
Movement (ICOM) | Purchasers
David Hall Partnership |Co-op Research - Successful |26 June 1992 |26,157
| Co-operation
United Kingdom Co-operative Council |Pump-priming United Kingdom |1 April 1992 |45,000
(UKCC) | Co-operative Council
Industrial Common Ownership Finance |Financial Needs Analysis |17 June 1992 |39,422
(ICOF)
Scottish Wholefoods Collective |Consultancy Network |7 July 1992 |23,325
Warehouse (SWCW)
Scottish Co-op Development Company |Phoenix Co-operative Initiative |13 May 1992 |40,500
(SCDC)
Plunkett Foundation |Training provision for Directors |26 March 1992 |18,802
| of Co-ops
Plunkett Foundation |Ownership options for Public Services |26 March 1992 |20,388
Open University |Community Care |17 June 1992 |32,943
Industrial Common Ownership |Turnaround Courses |4 February 1993 |4,700
Movement (ICOM)
Nottingham Co-operative Development |Marketing Group Guides |15 March 1993 |4,339
Agency
Industrial Common Ownership |Dissemination of Promotion of Co-ops |September 1993 |6,500
Movement | to Corporate Purchasers
Plunkett Foundation |Dissemination of Ownership Options |September 1993 |7,745
| for Public Services
Plunkett Foundation |Dissemination of Training provision for|October 1993 |7,500
| Directors of Co-ops
Open University |Dissemination of Community Care |September 1993 |4,700
| Project
Open University |Directory of Worker Co-ops in the |June 1993 |9,988
| United Kingdom
Open University |Workshop on Co-op Development |June 1993 |3,067
| Activities
Scottish Co-operative Development |Dissemination of Phoenix Co-operative |September 1993 |8,000
Company (SCDC) | Initiative
Baker Brown Associates |Pathways to Co-operation |June 1993 |22,266
United Kingdom Co-operative Council |Co-ops for One Stop Shops |September 1993 |30,000
(UKCC)/Industrial Common
Ownership Movement (ICOM)
Scottish Wholefoods Collective |Printing and Dissemnation of |August 1993 |4,200
Warehouse (SWCW) | Consultancy Network Report
Mr. Purchase : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to continue funding innovative co-operative projects ; and what sums are available in the current financial year. Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 19 July 1993] : My Department is currently supporting a number of development projects relating to co-operative businesses and has already committed over £100,000 to these in the current financial year. We do not plan to make any further funding available specifically to support co- operative projects but will be assisting in their relationships with business links.
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Mr. Eggar [holding answer 22 July 1993] : The appointments of British Coal Corporation members are subject to the provisions of the Coal Industry Nationalisation (National Coal Board) Regulations 1946.Regulation 3 in essence requires members
(a) to disclose to my right hon. Friend full particulars of any interest or securities held or acquired in any undertaking carrying on a business similar to that at any time carried on by the corporation ; and
(b) to disclose at a meeting of the members of the corporation any direct or indirect interest in a contract made or proposed by the Corporation.
I have no present plans to revise those regulations.
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