| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 679
in the current financial year is expected to be about £2.9 million. Business links are private sector companies. It would therefore be improper for me to disclose financial information on private sector contributions to each business link project.Atomic Energy Authority
Mr. Waterson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what external financing limit has been set for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 1994-95.
Mr. Eggar : the UKAEA's external financing limit for 1994-95 will be minus £8.8 million.
Telecommunications Council
Mr. Waterson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council on 7 December.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Council reached agreement on three resolutions. The first of these, on postal services, sets out a framework for future Community measures and major policy goals for liberalisation. It invites the Commission to bring forward proposals defining universal postal services and an appropriate area of reserved services, setting out quality standards and establishing technical standards by July 1994. It stresses the need to make progress on the reform of the terminal dues system and the necessity of a cost-related and quality-related approach, inviting the Commission to report to the Council by 1 March 1994 if further action is necessary.
The second resolution concerned universal service in the telecommunications sector. This sets out a general approach to the provision of universal service for basic voice telephony. I was successful in negotiating a text which takes account of the Government's view, both of the importance of universal service and that the market would provide this service in the majority of cases. The Council agreed a redrafted text which left to member states, rather than the Commission, the appropriate definition of universal service, but set out general criteria for the application of access charges and other financial support to a universal service provider. These will play an important role in ensuring open and fair competition.
The Council also agreed a resolution on the introduction of satellite personal communication services in the Community. This notes the importance of the planned use of satellites in personal communications and stresses the importance of developing a Community policy. It invites member states to make efforts to develop such a policy and invites the Commission to investigate the significance of satellite personal communications, define an effective policy to improve the competitive position of European space and
telecommunication industries and to monitor international developments.
There were short general debates on transeuropean networks, interchange of data between administrations and the electronic exchange of commercial statistics. It was agreed that a full evaluation of the needs of member states for IDA would be conducted before the issue was brought before the Council again. The Council adopted conclusions on radio frequencies, inviting the Commission to sign a memorandum of understanding with the European
Radiocommunications Committee on frequency matters.
The Commission presented a proposal for a directive on standards for the transmission of television signals and a
Column 680
communication on digital video broadcasting. Council conclusions were agreed supporting the initiative of the European project for digital video broadcasting, stressing the importance of common standards and conditional access systems based on standards that ensure fair and open competition.No formal votes were taken at the Council.
Insolvency Service
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints the Insolvency Service Agency received about the conduct of independent practitioners during each year since 1990 and so far in 1993.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The Insolvency Service Agency does not keep a record specifically relating to complaints about the conduct of insolvency practitioners, but receives a range of correspondence relating to the administration of insolvencies.
Mr. Peter Joyce, the agency's chief executive, answered letters, some of which contained criticism of practitioners, totalling 26 in 1991, 85 in 1992 and 50 to 31 October 1993.
In addition, I and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade have responded to letters from hon. Members concerning specific insolvencies totalling 399 in 1991, 355 in 1992 and 314 to 31 October 1993. Officials have answered on our behalf 207 letters in 1992 and 147 to 31 October 1993. Information on how many of these letters contained complaints about independent practitioners could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
No central record is kept of complaints about the conduct of insolvency practitioners made direct to official receivers.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many investigations the Insolvency Service Agency has conducted into independent practitioners during each year since 1990 and so far in 1993.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The Insolvency Service undertakes routine monitoring visits to practitioners to test their compliance with the legislation. Detailed special inspections are carried out where the facts of the case suggest that this is merited. The following figures are on a financial year basis : detailed records were not maintained prior to 1991- 92.
|Number
-----------------------------------
Monitoring visits:
1991-92 |31
1992-93 |147
1993-94 (to date) |135
Special inspections:
1991-92 |2
1992-93 |9
1993-94 (to date) |5
Energy Council
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions taken at the EU Energy Council on 10December.
Mr. Barnes : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC
Column 681
Energy Council of 10 December indicating the voting record of each member state on each item and where no formal votes were taken.Mr. Eggar [holding answer 13 December 1993] : The Council considered several major issues and received reports from the Commission on other matters of interest. I represented the United Kingdom.
The Council reached unanimous political agreement on a directive harmonising hydrocarbons licensing. This important internal energy market measure will ensure that all member states' licensing procedures for hydrocarbons are transparent, non-discriminatory and competitive. A formal common position should follow at an early date.
Unanimous political agreement was also reached on the Council's assent for a new Commission decision on coal state aids. This will take effect from 1 January 1994. The decision provides for tighter Community rules for state aid to the coal industry until the expiry of the ECSC treaty in 2002. Formal adoption of the Council's assent will take place at an early date.
A new stage was reached in the progress of the two directives on liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets. The Commission presented modified proposals, which took account of the recent opinion of the European Parliament and which it had prepared at the invitation of the Energy Council of 30 November 1992.
The Commission presented a paper on nuclear safety in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The Council confirmed the need to give priority to nuclear safety in assistance programmes. The Commission outlined its ideas for developing guidelines for a Community energy policy. The Council invited the Commission to continue its work under the next Presidency.
The Commission reported to the Council on progress on the European energy charter and on its proposals for trans-European energy networks and cohesion. The Council also considered a mid-term review of the Thermie demonstration and dissemination programme and invited the Commission to come forward with a proposal on minimum standards for refrigerators and freezers.
f the Board of Trade whether spent nuclear fuel and its constituent parts imported prior to 1976 for reprocessing at Sellafield, without obligation of return of nuclear materials to the country of origin, is subject to the ownership conditions set out in articles 86 and 197 of the Euratom treaty.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 30 November 1993] : Article 86 of the Euratom treaty states that special fissile materials shall be the property of the Community and that the Community's right of ownership shall extend to all special fissile materials, as defined in article 197, which are produced or imported by a member state, a person or an undertaking and are subject to Euratom safeguards.
Equally, article 87 qualifies that right of ownership by providing that member states, persons or undertakings have unlimited right of use and consumption of these materials, subject to the obligations imposed on them by the treaty.
Article 75 states that the provisions of chapter VIII of the treaty, including articles 86 and 87, shall not apply to
Column 682
special fissile materials covered by commitments entered into by a person or undertaking with an international organisation or a national of a third state, where the material is to be processed inside the Community and then returned either to the original organisation or national or to any other consignee likewise outside the Community designated by such organisation or national. The question of whether any particular special fissile material, which is introduced into the United Kingdom for processing, is subject to articles 86 and 87, depends therefore on whether it is contemplated by the commercial arrangement in question that the special fissile material will be returned after processing to the original organisation or national outside the Community or any other designated consignee outside the Community.Granby Street Post Office, Liverpool
Mr. Parry : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ask for a full report from the Post Office before he sanctions the closure of the Granby street post office ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 14 December 1993] : The decision to close Granby street sub-post office is an operational matter for Post Office Counters Ltd. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is fully aware of the factors which have led to this decision, and he understands that POCL are planning adequate steps to maintain full post office facilities in the vicinity, at larger premises in Lodge lane.
Aliens
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to obtain a report of the European Parliament Trade and Research Technology Committee's conclusion that the theory that aliens are present in the asteroid belt cannot be ruled out ; and what are the implications of this conclusion for public policy.
Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 14 December 1993] : My officials have seen the report to which my hon. Friend refers by the European Parliament's Committee on Energy, Research and Technology. It has no implications for public policy.
Konver Programme
Mr. Hutton : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how approved Konver-funded schemes will be financed after the expiration of the Konver initiative ;
(2) what is his policy towards securing continuing EU support for defence diversification programmes when Konver funding expires ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) what is the period for which Konver funding for approved schemes will last ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 13 December 1993] : Successful Konver applications will be able to obtain grant for expenditure incurred until May 1995 from the European regional development fund and December 1994 from the European social fund.
It is too early to say whether there will be a second Konver initiative. Detailed proposals from the European Commission for the future of structural funds Community initiatives are awaited.
Column 683
SCOTLAND
Young People
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds continued in full-time education in (i) Dundee and (ii) Scotland in each of the past five years for which figures are available.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information for Scotland for the years 1988-92 is set out in the following table. Figures for 1993 are not yet available. Similar figures for Dundee are not available.
16 and 17-year-olds in full-time education in Scotland, January
Age at 30 August of preceding year
Thousands
|Age 16|Age 17
------------------------------------------------------------------
1992
Full-time education in: schools |26.6 |13.4
further education<1> |8.5 |13.5
1991
Full-time education in: schools |26.4 |12.7
further education<1> |6.2 |12.4
1990
Full-time education in: schools |26.4 |12.5
further education<1> |5.3 |12.0
1989
Full-time education in: schools |28.3 |13.0
further education<1> |4.6 |11.6
1988
Full-time education in: schools<2> |45.8 |20.6
further education<1> |3.2 |8.2
<1> Non-advanced and advanced further education, teacher training
and higher education.
<2> Not on a comparable basis. The destination is recorded in
Autumn rather than January and age is recorded as at December
rather than as at August. Autumn counts for full-time education
would be higher than those recorded in January because they would
include pupils who left school at the end of the first term in S5
and students who entered further education but subsequently left
the course.
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds who entered full-time employment in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in each of the past five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Stewart : The Scottish Young People's Survey provides, bi- ennially, information relating to the destination of school leavers in April after the academic session of leaving school. The table shows estimates of the number of leavers in full-time employment in the following April after the academic year of leaving secondary stages S4 and S5, which broadly equate to 16 and 17-year-olds respectively. Information is not available for Dundee.
Secondary school leavers in full-time employment
in April after session of leaving school
Thousands
|Leavers from S4<1>|Leavers from S5<2>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983 |15 |14
1985 |12 |14
1987 |9 |11
1989 |7 |11
1991 |7 |10
<1>Approximately 16-year-olds.
<2>Approximately 17-year-olds.
Source: Scottish Young People's Survey.
Structural Funds
Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the future administration of European structural funds in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : I am currently responsible for expenditure under objectives 2 and 5b of the European structural funds financed by the European regional development fund and the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. While my Department also has a co-ordinating role in relation to the Community support frameworks for the areas of Scotland designated under these objectives, the Department of Employment has hitherto administered European social fund expenditure in these areas.
I have agreed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment that I should now assume responsibility for European social fund expenditure in Scotland under objectives 1, 2 and 5b of the new regulations. The responsibility for winding up ESF actions under the current programmes for objectives 2 and 5b in Scotland remains with my right hon. Friend, as does responsibility for the administration of Great Britain-wide programmes under objectives 3 and 4.
Legal Services
Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made towards the extension of compulsory competitive tendering to legal services.
Mr. Stewart : Since we announced in November 1992 our intention to further extend CCT we have been in discussion with local authority associations about the details of implementation. We are now in a position to consult more widely and have today issued a consultation paper on the Government's implementation plans. Comments are invited by 18 March on a detailed package of measures which will bring the benefits of CCT to local authority legal services. Copies of the consultation paper will be placed in the House Library.
Montrose Bridge
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has of the expected life span of the Montrose new bridge ; and what improvements are required for it.
Lord James Douglas Hamilton : The Montrose new bridge is not a trunk road structure and is therefore the responsibility of Tayside regional council which is the local roads authority.
Ministerial Advisers
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the name and job description of each special ministerial adviser employed in his Department showing any particular outputs for which each adviser is responsible.
Mr. Lang : I have two full-time special advisers appointed to my Department--Mr. Gregor Mackay and Mr. Alan Young. As special advisers, both are outwith the normal Departmental hierarchy and are engaged on duties
Column 685
laid down by me which include contributing to the preparation of speeches and supporting my ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Office as far as time permits.Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the political and other advisers employed by his Department ; and what remuneration each receives and the previous occupation of each recruited in the last three years.
Mr. Lang : I have two full-time special advisers, Mr. Alan Young and Mr. Gregor Mackay. Both were recruited as graduates in December 1990 and February 1992 respectively and subsequently reappointed in May 1992.
In addition, there are currently two part-time advisers in the Scottish Office. They are Dr. Kenneth Benington and Professor David Tedford who were appointed in August 1988 and October 1992 respectively. They act as advisers to the Scottish Office Industry Department.
It is not our practice to divulge the remuneration of individual advisers.
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made to ensure that special advisers to Ministers in his Department do not have access to the kind of information, and are not involved in the type of business, that would be likely to create suspicion of impropriety in relation to subsequent employment.
Mr. Lang : I have two full-time special advisers employed in my Department. The conditions under which they are employed are fully detailed in their appointment letter and are in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance. That guidance requires that they do not have access to the kind of information and are not involved in the kind of business which would create any suspicion of impropriety in relation to subsequent employment.
Written Questions
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions since 18 November he has not answered, other than with a holding answer, a parliamentary question for written answer on a named day within 10 days of it being tabled ; on what subjects ; and what is his normal length of time for replying to hon. Members following a holding answer to their written questions for named days.
Mr. Lang : As at 15 December there have been 217 questions tabled for written answer on a named day since 18 November of which 31 did not receive a substantive reply within 10 working days. The questions covered the subjects of the health service, forestry, transport issues and local authority matters. My ministerial colleagues and I ensure that wherever possible all questions receive substantive replies within the timescale set down by the House authorities.
Cormorants
Sir Cranley Onslow : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications his Department has received in the last 12 months for licences to control cormorant numbers on Scottish fisheries ; and how many of these have been approved.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 13 December 1993] : Details of the number of applications made and
Column 686
licences issued in the last 12 months by my Department to shoot cormorants in order to prevent serious damage to fisheries are as follows :
|1992 September to|1993 February to
|December |April
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cormorants only applications |6 |8
Licences granted |6 |7
Cormorants and sawbill duck
applications |3 |17
Licences granted |0 |14
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will continue the supply of rams in crofting areas under the livestock improvement schemes ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 13 December 1993] : In August my Department invited applications from crofting townships for the supply of rams for 1993-94. Some 1,460 rams have since been supplied to over 200 townships.
My Department is currently reviewing all the livestock improvement schemes for crofters following a consultation exercise undertaken earlier this year. I hope to announce a decision soon on the future operation of these schemes.
Mr. Laurence Peterken
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the officials present at a meeting held on or between 20 and 23 August to consider the terms of the reply received from Her Majesty's Treasury to a letter sent on 6 August by the acting chief executive of the health service in Scotland regarding the former general manager of the Greater Glasgow health board, Mr. Laurence Peterken.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 14 December 1993] : No such meeting took place on or between 20 and 23 August. However, there was a meeting on 30 August involving officials of the Scottish Office NHS Management Executive, Finance Group and Solicitor's Office.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent on 6 August by the acting chief executive of the health service in Scotland to the Treasury regarding the former general manager of the Greater Glasgow health board, Mr. Laurence Peterken.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 14 December 1993] : No. The document concerned relates to the private affairs of an individual and it is long- established Government policy not to disclose such documents.
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 25 November, Official Report , column 180 , on what date his views were sought on the appointment of Mr. Laurence Peterken to the post of special projects director with the national health service management executive.
Column 687
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 2 December 1993] : On 5 November 1993.
Health Boards (Expenditure)
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to review the procedures whereby he is informed of representations made to Her Majesty's Treasury by senior officials in his Department in respect of proposed expenditure by health boards in Scotland.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 14 December 1993] : Yes. As my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State indicated to the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs, this is already happening.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those responsible for making appointments of (a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.
Mr. Lang : I am responsible for making all the appointments to the following bodies :
Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland
Crofters Commission
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
National Galleries of Scotland
National Museums of Scotland
National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting in Scotland
New Town Development Corporations (5)
Red Deer Commission
Royal Botanic Garden
Scottish Crop Research Institute
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Examination Board
Scottish Higher Education Funding Council
Scottish Homes
Scottish Hospital Endowment Research Trust
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Scottish Medical Practices Committee
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Seed Potato Development Council
Scottish Sports Council
Scottish Tourist Board
The responsibility, other than my own, for making appointments to the remaining executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department is shown below ; the number of members I appoint and whether or not I appoint the chair is shown in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies", the 1993 edition of which will be available shortly.
Appointing responsibility other than the Secretary of State Animal Diseases Research Association
In accordance with the rules of the Association which is a specially authorised Friendly Society.
Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee
By the Committee itself.
General Teaching Council for Scotland
Elected members and members appointed by COSLA, Directors of Education in Scotland, Scottish universities, governing bodies of institutions in the higher education sector (other than universities) which are not relevant institutions (ie., colleges of education), the Education Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Scottish hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church.
Hannah Research Institute
Glasgow University, Scottish Agricultural College and the Board itself.
| Next Section
| Home Page |