| Previous Section | Home Page |
VAT-registered Businesses
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 January, Official Report, columns 777-80, if he will provide a comparable table showing the stock of VAT registered businesses at January 1991 and December 1993 by Customs area.
Sir John Cope : Numbers of VAT-registered traders are available only for calendar quarters. Those for quarters ended December 1990 and December 1993 were as follows :
Total number of
registered traders
at
Collection |December 1990|December 1993
------------------------------------------------------------------
Belfast |53,886 |54,684
Birmingham |122,255 |112,776
Dover |55,294 |47,515
East Anglia |71,755 |79,986
East Midlands |96,938 |90,118
Edinburgh |62,970 |62,427
Glasgow |61,213 |58,046
Leeds |94,593 |88,741
Liverpool |92,493 |84,314
London Central |38,423 |37,432
London North and West |86,513 |76,994
London Port |55,388 |46,343
London South |109,917 |99,078
Manchester |90,042 |83,460
Northampton |121,350 |98,129
Northern England |76,335 |71,295
Southampton |89,255 |78,890
South Wales and Borders |110,756 |102,963
South West England |121,718 |109,339
Thames Valley |131,872 |125,313
|----- |-----
Total |1,742,966 |1,607,843
Column 702
Life Assurance
Mr. Denham : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of individuals who have transferred their assets from one life insurance policy to another provided by a different company.
Mr. Nelson : Records of such transfers are not kept by the Treasury.
Forward : Civil Service Catering
Mr. Hunter : To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the terms of the sale of Forward : Civil Service Catering.
Mr. Nelson : Forward has been sold to the Sutcliffe Catering Group Ltd. for £4.6 million. The transfer of the business took place on 14 February. The staff of Forward have transferred to Sutcliffe on their existing terms and conditions in accordance with the TUPE regulations.
Labour Statistics
Ms Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide data for the period 1978-79 to 1994-95, showing (a) the size of the work force in employment, (b) the number of individuals in the employed work force paying income tax and the resulting percentage of the employed work force paying income tax and (c) the number of individuals in the employed work force paying national insurance and the resulting percentage of the employed work force paying national insurance.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 7 February 1994] : The table gives the available information for the size of the work force in employment at a particular point in each year, the numbers paying income tax for the year and those paying national insurance contributions at any point during the year. The figures in columns (b) and (c) are therefore not directly comparable with the estimates in (a) .
Column 703
|Workforce in |Individuals with |(B) divided by (A)|Individuals with |(C) divided by (A)
|employment<1> |some income from |expressed as a |some income from |expressed as a
|employment or |percentage |employment or |percentage
|self-employment |self-employment
|liable to income |paying national
|tax<2>
|insurance
|contributions<2>
|(thousands) |(thousands) |(thousands)
|(A) |(B) |(C)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |24,765 |24,100 |97 |25,500 |103
1979-80 |n/a |23,900 |n/a |25,800 |n/a
1980-81 |24,153 |22,900 |95 |25,000 |104
1981-82 |n/a |22,400 |n/a |24,100 |n/a
1982-83 |23,490 |22,000 |94 |23,600 |100
1983-84 |23,939 |21,700 |91 |23,400 |98
1984-85 |24,282 |21,200 |87 |23,500 |97
1985-86 |24,389 |21,400 |88 |23,900 |98
1986-87 |24,806 |21,400 |86 |24,200 |98
1987-88 |25,660 |21,900 |85 |24,600 |96
1988-89 |26,558 |22,700 |85 |25,300 |95
1989-90 |26,783 |22,600 |84 |25,600 |96
1990-91 |26,207 |23,000 |88 |25,500 |97
1991-92 |25,671 |22,600 |88 |24,300 |95
1992-93<3> |25,381 |<3>22,000 |87 |n/a |n/a
<1> Estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey and relate to Spring of each year.
<2> Estimates are of the numbers liable to income tax or national insurance contributions in the year.
<3> Provisional.
Top Rate Taxpayers
Mr. Beith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the number of top rate taxpayers in (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94 and (c) 1994-95
Column 704
giving estimates where necessary (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total number of income taxpayers and also the change as between 1992-93 and 1994-95, (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage change.Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 8 February 1994] : The information requested is as follows :
Column 703
|Total number |Number of higher|Higher rate
|of taxpayers |rate taxpayers |taxpayers as a
|percentage of
|total taxpayers
|(Thousands) |(Thousands) |(Per cent.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93 |25,100 |1,800 |7
1993-94 |25,100 |1,900 |8
1994-95 |25,400 |2,300 |9
Change in higher rate
taxpayers between
1992-93 and 1994-95
|(Thousands) |(Per cent.)
|------- |-------
|500 |28
Sports Clubs
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an announcement about the details of value-added tax concessions and rebates for amateur sports clubs.
Sir John Cope [holding answer 11 February 1994] : Customs and Excise have issued an information paper setting out details of the scope of the proposed VAT exemption for sporting services supplied by non-profit making clubs and including a draft of the relevant Treasury order. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.
Public Bodies
Mr. Straw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce arrangements to ensure that members of appointed public bodies and authorities may be subject to surcharge and disqualification or other similar
Column 704
sanctions in respect of any wilful misconduct in the expenditure of public funds ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Portillo [holding answer 14 February 1994] : Public bodies are already able to apply disciplinary sanctions, including seeking prosecutions where appropriate. The Government have no plans to seek new powers for surcharging or disqualification. The Government are considering whether the approach recommended in the Cadbury Committee's report on financial aspects of corporate governance could be adapted to meet the needs of public bodies.
European Investment Bank
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present borrowing limits of the European Investment Bank ; what sum has been borrowed to date ; and if he will make a statement outlining the manner in which the bank raises its borrowing.
Column 705
Mr. Nelson [pursuant to his answer, 17 December 1993, column 977] : The total figure given for the European Investment Bank's subscribed capital was 57.6 million ecu, while the limit on the banks total outstanding lending was given as 144 million ecu. These figures are incorrect, and should have read 57.6 billion ecu and 144 billion ecu respectively.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Members of the European Parliament
Mr. Robert B. Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what telephone calls are allowed free to Members of the European Parliament (a) within the EU and (b) within the rest of the world ; whether Members of the European Parliament's travel allowances are calculated at first class rate even when such a service is not available ; and whether the constituency travel allowance for Members of the European Parliament is calculated on the basis of actual mileage incurred.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Members of the European Parliament receive a general expenditure allowance of 2,732 ECU--£2,131--per month to cover office management costs including telephone calls.
Members of the European Parliament receive a flat-rate travel allowance of 0.73 ECU--57p--per kilometre for the first 800 km and 0.37 ECU--29p--for each additional kilometre for travel within the Community to attend official meetings. Members are reimbursed the actual cost of the return air fare by the most direct route for travel outside the EC to attend official meetings, and receive a travel allowance of up to 3,000 ECU--£2,340-- per annum for travel on official business other than to attend official meetings.
Mr. Robert B. Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the allowances payable to Members of the European Parliament.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The European Parliament's allowances for Members are as follows :
Subsistence
Subsistence allowance of 199 ECU, approximately £155, per day for attending official meetings within the European Community plus the cost of overnight accommodation, etc. for attending official meetings outside the Community.
Travel
Flat rate travel allowance of 0.73 ECU--57p--per kilometre for the first 800 km and 0.37 ECU--29p--for each additional kilometre of travel within the Community to attend official meetings. Reimbursement of the return air fare by the most direct route for travel outside the EC to attend official meetings. Travel allowance of up to 3,000 ECU--£2,340--per annum for travel on official business other than to attend official meetings.
Office and Secretarial Assistance
Secretarial Assistance Allowance of up to 7,468 ECU--£5,826--per month. General Expenditure Allowance of 2,732 ECU--£2,131--per month for office management costs, telephone, postage and travel within member states. Halved in respect of Members who, for no valid reason, have failed to attend at least half the number of plenary sittings. Data Processing
Data Processing allowance of up to 1,000 ECU--£780--per annum for purchase or rent of equipment.
Column 706
Malaysia
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions were held with the Government of Malaysia on the question of arms sales during the visits of (a) the Minister of State, the former right hon. Member for Wallasey in August 1987, (b) the Secretary of State in April 1988, (c) the Minister of State, the Lord Glenarthur, in November 1988, (d) the Secretary of State in October 1989, (e) the Minister of State, the Lord Brabazon, in January 1990, (f) the Minister of State, the former hon. Member for Warwickshire, North, in February 1990, (g) the Minister of State, the Lord Caithness, in April 1991, (h) the Minister of State, the right hon. and learned Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg), in September 1991, (i) the Minister of State, the Lord Caithness, in September 1991, (j) the Secretary of State in July 1992 and (k) the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), in April 1993.
Mr. Goodlad : During their visits to Malaysia, FCO Ministers regularly discuss a wide range of issues, including trade, education, defence, regional, aid, economic and security matters.
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions were held with the Government of Malaysia on the question of aid during the visits of (a) the Minister of State, the former right hon. Member for Wallasey in August 1987, (b) the Secretary of State in April 1988, (c) the Minister of State, the Lord Glenarthur, in November 1988, (d) the Secretary of State in October 1989, (e) the Minister of State, the Lord Brabazon, in January 1990, (f) the Minister of State, the former hon. Member for Warwickshire, North, in February 1990, (g) the Minister of State, the Lord Caithness, in April 1991, (h) the Minister of State, the right hon. and learned Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg), in September 1991, (i) the Minister of State, the Lord Caithness, in September 1991, (j) the Secretary of State in July 1992 and (k) the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), in April 1993.
Mr. Goodlad : During their visits to Malaysia, FCO Ministers regularly discuss a wide range of issues, including trade, education, defence, regional, aid, economic and security matters.
UN World Summit on Social Development
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to set up a United Kingdom national committee to prepare for the United Nations world summit on social development to be held in Copenhagan in March 1995 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The first preparatory committees for the world summit for social development took place in New York from 31 January to 11 February. Her Majesty's Government were represented by officials from London and New York. We have no plans at present to establish a national committee.
UN (50th Anniversary)
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for marking the 50th anniversary of the United Nations ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 707
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Plans for marking the 50th anniversary of the United Nations are still in their early stages. Under the auspices of the United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a national committee has been set up to co-ordinate the national programme of events. The president is the right hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon, QC. Commemorative events are envisaged on the three key dates : 26 June 1995-- the anniversary of the signing of the United Nations charter--24 October 1995--the anniversary of the Charter coming into force--and 10 January 1996, the anniversary of the first session of the General Assembly.
Guatemala
Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Guatemalan Government on the abuse of street children.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We have made clear to the Guatemalan authorities the concern felt in this country about street children and the importance of upholding human rights, especially the rights of children.
Bosnia
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has to suggest that Serbian forces and Croatian forces have been fighting in Bosnia during the past year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Reports from various sources suggest that both regular Croatian army forces are active in Bosnia. Both Croatia and Serbia also appear to have given material support to their respective allies in Bosnia through the provision of equipment and by recruiting personnel. The European Union and the United Nations have made clear on a number of occasions the unacceptability of outside intervention in Bosnia. Serbia is already subject to wide-ranging economic sanctions. The European Union has put Croatia on notice of possible measures against it, if its involvement continues.
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report, column 122, on arms sales to Indonesia, whether the principle that sovereign states have a right to defend themselves applies equally to Bosnia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Article 51 of the UN charter recognises the right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a member of the United Nations, until the United Nations Security Council has taken measures necessary to monitor international peace and security. United Nations Security Council resolution 713 imposed a mandatory arms embargo on all the former Yugoslav republics. We share the view of the United Nations, the co-chairmen and the majority of members of the Security Council that to lift the arms embargo at this stage would be a mistake.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the military situation and condition of the civilian population in and around Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina ; whether this was discussed at the NATO
Column 708
meeting on 8 February ; and if the possibility of air-strikes against either Croat or Muslim forces in the area has been contemplated.Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Eastern Mostar is a Bosnian Muslim enclave, which has come under continuous shelling by the Bosnian Croats. The humanitarian situation remains of profound concern. Aid convoys are getting through under escort from the Spanish battalion of UNPROFOR. After a long delay a mobile hospital donated by the South Africans was recently delivered.
Mostar was not discussed specifically at the NATO meeting on 8 February. But the NATO decisions of last August, reaffirmed at the 10-11 January summit, stated the alliance's readiness to conduct air strikes, with the approval of the UN Secretary-General, to prevent the strangulation of Sarajevo and other areas. The situation in Mostar is under constant review.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation took place with the Ukraine, and other non-NATO states, before the decision of NATO on 9 February to contemplate air strikes against Bosnian-Serb forces was taken ; and whether such forces will be under NATO orders should such air strikes take place.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : No consultation took place with Ukraine immediately before the 9 February NATO decision. However, the action contemplated is consistent with the existing UN mandate. The UN Secretary- General or his delegated representative must authorise the first use of air power, and UNPROFOR commanders must be closely consulted.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what were the contents of the UNPROFOR report concerning the artillery attack on the Sarajevo market on Saturday 5 February ; what were the contents of subsequent reports on the incident ; and what progress has been made to establish responsibility for the incident ;
(2) whether the site or sites from which the artillery attack on Sarajevo market took place on Saturday 5 February was one which had previously been inspected by or monitored by United Nations observers ; what was the position of the nearest United Nations observer team at the time of the incident ; and what report was filed by observers on the ground.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Nations Secretary-General has informed the Security Council that the massacre at Sarajevo market on 5 February resulted from the detonation of a single 120 mm mortar shell, and not an artillery attack. The site from which the mortar was fired has not been determined. UNPROFOR has been able to establish only a broad area straddling the line of confrontation. Reports by United Nations military observers are not made available outside the UNPROFOR military chain of command. We do not have available information on the day-to-day deployments of United Nations military observers.
The special representative of the Secretary-General, Yasushi Akashi, announced on 11 February that he has decided to establish an investigative team to look into the details of the tragic incident. The five-member team will consist of military officers from UNPROFOR with
Column 709
appropriate technical expertise. The team will be led by the UNPROFOR force engineer, Colonel Gauthier of Canada, and include officers from France, Spain, Pakistan and Russia. The investigative team will report its findings to the special representative as soon as possible.Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has in respect of the present situation in the area in and around Bihac in
Bosnia-Herzegovina ; and if he is able to assess the state of relations between the Bosnian Muslim authorities there and (a) the Bosnian Government of President Izetbegovic, (b) the Bosnian Serbs and (c) the Bosnian Croats.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We remain concerned about the security situation in the Bihac pocket. It is clear from recent reports that intra-Muslim tension remains high, and that the Bosnian Serbs have resumed artillery attacks on Bosnian Muslim forces. We have seen nothing to suggest that there is any fighting involving the Bosnian Croats in this area.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of the warring factions in
Bosnia-Herzegovina have proposed any investigating commission being set up to establish responsibility for the artillery attack on the Sarajevo market on Saturday 5 February ; and what offers of co-operation in such an investigation have been made by (a) the Bosnian Serbs and (b) the Bosnian Muslims.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Nations Secretary General's special representative, Mr. Akashi, has now announced the establishment of such a commission. This will require the full co-operation of both the Bosnian Serbs and the Bosnian Government.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support any Russian request for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to debate the continuing conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The United Nations Security Council discussed the situation in Bosnia on 14 February.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what precautions were discussed at the NATO meeting on 8 February to ensure that Bosnian-Muslim forces do not enter demilitarised zones vacated by the Bosnian-Serb army ; if the use of force to prevent this from happening was agreed ; and what action would be taken in the event of Bosnian-Serbs repelling such advances by force.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The aim of the NATO decision of 9 February was to enforce, together with UNPROFOR, an end to the bombardment of Sarajevo. To this end, the alliance called on the Bosnian Government to place heavy weapons, located within the exclusion zone 20 km around Sarajevo, under United Nations control. NATO did not, however, demand full demilitarisation of the city. UNPROFOR monitors have been positioned at all key and sensitive points within both Muslim and Serb-held areas, and the ceasefire negotiated by UNPROFOR has been generally respected so far.
Column 710
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place a copy of each report from UNPROFOR on the conflict in the former Yugoslavia in the Library.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Copies of the reports of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Security Council on the situation in the former Yugoslavia pursuant to Security Council resolutions are already placed in the Library of the House. The United Nations Secretary-General's reports take into account the views of his special representative who is head of mission for UNPROFOR.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Bosnian-Muslim forces have been put on notice of air strikes against their positions in the event of any use of artillery by Muslim forces.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The NATO decision of 9 February applies to all parties involved in the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. Any heavy weapons identified by the United Nations as attacking civilians in Sarajevo, or, if within 20 km of the centre of Sarajevo, not under UN control by midnight on 20 February, will be subject to air strikes. We welcome the assurances given by the Bosnian Prime Minister, Mr Silajdzic, that his Government are ready to comply with the NATO decision.
British Virgin Islands
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the real gross domestic product per capita in the British Virgin Islands in 1990 in US dollars.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The gross domestic product per capita of the British Virgin Islands in 1990 was $9,500. The Caribbean development bank estimate GDP per capita in 1992 to be $10,479 per capita.
Armenia
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the President of Armenia.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : President Ter-Petrossian of Armenia visited the United Kingdom as a guest of the Government from 8 to 11 February. My right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs called on him on 8 February for talks which touched on the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, economic reform, Russia and the CIS. In addition, during his visit President Ter-Petrossian had an audience of Her Majesty the Queen, lunch and talks with my right honourable Friend the Prime Minister and meetings with other members of the Government.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 bodies sponsored by his Department.
Mr. Goodlad : Appointments to non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department are made as follows :
Column 711
Commonwealth Institute :--(a) Chairman and vice-chairman : Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(b) Board members
(i) All Commonwealth high commissioners in London (ex-officio) (ii) Representatives of educational, Commonwealth, commercial and industrial interests--appointed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(iii) Representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Department for Education and the Scottish Office Education Department--appointed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(iv) Commonwealth Secretary-General--co-opted by the board. Commonwealth Foundation--
(a) Chairman : Appointed by heads of commonwealth Governments (b) Members of board : All high commissioners of member Commonwealth countries in London (ex-officio)
Wilton Park Academic Council--
(a) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (b) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Wilton Park Departmental Board
(a Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (b Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Anglo-Irish Encounter
(a British Co-chairman : the Prime Minister
(b Secretary : the chairman
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
(a The board
(b Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
(a Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (b Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Diplomatic Service Appeal Board
(a Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (b Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs The British Council
(a Elected by the Board of the Council with the previous approval of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (b The Secretary of State may nominate two board members. With these exceptions all board members are elected by the board from persons proposed in writing by two board members
The Great Britain-China Centre
(a Elected by the executive committee. His or her proposed election to be approved by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(b The following have the right to nominate one person each to the executive committee : the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the President of the Board of Trade, the Secretary of State for Education and the Director General of the British Council. Other members are elected by the executive committee of whom not less than five must be MPs
The Britain-Russia Centre--
(a) Elected by the members of the council.
(b) Elected by the members of the council, of whom not less than 10 and not more than 20 must be MPs.
British Association for Central and Eastern Europe--
(a) Elected by the governing body. His or her proposed election requires the approval of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
(b) The following have the right to nominate one person each to the governing body : the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the President of the Board of Trade, the Secretary of State for Education and the Director General of the British Council. Other members are elected by the Government Council of whom not less than five must be MPs.
Marhall Aid Commemoration Commission--
| Next Section
| Home Page |