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Mr. Charles Wardle : I have been asked to reply. There is currently no evidence to suggest that organised crime has infiltrated the United Kingdom's toxic waste industry.
The National Criminal Intelligence Service is in touch with relevant agencies elsewhere in Europe and the United States and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Insolvency Service
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Bill [Lords] on referrals from the private sector to the Insolvency Service for investigations leading to prosecution under the proposed involvement of the private sector in mechanical processing work of the Insolvency Service.
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Mr. Neil Hamilton : It is not apparent that the provisions of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Bill will have any affect on the possible involvement of the private sector in the work of the Official Receiver.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the Insolvency Service executive agency spent on consultants in total for each financial years since 1991-92 and in the current financial year to 31 January.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The total amounts spent on consultants employed by or engaged in work for the Insolvency Service were :
|£
---------------------------
1991-92 |659,480
1992-93 |698,930
1993-94<1> |790,800
<1> To 31 January 1994.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff were dismissed from the Insolvency Service executive agency in the years 1991, 1992 and 1993 ; and if he will give the reasons.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The following numbers of staff were dismissed during the relevant years :
|Number
---------------------
1991 |2
1992 |5
1993 |6
Dismissal was for a variety of reasons.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many private consultants were employed by the Insolvency Service in each financial year since 1991-92 and in the current financial year to 31 January.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The following numbers of private consultants were employed by or engaged in work for the Insolvency Service :
|Number
-------------------------
1991-92 |16
1992-93 |18
1993-94<1> |20
<1> To 31 January 1994.
Sizewell B
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the report of the pre-operational safety review team mission to Sizewell B will be published.
Mr. Eggar : Copies of the report of the pre-operational safety review team mission to Sizewell B have been received from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and placed in the Library of the House. In October and November 1992, the team conducted a review of the operational safety arrangements at Sizewell B at the invitation of Her Majesty's Government, following a suggestion from Nuclear Electric, the operators of Sizewell
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B. As I informed the House on 16 December 1992, Official Report, column 237, the review team concluded that Sizewell B is a well-managed nuclear plant.It is normal practice for a pre-OSART review to be in two stages. A follow- up visit, with a smaller team, took place on 14 to 18 February.
Oil Exploration
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate the level of exploration drilling on the United Kingdom continental shelf last year and the number of those wells successful in locating hydrocarbons ; and if he will make a statement on the trend revealed.
Mr. Eggar : Fifty-one exploration wells were drilled last year, a figure lower than in recent years but still comparing favourably with the late 1970s and early 1980s when levels were lower. Thirteen significant discoveries were made in 1993, giving a one in four success rate. The average since exploration began in 1964 is about one in 4.5.
Manufacturing Output
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects manufacturing output to exceed the levels of 1990.
Mr. Sainsbury : Latest official forecasts of manufacturing output were published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994-95", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
Foreign Ownership
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 15 February, Official Report, column 741, what assessment he has made of the extent to which transfer of control of other firms from the United Kingdom to other countries will increase the living standards of the British people.
Mr. Sainsbury : The effects of any particular acquisition must be judged on a case-by-case basis. However, in general the Government believe that open markets will be beneficial to economic growth.
Klockner Werke Steel Plant
Mr. John Morris : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations the Government have made to the European Commission on the decision of a public sector consortium led by the Bremen regional government to purchase and maintain the Klockner Werke steel plant.
Mr. Sainsbury : Following representations made by my officials on 4 November I raised our concerns regarding public sector participation in the restructuring of Klockner Werke directly with Commissioner van Miert on 9 December and wrote to him about them on 15 December.
European Steel Industry
Mr. John Morris : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations the Government have made to the European Commission on the issue of declaring a state of manifest crisis in the European steel industry.
Column 720
Fire Safety
Mr. Pike : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes it is proposed to introduce in relation to fire safety in the regulations in relation to children's nightwear ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 regulate for fire safety in children's nightwear. These regulations are being considered as part of the overall review of legislation under the deregulation initiative. I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) on 21 January 1994, Official Report, column 882.
Public Appointments
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of public appointments made by his Department in 1993 were of women ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 28 February 1994] : A total of 239 public appointments were made by this Department in 1993. Forty-seven of these appointments--24.5 per cent.--were women. This Department is fully committed to equal opportunities for women in public appointments, and has set itself a goal to increase the number of women in DTI public appointments to 30 per cent. by 1996.
RECHAR 2
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the European Commission's proposals for RECHAR 2.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 22 February 1994] : The European Commission announced on 16 February its intention to launch 13 European structural funds Community initiatives for the period 1994 to 1999. The resources allocated to these initiatives amount to 13.45 billion ecu.
One of the proposals is for a new RECHAR initiative for assistance to coalfield areas and 0.4 billion ecu has been allocated to it. I shall write to Commissioner Millan to seek a substantial share of the new RECHAR for the United Kingdom.
Public Bodies
Mr. Meacher : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names, occupations and employers of the chairpersons and members of all the executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 1 March 1994] : There would be disproportionate cost involved in providing the names, occupations and employers of the chairpersons and members of all the Department's executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Regional Orchestras
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he will receive a copy of the Arts Council working party report into the funding of the regional orchestras.
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Mr. Brooke : I understand that the report, which was produced jointly by a group of council members and officers, will be considered by the Arts Council at its meeting on 2 March. The report is a working document for the use of the Council. My Department routinely receives information copies of Arts Council papers.
Conservation Legislation
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the outcome of his officials' discussions with the Department of the Environment in respect of their review of certain aspects of the legislation to protect ancient monuments, historic buildings and conservation areas, outlined on page 53 of the Government's White Paper, "Deregulation : Cutting Red Tape."
Mr. Brooke : My right hon. Friend and I will be publishing in late spring or early summer the final version of planning policy guidance note 15, which will reflect the outcome of our review of various regulations affecting historic buildings and conservation areas, on which we consulted last year. I shall also shortly be issuing a revised Ancient Monuments (Class Consents) Order, which will clarify and simplify the procedures for the approval of certain minor works affecting scheduled ancient monuments.
Youth Organisations
Mr. Brazier : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are his current major initiatives involving youth and voluntary youth organisations in sporting or other fields.
Mr. Brooke : The Sports Council has commissioned Youth Clubs UK to develop a programme for the delivery of sport within a youth work setting. In addition, a number of youth organisations have received financial assistance from the Foundation for Sports and the Arts. The Arts Council's youth arts fund supports strategic national youth arts initiatives by the national umbrella youth arts organisations. The Department's heritage grant fund also part funds cathedral camps, which enable young people to carry out basic conservation work in our great cathedrals. Youth arts organisations also benefit under the Government's business sponsorship incentive scheme.
Oakwood Hospital
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he intends to de-list Queen's house and St. Andrew's house at Oakwood hospital in Maidstone.
Mr. Brooke : I have not received an application to de-list either Queen's house or St. Andrew's house.
Merseyside Development Corporation
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what salaries the advisory group concerning public art initiatives of the Merseyside development corporation are paid ; and who is the chairman.
Mr. Baldry : I have been asked to reply.
The advisory group which provides informal advice on Merseyside development corporation art initiatives receive no payment or expenses for their contribution.
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The ad hoc group is chaired by Mrs. Paula Ridley, chair of the Tate gallery Liverpool and a trustee of the Tate gallery.OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Malaysia
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grant or other financial undertaking was made to Her Majesty's Government in respect of the Sepang airport project in Malaysia ; what are the details of the undertakings ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We told the Government of Malaysia in February 1993 that we would consider their request for grant finance from the aid and trade provision budget to help develop the new airport at Sepang. No financial undertaking has been given to Her Majesty's Government in respect of this project.
Middle East
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each project funded by the Overseas Development Administration in (a) Syria, (b) Saudi Arabia, (c) Oman, (d) Qatar, (e) Egypt, (f) Lebanon, (g) Israel, (h) the west bank and Gaza, (i) Iran and (j) Iraq over the last five years.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : During the past five years we have not funded any projects through country programme allocations in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Iran and Iraq. My answer of 7 February 1994, to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke), column 70, gave details of the projects we have funded in Oman during this period. I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses lists of the projects that we have funded in Egypt and the occupied territories.
Arun III, Nepal
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the estimated cost, in pounds sterling, per unit kilowatt hour of energy to be generated by the Arun III project in Nepal ;
(2) how many schemes were considered by the World bank and the Nepali Government prior to the selection of the Arun III 400MW dam scheme ; and what was the estimated (a) cost and (b) output of each scheme.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We are in touch with the World bank to see if it can provide the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place a copy of the environmental impact statement for the Arun III project in the Library.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : A copy of the summary environmental impact assessment has been placed in the Library of the House.
Consultative Group Meeting, Amsterdam
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank and the United
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Kingdom were represented at the ninth consultative group meeting on the common fund for commodities in Amsterdam from 14 to 18 February ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Neither the United Kingdom nor the UK executive director of the World bank are represented on the consultative committee of the common fund.
World Economic Forum
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom was represented at the annual meeting of the world economic forum on 28 to 30 January in Davos ; what instructions the Government gave to the representative ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer attended the informal gathering of world economic leaders in Davos on 28 to 30 January as part of the world economic forum's annual meeting. It was not an intergovernmental meeting, but provided an opportunity for international economic policy makers to discuss longer-term trends in the world economy on an informal basis.
Column 724
Malawi
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of current United Kingdom involvement in aid and development projects in Malawi.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : In response to a question fromthe hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) on 7 February, column 67, a list of our current bilateral aid projects in Malawi was placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria he takes into consideration when deciding on United Kingdom involvement in aid and development projects in Malawi.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Several factors are taken into account including needs, particularly of the poor ; progress on economic reform and good government ; capacity to implement projects well ; and the activities of other donors.
International Bodies (Budget Contribution)
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the annual budget contributions by the United Kingdom to (a) the International bank for reconstruction and development, (b) the International Development Association and (c) the International Finance Corporation for each of the past 10 years in (i) pound sterling and (ii) United States dollars.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The information requested is in the table.
Column 723
United Kingdom contributions to the world bank
1984-93
IDA IBRD IFC Other
Year |£ million|$ million|£ million|$ million|£ million|£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984 |169.2 |40.8 |28.1 |- |- |-
1985 |124.3 |5.3 |3.8 |- |- |-
1986 |118.6 |38.0 |26.9 |12.2 |8.2 |-
1987 |133.0 |28.7 |20.2 |6.1 |3.8 |0.3
1988 |207.0 |11.0 |6.6 |6.1 |3.6 |0.2
1989 |169.5 |19.8 |12.6 |6.1 |3.7 |0.1
1990 |173.0 |19.8 |10.2 |- |- |0.1
1991 |145.9 |19.8 |11.7 |- |- |0.6
1992 |273.0 |19.8 |10.2 |- |- |0.5
1993 |187.3 |19.8 |12.9 |21.0 |14.1 |0.4
Notes:
IDA-International Development Association.
IBRD-International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
IFC-International Finance Corporation.
Other-Contributions to various technical assistance activities (e.g. Foreign
Investment Advisory Services (FIAS); Africa Project Development
Facility (APDF); African Management Services Company (AMSCo); United Kingdom
consultants trust fund including contributions paid by
the Department of Trade and Industry).
Contributions to IDA and for technical assistance activities are in £ sterling.
Subscriptions to IBRD and IFC are in United States dollars; the second
column shows the £ sterling equivalent of payments made.
World Bank Group
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the final deficit or surplus balance has been for the World bank group for each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Details of net income for members of the World bank group are in the table.
Column 724
World Bank Group: Net Income
FY84-93 ($ million)
|IBRD |IDA |IFC |MIGA
------------------------------------
FY84 |600 |(71) |26 |-
FY85 |1,137|(65) |28 |-
FY86 |1,243|15 |25 |-
FY87 |1,113|106 |54 |-
FY88 |1,004|142 |101 |-
FY89 |1,094|88 |197 |2.8
FY90 |1,046|316 |157 |2.6
FY91 |1,200|165 |166 |2.2
FY92 |1,645|716 |180 |0.5
FY93 |1,130|(149)|142 |1.1
Notes: Figures in brackets indicate
a deficit.
FY=Fiscal Year (July-June).
IBRD=International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development.
IDA=International Development
Association.
IFC=International Finance
Corporation.
MIGA=Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency.
Column 726
Nepal
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current number of hydro-electric plants in Nepal ; how many megawatts each produces ; what is the total estimated electricity need of Nepal ; and what percentage of that need is expected to be produced by each of the existing hydro-electric plants.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The table shows the current list of hydro-electric plants on the interconnected system in Nepal.
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Name |Date in service|Number of units|Installed |Rated |Actual energy
|and size (MW) |capacity (MW) |capacity (MW) |(Gwh/yr)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panauti |- |3 X 0.8 |2.4 |2.4 |0
Trisuli |1962 |7 X 3.0 |21.0 |18.0 |114.6
Sunkosi |1973 |3 X 3.5 |10.5 |8.6 |56.7
Gandak |1979 |3 X 5.0 |15.0 |9.4 |43.8
Kulekhani I |1982 |2 X 30.0 |60.0 |60.0 |154.7
Devighat |1983 |2 X 4.7 |14.1 |14.1 |89.7
Kulekhani II |1986 |2 X 16.0 |32.0 |32.0 |95.0
Marsyangdi |1989 |3 X 23.0 |69.0 |69.0 |462.0
Andi Khola |1991 |3 X 1.7 |5.1 |5.0 |44.4
|------- |------- |-------
Sub-Total |- |- |229.1 |218.5 |1,060.9
Miscellaneous Small Hydro |- |- |7.0 |7.0 |23.2
|------- |------- |-------
Total |- |- |236.1 |225.5 |1,084.1
In addition, the latest available data indicate installed thermal capacity of about 55 MW. Reliable estimates of current demand levels are not readily available, but over the course of the last year load shedding has been an almost daily occurrence in Nepal, indicating regular shortages of power.
Mozambique
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much overseas aid has been given to Mozambique each year since 1980, expressed in money terms, real terms on 1980 and as a real term percentage increase or decrease on the previous year.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The figures are listed in the table :
Gross public expenditure to Mozambique 1980-1992-93
£000s
|Gross public |Constant 1980|Percentage
|expenditure |prices |change (year
|on year)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1980 |4,629 |4,629 |-
1981 |5,379 |4,827 |+4
1982 |1,924 |1,606 |-67
1983 |1,805 |1,431 |-11
1984 |4,182 |3,169 |+122
1985 |8,366 |5,997 |+89
1986 |7,424 |5,153 |-14
1987 |23,836 |15,764 |+206
1987-88 |20,747 |14,043 |-
1988-89 |34,834 |22,095 |+57
1989-90 |20,839 |12,359 |-44
1990-91 |26,171 |14,363 |+16
1991-92 |18,087 |9,335 |-35
1992-93 |34,141 |16,970 |+82
Note: British Aid Statistics changed to reporting on a financial year
basis
from 1987.
Column 726
Assisted Capital Projects
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish all Overseas Development Administration assisted capital projects over £5 million in value by country and purpose.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Consultants and Accountants
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department has with Price Waterhouse ; and what is their value.
Mr. Ancram : Current contracts with Price Waterhouse are : Pilot market test of typing services.
Pilot market test of messengers.
Review of the existing financial systems within Estate Services Division (DHSS) and reporting on the necessary adjustments to satisfy market testing and possible agency status.
Efficiency scrutiny and evaluation of "Relate (NI)".
Option appraisal to identify best way forward for value for money audit work.
Follow-up of a number of value for money studies at selected hospital sites.
Assisting DHSS develop a strategic approach to personnel management.
Preparation-monitoring monthly financial position of a client company of IDB.
Financial company appraisal of Mivan Windows.
Preparation of a strategic plan for a Local Enterprise Agency. Business review of Extern.
In order to safeguard commercial confidentiality, the value of the contracts cannot be disclosed.
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the contracts that his Department has with (a) consultants and (b) accountants.
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Mr. Ancram : The information required is not available from all Departments in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, current contracts under general headings are :
|Consultants|Accountants
-----------------------------------------------------------
Capital works |260 |Nil
General management |195 |34
Information technology |20 |10
Privatisation |12 |8
Next Steps |Nil |1
Others |59 |3
Animal Health
Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to ensure that imports of livestock do not erode the animal health status of the Province.
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