House of Commons Hansard Debates for 23 May 1994

Mr. Hanley [holding answer 28 January 1994] : The members of the Dartmoor steering group and working party are as follows : Sir Anthony Barrowclough Kt QC (Chairman)

Mr. P. L. Combes

Councillor R. A. Cook

Lieutenant General A. A. Dennison-Smith MBE

Mr. P. D. Girling

Mr. R. F. T. Halliday

Mr. N. J. Neath

Mr. R. Iles

Mr. H. Kirby

Dr. D. J. Townshend

Colonel J. G. O'N Wells-Cole OBE

Councillor J. P. Wigmore

Mr. Kilfoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the independent board of visitors for military corrective training centre and Royal Navy detention quarters.

Mr. Hanley [holding answer 28 January 1994] : The members of the independent board of visitors for the military corrective training centre and the Royal Navy detention quarters are as follows : Mr. C. P. Barlow

Miss M. Beattie, MBE, JP, DL

Mr. J. Cann, MP

Mr. J. Denham, MP

Mr. P. Holmes, JP, FCIS

Mr. Lindsey, JP

Mr. D. Martin, MP

Mr. J. W. Pettinger

Mr. T. W. Souter, Dip TP, FRTPI

Mrs. J. Tweed, JP

Brigadier J. Whitehead (Retired)

Dr. D. Withnall, MBBD, MRCGP

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Imphal Barracks

Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 April, Official Report, column 394, about the number of square feet of office space of Imphal barracks to be released by the move of Army manning and records offices to Glasgow, what is the notional rental value of this office space per square foot ; and what is the notional rental value per square foot of the new office accommodation for Army manning and records staff in Glasgow.

Mr. Hanley [holding answer 12 May 1994] : The office accommodation at Imphal barracks is located within the barrack area and, for security reasons, it could not therefore be leased or otherwise disposed of. The question of a notional rental value is therefore not relevant. The investment appraisal for the Army personnel centre did, however, include an opportunity cost, which represented a notional rental value for that part of Kentigern house which would otherwise have been occupied by the APC. Because of commercial confidentiality, this figure cannot be released.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

ECOCON Ventures

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Ministers in his Department met representatives of ECOCON Ventures and on what dates, in the last 12 months.

Mr. Heseltine : No such meetings have taken place.

Insolvency Service

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date Stoy Hayward Consulting was given copies of documentation on the privatisation of (a) the Insolvency Service and (b) all other Government services.

Mr. Heseltine : Stoy Hayward carried out a study of the potential for involving the private sector more in the mechanical, processing tasks of official receivers following an invitation to bid issued in July 1993. Its remit did not extend to any other Government services.

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when reports on the privatisation of the Insolvency Service were made available by his Department to Ian Greer Associates.

Mr. Heseltine : Stoy Hayward produced a report relating to the Insolvency Service. My Department did not make this available to Ian Greer Associates. A summary of the report was supplied to Insolvency Service staff and trade unions and was placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It has also been made available for public inspection in the DTI's Library.

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions have taken place between Ministers and representatives of Ian Greer Associates on the question of the privatisation of the Insolvency Service and other Government services.

Mr. Heseltine : No discussions have taken place between Ministers in the DTI and representatives of Ian

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Greer Associates on the question of private sector involvement in the work of the Insolvency Service. Nor, as far as I am aware, have any such discussions taken place in relation to any other Government services.

Mr. Fraser : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now place in the Library the consultants' report on the privatisation of the Insolvency Service.

Mr. Heseltine : The purpose of Stoy Hayward's study was to examine the ways in which official receivers may concentrate more on their investigatory role by involving the private sector to a greater extent in the mechanical processing work in insolvencies. I do not propose to place the full consultants' report in the Library of the House. The summary already in the Library of the House has been agreed by Stoy Hayward as a fair reflection of its report.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all those organisations (a) inside and (b) outside Government that have had sight of his Department's report on the future of the Insolvency Service.

Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 18 May 1994] : The full report of Stoy Hayward's work on the potential for involving the private sector more in the mechanical, processing tasks of official receivers was seen by DTI Ministers and their immediate staff ; relevant Insolvency Service and DTI officials ; members of the agency steering board ; and relevant Ministers and officials in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and HM Treasury.

A summary of the report was placed in the Libraries of both Houses and also in DTI's library for inspection.

Coal Research Establishment

Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has regarding the future of the Coal Research Establishment ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar : The future of the Coal Research Establishment is a matter for British Coal.

Atomic Energy Authority

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the prospects of privatising the National Environmental Technology centre in the light of the conclusions of the privatisation review of the Atomic Energy Authority.

Mr. Eggar : I announced on 17 February 1994, Official Report, columns 922-24, the Government's intention to privatise the business activities in the AEA's new commercial division--since renamed "AEA Technology"--and that decisions on the form of privatisation would be taken in due course. The National Environmental Technology centre is part of AEA Technology and, as such, is included within the terms of that announcement.

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what the closure of Warren Springs laboratory and creation of the National Environmental Technology centre has cost to date.

Mr. Heseltine : The final accounts for Warren Spring Laboratory are in preparation however the net result to date of the closure of the Stevenage site and the creation of the National Environmental Technology centre is expected to be a benefit to the Exchequer of £11 million.

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Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total volume of radioactive waste delivered, in each year since 1979, to (a) AEA Technology and (b) British Nuclear Fuels sites under the Radioactive Substances (Waste Closed Sources) Exemption Order 1962.

Mr. Eggar : The volumes of these wastes received by UKAEA under the national disposal service between 1979 and 1993 were :


Year         |Cubic metres             
---------------------------------------
1979         |6.00                     
1980         |6.00                     
1981         |6.00                     
1982         |6.00                     
1983         |6.00                     
1984         |7.86                     
1985         |4.23                     
1986         |7.02                     
1987         |6.01                     
1988         |5.43                     
1989         |5.24                     
1990         |2.67                     
1991         |7.45                     
1992         |13.90                    
1993         |20.02

BNFL has received about 0.05 cubic metres of such wastes over the whole of the period.

Competition

Mr. Etherington : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his departmental officials last met representatives of the European Commissioner responsible for competition ; and what matters were discussed.

Mr. Neil Hamilton : My officials are in regular and frequent contact with the competition directorate-general of the European Commission to discuss a wide range of issues.

Inquiries

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when the inspectors to inquire into the affairs of Medway Secondary Metals Ltd. were appointed ; when their inquiry was completed ; what are the business connections of the inspectors ; what is the cost of the investigation ; how it has been disbursed to each inspector ; what reports have been published ; and when he will publish the final reports ;

(2) when the inspectors to inquire into the affairs of British Anzani plc were appointed ; when their inquiry was completed ; what are the business connections of the inspectors ; what is the cost of the investigation ; how it has been disbursed to each inspector ; what reports have been published ; and when he will publish the final reports ;

(3) when the inspectors to inquire into the affairs of Bank Street Securities Ltd. were appointed ; when their inquiry was completed ; what are the business connections of the inspectors ; what is the cost of the investigation ; how it has been disbursed to each inspector ; what reports have been published ; and when he will publish the final reports ;

(4) when the inspectors to inquire into the affairs of Link Service Stations Ltd. were appointed ; when their inquiry was completed ; what are the business connections

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of the inspectors ; what is the cost of the investigation ; how it has been disbursed to each inspector ; what reports have been published ; and when he will publish the final reports ;

(5) when the inspectors to inquire into the affairs of Graylaw Holdings Ltd. were appointed ; when their inquiry was completed ; what are the business connections of the inspectors ; what is the cost of the investigation ; how it has been disbursed to each inspector ; what reports have been published ; and when he will publish the final reports ;

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Mr. Neil Hamilton : Elizabeth Appleby, QC and Peter Wilfred Foss, FCA of Moores Rowland were appointed inspectors in all the companies referred to by the hon. Member. The additional information requested by the hon. Member appears in the table. The same inspectors were also appointed in a related company, Pennine Commercial Holdings plc, where because of criminal proceedings, no final report has yet been signed. When the Pennine Commercial Holdings report has been completed, publication of all reports will be considered.

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Company                                      |Date of appointment |Date of report                           
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link Service Stations Ltd.                   |11 March 1983       |28 November 1989                         
Graylaw Holdings Ltd.                        |11 March 1983       |28 November 1989                         
British Anzanie plc                          |11 March 1983       |28 November 1986                         
Bank Street Securities                       |4 October 1983                                                
Medway Secondary Metals Ltd.                 |16 February 1984    |21 October 1987

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the inspectors to inquire into the affairs of Euroseas Securities Ltd. were appointed ; when their inquiry was completed ; what are the business connections of the inspectors ; what is the cost of the investigation ; how it has been disbursed to each inspector ; what reports have been published ; and when he will publish the final reports.

Mr. Neil Hamilton : Mr. M. A. F. Lyndon Stanford QC and Mr. B. A. Kemp FCA of Saffery Champness were appointed on 4 September 1980. They reported on 5 March 1985 and it was decided in 1987 not to publish their report. The cost of the inspection was £399,741. A breakdown of this figure is no longer available.

Imports (China)

Mr. Flynn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what goods or materials the United Kingdom Government import from China.

Mr. Needham : Information on United Kingdom imports from China is regularly published in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom." Copies of this publication are available in the Library of the House. Sources of purchases by the Government are not monitored.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice or information he has given United Kingdom companies importing from China about the use of labour camps in the production of Chinese goods and materials.

Mr. Needham : I have given no specific advice or information. However, with limited exceptions, the importation into the United Kingdom of goods produced in any foreign prison or like establishment is banned by the Foreign Prison-Made Goods Act 1897, as amended in 1988. Enforcement of the Act is a matter for HM Customs and Excise, which depends on receiving sufficient evidence, specific to the consignment concerned.

Small Company Audit

Mr. Stern : To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to issue regulations in respect of the abolition of the small company audit ; and when they will come into effect.

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Mr. Neil Hamilton : My Department has issued a draft of the statutory instrument and invited public comment on the text by 10 June 1994. We intend the legislation to enter into force this summer.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

National Railway Museum

4. Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement about the recent departure of the head of the national railway museum.

Mr. Sproat : The National Heritage Act 1983 lays the responsibility for the management of the national museum of science and industry on its trustees. The new head of the national railway museum, Mr. Andrew Scott, has now been appointed, and I wish him and the museum every success.

D-day

17. Mr. Hawkins : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what arrangements are being made to support the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of D-day in the north of England, with particular reference to the recognition of the role played by men of Lancashire regiments in the invasion.

Mr. Sproat : My Department has been in regular touch with the D-day committee in Blackpool to discuss promotion of its commemorative events. These were included in the list of D-day events published at the launch in April of the nationwide programme of popular events.

Tourism

18. Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations he has had about improving training for jobs in the tourist industry ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sproat : Department of National Heritage Ministers and officials regularly consult with the tourism industry, the English tourist board and other relevant bodies on all tourism issues, including training. Indeed, as my hon. Friend is aware, I met the chairman of the Academy of Food and Wine service earlier this year to

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learn more about the open learning material that it has developed to train those working within the hospitality industry.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy for tourism ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sproat : The objectives of the Government's tourism policy are, as set out in my Department's annual report, to create the conditions which will encourage inward and domestic tourism so that the industry can make its full contribution to the economy ; and increase opportunities for access to our culture and heritage.

Gardening

19. Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what help and encouragement his Department gives to the promotion of gardening as (a) a leisure pursuit and (b) part of the nation's heritage.

Mr. Sproat : Gardening is one of the most popular leisure pursuits. The Department has responsibility, through the Royal Parks Agency, for the royal parks, which contain some nationally famous gardens, providing inspiration, if not help and encouragement, to the gardener.

English Heritage maintains a register of historic parks and gardens and provides grants for their conservation. My Department is also grant-aiding projects being undertaken by the Garden History Society and the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.

Orchestral Concerts

20. Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for National heritage how many regional orchestral concerts he has attended.

Mr. Brooke : Over the past two years I have had the pleasure of attending 11 orchestral concerts in London and around the country. Only this month, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary attended a concert in Liverpool which he greatly enjoyed.

Cross-media Ownership

21. Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for reviewing the regulations governing cross- media ownership ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke : I announced on 3 January that I would be reviewing the rules which restrict cross-media ownership. Officials will make recommendations to Ministers this summer. The timing of an announcement about the outcome will depend on a number of factors, including the nature of those recommendations and any legislative implications.

Television Licences (Pensioners)

22. Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what most recent consultations he has had over the television licence fee for pensioners.

Mr. Brooke : The Government have historically received a number of requests for pensioners to be given free or reduced-rate television licences, regardless of the

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ability to pay. The Government are sympathetic to pensioners but do not consider the licence fee a suitable instrument of social policy.

Sport (Disabled People)

23. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what role his Department is undertaking in promoting sport for the disabled.

Mr. Sproat : In 1993-94, the Sports Council provided grants totalling £469,000 to the British Paralympic Association, the British Sports Association for the Disabled and the United Kingdom Sports Association for People with Mental Handicap. The council also works closely with the governing bodies of sport to assist them to become more involved in this area of sport. In addition, disabled sport has benefited from a number of sportsmatch grants.

Press Regulation

24. Sir David Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he proposes to publish his White Paper on the regulation of the press.

Mr. Brooke : As soon as we have completed our consideration of the issues surrounding the proposed civil remedy and criminal offences. I cannot yet say when that will be.

Museums and Galleries

25. Mr. Spring : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he collates regarding visitor satisfaction with the national museums and galleries.

Mr. Sproat : Information on levels of satisfaction of visitors to the national museums and galleries is collected by the institutions themselves. My Department does not routinely collect such data. I was, however, pleased to learn from the 1993 National Audit Office report "Quality of Service at the National Museums and Galleries" that, at the five national museums and galleries examined, the overall quality of service was high : 98 per cent. of the visitors surveyed were satisfied or very satisfied.

Mr. Cormack : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what improvements have been made to the national galleries in the last six months.

Mr. Sproat : All the national museums and galleries sponsored by my Department undertake a continuous programme of improvements. Notable among the many improvements which have taken place over the past six months are the opening of a new archive and library extension and new gallery at the national portrait gallery, the completion of the latest phase of re-roofing of the Waterhouse building housing the natural history museum, the opening of the new glass gallery at the Victoria and Albert museum and the recently completed phase of stonework and roof repairs at the British museum.

In addition, all national museums and galleries strive continuously to improve their services to visitors, collection management and general efficiency.

Further information on the activities of each of the national museums and galleries is published in my Department's annual report and in the triennial reports published by the institutions themselves.

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