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Mr. Eggar: The Council considered several issues and received reports from the Commission on matters of interest. Significant progress was made on electricity liberalisation, the energy charter treaty and deregulation. I represented the United Kingdom. Council conclusions on electricity liberalisation were agreed establishing a number of important principles, notably the introduction of competition in generation, and the unbundling of accounts. It also required the Commission to undertake a thorough study of the alternative sole purchaser model as a possible equivalent to negotiated third party access.

I stressed the UK's commitment to opening up energy markets and emphasised the importance of access to networks and of allowing distributors, as well as large industrial users, to choose suppliers.

The Council reached political agreement on a list of projects of common European interest for energy trans-European networks in preparation for a formal


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decision on the energy network guidelines once the opinion of the European Parliament has been received. This is expected shortly. Council conclusions were agreed calling for the commission to submit a green paper on the need for a Community energy policy and continue dialogue with member states and industry representatives. The green paper is now expected to be issued later this month. I attach particular importance to the close involvement of industry in the continuing debate on this issue and my Department will maintain close contact with UK industry.

Council conclusions on the energy charter treaty were agreed noting its importance and calling for the Community to sign the treaty in Lisbon on 16 and 17 December. I welcome the progress made towards the completion of this important Community initiative, which will open up important trade and investment opportunities for British business in the independent states of the former Soviet Union and countries of central and eastern Europe.

The Council adopted conclusions on energy deregulation which called upon the Commission to review existing legislation in the energy sector, and to submit where appropriate proposals for simplifying and reducing it.

The Council called for further consideration to be undertaken of a Commission proposal for Thermie II, which is concerned with support for the demonstration and dissemination of results of near-market energy technology projects.

The Commission was requested to submit proposals on energy efficiency standards for fridges and freezers.

There were no formal votes by the Council.

Insolvency Service

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the costs of the Stoy Hayward reports on the Insolvency Service mentioned in his answer of 1 November, Official Report , columns 1018 19 , remain confidential; and to what extent they have been disclosed in response to inquiries.

Mr. Jonathan Evans: The answer given on1 November, Official Report , columns 1018 19 , referred to the indicative costs given by the organisations which responded to Stoy Hayward. Although the detail of those responses remains confidential, the range of them has been disclosed to the departmental and agency trade union side. The range was:


Price (£)             |Type of firm|Type of work             

-------------------------------------------------------------

2,250-2,500           |Accountancy |From order               

5,200 (Companies)     |Accountancy |From order               

1,750 + disbursements |Accountancy |From order               

600 + disbursements   |Accountancy |From order               

2,000                 |Accountancy |From order               

500 + disbursements   |Accountancy |From order               

960-1,340             |Accountancy |From order               

Steel Imports

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount in tonnage and in cash terms of steel coil and steel slabs imported into the United Kingdom in 1993 and in 1994.


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Mr. Charles Wardle: The information is in the table.


UK Imports of Steel Coils and Slabs                                     

             1993                    January-June 1994                  

                                                                        

            |£ million  |'000 tonnes|£ million  |'000 tonnes            

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steel coils |358.0      |934.8      |164.6      |470.4                  

Steel slabs |4.6        |4.7        |3.7        |3.1                    

Source:                                                                 

Eurostat.                                                               

Advisory Bodies

Mr. Harvey: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's response to each subject of advice from the Advisory Committee on Arbitration Law listed in his answer of 26 October, Official Report, column 649.

Mr. Heseltine: The only publication mentioned in my answer of 26 October, Official Report, column 649, was the consultation document published by my Department in co-operation with the departmental Advisory Committee on Arbitration Law. That consultation document was issued by Government. There is therefore no Government response to be made.

Arbitration Bill

Mr. Harvey: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the timetable for consultation on the draft Arbitration Bill.

Mr. Heseltine: My Department issued a consultation document on the draft Arbitration Bill on 3 February 1994. The deadline for responses was extended from 30 June as stated in the document to 31 July 1994.

Ministerial Speeches

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what occasions since 1979 civil servants in his Department have been asked to draft speeches of a constituency nature for use in a Minister's own constituency.

Mr. Heseltine: None. Civil servants may provide briefing of a factual nature for Ministers on matters relating to their own Departments. In addition, Ministers, in preparing for a constituency speech, can draw on material produced by their Department during the normal course of business.

Hartburn Property Services

Mr. Devlin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps his northern regional office is taking to assist Hartburn Property Services of Stockton-on-Tees to expand and move premises.

Mr. Ian Taylor: Mr. P. Leng of T/A Hartburn Property Services submitted an application for a regional enterprise grant to the Government office for the north-east on 22 July 1994. A grant offer was made on 5 August 1994 and accepted by the applicant on 15 August 1994. The company's first claim is currently awaited.

Dual-use Goods and Techniques

Mr. Cousins: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the operational


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annexes to the intergovernmental decision on the control of exports of dual-use goods and techniques by the EU.

Mr. Ian Taylor: I shall do so when the intergovernmental decision, and the annexes which it covers, have been formally adopted by all member states. Adoption is expected shortly.

Disabled People

Mr. McNamara: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated agencies for each of the next five years for, and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objectives of, the programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity in the civil service for disabled people.

Mr. Ian Taylor: The needs of staff with disabilities are taken fully into account in designing personnel and other policies affecting staff generally. It is therefore difficult to separate out budgetary and staffing figures in the way requested.

However, the DTI has an annual budget of currently £18,000 for 1994 95 to help fund the cost of specialist non-IT equipment for disabled staff in HQ division and Government offices. The Department also meets the cost of other needs where appropriate--for example, specialist IT equipment, adaptions to buildings. The Accounts Services Agency, the Insolvency Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory fund these costs for their staff. This is in addition to financial assistance available to disabled staff from the Department of Employment's access to work scheme.

The number of staff allocated to achieve the objective of the programme of action cannot be fully estimated, since successful implementation will require the commitment not only of equal opportunities staff but of other specialists--for example, recruiters-trainers and individual line managers- -throughout the organisation. However, the equivalent of 3.9 full-time staff are currently employed directly on equal opportunities work, including disability issues.

The chief executives of Companies House, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years.

Mr. Ian Taylor: Historical data on the number of disabled staff employed by the Department, including its executive agencies, were published in the magazine "Independent" on Friday 18 March 1994. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

The Department--including Accounts Services Agency, the Insolvency Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory--employs 253 disabled staff who have chosen to declare their disability. This represents 3.1 per cent. of total staff.

Although the Department does not produce projections for its future employment of disabled people, it is


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committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all, whether employees or job applicants.

The chief executives of Companies House, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency will write to the hon. Member. Letter from David Durham to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994:

You recently tabled two Parliamentary Questions for priority written answer, and I have been asked to respond direct to you as Chief Executive of Companies House Executive Agency.

PQ 32N: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated agencies for each of the next five years; and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme of Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service for Disabled People.


Estimate X 5 years                      

          |Years 1-2|Years 2-5          

----------------------------------------

1-Grade 7 |5        |2.5                

1-HEO     |10       |15.0               

1-HEO     |20       |10.0               

There is no separate budget but elements are incorporated into other section budgets.

PQ 33N: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years.

The record of disabled employees at Companies House for the past five years is not available.

The employment of registered and non-registered staff with disabilities as at October 1994 is 2.7 per cent. (actuals 29). Projected figures are not available, but Companies House is committed to improving on present figures and will strive to meet any new targets set by Government. The Agency will continue to ensure that all applicants with disabilities are given equal opportunities to apply and compete for employment.

Letter from W. Edgar to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994:

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS: EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS

In response to your two questions to Departments, the records for this Agency shows:-

(i) Three disabled people are currently employed here, 1.2 per cent. of the total staff.

(ii) On the subject of Equal Opportunity, the Agency is committed to the programmes of its parent Department, the DTI. Agency Personnel staff have responsibilities as Equal Opportunities Officers. One Higher Executive Officers spends about 5 per cent. of her time on such matters, supervised by a Gd. 7.

Letter from Dr. Peter Clapham to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994:

I am writing in response to your questions to the President of the Board of Trade regarding (i) the number and percentage of disabled people employed by DTI and its Agencies over the past five years: and the projected figures for the next five years, and (ii) the budget allocated by DTI and its Agencies over the next five years: and the number of staff or staff hours equivalent that have been allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme for Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service for the Disabled People.

(i) The National Physical Laboratory currently employs 33 disabled staff who have chosen to declare their disability. This represents 4.7 per cent. of the Laboratory's total staff.

NPL has only recently taken on delegated responsibility for equal opportunities, including disability issues, and it is not possible to


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break down previous years' figures on an Agency basis. I understand that DTI centrally will be providing details of the overall Departmental position for 1990 1993.

Whilst the Laboratory does not produce projections for its future employment of those with a disability it is committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all, whether employees or job applicants.

(ii) The needs of disabled staff are taken fully into account in designing personnel and other policies affecting staff generally. It is, therefore, difficult to separate out budgetary and staffing figures in the way requested.

Expenditure in support of the Programme for Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service for Disabled People includes cost elements associated with, for example, training, special equipment, and modification of buildings and accommodation and cannot be disaggregated. This is in addition to financial assistance available to disabled staff from the Department of Employment's "Access to Work" scheme.

The number of staff or staff hours equivalent to be allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme for Action cannot be estimated, since successful implementation will require the commitment not only of equal opportunities officers but also of other human resource specialists, recruitment and training officers and individual line managers throughout the Laboratory.

I hope the above provides the information you require. Letter from P.R.S. Hartnack to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994:

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS NUMBERS 32N AND 33N

I refer to the above questions which the President of the Board of Trade has passed to me in order to answer on behalf of the Patent Office, an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. DTI has already provided a reply in respect of historical data on disabled staff but I can add that 28 members of Patent Office staff, representing 3.05 per cent. of the total, have chosen to declare their disability. Projected figures are unavailable but the Agency is committed to achieving equal opportunity for all, whether employees or applicants.

The Patent Office does not have a separate budget specifically for the Programme of Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity for Disabled People and as any expenditure in support of it includes cost elements associated with training, accommodation, special equipment, modification of buildings etc it cannot be disaggregated.

Likewise the number of staff or staff hours equivalent allocated to achieve the Programme's objectives cannot be estimated, since successful implementation will require the commitment of not only equal opportunities staff but also of line managers and other specialist staff. 15 per cent. of the equivalent of a full time member of staff is, however, devoted to equal opportunities issues within this Agency.

Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 5 December 1994:

EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PEOPLE

I am replying on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your two written questions to the President of the Board of Trade about the employment of disabled people.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years.

Of the 544 staff currently employed in the Agency there are 17 registered and non-registered disabled staff who have chosen to declare their disability. This represents 3.1 per cent. of total staff.

The Agency only received responsibility from the Department of Trade and Industry for equal opportunity matters on 1 October and we do not therefore have any historical information of our own. I understand that DTI will provide you with figures on the past overall position of disabled staff in DTI for 1990 93.

We have not made any projections about the number of disabled staff which the Agency will employ over the next five years,


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however, the Agency is committed to achieving equality of opportunity in employment for all.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated Agencies for each of the next five years; and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme for Action to Achieve Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service for Disabled People.

You also asked about the budget for disabled staff, although we have not allocated a specific budget we do our best to meet any specialist needs for example equipment, building adaption. This is in addition to financial assistance available to disabled staff from the Department of Employment "Access to Work" scheme.

The number of staff or staff hours equivalent allocated to achieve the objective of the Programme for Action cannot be estimated since implementation will require the commitment not only of equal opportunity staff but also of other personnel and training staff and individual managers throughout the organisation. However, two staff in the Personnel Section work on equal opportunity matters for part of their time. They are charged with taking forward action in the Agency on all equal opportunities matters including those which affect disabled people.

Monopolies and Mergers Commission

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date he appointed Baroness Miller of Hendon as a member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; on whose recommendation she was appointed; what relevant experience she has for the appointment; what time she is expected to devote each month to her work in this capacity; what annual payment is made; what official meetings she has attended in each year since her appointment; and what relevant interests she has which may conflict with her work as a member of the commission.

Mr. Jonathan Evans: Baroness Miller of Hendon resigned as a member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission shortly after being made a life peer in 1993. She had originally been appointed on 3 March 1992 in view of her wide range of business experience. While at the commission, she made an important contribution by serving a number of inquiries working six days a month for an initial salary of £11,900. Before he appoints a member to serve on a particular inquiry, the chairman of the commission asks members to disclose any interests which might give rise to conflicts.

Video Games

Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he has received the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of video games, referred in January of this year; and if he will publish the report;

(2) what action he proposes to take in the light of the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of video games, with reference to the freedom to retail through any outlet, and import conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jonathan Evans: The Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of video games in the United Kingdom was received on 14 November 1994. The Department of Trade and Industry's publicly stated time scale for publication of monopoly reports is eight to 10 weeks. I will make an announcement once the report has been published.


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Labour Statistics

Mr. McNamara: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the reduction in the number of persons by grade and gender employed by his Department and associated offices and agencies, nationally and regionally over the next three years, as a result of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement of 29 November, indicating which branch, agency and region will be affected and stating his estimate of the number of job losses in each year which will be by (a) natural wastage, (b) voluntary redundancy and (c) compulsory redundancy; and what estimate he has made of the yearly total of savings in wages and associated costs as a result of these reductions in each Department, branch and agency.

Mr. Heseltine: The information requested is not yet available. The Department's staffing plans for 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 will be set out in the 1995 departmental report, to be published in late February-early March 1995.

The Government's aim has been, and will continue to be, that reductions in the size of the civil service should, as far as possible, be achieved without redundancies.

Dounreay

Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes there have been in funding for (a) the AEA Dounreay project and (b) the health physics surveyor team at Dounreay.

Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 30 November 1994]: The DTI provided funding of £48.6 million for the UKAEA Dounreay site in 1993 94. This consisted of £23.9 million for decommissioning and radioactive waste management, and £24.7 million for the prototype fast reactor programme. An additional £20.7 million income from electricity generation contributed to PFR operating costs. The anticipated DTI funding for the site in 1994 95 is about £67 million. This consists of £61 million for decommissioning and radioactive waste management, £5 million for nuclear site operations and £1 million for prototype fast reactor closure experiments. The size of the health physics team, hence its cost, is a management matter for the UKAEA.

Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) on what grounds there have been planned reductions in the health physics survey staff or team at Dounreay;

(2) what has been the size of the health physics monitoring shift team in the past two years; and what it will be from 1 January 1995.

Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answers 30 November 1994]: These are management matters for UKAEA.

Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will investigate the consequences for radiation safety at Dounreay of the proposed reduction in the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's monitoring programme.

Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 30 November 1994]: The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's health physics monitoring programme is set at a level which ensures the safety of the work force and the public. This activity is subjected to rigorous independent scrutiny


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by the regulators--the nuclear installations inspectorate and Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate, and I therefore see no grounds to investigate the current programme.

DEFENCE

Disabled People

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years.

Mr. Freeman: The number and percentage of registered disabled staff employed by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies over the past five years are set out below. Projected figures are not available.


Date                 |Number of registered|Percentage of total                      

                     |disabled staff<1>   |civilian staff<2>                        

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 July 1990          |1,209               |0.9                                      

1 July 1991          |1,163               |0.9                                      

1 July 1992          |1,103               |0.8                                      

1 July 1993          |1,366               |1.1                                      

1 July 1994          |1,317               |1.1                                      

<1> Part-time staff counted as half units.                                          

<2> In recent surveys, 3.7 per cent. of total MOD civilian staff recorded some form 

of disability for which they are not registered.                                    

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated agencies for each of the next five years; and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objectives of the programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity in the civil service for disabled people.

Mr. Freeman: Responsibility for achieving the objectives of the programme for action is widely spread among staff in the Ministry of Defence. Those involved include: policy staff, personnel managers, trainers, building managers, welfare officers, a network of assistant disabled persons liaison officers and line managers and colleagues of staff with disabilities. It is therefore impossible to quantify the number of staff hours expended on this work. For the same reason, it is not possible to identify the costs involved.

Labour Statistics

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the reduction in the number of persons by grade and gender employed by his Department and associated offices and agencies, nationally and regionally over the next three years, as a result of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement of 29 November, indicating which branch, agency and region will be affected and stating his estimate of the number of job losses in each year which will be by (a) natural wastage, (b) voluntary redundancy and (c) compulsory redundancy; and what estimate he has made of the yearly total of savings in wages and associated costs as a result of these reductions in each Department, branch and agency.


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Mr. Freeman: The information requested is not yet available. My Department's staffing plans for 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 will be set out in the departmental report, to be published early next year. The Government's aim has been, and will continue to be, that reductions in the size of the civil service should, as far as possible, be achieved without redundancies.

Market Testing

Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the projected annual savings as a result of the market testing of health provision for British forces services; and if will make a statement.

Mr. Soames: We are currently considering what activities related to health provision should be subjected to competition. We expect that, where we decide to compete activities, annual savings of at least 15 per cent. should be achievable.

United States Bases

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who attended a meeting, called by officials in his Department on 22 September, which discussed incursions at United States bases in the United Kingdom and United Kingdom concerns about actions taken by American security police on bases in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames: This was a private meeting between representatives of the United Kingdom and United States Governments.


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