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Flooding, Glasgow
Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help is available from the social fund to people on income support who have suffered loss and damage as a result of the recent flooding in the Glasgow area; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Roger Evans: Disaster relief following flooding is essentially a matter for the relevant local authority. However, crisis loans can be made available through the social fund to help individuals in such circumstances. Community care grants are also available to help those who might otherwise be in danger of going into care; or to families who find themselves under exceptional pressure. Applications to the social fund are dealt with by specially trained social fund officers who look carefully at the individual circumstances surrounding each application and use discretion and flexibility when forming their decisions. I would expect the majority of any flood applications to the social fund to be dealt with under normal procedures. Up until 14 December a total of 311 social fund awards had been made to people in the Glasgow area who have been affected by the severe flooding, at a cost of £20,102. The majority of awards were for community care grants. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security proposes to make a social fund in-year allocation of £120,000 to the district offices affected. This will enable reimbursement of the additional expenditure already made and make available an extra £80,000 in grants and £20,000 in loans.
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ATTORNEY-GENERAL
M11 Link Road
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Attorney-General what role the Treasury Solicitors had in relation to official action against protestors on the M11 link road route; and what was the cost.
The Attorney-General: The Treasury Solicitor, on behalf of the Department of Transport, has taken proceedings against certain persons to restrain them from trespassing upon land required for the M11 link road and from trespass to the contractors' plant and machinery. The proceedings are not concluded and have to date cost approximately £222,000.
TRANSPORT
Empty Property
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make use of his Department's empty residential property.
Mr. Watts: My Department acquires land and property, including residential property, as a consequence of the Secretary of State's duties as a highway authority. Our policy is to keep to a minimum the number of properties standing empty at any time by letting, normally at full market rent, until road construction starts. Properties on the line of the road are demolished and those properties identified as surplus are released back into the housing market at the earliest possible date.
As announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) on 30 November in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field), Official Report , columns 732 34 , during the current financial year my Department plans to reduce by more than half the number of residential properties standing empty on 1 April 1994.
Ministerial Train Journeys
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train journeys of one hour's duration or more he has made in Britain in 1994 in the course of his official duties.
Dr. Mawhinney: Whenever it is appropriate I travel by train to official engagements.
Information on individual journeys and the times taken could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (i) hold open meetings, (ii) conduct public consultation exercises, (iii) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (iv) publish a register of members' interests, (v) publish agendas for meetings and (vi) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether this is in each case (a) under a statutory requirement or (b) voluntary.
Mr. Norris: My Department currently has two active advisory non- departmental public bodies--the Disabled
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Persons' Transport Advisory Committee and the Street Works Advisory Committee. The answer in respect of these is:(i) none;
(ii) DPTAC has conducted public consultation exercises; (iii) participation in the consultation exercises at (ii) has included bodies with outside commercial interests;
(iv) none;
(v) none;
(vi) none.
The Consultations referred to at (ii) and (iii) were voluntary.
M4
Sir Anthony Durant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his oral answer on 21 November, Official Report , columns 325 26 in respect of the contractor's proposals for continuous day and night closures, what arrangements he has agreed for the closure of the M4 to facilitate the construction of a motorway service area at Reading.
Dr. Mawhinney: The Highways Agency has, with my agreement, approved the closure of the M4 in the Reading area for about four hours within a period of six hours between 11pm and 5am on the nights of 27 28 and 28 29 December. This is for reasons of public safety while beams for a new bridge are lifted into place. There will
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be a further need for closure in the spring when the existing bridge is to be demolished. I am pleased that we have been able to avoid any day-time closures and to limit night-time closures to short periods in the quiet week after Christmas.EDUCATION
School Exclusions
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to introduce a national system to monitor exclusions from school.
Mr. Forth: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 25 November, Official Report, column 395.
Pupils
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was (a) the total number of pupils at each aged between two and 19 years and (b) the percentage of those educated in independent schools at each age for each year since 1989 90.
Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested is shown in the table.
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Number and percentage of pupils in independent schools-1990-1994 position in January each year
Age<1> 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
(Provisional)
Number of pupils Percentage Number of pupils Percentage Number of pupils Percentage Number of pupils Percentage Number of pupils Percent
000's of pupils 000's of pupils 000's of pupils 000's of pupils 000's of pupils
|in |in |in |in |in
|All |independent schools |All schools<2> |Independent |independent schools |All schools<2> |Independent |independent schools |All schools<2> |Independent |independent schools |All schools<2> |Independent |independent schools
|schools<2>Independent |schools<3> |schools<3> |schools<3> |schools<3>
|schools<3>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19+over |2.2 |1.3 |58 |2.3 |1.3 |56 |2.6 |1.4 |54 |2.9 |1.6 |53 |2.9 |1.6 |54
18 |13.7 |4.4 |32 |14.8 |4.7 |31 |15.9 |4.5 |28 |16.4 |4.8 |29 |17.3 |5.2 |30
17 |128.3 |32.7 |25 |130.1 |33.4 |26 |135.3 |33.5 |25 |139.1 |33.6 |24 |139.7 |33.2 |24
16 |181.8 |38.4 |21 |185.6 |37.8 |20 |195.3 |37.9 |19 |195.8 |36.5 |19 |192.4 |36.7 |19
15 |595.9 |48.8 |8 |567.6 |48.5 |9 |544.4 |46.8 |9 |522.8 |46.4 |9 |532.9 |47.0 |9
14 |571.9 |48.4 |8 |549.7 |47.1 |9 |529.4 |47.0 |9 |540.5 |47.5 |9 |586.3 |49.0 |8
13 |549.5 |46.9 |9 |529.3 |47.1 |9 |540.7 |48.0 |9 |587.5 |49.0 |8 |604.7 |48.2 |8
12 |527.9 |46.0 |9 |539.9 |47.6 |9 |586.6 |49.7 |8 |604.4 |48.5 |8 |597.6 |46.5 |8
11 |538.7 |47.2 |9 |585.7 |49.5 |8 |603.3 |49.7 |8 |596.7 |47.2 |8 |586.2 |45.2 |8
10 |585.2 |38.5 |7 |603.2 |39.1 |6 |596.0 |38.0 |6 |585.9 |36.2 |6 |590.6 |35.0 |6
9 |602.0 |36.5 |6 |595.7 |36.0 |6 |585.3 |34.9 |6 |589.8 |33.9 |6 |589.9 |33.0 |6
8 |595.0 |33.4 |6 |585.2 |32.9 |6 |589.7 |32.4 |5 |589.3 |31.7 |5 |611.8 |31.8 |5
7 |584.2 |29.8 |5 |589.8 |30.0 |5 |588.9 |30.1 |5 |611.6 |30.1 |5 |614.7 |29.4 |5
6 |588.7 |26.8 |5 |588.7 |27.8 |5 |611.1 |28.4 |5 |614.4 |27.8 |5 |628.8 |28.1 |4
5 |588.1 |26.8 |5 |611.1 |28.1 |5 |613.8 |27.9 |5 |628.2 |27.7 |4 |648.2 |28.0 |4
4 |548.5 |28.0 |5 |563.7 |28.9 |5 |579.9 |28.9 |5 |603.8 |29.2 |5 |605.5 |28.4 |5
3 |244.6 |18.8 |8 |258.4 |19.4 |8 |271.2 |19.9 |7 |278.2 |20.1 |7 |290.5 |20.8 |7
2 |34.2 |6.3 |18 |36.1 |6.9 |19 |35.5 |6.9 |19 |39.7 |7.6 |19 |42.2 |8.1 |19
<1> Ages at previous 31st August each year.
<2> Includes pupils in maintained nursery, primary, secondary (excluding sixth form colleges) and special schools, non-maintained special schools and independent schools including City Technology Colleges and direct grant nursery schools.
<3> Includes City Technology Colleges and direct grant nursery schools.
Pupils
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils who obtained five or more A to C or five or more A to G grades at GCSE one or more years before reaching the 15-year-old age group were no longer at the same school at the time of the January pupil count in 1993 94; and what percentage this is of all pupils gaining those grades.
Mr. Robin Squire: During the preparation of the 1994 performance tables, the following information was provided by schools. The number of 15 -year-old pupils who obtained five or more A*-C grades at GCSE one or more years before reaching the 15-year-old age group, and who were no longer on the roll of the same school at the time of the January pupil count, was 203. This is 0.09 per cent. of all
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15-year-old pupils gaining those grades. The corresponding figures for 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more A*-G grades was 252, 0.06 per cent. of all 15-year-old pupils gaining those grades.Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department (a) hold open meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether this is in each case (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary.
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Mr. Boswell: No advisory non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by this Department.
TREASURY
Pensioners
Sir Andrew Bowden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people over the age of 65 years are liable for income tax at each of the lower, basic and higher rates, in the current financial year.
Sir George Young: Latest estimates for 1994 95 based on projections from the 1992 93 survey of personal incomes are given in the table. Only 30 per cent. of people aged 65 or over are liable to income tax.
|Number
|millions
------------------------------------------------------
Taxpayers aged 65 or over liable at
Lower rate only |1.1
Basic rate but not higher rate |1.8
Higher rate |0.1
|--------
All |3.0
Energy Expenditure
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Mr. Nelson: The information requested is as follows:
Year |Costs
|£ thousands
---------------------------------------------------
HM Treasury
1991-92 |405.2
1992-93 |300.0
1993-94 |318.1
No. 11 Downing street
1991-92 |18.8
1992-93 |10.3
1993-94 |9.7
Valuation Office
1991-92 |829.8
1992-93 |883.1
1993-94 |840.3
Central Statistical Office
1991-92 |285.9
1992-93 |286.1
1993-94 |284.9
Paymaster
1991-92 |281.6
1992-93 |264.6
1993-94 |236.6
Royal Mint
1991-92 |68
1992-93 |100
1993-94 |98
Building Societies
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue regulations under the Building Societies Act 1986 to prevent building societies from becoming banks unless provision is made to ensure that directors and senior management do not increase their salaries and participation in share option schemes for five years thereafter.
Mr. Nelson: No. Under the terms of the Building Societies Act 1986, a conversion has to be approved by the members of a society, subject to stringent turnout and voting requirements. In the transfer statement put to the members, the board must disclose details of how the remuneration, including share options, of directors and senior management of the society will be affected by the conversion.
Donkey Rides
Mr. Michael Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of his recent Budget statement as it applies to VAT on donkey rides on Cleethorpes beach.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: Since donkey rides are not a recognised form of public transport, even on Cleethorpes beach, they will continue to be subject to the standard rate of VAT.
Restaurant Meals
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been received in VAT levied on restaurant meals in the last three years for which figures are available.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: VAT arising from consumer spending is usually estimated from Central Statistical Office estimates of consumer spending. There are not separate figures for consumer spending on restaurant meals. The following figures for output tax paid by restaurants and cafe s, etc, for the years 1991 to 1993 give a rough indication:
Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1991 |554 1992 |523 1993 |481
VAT (Fuel)
Mr. Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct Customs and Excise officials to send a refund to Robert MacDonald of Gullet house, South Pool, Kingsbridge, of VAT charged at 17 per cent. for the kerosene delivered on 3 November for house central heating and hot water; and if he will make a statement about VAT on oil for domestic use.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: No. Customs has already confirmed to Mr. MacDonald that he was overcharged in error by his supplier. The normal operation of VAT means that his supplier will make the refund. All supplies of heating oil for domestic use are liable to VAT at 8 per cent.
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VAT (Palace of Westminster)
Sir Thomas Arnold: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules apply to the imposition of VAT on all goods and services, with particular reference to the sale of alcoholic beverages in the Palace of Westminster.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The normal ones. The Palace of Westminster is registered for VAT purposes and accounts for tax on all taxable supplies like any other registered trader.
Ministerial Train Journeys
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many train journeys of one hour's duration or more he has made in Britain in 1994 in the course of his official duties.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: Wherever it is sensible I travel by train to official engagements. Information on individual journeys and the times taken could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Inland Revenue
Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the next steps review of the Inland Revenue will commence.
Sir George Young: In April 1992, day-to-day responsibility for assessing and collecting the taxes for which the Inland Revenue is responsible and for providing support services to the Department was given to a number
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of executive offices. Each office agreed its own framework document, and all operate fully on next steps lines. In accordance with Government guidelines, a review of the executive office arrangements will begin in January 1995, with the aim of reporting to Ministers by 31 December 1995.The review will cover the evaluation of the executive offices' performance; reconsideration of the way that their functions are organised and delivered --by reference to the prior operations tests set out in the 1993 "Next Steps Review" (Cm 2430)--and the revision of their framework documents as appropriate. A similar review of the Valuation Office Agency, the revenue's only executive agency, has already been announced and began on 1 August 1994.
Comments and contributions from those who are interested in the Revenue and its work would be welcome and should be sent by 15 March 1995 to Mary Hay, Inland Revenue Next Steps Review, Room 25, New Wing, Somerset house, Strand, London WC2R 1LB.
Financial Statement and Budget Report"
Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make available revised versions of tables 1.5, 6.3 and 6.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" in the light of the measures he announced on 8 December.
Mr. Aitken: The revised tables as requested are as follows:
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Revised table 1.5: The public spending plans<1>: After changes announced on 8 December
£ billion
Estimated OutturNew plans Changes from
previous plans
|1994-95|1995-96|1996-97|1997-98|1994-95|1995-96|1996-97
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Control Total by department
Social Security<2> |70.4 |72.8 |76.0 |79.2 |1.5 |-0.2 |-0.3
Health |31.7 |33.0 |33.3 |34.1 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0
DOE-Local Government |29.9 |30.3 |30.9 |30.9 |0.0 |-0.5 |-1.5
DOE-Other |9.4 |8.7 |9.6 |8.6 |-0.1 |-0.6 |-0.6
Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland |28.3 |28.9 |29.3 |29.6 |0.0 |-0.4 |-0.6
Defence |22.5 |21.7 |21.9 |22.3 |-0.3 |-0.3 |-0.2
Education |10.5 |11.0 |11.2 |11.2 |0.0 |-0.2 |-0.2
Home Office |6.3 |6.4 |6.4 |6.6 |0.0 |-0.1 |-0.1
Transport |6.1 |4.4 |4.4 |5.1 |0.3 |-1.1 |-0.9
Other departments |23.6 |23.7 |23.2 |23.0 |0.8 |-0.3 |-0.5
Local Authority self-financed expenditure |11.9 |11.8 |12.0 |12.2 |1.0 |0.7 |0.8
Reserve |- |3.0 |5.7 |8.7 |-3.5 |-4.0 |-4.8
Adjustment |-1.0 |- |- |- |-1.0 |- |-
Control Total |249.6 |255.5 |262.8 |271.5 |-1.3 |-7.0 |-8.9
- real terms<3> |244.7 |242.6 |243.5 |246.0 |3.5 |-0.7 |-2.2
- real growth<4> |1.4 |-0.8 |0.4 |1.0
Cyclical social security |14.1 |14.0 |14.0 |14.4 |-0.7 |-1.5 |-2.2
Central Government debt interest |22.1 |24.5 |26.0 |26.2 |-0.4 |0.1 |0.4
Accounting adjustments |9.5 |10.7 |12.5 |12.7 |0.2 |0.2 |0.9
General Government Expenditure excluding privatisation proceeds |295.2 |304.8 |315.4 |324.8 |-2.1 |-8.3 |-9.8
- real terms<3> |289.4 |289.4 |292.1 |294.2 |3.6 |-0.7 |-1.9
- real growth<4> |2.3 |0.0 |0.9 |0.7 |- |- |-
- per cent. of GDP |43.50 |42.50 |41.75 |40.75 |- |- |-
<1> For definitions, rounding and other conventions, see notes in Annex A to Chapter 6.
<2> Excluding cyclical social security
<3> 1993-94 prices
<4> Per cent.
Table 6.3: The Control Total and general government expenditure (excluding privatisation proceeds)<1>
After measures announced on 8 December
£ million
Outturn EstimateNewutturn Changes from
plans/projections previous plans/
projections
|1993-94|1994-95|1995-96|1996-97|1997-98|1994-95|1995-96|1996-97
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Government Expenditure<2> |167,636|175,700|179,500|182,900|186,900|1,700 |-1,700 |-2,600
Local Authority Expenditure<3> |69,305 |73,400 |73,400 |74,700 |75,800 |1,400 |-500 |-1,100
Financing requirements of nationalised industries |4,447 |1,520 |-370 |-360 |80 |180 |-870 |-290
Reserve |- |- |3,000 |5,700 |8,700 |-3,500 |-4,000 |-4,800
Adjustment |- |-1,000 |- |- |- |-1,000 |- |-
Control Total |241,387|249,600|255,500|262,800|271,500|-1,300 |-7,000 |-8,900
Cyclical social security |14,333 |14,100 |14,000 |14,000 |14,400 |-700 |-1,500 |-2,200
Central Government debt interest |19,223 |22,100 |24,500 |26,000 |26,200 |-400 |100 |400
Accounting adjustments |8,020 |9,500 |10,700 |12,500 |12,700 |200 |200 |900
General Government Expenditure excluding privatisation proceeds |282,964|295,200|304,800|315,400|324,800|-2,100 |-8,300 |-9,800
GGE excluding privatisation proceeds as a per cent. of GDP |44.25 |43.50 |42.50 |41.75 |40.75 |-0.25 |-0.75 |-0.75
<1> For definitions, rounding and other conventions, see notes in Annex A to Chapter 6.
<2> Excluding cyclical social security.
<3> Comprises total central government support for local authorities and local authorities self-financed expenditure.
Revised Table 6.5 Control Total by department<1>: After measures announced on 8 December
£ million
|Outturn |Estimated Outturn |New plans |Changes from
|previous plans
|1993-94 |1994-95 |1995-96 |1996-97 |1997-98 |1994-95 |1995-96 |1996-97
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defence |22,757 |22,510 |21,720 |21,920 |22,320 |-260 |-300 |-200
Foreign Office |1,276 |1,440 |1,160 |1,160 |1,180 |310 |-10 |-10
Overseas Development |2,239 |2,400 |2,360 |2,420 |2,480 |90 |0 |60
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |2,881 |2,660 |3,020 |3,000 |2,960 |-150 |40 |20
Trade and Industry |2,805 |1,860 |1,380 |800 |750 |10 |-10 |10
ECGD |-60 |-70 |-20 |10 |10 |10 |70 |80
Employment |3,509 |3,720 |3,460 |3,480 |3,440 |-10 |-70 |-40
ransport |5,993 |6,100 |4,390 |4,450 |5,080 |300 |-1,130 |-860
DOE-Housing |7,734 |7,350 |6,890 |6,910 |6,920 |-170 |-770 |-740
DOE-Environment |2,202 |2,170 |1,980 |1,920 |1,910 |30 |130 |70
DOE-PH, PSA etc |-93 |-130 |-210 |-220 |-240 |40 |60 |80
DOE-Local government<2> |29,362 |29,900 |30,290 |30,900 |30,870 |-30 |-550 |-1,510
Home Office |5,962 |6,260 |6,410 |6,420 |6,570 |0 |-60 |-60
Legal Departments |2,418 |2,650 |2,800 |2,880 |2,880 |-90 |-90 |-120
Education |9,806 |10,530 |10,960 |11,230 |11,240 |40 |-180 |-250
National Heritage |975 |980 |1,000 |960 |920 |10 |10 |-10
Health |29,829 |31,750 |32,960 |33,270 |34,120 |20 |10 |0
Social Security<3> |67,671 |70,360 |72,800 |75,950 |79,200 |1,460 |-220 |-300
Scotland |13,559 |14,200 |14,410 |14,570 |14,680 |0 |-220 |-35
Wales |6,302 |6,580 |6,770 |6,870 |6,920 |-60 |-130 |-180
Northern Ireland<3> |7,086 |7,490 |7,710 |7,870 |8,010 |100 |-30 |-70
Chancellor's departments |3,340 |3,390 |3,220 |3,190 |3,140 |-40 |-150 |-210
Cabinet Office-OPSS |1,241 |1,320 |1,340 |1,360 |1,390 |10 |0 |10
Cabinet Office-other, etc |1,233 |1,200 |1,120 |1,130 |1,160 |0 |-30 |-70
European Communities |1,836 |2,040 |2,820 |2,760 |2,640 |690 |-70 |-160
Local authority self-financed expenditure |9,525 |11,900 |11,800 |12,000 |12,200 |1,000 |700 |800
Reserve |- |- |3,000 |5,700 |8,700 |-3,500 |-4,000 |4,800
Adjustment |- |-1,000 |- |- |- |-1,000 |- |-
Control Total |241,387 |249,000 |255,500 |262,800 |271,500 |-1,300 |-7,000 |-8,900
<1> For definitions, rounding and other conventions, see notes in Annex A. See Annex B for the composition of each departmental grouping.
<2> The entry for the Department of the Environment includes payments of Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic rates to English local authorities. These finance, at local authorities' discretion,
a range of local services, including education, social services and other environmental services.
<3> Excluding cyclical social security.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Manufacturing Industry
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the rate of return on United Kingdom manufacturing in 1989 90; and what were the figures for other industrial countries.
Mr. Charles Wardle: The rate of return on capital employed by manufacturing companies is published in Central Statistical Office First Release 94(205)--"Profitability of UK companies: rates of return of UK industrial and commercial companies (1962 1993)". Table 14 of OECD's national accounts volume II contains information on rates of return on capital employed in manufacturing for OECD countries. Figures are not comparable between countries because of differences in the calculation of data. For example, different assumptions are made about the life times of fixed assets. Both publications are available from the Library of the House.
Mortgage Interest Payments
Mr. Dewar: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates the cost to a typical mortgage holder will be of taking out unemployment insurance against the possibility of having to meet mortgage interest payments for a period of nine months.
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 9 December 1994, Official Report , columns 390 91 .
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the duration of the trips, referred to in his answer of 2 November, Official Report , columns 1131 32 , which were undertaken by Ministers in his Department and on which they were accompanied by their spouses and paid for at public expense.
Mr. Heseltine: The duration of the six official trips referred to in the answer of 2 November, were as follows:
Minister |Country |Duration of trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Hamilton, Minister for Corporate Affairs |Romania |2 days
Earl Ferrers, Minister for Small Firms and Consumer Affairs |Singapore/Australia New Zealand|14 days
Mr. Taylor, PUSS for Trade and Technology |Germany |1 day
Mr. Eggar, Minister for Industry and Energy |South America |11 days
Mr. Heseltine, President of the Board of Trade |Australia/Japan South Africa |8 days 6 days
Ministerial Train Journeys
Mr. MacShane: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many train journeys of one hour's duration or
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more he has made in Britain in 1994 in the course of his official duties.Mr. Heseltine: Whenever it is appropriate I travel by train to official engagements. Nine journeys made have been by train in 1994. Information on individual journeys and the times taken could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Cuba
Mr. Parry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from Unilever in respect of its investment programme in Cuba.
Water and Electricity Authorities
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current aggregate remuneration, including share options and incentive payments, of the chairman of each water and electricity authority; and what they received in the year before privatisation.
Mr. Charles Wardle: Questions on the water industry should be directed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The remuneration of the privatised electricity supply industry is a matter for the companies concerned. Information on the remuneration of the chairman of Nuclear Electric, which is wholly owned by the Government, is set out below.
|1989-90 |1993-94
----------------------------------------------
Remuneration |<1>3,651 |<2>252,000
<1> Chairman appointed 19 March 1990. Figure
excludes pension contributions, and taken
from Annual Report for 1990-91.
<2> Includes salary, bonus, other benefits
and pension contributions. Taken from annual
report for 1993-94.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each electricity authority (a) the number of executive and non-executive directors in the year before privatisation together with their aggregate remuneration and (b) the current number and their aggregate remuneration including share options and other incentive payments.
Mr. Charles Wardle: The remuneration of the privatised electricity supply industry is a matter for the companies concerned. Information on the remuneration of the directors of the successor electricity companies in England and Wales in 1989 90 is set out below. This information was taken from the main prospectuses, except where indicated.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each electricity authority (a) the number of executive and non-executive directors in the year before privatisation together with their aggregate remuneration and (b) the current number and their aggregate remuneration including share options and other incentive payments.
Mr. Charles Wardle: The remuneration of the privatised electricity supply industry is a matter for the companies concerned. Information on the remuneration of
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the directors of the successor electricity companies in England and Wales in 1989 90 is set out below. ThisColumn 850
information was taken from the main prospectuses, except where indicated.Column 849
|Number of Executive|Number of |Remuneration
|Directors |Non-Executive
|Directors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |4 |2 |<1>£11,000
1993-94 |6 |6 |<2>£1,136,000
<1> Directors appointed on 19 March 1990.
<2> Including salaries, bonuses, other benefits and pension contributions.
Company |Number of executive|Number of |Aggregate
|directors |non-executive |remuneration in
|directors |1989-90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Electricity |6 |5 |415,000
East Midlands Electricity |6 |4 |425,172
London Electricity |5 |4 |384,712
MANWEB |6 |5 |464,002
Midlands Electricity |6 |4 |363,445
Northern Electricity |4 |3 |249,557
NORWEB |6 |4 |396,000
Seeboard |7 |5 |482,000
Southern Electricity |6 |4 |478,472
South Wales Electricity |6 |5 |434,233
South Western Electricity |8 |4 |524,605
Yorkshire Electricity |5 |4 |372,193
National Grid Company |6 |4 |<1>415,000
National Power |8 |5 |<2>47,931
PowerGen |6 |5 |<2>39,864
<1> Figures taken from 1989-90 annual report.
<2> No National Power or PowerGen Director was appointed prior to 8 March 1990.
Note:
Information on the remuneration of the directors of Nuclear Electric, which is wholly-owned by the
Government, is set out below. This information is taken from the 1989-90 and 1993-94 annual reports.
Coal
Mr. Tipping: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what level of financial assistance he intends to grant British Coal Enterprise for the year 1995 96; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle: British Coal Enterprise, as a wholly owned subsidiary of British Coal Corporation, is funded by the corporation. My Department does not provide any separate financial assistance to BCE.
The corporation is eligible for restructuring grant under the Coal Industry Act 1987. This includes financial support for BCE. Proposals for payments of restructuring grant in 1995 96 will be presented to Parliament in the main estimates in the new year.
Exports
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the increase in export prices for manufacturers for (a) Germany, (b) the USA, (c) France, (d) Italy, (e) Japan, (f) Spain, (g) the Netherlands and (h) the United Kingdom to (i) EEC and (ii) non-EEC countries between the last quarter for which figures are available and the corresponding quarter in 1992; and if he will give the figures in terms of a common currency.
Mr. Needham: Changes in United Kingdom export prices can be readily derived from export unit value indices available on the Central Statistical Office central shared database which can be accessed via the Library. Comparable information for the other countries listed is
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not readily available and could be provided only atdisproportionate cost.
Oil and Gas Exploration, East Timor
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what (a) financial and (b) other assistance is being given by his Department to United Kingdom companies exploring for oil and gas in the East Timor gap.
Mr. Charles Wardle: My Department is giving no assistance to United Kingdom companies for exploration for oil and gas in the East Timor gap.
Pool Reinsurance
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will authorise the Pool Reinsurance Co. to change the arrangements for the payment of terrorism insurance premiums for 1995.
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I have agreed to an adjustment of the payment arrangements which will benefit policyholders if there are no large losses next year. In 1995, premiums will be payable in two instalments--60 per cent. of the annual premium will be payable at the start of the policy period, and the remaining 40 per cent. at the end of the year. The second instalment will, however, be waived if total losses notified to Pool Re during the year do not exceed £50 million. The instalment provision will be withdrawn in the course of the year in respect of subsequent new or renewed policies should losses exceed £50 million.
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Arrangements for 1996 will be determined in the light of experience.Accounts Services Agency
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has decided to whom he will award his Department's contract for the services supplied by the Accounts Services Agency.
Mr. Heseltine: I have decided to award the DTI contract for the services currently supplied by the Accounts Services Agency to the CSL Group Ltd. Bids were judged on the basis of quality of service, price, continuity of service, and commitment to developing the service. The contract will last for five years, with an option to extend for a further two years at the Department's discretion. Most of the staff, and all of the assets, will transfer to CSL.
Ian Greer Associates
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions he or his Ministers met representatives of Ian Greer Associates in the last three months to discuss matters relating to their clients' interests.
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 12 December 1994]: Our records show that there have been no such formal meetings arranged for such a purpose.
Company Investigations
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies were not investigated in the last two years due to lack of resources after receipt of an initial report highlighting misconduct under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jonathan Evans [holding answer 15 December 1994]: The number of cases of reported unfit conduct which on first consideration warranted further investigation but which could not be taken forward were:
Year |Number -------------------------------------------- 1992-93 |192 1993-94 |657 1994-95 (to 30 November 1994) |354
The Insolvency Service has not been able to take forward as many disqualification cases as would have been considered appropriate because of the need to balance priorities within the resources available to it against the background of a sharp and substantial increase in the number of insolvencies with which it has had to deal. More resources have now been made available to the service, particularly in the area of director disqualification, and this is resulting in a very significant increase in the number of disqualifications taken forward.
ENVIRONMENT
Humber Estuary
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what basis he has determined that the
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Humber east of the Humber bridge is coastal waters for the purposes of the urban waste water treatment directive;(2) what is the current level of waste water discharge into the Humber from Hull; and if it falls within the limit specified in paragraph 2 of article 6 of the urban waste water treatment directive;
(3) if he is yet able finally to determine whether primary treatment is appropriate for waste water discharges from Hull into the Humber estuary under the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement;
(4) with whom the final decision rests as to appropriate treatment of waste water discharges into the Humber estuary from Hull under the urban waste water directive; and on what statutory basis any discharge consent or other approval will be given;
(5) how far is the Humber bridge from Spurn point;
(6) for what purposes the National Rivers Authority treats the Humber bridge as the outer limit of the estuary.
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