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Mr. Nelson: Yes. The Government today published the 1995 96 debt management report. This report, the first of an annual series, includes details of the 1995 96 funding programme. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Child Care
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use (a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15231]
Mr. Nelson: The Treasury participates in the Westminster holiday playscheme. Until the end of July 1994, my Department also offered subsidised places at a Westminster-based nursery for short-term emergency use. However, due to lack of demand, it gave poor value for money and the contract was not renewed.
The use by Treasury staff of the Department's child care and nursery facilities in 1994 broken down by grade and gender is set out in the following tables.
Westminster holiday playscheme:
days used by Treasury
staff in 1994
|Male |Female|Total
------------------------------------
Grade 5 |8 |42 |50
Grade 6 |68 |0 |68
Grade 7 |55 |33 |88
SEO |9 |16 |25
HEO |0 |30 |30
EO |18 |31 |49
PS |0 |187 |187
SGB1 |0 |6 |6
Total |158 |345 |503
Emergency Nursery: Days used by
Treasury Staff 1 January 1994-
31 July 1994
|Male |Female|Total
------------------------------------
Grade 5 |4 |0 |4
Grade 7 |0 |7 |7
Total |4 |7 |11
Economic Recovery
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from employee organisations about the progress of economic recovery. [15459]
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Mr. Aitken: Treasury Ministers meet representatives from employee organisations from time to time and discuss a wide range of issues.
EC Budget
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year from 1979 to the
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present, in 1994 prices (a) the total budget of the European Community, (b) the total cost of the common agricultural policy, (c) Britain's gross contribution to the EC budget, (d) Britain's net contribution to the EC budget and (e) total payments to British farmers from the common agricultural policy. [16857]Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The information requested is shown in the table:
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£ million-1994 prices
|(c) UK's gross
|contribution to the|(d) UK's net
|(b) Total EAGGF<2> |EC budget (after |contribution to the|(e) Total UK
|(a) Total EC budget|Guarantee |abatement) |EC budget |EAGGF<2> receipts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |23,701 |17,213 |4,091 |2,412 |754
1980 |20,993 |14,570 |3,603 |1,524 |1,141
1981 |18,973 |11,683 |2,857 |766 |1,156
1982 |20,322 |12,308 |3,275 |1,076 |1,272
1983 |24,222 |15,730 |3,683 |1,099 |1,685
1984 |26,302 |17,513 |4,328 |1,061 |2,027
1985 |25,222 |17,708 |5,660 |2,756 |1,701
1986 |33,836 |21,890 |4,116 |843 |1,962
1987 |49,974 |32,471 |5,728 |2,435 |1,742
1988 |55,671 |35,591 |4,780 |1,837 |1,684
1989 |51,458 |30,601 |5,544 |2,896 |1,421
1990 |49,499 |28,540 |5,322 |2,828 |1,469
1991 |40,633 |23,813 |3,570 |587 |1,708
1992 |44,742 |23,858 |5,053 |2,112 |1,712
1993<1> |51,187 |27,442 |5,577 |2,207 |2,205
<1> The latest year for which outturn information is published.
<2> EAGGF: European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund.
Exchange rate: annual average £1-ecu rate.
Price deflator: Retail Price Index.
Source:
Annual statement on the Community budget; and European Court of Auditor's annual report.
Mr. John Bercow
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions have been attached to the employment contract of Mr. John Bercow as special adviser to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to avoid conflicts of interest with his previous employers and their clients. [15832]
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: There are standard terms and conditions for all special advisers. They are subject in this respect to the same rules of conduct as other civil servants, who must not make use of their official position to further their private interests or those of others. Where a conflict arises, it must be declared.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the precise terms of John Bercow's appointment to be his special adviser; and what pecuniary interests he retains in public relations companies. [15759]
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: Mr. John Bercow took up appointment as special adviser to the Chief Secretary on 20 March 1995. There are standard terms and conditions for all special advisers, based on those for other civil servants. In particular, the general principles of conduct for civil servants--that is, relating to business interests or shareholdings--apply to special advisers. Mr. Bercow has retained no pecuniary interest in any public relations company.
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Mr. Mick Newmarch
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings he, his ministerial colleagues or his officials have had with Mr. Mick Newmarch; and what matters relative to the saleof pensions and other investment products werediscussed. [16570]
Mr. Nelson: Ministers and officials have met senior figures from firms in the financial services industry, including Mr. Mick Newmarch, from time to time and discussed a range of issues.
Investments and Pensions (Sales)
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about progress by the regulators set up under the Financial Services Act 1986 (a) to compensate people who were mis -sold pensions and other investment products and (b) to deter and punish those found guilty of deliberately mis-selling such products. [16608]
Mr. Nelson: I have received a number of such representations.
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has of the number of people mis-sold pensions and other investment products since sections 44 and 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 came into operation. [16657]
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Mr. Nelson: As far as personal pensions transfers and opt-outs are concerned, I refer to the reply I gave on 25 October 1994 to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks), Official Report, column 508. For other investment products, some of the cases compensated by the investors compensation scheme and through the financial services regulators may have involved mis-selling. There are no central records which distinguish such cases.
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his officials, and those of the regulators established under the Financial Services Act 1986, are instructed to inform those complaining about mis- selling of pensions and other investment products, that they have redress through the criminal law as well as through the regulatory system. [16568]
Mr. Nelson: No. Although investors can seek redress through the courts, the regulatory system under the Financial Services Act should provide redress in a more timely fashion and with less administrative cost for investors.
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) criminal investigations and (b) criminal prosecutions have been brought under section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986. [16569]
Mr. Nelson: The Department of Trade and Industry, the Serious Fraud Office, the Crown Prosecution Service and the procurators fiscal in Scotland have powers to bring prosecutions under section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986. Disaggregated figures do not exist showing cases brought by the SFO or the CPS and no cases have been brought by the procurators fiscal. The DTI has mounted criminal investigations in six cases; four cases have been prosecuted resulting in two convictions.
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Civil List Audit
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to transfer the audit of the civil list from the Treasury to the Comptroller and Auditor General. [16924]
Mr. Kenneth Clark [holding answer 28 March 1995]: None.
National Debt
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many years it would take before the existing national debt could be fully paid off from the present value of the national fund on the assumption of a compound tax free rate of 8 per cent. per annum. [16803]
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 28 March 1995]: Based on the most recent figures for the value of the fund and of the national debt and assuming a compound tax-free interest rate of 8 per cent. it would take approximately 100 years before the existing national debt could be fully paid off under the terms of the trust.
Taxation
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional annual taxation which will be incurred in the financial year 1995 96 versus the year 1992 93 as a consequence of intervening changes in income tax, tax reliefs, national insurance contributions and duty rates, beyond those due to standard indexation for inflation, for average taxpayers in the pre-tax income bands (a) 0 to £2,500, (b) £2,001 to £5,000, (c) £5,001 to £10,000, (d) £10,001 to £20,000, (e) £20,001 to £30,000, (f) £30,001 to £50,000, (g) £50,001 to £100,000 and (h) over £100,000.
Sir George Young [holding answer 29 March 1995]: The change in annual taxation for the average taxpayer in these income bands will depend on their personal circumstances and spending pattern as well as on their income.
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ENVIRONMENT
Correspondence
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, Official Report, column 550 , whether copies of all letters from Ministers in his Department to local government leaders sent in (a) 1985, (b) 1986, (c) 1987, (d) 1988, (e) 1989 and (f) before March 1990 have now been destroyed. [15848]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: This could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, Official Report, column 550, if it is the practice of his Department to destroy all general correspondence after five years; and when this policy was introduced. [15849]
Sir Paul Beresford: My Department's practice is to destroy files of general correspondence not later than five years after they have been closed. This practice accords with the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958 and with guidance from the Public Record Office.
National Parks (Quarries)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated working life of the quarries in each national park. [15889]
Mr. Atkins: The significant active quarries in the national parks are listed, together with the approximate lifespan provided for under the current permissions. The information shown in the table has been supplied by the national park authorities.
National Park |Quarry |Estimated lifespan
|in
|line with current
|permissions (Years)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dartmoor |Meldon |59
|Linhay Hill |53
|Yennadon |31
Exmoor |None |-
Lake District |Brathay |50
|Broughton Moor |50
|Bursting Stone |5
|Elterwater |10
|Hill Fellside |10
|Hodge Close |5
|Honistor |not yet established
|Kendall Fell |50
|Low Brandy Crag |5
|Petts |10
|Shap Beck |not yet established
|Shap Blue |not yet established
|Shap Pink |15
Northumberland |Roddam |6
|Cop Crag |11
|Saffron |11
|Harden |47
North York Moors |Spaunton |12
|Spikers Hill |9
Peak District |Estimated to be over|between a range of
|25 major active |30-50
|quarries
Yorkshire Dales |Acrow |26
|Coolscar |2
|Dry Rigg |47
|Giggleswick |47
|Horton |47
|Ingleton |23
|Swinden |47
|Threshfield |47
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the lifespan for the disused quarries in each of the national parks. [15888]
Mr. Atkins: There is a very large number of disused quarries in the national parks, but no comprehensive records of their working life.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what carbon dioxide emissions savings he now expects to be delivered by 2000 by (i) the imposition of VAT on fuel, (ii) energy savings in the public sector, (iii) new combined heat and power plant, (iv) new renewable capacity, (v) stricter building regulations and (vi) increases in efficiency of domestic appliances. [15897]
Mr. Atkins: As announced by the Secretary of State on 8 March, VAT on domestic fuel and power is expected to deliver savings of 0.4 million tonnes of carbon--MtC. I continue to expect combined heat and power to deliver savings of 1 MtC and the new building regulations to contribute 0.25 MtC. I expect the contributions of the public sector and renewable energy to be as set out in the UK climate change programme subject to adjustment to reflect the reduced carbon intensity of the electricity displaced. The adjusted figures are 0.8 MtC from the public sector and 0.4 MtC from new renewable energy capacity. The carbon savings expected from improved efficiency of domestic appliances have not been separately quantified at present.
Local Authorities (Restrictive Covenants)
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to allow local authorities to be able to disregard restrictive covenants in the provision of certain public facilities and amenities; and if he will make a statement. [16157]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to prevent previous owners from using restrictive covenants to profit from agreeing to allow present freeholders to make a planning application and from the subsequent development; and if he will make a statement. [16156]
Mr. John M. Taylor: I have been asked to reply. The Government have received a number of comments on the Law Commission's report on obsolete restrictive covenants, Law Com. No. 201, and it is discussing these with the commission. An announcement will be made when those discussions are concluded.
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Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what organisations and other bodies have made representations to him on the subject of local government reorganisation since his statement of 2 March, Official Report, columns 696 97 ; and if he will make a statement; [16492]
(2) with whom he has held discussions on the subject of local government reorganisation since his statement of 2 March; and if he will make a statement; [16493]
(3) what discussions he will have with county councils and other district councils in those areas where a hybrid solution is (a) being proposed or (b) may be proposed following the fourth local government review; and if he will make a statement. [16494]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The Secretary of State has received a large number of representations from organisations and other bodies since 2 March, but it is not possible to identify all these representations individually except at disproportionate cost. The Secretary of State has met the following organisations specifically to discuss local government reorganisation since his announcement on 2 March: South Hams district council, meeting arranged before the announcement of his decision on Devon; Unison; GMB and the Transport and General Workers Union.
All those district councils mentioned in the announcements on 2 and 21 March as possible cases for further review will be invited to discuss their cases for unitary status. These are: Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe; Dartford and Gravesham; Exeter; Gloucester; Huntingdonshire; Halton; Norwich; The Wrekin.
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which former county boroughs are to be reconsidered under the new review for unitary status; [16487]
(2) which former county boroughs are to regain unitary status following local government reorganisation; [16486]
(3) which areas that were not former county boroughs are to be given unitary status following local government reorganisation; [16488]
(4) which areas that were not former county boroughs are to be considered for unitary status under the new review; [16489] (5) which former county boroughs will remain as district authorities in a two-tier system following local government reorganisation; [16490]
(6) what is the population of each of (a) the new proposed unitary authorities, (b) those areas under the new review for possible unitary status and (c) those districts remaining within a two-tier system. [16491]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: We intend to refer the following districts to the Local Government Commission for a further review--those marked `*' were, or have within their areas, former county boroughs:
Blackburn* 139,528
Gillingham 95,969
Northampton* 187,244
Warrington* 185,005
Basildon 161,699
Blackpool* 139,528
Rochester 146,201
Peterborough 158,375
Thurrock 131,226
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We are considering whether to refer the following districts to the Local Government Commission for a further review --those marked `*' were, or have within their current areas, former county boroughs: Broxtowe 110,566Exeter* 105,087
Gloucester* 104,805
Halton 124,111
Norwich* 128,050
The Wrekin 142,724
Dartford 82,600
Gedling 111,566
Gravesham 93,029
Huntingdonshire 148,786
Rushcliffe 101,457
We have announced that we have accepted the commission's proposals for unitary status for the following districts or combination of districts-- those marked `*' were, or have within their proposed areas, former county boroughs:
Bristol* 397,585
Woodspring 182,140
Luton 178,642
Windsor 136,695
Reading* 137,749
Wokingham 142,894
Langbaurgh 143,858
Stockton 177,794
Derby* 228,648
Torbay 121,113
Bournemouth* 159,876
Brighton and Hove* 242,925
Portsmouth 189,073
Herefordshire 162,000(est)
York (extended) 167,000(est)
Stoke-on-Trent 252,914
Hull 267,889
Bath and Wansdyke* 163,533
Northavon and Kingswood 230,078
Bracknell Forest 101,905
Newbury 140,967
Slough 103,454
Milton Keynes 184,440
Middlesborough* 145,843
Hartlepool* 91,982
Plymouth* 259,040
Poole 137,159
Darlington* 100,163
Southend* 167,523
Southampton 209,192
Isle of Wight 124,773
Nottingham 282,590
Thamesdown 173,761
E Yorks and Beverley and part Boothferry 293,000(est)
Glanford and Scunthorpe and part Boothferry 151,335(est) Cleethorpes and Great Grimsby 162,003
Final decisions are outstanding on Leicester*, 289,286, and Rutland, 33,413, pending further consideration of cost and service delivery implications of a unitary Rutland.
Apart from those mentioned above, the following districts were, or contain within their areas, former county boroughs and are to remain in a two-tier county:
Barrow in Furness 73,299
Canterbury 132,391
Chester 120,845
East Staffs 98,300
Hastings 82,937
Lincoln 85,502
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