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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 17 May 1995
DEFENCE
Nuclear-powered Submarines
Mr. Hicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the availability of docking facilities for nuclear-powered submarines. [25183]
Mr. Freeman: We are currently assessing the availability of the facilities for docking RN nuclear-powered submarines, taking into account nuclear safety requirements and latest estimates of the time the submarines will need to spend in dry dock. The assessment is concerned only with existing facilities and does not involve consideration of future refitting facilities needed for Vanguard class submarines.
Two factors have led to the need for this work. First, an on-going survey of existing docking facilities at both Rosyth and Devonport, taking into account increasingly stringent nuclear safety practices, has identified a requirement for improvements to be made to some facilities. Secondly, in addition to delays arising from this work, the time which some nuclear- powered submarines need to spend in dock during refit has increased, typically by about three months. We are therefore considering ways of limiting the resulting disruption to the docking programme for nuclear- powered submarines, including the possibility of deferring the ending of nuclear work at Rosyth which was previously planned for 1997. The assessment will include discussions with both the nuclear regulatory authorities and the dockyard companies. No decisions have yet been taken.
Defence Agency
Sir John Hannam: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will be renewing investment decisions on (a) the replacement or enhancement of all three services' individual computer systems and (b) the establishment of a new Army personnel centre in Glasgow following the Bett study report. [23701]
Mr. Soames: Harmonisation of all defence administrative computer systems is a departmental aim arising from the "Front Line First" studies. In the case of personnel administration and pay systems, Mr. Bett has recommended that the harmonisation process should be undertaken by a defence agency, which should be set up within three years. He envisaged that it might then take about five years to develop a fully integrated personnel administration and pay system to operate across the services. We shall be examining this recommendation carefully in consultation with the services. In the meantime, our plans for the creation of the Army personnel centre in Glasgow are not inconsistent with the
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ultimate creation of a defence agency and we are proceeding with them.Investment decisions on replacement or enhancement of the services' existing systems will take fully into account the need for harmonisation.
Dartmouth Royal Regatta
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the guardships which have attended the port of Dartmouth royal regatta in each of the last 15 years; and which ship will be on guard at the August 1995 regatta. [24737]
Mr. Soames: The following ships have attended the port of Dartmouth royal regatta during the last 15 years:
1980: Diomede and Alfriston
1981: Alfriston
1982: Alfriston
1983: Achilles
1984: Euryalus
1985: Diomede
1986: Hermione
1987: Plymouth
1988: Avenger
1989: Cardiff
1990: Active
1991: Battleaxe
1992: Sirius
1993: Battleaxe
1994: Battleaxe
Regrettably, there will not be a ship available to attend the 1995 Dartmouth royal regatta due to other operational commitments, and the number required for additional official duties during August, principally as a result of the VJ day commemorations.
Service Bases
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all Navy, Royal Air Force and Army bases which have been sold in the last two financial years and the buyers. [24549]
Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 May, Official Report , columns 234-37 , to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).
Tornados
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many RAF Tornado sorties have flown to the United Kingdom on exercise from their base at RAF Bruggen in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available. [23860]
(2) how many Tornados have participated in training sorties flown from their base in RAF Bruggen to the United Kingdom in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available. [23861]
Mr. Soames: RAF Bruggen Tornados flew 2,718 sorties to the United Kingdom between 1 May 1994 and 30 April 1995. Records are not maintained in such a way as to identify the purpose of each flight.
Old Sarum Airfield
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bids he received for the freehold of Old Sarum airfield; and when he will announce his decision. [24546]
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Mr. Soames: In all, four tenders were received. One of them has been accepted and the successful party was notified in writing on 10 May.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Early Retirement Packages
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the
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individual value of each (a) compulsory early retirement and (b) flexible early retirement package received by civil servants leaving his Department on the ground of limited efficiency in each of the last five years. [22082]Mr. John M. Taylor [holding answer 2 May 1995]: Compensation payments for early retirement on the ground of limited efficiency are age, salary and service related. Details of limited efficiency early retirements for each of the last five financial years are as follows:
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£
|Annual compensation
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 Compulsory |- |- |- |-
Flexible |20,738.68 |56,618.79 |- |-
1991-92 Compulsory |4,071.45 |11,383.07 |6,935.42 |-
Flexible |10,428.50 |29,935.88 |- |-
1992-93 Compulsory |8,809.23 |26,238.43 |1,447.29 |-
Flexible |- |- |- |-
1993-94 Compulsory |- |- |- |-
Flexible |35,879.38 |102,324.52 |- |-
1994-95 Compulsory |- |- |- |-
Flexible |30,703.19 |84,945.71 |- |-
Legal Aid
Mr. Butler: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to publish hisGreen Paper proposing reforms to the legal aid system in England and Wales. [25187]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The Lord Chancellor has today published a Green Paper, "Legal Aid--Targeting Need, The Future of Publicly Funded Help in Solving Legal Problems and Disputes in England and Wales". I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Ponsonby Rule
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many objections have been registered by right hon. and hon. Members under the Ponsonby rule procedures, for instruments of ratification laid before Parliament in a Command Paper in the miscellaneous series in each year since 1979; and if he will indicate the resolution of the objection in each case. [24398]
Subsidiarity
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Spain and Germany to assess the value of devolved government and subsidiarity; and if he will make a statement. [24060]
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Mr. David Davis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary hopes to discuss subsidiarity--the relationship between member states and the European Union--when he has talks with the German Foreign Minister on 26 May, and when he visits Spain under the Spanish presidency of the European Union. Devolution is an entirely separate issue, as all EU Heads of State or Government recognised at the 1992 Birmingham European Council:
"it is for each Member State to decide how its powers should be exercised domestically".
Germany and Spain may, however, be interested in the arrangements in Scotland, for example, which has far greater educational and judicial autonomy than any German land or Spanish autonomous community.
Czech Republic
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the contribution of the growth of independent environmental non- governmental organisations in the Czech Republic to democracy there. [24716]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Independent environment non-governmental organisations in the Czech Republic have helped raise public consciousness both before and after the end of the communist regime in 1989, notably in north Bohemia and Prague, the areas worst affected by environmental damage. Together with other independent groups, they have made a positive contribution to the growth of democracy.
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Spain
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much subsidy has been given to Spain in each of the last three years from the European Community for infrastructure; and what is the forecast of funding to Spain for each of the next three years. [24685]
Mr. David Davis: It is not possible to give a global figure for Spanish receipts from the European Community for infrastructure, but I will write to the hon. Member with a breakdown of the figures he requests.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
British Gas (Streetworks)
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assurances he has received from the chairman of British Gas regarding the impact of the company's streetworks on small business. [25131]
Mr. Eggar: I have received a letter from RichardV. Giordano, KBE, chairman of British Gas plc, the text of which says:
"Thank you for your letter of 28 April regarding possible disruption caused by British Gas in undertaking streetworks. British Gas takes a great deal of care to ensure that disruption caused by streetworks is kept to a minimum and has a liability under the 1986 Gas Act to compensate for physical damage caused directly by those works. Following our recent discussions and the Standing Committee debate, we have been giving further careful consideration to the question of economic loss caused to small businesses in exceptional circumstances of prolonged streetworks disruption.
In order to minimise the risk of such disruption, TransCo is revising its existing Code of Practice in respect of communication and co-operation with owners of commercial premises. In particular, TransCo will identify the nature of the work, explain why it is necessary, the anticipated start date and the likely duration. TransCo will subsequently discuss, with individual business owners, issues including vehicular access, customer access, special notices and any special requirements.
In those exceptional cases where small businesses suffer severe and clearly established loss of business over a prolonged period as a direct result of streetworks carried out by British Gas or its agents, British Gas will give sympathetic consideration to claims in respect of financial loss, on an ex- gratia basis. However, such payments would clearly be inappropriate in respect of escape-related or other emergency works.
For indicative purposes British Gas would regard a business with a turnover of less than £500,000 per annum (in constant 1995 price terms) as a "small business" and streetworks over a period exceeding four weeks as a "prolonged period".
Payment of ex-gratia compensation would be subject to the Director General of Gas Supply providing British Gas with reasonable assurance that such payments will be taken into account in any review of applicable price controls.
I am also concerned that gas should not be unduly disadvantaged vis-a-vis competing fuels and would ask you to take this into account when considering the position of other relevant networks.
I believe that this undertaking, together with TransCo's revised Code of Practice, demonstrates our continued commitment to high levels of performance in relation to streetworks and a responsive approach to the concerns of the small business community"
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This undertaking from British Gas, to which the Government expect it to adhere, in the spirit as well as the letter, will address the concerns raised by my hon. Friend in a practical and appropriate way.Berkshire
Mr. Berry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the implications for the business community of the proposed division of Berkshire into six unitary authorities. [24537]
Mr. Eggar: The potential benefits of unitary authorities include cost-effective service delivery, reduced bureaucracy and clear accountability. These benefits will accrue to the business community, among others.
Nuclear Electric
Mr. Clapham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what provisions Nuclear Electric has made for decommissioning of Magnex power stations in each year since 1990; and what estimate his Department has made of the provisons that will be outstanding if Magnox stations are transferred to a separate public sector company in 1996. [24574]
Mr. Eggar: I refer the hon. Member to the annual reports and accounts of Nuclear Electric, available in the Library of the House. The estimated provisions outstanding, if Magnox stations are transferred to a separate public sector company in 1996, will be published in the accounts of that company.
Mr. Clapham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the current value of investments made by Nuclear Electric to cover decommissioning costs; and what value his Department estimates such investments will have at the end of 1996; [24571]
(2) what cash balance Nuclear Electric has accumulated in the national loans fund at the end of each financial year form 1990 91 to 1994 95; and what balance his Department expects by the end of 1996. [24573]
Mr. Eggar: I refer the hon. Member to the annual reports and accounts of Nuclear Electric, available in the Library of the House. Information for future years will be published in the accounts of the various companies for those years.
Rural White Paper
Mr. Colvin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the net annual financial saving, or cost, of his Department's submission for the proposed White Paper on the rural economy. [24331]
Mr. Page: Proposals for the Rural White Paper remain subject to continuing collective consideration and discussion. The cost of measures contained in the White Paper will be taken into account in the public expenditure survey.
British Coal Land
Mr. Hardy: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will advise British Coal to refrain from seeking to dispose of land for development and to seek the removal of land from the green belt where the planning authority and the local community wish that classification to be maintained. [24199]
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Mr. Page: The disposal of British Coal property is a matter for the corporation, which is currently considering the detailed options for the transfer of its land holdings, including those with development potential, out of its ownership.
The designation of any land for green belt purposes is not a matter for British Coal.
National Lottery
Mr. McMaster: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Post Office about its policy of paying for the television advertising of national lottery instant scratch cards; what steps he has taken to ensure that Camelot contributes towards the cost of this advertising; and if he will make a statement. [24117]
Mr. Page: Commercial arrangements between the Post Office and its clients are a matter for the board.
Companies House
Mr. Morgan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the total (a) set-up and (b) recurrent annual costs of the Companies House Cardiff contracting out team; how many civil servants are allocated to it and on what grade they are established; when it was set-up; and for how long he estimates the work of this team will continue; [23980]
(2) if he will list the total (a) set-up and (b) recurrent annual costs of the Companies House London contracting directorate; how many civil servants are allocated to it and on what grade they are established; when it was set -up; and for how long he estimates the work of this directorate will continue. [23979]
Mr. Jonathan Evans [holding answers 15 May 1995]: Companies House contracting directorate was set up following my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade's announcement on 20 December 1994, Official Report , column 1046 , to implement the contracting out of the London Edinburgh and English satellite offices. At present the directorate comprises of:
1 part time grade 5, 2 grade 7, 1 higher executive officer (D),1 executive officer, 1 personal secretary and 1 administrative assistant.
It is also planned to recruit another HEO.
The Cardiff-based contracting team presently comprises: one G7, one EO and one AA. The team was set up at the beginning of April. It is envisaged that both teams will remain in place until the completion of the contracting out programme.
The target is to have contractors in place by the end of March 1996. The estimated staff costs for the contracting directorate are £45,000 in financial year 1994 95 and £273,000 in financial year 1995 96. The staff costs for the Cardiff team fall in 1995 96 and are likely to be in the region of £70,000. There will be further costs of contract monitoring and management but it is not possible to specify these at this stage.
Deregulation
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) who commissioned the report "Deregulation Now" published by his Department on 21 March; [24000]
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(2) how the membership of the Anglo-German working party on deregulation was determined; who appointed its members; and what are the political affiliations of each of the British members; [24001] (3) how often the Anglo-German working party on deregulation met; and what resources were available to it to undertake research; [24002](4) what parts of the report of the Anglo-German working party on deregulation have not been accepted as his policy; [24003] (5) what was the cost of setting up, running and publishing the report of the Anglo- German working party on deregulation; how much of these costs were met from public funds; to what extent the Health and Safety Commission was consulted over the health and safety section of the report; and if he will place a copy of its response in the Library; [24004]
(6) which British organisations (a) submitted evidence to the Anglo-German working party on deregulation, (b) were consulted on it and (c) provided staff on research facilities for it; [24005] (7) what is the constitutional position of a policy document when its contents are not all Government policy, with particular reference to the report of the Anglo- German working party on deregulation from a Government Department submitted to the European Union; [24006] (8) what relative weight his Department gives to the differing conclusions on health and safety regulation of the Anglo-German working party on deregulation and his own authorised review of UK health and safety regulations; [24008]
(9) how much public money was paid in disbursements or remuneration to members of the Anglo-German working party on deregulation; and if he will place in the Library an itemised list detailing to whom such money were paid. [24010]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The report of the independent group of Anglo- German business men was commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Chancellor Kohl at the Anglo-German summit in April 1994. Members of the group were appointed by their respective Governments, with United Kingdom members being drawn from the deregulation task force. Apart from the right hon. Francis Maude, I am not aware of the political affiliations of any other UK member of the group.
The group met twice and had access to a small team of UK and German officials who provided secretariat support. Assistance and research facilities were drawn from members' own organisations. Group members conducted independent consultations, collected evidence from sectoral representative bodies and their own organisations.
The report has the status of independent advice from senior business men to Government, and is not a policy document from either the UK or German Governments. I am currently consulting other Whitehall Departments, and the Health and Safety Commission, on their specific recommendations. The UK's share of publication, distribution and related costs totalled £25,240. Members of the group received no remuneration from public funds.
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Travel and subsistence expenses totalling £2,930 were met for the five UK members of the group who are listed in the groups's report "Deregulation Now", which is available in the Library of the House.Nigeria (Military Equipment)
Mr. Worthington: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 10 May, Official Report , columns 517 18 , if he will list the goods that fall under each category in the military list of the Export of Goods (Control) Order. [24663]
Mr. Ian Taylor: Export of Goods (Control) Orders contain the details of each of the categories of goods which are controlled. The orders are placed in the Library of the House on the date that they are published. Recent orders' dates of publication are as follows: EGCO 1989--14 February 1990; EGCO 1991--31 December 1990; EGCO 1992--31 December 1992; EGCO 1994-- 25 May 1994.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Official Report
Official Report
Mr. Patrick Thompson: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon- Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what conclusions the House of Commons Commission has reached about the future pricing of the Official Report following the adjournment debate on 3 April.
Mr. Beith: I am pleased to advise the hon. Member that agreement has been reached with HMSO for a reduction in the price of the Weekly Hansard from its present level of £22 to £12. This will enable purchasers to obtain Hansard at a price equivalent to £2.40 per sitting day, while for public libraries, which can take advantage of the Government discount scheme provided for in class XVIII, vote 5 of the supply estimates, the price will be equivalent to £1.20 per sitting day. Following advice from the Administration Committee, this price reduction has been endorsed by the House of Commons Commission and will take effect when the House returns after the late spring adjournment. It has been made possible by the computerisation of production in the Department of the Official Report , and will be achieved at no additional cost to the House.
Discussions are continuing on a new, long-term agreement with HMSO for the printing and publication of the different categories of House documents. The results of these discussions are expected to be submitted to the Commission later this year. In the meantime, there will be no change in the price of the daily Hansard .
TREASURY
Central Statistical Office
Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what key targets have been set for the Central Statistical Office for 1995 96. [25038]
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Mr. Nelson: The Central Statistical Office's key targets for 1995 96 are set out in "CSO Programme Strategies 1995 98", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. As before, these targets cover the timeliness of published statistics, the size of revisions, the coherence of key economic statistics, the response rates for statistical inquiries, action to minimise the load on respondents, response times to public requests for information and the CSO's running costs, efficiency improvements and receipts. A number of the targets have been tightened for 1995 96 in recognition of the continuing improvements in the CSO's performance.
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