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Local Authority Social Services
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each available year since 1970, the number of cases of assistance by local authority social
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services departments, showing separately for each year (a) the number of telephone installations, (b) telephone adaptions, (c) telephone rentals paid, (d) installations of other communications equipment, (e) television installations, (f) payment of television licenses or rentals, (g) the number of radio sets provided, (h) the number of other personal aids provided, (i) the number of adaptions to property and (j) the number of holidays provided. [28205]Mr. Richards: The information requested is available from 1975 and is given in the following table.
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Assistance provided by local authority social services departments in Wales<1>
|Installations of |Payment of |Other
Year |other |television |personal
ending |Telephone |Telephone |Telephone |communications |Television |licences or |Radio sets |aids |Adaptions to |Holidays
31 March |installations |adaptions |rentals paid |equipment |installations |rentals |provided |provided |property |provided
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Households receiving assistance:
1975 |1,274 |41 |2,258 |35 |242 |561 |216 |9,405 |2,238 |1,757
1976 |837 |46 |4,802 |132 |87 |2,036 |235 |10,974 |2,560 |1,796
1977 |368 |15 |5,321 |164 |1 |1,967 |223 |9,903 |2,533 |1,615
1978 |827 |23 |5,195 |120 |22 |1,779 |165 |12,709 |2,751 |1,,406
1979 |1,284 |46 |5,350 |204 |23 |1,517 |184 |15,276 |3,231 |1,592
Cases of assistance:
1980 |1,438 |71 |6,893 |220 |24 |1,304 |103 |12,772 |1,872 |3,721
1981 |847 |20 |4,026 |174 |10 |246 |115 |15,656 |944 |3,255
1982 |999 |64 |3,933 |123 |4 |231 |178 |16,232 |1,781 |3,175
1983 |911 |281 |5,511 |139 |9 |281 |105 |18,031 |2,639 |3,383
1984 |1,532 |292 |6,921 |113 |6 |158 |130 |25,495 |3,585 |3,427
1985 |1,335 |280 |7,780 |132 |3 |126 |143 |22,250 |3,741 |3,433
1986 |1,559 |308 |8,719 |291 |4 |141 |131 |23,280 |4,521 |3,469
1987 |1.603 |405 |9,688 |502 |39 |149 |133 |23,755 |4,733 |3,503
1988 |1,138 |257 |9,897 |503 |1 |87 |114 |23,942 |5,967 |3,379
1989 |1,527 |442 |10,386 |529 |1 |117 |126 |25,790 |5,547 |3,265
1990 |1,390 |680 |10,299 |706 |- |142 |112 |24,475 |6,719 |3,279
1991 |1,247 |760 |10,490 |696 |2 |112 |161 |25,635 |7,241 |3,124
1992 |1,360 |880 |10,483 |564 |- |105 |197 |27,272 |8,361 |3,211
1993 |1,234 |756 |10,569 |880 |1 |95 |200 |26,973 |9,943 |3,376
1994 |<>1,165<> |<2>3,549 |10,396 |1,277 |2 |92 |159 |34,111 |8,918 |2,581
<1> Data for the period 1975 to 1979 relates to the number of households receiving assistance. Data for the period 1980 to 1994 relate to the number of cases of assistance.
The figures are therefore not comparable.
<2> Includes installation of connections to community alarm systems.
Disabled People
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the expenditure on personal social services for disabled people in each year since 1970. [28206]
Mr. Richards: The available information is given in the following table. Information was not collected on the same basis prior to 1987 88.
Gross local authority
expenditure on
personal social
services for
physically and/or
sensorily disabled
adults<1>
|£000s
----------------------
1987-88 |5,257
1988-89 |5,301
1989-90 |6,286
1990-91 |7,087
1991-92 |6,276
1992-93 |6,574
1993-94 |10,381
Note:
<1>Includes
expenditure on homes,
including those for
the blind and deaf,
day and occupational
centres, adaptations
to homes and
disability equipment.
Excludes expenditure
on the elderly. Gross
expenditure equals
expenditure on
employees, running
expenses and joint
arrangements less
local income other
than sales, fees and
charges.
Source:
Local authority
returns.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
China
17. Mr. Dykes: To ask the president of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his recent trade mission to the People's Republic of China; and if he will list the increase in United Kingdom export orders arising from the mission. [26820]
Mr. Heseltine: The mission to China was an outstanding commercial success. It was the latest trade mission to leave the United Kingdom. The 130 companies which participated had a combined turnover well in excess of £75 billion.
My discussions with senior Chinese leaders confirmed the enormous potential for British business in China.
Companies signed over £1 billion of business in the lead up to and during the mission. I have arranged for a detailed list to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
National Lottery
22. Mr. Waterson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with Post Office Counters Ltd. about safeguards to protect those Post Office employees who object on religious grounds to selling national lottery tickets or scratch cards; and if he will make a statement. [26827]
Mr. Page: The relationship between the Post Office and its employees is a matter for the board.
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Domestic Gas Supplies
23. Mr Spearing: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what requirements he will place on the supplies of gas to domestic premises under the terms of the Gas Bill to ensure the maintenance of service standards formerly established by British Gas. [26828]
Mr. Eggar: The Gas Bill provides the legislative framework for the introduction of competition to the supply of gas to domestic consumers. In a competitive market, standards of services will be a matter for competition between suppliers. Customers will be able to choose the supplier who offers the service they require.
However, all gas suppliers will be required to provide special services to older and disabled customers. These will be the same as, and in some areas extend, the current requirements placed on British Gas. Suppliers will also be required to follow procedures to help customers who have genuine difficulties paying their bills. The proposed provisions are set out in the draft "Standard Conditions of the Gas Suppliers' Licence", published on 20 March, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
The level and extent of British Gas's current 39 regulated service standards, which are linked to the price formula, will be considered when that formula is reviewed by Ofgas, with effect from 1997.
Electricity Generation
24. Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends taking to develop further competition in electricity generation. [26830]
Mr. Eggar: This is primarily a matter for the independent regulator- -the Director General of Electricity Supply--who is responsible for overseeing the operation of the electricity market.
Lloyd's
25. Mr. Hanson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the chief executive of Lloyd's about future prospects for Lloyd's; and if he will make a statement. [26831]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I have regular meetings with the chairman of Lloyd's to discuss developments in the Lloyd's market. I am aware of Lloyd's proposals for restructuring the market. My Department will examine the regulatory issues arising from the proposals, including the authorisation of the proposed Equitas company, over the coming months. Subject to the regulatory requirements being satisfied, I believe that the plan provides the prospect of a comprehensive solution to many of the problems faced by Lloyd's in the interests of both policyholders and members of Lloyd's.
Regional Assistance
26. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the regional aids and subsidies his Department is able to award withoutthe permission of the Commission of the European Union. [26832]
Mr. Eggar: The only regional aid for which DTI is wholly responsible is regional selective assistance. The terms and operation of this have been approved by the Commission, leaving the Department to use its discretion to ensure that support is targeted at the selected areas and
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to the maximum advantage to the United Kingdom. Only cases in certain sensitive sectors, such as motor vehicles or synthetic fibres, require individual approval.Industrial Performance
27. Mr. Hain: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the average rate of return produced by British industry. [26833]
Mr. Eggar: In 1993, the last year for which figures are available, the net rate of return on capital employed by industrial and commercial companies was 8.4 per cent. higher than at the comparable point in the two previous recoveries.
Science and Technology
28. Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster about the recommendations of the second report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology of Session 1994 95, "Forward Look Science and Technology"; and if he will make a statement. [26834]
Mr. Heseltine: The Government published a full response to the recommendations of the Science and Technology Select Committee on the "Forward Look", in March 1995. In preparing the Government response, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster had discussions with other Departments, including DTI, concerning the recommendations in their relevant areas of responsibility.
Aerospace Industry
29. Mr. Pike: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the importance of the aerospace industry to the United Kingdom manufacturing sector. [26835]
Mr. Heseltine: The aerospace industry accounted for 4 per cent. of United Kingdom manufacturing turnover in 1992. My Department has commissioned two studies on the diffusion of aerospace technology and skills to other sectors. Copies of these reports will be placed in the Libraries of the House. In addition officials are studying the profitability of the United Kingdom aerospace industry.
Manufacturing Industry
lag Sir David Knox: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet the President of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry. [26836]
Mr. Heseltine: I am meeting the President of the Confederation of British Industry on 21 June to discuss a range of issues. In 1995 the CBI expects manufacturing output to grow by more than 4 per cent. and manufacturing investment to grow by more than 10.5 per cent. Recent CBI surveys show export orders growing faster than ever before and export optimism at its highest level for a generation.
Inward Investment
lag Dr. Spink : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of current levels of inward investment. [26837]
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Mr. Eggar: Balance of payments data show that between 1986 and 1993, the last year for which figures are available, inward direct investment into the United Kingdom rose from £52 billion to nearly £131 billion. We now have about a third of the stock of direct inward investment in the EU. Our share of the stock of US investment in the EU was nearly 43 per cent. in 1993 and our share of the cumulative flows of Japanese investment into the EU was nearly 41 per cent. The UK is now the preferred location in Europe for inward investment and I am determined that it should remain so.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on inward investment and on the consultation which he undertakes with industry prior to taking decisions to award investment grants. [26884]
Mr. Eggar: The Government continue to attach great importance to the attraction of inward investment. Investment grants are available for projects in the assisted areas under the regional selective assistance scheme. No decision is taken to offer RSA grant without fully considering the potential impact of the project on existing businesses in the sector concerned.
Rural Economy
32. Mr. Colvin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contributions his Department are making to the proposals in the forthcoming White Paper on the rural economy. [26838]
Mr. Heseltine: Officials in my Department are in close contact with the White Paper team and have been working with them to ensure that the interests of businesses in rural areas are fully represented.
North American Free Trade Area
33. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to expand bilateral trade with members of the north American free trade area; and if he will make a statement. [26840]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The United Kingdom Government maintain a vigorous trade promotion programme with respect to members of NAFTA. With the European Commission and the US Administration and others we are looking at various ways of further liberalising trade both across the north Atlantic and more generally to act as pathfinders within the World Trade Organisation.
Overseas Trade (Commission)
34. Mr. Cohen: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what rules his Department require should govern commissions on trade overseas. [26841]
Mr. Ian Taylor: None. Commissions are a matter for the companies concerned within the appropriate legal system.
Utility Customer Service Committees
35. Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that utility customer service committees represent the views of local consumers. [26842]
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Mr. Jonathan Evans: Responsibility for the effective representation of consumers of the electricity and water industries rests with the Director General of Electricity Supply and the Director General of Water Services through appointments to the electricity consumers' committees and the water customer services committees.
Space Industry
Mr. Brandeth: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the results of the recent study into the United Kingdom space industry. [29066]
Mr. Taylor: The major findings of the study undertaken on behalf of the British National Space Centre showed that in 1993 94 total industry turnover was estimated at £710 million. This compared to £530 million in 1991 92. United Kingdom space-related employment stood at 6,360 compared to 6,140 in 1991 92. Over the last five years the UK space industry has shown growth in sales of 9 per cent. per year. A number of sub -sectors have shown annual growth rates over 10 per cent. and the emerging earth observation data value-added sub-sector has shown growth rates of 34 per cent. of turnover and 37 per cent. in work force.
Investment
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals his Department has to curb short-termism as regards industrial investment. [26829]
Mr. Heseltine: A stable macroeconomic environment based on low inflation and improved relations between providers of finance and industry are the best ways to promote long-term investment.
Nuclear Industry
Mr. Colvin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade at what rate funding for renewables under the non-fossil fuel obligation will continue when the nuclear industry is privatised. [27002]
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future availability of the non-fossil fuel levy to support renewable energy technology. [27134]
Mr. Eggar: I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) on 8 June 1995, Official Report , columns 268-69 .
Mr. Simpson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the costs of the
decommissioning of nuclear power stations. [27133]
Mr. Eggar: The costs of decommissioning nuclear power stations are a matter for their operators.
Overseas Relocations
Mr. Flynn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new proposals he has to reduce the numbers of British firms relocating overseas. [26821]
Mr. Eggar: None. Decisions on where to invest are a commercial matter for the companies concerned. The United Kingdom remains an attractive location for investment, for both British and foreign firms.
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Human and Animal Tissue Protocol
Mr. Morley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Government will take action to implement the recommendations of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics report on human tissue regarding the adoption of a protocol to the European patent convention to set out the criteria to be used by national courts when applying the immorality exclusion to patents in the area of human and animal tissue. [28457]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The suggestion in the Nuffield Council on Bioethics report for a protocol to the European patent convention on the interpretation of the morality exclusion is interesting. However, as the report recognises, reaching agreement among all member states on such a protocol could be very time consuming. The European Commission is reflecting on how to deal with the rejection of the proposed EC directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions by the European Parliament and it is expected that they will come forward with a new proposal in the near future. In the light of this, a separate initiative among contracting states of the convention would not be appropriate at the present time.
Genetic Material
Mr. Morley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many patents have been issued in the United Kingdom by the Patent Office and how many by the European Patent Office valid in the United Kingdom incorporating genetic material of plant origin or derivation. [28456]
Mr. Ian Taylor: A search of electronic databases using classification terms shows that some 250 patent applications published by the European Patent Office and the United Kingdom Patent Office relate to genetic material of plant origin or derivation. Each application would have to be checked individually to ascertain whether it has resulted in a patent valid in the United Kingdom, which would involve disproportionate cost.
Mr. Morley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many patents have been issued in the United Kingdom by the Patent Office and how many by the European Patent Office valid in the United Kingdom incorporating genetic material of human origin or derivation. [28455]
Mr. Ian Taylor: A search of electronic databases using classification terms and key words show that some 1,540 patent applications published by the European Patent Office and the United Kingdom Patent Office relate to genetic material of human origin or derivation. Each application would have to be checked individually to ascertain whether it has resulted in a patent valid in the United Kingdom, which would involve disproportionate cost.
Newspapers
Sir David Steel: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to instruct the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to commence an inquiry into the principle of carriage charges for newspapers. [28169]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading who, under the competition legislation, is responsible for keeping markets under review, and has independent powers to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
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Patent Office
Mr. Touhig: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what detailed criteria and what organisation will be used in bench marking activities when comparing sections in the Patent Office for contractorisation. [28068]
Mr. Ian Taylor: In areas identified as candidates for contractorisation, bids for managing contracted-out services will be evaluated against benchmarks for the forecast cost and quality of service from in-house provision. Detailed criteria will depend on the activity under consideration and will be decided upon when specifications are drawn up.
Mr. Touhig: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the activities under consideration for contracting out in the Patent Office would require an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. [28072]
Mr. Ian Taylor: Current expectations are that the activities which will be considered for contracting out would not require an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act.
Mr. Touhig: To ask the President of the Board of Trade who will be responsible for preparing management or staff bids, for the Patent Office contractorisation; and what will be done to train and prepare staff for this role. [28070]
Mr. Ian Taylor: Under contracting out, staff are free at their own initiative to mount a bid alongside the private sector, but if successful would cease to be civil servants. Preparation and organisation of such bids would be a matter for the staff themselves. The Patent Office would make reasonable time available within working hours but would not lend more active support. All bids will be compared against a benchmark of the service remaining in the civil service which incorporates identified future efficiency savings and quality of service indicators. Only if the bidders demonstrate better value for money to the taxpayer will the work be moved outside the public sector.
Mr. Touhig: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the sections under consideration in the Patent Office for contractorisation, and the number of staff involved. [28069]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The Patent Office is being encouraged to contract out activities wherever this is compatible with its statutory role and good value for money. Whether any particular activity is considered as a candidate for contractorisation will depend on operational requirements, which are being assessed.
In the case of marketing and the London Front Office, which might in principle be contractorised subject to value for money criteria, current activities are carried out by some 35 staff.
Mr. Touhig: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to ensure that jobs affected by contractorisation of the Patent Office will remain in south Wales. [28074]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The location of jobs relating to contracted out services will be a matter for the contractor.
Mr. Touhig: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the time-scale involved for contractorisation of Patent Office functions. [28071]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The time-scale for contractorisation of Patent Office functions will depend on operational requirements which are currently being assessed by officials.
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Fire Safety
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the results of the inter-departmental review of fire safety legislation will be published. [27959]
Mr. Jonathan Evans [holding answer 13 June 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon- Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 24 May 1995, Official Report , column 643 .
AST Group
Mr. Morgan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set up an inquiry into the collapse of the AST Group and its acquisition of the assets of the ASTRA Training Company plc in October 1993, and the transfer of those assets into Firlands Training Ltd in March 1995. [28309]
Mr. Jonathan Evans [holding answer 13 June 1995]: I understand that none of the companies mentioned is subject to a winding-up order. Until a company is in compulsory liquidation the Official Receiver cannot exercise his statutory powers of investigation into its affairs.
Under section 7 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act, 1986 the voluntary liquidator has a duty to report any matters of conduct on the part of the directors which he considers makes them unfit to take part in the management of limited companies. In these cases the liquidator has not yet reported, which he is required to do within six months of the liquidation. I can give an assurance that those reports, together with other relevant information will be carefully considered to see whether proceedings should be brought against any individuals concerned in the liquidation of companies within the AST Group.
In addition the Secretary of State has discretionary powers of investigation into a company where there are grounds to suspect fraud, misfeasance or serious misconduct. Officials within the investigation division of my Department will consider whether the information provided constitutes the "good reason" required before I can exercise my discretionary powers to authorise an investigation.
CS Gas
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 30 March, Official Report , columns 776 77 , if no licences have been granted for the export to Indonesia of CS gas cartridges, CS gas grenades or other crowd control technologies since1 January 1985. [27792]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 17 June 1995]: I have nothing further to add to the statement of 30 March 1995.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Byers: To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date he or other Ministers or former Ministers in his Department received extracts for comment from Sir Richard Scott's draft report; on what date comments were submitted to Sir Richard; and what requests have been made for an extension of the period within which comments should have been made. [27552]
Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 12 June 1995]: The Government do not disclose details of correspondence between the inquiry and individual witnesses. In the case
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of draft extracts in particular, the inquiry has asked that these be treated in strictest confidence.SCOTLAND
Sandeels
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he took, in arranging the initiative to manage the Shetland sandeel fishery, of the announcement on 16 May by the Environment Secretary that measures be taken to control the wider North sea industrial fishery as a priority for the North sea ministerial conference. [27122]
Sir Hector Monro: The decision to re-open the Shetland sandeel fishery predated the announcement on 16 May by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Government had already taken the view that there was no relevant correlation between the large-scale Danish fishery in the North sea, which accounts for between 1 million and 2 million tonnes of sandeel per annum, and the very much smaller UK fishery at Shetland which will probably account for less than 3,000 tonnes of sandeel this year.
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual cost of public funds has been in terms of research, monitoring and supervision, for the management of the Shetland sandeel fishery. [27120]
Sir Hector Monro: Between 1990 91 and 1995 96, the average annual cost to public funds for research, monitoring and supervision connected with the sandeel fisheries has been £117,000. This covers the sampling of landings, research vessel surveys, and stock assessment work, but excludes academic research contracts jointly funded with other bodies. A breakdown for the Shetland sandeel fishery in particular is not available. However, a reasonable estimate is about 80 per cent. of the total, or £93,000 per annum.
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what consideration the Government gave when allowing sandeel fishing in Mousa Sound, Shetland, to its inclusion in the list of proposed special areas of conservation because of its importance for common seals; [27110]
(2) within what distance of special protection areas for sea birds in Shetland sandeel fishing is permitted; [27111]
(3) what action the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department has taken to establish areas closed to sandeel fishing around Shetland's internationally important seabird colonies. [27123]
Sir Hector Monro: The Government gave due consideration to their obligations under the European Community directives on the conservation of wild birds and on the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna before deciding to re-open the Shetland sandeel fishery. In terms of these directives, member states must take appropriate steps to ensure that there is no deterioration of the habitat types or significant disturbance to the species for which areas are designated as European sites. We were satisfied, on the evidence received, that the limited fishery would not have any of these impacts, whether on sea birds or on the common seal at Mousa Sound. No closed areas have therefore been introduced.
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