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Queen's Messenger Service
Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to end the Queen's messenger service. [30894]
East European Students
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bursaries to English universities his Department is sponsoring from new eastern European democracies, at what cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [31156]
Mr. Baldry: In 1994 95 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided over 500 scholarships and awards to enable students from eastern and central Europe to come to study at universities and other academic institutions in the United Kingdom, at a cost of approximately £2.6 million.
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TRANSPORT
Cycle Parking
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the buildings occupied by his Department which have provisions for the parking of cycles. [31829]
Mr. Norris: Copies of the list of DOT buildings with cycle provision will be placed in the House Library in due course.
BR Research
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if BR Research will own as a private company intellectual property rights in innovations in railway technology developed by BR Research while in the public sector; if it will also carry liabilities resulting from litigation over any failures of such technological developments; and what compensation will be paid to other sections of British Rail which formerly had access to the use of such developments without payment of a licence fee. [32685]
Mr. Watts: The detailed terms of the disposal of BR Research, due to be agreed by the end of this financial year, will be a matter for the British Railways Board.
Catford Road Scheme
Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the properties that have been acquired so far in connection with the A205 A21 Catford town centre road scheme, with the owners of those responsible for their management pending the start of the work, and any land or properties that still need to be purchased. [32675]
Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.
I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jim Dowd, dated 10 July 1995: As you know, the Minister for Transport in London, Mr Steven Norris, has asked me to write to you about the question you asked in the House seeking information on the properties required for the improvement of the South Circular Road in Catford Town Centre. I enclose, as you requested, lists showing:
(a) the properties already purchased in connection with the scheme and in the ownership of the Secretary of State with occupiers where appropriate and,
(b) those yet to be acquired, with owners and occupiers.
A205 Catford Town Centre Improvement Properties yet to be
acquired in connection with the scheme
Property or part |Owner or reputed
thereof |owner |Occupant
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part of vault and car stand at the `Copperfield' P.H. Catford Road |Courage (Eastern) Ltd., Anchor Brewhouse, Horselydown SE1 2LL |-
Part of public car park accessways and half width of Canadian Avenue at the Public car park, Canadian |The London Borough of Lewisham, Town Hall, Catford SE6 4RU |London & Provincial Posters Ltd, 78-86 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey.
Avenue |London Electricity Board, Templar House, 81-87 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NU
Part of front garden accessways to 6 Bromley Road |Mrs. Betty Irene Gillett, 17 Kingswood Avenue, Shortlands, Bromley, Kent BR2 0NT |Albert Jones, Frank Seymour, Joseph Angel, Richard Turnall
14 Plassy Road |The London Borough of Lewisham |-
10 Brownhill Road |National Bus Properties Ltd. |Aubyn Graham, 55 Henlowe Road, SE22 and Lee Laing and Neville McGee both of 494 New Cross Road, SE14
Forecourt of 8 Brownhill Road |Mrs. Mary Scott-Smith and Miss Joan Scott-Smith both of 27 Culverley Road, Catford SE6 2LD |Howard Nicholas Brennan
Forecourt of 6 Brownhill Road |Urbandale Investments Ltd., 42 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent |Tonros Heating Ltd., 42 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Forecourt & Vault of 147-149 (odd) Rushey Green |Mrs. Phylis Audrey Griffiths, Brandon Lodge, Church Road, Lyminge, Folkestone, Kent |Midland Bank Plc, 27-32 Poultry, London EC1P 2BX
Forecourt of 151 Rushey Green |Simon George Symeou and Mrs. Eleni Symeou both of 9 Newquay Road, Catford SE6 |-
Forecourt of 153 Rushey Green |Donovan Rupert, Horace Levette and James Clarke |David T. Atkin, 292 Sangley Road, Catford SE6 4JT
Forecourt of 155 Rushey Green |National Westminster Bank Plc, 41 Lothbury, London EC2P 2BP |-
Forecourt of 157-159 (odd) Rushey Green |National Westminster Bank Plc, 41 Lothbury, London EC2P 2BP |-
Forecourt, vaults and accessway at `The Black Horse' PH (167-169) (odd) Rushey Green) |Allied Breweries Ltd., 107 Station Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire |Ijaz Ahmed, Choudhri AOT, Leisure Ltd., 19-21 Sylvan Grove, London SE15 1PG
Part of accessway to 175 Rushey Green |National Travel (London) Ltd., 175 Rushey Green, Catford SE6 |-
Electricity sub-station adjoining, 19 Sangley Road |Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea |London Electricity Board
105 sq mtrs part of forecourt, posts, vault and accessway to 6-12 (even) Sangley Road |Finaware Ltd., 9 Henniker Mews, London SW3 |-
Forecourt and vaults of ABC Cinema Bromley Road |Associated British Picture Corp Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square, London W1 |-
Forecourt and vaults of 3 Bromley Road |Robert J. Lang Ltd.,6 Wellington Street, London SE18 6PE |Jack Rochford Copeland, Richard James Pearson and John Ernest Sage
Forecourt and vault of 5 Bromley Road |Nombane Ltd., 116 High Street, Godalming, Surrey |Gino Vincendo Plado, 28 Hazelwood Road, Chudham, Kent, Barry Christopher Martin, 16 Wegall Road, Lee SE12 and David Thomas Warnock, 27 Dunstable Court, St. John's Park, London SE3
Forecourt and vault of 7 Bromley Road |Nombane Ltd., 116 High Street, Godalming, Surrey |John Faragher, 66 Coleridge Road, Ashburton Estate, Croydon, Surrey
Forecourt and vault of 9 Bromley Road |Nombane Ltd., 116 High Street, Godalming, Surrey |Steven John Coleman, 132 Dowanhill Road, Catford, SE6
Forecourt, vaults of and part of accessway to 11-13 (odd) Bromley Road |Sydney Yearing, 44 Sandford Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 9AW |Transave Ltd., 11-13 Bromley Road, Catford SE6 2TS
Advertisement hoardings and forecourt on part sites of 21-21a-23, Bromley Road. |Brewster Estates Ltd., 40 Chastilian Road, Dartford, Kent |View Point, Advertisements Ltd., 47 Chaple Street, London NW1
A205 Catford Town Centre Improvements Properties acquired in connection with the scheme Property or part |Lessees thereof ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Owned by Secretary of State for Transport 10, 12 (rear only) and 14 Brownhill Road |LB Lewisham Cong, of Jehovah's Witnesses Vacant 12 Brownhill Road 1st Floor Hall 16-22 Brownhill Road Ground Floor, 16 Brownhill Road 18-22 Brownhill Road |Lewisham Old Peoples Welfare Association 24 Brownhill Road |Hyde Housing Association 26 Brownhill Road |CHISEL 30A Brownhill Road |Vacant 30 Brownhill Road |Vacant Part of front garden, 366 Brownhill Road |Vacant Part of front gardens, 347/355 Brownhill Road |Vacant St. Mildred's sports ground Canadian Avenue |Vacant Telephone Exchange, Canadian Avenue |Vacant Land between Canadian Avenue, Bromley |Vacant 1 Engleheart Road |Vacant 3 Engleheart Road |Vacant Land between London Road/Dartmouth Road |Vacant 2 Plassy Road |Hyde Housing Association 4 Plassy Road |Hyde Housing Association 6 Plassy Road |Hyde Housing Association 8 Plassy Road |Vacant 10 Plassy Road |Vacant 12 Plassy Road |Lewisham Family Self Help Association 16 Plassy Road |London and Quadrant Housing Association 18 Plassy Road |Vacant 20 Plassy Road |London and Quadrant Housing Association 22 Plassy Road |Private 24 Plassy Road |Private 26 Plassy Road |CHISEL 28 Plassy Road |Vacant 30 Plassy Road |Hyde Housing Association 32 Plassy Road |Vacant 34 Plassy Road |London and Quadrant Housing Association 36 Plassy Road |Vacant 201 Rushey Green |Combined (Comfort) Force Trust 203 Rushey Green |Vacant 205 Rushey Green |Vacant 1-3 Sangley Road |Vacant 1B Sangley Road |Mr. Clements 1A Sangley Road |Vacant Land at rear of 1-19 Sangley Road |Vacant 5 Sangley Road |Vacant 7 Sangley Road |Vacant 9 Sangley Road |Mr. Clements 11 Sangley Road |Vacant 13 Sangley Road |Vacant 15 Sangley Road |Vacant 17 Sangley Road |Vacant 19 Sangley Road |Vacant 112-114 St. Mildred's Road |Vacant
Thames Strategy
Miss Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what progress has been made to increase the movement of goods by water rather than road as advocated by the Government office for London's document on Thames strategy; [32679]
(2) what steps have been taken to encourage the use of the Thames for commercial river-borne traffic on the lines of the Government office for London's document on Thames strategy. [32678]
Mr. Norris: The report of the River Thames working group, which I chaired and which published its report last December, identified the potential for maximising the use of the Thames for commercial transport. I have
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subsequently held a number of meetings with operators and potential operators on the Thames to discuss the scope for expanding freight and passenger services. This process will continue.The River Thames working group report has stimulated wider interest in transport on the river. The Thames strategy report and the Thames gateway planning framework, both published this year by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, recognise the benefits of maximising the Thames for commercial traffic and the need to safeguard essential river-related infrastructure.
Financial assistance, in the form of freight facilities grant, is also available to operators to encourage the movement of goods by water or rail rather than by road.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties have been purchased in connection with the development of the channel tunnel rail link; and what has been the total cost of these purchases. [32857]
Mr. Watts: Two hundred and forty properties at a total cost of £42.6 million, including home loss and disturbance payments where appropriate, have been acquired by Union Railways Ltd. for the present channel tunnel rail link project.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the successful bidders for the construction of the channel tunnel rail link put in tenders which included the channel tunnel rail link with and without (a) a station at Stratford and (b) a long box at Stratford. [33243]
Mr. Watts: It was a requirement of the CTRL competition that bidders should submit a reference specification bid and a number of required alternative bids. The reference bid included only the short box at Stratford needed to accommodate a cross-over and to permit construction of a connection to the possible servicing and maintenance facilities at Temple Mills. The required alternative bids covered both an international only and a combined international and domestic station at Stratford, both of which require construction of a long box.
New Vehicles
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of current vehicles in the United Kingdom are new cars built since 1993. [32870]
Mr. Norris: The most recent available information is for licensed stock at the end of 1994. It is estimated that, to the nearest half per cent., 13.5 per cent. of current vehicles are new cars built since the beginning of 1993, 10.5 per cent. are petrol driven new cars built since the beginning of 1993.
Municipal Bus Companies
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current policy towards the divesting of former municipal bus companies by local authorities;
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what factors have led to changes in policy; and if he will make a statement. [32943]Mr. Norris: There has been no change in our policy towards these companies: we are keen to see them move into the private sector.
Vehicle Harmonisation Directive
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on developments in negotiations on the draft vehicle harmonisation directive. [32811]
Mr. Norris: An expert working group chaired by the European Commission is currently considering the extension of the whole vehicle type approval framework directive 70/156/EEC, as amended by directive 92/53/EEC, to categories of vehicle other than cars. No target has been set for the adoption of amending proposals.
Road Pricing
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department plans to publish the full report on the feasibility of road pricing in London; and what the cost of that study is to date. [32734]
Mr. Norris: A full report on London research will be published as soon as practicable. To date the study has cost approximately £2.7 million.
Catalytic Converters
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what tests have been carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on the efficacy of catalytic converters at (a) 30,000 miles, (b) 40,000 miles, (c) 50,000 miles and (d) 60,000 miles; and if he will publish the results; [32867]
(2) what research has been carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on the problem of cold start emissions from catalytic converters; [32868]
(3) what research has been carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on the performance of catalytic converters in service in reducing harmful vehicle emissions. [32866]
Mr. Norris: None. However, the Government recognise that improving catalyst performance and maintaining it under all operating conditions are key factors in securing improvements in air quality. New vehicle standards already in place for 1996 97 will deliver improvements in catalyst warm-up time. As part of the EU discussions on standards for 2000, the Government have made proposals for a cold start test aimed at further reducing warm-up time to within a few seconds, a study of the case for extending durability requirements for new cars from 80,000 km to 160,000 km and the use of on- board diagnostics to monitor emissions performance throughout the life of the vehicle.
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars built since 1993 fitted with catalytic converters use super unleaded fuel. [32869]
Mr. Norris: As at April 1995, super unleaded petrol accounted for approximately 4.8 per cent. of total petrol
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sales. The precise number of cars using super unleaded is not known, although since October 1990 all petrol cars have had to be designed to use premium unleaded petrol, which is universally recommended by manufacturers. Moreover, very few new cars currently on sale in the United Kingdom can derive any benefit from the use of super unleaded petrol.Driving Licence Fraud
Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce driving licence fraud. [32731]
Mr. Norris: We plan to introduce a new plastic card driving licence in July 1996 incorporating a photograph of the holder. This will help to eliminate misuse of licences and impersonation at driving tests.
Orange Badge Scheme
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about councils refusing to recognise the orange badge disabled parking scheme; and what plans his Department has to ensure that the orange badge scheme is accepted throughout the country. [33223]
Mr. Norris: We receive a small but steady flow of representations about the fact that the orange badge scheme does not apply in central London, and about arrangements introduced by some local authorities elsewhere which have the effect of excluding orange badge holders along with other motorists, either absolutely or unless they have a special locally issued permit.
The local authorities concerned with the central London area have, with the Department's encouragement, agreed limited parking concessions for orange badge holders and the possibility of extension is kept under review. We have issued advice to local authorities that are considering pedestrianising an area that the needs of disabled people must be fully taken into account; and we have made clear that we discourage local schemes requiring permits in addition to orange badges, although we have no power to prevent them.
Cones Hotline
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the total number of calls received by the cones hotline; and how many resulted in remedial action being taken; [32752]
(2) what is the total cost of the cones hotline. [33115]
Mr. Watts: The cones hotline began in June 1992 and by the end of June 1995 it had received 17,700 calls. Approximately half the calls concerned cones and traffic management, and half were requests for information about roadworks or general queries about roads, planning, policy, and so on. Where appropriate we have taken steps to alter the layout of cones, improve signposting at roadworks, review diversion routes, repaint road markings and investigate road lighting at roadworks as a result of comments and complaints from hotline callers. In five cases, this follow-up action required the complete removal of cones and traffic management measures which were no longer required. During the last financial year, 1994 95,
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the cost of the dedicated service line was approximately £5,000. The cost of staffing the line was met from within existing establishment and budgets.Pollution Monitoring Centre
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pollution monitoring centres are now operating in regard to vehicle emissions in each of the largest 20 cities in the United Kingdom. [32680]
Mr. Clappison: I have been asked to reply.
The following table shows nitrogen dioxide, NO2, and volatile organic compounds, VOCs, monitoring sites where the results are representive of vehicle emissions for the 20 largest cities in the United Kingdom:
|Automatic |Automatic |NO2 diffusion
City |NO2 sites |VOC's sites |tube sites
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |5 |2 |72
Birmingham |2 |1 |4
Glasgow |1 |- |4
Liverpool |1 |- |-
Sheffield |1 |- |-
Leeds |1 |1 |4
Manchester |1 |- |4
Bristol |1 |1 |4
Edinburgh |1 |1 |4
Leicester |1 |- |-
Kingston upon Hull |1 |- |4
Coventry |- |- |4
Belfast |1 |1 |4
Bradford |- |- |4
Nottingham |- |- |4
Stoke on Trent |- |- |4
Cardiff |1 |1 |-
Wolverhampton |- |- |4
Plymouth |- |- |-
Derby |- |- |4
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Television
Mr. Allen: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's position on the European Parliament's amendments to the draft EC directive on the use of standards for the transmission of signals. [31914]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The Government are considering carefully the European Parliament's amendments to the draft EC directive on the standards for the transmission of television.
Benchmarking
Mr. Clapham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how successful his Department has been at encouraging the increased use of benchmarking within industry; and if he will make a
statement. [33275]
Mr. Ian Taylor: My Department recognises that benchmarking provides an important stimulus to improving competitiveness within United Kingdom companies, and has a number of related initiatives in this area. Full details of our activities were published in the recent competitiveness White Paper.
Column 405
The benchmarking challenge was set up in 1993 to encourage trade associations to form benchmarking clubs. Twelve successful associations were supported under the challenge and their activities are progressing. We are also collaborating with an increasing number of trade associations on the implementation of benchmarking initiatives. These activities are designed to improve the competitiveness of the association members.My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced at the CBI conference and in the competitiveness White Paper that the Department would establish a national benchmarking scheme, to provide a high-quality benchmarking service for business links and business support organisations. Discussions are taking place between the Department, CBI and business links on the introduction of such a scheme.
Consequently, demand for DTI benchmarking publications has been high, with over 40,000 publications being distributed in two years.
Teaching Company Scheme
Mr. Clapham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the proposed locations for the six extra teaching company scheme centres for small firms which his Department intends to open by the end of 1995. [33276]
Mr. Ian Taylor: Bids from universities for five TCS centres for small firms are currently being considered; decisions are likely to be announced next month.
In addition, a proposal is being considered for a TCS centre for small firms on Merseyside to be assisted by the European regional development fund.
Mr. Clapham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many businesses in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley are currently participants in the teaching company scheme. [33281]
Mr. Taylor: One business in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, Ice Technology Ltd. of Penistone, is currently a TCS industrial partner.
Growth Targets
Mr. Clapham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what growth targets for business investment his Department has set. [33280]
Mr. Eggar: Companies, not Governments, are best placed to take decisions about business investment. The best encouragement the Government can give companies to invest is a stable economic environment based on low inflation. With inflation staying low and the recovery proceeding steadily, business investment is expected to grow by 4.75 per cent. in 1995 and by 9.5 per cent. in 1996.
Defence Industrial Base
Dr. David Clark: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's definition of the United Kingdom defence industrial base. [33233]
Mr. Eggar: My Department has not defined the United Kingdom defence industrial base. In conjunction with the
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Ministry of Defence and industry, my Department has commissioned a study on the value of the defence industry to the UK economy. The first phase is due to report in July. The key conclusions will be reported to the House.Dr. Clark: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the United Kingdom manufacturing output was accounted for by the defence industry sector in each of the last 10 years. [33232]
Mr. Eggar: My Department has produced the following broad estimates based on figures published by Central Statistical Office and the Ministry of Defence. Figures are available only up to 1992.
Year |Per cent. ------------------------------ 1982 |9 1983 |8 1984 |8 1985 |8 1986 |8 1987 |7 1988 |7 1989 |7 1990 |7 1991 |7 1992 |6
Directors
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what distinction his Department draws between the role of executive and non- executive directors; and whether non-executive directors are expected to supervise the day-to-day work of the executive directors. [33013]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The distinction between executive and non- executive directors is not defined in company law. However, I agree with the recommendation in the Cadbury code of best practice that non-executive directors should bring an independent judgment to bear on issues of strategy, performance and resources, including key appointments, and standards of conduct.
Bankruptcy
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bankruptcy orders were made in the Great Grimsby county court in each of the last three years. [32510]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The total numbers of bankruptcy orders made in the Great Grimsby county court in each of the last three years were as follows:
Year ended 31 March |Number of bankruptcy
|orders
---------------------------------------------------------------
1993 |132
1994 |134
1995 |94
Company Officials (Prosecutions)
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many directors were successfully
Column 407
prosecuted by the Insolvency Service, indicating the relevant Act of Parliament and the section number, in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. [32603]Column 408
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The number of directors successfully prosecuted by the Insolvency Service in the last three years and details of the offences concerned are as follows:Column 407
|Relevant
|statute |1992 |1993 |1994
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of directors prosecuted (total for the year) |116 |81 |65
Nature of offence
Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986
Undischarged bankrupt acting in the management of a company |Section 11 |29 |25 |23
Persons acting in management of company whilst disqualified |Section 13 |7 |5 |9
Insolvency Act 1986
Fraud in anticipation of winding up |Section 206|6 |1 |1
Transaction in fraud of creditors |Section 207|- |1 |1
Misconduct in course of winding up |Section 208|2 |1 |2
Material omission |Section 210|2 |2 |-
False representation |Section 211|2 |- |-
Use of prohibited company name |Section 216|5 |4 |-
Failure to cooperate |Section 235|- |- |2
Non-disclosure |Section 353|1 |- |-
Concealment of property and failure to account |Section 354|- |1 |-
False statements |Section 356|- |- |1
Undischarged bankrupt obtaining credit and trading under a false name |Section 360|6 |3 |-
Failure to keep proper accounting records |Section 361|2 |1 |1
Companies Act 1948
Undischarged bankrupt taking part in management of company |Section 187|2 |- |-
Companies Act 1985
Failure to deliver return of allotments |Section 88 |- |- |1
Public limited company carrying on business without a trading certificate |Section 177|- |- |1
Failure to keep or maintain accounting records of a company |Section 223|91 |51 |28
Persons acting in management of company whilst disqualified |Section 295|- |3 |-
Undischarged bankrupt taking part in management of company |Section 302|3 |- |-
Fraudulent trading by a company |Section 458|17 |24 |22
Theft Act 1968
Theft of property |Section 1 |7 |7 |4
Obtaining property by deception |Section 15 |13 |7 |8
Obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception |Section 16 |- |1 |-
False accounting |Section 17 |- |4 |-
Obtaining a valuable security by deception |Section 20 |45 |- |1
Theft Act 1978
|Section 1 |1 |- |-
Evasion of liability/obtaining services |Section 2 |1 |3 |3
|Section 20 |2 |- |-
Perjury Act 1911
False statement by a witness |Section 1 |- |- |1
Making untrue statements |Section 5 |1 |1 |3
Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981
Forgery |Section 2 |1 |- |-
Forgery |Section 3 |- |- |3
Financial Services Act 1986
Illegal investment business |Section 4 |- |- |1
Accessories and Abettors Act 1861
Aiding and abetting |Section 8 |8 |6 |5
Criminal Attempts Act 1981
Attempted criminal act |Section 1 |1 |- |-
Criminal Law Act 1977
Conspiracy |Section 1 |4 |6 |-
Conspiracy to Defraud |- |- |8
Information for the previous year could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bankrupts were successfully prosecuted for offences under the Insolvency Act 1986 in 1994, identifying the relevant section, by the Insolvency Service. [32587]
Mr. Evans: In 1994 a total of 66 bankrupts were successfully prosecuted by the Insolvency Service for 128 offences under the Insolvency Act 1986 as a result of the Official Receiver's report. Details of the offences are as follows:
|Insolvency
|Act 1986 |Number of
Nature of offence |relevant section |convictions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Misconduct in course of winding up |208 |1
Material omission |210 |2
False representations |211 |1
Non-disclosure |353 |4
Concealment of property and failure
to account |354 |13
Concealment of books and papers;
falsification |355 |2
Material omission and false statements |356 |10
Fraudulent disposal of property |357 |2
Undischarged bankrupt obtaining credit
and trading under a false name |360 |65
Failure to keep proper accounting records |361 |18
Gambling |362 |10
Total |128
Astra Holdings plc
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were his Department's findings in respect of the care exercised by Mr. James and his colleagues on the main board of Astra in advising shareholders to subscribe to a rights issue for the acquisition of BMARC. [33108]
Mr. Ian Taylor: As the opening paragraphs of the inspectors' report on Astra Holdings plc makes clear, the inspectors were asked to investigate in particular the circumstances surrounding the acquisition by Astra of PRB sa and the rights issue made in that connection. The inspectors also investigated a number of ancillary matters and reviewed the company's accounting policies. In relation to the acquisition by Astra of BMARC, the inspectors' report concentrates on the effect of this acquisition on the results of the Astra group.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will summarise the findings of his Department's inspectors concerning the manner in which the directors of Astra Holdings had performed its duties. [33050]
Mr. Taylor: I refer the hon. Member to the report of the inspectors on Astra Holdings plc, published by HMSO, ISBN 0115153514, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.
Column 410
Offshore Installations
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many oil and gas platforms in the North sea are estimated to be taken out of production by 2000; and of those how many are expected to be (a) brought ashore for dismantling; (b) toppled at site and (c) removed and sunk in a deep water location. [33536]
Mr. Eggar: Depending upon field performance and economic factors at the time, current estimates indicate that some 32 fixed offshore installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf could reach the end of their lives by the turn of the century. Of these, 19 are located in water depths of less than 75 m and in accordance with international guidelines will be totally removed. Their disposal will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but it is likely that they will be returned to shore. Decisions on those installations in deeper water, where under international guidelines partial removal is permitted, will be taken according to individual circumstances and in the light of a comparative assessment of the alternative options. This will have proper regard for environmental considerations and other users of the sea, as well as risk, technical feasibility and cost in order to arrive at the best practicable environmental option.
Depressive Illnesses
Mr. Skinner: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation providing safeguards to prevent persons suffering depressive illnesses from being discriminated against by insurance companies, and if he will make a statement. [33048]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: No. However, the Disability Discrimination Bill, currently before Parliament, will give some protection to people suffering severe depressive illness.
International Atomic Energy Agency Report
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the most recent safeguards implementation report was completed by the International Atomic Energy Agency; what comments were made in the report about the application of safeguards on United Kingdom facilities and materials exported from the United Kingdom; and if he will arrange for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library. [32876]
Mr. Eggar: The International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards implementation report for 1994 was issued to members of the agency's board of governors in May 1995. The detailed report is confidential to the board of governors, but its contents will be summarised in the IAEA annual report for 1994, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House when it is published. In addition, the IAEA and its board of governors have recommended publication of an executive summary to the 1994 SIR, a copy of which will also be placed in the Library of the House when it becomes available.
Post Office
Mr. Spellar: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the external financing limit for the Post Office for 1995 96; and what was the figure for the two previous years. [32820]
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Mr. Lang: For 1995 96, the Post Office has been set a negative external financing limit of £213 million. For the two previous years, the figures were as follows:
£ million Year |Target |Outturn -------------------------------- 1993-94 |-181 |-182 1994-95 |-226 |-235
Newspapers
Mr. Spellar: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 June, Official Report , column 777, what response he has received from the Director General of Fair Trading regarding concerns about newspaper carriage charges. [32824]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I understand that the Office of Fair Trading is monitoring carefully the effects of the recent changes in the newspaper industry, including their impact on carriage charges. The OFT will keep under consideration whether a further reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission would be justified.
Ceramic Industry
Ms Walley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the future employment potential of the ceramic industry in north Staffordshire. [33224]
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