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Seconded Staff
Mr. Clapham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff from small and medium-sized enterprises were seconded to his Department in 1994. [32269]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 4 July 1995]: During 1994 there were a total of 186 people seconded to the Department from business. A list of companies providing secondees has been published in the 1994 departmental report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. To provide the breakdown of the number of staff from small and medium-sized companies could be completed only at disproportionate cost.
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Brent Spar
Mr. Dafis: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his current policy on bringing the Brent Spar inshore to be disposed of. [31693]
Mr. Eggar: Our policy is to consider every proposal on a case-by- case basis to seek the best practicable environmental option. I await a further application in respect of the Brent Spar.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what lessons he draws from the case of the Brent Spar for the decommissioning of nuclear power stations. [31695]
Mr. Eggar: There are no parallels between the case of the Brent Spar and the decommissioning of nuclear power stations.
Oil Platforms (Disposal)
Mr. Dafis: To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what year his Department or the Department of Energy began to consider options for the disposal of disused oil platforms. [31694]
Mr. Eggar: My Department has been considering options since the early days of North sea development.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department's procedures for considering applications for licences for the exploration and extraction of oil in Cardigan Bay will include an assessment of options for the disposal of disused oil
platforms. [31698]
Mr. Eggar: No. The model clauses incorporated into each offshore production licence provide that no licensee may develop a field for production without the prior consent of the Secretary of State. The Petroleum Act 1987 applies to the abandonment of installations and pipelines. It is therefore not appropriate to consider abandonment options at the application stage.
Executive Pay Increases
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to restrict the pay increases awarded to senior executives. [31797]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Pay awards for all employees in the private sector are for the private sector to determine. It is not for Government to dictate how much companies should pay their employees.
Genetic Engineering
Mr. Morley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those United Kingdom patents that have been (a) granted and (b) applied for in respect of genetically engineered animals and processes for creating such animals. [33637]
Mr. Ian Taylor: There have been a total of 11 patent applications filed under the Patents Act 1977 and subsequently published relating to genetically engineered animals and/or processes for preparing them. Of these, eight have claims for both animals and processes and three have been granted. Two have claims for animals only and one of these has been granted. One has process claims only and has not yet been granted.
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The eight with claims for animals and processes are GB2282139, GB2272440, GB2247023, GB2233655, GB2229440, GB2228487, GB2227243 and GB2223755. The two with claims for animals only are GB2280186 and GB2236753 and the one with only process claims is GB2265909. Those granted are GB22336753, GB2233655, GB2228487 and GB2227243.Mr. Morley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that United Kingdom patents are not granted in respect of genetically engineered animals and processes for creating such animals where the genetic engineering leads, or is likely to lead, to suffering or physical harm for the animals involved. [33638]
Mr. Ian Taylor: Patents are granted when the requirements of the Patents Act 1977 are met. The Act prohibits the grant of a patent for an invention which would be generally expected to encourage offensive, immoral or anti-social behaviour. Such an objection would be raised only in a clear case. Decisions of the comptroller on the application of the Act are subject to appeal to the patents court.
Astra Holdings
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, further to his inquiry into Astra Holdings, how many shares were brought by each of the executive and non-executive directors of Astra Holdings in each of the three major rights issues before the company was declared insolvent; how many fully paid up shares each held before the first rights issue; how many share options were subsequently granted to each and how many were exercised and at what price; and how many shares were sold by each, at what date, and at what price. [33106]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: These are not matters which were covered in the inspector's report.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the directors of Astra Holdings listed in his inspector's report as unfit to hold office in a public company. [33093]
Mr. Evans: The inspector's report was critical of certain directors. As a result proceedings under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 have been instituted against former directors, John Anderson, Martin Guest, Christopher Gumbley, Gerald James, Laurence Kingswood and James Miller. It is for the court to determine whether their conduct was unfitted such that they should be disqualified from acting as a director or take part in the management of a limited company.
Companies Inspector's Reports
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's policy regarding the publication of inspectors' reports relating to (a) public and (b) private companies. [33922]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Where inspectors are appointed under the Companies Act 1985 on terms that their report may be published, the normal practice is for my Department to publish such reports in respect of public companies as being matters of public interest, but not to
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publish reports in respect of private companies unless there is a particular public interest.Internal Market Advisory Committee
Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the complaints against the United Kingdom which have been raised at the Internal Market Advisory Committee. [31145]
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 6 July 1995]: There have been no complaints against the United Kingdom raised at the Internal Market Advisory Committee since specific single market complaints were first placed on its agenda last year.
Copyright
Mr. David Porter: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his plans to (a) introduce, (b) amend and (c) veto new harmonised copyright laws of the European Union in this country. [33006]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 10 July 1995]: Three European directives in the copyright field await implementation into United Kingdom law: 92/100/EEC on rental and lending rights, and rights for performers, producers and broadcasting organisations; 93/98/EEC on duration of copyright; and 93/83/EEC on satellite broadcasting and cable retransmission. The Government are satisfied that the harmonisation of national laws brought by these directives is necessary to remove distortions from the internal market. The directives have all been formally adopted by the Council of Ministers, and the United Kingdom is obliged to implement their provisions in national law. This will be done by means of secondary legislation made under powers conferred by the European Communities Act 1972 and amending the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to the extent necessary to comply with the directives. The legislation will require approval by both Houses.
The European Commission has a substantial programme for harmonisation of the copyright laws of member states, from which these three directives stem, and it is possible that further proposals may be submitted by the Commission. To the extent their purpose will be to eliminate market distortion, any new proposals will be subject to qualified majority voting, no single country having a veto. The United Kingdom will have a full opportunity in negotiations before the Council to make its views known, and to seek amendments to the content of the Commission's proposals.
Malta (Trade)
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the present balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Malta; and if he will make a statement. [32452]
Mr. Nelson: Detailed information on UK visible trade is regularly published by the Central Statistical Office in business monitor MM20, "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom with countries outside the European Community (Extra-EC Trade)", available in the Library of the House. In 1994 the UK had a visible trade surplus with Malta of £130.4 million.
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Official Receiver
Mr. Soley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures will be taken to ensure the continuity of work in the event of the business of the official receiver being contracted out. [32703]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Officials are exploring arrangements which would enable the transfer of existing cases at 1 April 1996 to contractors to complete their administration.
Mr. Soley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the average cost of dealing with (a) bankruptcy and (b) company liquidations. [32704]
Mr. Evans: In the light of the current contracting out exercise, this information is commercially confidential.
Mr. Soley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, when work currently undertaken by the official receiver is contracted out and the contractor is unable to sustain a lower cost performance, the contract will be cancelled and returned to the official receiver, and if he will make a statement. [32705]
Mr. Evans: Potential providers will be asked to submit prices which would be incorporated into the terms of their contract. The Insolvency Service would have the right to terminate the contract should a provider be unable satisfactorily to maintain its terms and conditions. Contracting out to a number of contractors would enable alternate providers to be used in the event of a contract cancellation.
Net Book Agreement
Sir David Steel: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that the net book agreement will be maintained, by seeking to make statutory provision if it becomes necessary. [33144]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The net book agreement benefits from two decisions of the restrictive practices court exempting books from the general prohibition of resale price maintenance and upholding the agreement on public interest grounds. So long as those decisions remain in force, it is for the parties to decide whether to maintain the agreement. The restrictive practices court has been asked to consider whether its previous decisions stand.
Gulf States
Sir David Steel: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide details of the value of British exports and imports for each year since 1992 and for the first quarter of 1995 with the Arab states of the Gulf which currently have reciprocal entry visa abolition agreements with the United Kingdom. [32203]
Mr. Nelson: Information is published in Central Statistical Office business monitor MM20, available in the Library of the House.
Coal Authority Land
Ms Walley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will allow individuals currently leasing small sites owned by the Coal Authority to purchase that land. [32710]
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Mr. Page: Land was transferred to the Coal Authority, broadly, because it was judged to form part of a prospective opencast site or because it was required for the authority's own use, for example, in connection with mine water pumping. The authority will respond to requests for rights or interests in land that it owns in accordance with its duties under the Coal Industry Act 1994.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the new welfare standards for livestock being transported; [32726]
(2) if he will make a statement on the enforcement mechanism for the new standards for livestock being transported. [32727]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 10 July 1995]: The new requirements adopted by the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 22 June represent a major step forward for the welfare of animals being transported in the European Union. Effective enforcement of the requirements will be vital, and the measure contains tough new enforcement provisions including a licensing system for transport undertakings under which offenders can be disqualified, requirements for the scrutiny of journey plans and strict enforcement obligations on member states.
The directive is for implementation by 31 December 1996, and we will consult thoroughly with all interested parties to ensure that the United Kingdom's implementation of this measure is thorough and effective.
Sheep Scab
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if sheep scab is a notifiable disease under sections 15 and 88 of the Animal Health Act 1981; and he if he will make a statement; [32891]
(2) how many prosecutions there has been since 1 January 1993 in relation to sheep scab under the provisions of section 15(7) of the Animal Health Act 1981: and if he will make a statement; [32892] (3) if he will make a statement concerning the purposes and utility of retaining the notifiability of sheep scab. [32893]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 10 July 1995]: Although all secondary legislation detailing the control measures for sheep scab was revoked in 1992, sheep scab remains within the meaning of "disease" in section 88 of the Animal Health Act 1981 and is therefore still technically notifiable to a police constable under section 15(1) of the Act.
A decision on whether to repeal this provision will be taken once I have reviewed what alternative options may be available for dealing with the disease.
The local authority liaison group on animal health matters and the Home Office are fully aware of the situation regarding the notifiability of sheep scab and we will take no action on reported cases unless there are
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welfare grounds for doing so. I am not aware of any prosecution made under article 15(7) of the Animal Health Act 1981 since 1 January 1993 in connection with sheep scab.Common Agricultural Policy
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 28 June, Official Report , column 635-6 , what criteria for reform have been adopted when pressing for the further reform of the CAP. [32669]
Mr. Baldry: The Government believe that the CAP should be reformed so as to achieve progressive reductions in product-linked support and protection. This would lead to the eventual removal of artificial restrictions on production and the creation of a competitive and market- driven farming industry. Any remaining support should be better targeted towards environmental and other specific objectives.
Salmon Fishing
Mr. Beith: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has made to the National Rivers Authority about changes in the east coast salmon net licensing season; what consultations he held with representatives of (a) anglers and (b) net fishermen on the proposals, and what evidence he has assembled in support of his proposals. [33036]
Mr. Baldry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Woking (Sir C. Onslow) on 28 June Official Report , column 697 .
If the National Rivers Authority, after reconsidering the recommendation made in the 1991 report on salmon net fisheries that the opening date of the drift net fisheries of Northumbria and Yorkshire should be postponed until 1 May, proposes a byelaw to this effect, this will be subject to the statutory consultation procedures.
High Seas Driftnet Fishing
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement in regard to surveillance of the high seas driftnet fishery for albacore tuna in the north-east Atlantic in 1994; how many United Kingdom fisheries patrol vessels were involved in surveillance; how many patrol boats in total were involved in the surveillance; how many days were spent in surveillance; and what was the total cost to the United Kingdom [33633]
Mr. Baldry: Last year, during the summer tuna fishery, the long- standing conflict between Spanish and French fishermen spilled over and embroiled UK vessels. Such harassment of British fishing vessels ceased following the arrival of the Royal Navy in the tuna fishery.
There are a total of nine vessels in the Royal Navy fisheries protection squadron, of which three or four vessels are normally on task to the Ministry at any one time and one to the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. The Royal Navy sent two vessels to patrol the tuna fishery for a total of 112 patrol days during 1994 at a cost of some £0.6 million to the Ministry and the Welsh Office.
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Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total catch of albacore tuna by United Kingdom vessels in the high seas drifnet fishery in the north-east Atlantic in 1994; what was its value; and where was the main market for this tuna. [33634]
Mr. Baldry: UK vessels using nets in the north-east Atlantic landed 576 tonnes of albacore tuna in 1994, with a total value of £879,000. Some 426 tonnes of the total were landed in the UK, the main port of landing and first sale being Newlyn.
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring has been conducted of the bycatch of unwanted fish, sharks, dolphins and other wildlife in the high seas driftnet fishery for albacore tuna in the north-east Atlantic; and what contribution to this bycatch is made by the United Kingdom driftnet fleet. [33636]
Mr. Baldry: In 1992 and 1993, there was a study of the bycatch of the French driftnet fleet, which is the largest in the north-east Atlantic tuna fishery. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has commissioned the sea mammals research unit to monitor the bycatch of the United Kingdom tuna driftnet fleet in 1995 and 1996.
Fisheries Protection Vessels
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total cost of United Kingdom fisheries protection vessels in 1994. [33635]
Mr. Baldry: Fisheries surveillance operations in the UK are undertaken by vessels of the Royal Navy fishery protection squadron and vessels owned and operated by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland. The operational costs for 1994 were some £13.8 million.
WALES
Countryside Council For Wales
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review his predecessor's announcement of 5 May in relation to the future role, responsibilities and staffing of the Countryside Council for Wales.
Mr. Hague [holding answer 30 June 1995]: No, the action plan published on 5 May stands and the discussion then instituted about its implementation will continue.
Farming Unions
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with each of the farming unions in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [32938]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: I have had several meetings in 1995 with the National Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales.
Connahs Quay
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will take to modify the impact upon residents in Kelsterton road, Connahs quay, Deeside, of the building of (a) the new River Dee crossing and
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(b) the PowerGen power station at Connahs quay; and if he will make a statement. [32940]Mr. Gwilym Jones: Clwyd county council is responsible for the new River Dee crossing. Following consultations, the Department of Trade and Industry attached a number of conditions to the consent for the power station development to protect local residents, including those in Kelsterton road.
River Dee Crossing
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of (a) the number of jobs created by the building of the River Dee crossing and (b) the financial cost incurred in building the River Dee crossing; and if he will make a
statement. [32941]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Clwyd county council is responsible for the new River Dee crossing. The scheme is estimated to cost £61 million.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the impact upon Kelsterton Farm, Kelsterton, Clwyd, of plans for and the construction of the new River Dee crossing, and if he will make a statement. [32939]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Clwyd county council is responsible for the new River Dee crossing.
Landfill Sites
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list landfill sites in Wales which receive waste from the nuclear industry. [32708]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Radioactive waste from the nuclear power industry in Wales is not disposed of to any landfill sites in Wales: it goes to authorised landfill sites in England.
Women's Aid Groups (Funding)
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what funding he has given to women's aid groups over the last five years. [32935]
Mr. Richards: The answer is as follows:
1991 92: £703,140
1992 93: £664,742
1993 94: £752,333
1994 95: £704,597
1995 96: £611,628
These figures include core funding for Welsh Women's Aid and project funding for individual refugees, advice centres and outreach workers.
Upper Limb Disorder
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning work-related upper limb disorder. [33015]
Mr. Richards: I understand that the extent and nature of this condition continues to be a source of debate. Although the Medical Research Council is not currently supporting studies of work-related upper limb disorder, it is always willing to consider scientifically based, sound proposals for research.
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Physiotherapists
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of physiotherapists in training. [33017]
Mr. Richards: At the end of May, there were 97 student physiotherapists being centrally funded for training in Wales.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average pay of physiotherapists in the NHS in Wales, and if he will make a statement. [33019]
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