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Privatisation (Debts)
Mr. Byers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of debt written off in privatisations since 1984; and if he will list the figures by company and type of debt. [34642]
Mr. Jack [holding answer 14 July 1995]: It is common practice for capital restructuring to be undertaken where necessary before privatisation. For some privatisations, debt is written off, for others debt is injected. The table shows the debt written off, and the type of debt concerned, and debt injected for each company privatised where either occurred. Debts shown as written off include all debt written off since 1984 in companies subsequently privatised.
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Debt written off and debt injected prior to privatisation
Debt written off Debt Injected
Industry |Year |£ million |Type of debt |Year |£ million
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Telecommunications |1984-85 |2,789.9 |National Loans Fund |1984-85 |3,500
British Gas |- |- |- |1986-87 |2,500
BAA |1986-87 |43.5 |National Loans Fund |- |-
British Steel |1988-89 |500.0 |Public Dividend Capital |- |-
British Steel |1988-89 |3,480.0 |Borrowing under Iron and Steel Act 1982 |- |-
|Assistance under Aircraft and Shipbuilding
Harland and Wolff |1989-90 |422.5 | Industries (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 |- |-
Short Brothers |1989-90 |390.0 |Loan by DED |- |-
Water companies |1989-90 |4,973.3 |National Loans Fund |1989-90 |72.9
Water companies |1989-90 |55.0 |Public Works Loan Board |- |-
Electricity (England and Wales) |- |- |- |1990-91 |3,583
Electricity<1> Scotland |1991-92 |1,043.6 |National Loans Fund |1991-92 |625.9
NTL |- |- |- |1991-92 |22
Norther Ireland Electricity |- |- |- |1993-94 |70.3
Belfast Airport |- |- |- |1943-95 |15.2
British Coal |1994-95 |1,633.4 |Voted Loans |- |-
Total |- |15,331.2 |- |- |10,389.3
Notes:
<1> Prior to privatisation, National Loans Fund debt due to the South of Scotland Electricity Board nuclear programme of £1,368.4 million was transferred to Scottish Nuclear Ltd. and subsequently written off.
Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994
Mr. Clapham: To ask the First Secretary of State what mechanism is used to determine that no necessary protection is removed when considering changes in regulations by order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. [34571]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The responsible Minister must consider the implications of any proposed
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amendment to primary legislation and, having done so, reach the view that it would remove or reduce a burden and that it would not remove any necessary protection. "Necessary protection" is not defined in the Act but could include, for example, protection for consumers or for the environment. All proposed orders will be scrutinised by the deregulation committee and the House of Lords Delegated Powers Scrutiny Committee, which will report on whether they share the Minister's view that no necessary protection would be removed by the proposed amendment. Following the period of special parliamentary scrutiny, the Minister has to consider any representations made, including by both committees, before bringing forward a draft order subject to affirmative resolution.Office of First Secretary of State
Mr. Marlow: To ask the First Secretary of State if he will make a statement on the origins of his office. [34507]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The right hon. R. A. Butler was appointed to the office of First Secretary of State in 1962, and there have been several holders of the office since then.
Legislative Plans
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what legislation he plans to introduce; and if he will make a statement. [35303]
Mr. Freeman: The Government's plan for legislation will be announced in the Queen's Speech at the start of the 1995 96 Session.
World Wide Web
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the First Secretary of State if he will make a statement on the plan his Department has for the next 12 months to make information about his Department available to the public via the Government world wide web server known as www.open.gov.uk. [34713]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 14 July, Official Report , columns 833 34 .
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the results of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the past 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring. [34705]
Mr. Freeman: The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the United Kingdom economy. We continue to help smaller companies by keeping inflation and interest rates low and by reducing legislative, administrative and taxation burdens. We provide direct assistance where appropriate. The competitiveness White Paper announced in May 1995 outlines a programme of measures to assist the growth and competitiveness of the small firms sector.
My Department plays a full role in the Government's policies to assist the development of small business in the United Kingdom. During the last 12 months, we completed the first phase of the national technology foresight programme, which involved participation of businesses across all sectors of the economy. Fifteen sector reports were published between March and April this year and an overarching report was published on 22 May 1995.All the reports give valuable indicators to business as to long-range market opportunities for the UK and to the investments in
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science, engineering and technology which will help exploit those opportunities. The reports emphasise the value of partnerships between businesses large and small and the UK's scientists and engineers. The Office of Science and Technology, through the auspices of the research councils, has in place a number of initiatives aimed at building collaboration with, and facilitation and exploitation of, the results of research by industry in general, which includes small businesses.My Department continues to support Government Departments and agencies in taking forward their competing for quality programmes. These include the market testing and contracting out of many activities employing between one and 20 people before tendering, thus offering opportunities for small firms to bid for work. The Government also publish a monthly bulletin, Government Opportunities (incorporating the Market Testing Bulletin), which details the opportunities for businesses of all sizes.
My Department has also been encouraging Government Departments and agencies to assist business, including small firms, through citizens charter initiatives such as the revised employers charter produced by the Contributions Agency and the charter standard statement and code of practice produced by Companies House.
The CCTA has been developing the CCTA Government information service on Internet to provide a simple electronic channel to provide a wide range of information from Government Departments. The service will open up the opportunity for the public sector to make information both on support to industry and procurement opportunities easily accessible to small businesses.
The CCTA has also been exploring the use of electronic commerce to make it easier for all businesses to get access to procurement notices and to supply to government.
The nature of the products and services purchased by HMSO are such that many contracts are suitable for small businesses. Although there is no specific monitoring, it is estimated that more than 60 per cent. of HMSO contracts are awarded to small businesses.
The Occupational Health and Safety Agency, through its network of regional offices, uses small businesses wherever possible to provide supplies and services, particularly in the area of maintenance. Further, through market testing, opportunities are offered to small firms to compete for work such as blood test analysis, internal audit services and marketing and publicity.
Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will indicate which five consultancy firms have received most contracts from his Department (a) by number of contracts and (b) monetary value in the last five years for which figures are available. [33434]
Mr. Horam: The consultancy firms which have received most contracts from the Cabinet Office, OPS, its agencies, HMSO and COI, are as follows:
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1993-94 |1994-95
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Number of contracts
Fordway (5 contracts) |KPMG Peat Marwick
KPMG Peat Marwick (4) |Glasgow and Associates (4)
Eider Computers (2) |Ametc Consulting (3)
Ernst and Young (2) |Coopers and Lybrand (3)
Glasgow and Associates (2) |Eider Computers (3)
Kudos Oracle (2) |Elaine Brant Management Consultants (3)
MORI (2) |MORI (3)
Price Waterhouse (2) |Touche Ross (3)
Segal Quince Wickstead (2)
Touche Ross (2)
b. Monetary Value
Peterborough Software |Glasgow and Associates
Glasgow and Associates |Ogilvy and Mather
Smith System Engineering |Segal Quince Wickstead
Segal Quince Wickstead |PREST Consultancy
Touche Ross |Touche Ross
Information is not available for earlier years.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many contracts his Department has had with consultants; and what has been the total cost in each of the last five years. [33574]
Mr. Horam: The cost of contracts let by the Cabinet Office, its agencies, COI and HMSO is not held centrally in the form requested. The full information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The costs of consultancy contracts let by the Cabinet Office and its agencies in the last three financial years are as follows:
|£
------------------------------
1992-93 |4,054,273
1993-94 |7,604,190
1994-95 |8,085,264
The costs of consultancy contracts awarded by COI and HMSO in the last three financial years are as follows:
|£
------------------------------
COI
1992-93 |136,460
1993-94 |66,668
1994-95 |162,209
HMSO
1992 |410,075
1993 |1,061,025
1994 |1,750,750
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department and its agencies have spent on computer consultancy in each of the last five years; and what is the expected expenditure over the next five years. [33853]
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Mr. Horam: The expenditure on computer consultancy by Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service and its agencies and the Central Office of Information for 1993 94 and 1994 95, is as follows: 1993 94: £2,495,500
1994 95: £2,600,000
Similar information for HMSO and the information for earlier years may be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Forecast expenditure on computer consultancy is included with expenditure on computer equipment and cannot readily be identified separately.
Departmental Contracts
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the top 10 suppliers of computer equipment to his Department and its agencies in the last five years, indicating the total value of the contracts received. [34547]
Mr. Horam: The figures include expenditure by the Cabinet Office and No. 10 Downing street and by the Office of Public Service and its agencies.
The top ten suppliers during the period 1993 94 and 1994 95, were:
|£00s
-----------------------------
Viglen |1,832
ICL |1,351
DELL |1,340
Hewlett-Packard |947
Rank Xerox |388
Kyocera |357
Elonex |243
Toshiba |122
Compaq |103
Bowe Systems Ltd |85
During this same period, expenditure on "turnkey" solutions was £12,268,000. It is not possible to identify separately the cost of equipment within these packages.
Similar information for the years 1990 91, 1991 92 and 1992 93 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which firms have won computer consultancy contracts from his Department and its agencies over the last five years; and what is the number of contracts per firm. [33883]
Mr. Horam : The firms which have won computer consultancy contracts from the Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service, Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency, Occupational Health Services Agency, Chessington Computer centre, Civil Service college and Central Office of Information in 1993 94 and 1994 95 are as follows:
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|1993-94|1994-95
---------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Management Services |- |1
Amtec |1 |4
Butler Bloor |- |1
Computacenter |1 |-
CSC Ltd |1 |-
Eider |1 |3
Fordway |6 |-
Gimlet Management Consultants |- |1
IBM |1 |-
Kudos |2 |-
Netware NFS |1 |-
Psy Tech/Framework |1 |1
QLC/Formfill |1 |2
Secure Information Systems Ltd |- |1
Security and Standards Consultants Ltd |1 |1
Smith System Engineering Ltd |1 |1
Software Design |1 |1
South Bank University |1 |-
Touche Ross |1 |-
Triad |1 |-
Similar information for HMSO and CCTA, and the information for earlier years requested in the question may be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Ministerial Visits
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list (a) details of all overseas trips made by him, or ministerial colleagues in his Department, paid for wholly or partly from public funds and (b) the purpose, destination and duration of such overseas trips, which officials accompanied him and the total cost in each case, including that of officials, to public funds for each year since 1992. [32257]
Mr. Baldry: Since 1992, MAFF Ministers have made a total of 89 overseas visits paid for wholly or partly from public funds. Forty three visits were to EC Councils of Ministers; the remaining visits were in support of bilateral relations, enlargement negotiations and trade promotion. The following details include travel and subsistence costs of MAFF officials, estimated as necessary to the nearest £50. It should be noted that the cost of travel to and from Council meetings is subsequently reimbursed by the EC, subject to certain limits. All the Council meetings involved were Agricultural or Fisheries Councils, unless otherwise stated.
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Ministerial visits
Minister (1993)
|Number of officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18-19 January |+5 |Brussels |Council |2,700
24-25 January |+2 |Vienna |Meeting with Austrian Minister |1,600
31 January-1 February |+2 |Oslo |Meeting with Norwegian Minister |1,500
9-10 February |+5 |Brussels |Council |3,200
9-10 March |+2 |Italy |Verona Agricultural Show |1,800
16-17 March |+6 |Brussels |Council |3,600
26-27 April |+10 |Luxembourg |Council |6,700
9-12 May |+2 |Turkey |Trade promotion |3,000
16-17 May |+3 |Copenhagen |Meeting with Danish Minister |2,000
24-25 May |+8 |Brussels |Council |4,600
14-15 June |+2 |Luxembourg |Council |1,800
28-29 June |+1 |Koldingfjord Denmark |Informal Council |900
19-20 July |+6 |Brussels |Council |3,600
6-15 September<1> |+2 |South America<1> |Trade promotion |16,000
20-21 September |+4 |Brussels |Council |2,700
27-28 September |+1 |Ostend |Informal Council |950
12 October |+3 |Brussels |Meeting with Commissioner Paleokrassas|1,500
18-19 October |+5 |Luxembourg |Council |3,600
3 November |+2 |Bonn |Meeting Herr Borchert |1,100
16-17 November |+4 |Brussels |Council |2,700
6 December |+3 |France |Meeting with M. Puech |1,600
13-16 December |+9 |Brussels |Council |8,000
<1>7-8 September Paraguay/9-10 September Uruguay/11-13 September Argentina.
Minister (1993)
Number of officials Destination Purpose Cost £
18 19 January +5 Brussels Council 2,700
24 25 January +2 Vienna Meeting with Austrian Minister 1,600 31 January--1 February +2 Oslo Meeting with Norwegian Minister 1, 500
9 10 February +5 Brussels Council 3,200
9 10 March +2 Italy Verona Agricultural Show 1,800
16 17 March +6 Brussels Council 3,600
26 27 April +10 Luxembourg Council 6,700
9 12 May +2 Turkey Trade promotion 3,000
16 17 May +3 Copenhagen Meeting with Danish Minister 2,000 24 25 May +8 Brussels Council 4,600
14 15 June +2 Luxembourg Council 1,800
28 29 June +1 Koldingfjord Denmark Informal Council 900 19 20 July +6 Brussels Council 3,600
6 15 September +2 South America Trade promotion 16,000 20 21 September +4 Brussels Council 2,700
27 28 September +1 Ostend Informal Council 950
12 October +3 Brussels Meeting with Commissioner Paleokrassas 1, 500
18 19 October +5 Luxembourg Council 3,600
3 November +2 Bonn Meeting Herr Borchert 1,100
16 17 November +4 Brussels Council 2,700
6 December +3 France Meeting with M. Puech 1,600
13 16 December +9 Brussels Council 8,000
7 8 September Paraguay/9 10 September Uruguay/11 13 September Argentina.
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Minister of State (1993)
|Number of Officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 March |+7 |Brussels |Council |4,500
24 June |+7 |Luxembourg |Council |4,500
12 October |+3 |Brussels |Meeting with Commissioner Paleokrassas|2,000
14 October |+3 |Dublin |Meeting with Irish Minister |1,250
25 September-2 October |+2 |India |Trade Promotion |1,200
20 October |+7 |Luxenbourg |Council |5,000
21-22 November |+7 |Brussels |Council |6,000
18-21 December |+8 |Brussels |Council |6,000
Parliamentary Secretary (Lords) (1993)
|Number of Officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29-30 September |+2 |Frankfurt |Plantec International Trade Fair for Horticulture|1,500
15-18 November |+2 |Paris and Amsterdam |Visit FFB offices plus visit to supermarkets |2,500
7-8 December |+1 |Copenhagen |North Sea Conference |£1,250
Parliamentary Secretary (Commons) (1993)
|Number of Officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 February |+2 |Colonge |ISM Food Exhibition |1,200
27 September |+3 |Brussels |Council |1,200
11 October (overnight) |+2 |Cologne |ANUGA food exhibition|1,200
Minister (1994)
|Number of Officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 January |+3 |Brussels |Council |1,600
21-22 February |+2 |Brussels |Council |1,700
28-29 March |+5 |Brussels |Council |3,400
10-12 April |+2 |Rodez, France |Meeting with M. Puech |1,200
25-26 April |+6 |Luxembourg |Council |3,900
30-31 May |+8 |Brussels |Council |4,600
20-24 June |+11 |Luxembourg |Council |6,400
18-19 July |+9 |Brussels |Council |5,100
5 September |+2 |Brussels |Meeting with Commissioner Steichen |1,200
19-20 September |+5 |Brussels |Council |3,200
26-27 September |+2 |Dusseldorf |Informal Council |1,100
24-25 October |+8 |Luxembourg |Council |6,400
14-15 November |+4 |Brussels |Council |2,700
22 November |+2 |Paris |Meeting with M. Puech |1,250
12-13 December |+9 |Brussels |Council |8,000
30 November-3 December |+1 |Mexico |Inauguration of new Mexican President|7,000
Minister of State (1994)
|Number of officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 January |+3 |Brussels |Meeting with Commissioner Paleokrassas|2,000
25 January |+2 |Amsterdam |NTV Horticultural Show |1,000
14 March |+3 |Cologne |Meeting with Dr. Feiter |1,500
11-12 April |+7 |Luxembourg |Council |6,500
9-10 June |+7 |Luxembourg |Council |6,500
19-25 September |+2 |India |Trade promotion |8,500
27-29 September |+7 |Brussels |Council |6,000
9 November |+7 |Paris |Meeting with Mr. Peuch |1,350
23 November |+7 |Brussels |Council |3,750
18-22 December |+7 |Brussels |Council |10,000
Parliamentary Secretary (Lords) (1994)
|Number of officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 January-1 February |+2 |Cologne |ISM food fair plus meeting with German government on BSE|1,250
5-7 April |+2 |China |Trade mission |17,000
6-10 August |+2 |Colombia |Inauguration of new President and trade promotion |12,000
Parliamentary Secretary (Commons) (1994)
|Number of officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28 February/1 March |+2 |Paris |SIA plus meeting with French Minister |2,000
30 March |+4 |Brussels |Health Council |4,000
8-11 July |+2 |New York |Summer Fancy Food Fair; visit to farmers' market; talks with farmers using BST |11,000
29 August/2 September |+2 |Brazil |Trade promotion incl. visit to Expointer Show |16,000
19-22 September |+2 |Hungary, Slovakia and Austria |Trade promotion with business team |2,000
24 October |+2 |Paris |SIAL exhibition |1,250
Minister (1995)
|Number of officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-25 January |+3 |Brussels |Council |1,300
20-21 February |+6 |Brussels |Council |5,800
10-11 April |+5 |Luxembourg |Council |4,900
22 May |+3 |Bonn |Meeting with Herr Borchert|2,000
29-30 May |+10 |Brussels |Council |5,500
19-22 June |+10 |Brussels |Council |9,000
Minister of State (1995)
|Number of officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 March |+3 |Paris |Paris Salon (SIA/SIMA) |1,600
12 May |+2 |Brussels |Meeting with Commissioner Bonino|3,500
6 April |+7 |Luxembourg |Council |5,000
16 June |+7 |Luxembourg |Council |5,000
Parliamentary Secretary (Lords) (1995)
|Number of officials |Destination |Purpose |Cost
|£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 February |+2 |Amsterdam |NTV Horticultural Show|725
31 May |+2 |Amsterdam |PLMA food exhibition |1,250
Parliamentary Secretary (Commons) (1995)
|Number of |Cost
|officials |Destination |Purpose |£
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9-30 January |+6 |Cologne |<1>Plus ISM exhibition|4,600
6 February (overnight) |+2 |Vienna |<1>- |1,550
8 February |+3 |Brussels |<1>- |1,300
13 February |+3 |Rotterdam |<1>- |1,100
16-17 February (overnight) |+3 |Rome and Lisbon |<1>- |3,700
2 March |+3 |Madrid |<1>- |2,000
Total |14,250
<1> All visits were Bilateral talks on promoting production of welfare friendly veal.
Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many contracts his Department has had with consultants; and what has been the total cost in each of the past five years. [33564]
Mr. Boswell: The total number of contracts and their aggregate values for the past five financial years were as follows:
Financial Year |Number |Expenditure ------------------------------------------------------------ 1990-91 |34 |4,495,793 1991-92 |71 |5,374,284 1992-93 |111 |7,010,814 1993-94 |95 |12,169,785 1994-95 |146 |11,551,382
Common Fisheries Policy
Mr. Gill: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instruct the common fisheries policy review group to examine the principle of equal access to the common resource. [35074]
Mr. Baldry: The UK fishing and industry and other interests have been invited to put their ideas to the common fisheries policy review group, which is free to consider any constructive ideas for improving the conservation and management of fish stocks.
New Zealand Flatworm
Mrs. Wise: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his letter of 10 July, what considerations led him to indicate that commercial confidentiality applies to sightings of the New Zealand flatworm. [35052]
Mr. Boswell: Although the Department has no statutory responsibilities for New Zealand flatworm, it is seeking to give some publicity to the risks which the flatworm poses and to give advice on how they can be minimised. Such advice is particularly relevant to commercial plant growers, who may act as a route for the flatworm to be spread. It is not, however, the Department's intention to publicise information with commercial implications for individual growers. Such publicity could, for example, affect customer attitudes whether or not the grower had taken steps to eliminate the problem. It would also be inappropriate to give details of reports of the New Zealand flatworm when many of these lack official confirmation.
Research and Development
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of his Department's research and development budget is spent in (a) Wales, (b) England (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland (e) abroad; and if he will make a statement. [34889]
Mr. Boswell: The Department commissions a large and continually changing range of research and development to meet its policy aims. Decisions on the placing of work are determined on the basis of scientific and financial considerations and not on the geographical location of contractors. Consequently, the Department does not keep records of its R and D contractors by location. Such
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information could not be obtained without incurringdisproportionate cost.
European Union (Statutory Duties)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of his Department's statutory duties are the result of EU regulations and directives; and if he will make a statement. [34893]
Mr. Boswell: The information is not readily available and cannot be collected without incurring disproportionate cost.
Dietary Supplements
Mr. Hain: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning steps which are taken by officials of DGXV to ensure that the views of the European Commission on impediments to a single market when considering the possibility of vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements are not unduly influenced by organised campaigns by companies seeking market advantage; and if he will make a statement. [35099]
Mrs. Browning: DGXV, the consumer affairs directorate of the European Commission, is open to representations from all interested parties on areas within its remit. However, there have been no recent proposals from the Commission to regulate dietary supplements. If any such proposals appear then they shall be circulated to all interested parties for comment.
Mr. Hain: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure the continued availability of vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements to United Kingdom consumers; what steps he intends to take in the light of the forthcoming European commission consultation document on such matters to defend the interests of British consumers and nutritional therapists; and if he will make a statement. [35100]
Mrs. Browning: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 20 June, Official Report , column 189 .
Mr. Hain: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many officials of his Department have in the past been seconded to work with DGIII; what part such secondees played in drafting the European Commission discussion document on nutritional supplements produced in December 1991; if they have now (a) returned to placement with his Department, (b) remain with DGIII or (c) obtained employment with pharmaceutical companies; and if he will make a statement. [35097]
Mr. Boswell [holding answer 17 July 1995]: Since 1991, three officials from my Department have been seconded to DGIII of the European Commission. Two of them remain there. The other official was engaged in the drafting of the EC nutritional supplements document and returned to the Department in 1992.
Sandeels
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to ensure that exploitation rates for sandeels in the North sea are established at an early date in order to secure stocks within safe biological limits. [34916]
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Mr. Baldry: The Government pressed successfully for last month's North sea conference to make commitments to investigate the possible effects of industrial fishing on the sustainability both of industrial fish species such as sandeels and of other species which feed on them. I shall press for this work to be done as soon as possible to inform future decisions on exploitation rates.
Legislative Plans
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what legislation he plans to introduce; and if he will make a statement. [35305]
Column 1060
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Government's plans for legislation will be announced in Her Majesty's most Gracious Speech at the start of the 1995 96 Session.
Service Delivery Targets
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress his Department has made in meeting service delivery targets set out in "Commitment to Service". [36066]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I list below the percentages of cases dealt with by each regional service centre which has met the targets set in "Commitment to Service" and, from January 1995, "Commitment to Service", second edition.
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RSC comparative performance data (%) for financial year 1994-95 unless otherwise specified
|Bristol |Cambridge |Carlisle |Crewe |Exeter |Northallerton |Nottingham |Reading |Worcester |Total<1>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AAPS |Applications |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |99 |100 |99
Advance Oilseeds |Payments |99 |98 |100 |100 |100 |99 |100 |100 |100 |99
Final Oilseeds |Payments |100 |100 |100 |99 |100 |99 |100 |99 |100 |99
Main Payments |Payments |99 |95 |99 |99 |100 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99
BSPS<2> |Applications (B2) 1994 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99
|Claims (B5) 1994 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99
|Advance Payment 1994 |98 |96 |97 |95 |98 |98 |98 |99 |99 |98
SCPS<3> |Claims year 1994 |99 |92 |99 |99 |99 |98 |99 |99 |99 |98
HLCA<4> |Claims 1995 |89 |- |82 |86 |83 |83 |90 |- |85 |85
SAPS |Claims marketing year 1994|93 |88 |96 |96 |94 |95 |94 |93 |93 |94
AIS |Plan claims |90 |- |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |- |- |99
ESA<5> |Applications |100 |100 |84 |100 |99 |100 |100 |100 |100 |98
|Claims |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |0
ESA Conservation |Applications |98 |100 |97 |100 |100 |83 |100 |100 |100 |98
Plan |Claims |100 |100 |96 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |- |99
F&CGS 1989 |Plan claims |- |- |100 |100 |100 |100 |- |- |- |100
|Non plan claims |93 |92 |98 |100 |99 |99 |99 |98 |100 |98
F&CGS 1991 |Plan applications |100 |100 |100 |100 |98 |100 |100 |- |100 |99
|Plan claims |96 |95 |99 |100 |99 |100 |100 |93 |96 |98
FWPS<5> |Applications |100 |99 |100 |100 |100 |91 |96 |100 |100 |98
|Claims |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Injurious Weeds |Complaints |100 |100 |- |100 |97 |96 |100 |- |100 |87
NSA Pilot |Claims |100 |- |- |100 |- |100 |100 |95 |100 |99
1994 (new) NSA Scheme<6> |Applications |- |25 |- |70 |- |10 |2 |- |69 |29
Protection of
Badger Act 1992 |Licence applications |95 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |99
Five Year Set Aside |Claims |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100
Short Term Lettings |Applications |99 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |82 |100 |98
Strychnine Permits |Applications |97 |99 |93 |100 |99 |99 |99 |99 |99 |95
Wages |Complaints |- |- |100 |100 |- |100 |- |81 |- |98
Wildlife and
Countryside Act |Applications |91 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |100 |93 |79 |97
Correspondence<7> |97 |97 |90 |98 |96 |97 |98 |98 |95 |97
<1> The total percentage has been calculated by setting the entire number of applications or claims cleared within the target time against the total number received.
<2> The period covered is January to December 1994 except for payments where the period covered is 1 November 1994 to 31 January 1995 (or three months from the end of the retention period for claims made after 1 November).
<3> The period covered is July 1994 to March 1995.
<4> The period covered is November 1994 to March 1995.
<5> ESA and FWPS Claims
Due to a combination of changes in FEOGA reimbursement dates and the difficulties of linkage with Charter targets and payment dates, all payments were made after the target date for 1994-95; most were late by two or three weeks.
<6> 1994 (new) NSA Scheme
The majority of applications were received at the end of the application period causing overload. Also, the operation of this new scheme proved more complicated than expected.
<7> The period covered is January to March 1995.
Entries have not been made where the number of cases dealt with were ten or less. However, these numbers have been included in the calculation of total percentage success rates (see footnote 1). The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Scheme and Farm Diversification Grant Scheme have both been omitted from the table as the numbers involved are
de minimis.
Decommissioning
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Welsh fishing vessels were scrapped in (a) 1993 94 and (b) in 1994 95 as a part of the decommissioning scheme; and if he will make a statement. [34882]
Mr. Baldry: No Welsh vessels were decommissioned under the 1994 95 scheme.
On 14 July I announced details of the 1995 scheme, for which some £12 million is available.
Agriculture Council (Luxembourg)
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 17 July, and if he will make a statement. [36068]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Council had before it a proposal from the Commission for an increase in the tariff quota for imports of third country bananas to cover consumption in the three new member states. Some member states wished to link this issue to wider changes in the present arrangements, so there was no majority for adopting the proposed increase. The Commission is now likely to increase the quota under its own powers.
The Commission had agreed, as part of the package of decisions at the June Council, to make a proposal authorising the payment of national aid to farmers who have suffered loss as a result of currency depreciation in member states other than their own. The Commissioner presented a proposal on these lines which will now go for technical examination. I agreed that this measure should be drawn in such a way as to meet only genuine losses properly attributed to excess currency fluctuations.
I warmly welcomed a statement from the Commissioner that he expected that his promised report on the treatment of calves reared for veal would be available in October. I urged that the Council should consider the report, and appropriate proposals from the Commission, as soon as possible.
During a brief discussion on the rate of set-aside for crops to be harvested in 1996, on which a proposal from the Commission is awaited, I made it clear that I would want an undertaking that the Commission would use its powers to manage the cereals market in such a way that livestock producers would not be faced with grain prices above intended support levels
Denmark presented information about the use of Avoparcin, an animal feed supplement. It was agreed that this material should be assessed as quickly as possible by the appropriate scientific committee. Meanwhile it was established that a majority of member states--Denmark, Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Greece, Netherlands and Luxembourg--opposed the adoption of a Commission proposal to authorise the use of this produce in feed for dairy cows in the Community as a whole.
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