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Cash Limits
Mrs. Currie: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed in his Department's cash limits for 1995 96. [40630]
Mr. Douglas Hogg [pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1995, c. 828 29]: I should like to add that the running costs limit for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will increase by £5,278, 000, from £329,416,000 to £334,694,000.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications his Department has had from the World court project since June on the action started on 30 October at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the legality of nuclear weapons. [41471]
Mr. David Davis: The World court project United Kingdom wrote to us on 26 September 1995. A reply was sent.
Argentina
Mr. Allason: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to return the British Council library to Buenos Aires. [41644]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The British Council has never had its own library in Argentina. The library in Buenos Aires belonged to the Buenos Aires Cultura--Anglo Argentine cultural association. That still exists but is no longer co-located with the Council. The British Council continues to work closely with the Culturas throughout Argentina to meet the needs for books in English.
Northern Cyprus
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with whom he has discussed the education facilities for young people over the age of 16 years who live in the Karpas area of occupied northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement on what facilities and regulations apply to such youngsters who are seeking further and high education. [41854]
Mr. David Davis: The high commission and British Council office in Nicosia maintain regular contact with the Cypriot education authorities. In the Karpas area, there is a middle school in the town of Galacia, and high schools in the towns of Trikomo and Yialousa. There is also a vocational high school covering the Karpas area. There are four universities in northern Cyprus, with a total enrolment of around 13,000.
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of children under the age of 18 years who are now living in the Karpas area of occupied northern Cyprus. [41855]
Mr. Davis: We have no information on this subject. There has been no census in northern Cyprus since 1992, and detailed census figures are not made publicly available.
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Nigeria
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, with dates of implementation, all European and international action and agreements to which the United Kingdom Government are party, that have been taken against the Nigerian military regime. [41338]
Mr. Hanley: In response to the annulment of the presidential elections in 1993, and the subsequent return to power of the military government, we and our European partners introduced a series of measures against the Nigerian military. The details of those measures were set out in an answer to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 2 December 1993, Official Report , column 680 .
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates and content of meetings that Her Majesty's Government have had with representatives of the Nigerian military regime since 17 November 1993. [41351]
Mr. Hanley: There have been no meetings between British Ministers and members of the Nigerian military regime in either Britain or Nigeria since the European Union adopted its measures in December 1993. There has been occasional contact in the margins of international meetings in third countries. Contact has been maintained at official level in furtherance of British policy towards Nigeria.
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Nigeria's military regime including details of the policy towards arms sales to the regime and its relation to European Union agreements. [41352]
Mr. Hanley: We continue to press for an early return to democratic civilian rule and a restoration of full human rights in Nigeria. In line with EU measures agreed with our partners against the Nigerian military in December 1993, all applications for new licences for the export of defence equipment to Nigeria have been reviewed case by case, with the presumption of denial. We are keeping these measures under review in the light of progress towards civilian democratic rule.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nigeria concerning the death penalty ordered against Ken Saro-Wiwa and others; and if he will make a statement. [42002]
Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will make representations to the Government of Nigeria about the death sentence imposed on Ken Saro- Wiwa. [41465]
Mr. Hanley: I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 1 November, Official Report , column 266 .
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact he has had with the United Kingdom embassy in Lagos concerning the safety of Abdul Onibiyo following his recent deportation from the United Kingdom. [42004]
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Mr. Hanley: Her Majesty's high commission in Lagos has had no contact with Mr. Onibiyo since his removal from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have been held by Her Majesty's ambassador in Lagos to discuss human rights; and if he will make a statement. [42001]
Mr. Hanley: Her Majesty's high commissioner in Lagos has regular meetings with representatives of non-governmental human rights organisations. Human rights issues are also raised regularly with the Nigerian authorities and discussed at meetings of European Union heads of mission in Lagos.
Burundi
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received about a massacre of Hutus near Ngozi in Burundi; and what representations his Government have made to the Government of Burundi. [41998]
Mr. Hanley: The UN secretariat has reported to the Security Council that a number of people have been killed in recent operations involving guerilla forces and the Burundi army, including 50 deaths at Ngozi. Together with our partners in the EU, we continue to give our strong backing to the efforts of the UN and OAU to assist the moderate and broad- based government, and bring an end to the inter-ethnic violence in Burundi.
Sudan
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to influence the Government of the Sudan to prevent the persecution of Christians and Animists in southern Sudan. [41634]
Mr. Hanley: We continue to express our concerns about the human rights situation in Sudan to the Sudanese Government, bilaterally, with EU partners, and through the United Nations. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the subject with the Sudanese ambassador on 13 September, as I did on 2 August.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by type of project (a) how many schemes have been approved to date under the private finance initiative, (b) what is the value of those schemes and (c) what public sector contribution will be required both initially and as revenue support during the lifetime of the schemes. [41740]
Mr. Hanley: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, has not yet approved any schemes under the private finance initiative. All new capital spend is considered under the PFI, including spending on home and overseas estate, information technology and other technical equipment.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons in the Secret Intelligence Service and at GCHQ are on the public
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payroll or employed as consultants or advisers and work on a part-time or a full-time basis in relation to the Scott inquiry, and how much each is paid. [42051]Mr. Hanley: There are no staff in the Secret Intelligence Service or at GCHQ wholly employed on matters relating to the Scott inquiry. It is not possible to identify the number of people involved on a part-time or occasional basis within the Department or as external consultants or advisers, nor is it our practice to comment on financial matters relating to the security and intelligence agencies or to name their staff or external advisers.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons in his Department are on the public payroll or employed as consultants or advisers and work on a part-time or full-time basis in relation to the Scott inquiry; if he will list them; and how much each is paid. [42049]
Mr. Hanley: The number of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff wholly employed on matters relating to the Scott inquiry is three and their annual salary cost is £74,539, at 1994 95 rates. It is not possible to identify the number of people involved on a part-time or occasional basis within the Department or as external consultants or advisers, but the amount so far spent by this Department on external advice is £318,165.46. It is not the practice to name staff or external advisers.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons have been authorised to have access to documents held by the Secret Intelligence Service and GCHQ relating to the Scott inquiry; and if he will list such persons. [42052]
Mr. Hanley: Ministers, former Ministers, officials and other advisers have access to material relating to the inquiry as necessary in order to carry out their responsibilities.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons have been authorised to have access to documents held by his Department relating to the Scott inquiry; and if he will list such persons. [42050]
Mr. Hanley: Ministers, former Ministers, officials and other advisers have access to material relating to the inquiry as necessary in order to carry out their responsibilities.
Harjit Singh
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his officers last contacted the Indian authorities concerning the progress of the court case into the disappearance of Harjit Singh; and what was the outcome of their representations. [42098]
Mr. Hanley: We remain in touch with the Indian authorities about the case of Harjit Singh. The final court hearing was held on 29 August. Judgment is now awaited.
Bankruptcy
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for
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businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40524]Mr. Hanley [holding answer 1 November 1995]: None.
Annual Remuneration
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of individuals in his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000, (ii) £200,000, (iii) £300,000 in (1) 1985 86, (2) 1990 91, (3) 1992 93, (4) 1994 95 and (5) 1995 96. [40808]
Mr. Hanley [holding answer 1 November 1995]: Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Department, agencies and NDPBs. As members of the principal civil service pensions scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the scheme rules, which have been deposited in the Library of the House. The number receiving annual remuneration above the sums specified, excluding pension benefits in the years in question, were:
|1985-86|1990-91|1992-93|1994-95|1995-96
--------------------------------------------------------
(i) |none |none |1 |1 |1
(ii) |none |none |none |none |none
(iii) |none |none |none |none |none
Salaries
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the (a) the lowest and (b) the highest full- time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) non departmental public bodies in (1) 1994 95 and (2) 1995 96. [40809]
Mr. Hanley [holding answer 1 November 1995]: It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salary for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office fell within the band:
|1994-95 |1995-96
|£ |£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lowest full-time salary
fell within the band |7,000-12,000 |7,000-12,000
The highest full-time salary
fell within the band |106,000-111,000|110,000-115,000
At the agency Wilton
Park, the lowest full-time
salary fell within the band |7,000-12,000 |7,000-12,000
At the agency Wilton
Park, the highest full-time
salary fell within the band |39,000-44,000 |39,000-44,000
For Non-Departmental
Public Bodies, the lowest
full-time salary fell within
the band |7,000-10,000 |7,000-10,000
For Non-Departmental
Public Bodies, the highest
full-time salary fell within
the band |85,000-89,999 |90,000-94,999
European Court Decisions
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral answer of the Attorney-General of 30 October, Official Report , column 12 , relating to decisions of the European
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Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, if he will list those European Court decisions relating to responsibilities of his Department over the past two years; and if he will further indicate the estimated annual cost to public funds of each decision. [41207]Mr. David Davis [holding answer 2 November 1995]: The table contains a list of the judgments in cases before the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights in which UK Departments have participated since 16 October 1993. The UK has also gained from ECJ decisions, or the threat of court action in cases involving other member states, such as the penalties incurred by the Italian and Spanish Governments for breaching the EC milk quota regulations.
Judgements in cases before the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights in which United Kingdom
Departments have participated since 16 October 1993
European Court of Justice
Date of ECJ |Reference |Case description |Cost to UK Public
Judgement |Funds (excluding
|the
|cost of Government
|counsel)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 October 1993 |C92/92 |Colins v. Imrat Handelsgesellschaft |None
27 October 1993 |C338/91 |Mme H Steenhorst-Neerings v. Bestuur van |None
|de Bedrijfsver eniging voor Detailhandel
|Ambachten en Huisvrouwen
27 October 1993 |C337/91 |Mme A M van Gemert-Derks v. Bestuur |None
|van de Nieuwe Industriele
|Bedrijfsverenigine
27 October 1993 |C93/91 |Evrard |None
27 October 1993 |C69/91 |Decoster |None
27 October 1993 |C92/91 |Taillandier |None
27 October 1993 |C127/92 |Enderby v. Frenchay Health Authority |None<1>
10 November 1993 |C48/91 |Kingdom of the Netherlands v. |None
|Commission of the European Communities
10 November 1993 |C60/92 |Otto v. Postbank |None
17 November 1993 |C2/91 |Meng |None
17 November 1993 |C185/91 |Reiff |None
17 November 1993 |C245/91 |Ohra |None
29 November 1993 |C132/92 |Birds Eye Walls Ltd. v. Friedal M. Roberts |None
30 November 1993 |C317/91 |Renault v. Audi |None
14 December 1993 |C110/91 |M. Moroni v. Firma Collo GMBH |None
15 December 1993 |C116/92 |Huyton and others |None
15 December 1993 |C63/92 and |Lubbock Fine and Co. v. Commissioners of |Costs directly attributable to these two
|C33/93 |Customs and Excise/Empire Stores v. |cases are estimated at between £500,000
|Commissioners of Customs and Excise. |and £1 million. In both cases, as a result of
|(Date of judgment 2 June 1994) |ECJ judgments, there will have been a
|marginal reuction in the overall estimated
|future revenue yield.
16 December 1993 |C275/92 |Schindler |None
22 December 1993 |C152/91 |David Neath v. Hugh Steeper Ltd. |None
19 January 1994 |C364/92 |Eurocontrol |None
25 January 1994 |C212/91 |Angelopharm GmbH v. Freie und Hanses |None
|Tadt Hamburg
27 January 1994 |C287/92 |Alison Mainland Toosey v. Chief |None
|Adjudication Officer
23 February 1994 |C236/92 |Comitato di coordinamento per la Difesa |None
|della Cava and others v. Regione
|Lombardia and Others
24 February 1994 |C368/92 |Administration des Duanes v. Solange |None
|Chiffre
24 March 1994 |T3/93 |Air France v. Commission |None
24 March 1994 |C80/92 |Commission v. Belgium |None
13 April 1994 |C128/92 |H. J. Banks and Co. v. British Coal |None
24 April 1994 |C2/92 |The Queen v. the Minister for Agriculture, |None
|Fisheries and Food, ex parte Dennis
|Clifford Bostock
24 April 1994 |C40/92 |Commission v. United Kingdom |None
|(supervision of Milk Marketing Boards)
5 May 1994 |C21/92 |Marlies and Heinz Bernd Kamp v. |None
|Hauptzollamt Wuppertal
5 May 1994 |C421/92 |Habermann Beltermann v. |None
|Arbeiterwohlfahrt Bezirksuerband
5 May 1994 |C38/93 |H. J. Glawe Spiel und Unterhaltungsgerate |None
|Aufstellungsgesellschaft mbH and Co. KG
|v. Finanzamt Hamburg-Barmbeck-Uhlenhorst
19 May 1994 |T2/93 |Air France v. Commission |None
2 June 1994 |C313/92 |Van Swieten |None
2 June 1994 |C401 & 402/92 |Criminal proceedings against tankstation't |None
|heukske vof and j.b.E Boermans
2 June 1994 |C69 & 258/93 |Punta Casa |None
2 June 1994 |C356/93 |Techmada Internationale |None
|Medizinisch-Technische Marketing und
|Handels GMBH and Co. KG V.
|Oberfinanzdirektion Koeln
9 June 1994 |C153/93 |Delta Schiffahrts |None
22 June 1994 |C9/93 |Ideal Standard |None
3 July 1994 |C432/92 |The Queen v. the Minister of Agriculture, |£179,000
|Fisheries and Food, ex parte S.P. Anastasio
|(Pissouri) Ltd. and others
7 July 1994 |C420/92 |Elizabeth Bramhill v. Chief Adjourdication |None
|Officer
14 July 1994 |C91/92 |Dori v. Recreb |<>None
14 July 1994 |C32/93 |Webb v. Emo Air Cargo |None<1>
9 August 1994 |C43/93 |Raymond Vander Elst v. Office des |None at present
|Migrations Internationals
9 August 1994 |C396/92 |Bund Naturschutz in bayern e V Richard |None
|Stahnsdorf and Others v. Freistaat Bayern
15 September 1994 |C293/93 |Houtwipper |None
28 September 1994 |C128/93 |Madame G.C. Fisscher v. 1 Voorhuis |Eventual capital cost of up to £15 million.
|Hengelo BV and 2. Stichting |Figure represents estimated maximum likely
|Bedrijfspensioenfonds |capital costs of judgements for public
|service pension schemes
28 September 1994 |C28/93 |Van den Akker v. Shell |None
28 September 1994 |C57/93 |Mme A. A. Vroeg v. 1 NCIV Institut voor |Included in C128/93 (Fisscher)
|Volkshuisvesting BV and 2. Pensioenfonds
|NCIV
28 September 1994 |C200/91 |Coloroll Pension Scheme Trustees Ltd. v. |None
|Russell and others
28 September 1994 |C408/92 |Constance Christina Ellen Smith and others |None
|v. Avdel Systems Ltd.
28 September 1994 |C7/93 |Bestuur van het Alegmeen Burgerlijk |None
|Pensioenfonds Pensions v. G.A. Beune
5 October 1994 |C280/93 |Federal Republic of Germany v. Council of |None
|the European Union
5 October 1994 |C96/94 |Centro Servizi Spediporto |None
5 October 1994 |C165/91 |S.J.M van Munster v. Rijksdienst Voor |None
|Pensioenen
15 November 1994 |Opinion 1/94 |World Trade Organisation |None
6 December 1994 |C410/92 |Elsie Rita Johnson v. Chief Adjudication |None
|Officer
15 December 1994 |C399/92 |Helmig v. Stadt Lengerich |None
15 December 1994 |C409/92 |Schmidt v. Deutsche |None
|angestellten-krankenkasse
15 December 1994 |C425/92 |Herzog v. Arbeiter-samariter-bund |None
|landverband hamburg
15 December 1994 |C34/93 |Lange v. bundesknappschaft bochum |None
15 December 1994 |C50/93 |Kussfeld v. Firma detlef bogdol gmbh |None
15 December 1994 |C78/93 |Ludvig v. Kreis Segeberg |None
14 February 1995 |C279/93 |Finanzamt Koln-Altstadt v. Roland |None
|Schumackers
16 February 1995 |C425/93 |Firma Calle Grenzshop Andresen GmbH |None
|and Co. KG v. Allegmeine
|Ortskranken-kasse fur den Kreis
|Schleswig-Flensburg
23 February 1995 |C358/93 and |(Joined Cases) Criminal proceedings |None
|416/93 |against Aldo Bordessa, Vicente Mari
|Mellado and Concepcion Barbero Maestre
|v. Audiencia Nacional Spain
24 March 1995 |Opinion 2/92 |OECD National Treatment Instrument |None
28 March 1995 |C324/93 |R v. Secretary of State for the Home |None at present
|Department ex parte Evans Medical Ltd.,
| intervener: Generics (UK) Ltd.
30 March 1995 |C65/93 |European Parliament v. Council of the |None
|European Union
5 April 1995 |C103/94 |Zoulika Krid v. Caisse National |None
|D'Assurance Vieillesse des travailleurs
|Salaries
6 April 1995 |C4/94 |BLP Group plc v. Commissioners of |None
|Customs and Excise
10 May 1995 |C384/93 |Alpine Investments |None
31 May 1995 |C400/93 |Specialarbejderforbundet 1 Danmark v. |None
|Industri
9 June 1995 |C394/92 |Michielsen |None
13 July 1995 |C116/94 |Jennifer Meyers v. Adjudication Officer |Not yet known. Case referred back to
|Social Security Commissioner. Costs will
|depend on his decision
11 August 1995 |C92/94 |1. Secretary of State for Social Security |None
|2. Chief Adjudication Officer v. Mrs. Rose
|Graham and others
5 October 1995 |C440/93 |Regina v. Licensing Authority of the |None
|Department of Health and Norgine. Ex
|parte: Scotia Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
12 October 1995 |C85/94 |V.Z.W.P.I.A.G.E.M.E and others v. |None
|B.V.B.A. Peeters
19 October 1995 |C137/94 |Richardson |£44 million per annum, plus a cost of £11
|million for respective claims going back 3
|months.
<1> For these cases the annual costs to public funds will depend on how many public sector employees now succeed in sex discrimination or equal pay claims which would, before the decision of the court, have failed. Government
lawyers estimate that any such costs should be very low.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by the Attorney General on 30 October, Official Report, column 12-14. This answer included nine cases concerning the 1968 Convention on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments
in which the UK chose to submit written observations. In none of these cases was the UK a party and there was therefore no question of paying legal costs to another party, or compensation.
European Court of Human Rights
|Cost to UK public
|Funds (excluding
Date of ECHR |Government
judgment |Case description |counsel)£
------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 October 1993 |Darnell |8,207.40
23 February 1994 |Stanford |None
18 July 1994 |Wynne |55.23
21 September 1994 |Al Fayed |None
28 October 1994 |Murray |None
28 October 1994 |Boner and Maxwell|14,373
9 February 1995 |Welsh |15,010.33
24 February 1995 |McMichael |8,000
5 May 1995 |Air Canada |None
13 July 1995 |Tolstoy |91,516.94
27 September 1995 |McCann |To be determined
I do not yet have complete information on the following ECJ cases:
Case number |Case reference --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C109/92 |Max Wirth C392/92 |Schmidt C382/92 |Commission v. United Kingdom C383/92 |Commission v. United Kingdom C28/92 |Maria Belleke C458/93 |Saddik C434/93 |Bozkurt
Ministers in the Departments responsible for these cases will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Greenbury Report
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's response to the recommendations addressed to them in the report by the study group on directors' remuneration chaired by Sir Richard Greenbury. [42094]
Mr. Lang: The study group on directors' remuneration chaired by Sir Richard Greenbury published its report on 17 July. In an oral statement to the House that day, Official Report , columns 1311 12, I set out the Government's initial response, welcoming the group's work and the emphasis placed by its report on the need for pay to be justified by performance. The support which the report has commanded since its publication, and the
Column 703
fact that those to whom the report is addressed have already begun to act upon its recommendations, are further confirmation both of the value of the group's work and of the effectiveness of the self-regulatory approach that it promotes.In the short time since the recommendations were published, it has become clear that the Greenbury report will do much to improve accountability and communication with shareholders, and to foster best practice in setting executive remuneration.
The Government welcome the stock exchange's agreement to enforce the Greenbury recommendations through its listing rules, which are binding on listed companies. Since publication of the report, the stock exchange has consulted on the wording of amendments to its listing rules designed to give effect to recommendations contained in the Greenbury report relating to the determination and disclosure of executive directors' remuneration and the explanation of company policy on executive remuneration. The stock exchange has now issued amended listing rules, which will come into effect for reporting periods ending on or after 31 December 1995. It is undertaking further consultation on incorporating other aspects of the Greenbury recommendations into its rules.
The Greenbury recommendations are primarily addressed to listed companies whose shares are traded widely, and the decision of the stock exchange to amend the listing rules is therefore an appropriate way forward. The Government do not propose to duplicate these requirements in legislation, but will seek to ensure that the legislation relating to disclosure of directors' remuneration is consistent with the Greenbury recommendations as implemented through the listing rules. In particular, the Government accept the recommendation that the Companies Act 1985 should be amended to remove overlap with the group's recommendations for full disclosure of directors' remuneration. We also note the conclusions reached by the Greenbury group on the disclosure of pension entitlements, and the recommendation that the information which companies supply on directors' pension entitlements should reflect the value of the pension entitlements to the director, rather than the pension contributions made by the company. We accept the recommendation that the Government should review the Companies Act requirements for disclosure of information on directors' pensions once the technical issues raised by the Greenbury recommendation have been resolved and companies are able to make the new form of disclosure.
We will undertake public consultation on detailed proposals for amending the Companies Act by statutory instrument, which will take account of these two specific recommendations and more generally will ensure consistency of approach between the Companies Act requirements and the Greenbury recommendations.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced his intention to make amendments to the rules on the taxation of executive share options in the next Finance Bill. The Government welcome the emphasis which the Greenbury report places on accountability to shareholders. We recognise the need to ensure that both institutional
Column 704
investors and private shareholders can continue to play their part in the affairs of the companies in which they invest. A company's annual general meeting provides a focus for shareholder involvement, particularly for private shareholders. Recent events have demonstrated the importance which shareholders rightly attach to the opportunity offered by the annual general meeting to express their views and to debate issues of general concern to the company. This is a matter to which the Employment Select Committee drew particular attention in its recent report on the remuneration of directors and chief executives of privatised utilities. The committee recommended that the Companies Act should be amended to require shareholders' resolutions, where they are supported by a sufficient number of shareholders and are limited in length, to be circulated by the company to all shareholders without cost. The Government will next year be seeking views on the existing statutory rules under which shareholders may table resolutions for discussion at general meetings, and whether any amendments are necessary in order to ensure that the arrangements work effectively without imposing undue burdens either on the company or on its shareholders.Export Credits Guarantee Department
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the arrangements for providing Export Credits Guarantee Department support to Jordan. [42228]
Mr. Lang: I have been advised by the Export Credits Guarantee Department's accounting officer that, in his view, the risks involved in giving medium-term guarantees for exports to, and investments in, Jordan under sections 1(1) and 2 of the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 do not meet ECGD's normal underwriting criteria. However, in view of the importance which the Government attach to assisting the economic development of Jordan, given its key role in the middle east peace process, I have instructed him to make arrangements for such guarantees to be issued in support of commercially viable projects which will benefit Jordan's economy. These guarantees will be excluded from ECGD's break-even objective for new business.
European Space Agency Council
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the outcome of the recent European Space Agency ministerial Council at Toulouse. [42229]
Mr. Ian Taylor: I attended the meeting at ministerial level of the European Space Agency Council in Toulouse on 19 October. Important decisions were taken which will reinforce ESA's contribution to the UK's industrial and scientific goals for space and to European space collaboration generally. My ministerial colleagues and I agreed unanimously to set a level for the ESA science programme capped at 347 million ESA accounting units a year for 1996-2000, except to the extent that inflation exceeds 3 per cent.--that is, some 15 per cent. below earlier proposals. This decision was vital to allow the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council to devote adequate resources to domestic scientific activity
Column 705
which exploits the opportunities provided by the ESA programme. We endorsed the introduction of reforms to ESA's procurement practices and to internal management and structures, including a 12 per cent. staff reduction, which will significantly improve the agency's value for money and contribution to industrial competitiveness. We further agreed to develop and bring forward proposals in a year's time on industrial policy, including reforms to the agency's system of geographical industrial return. The ecu was adopted as ESA's unit of account, for both national contributions and contracts with industry, a change which also brings about the end of the system of retroactive exchange rate adjustments to member states' contributions. Agreement was reached on the European contribution to the international space station, in which the UK does not participate, and on the Ariane complementary programmes for which I indicated political support. A further formal ministerial meeting was envisaged to take space in Belgium in 1998, together with an informal meeting at the end of next year.Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by type of project (a) how many schemes have been approved to date under the private finance initiative, (b) what is the value of those schemes and (c) what public sector contribution will be required both initially and as revenue support during the lifetime of the schemes. [41747]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Private finance was used in the refurbishment of the DTI's premises at 1 Victoria street and the relocation of the Radiocommunications Agency to South Quay 3 in docklands. These projects were valued at £68 million and £5.5 million respectively and were completed in the current financial year. Commercial rents will be paid in respect of the buildings. No further projects have yet been approved under PFI but all DTI projects are now considered under the initiative and likely proposals have been identified.
Export Licences
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the practice not to disclose details of export licences has precluded providing information on the country of origin and destination of goods which are the subject of trans-shipment licences on every occasion that applications for such information has been made in 1993. [42018]
Mr. Nelson: To ascertain whether the practice precluded the provision of such information in 1993 would involve disproportionate cost. I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to her on 1 November 1995, Official Report, column 354 35.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if export licences have been applied for or granted for the export of logging trucks to Jakarta, Indonesia, in the past five years. [42017]
Mr. Nelson: None in the period 1990 to 1995. Examination of manual records for earlier years would entail disproportionate costs.
Column 706
Electronic Batons (Exports)
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the countries of origin and the destinations of the electronic batons which were covered by transhipment licences issued in (a) 1985, (b) 1986, (c) 1987, (d) 1988, (e) 1989 and (f) 1990. [40650]
Mr. Oppenheim: No transhipment licenses for such goods were issued in 1989 or 1990. To confirm the position in respect of the earlier years could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many persons have been authorised to have access to documents held by his Department and the Export Credits Guarantee Department relating to the Scott inquiry; and if he will list such persons. [42054]
Mr. Nelson: Ministers, former Ministers, officials and other advisers have access to material relating to the inquiry as necessary in order to carry out their responsibilities.
Westcountry Development Corporation
Mr. Harvey: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration the Government have given to the Westcountry development corporation's Coopers and Lybrand report about public sector funding of the south-west; and what action it intends to take in response. [41646]
Mr. Page: The Prime Minister commissioned the regional director of the Government office for the south-west to evaluate the claims made in the Coopers and Lybrand report and to report back. That report is with Ministers. My hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration are meeting Westcountry development corporation on 5 December to discuss the report. The findings of the report will be made public soon after.
Gas-powered Domestic Water Heaters
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people have died or been injured by accidents due to a fault in gas-powered domestic water heaters in each of the past four years. [41668]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The estimated numbers of people receiving treatment at accident and emergency units in the United Kingdom, for injuries from faults in gas-powered water heaters, are presented in the table. The corresponding numbers for fatalities in England and Wales are also given. However the figure for 1993, normally provided by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, is not available.
|Non-fatal accidents|Fatalities
Data year |(UK) |(England and Wales)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 |56 |0
1991 |114 |1
1992 |88 |2
1993 |50 |0
Nuclear Material (Road Transport)
Mr. MacShane: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers about escorting nuclear material by road. [41618]
Mr. Page: None. The escort of nuclear materials is carried out, where necessary, by the UK Atomic Energy Authority constabulary, with whom the appropriate arrangements are in place. These include provision for notification of local Home Office and Scottish Office police forces, where appropriate.
GIAT of France
Mr. McWilliam: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contact there has been between Ministers or civil servants and Royal Ordnance or BAe regarding the setting up of a joint company or other arrangement involving GIAT of France; and if he will make a statement. [41636]
Mr. Eggar: My Department has regular contact with British Aerospace about collaborative opportunities, including possible arrangements between Royal Ordnance and GIAT. These discussions are commercially confidential.
British American Business Groups
Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of British-American business groups in the United Kingdom with whom his Department is in contact; and if he will make a statement. [41860]
Mr. Nelson: My Department has regular contact with a number of associations in the United Kingdom interested in promoting trade with the USA, including the British-American chamber of commerce in London and the British-American business groups in the north-west and in Bristol.
Consultancy Brokerage Service
Mrs. Roche: To ask the President of the Board of Trade with what he intends to replace the Consultancy Brokerage Service; and at what cost to public funds. [42005]
Mr. Page: The Consultancy Brokerage Service will not be replaced by any centrally driven initiative.
My Department will, however, be working with business links to ensure that they each have in place an acceptable approach to consultant selection. The Department would not rule out a modest contribution to the development of that work but no applications for support have been agreed nor have any funds been allocated.
Manufacturing Labour Costs
Sir John Stanley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the manufacturing labour costs per hour in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) each EU country for which equivalent figures are available, (c) the USA, (d) Canada and (e) Japan at the latest available date. [41871]
Column 708
Mr. Oppenheim: The information is provided in the table.
International comparisons of hourly compensation costs in
US
Dollars for production workers in manufacturing, 1994
Country |Hourly compensation
|costs in
|US Dollars
------------------------------------------------------------
United Kingdom |13.62
Germany |27.31
Belgium |22.97
Austria |21.73
Netherlands |20.91
Denmark |20.44
Finland |18.89
Sweden |18.81
France |17.04
Italy |16.16
Spain |11.45
Portugal |4.57
Canada |15.68
USA |17.10
Japan |21.42
Source:
"International Comparisons of Hourly Compensation Costs for
production Workers in Manufacturing, 1994. Supplementary
tables". "US Department of Labour-Bureau of Labour
Statistics.
World Trade (Shares)
Sir John Stanley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the share of world trade held by each of the 20 countries in the world that had the largest shares of world trade in 1979; and if he will provide the equivalent information for the most recent year for which figures are available. [41870]
Mr. Oppenheim: The answer is in the following table:
Shares of world visible exports-20 largest
exporters 1979 and 1994
Rank |Country |Per cent. share
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
1 |USA |11.9
2 |F R Germany |11.3
3 |Japan |6.7
4 |France |6.6
5 |UK |5.7
6 |Italy |4.7
7 |Netherlands |4.2
8 |Saudi Arabia |3.8
9 |Canada |3.8
10 |Belgium/Luxembourg|3.7
11 |Sweden |1.8
12 |Switzerland |1.7
13 |USSR |1.7
14 |Iraq |1.3
15 |Kuwait |1.2
16 |Iran |1.2
17 |South Africa |1.2
18 |Spain |1.2
19 |Nigeria |1.1
20 |Libya |1.1
1994
1 |USA |12.2
2 |Germany |10.0
3 |Japan |9.4
4 |France |5.7
5 |UK |4.9
6 |Italy |4.5
7 |Canada |3.9
8 |Hong Kong<1> |3.6
9 |Netherlands |3.2
10 |China |2.9
11 |Belgium/Luxembourg|2.6
12 |Singapore<1> |2.3
13 |Korea |2.3
14 |Taiwan |2.2
15 |Spain |1.8
16 |Switzerland |1.7
17 |Russia |1.5
18 |Sweden |1.5
19 |Malaysia |1.4
20 |Mexico |1.4
Note:
<1> Includes significant re-exports.
Source:
IMF Direction of Trade.
Artillery Shells
Mr. Simpson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the number and value of 155 mm shells and cartridges produced for export by the United Kingdom in each of the years 1980 and 1990; and to which countries these items were exported. [42063]
Mr. Nelson: This is a matter for my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement, and I refer the hon. Member to his answer of today.
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