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Algeria (Export Credits Guarantee)
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's policy towards the availability of export credits guarantee for business in Algeria. [7997]
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Mr. Nelson: There is no ECGD medium/long-term cover for business with Algeria.
Human Genetics
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Government will respond to the third report of the Science and Technology Committee of Session 1994-95, "Human Genetics, the Science and its Consequences" (HC 41.I) [8690]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The Government have published today their response to the Select Committee's report on "Human Genetics: The Science and its Consequences". Copies of the response have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The response emphasises the excellence of UK genetic research and the opportunities which it offers for improving the country's competitiveness and quality of life. However, it also recognises the sensitivities which can apply to the application of genetics on health care and other fields. The response refers to the establishment of a new advisory body on genetic testing, to complement existing arrangements for addressing the ethical aspects of medical research. Details will be announced separately by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.
Fossil Fuel Levy
Mr. Hardy: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total sum raised by the fossil fuel levy borne by electricity consumers since this levy was introduced; and what sum this represents for the average electricity consumer. [7839]
Mr. Page: The total sum raised by the fossil fuel levy between 1 April 1990 and 31 March 1995--the latest data available--was £6,285 million. Over the same period, an average domestic electricity customer has paid about £135 towards the levy.
Timeshare Directive
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 December, Official Report, column 640, what considerations led to his not yet having initiated a consultation exercise to implement the 1994 timeshare directive; and if he will estimate the number of timeshare purchasers affected as a result of the interval. [7981]
Mr. John M. Taylor [holding answer 9 January 1996]: The deadline for implementing the timeshare directive is 29 April 1997. We plan to meet that deadline. With this in mind a consultation paper will be issued shortly. We intend to lay regulations before Parliament early in 1997. Purchasers of timeshare in the UK are already protected under the UK Timeshare Act 1992, and we believe no consumer will be adversely affected by our timetable.
Nuclear Industry (Privatisation)
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total expenditure on management and financial consultants employed by the Department to advise on the sale of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear; and what estimate he has made of future expenditure. [8013]
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Mr. Eggar [holding answer 9 January 1996]: The Department has provision for expenditure of £25 million in 1995-96 on restructuring and privatisation of the nuclear power generation industry. Actual expenditure will be reported to Parliament in the normal way through the appropriation account. Details of estimated expenditure in 1996-97 will be published in due course in the supply estimates.
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade which companies are currently employed to advise on the privatisation of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear; and on what aspects. [8014]
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 9 January 1996]: The following advisers are currently employed in connection with the privatisation of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear.
| Adviser | Area |
|---|---|
| Addison Design | Design company |
| Allen and Overy | Legal adviser (England and Wales) |
| Barclays de Zoete Wedd | Financial adviser/Global co-ordinator |
| Binder Hamlyn | Joint reporting accountant(9) |
| Brodies | Legal adviser (Scotland) |
| Cluttons | Property valuer |
| Davis Polk and Wardwell | Legal adviser (US) |
| Dewe Rogerson | PR/Marketing adviser(9) |
| Jonathan Sumption QC | Legal advice |
| London Economics | Electricity pool price modelling |
| Lowe Howard-Spink | Advertising agency(9) |
| Mail Marketing (Bristol) | Mailing house |
| Matthew Clarke QC | Legal advice |
| Price Waterhouse | Joint reporting accountant(9) |
| Solid Solutions Associates | Retail adviser |
| Stone & Webster and Electrowatt | Joint technical consultants |
| The Database Group | Database manager |
| Tillinghast | Insurance adviser |
| Touche Ross | Accountancy adviser |
| Watson Wyatt | Actuary |
| Williams Lea | Printer |
(9) Appointed jointly with British Energy.
DEFENCE
Executive Agencies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are (a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994-95. [7832]
Mr. Arbuthnot: Parliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is delegated to him or her under the agency framework document. The relevant Minister normally sees a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene in operational matters. No record is kept of occasions when Ministers propose amendments to the terms of a chief executive's reply, though such instances are rare.
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Trident
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate was made of the cost of the work to be undertaken at the atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston in support of the Trident programme before the work commenced. [8269]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 16 October 1995, Official Report, column 36.
Directorate of Accounts (Bills)
Mr. Dicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Directorate of Accounts (Bills). [8535]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The Directorate of Accounts (Bills) became a defence agency of the Ministry of Defence on 1 January 1996 following the restructuring of the Defence Accounts Agency. The agency, to be known as the Defence Bills Agency, is located in Liverpool and has a staff of 652 MoD civil servants. The agency is responsible for the authorisation and payment of bills from MoD's suppliers and contractors and the invoicing and collection of MoD receipts. In addition, the agency will maintain accounting records for the MoD central ledger and provide financial management information to budget holders and other MoD customers including other defence agencies.
As part of the Government's "Competing for Quality" initiative, the Directorate of Accounts (Bills) underwent a market testing feasibility study. As a result of this it was decided to keep the work of the directorate in house and to set challenging efficiency targets. These have been met and the in-house team and has been awarded a three-year fixed-price service level agreement effective from 1 April 1996. Embodied within the SLA are efficiency savings of over 27 per cent. measured against a baseline of the agency's 1993-94 outturn and these will be achieved by 31 March 1996.
The former Director of Accounts (Bills), Mr. M. A. Rowe, is the acting chief executive, pending the results of an open competition to appoint a successor. The chief executive will be seeking to develop the current organisation's professional expertise and improve the high performance standards to fulfil the agency's aim of providing its customers with an efficient service which offers the best value for money. The chief executive has been set the following key targets:
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1. To pay 97 per cent. of correctly presented bills within 11 working days of receipt and 100 per cent. within 30 days of receipt.
2. To raise 100 per cent. of invoices within 5 working days of instruction.
3. To obtain ISO 9002 accreditation.
4. To review the DBA internal management information/costing system.
5. To develop an accruals accounting system.
6. To make financial management information available on diskette each week to all MoD customers.
7. To meet 100 per cent. of the performance criteria laid down in the SLA.
8. To deliver the service contracted for in the SLA at the agreed price.
Copies of the agency's framework document are being placed in Library of the House.
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