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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Internal Market Council
Mr. Barnes: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Internal Market Council, held on 23 November, giving details of all votes and all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [1599]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 27 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the deputy UK permanent representative represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 23 November.
The council reached unanimous political agreement on the customs 2000 programme on which Germany abstained, and on the flavourings directive, on which France abstained. The required simple majority were in favour of the directive on collection of statistical information in the field of tourism, which Germany opposed. Political agreement was reached on the draft directives amending public procurement directives, though a common position awaits the European Parliament's opinion.
The council also agreed common positions on the pressure equipment directive, on which Italy abstained, and on the motor-cycle multi chapter directive, which Austria opposed. Although the UK voted against, political agreement was reached on the mineral water proposal. Denmark and Sweden also voted against and the Netherlands abstained.
There was also an informal lunchtime discussion with Ministers from central and eastern European countries.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of (a) women and (b) ethnic minorities are employed in the highest 10 per cent. of paid staff in his Department. [1515]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 22 November 1995]: The figures for the DTI, excluding its executive agencies, are as follows:
| Number | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 78 | 15.0 |
| Staff of ethnic minority origin | 13 | 2.5 |
| Total number of staff | 521 | -- |
The figures exclude casual staff and staff currently out of the Department. The figures do not take account of staff transferring to the DTI from the Cabinet Office and the former Employment Department in the latest machinery of government changes.
The chief executives of the following executive agencies will respond direct to the hon. Member-- Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency.
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 538
Letter from David Durham to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
You tabled a Parliamentary Question regarding the percentage of women and ethnic minorities employed in the highest 10% of staff in DTI. I have been asked to reply to you directly as Chief Executive of Companies House Executive Agency.
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about the percentage of women and ethnic minorities employed in the highest 10% of paid staff in The Insolvency Service.
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 539
Mr. Berry:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure the accuracy of the Coal Authority's records of disused mineshafts in the Kingswood parliamentary constituency. [2941]
Mr. Page:
This is a matter for the Coal Authority.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade under which EG(C)O category the licence issued for export of arms and ammunition to Guatemala between 1 January and 31 August 1995 falls. [2422]
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 24 November 1995]: Earlier this year, there were placed in the Library of the House detailed statistical analyses of exported licences which were granted for military, paramilitary and security equipment in the calendar years 1993 and 1994. These analyses included all countries of destination for which these licences were issued, including Guatemala. Early in 1996, I intend to place in the Library of the House a similar analysis for the full calendar year 1995. I shall write to the hon. Member when this is done.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what British companies have applied for export licences to supply arms to Nigeria in each year since 1993. [2876]
Mr. Oppenheim:
It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to reveal details of export licences or applications for licences unless the requirements of commercial confidentiality are outweighed by the public interest.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many closures of post offices in rural areas have been notified to his Department in the past five years. [2651]
Mr. Oppenheim:
In September 1990 there were 10,166 post offices in rural areas. In September 1995 there were 9,494.
Mr. Duncan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of British exports is defence related. [882]
Mr. Oppenheim:
Goods identified as being defence equipment accounted for 1.3 per cent. of British exports in 1994.
Mr. Hardy:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the conformity of state aid to Irish Steel Ltd. with the provision of the treaty of Paris and EU policy. [2835]
Mr. Eggar
[holding answer 27 November 1995]: The Commission's proposal to authorise state assistance to Irish Steel contains a proposal for financial assistance which is not permitted by either article 4(c) of the treaty
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 540
of Paris or the steel aid code. The Commission has therefore requested a derogation from the steel aid rules under article 95 (ECSC), which is subject to the unanimous assent of the Council of Ministers.
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department has received and what meetings it has had with the Nigerian-British Society since November 1993; and if he will make a statement. [2814]
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 27 November 1995]: My Department has not had any contact with the Nigerian-British Society.
Letter from Peter Joyce to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
The total number of staff in Companies House as at 23 November 1995 was 1087 on headcount and 937 on full time equivalent. The percentage of women employed in the highest 10% of paid staff is 28%, and of ethnic minorities employed in the highest 10% of paid staff is 5.5 %.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from R. D. Worswick to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 20 November 1995:
The relevant figures at 20 November were:
Number of permanent staff Females in highest 10% of paid staff Ethnic minorities in highest 10% of paid staff
1,411 14-9.9% 10-7.1%
Letter from Seton Bennett to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
I have been asked to answer your question PQ26N to the President of the Board of Trade tabled on 16 November 1995 with respect to the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.
Of the highest 10% of paid staff employed at the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, 4% are women and 4% are from ethnic minorities.
Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about the employment of women and ethnic minorities in the highest 10 per cent of paid staff.
There are no women or ethnic minorities employed at that level in the National Weights and Measures Laboratory.
Letter from Jim Norton to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 28 November 1995:
You asked for information about the percentage of women and ethnic minorities employed in the highest 10% of paid staff in the Department of Trade and Industry. This reply covers the Patent Office which is an Executive Agency of the Department.
The relevant information is that the Patent Office has 88 staff in the top 10% salary bracket. Of these, 4.5% are women and none are from ethnic minorities.
I am replying on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your written question to the President of the Board of Trade about the percentage of women and ethnic minority staff employed in the highest 10% of paid staff in the Agency.
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of (a) women and b) ethnic minorities are employed in the highest 10% of paid staff in his Department.
Of the highest 10% of paid staff in the Agency, women and staff from ethnic backgrounds account for 4% each.
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