| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Clinical Negligence
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures on clinical negligence settlements for each of the last four years (a) by region, (b) by district and (c) by trust indicating (i) their number and (iii) their cost. [2419]
Mr. Malone [holding answer 24 November 1995]: Information is no longer collected centrally about the numbers of clinical negligence claims settled, nor is any information held about claims settled by districts. However, I am able to give details of the costs of clinical negligence claims by trust, and this will be placed in the Library.
For information by region, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 6 March 1995, Official Report, columns 40-42, which contains the most current data available.
Medicine Prices
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received calling for the abolition of the retail price maintenance scheme for medicines. [3017]
Mr. Malone [holding answer 27 November 1995]: None.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received that patients purchasing medicines are being disadvantaged through the higher prices required by resale price maintenance of medicines. [3014]
Mr. Malone [holding answer 27 November 1995]: None.
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 43
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 45
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
National Grid
Mr. Burden: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the impact of the promised rebate to domestic consumers, arising from the sale of the national grid, on the collection of the fossil fuel levy; and if any rebate will be leviable. [3390]
Mr. Eggar: The rebate is expected to take the form of a discount in the first quarter of 1996 with a consequent effect on the fossil fuel levy collected in that quarter.
Gas Pipeline (Zeebrugge-Bacton)
Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement with regard to the implications for United Kingdom energy reserves of the proposed construction of a gas pipeline from Zeebrugge to Bacton, Norfolk. [3484]
Mr. Eggar: The Department considers the proposed gas pipeline from Bacton to Zeebrugge to be an important strategic project that will ensure the continued development of our oil and gas resources.
Natural Gas Reserves
Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the United Kingdom's current reserves of natural gas; and what is the rate of consumption through (a) domestic supply and (b) exports. [3483]
Mr. Eggar: Estimates of the United Kingdom's remaining recoverable reserves of gas are given in my Department's energy report 1995, volume 2, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The report shows that discovered reserves could yield 1,915 billion cu m of gas. Allowing for the full potential from as yet undrilled structures could raise this to 3,815 billion cu m.
In 1994, some 63.5 billion cu m were produced for United Kingdom supply and 0.9 billion cu m were exported.
Late Payment
Mr. Day: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans there are to review the case for a statutory right to interest in June 1996 in accordance with the commitment made in the White Paper of June 1994. [3553]
Mr. Page: The incidence of late payment and the need for new measures to address the problem are subject to on-going investigation. A number of measures were put in place following the publication of "Competitiveness-- Helping Business to Win" in May 1994 and the effect of these will need to be evaluated. Any decision to review the case for a statutory right to interest will be dependent on these considerations and will be announced by June 1996.
Beaufort's Dyke
Mr. Macdonald: To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date in 1981 a United Kingdom Atomic
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 46
Energy Authority shipment destined for Rockall Deep in 1981 was diverted to Beaufort's dyke; what was the reason for the diversion; and if he will list the full contents of that shipment. [3552]
Mr. Page: In November 1981, the MV Gem left Bromborough bound for the Rockall Deep. It was intended to test a new mechanism for handling drums of the type used for sea disposal of radioactive waste. However, due to severe weather it was necessary to carry out the tests at an alternative approved site at Beaufort's dyke.
The tests involved the dumping of a small batch of dummy drums containing only solid concrete. Beaufort's dyke was not used for the disposal of radioactive waste.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost to date of the Scott inquiry. [1890]
Mr. Lang: The direct cost to date of the Scott inquiry is £1.8 million.
Executive Agencies (Overseas Travel)
Mr. Redmond: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency (a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2358]
Mr. Lang: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the chief executives of the agencies for which my Department is or has been responsible. I have therefore asked Mr. David Durham of Companies House, Mr. Peter Joyce of the Insolvency Service, Dr. Richard Worswick of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, Dr. Peter Clapham, acting chief executive for the National Engineering and National Physical Laboratories, which ceased to be agencies earlier this year, Dr. Seton Bennet of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Mr. Paul Hartnack of the Patent Office and Mr. Jim Norton of the Radiocommunications Agency to arrange for replies to be given. My Department's Accounts Services Agency has also ceased to be an executive agency. Its financial and management accounting functions did not necessitate overseas travel.
Letter from R. D. Worswick to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 47
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about overseas travel by staff in The Insolvency Service during 1994/95.
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your Question about overseas travel by the staff of the Agency.
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about overseas travel by staff of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) during the last financial year.
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about overseas travel by staff of the Agency.
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 48
The President of the Board of Trade, the Rt Hon Ian Lang MP, has asked me to reply to your Question about overseas travel by staff of Companies House Executive Agency during the last financial year.
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to you about overseas travel by staff of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC).
In financial year 1994/95 just over £99,000 was spent on overseas travel (air fares, hotel bills and subsistence); of this £56,000 was for travel to EU countries and £43,000 for travel outside the EU.
Visits were made to Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the USA. These visits were made in order to fulfil customer contracts.
Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 November 1995:
The staff involved were within the Civil Service grades Scientific Officer to Grade 3, with the bulk of the trips made by staff in Grades 5, 6, 7 and Senior Scientific Officer.
Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 November 1995:
The total cost of overseas travel for 1994/95 was £9,050: the countries visited were Austria, Belgium Canada, France and Spain: and those visits were made by myself, a grade 4, a grade 5, and insolvency B grade (equivalent grade 7) and an insolvency C grade (equivalent SEO).
Letter from Peter Clapham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 November 1995:
For NWML, the information you requested is as follows:
(a) The cost of foreign travel by Agency staff in the financial year 1994/95 was £25,692 (some of which was recovered from the European Commission);
(b) The countries visited were Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland;
(c) Apart from myself, some 13 different members of staff were involved, who hold a variety of posts in the Agency.
Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
As you will be aware, NPL and NEL are no longer executive agencies, both now being operated by private sector management. However, as the last Chief Executive of both laboratories I am pleased to respond to your question.
I should comment that as internationally active research and technical advice laboratories, both NPL and NEL have a wide range of overseas commitments associated with, for example, collaborative projects, international consultancies, conferences and committee work. A significant proportion of staff travel costs is met directly by customers and in some cases these costs are not separately identified in our accounts. However, the approximate totals for overseas travel and subsistence in 1994/95 were £520,000 and £130,000 for the NPL and NEL respectively.
As you might expect from the extent of both laboratories' activities, the countries visited and the grades of staff involved are very wide ranging and it would not be practicable to provide you with a breakdown. However, if you have some specific queries I should be happy to do my best to elicit the information for you.
The Radiocommunications Agency has a major international role. It represents UK-wide interests in many international fora at the European and global levels. These activities all relate to the effective management of the radio frequency spectrum and include the harmonisation of frequency usage, the development of radio regulatory regimes, and the adoption of international standards for radiocommunications equipment. The interests we represent include the Agency's customers who use the radio spectrum, other
government departments, manufacturers, operators and service providers. In some fora we also represent the interests of the UK's dependant territories.
Letter from David Durham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 December 1995:
With the agreement of ministers, we play an active and constructive role in the relevant fora and, particularly in Europe, we play a leading role by holding chairmanships and making substantive contributions to the development of international agreements.
For the financial year 1994/95, the Agency spent a total of £538,202 on overseas travel including subsistence. In keeping with the Agency's net running cost regime, all of this expenditure was recovered through licence fees and other income.
This expenditure involved extensive travel throughout Europe, some visits to the Americas and occasional visits to other parts of the world. The staff involved ranged from the Chief Executive to junior administrative staff (in support of large delegations to world treaty-making conferences). A detailed breakdown of countries visited and staff levels involved could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
I hope that this information is of interest.
Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
The information you sought is as follows:
(a) Cost: £12,000
(b) Countries Visited: Anguilla, USA, Eire, Belgium and France
(c) Posts held by staff involved: Chief Executive, senior and middle management grades.
I should explain that in the case of Anguilla, the net cost to Companies House will be nil, because the visit was in connection with consultancy advice we provided to certain overseas administrations, for which we are reimbursed.
I hope this information fully answers your question.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |