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Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each scheme so far agreed under the private finance initiative (a) capital and (b) revenue costs to public funds (i) under the PFI and (ii) estimated to have been incurred had the scheme been funded wholly within the public sector. [3806]
Mr. Hague: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 7 November 1995 at column 808.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much capital expenditure is forecast to be included in the private finance initiative for the current financial year and the next five financial years. [3836]
Mr. Hague: I refer the hon. Member to table 6.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996-97" which was laid before the House on 28 November 1995.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many ministerial visits have been undertaken by each Minister in his Department between 6 July and 1 December; and how many and what percentage of these have involved the Minister travelling abroad. [4227]
Mr. Hague: I and my Ministers undertake regular ministerial visits. I have made 38 ministerial visits to Wales, including three trips abroad, in this period.
The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) has carried out 48 visits, including two abroad.
The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, North-West (Mr. Richards) has carried out 48 visits, including one abroad.
Inward Investment
21. Mr. Bayley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new initiatives his Department intends to take to encourage inward investment in towns and cities that are not assisted areas and do not benefit from EU objective 2 status. [2620]
Mr. Eggar: The Government continue to support inward investment through my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau, the national agencies and regional
6 Dec 1995 : Column: 279
development organisations. In recent years the number of regional development organisations in England has increased from five to eight with only the south east and eastern regions not currently covered, though IBB generated enquiries are dealt with by the Government offices. The IBB and RDO's work closely with English Partnerships whose role includes the development of vacant or derelict land in towns and cities to bring them back into productive use.
Trade With India
22. Mr. Merchant: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on trade with India. [2621]
Mr. Nelson: Trade with India has increased by some 50 per cent. in both directions in the past three years. United Kingdom exports to India amounted to £1.5 billion in the 12 months to the end of September this year. UK imports from India in the same period amounted to £1.3 billion. The Indo-British Partnership--set up following the Prime Minister's visit to India in 1993--has contributed greatly to the strengthening of trade relations between the UK and India.
Manufacturing Output
23. Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the change in manufacturing output in the past 12 months. [2622]
Mr. Page: Manufacturing output in the three months to September was 1.2 per cent. higher than a year earlier. Manufacturing output is forecast to grow by 2.5 per cent. next year.
Small Businesses
25. Mr. Touhig: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of small businesses survive longer than three years. [2624]
Mr. Page: Official estimates of survival rates are available for businesses registering for VAT. These show that around 60 per cent. of businesses remain on the VAT register for at least three years.
29. Mr. Gapes: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small firms went out of business in the last quarter for which figures are available. [2628]
Mr. Page: There are no figures on the total numbers of small firms which go out of business each quarter. Figures are available on the number of firms which go out of businesses because of insolvency. In the third quarter of 1995 there were 3,919 company insolvencies and 6,736 individual insolvencies in England and Wales, on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Mr. Barry Field: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those measures that his Department has taken to assist small businesses since 1979. [2617]
Mr. Page: A complete outline of the range of initiatives introduced is published in the annual report "Small Firms in Britain". Copies of the 1995 report are in the Library of the House.
6 Dec 1995 : Column: 280
26. Mr. Norman Hogg:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had on behalf of consumers about the Scottish Power bid for Manweb from the North of Scotland Electricity Consumers Committee. [2625]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
No such representations have been received on behalf of consumers.
27. Mr. Mark Robinson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support his Department provides for businesses in the south-west. [2626]
Mr. Nelson:
My Department provides a wide range of services for businesses in the south west, including Business Links, a competitive advisory board and two regional supply offices. In addition, £14.4 million of regional selective assistance has been offered to companies in the south-west generating over £104 million of investment and 3,000 jobs.
28. Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to improve the competitiveness of Britain's manufacturing exporters to world markets; and if he will make a statement. [2627]
Mr. Nelson:
Through overseas trade services my Department offers exporters an enhanced package of support. The Government's commitment and proposals for improving the competitiveness of British industry are set out in the two White Papers on competitiveness, "Helping Business to Win" and "Forging Ahead" published in 1994 and 1995.
30. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the balance of payments position in the year ending October 1995 (a) with members of the European Union, (b) with non European Union countries and (c) in total in the United Kingdom's trade with the rest of the world. [2629]
Mr. Lang:
Information on the balance of payments, in total, is published quarterly by the Central Statistical Office. First Release, CSO(95)207, gave information up to the second quarter of 1995. Geographic breakdowns of the balance of payments are available annually; the latest results were published by the Central Statistical Office in October 1995 issue of "Economic Trends". Both publications are available in the Library of the House.
31. Mr. Skinner:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent meetings he has had with both sides of the mining industry to discuss output and conditions in British coal mines. [2630]
Mr. Page:
My ministerial colleagues and I meet representatives of the coal mining industry as necessary.
6 Dec 1995 : Column: 281
32. Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the implementation of the technology foresight programme. [2631]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
Action to take forward the technology foresight programme is proceeding on a broad front. The foresight panels are pursuing vigorous programmes of dissemination. The chief scientific adviser has reconstituted the steering group, making strategic appointments which reflect the group's new focus on dissemination and implementation. The DTI is promoting foresight through Government regional offices and industry divisions. Several other Government departments are taking forward relevant foresight priorities. Numerous trade associations and professional bodies are taking forward foresight with their members. The foresight challenge competition has attracted an impressive response from industry and academia. The Government will publish a progress report shortly.
34. Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements are being made to link the Internet to schools and libraries; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [2633]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
It is estimated that close to 2,000 schools are already linked to the Internet. My Department has supported an industry-led scheme not only to link 60 schools in a pilot scheme, but to focus and channel the vast amount of material available on the worldwide web so that it can help teachers deliver the national curriculum. The total cost of the "Schools On Line" pilot, which runs through to easter 1996 is around £1 million, of which 50 per cent. comes from the companies and 50 per cent. from DTI. There are also projects involving the Internet in the superhighways for education initiative announced on 13 November.
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