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Public Opinion Surveys

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all qualitative and quantitative research projects and surveys carried out for his Department into aspects of public attitudes and opinions (a) in general and (b) in relation to specific policy proposals in each of the past three years to December 1995, indicating for each project or survey (i) the date on which the research was commissioned, (ii) the amount which his Department spent, (iii) who carried out the research, (iv) the number of people surveyed or taking part, (v) the location and time scale and (vi) which individuals and organisations have been given access to the findings. [5977]

Mrs. Angela Knight [holding answer 14 December 1995]: No such research projects or surveys have been carried out by the Treasury during the period in question.

Tax Receipts (Oil Production)

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the tax receipts from oil production in each year since 1979. [6245]

Mr. Jack: [holding answer 18 December 1995]: Revenues raised from North sea oil and gas production since 1979-80 have been as follows:

£ million

Year	Petroleum revenue tax	Supplementary petroleum duty	Corporation tax		Royalty	Total
			ACT (24) set-off	Main-stream CT
1979-80	1,435	--	78	172	628	2,313
1980-81	2,410	--	97	244	992	3,743
1981-82	2,390	2,025	270	411	1,396	6,492
1982-83	3,274	2,395	202	319	1,632	7,822
1983-84	6,017	--	430	447	1,904	8,798
1984-85	7,177	--	1,244	1,188	2,426	12,035
1985-86	6,375	--	1,085	1,831	2,057	11,348
1986-87	1,188	--	1,130	1,546	919	4,783
1987-88	2,296	--	681	617	1,024	4,618
1988-89	1,371	--	685	510	602	3,168
1989-90	1,050	--	495	248	575	2,368
1990-91	860	--	363	484	605	2,312
1991-92	-216	--	370	268	557	979
1992-93	69	--	480	202	554	1,305
1993-94	359	--	219	39	606	1,223
1994-95	712	--	299	81	550	1,642
1995-96(25)	860	--	790	130	560	2,340

(24) ACT set-off against corporation tax payments due in each financial year is used as an approximate substitute for ACT receipts.

(25) Forecast consistent with the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996-97.

19 Dec 1995 : Column: 1051

19 Dec 1995 : Column: 1051

PRIME MINISTER

Engagements

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 December 1995. [5411]

The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

Chauffeur-driven Cars

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost of chauffeur-driven cars used by his Department was in each of the past five years. [5864]

The Prime Minister: No No. 10 staff, other than the Prime Minister, have a car and driver allocated for their use. The total costs of this allocated car, including security costs, Government car service cars allocated to No. 10 and GCS cars on short-term hire were as follows:

1992-93: £470,000
1993-94: £450,000
1994-95: £380,000.

These costs exclude VAT.

The figures for earlier years are available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is his estimate of the total cost for himself and other departmental Ministers for each of (a) overseas travel and accommodation expenses of Ministers and their advisers, (b) car and chauffeuring costs of Ministers, (c) ministerial security costs and (d) domestic travel and accommodation expenses of Ministers; [6412]

(2) what is his estimate of the running cost of his departmental office, and that of his predecessor, for each year since 1990-91 including an estimate for the

19 Dec 1995 : Column: 1052

current year, broken down into (a) telephone bill, (b) total staff costs, (c) press and communications, (d) entertainment, (e) alcoholic drinks, (f) non-alcoholic drinks, (g) stationery, (h) office refurbishment and (i) other. [6411]

The Prime Minister: Expenditure by my Office during 1993-94 and 1994-95 is as follows:

£000(26)

	1993-94	1994-95
Overseas travel and accommodation	1,000	790
Cars, Domestic travel and accommodation	490	440
Telephone and stationery costs	130	90
Total staff costs(27)	3,270	3,200
Entertainment	40	40
Office refurbishment	140	70
Other costs(28)	4,150	3,020
Total costs	9,220	7,670

(26) Figures rounded to the nearest £10,000.

(27) Includes the cost of the Press Office.

(28) Includes security costs; for 1993-94 includes telecommunications

costs.

Small Firms

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings his Department has had since May 1995 with organisations representing small firms to review tendering procedures. [6647]

The Prime Minister: Since May 1995, the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency has had meetings with the Federation of Electrical Industries and the Computing Services and Software Association.

Goods and Services

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Department paid to the private sector for goods and services in 1994-95. [6508]

The Prime Minister: The information is not held in the form requested.

19 Dec 1995 : Column: 1053

Council of Europe

Mr. Anthony Coombs: To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 1996 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. [7384]

The Prime Minister: The 1996 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be opened in Strasbourg on 22 January 1996. The delegation from the United Kingdom for the Session will consist of 19 members of the Conservative party, 15 members of the Labour party and two members from the minority parties.

The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the parties concerned in accordance with the resolution of the House on 22 May 1992, Official Report, column 682, and of the House of Lords on 18 June 1992, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 290-92.

The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union, which next meets in London in February 1996.

Representatives from the Government benches will be:
My noble Friend the Lord Finsberg--who will continue to act as leader of both delegations.
My hon. Friends the Members for:
Warwick and Leamington (Sir Dudley Smith)
Calder Valley (Sir Donald Thompson)
Ashford (Sir Keith Speed)
Medway (Dame Peggy Fenner)
Lewes (Mr. Tim Rathbone)
Bournemouth East (Mr. David Atkinson)
Ravensbourne (Sir John Hunt)
Reading West (Sir Anthony Durant)
The Lord Newall
Representatives from the Labour Party will be:
The hon. Members for:
Wentworth (Mr. Peter Hardy)
Tooting (Mr. Tom Cox)
Wansbeck (Mr. Jack Thompson)
Newham North West (Mr. Tony Banks)
Don Valley (Mr. Martin Redmond)
Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Terry Davis)
The Lord Kirkhill
The representative from the minority parties will be:
The hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber
(Sir Russell Johnston)
The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates.
From the Government benches:
The hon. Members for:
Sheffield, Hallam (Sir Irvine Patnick)
Norfolk North (Sir Ralph Howell)
Brighton Kemptown (Sir Andrew Bowden)
Northavon (Sir John Cope)
Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Terry Dicks)
Bridlington (Mr. John Townend)

19 Dec 1995 : Column: 1054

Newark (Mr. Richard Alexander)
The Baroness Hooper
The Earl of Dundee
From the Labour Party:
The hon. Members for:
Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. James Dunnachie)
Glasgow, Provan (Mr. James Wray)
Newport East (Mr. Roy Hughes)
Easington (Mr. John Cummings)
Leigh (Mr. Lawrence Cunliffe)
Leicester South (Mr. James Marshall)
Manchester Central (Mr. Robert Litherland)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton
From the minority parties:
The Lord Mackie of Benshie.

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