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Nuclear Industry
Mr. Battle:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much corporation tax in 1995 prices has been
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received from Scottish Nuclear and Nuclear Electric since 1990. [12471]
Mr. Jack:
Details of the tax affairs of identified taxpayers are confidential.
Mr. Battle:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates have been made of the net present value of corporate tax to be received by the Exchequer from British Energy post-privatisation. [12472]
Mr. Jack:
Details of the tax affairs of identified taxpayers are confidential.
Deregulation
12. Sir David Madel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new initiatives he will advance in the next year to deregulate industry; and if he will make a statement. [9990]
Mr. Freeman: This year we hope to make considerable progress on the merger of the administrative procedures for PAYE and national insurance which should benefit small businesses.
16. Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what analysis he has made of the effects of deregulation on the protection of the individual at work. [9994]
Mr. Freeman: Deregulation is aimed at achieving better regulation without removing necessary protection, whether for employees, consumers, the environment, or the public at large. Ministers responsible for orders under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 must demonstrate that any necessary protection under existing legislation will be maintained.
Departmental Running Costs
13. Mr. Gerrard:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the annual costs of the office of the Deputy
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Prime Minister when that title was held by the two previous incumbents; and what is the estimated annual cost of running the office currently. [9991]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
The estimated annual cost of my office is £470,000. The two previous incumbents to whom the hon. Gentleman refers held other posts at the same time, and it is not therefore possible to identify comparable costs.
14. Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes have taken place in his role since his appointment; and if he will make a statement. [9992]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
My role is unchanged.
15. Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of his office's functions for the first six months of its operation. [9993]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
I have no plans to do so.
17. Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when proposals for the privatisation of the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency will be published. [9995]
Mr. Willetts:
Recruitment and Assessment Services will be sold as a single viable business by trade sale. Expressions of interest in RAS have been invited and an information memorandum will be made available to prospective bidders.
18. Mr. Hanson:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what objectives he has set for his Department for the forthcoming year. [9997]
Mr. Willetts:
To promote the competitiveness agenda, the deregulation initiative and the effective administration of the services for which my Department is responsible.
19. Mr. Pike:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of public expenditure was taken up by quangos in 1979; and what percentage of public expenditure they take up now. [9998]
Mr. Willetts:
Expenditure by non-departmental public bodies funded by Government was 4 per cent. of general Government expenditure in 1978-79 and 6 per cent. in 1994-95. Almost two-thirds of expenditure on non-departmental public bodies is accounted for by a very small number of executive bodies, such as the Housing Corporation, Legal Aid board and Higher and Further Education councils, which are responsible for the distribution of funds and provide important services.
20. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made on the effects of deregulation on public safety. [10000]
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Mr. Freeman:
I am satisfied that deregulation does not diminish public safety. We have included safeguards in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, which ensures that any necessary protection under existing legislation will be maintained.
21. Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes took place in his responsibilities for chairing Cabinet Committees and presenting Government policies consequent on the appointment of the Deputy Prime Minister. [10001]
Mr. Freeman:
My right hon. Friend and I took up our current posts at the same time as the reorganisation of Cabinet Committee memberships confirmed in a written answer on Tuesday 18 July 1995.
22. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what are his responsibilities in relation to the consequences of the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [10003]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
None.
23. Mr. Jacques Arnold:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the principal Government policy with which he has had to work during the current week. [10004]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
I have continued to work on a full range of those Government policies for which I am responsible.
25. Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the co-ordination of Government policy. [10006]
Mr. Willetts:
Government policies are co-ordinated to pursue economic prosperity and security for all, based on an enterprise economy; creating a nation of opportunity reflecting the Government's values of choice, ownership and reward; upholding decent commonsense values in the pursuit of law and order and justice; providing the people of Britain with first class public services; and reflecting pride in our nation and its place in the world.
24. Mr. Garrett:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy after the privatisation of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, to leave the administration of Crown copyright with the residual HMSO and located in Norwich. [10005]
Mr. Freeman:
I can confirm that the administration of Crown copyright will remain a function of the residual HMSO. Ten staff currently work in this area, and there are no plans at present to relocate them away from Norwich.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the proposed leasing of American F16 aircraft. [12126]
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The Deputy Prime Minister:
All discussions between Ministers are confidential.
Mr. Dykes:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what priority he accords to representations from (a) members of the public and (b) hon. Members in formulating his Department's policy. [9984]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
I take such representations fully into account.
38. Mr. Winnick:
To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, when the Church Commissioners last discussed the parliamentary duties of the Second Church Commissioner; and if he will make a statement. [10019]
Mr. Alison:
The role of the Second Church Estates Commissioner, and of the other Church commissioners, has been commented on the recent report of the Archbishops' Commission on the Organisation of the Church of England--"Working as One Body". This report is currently the subject of discussion and refinement within the Church; the next major debate about its recommendations will take place during the February group of sessions of the General Synod.
39. Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the current cost of maintaining bishops' palaces; how many of them there are; what were the figures (a) 10 and (b) 20 years ago in (i) real and (ii) cash terms; and if he will make a statement. [10020]
Mr. Alison:
The total expenditure, both capital and revenue, on diocesan bishops' houses in 1994--the last year for which figures are currently available--was £2,347,000. There are 45 houses, including the Archbishop of Canterbury's London base, Lambeth palace. Only 11 can properly be described as palaces. They include not only domestic accommodation but a chapel, meeting rooms and office accommodation. The figures include expenditure on furnishings and gardens and staff accommodation, and are net of any income.
In real and comparable terms the total expenditure in 1984 was £1,822,000 and in the year to March 1975 £1,665,000.
Expenditure each year varies depending on the turnover in episcopal appointments and the incidence of major repairs. The most recent survey of expenditure shows the average expenditure on diocesan bishops' houses was £39,496 per annum over a 10-year period.
The commissioners are currently reviewing the suitability of all See houses, and steps are being taken to keep maintenance costs to a minimum. It has recently been decided to replace the Portsmouth See house by one which will be cheaper to maintain.
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