| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Companies Acts
Mr. Bell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many DTI inspectors are working upon investigations in accordance with powers conferred by the Companies Acts. [12208]
Mr. John M. Taylor: There are currently 15 inspectors undertaking inspections into the affairs and/or membership of nine companies under the investigative powers conferred by the Companies Acts.
Departmental Staff (Energy Matters)
Mr. Battle: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff in his Department work on press and publicity and public relations; and how many of them deal with energy-related matters. [12483]
Mr. John M. Taylor: Sixty-three staff are employed in the Department's information division either directly on, or in support of, publicity, press and other media relations work. Of these, seven spend 50 per cent. or more of their time on energy-related matters.
Nuclear Industry (Privatisation)
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest estimate of the date for nuclear power generation privatisation; and if he will suspend his Department's plans pending publication by the Trade and Industry Committee of its report into nuclear privatisation. [12226]
Mr. Lang: Privatisation of the nuclear power generation industry is on track for the summer of this year and will not be suspended pending the issue by the Trade and Industry Committee of its report.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 10 January, Official Report, column 227, what was the total expenditure on management, financial and other consultants employed by his Department to advise on the sale of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear in each year since 1988-89. [12225]
29 Jan 1996 : Column: 511
Mr. Lang:
There was no expenditure on the sale of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear in the years 1988-89 to 1994-95. Pursuant to my answer of 10 January, Official Report, columns 226-27, actual expenditure for the year to 31 March 1996 will be reported to Parliament in the normal way through the appropriation account.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total amount of money raised by the non-fossil fuel obligation; and how much of those proceeds have been distributed to Nuclear Electric. [11252]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 24 January 1996]: The fossil fuel levy was introduced on 1 April 1990. The information requested is:
| Fossil fuel levy receipts | Payments from levy to Nuclear Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | £ million | |
| 1990-91 | 1,175 | 1,135 |
| 1991-92 | 1,324 | 1,281 |
| 1992-93 | 1,348 | 1,291 |
| 1993-94 | 1,234 | 1,139 |
| 1994-95 | 1,205 | 1,081 |
Sources:
Office of Electricity Regulation (amounts raised) and Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Ltd. (Payments).
The balance of levy receipts is used to finance payments to British Nuclear Fuels plc and to renewables generators, and to cover certain other costs such as administration costs.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount of money is estimated to be raised from the privatisation of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear in terms of (a) unspent non-fossil fuel obligation moneys and (b) cash surpluses at the time of the sale. [11309]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 24 January 1996]: The proceeds of the sale of British Energy will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions at the time of sale. It is not possible to put a fixed estimate on proceeds in advance of sale.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount of money has been spent on redundancy payments for staff in (a) Nuclear Electric and (b) Scottish Nuclear in each of the last five years; and how much is estimated to be spent in 1996-97. [11310]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 24 January 1996]: Information on staff redundancy costs is given in the annual report and accounts of Nuclear Electric plc. Information for 1995-96 and beyond will be published in the accounts of the relevant companies for those years. Questions on Scottish Nuclear Ltd. are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to retain the non-fossil fuel obligation after privatisation of British Energy; what is its estimated level; and if he will make a statement. [11254]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 24 January 1996]: Under the non-fossil fuel obligation, NFFO, the regional electricity companies, RECs, are required to make arrangements to secure the availability of specified
29 Jan 1996 : Column: 512
amounts of non-fossil--nuclear and renewables--sourced electricity generating capacity. The fossil fuel levy recovers the above-market costs to the RECs of securing this capacity. The nuclear NFFO will continue until 1998, but the element of the fossil fuel levy that is attributable to Nuclear Electric will end at the time of privatisation, subject to the recovery of outstanding moneys. The levy will continue to cover renewables and British Nuclear Fuels plc. We cannot give a figure for the reduced rate at this time, as it will depend on a number of factors that are still uncertain.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much of the non-fossil fuel obligation distributed to Nuclear Electric (a) remains as cash surplus, (b) has been used for decommissioning, (c) has been used for waste reprocessing, (d) has been invested in capital assets and (e) has been spent elsewhere. [11253]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 24 January 1996]: Details of nuclear premium received by Nuclear Electric under the NFFO arrangements and of their expenditure are contained in Nuclear Electric's annual report and accounts. The nuclear premium forms part of their overall income.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answers of 10 January, Official Report, columns 226-27, to whom the expenditure provision for restructuring and privatisation of the nuclear power generation industry will be given in 1995-96; and what is the value of the contacts with the companies advising his Department on the sale. [11311]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 24 January 1996]: Pursuant to my answers of 10 January 1996, Official Report, columns 226-27, expenditure in 1995-96 on restructuring and privatisation of the nuclear power generation industry will be in respect of the companies advising the Government during that financial year. Actual expenditure will be reported to Parliament in the normal way through the appropriation account. The value of individual contracts with companies is commercially confidential.
Mr. Corbett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the impact of competition policy on Birmingham. [9996]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
The Government believe that competition is good for competitiveness by making business compete more effectively and thus benefiting both customers and producers--in Birmingham as in the rest of the UK.
Mr. Hain:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much in (a) ecu and (b) pounds by standard region and in total the United Kingdom received under the European Thermie programmes and its predecessor programmes over the last available five years; [11662]
(2) how much in (a) ecu and (b) pounds by standard region and in total is allocated to the United Kingdom from the European Thermie programme under the current financial perspectives. [11663]
29 Jan 1996 : Column: 513
Mr. Page:
Payment from European expenditure programmes are not allocated to members states in the legislation supporting the programmes. The Thermie programme supports projects selected following an open call for proposals. It is not possible to predict the outcome of future calls, but in the last five years UK led projects have received:
| Year | kecu | £ thousands(10) |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19,507 | 15,996 |
| 1992 | 21,111 | 17,311 |
| 1993 | 26,053 | 18,903 |
| 1994 | 37,250 | 30,545 |
| 1995 | 21,541 | 17,663 |
(10) 1 ecu = £0.82.
A breakdown of these figures on a regional basis is not available.
Mr. Hain:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much in (a) ecus and (b) pounds by standard region and in total is allocated to the United Kingdom from the European Altener programme under the present structural funds agreement; [11667]
Mr. Page:
The Altener programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community is not part of the structural funds. Payment from European expenditure programmes are not allocated to member states in the legislation supporting the programmes. The Altener programme started in 1993 and UK-led projects have received:
(2) how much in (a) ecus and (b) pounds by standard region and in total the United Kingdom received under the European Altener programme and its predecessor programmes over the last available five-year period. [11666]
| Year | kecu | £ thousand(11) |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 272 | 223 |
| 1994 | 1,609 | 1,071 |
| 1995 | 2,101 | 1,723 |
(11) 1 ecu = £0.82.
A breakdown of these figures on a regional basis is not available.
Mr. Hain:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much in (a) ecu and (b) pounds by standard region and in total the United Kingdom received from European Commission research and development programmes over the last available five years. [11668]
Mr. Taylor:
Information on receipts for the European Union research and development programmes which have to be collected from the recipients is available only for 1993-94:
These totals do not include funds received by the non-profit sector or the new universities.
29 Jan 1996 : Column: 514
Mr. Hain: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much in (a) Ecus and (b) pounds by standard region and in total is allocated to the United Kingdom from the European Commission research and development programmes under the current financial perspectives. [11669]
Mr. Taylor: Payments from European Community expenditure programmes are not allocated to member states in the legislation supporting the programmes.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |