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Capita Managed Services Ltd.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the terms on which the contract to collect the costs awarded against directors disqualified from managing a limited company was awarded to Capita Managed Services Ltd. [16275]
Mr. Oppenheim: The contract has been awarded for an initial period of three years commencing on 1 December 1995. The terms themselves are a matter of commercial confidentiality.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the process by which Capita Managed Services Ltd. was awarded the contract to collect the costs awarded against directors who are disqualified from acting in the management of limited companies. [16273]
Mr. Oppenheim: An advertisement setting out details of the service requirement and calling for expressions of interest was placed in "Government Opportunities". Respondents were asked to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire. On the basis of the replies a short list of six was drawn up and formal tenders issued. The bid from Capita Managed Services Ltd. represented best value for money and the contract was awarded accordingly.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which (a) have a statutory base, (b) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (c) hold open meetings for the public; and if in each case this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntarily. [16177]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The information is as follows:
Those non-departmental public bodies which:
(a) Have a statutory base:
In both (b) and (c) it is voluntary and not a statutory requirement for all DTI NDPBs.
All except the National Consumer Council, the Simpler Trade Procedures Board and the Design Council, the latter being established by royal charter. The research councils are also established by royal charter, a prerogative instrument, but are governed by the Science and Technology Act 1965 which imposes statutory duties in areas such as production of an annual report and keeping of accounts.
(b) Admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings:
None.
(c) Hold open meetings for the public:
None except the research councils who from time to time voluntarily hold open meetings.
Small Businesses
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the impact of Government policies upon small businesses in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [15236]
Mr. Page:
The Government are fully committed to supporting the small firms sector and recognise the key role that it plays in the economy.
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After reductions in the number of businesses in the early 1990s, there was a net increase in the number of businesses operating in England and Wales in both 1994 and 1995. Policy for small firms focuses mainly on providing a favourable economic climate--based on low inflation and stable interest rates in which enterprises can flourish. The Government are also concentrating on reducing administrative and regulatory burdens thereby enabling businesses to get on, unimpeded, with running their businesses.
The Government also provide direct assistance to small firms.
The establishment of the business link network now provides a single point of access to a wide range of information and services to small and medium-sized firms in England. Early indicators are that firms welcome these services and are impressed by the quality of provision.
In shaping their policy the Government are listening to the voice of small firms through the regional "Your Business Matters" conference and will take careful account of the report to be presented at a national conference on 11 March.
The small business ministerial group will have a significant effect on small firms by providing a forum for developing co-ordinated and cohesive policy across Whitehall Departments.
Mr. Hardy:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the hon. Member for Wentworth will receive an answer to the question of 30 November, about the support of greyhound breeding in Ireland by the EC. [13126]
Mr. Oppenheim
[pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1996, c. 232]: The current objective 1 programme of EC structural funds grants for the Republic of Ireland, which covers the period 1994 to 1999, includes three relevant measures: a quality breeding scheme, including purchase of breeding greyhounds from abroad; grant towards the cost of marketing greyhounds; and grant towards breeding premises for various animals including greyhounds. Intended totals of grant for the three schemes are IR£300,000, IR£353,000 and IR£7.5 million respectively. The first two schemes have not yet begun. Under the third scheme, IR£38,000 has so far been paid in respect of premises for greyhounds.
I understand that no information is available about the number of greyhounds to be bred or, therefore, the cost per animal.
I shall be glad to consider the matter further if the hon. Gentleman wishes to write to me.
Mr. Janner:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what communication he received from the secretary of the Scott inquiry, concerning the time needed by the Opposition parties to scrutinise the Scott report; on what
22 Feb 1996 : Column: 234
date he received such communications; what was the nature of the contents of letters; and if he will deposit copies of those letters in the Library. [16545]
Mr. Lang:
Correspondence on this issue was copied by the Scott inquiry to spokesmen for the main Opposition parties. This makes it clear that Sir Richard was glad to note the arrangements made for giving advance access to Opposition spokesmen. The Government do not propose to deposit copies of the correspondence in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Jane Kennedy:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Ministers in his Department entered the writing rooms of the Press Gallery on 15 February.[16470]
Sir Andrew Bowden:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about forthcoming prior options reviews of institutes sponsored by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. [17213]
Mr. Taylor:
The Government announced on 29 September 1995 that all public sector research establishments would be subject to prior options reviews. I announced on 24 November reviews of BBSRC- sponsored institutes concerned with agriculture and plant sciences.
Reviews are now beginning of the BBSRC's arrangements for sponsoring the Babraham Institute, the Institute for Animal Health and the Roslin Institute.
These reviews will take place alongside those of establishments parented or sponsored by other Government Departments which are carrying out work in similar or related fields. The reviews will build on any relevant recent studies.
I should welcome comments from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 8 April 1996 to:
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when it is planned that the British library will make available on the Internet information on British patents, trade marks, registered designs, and information from the Official Journal. [16216]
Mr. Sproat:
I have been asked to reply.
The British library has no plans to make available on the Internet information on British patents, trade marks, registered designs, an information from the Official Journal.
22 Feb 1996 : Column: 235
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department were present at the international exhibition for military production held in Baghdad in 1989. [15695]
Mr. Hanley
[holding answer 16 February 1996]: Some officials serving at the British embassy in Baghdad attended the exhibition. No Ministers were present.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings concerning the future of the Western Sahara have been attended by representatives of Her Majesty's Government (a) at the UN and (b) elsewhere in the past year; and if he will make a statement. [15933]
Mr. Hanley:
Programmes for official visits to the UN mission for the referendum in Western Sahara--MINURSO--from the UK and elsewhere have usually included visits to refugee camps in Algeria under MINURSO auspices. Most recently, officials from the foreign and Commonwealth Office visited camps in Tindouf in October 1995.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the UN Security Council concerning the performance of MINURSO in registering potential voters in the referendum on the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [15934]
Mr. Hanley:
We have expressed concern in the UN Security Council at the slow rate of progress in registering voters in the referendum on the future of the Western Sahara. The Secretary-General has reported that he will monitor the situation closely and bring the matter to the Security Council's attention if the situation showed no or very little sign of improvement.
Dr. Susannah Bolton, Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ in respect of the Babraham Institute;
Dr. David L. O. Smith, Silsoe Research Institute, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS in respect of the Institute for Animal Health; and
Dr. Vincent Essex, BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1UH in respect of the Roslin Institute.
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