| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Textile Manufacturing
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of household textiles retailing in the United Kingdom were manufactured in the United Kingdom. [16831]
26 Feb 1996 : Column: 314
Mr. Eggar:
The information is not available for the retail market. However, in 1994, UK manufacturers' ex-factory domestic sales of household textiles represented 61 per cent. of the UK market, calculated from these and overseas trade statistics.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with Marks and Spencer since 1992 concerning its policy on United Kingdom sourcing of goods sold by it. [16832]
Mr. Page:
Ministers and officials from my Department have regular contact with Marks and Spencer, as with other major UK companies. These discussions have covered the company's strong relationship with its UK suppliers and how it can be maintained.
Mr. David Shaw:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of exports of (a) military goods and services, (b) dual-use goods and services and (c) other goods and services between 1974 and 1979. [16902]
Mr. Nelson:
Information on UK exports of identified defence equipment and total goods and services is given in the table. Information on defence services and on dual-use goods and services is not available.
| Year | Military goods | Total goods | Total services | Total goods and services |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 179 | 16,191 | 6,597 | 22,788 |
| 1975 | 198 | 19,429 | 7,678 | 27,107 |
| 1976 | 218 | 25,139 | 10,010 | 35,149 |
| 1977 | 356 | 31,921 | 11,615 | 43,536 |
| 1978 | 392 | 35,280 | 12,495 | 47,775 |
| 1979 | 393 | 40,400 | 14,427 | 54,827 |
Sources: UK Defence Statistics, Ministry of Defence.
The Pink Book, United Kingdom Balance of Payments.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes have been made since the opening of the Scott inquiry into the criteria adopted by his Department in deciding whether to give substantive replies to parliamentary questions seeking details of arms or military equipment exports from the United Kingdom. [15971]
Mr. Lang: No such changes have been made. It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose details about export licences that have been issued. However, the Government have from time to time released such information in exceptional circumstances where it was clearly in the public interest. I refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made on Thursday 15 February, Official Report, columns 1139-44, in relation to Sir Richard Scott's recommendations on this matter.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to paragraph C 2.62 of the Scott report, if he will list the exports of (a) machine tools and
26 Feb 1996 : Column: 315
(b) other equipment sent to Iraq under temporary licences and subsequently incorporated into the Iraqi weapon producing system between 1980 and 1991. [17343]
Mr. Lang:
I am not in a position to state with certainty what equipment was incorporated into the Iraqi weapon producing system. Sir Richard Scott addressed these issues in detail in sections D2.46 to D2.51, D6.55 to D6.72 and D6.194 to D6.220 of his report and I have nothing to add to his description of what equipment was sent to Iraq under temporary licences.
Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members of his Department who saw the report of the Scott inquiry before it was presented to the House; and when each saw the report. [16539]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: A small number of civil servants in each of the main Departments concerned had access to the report prior to publication for the purpose of preparing the Government's response. Such access was in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Scott inquiry.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he first saw the report of the Scott inquiry. [16578]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: On Wednesday 7 February 1996.
Mr. Hain:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the allocation of persons in his Department to the consideration of the Government's response to the Scott inquiry. [16598]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: Access to the report itself prior to publication was restricted to a very small number of officials in the main Departments concerned in accordance with the procedure agreed with the Scott inquiry. However, the Scott report covered a wide range of policy issues and a number of other officials will have contributed to preparation of the Government's response without sight of the report. It is not therefore possible to give the cost of the work.
Mrs. Jane Kennedy:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many persons and at what level in his Department were involved in considering the Government's response to the report of the Scott inquiry. [16562]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: Access to the report itself prior to publication was restricted to a very small number of officials in the main departments concerned in accordance with the procedures agreed with the Scott inquiry. However, the Scott report covered a wide range of policy issues and a number of other officials will have contributed to preparation of the Government's response without sight of the report. It is not therefore possible to give their number or grades.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade at what hour and minute of which day the report of the Scott inquiry was delivered to his office. [16494]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: During the afternoon of Wednesday 7 February 1996.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade
26 Feb 1996 : Column: 316
if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [16023]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
The information is as follows:
Those non-departmental public bodies that are:
(a) Subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner:
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the Government's powers under the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939. [17232]
Mr. Lang:
The Government are considering Sir Richard Scott's recommendations and will be publishing a consultation paper.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what considerations led him to provide a freephone business link telephone service for businesses in England; and if he will make a statement. [15880]
Mr. Page:
Business link inquiries have been handled by the original enterprise initiative freephone number, 0800 500 200, since May 1995. This will be discontinued at the end of the current financial year because the enterprise initiative is no longer operational.
A dedicated business link helpline was set up in October 1995 at the time of the business link national launch. The 0345 567765 lo-call number provides callers
26 Feb 1996 : Column: 317
with a central inquiry point with direct switching to their nearest business link. A single national number is essential for any reference to business link in the national media.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
Coal Authority
Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action
Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members and the DTI's seven Research Councils
(b) Subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission:
None.
(c) Subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office
The NAO's access to DTI's NDPBs is detailed in "Public Bodies 1995" which is available in the Library of the House
(d) Subject to statutory provisions for open government:
NDPBs subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commission for Administration are covered by the code of practice on access to government information. Other NDPBs will be asked to draw up their own codes of openness.
(e) Subject to performance indicators:
Performance measures have been or are being introduced to all DTI's NDPBs when they are appropriate.
(f) Subject to provisions under the citizens charter:
All DTI's NDPBs are encouraged to follow citizens charter principles where they are appropriate.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |