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Fishing Vessels (Ownership)
Mr. Harris: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many boats on the United Kingdom fishing vessel register are in foreign ownership; and, of these, how many were registered (a) while in such ownership and (b) as a result of the vessels being sold by United Kingdom owners to foreign interests. [18960]
Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. David Harris, dated 7 March 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about vessels on the UK Fishing Vessel Register which are in foreign ownership.
When the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1992 came into force in March 1994, the information you asked for ceased to be available. It is still possible to identify the nationality of individual owners but many fishing vessels are owned by companies and the nationality of the shareholders of these companies cannot be ascertained.
Before March 1994, the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 provided that corporate owners of fishing vessels registered in the United Kingdom had to be made up mainly of qualified shareholders. A company had therefore to complete a declaration that its shareholding complied with the Act. After the 1993 regulations came into force, the only requirement for eligibility in respect of companies is that they be incorporated in a member state of the European Economic Area and have a place of business in the UK. As a result of this change, it is no longer necessary to know the nationality of the shareholders and no such information is now collected.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
EU Directives
Sir Richard Body: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Community directives were introduced by him into the law of the Untied Kingdom in 1995. [18292]
Mr. Oppenheim: Twelve Community directives--six Council/Council and Parliament directives and six Commission directives--were introduced as DTI measures into the law of the United Kingdom, all by way of statutory instrument, in 1995.
Arms Sale Guarantees
Mr. Cohen: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 1996, Official Report, column 403, if he will indicate, without revealing
7 Mar 1996 : Column: 330
the contracts concerned, the four largest sums put up by Her Majesty's Government as a financial guarantee or collateral in respect of securing an arms deal. [15979]
Mr. Lang: The four largest guarantees issued by ECGD in respect of defence equipment sales were as follows:
| Year guarantee issued | ECGD liability £ Million |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 750 |
| 1988-89 | 450 |
| 1992-93 | 427 |
| 1985-86 | 378 |
Overseas Exhibitions
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answers of 24 January, Official Report, columns 253-56, (1) which sections of the Data Protection Act 1984 preclude release of information relating to individual companies; [17811]
- (2) which sections of the Data Protection Act 1984 preclude release of information relating to individual companies. [17395]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 26 February 1996]: Regrettably, the information on which my answer of the 24 January was based was incomplete and arose from a misunderstanding which has now been corrected. Further advice indicates that the provisions of the Data Protection Act are not relevant to information about exhibitors supported by the Department at overseas trade fairs. This information is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
EDS Ltd.
Ms Eagle: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those countries his Department currently holds with EDS, indicating for each the (a) date of inception, (b) value and (c) duration. [17456]
Mr. John M. Taylor: We have no current contracts with EDS let centrally. I have asked the chief executives of the Department's executive agencies to reply separately to this question.
Letter from Desmond Flynn to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 7 March 1996:
In the absence of Peter Joyce the Chief Executive I am responding on behalf of this Agency to your Parliamentary Written Question 95/1321 addressed to the President of the Board of Trade.
7 Mar 1996 : Column: 331
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on changes instituted in the Export Control Organisation since events covered by Sir Richard Scott in his report took place. [18555]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 1 March 1996]: The changes instituted in the Export Control Organisation since events covered by Sir Richard Scott in his report took place were set out in a press notice issued by my Department on 15 February 1996.
The Government are currently considering Sir Richard Scott's proposals and will publish a consultation paper in due course.
Mr. Battle:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies have been undertaken by his Department since 1 January 1995 into the effectiveness of Post Office distribution; and what were the results. [18817]
Mr. Oppenheim:
No specific studies into the effectiveness of Post Office distribution have been undertaken by my Department since 1 January 1995 as this is an operational matter for the Post Office. Quarterly and annual quality of service statistics obtained by independent survey have for many years been published for Royal Mail. These statistics show the percentage of first and second class mail delivered respectively within Royal Mail's target of the next working day and three working days. The efficiency study of the Post Office commissioned from KPMG in 1995 covered all main areas of the Post Office's operations. Its findings have been used to inform discussion and decision on a range of issues.
7 Mar 1996 : Column: 332
Mr. Hain:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the performance review of the Post Office commissioned from the consultants KPMG; when it was completed; how it has been used; and if it will be published. [18968]
Mr. Oppenheim:
The performance review of the Post Office commissioned from KPMG was completed on 31 August 1995 and has been used to inform discussion and decisions on a range of issues. These include in particular the setting of the Post Office external financing limits in last November's Budget, and consideration of the financial and efficiency targets which are to be set for Royal Mail, Post Office Counters and Parcelforce for the financial years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99. The cost of work undertaken by individual contractors is commercially confidential. The contents of the report are confidential between the Government, their advisers and the Post Office board.
Mr. Hain:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what will be the Government's target for real unit cost reduction for Royal Mail and Post Office Counters for the financial years (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1988-99; [18970]
Mr. Oppenheim:
The new financial and efficiency targets for Royal Mail, Post Office Counters and Parcelforce for the financial years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 will be published when final decisions on them have been taken.
Letter from J. C. Octon to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 7 March 1996:
The Insolvency Service does not currently hold any contracts with EDS.
In the absence of the Comptroller General on official business, I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question about contracts with EDS. I can confirm that the Office currently has no contracts with that company.
Letter from Adrian Wilson to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 7 March 1996:
Letter from Seton Bennett to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 29 February 1996:
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question: 95/1321 about contracts currently held with Electronic Data Systems.
LGC does not currently hold any contracts with Electronic Data Systems.
Letter from David Durham to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 29 February 1996:
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about contracts with EDS. This Agency holds no contract with the said company.
Letter from Jim Norton to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 7 March 1996:
You asked the President of the Board of Trade for information on contracts his Department currently holds with EDS regarding the date of inception, value and duration.
For Companies House the answer is none.
The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about contracts with EDS. I can confirm that the Radiocommunications Agency does not currently hold any contracts with EDS.
(2) what will be the Government's target for the return on capital employed in Royal Mail, Parcelforce and Post Office Counters for the financial years (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99. [18969]
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