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Fuel Suppliers
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received (a) during 1995 and (b) since 1 January alleging that certain fuel suppliers are (i) practising selective price support in favour of company-owned sites and (ii) discriminating against independent dealers through allegedly uncompetitive contracts; what representations have urged him to refer this matter to the Director General of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement. [20214]
Mr. John M. Taylor: My Department has received a number of representations on behalf of independent retailers during 1995 and this year regarding the pricing policies of fuel suppliers. These have been brought to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading, who has responsibility for investigating allegations of anti-competitive behaviour or abuse of monopoly power. The Office of Fair Trading investigated these complaints, which included some concerned with Esso's pilot pricewatch campaign, and concluded that action under competition legislation was not appropriate. However, the Office of Fair Trading will continue to monitor the market.
Plutonium Exports
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the origin of the reactor, the isotopic composition, point of departure, mode of transport and final
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end use of the United Kingdom plutonium exported to the United States of America between 1967 and 1988 in the form of fuel elements. [20268]
Mr. Page: Plutonium exported from the United Kingdom to the United States of America under civil bilateral agreements was used for fuel elements as part of the US civil programme. All such exports were, where applicable, subject to the application of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Plutonium exported for civil purposes was derived from UK reactors. Given the period over which these exports were made, information relating to the isotopic composition and mode of transport could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Cost Accounting
Mr. Nicholas Baker: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the proposal of the Accounting Standards Board for abandonment of historical cost accounting. [20269]
Mr. Oppenheim: The draft of the proposed "Statement of Principles for Financial Reporting" published for public comment by the Accounting Standards Board does not propose an abandonment of historical cost accounting. Present practice already incorporates certain current values. The draft statement of principles makes clear the ASB's belief that, as markets develop, current values will become increasingly relevant and reliable. The ASB therefore encourages the development of practice in that direction but has stressed that it will not move faster on this subject than the business community will accept.
I welcome the publication of the draft statement as apart of the ASB's valuable work on improving the quality of financial reporting. I hope that the business community will consider what the statement has to say on the numerous important issues it addresses and will take the opportunity to contribute to the debate on them.
Minimum Wage
Mr. Meacher: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the total number of workers in receipt of the national minimum wage in (a) the USA, (b) Japan, (c) Australia, (d) Canada, (e) New Zealand and (f) each EU state; and what percentage this represents of the total work force in employment in (a) to (f). [20318]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The Government do not collect this information, and believe that it could be made available only at disproportionate cost.
Employment Rights
Mr. Burden: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the number of claims referred in each of the last three years to (a) the commission for the rights of trade union members and (b) the commission for protection against unlawful industrial action; and in each case how many were successful; [20337]
- (2) what was the expenditure of (a) the commission for the rights of trade union members and (b) the commission for protection against unlawful industrial action in each of the last three years; [20342]
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(3) if he will list (a) the numbers employed and (b) the expenditure on administration by (i) the commission for the rights of trade union members and (ii) the commission for protection against unlawful industrial action in the last three years; [20341]
(4) if he will list (a) the hours of work per week and (b) the remuneration of (i) the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members and (ii) the Commissioner for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action. [20340]
Mr. John M. Taylor: There is no commission for the rights of trade union members nor commission for protection against unlawful industrial action. One person, Mrs. Gill Rowlands, currently, occupies both the office of Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members, CRTUM, and the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action, CPAUIA. The CPAUIA was established in August 1993. The number of formal applications made to the CRTUM and the CPAUIA, and the numbers supported by the commissioners in each year are as follows.
| CRTUM | CPAUIA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total applications supported | Total applications supported | |||
| 1993--94(9) | 47 | 8 | 1 | -- |
| 1994-95 | 57 | 12 | -- | -- |
| 1995-96(10) | 85 | 9 | 3 | -- |
(9) For the CPAUIA, August 1993 to 31 March 1994.
(10) 1 April 1995 to 8 March 1996.
The expenditure of each of the commissioners for each of the last three years has been as follows:
| CRTUM | CPAUIA | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| 1993-94(11) | 274,941 | 85,880 |
| 1994-95 | 293,716 | 104,543 |
| 1995-96(12) | 287,888 | 86,218 |
Five staff have provided support for both Commissioners for the last three years.
(11) For the CPAUIA, August 1993 to 31 March 1994.
(12) 1 April 1995 to 8 March 1996.
| CRTUM £ | CPAUIA £ | |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94(13) | 100,910 | 24,342 |
| 1994-95 | 100,555 | 50,277 |
| 1995-96(14) | 109,885 | 50,709 |
(13) For the CPAUIA, August 1993 to 31 March 1994.
(14) 1 April 1995 to 8 March 1996.
The CRTUM is contracted to work two days per week, 7.5 hours each day and, for 1995-96, her remuneration, comprising salary, social security and pensions costs, will amount to £36,194. The CPAUIA is contracted to work one day, 7.5 hours per week and, for 1995-96, her remuneration will amount to £18,079.
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Outstanding Payments
Mr. Betts: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what values of payments were outstanding within his Department on 5 March, which were beyond the date on the invoice and, where no date was specified, older than 28 days. [20474]
Mr. John M. Taylor: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) on 24 November 1995, Official Report, column 417. Information on the basis requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Green Claims
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the National Consumer Council report on green claims; [19982]
- (2) what plans he has to implement the National Consumer Council's recommendations on green claims and to amend the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. [19981]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The report referred to was jointly commissioned from the National Consumer Council by my Department and the Department of the Environment. The Government will be responding to the report as soon as possible following its publication.
AEA Technology plc
Mr. Patrick Thompson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the chairmanship and composition of the boards of AEA Technology plc and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. [20718]
Mr. Lang: AEA Technology plc will be vested with the property, rights and liabilities of the commercial activities of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on 31 March. On that date, Sir Anthony Cleaver will relinquish his appointment as chairman of the authority and become chairman of AEA Technology plc. Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton will succeed Sir Anthony as chairman of the authority. Sir Kenneth's leadership qualities and his extensive experience of nuclear planning and procurement will be of particular value in this role.
In addition to Sir Anthony, the board of AEA Technology plc will comprise the following:
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From 31 March, the members of the authority will be:
Executive directors
Dr. Peter Watson (Chief Executive)
Mr. Ray Proctor
Mr. Mike Watson
Non-executive directors
Dr. Brian Eyre (Deputy Chairman)
Professor Mike Brady
Mr. Gordon Campbell
Mr. Colin Sharman
Mrs. Steve Shirley
The non-executive directors currently serve as members of UKAEA and will relinquish their appointment at vesting.
All currently serve as members of the management board of UKAEA Government division.
Chairman:
Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton
Executive members:
Dr. Derek Pooley (Chief Executive)
Mr. John Baxter
Mr. James Bretherton
Dr. Roy Nelson
Mr. Paul White
Non-executive members:
Mr. Chris Appleton
Dr. Rex Gaisford
Mr. Trevor Harrison
Mr. Neil Hirst
Mr. Clive Pickford
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