| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Patent Office
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what core functions of the Patent Office are being considered for contracting out; and if he will make a statement. [24160]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 2 April 1996]: The remit placed on the Patent Office by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in his statement of 14 December 1994 was to contract out activities wherever this was compatible with its statutory role and good value for money. In pursuit of this remit, the Patent Office, in its latest corporate plan for the next five years, foresees the employment of up to 750 civil service staff supported by about 250 contracted staff working for external suppliers. Services currently under consideration for contractorisation are the London front office, informatin technology services and the central inquiry unit.
Torture Equipment
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action the British Government take to ensure that British companies do not re-export torture equipment originating in third countries. [24274]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 2 April 1996]: The Government control the export of weapons under the Export of Goods (Control) Order. It is not, however, practicable to control the export of the wide range of articles that might be misused for the purposes of torture. The Government deplore the use of torture in any circumstances and would never knowingly do anything to support its practice or any trade in instruments of torture anywhere in the world.
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that British companies do not engage in the off-shore sale of equipment which could be used for torture purposes. [24273]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 2 April 1996]: The Government deplore the use of torture in any circumstances and would never knowingly do anything to support its practice, or any trade in instruments of torture anywhere in the world.
However, it is not practicable to regulate trade in the wide range of articles that might conceivably be misused for the purposes of torture. In respect of goods licensable under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, however, the Government are considering whether to cover this issue in forthcoming public consultation on a range of export control matters following Sir Richard Scott's recent report.
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 320
Ms Rachel Squire:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to develop a national strategy for defence technology. [23688]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
I have been asked to reply.
In July 1995, my Department announced its intention of establishing a technology strategy for access to, and development of, defence technology. Since that time, there have been discussions with defence industry, academia and other interested parties. It is envisaged that a further round of consultations will be initiated shortly with the object of publication of the technology strategy in the autumn.
Mr. Squire:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what increase in funding has been provided for technology demonstrator programmes for defence since the 1995 report from the technology foresight panel. [23695]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
I have been asked to reply.
Since the 1995 technology foresight report from the defence and aerospace panel, the defence budget has increased its funding for technology demonstrator programmes by £12.3 million over the next 10 years.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those areas of Executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20533]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
Comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested. My Department is committed generally to giving reasons for administrative decisions to those affected, in accordance with the code of practice on access to Government information. My Department has identified from readily available sources the statutory powers of inquiry under the Financial Services Act 1986, the Insurance Companies Act 1982 and the Companies Act 1989 where, although the Secretary of State has to have reason to exercise these powers, he does not have to give reasons for his decision to do so. Import, export and sanctions licensing is also an area where the Secretary of State has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision.
Sir David Steel:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to establish an interdepartmental committee to oversee home and overseas trade as recommended by Sir Richard Scott. [21299]
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 321
Sir Michael Grylls:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Research Council held on 25 March. [25121]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
The Council undertook an initial exchange of views on the Commission's proposal to increase the funding of the fourth framework programme for research and technological development by 700 mecu. Such an increase would require amendment of the financial perspectives. The UK, with five other member states, repeated its opposition to such amendment.
The Council adopted a resolution outlining a strategy for the EU's relations with third countries in research and technological development. The Council met the research Ministers of the nine associated states of central and eastern Europe and the Baltic to exchange views on the scope for strengthening their scientific and technological links with the EU.
The Council had a brief initial debate on the Commission's green paper on innovation. The Council will return to the matter in June. The UK drew attention to the contribution that the launch of EASDAQ in September 1996 would make to improving financing for high technology ventures, a key concern of the green paper.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in his examination of issues raised by the Scott report. [24177]
Mr. Lang:
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the document placed in the Library of the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster last month entitled, "The timetable for taking forward recommendations of the Report of the Inquiry into the export of defence equipment and dual use goods to Iraq and related prosecutions".
Mr. George Howarth:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the proprietary products, additives and commonly used manufacturing processes which involve the use of beef or beef by-products which are available for sale in United Kingdom retail outlets. [24091]
Mrs. Browning
[holding answer 1 April 1996]: I have been asked to reply.
This information is not centrally recorded and cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.
Mr. Barron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much was received by each of the 17 persons in receipt of irregular payments from the former Yorkshire regional health authority; [22732]
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 322
Mr. Malone:
Irregular relocation payments, totalling £579,000, were made as follows:
(2) if he will break down by recipient and health service body the £579,000 of irregular expenditure on relocation qualified in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the NHS--England--summarised accounts 1993-94; and in each case (a) how much was paid to each recipient and by which body; (b) how much has been recovered and (c) what action is planned to facilitate the recovery of outstanding amounts. [22733]
| Former Yorkshire RHA £ | South Birmingham DHA £ |
|---|---|
| 19,750 | 131,000 |
| 48,750 | -- |
| 55,000 | -- |
| 43,750 | -- |
| 5,250 | -- |
| 23,000 | -- |
| 16,250 | -- |
| 7,950 | -- |
| 6,000 | -- |
| 49,915 | -- |
| 67,200 | -- |
| 10,250 | -- |
| 28,750 | -- |
| 4,750 | -- |
| 4,500 | -- |
| 13,500 | -- |
| 23,800 | -- |
| 19,455 | -- |
The successor authorities are pursuing the recovery of these moneys. Repayment terms have been agreed in one case.
Residential Accommodation
Mr. Nicholas Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rate of interest on invested capital is to be assumed by a local authority when assessing the charge to be made to a person in residential accommodation arranged by that local authority. [23401]
Mr. Bowis: The formula for calculating the contribution a resident makes from his capital between the lower and upper limits is not intended to represent any rate of return that could be obtained from investing that capital. It provides a straightforward method of calculating the weekly contribution which people with capital in between the two limits are expected to make from those resources to help meet their accommodation costs.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |