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Export Promotion
Mr. Harvey: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the revisions to his Department's objectives for export promotion since those listed in table 1.3 of "Overseas Trade Services: Assistance to Exporters a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General" (HC 293); and if he will make a statement. [26704]
Mr. Oppenheim: The revisions referred to by the Comptroller and Auditor General affect only the objectives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. My Department's objectives for exports remain as listed in his report. I refer the hon. Member to the annual report of the Department of Trade and Industry, which is in the Library of the House.
Current Account Outturns
Mr. Shore: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the current account outturn of (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Germany and (c) France in each year since 1990; and what is the estimate of the current account outturns for each of these countries for 1996. [26887]
Mr. Oppenheim: Information on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries' current account balances is published in "OECD Economic Outlook". The UK's current account balance for 1995 was published by the Office for National Statistics in "First Release CSO (96)68". Both of these publications are available in the Library of the House.
Coal Mining Areas Recreation Facilities
Mr. Pendry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the sites in the British Coal recreational package which were intended to be transferred to the National Playing Fields Association and the Coal Industries Social Welfare Organisation together with the parliamentary constituency in which they lie; [27258]
- (2) if he will list separately how many football, cricket, rugby and hockey pitches, bowling greens, tennis courts and children's play areas stand to be preserved within British Coal's recreational package; and what area of land each of these represents. [27257]
Mr. Page: These are matters for British Coal.
Certification Fees
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his reason for increasing the fee payable to the certification officer on application for approval of a proposed instrument of amalgamation or transfer of engagements. [27172]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The increase in fee is required to recover the full cost of providing a service to process applications for approval of proposed instruments.
Mr. Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his reason for increasing the fee payable by a trade union for a certificate of independence. [27171]
Mr. Taylor: The increase in fee is required to recover the full cost of providing a service to process applications for certificates. In 1993-94, when the fee covered just 10 per cent. of the full cost, the Government decided to
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move in stages to full cost recovery. The level of fee has subsequently risen in steps and 1996-97 will be the first year in which the full cost will be recovered.
British Telecommunications
Mr. Renton: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the judgment of the Director General of Telecommunications in relation to the proposed pricing regime for British Telecommunications plc; and if he will make a statement. [27397]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The Director General of Telecommunications has not yet made final proposals relating to the future price cap to be applied to BT's prices, so I am unable to comment on the judgment displayed by the outcome. I am, however, satisfied that the director general has conducted a full and wide-ranging consultation, taking comments from those in the industry as well as users, and seeking advice from a specially convened panel of advisors. The fullness of the consultation process is a sign that the outcome will be based on all relevant considerations, and will be consistent with liberalisation and competition, which have delivered lower prices and higher quality services to consumers.
Mercury
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total production of mercury in the United Kingdom; and how much mercury was (a) imported and (b) exported in the last year for which figures are available. [27401]
Mr. Oppenheim: There was no recorded primary or mine production of mercury within the United Kingdom in 1995. No statistics are available for secondary mercury production recovered from scrap. In 1995, 3.9 tonnes of mercury--£39,000 by value--was imported into the United Kingdom, and 224.3 tonnes of mercury--£108,000 by value--was exported from the United Kingdom.
Source: Customs and Excise trade data SITC 522.27
Lead
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much lead was produced in the United Kingdom; and how much was (a) imported and (b) exported in the last year for which figures are available.[27399]
Mr. Oppenheim: Details of the quantities of production, imports and exports of unwrought lead in the United Kingdom in 1995 are given below.
| Production | Exports | Imports | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ore/concentrates (lead content) | 1.0 | 0.1 | 52.7 |
| Lead bullion | 38.3 | 55.8 | 121.1 |
| Refined lead | 317.7 | 76.2 | 45.8 |
| of which--primary | 150.2 | -- | -- |
| --secondary | 167.5 | -- | -- |
Note:
In the UK, lead bullion is produced from imported ores and concentrates. Primary refined lead is produced from imported bullion. Secondary production is refined from secondary and scrap material and domestic ores. Production and trade of semi-manufactures is excluded from the above figures.
Source:
Production--World Metal Statistics, April 1996, World Bureau of Metal Statistics.
Trade--Customs and Excise trade data.
30 Apr 1996 : Column: 468
Council for Science and Technology
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members who serve on the Council for Science and Technology. [27180]
Mr. Ian Taylor: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade chairs the Council for Science and Technology on behalf of the Prime Minister. The chief scientific adviser, Sir Robert May, is deputy chairman, and I also attend. There are 10 independent members of the council:
| Members | |
|---|---|
| Professor S. Kumar Bhattacharyya FEng | Professor of Manufacturing Systems, University of Warwick |
| Professor Sir Aaron Kluge OM PRS | Director, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology; President of the Royal Society |
| Sir Robin Nicholson FRS FEng | Director, Pilkington plc |
| Dr. Bridget Ogilvie FIBiol FRCPath | Director, The Wellcome Trust |
| Sir Ralph Robins FEng FRAeS | Chairman, Rolls Royce plc |
| Dr. Alan Rudge CBE FRS FEng | Deputy Chief Executive, BT plc; Chairman, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council |
| Professor Sir Stewart Sutherland FBA | Principal and Vice Chancellor, University of Edinburgh |
| Sir Richard Sykes | Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive, Glaxo Wellcome plc |
| Mr. John Towers CBE | Managing Director, Rover Group Ltd. |
| Dr. Peter Williams CBE | Chairman and Chief Executive, Oxford Instruments plc; Chairman, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council |
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates the Council for Science and Technology has held meetings since it was set up; and what subjects were discussed at each of those meetings. [27182]
Mr. Taylor: The Council for Science and Technology has met, and discussed subjects, as follows:
9 November 1993
Working methods of the council
1994 forward look of Government-funded science, engineering and technology
Implementation of White Paper "Realising Our Potential: A Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology"
Technology foresight programme
Future business of the council
9 February 1994
1994 forward look of Government-funded science, engineering and technology
Government science and technology expenditure and wealth creation
Supply and quality of teachers of mathematics, science and technology
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26 May 1994
The response of the Higher Education Funding Council to the White Paper on science, engineering and technology
NHS research arrangements
Women in science, engineering and technology
28 September 1994
Discussion of science, engineering and technology issues with the Prime Minister
Industry, science and technology and innovation
Defence and civil partnerships in research
Technology and foresight programme
7 December 1994
Chief Scientific Adviser's consultation on the 1995 forward look
"Transport and the Environment": report from the royal commission on environmental pollution
Scrutiny of public sector research establishments
Future business of the council
13 February 1995
Health research funding
Technology foresight programme
1995 forward look of Government-funded science, engineering and technology
5 April 1995
Technology foresight: working document
19 July 1995
Innovation and competitiveness--the DTI's role and the follow-up to technology foresight
Implementing technology foresight and the foresight challenge
18 December 1995
Education and training
Technology foresight programme: first progress report
19 February 1996
1996 forward look of Government-funded science, engineering and technology
Towards a fifth European framework programme
Programme of work for the council
22 April 1995 (informal group of members)
Higher education.
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