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Europa Tool Co.
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has had concerning the location of the Europa Tool Co. [32244]
Mr. Ancram: I have been asked to reply.
Thirty-eight representations have been made to the Northern Ireland office concerning the Europa Tool Co.
South West Regional Development Board
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the average attendance for his Department's South West regional development board for each year since 1990; what number constitutes a quorum; and what changes (a) have been implemented since 1990 and (b) will be implemented in the future. [30028]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The average number of members attending is as follows:
1990: 5.75
1991: 5.00
1992: 5.67
1993: 5.50
1994: 6.67
1995: 6.30
1996 (to date): 5.50
18 Jun 1996 : Column: 455
The board has throughout this period generally regarded four members, including the chairman or acting chairman, as constituting a quorum, but it has occasionally agreed to discuss cases--usually as an extraordinary meeting not making formal recommendations--despite attendees falling below this level.
The Department is reviewing, in the light of the internal report on the implications of the ROM-Data case, the quorums set for regional industrial development boards and the procedural rules covering circumstances in which numbers fall below quorum. The Government office for the south-west hopes to increase membership of its board which should, as well as strengthening the board's expertise, increase average attendance levels.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) of 30 January, Official Report, column 657, and the Government's reply to the second report of the Trade and Industry Committee, Session 1995-96, HC 383, on nuclear privatisation, what is the division of third-party liability for British Energy between the operator and public funds; what is the extent of the liability for compensation from public funds; which other private industries are liable for compensation to be paid out of public funds; and what plans he has to establish the maximum liability of the private operator at 300 million special driving rights. [32502]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 11 June 1996]: Under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, as amended, the third party nuclear liability of a licensed nuclear operator is limited to £140 million per incident. The Act requires the operator to make provision, through insurance or other means, as approved by Government, for sufficient funds
18 Jun 1996 : Column: 456
to be available at all times to ensure that duly established claims are satisfied up to £140 million in respect of each of the cover periods specified in the Act. The Act also provides that Government shall make available such sums, as when aggregated with funds available through insurance, or from contributions made by other parties to the Brussels convention on civil nuclear liability, or other means, may be necessary to ensure that claims up to an amount equivalent to 300 million special drawing rights--currently equivalent to £286 million--may be met. Parliament may also vote further funds.
These arrangements, which derive from the Brussels convention, are specific to the nuclear industry which is subject to strict liability and legal channelling. They apply whether an operator is in the public or private sector. When the UK limit of operator liability was set at £140 million, it took into account the capacity of commercial insurance available in the market. There has been no significant change in insurance capacity since then. The Government continue to monitor the situation.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the occasions since 1990 on which members of his Department's South West industrial development board have absented themselves from board meetings because of potential conflicts of interests, indicating the (a) date, (b) board members, (c) relevant company, (d) value of the financial assistance applied for and (e) value of assistance subsequently offered. [28753]
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 13 May 1996]: The table lists the occasions on which members of the South West industrial development board are recorded as having, since 1990, absented themselves--because of potential conflicts of interest--from discussions of cases which have subsequently resulted in offers. On two occasions, as noted, they did not physically withdraw. Members have also absented themselves on 14 other occasions after which applications have been rejected or withdrawn without an offer being made.
18 Jun 1996 : Column: 455
| Date | SWIDB members | Applicant | Assistance applied for | Assistance offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| 27 March 1990 | Kenneth Holmes | South West Farm Processors Ltd. | 250,000 | 200,000 |
| 26 June 1990 | Roger Harris | Felix Engineering Ltd. | 175,000 | 175,000 |
| 19 March 12991 | Michael Knight | Western National Ltd. | 210,000 | 210,000 |
| 25 June 1991 | Roger Harris | Redruth Brewery (1792) Ltd. | 200,000 | 200,000 |
| 26 November 1991 | Roger Harris | ROM-Data Corporation Ltd. | 750,000 | 750,000 |
| 31 March 1991 | Roger Harris and Graham Stirling | Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd. | 320,000 | 320,000 |
| 27 October 1992 | Roger Harris | Fibre Data Group Ltd. | 220,000 | 220,000 |
| 23 February 1993 | Roger Harris | Pendennis Shipyard (Holdings) Ltd. | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| 27 July 1993 | Roger Harris | B and S Screw Machine Services Ltd. | 750,000 | 750,000 |
| 30 November 1993 | Roger Harris | Falmouth Oil Services Ltd. | 925,000 | 850,000 |
| Roger Harris | Porthcurno Management Company Ltd. | 500,000 | 500,000 | |
| Roger Harris | Rittal-CSM Ltd. | 250,000 | 250,000 | |
| 21 December 1993 | Roger Harris | Omitec Thin Films Ltd. | 250,000 | 222,000 |
| 26 January 1994 | Roger Harris | Wrafton Laboratories Ltd. | 500,000 | 450,000 |
| 23 February 1994 | Roger Harris | Roach Foods Ltd. | 750,000 | 750,000 |
| 23 Marach 1994 | Roger Harris and Michael Jordan | Magrathea (Pendennis) Ltd. | 400,000 | 400,000 |
| Graham Stirling | Thomson IBL Ltd. | 500,000 | 500,000 | |
| 25 May and 29 June 1994 | Roger Harris | ZoMed International Ltd. | 900,000 | 800,000 |
| 25 May and 27 July 1994 | Phil Gregory(14) and Roger Harris | Squaresail Shipyard Ltd. | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| 27 July 1994 | Roger Harris | Tecalmit Systems Ltd. | 475,000 | 400,000 |
| Roger Harris | Allen and Heath Ltd. | 500,000 | 350,000 | |
| 11 August 1994 | Roger Harris | Bairdwear (Bridgwater) Ltd. | 200,000 | 150,000 |
| Roger Harris | FalFab LLC | 266,667 | 250,000 | |
| 25 January 1995 | Roger Harris | Topfoto Services Ltd. | 325,000 | 250,00 |
| 12 April 1995 | Roger Harris | Redruth Brewery (1792) Ltd. | 975,000 | 700,00 |
| 28 June 1995 | Roger Harris | CH Brannam Ltd. | 350,000 | 225,000 |
| 25 October 1995 | Roger Harris | (15)Pall Europe Ltd. | 950,000 | 950,000 |
| 29 November 1995 | Roger Harris | Fryer Workwear Ltd. | 250,000 | 200,000 |
| 29 November 1995 | Roger Harris | Cirbo Ltd. | 150,000 | 125,000 |
| 10 April 1996 | Roger Harris | Harman International Industries Ltd. | 950,000 | 950,000 |
(14) Mr. Gregory was absent from the meeting on 25 May 1994; but he remained for the discussion of the application at the meeting on 27 July 1994 when having declared an interest, it was deemed sufficient for him to remain silent.
(15) Mr. Harris having declared an interst, it was deemed sufficient for him to remain for the discussion without participating in any vote on the application.
18 Jun 1996 : Column: 457
18 Jun 1996 : Column: 457
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many offers of financial assistance have been made since 1985 by his Department's South West industrial development board which have remained unpaid due to the liquidation, receivership or dissolution of the relevant companies by (a) date, (b) type of offer, (c) company and (d) reason for withdrawal of the offer. [30037]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The following eight offers of grant under the regional selective assistance scheme have been made following advice from the South West industrial development board but will not as a consequence of the companies concerned having gone into liquidation or receivership or having been dissolved, be paid out in full:
| Date of offer | Company | Offer £ | Reasons for non-payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1988 | Orca Aircraft Ltd. | 200,000 | Receivership |
| 5 December 1988 | Strategic Alloys Ltd. | 500,000 | Receivership |
| 17 April 1990 | South West Farm Processors Ltd. | 200,000 | Receivership |
| 27 June 1990 | Crissan Marine Ltd. | 120,000 | Receivership |
| 24 July 1992 | Lobbs Clotted Cream Ltd. | 215,000 | Receivership |
| 6 September 1993 | ROM-Data Corporation Ltd. | 848,500 | Liquidation |
| 17 September 1993 | Redruth Brewery Ltd. | 480,000 | Receivership |
| 23 December 1993 | Porthcurno Management Co. Ltd. | 500,000 | Liquidation |
18 Jun 1996 : Column: 458
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if Mr. X, whose identity has been supplied to him, of his Department's South West industrial development board is required to absent himself from board meetings where there may be a potential conflict of interest due to his partnership in company W. [30036]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 20 May 1996]: Yes, although for one case it was exceptionally deemed sufficient, Mr. X having declared an interest, for him to remain provided that he did not take part in any vote on the case.