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Homelessness

Sir Russell Johnston: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of homeless people in (a) the Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber parliamentary constituency, (b) the Highlands and (c) Scotland. [34012]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson [holding answer 21 June 1996]: Figures are not available by parliamentary constituency, but in 1994-95--the latest year for which figures are available--370 households applying to local authorities were assessed as homeless in the highlands. The corresponding figure for Scotland was 25,100.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

HIV/AIDS

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been allocated specifically for HIV/AIDS projects and programmes for each year since 1993; and what is the projected level of funding for 1996-97. [33603]

Mr. Hanley: The figures reflect bilateral, and attributable multilateral, funding on activities of which the primary focus is to improve sexual health, addressing sexually transmitted infection, HIV and AIDS. It

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underestimates the UK's overall contribution to HIV/AIDS projects and programmes. Figures for 1995-96 are not yet available. In 1996-97, the Overseas Development Administration expects to spend around £10 million on activities that help to reduce the risk of people of developing countries being infected with HIV, and contribute to a better quality of life for those people who are affected by HIV and AIDS.


NORTHERN IRELAND

Health and Safety

Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in his Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved. [33504]

Sir John Wheeler: The Northern Ireland Departments operate a policy of continuous monitoring of health and safety issues both by line management and by appointed safety advisory officers. Most issues are of a minor nature and dealt with at operational level on a day-to-day basis. No formal record is maintained.

The Health and Safety Commission's remit does not extend to Northern Ireland. The equivalent local body is the Health and Safety division of the Department of Economic Development, which has received the following complaints from Northern Ireland Departments:


The Northern Ireland Office also operates a policy of continuous monitoring of health and safety issues. The Health and Safety Commission has not been involved in any cases.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Receivers' Fees

Sir Peter Fry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases in the last three years receivers' fees have been challenged; and in how many of these instances the challenge has resulted in a reduction of the receivers' fees. [33125]

Mr. Oppenheim: This information is not maintained by my Department.

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Sir Peter Fry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are taken to monitor receivers' fees to ensure value for money and fair treatment of a company's creditors and shareholders. [33122]

Mr. Oppenheim: Receivers' fees are a contractual matter between the receiver and the charge holder who appoints them.

Sir Peter Fry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases the official receiver has sought to have receivers' fees taxed in accordance with chapter 6 of the insolvency rules 1986. [33123]

Mr. Oppenheim: Information regarding the taxing of receivers' fees could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Oil and Gas Exploration

Mr. Dafis: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the meetings held since 1991 between Ministers in his Department and environmental non-governmental organisations to discuss oil and gas exploration in United Kingdom waters; [33116]

Mr. Page: Since 1991, DTI Ministers, and their Department of Energy predecessors, have met non-governmental environmental organisations on three formal occasions to discuss all aspects of the UK's oil and gas industry. Details of the meetings are as follows:


While no Welsh NGOs have been met in their own right, Welsh issues were discussed during at least one of the meetings.

In addition to these meetings, there have been a large number of meetings at official level and considerable correspondence with NGOs.

Mr. Dafis: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the meetings concerning oil and gas exploration in United Kingdom waters between Ministers in his Department and representatives of relevant oil and gas companies since 1991. [33115]

Mr. Page: DTI Ministers regularly meet oil company representatives, as did their Department of Energy predecessors, to discuss of the UK's oil and gas regime. Records of such meetings are not kept in a way which would identify those at which exploration in United Kingdom waters was discussed.

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Caribbean Outward Missions

Ms Abbott: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many outward missions to the Caribbean his Department has sponsored in each year from 1990; and, on each mission, how many of the participants were (a) male, (b) female and (c) from an ethnic minority.[33563]

Mr. Oppenheim: The number of DTI-supported trade missions to the Caribbean since 1990 was:


There is no information available on the male/female/ethnic composition of DTI-supported missions.

The mission scheme is administered on DTI's behalf by approved chambers of commerce or trade associations, which accept applications from eligible companies on a first come, first served basis. The company's choice of individual to send on the mission is not questioned.

Insurance Services

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the number of insurance and reinsurance companies approved by his Department which have failed since 1979 leaving some policy holders with claims not paid in full; and how many such companies accepted reinsurance through Lloyd's of London. [34024]

Mr. Nelson: Since 1979, approximately 40 insurance companies authorised by my Department have become insolvent. Whether such companies had placed some or all of their reinsurance through Lloyd's of London was and is a commercial matter for the insurance companies concerned and Lloyd's. Valid claims on such reinsurance policies placed at Lloyd's will have been paid in the normal way.

Mr. Bruce: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to improve the regulation and operation of the Lloyd's of London insurance business. [34023]

Mr. Nelson: The regulatory regime at Lloyd's has developed significantly since the passing of the Lloyd's Act 1982, and following recommendations of the Neill committee and the Walker committee. Lloyd's has in hand further important changes, set out in its regulatory plan published on 17 January 1996, which will improve regulatory standards in the market, with the aim of delivering a standard of regulation which is at least on a par with best practice in the regulation of other sectors of the financial services industry. Last summer I announced my intention to set up a review of the future statutory basis of the regulatory arrangements at Lloyd's. In view of the rapid changes that are in train at Lloyd's, this review will not start until next year, after Lloyd's

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reconstruction and renewal proposals have reached their conclusion and the future characteristics of the market have become clearer.

Airlines (Receivership)

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the President of the Board of Trade for how long (a) Sultan Air, (b) Time Air, (c) Omega Air, (d) Air Operations Europe and (e) Air Operations International have been registered with Companies House; and what action has been taken by (i) his Department and (ii) the official receiver in respect of these companies. [34025]

Mr. Oppenheim: There is no record of companies with the names Sultan Air, Time Air, Omega Air or Air Operations International being incorporated by the registrar of companies for England and Wales or the registrar of companies for Scotland. There is a company by the name of Air Operations of Europe Ltd., which was incorporated on 30 June 1994, but it does not appear that this company is subject to any form of insolvency proceedings. If the hon. Member is able to let me have any further information about these companies, I will consider whether any action by my Department is appropriate.

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