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Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which TECs have been visited in the past six months by officials from the European Commission Court of Auditors; and for what reasons the visits have been made. [39064]
Mr. Forth: Shropshire TEC was visited by officials from the European Commission Court of Auditors within the last six months. The visit was made to audit two European social fund project final claims relating to activity undertaken in 1995.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Oman (University Construction)
Mr. Meacher: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what checks were carried out by Her Majesty's Government before the issue of export credits in relation to the construction of a university in Oman; if such checks included inspection of the physical plans for that university; which aspects of the project relating to the construction of a university in Oman were deemed to be for non-educational purposes; and what those purposes were. [36612]
Mr. Nelson: ECGD supported a financing facility for the Sultan Qaboos university project and a subsequent, related credit facility for a teaching hospital which is part of the university complex. In accordance with normal insurance practice, ECGD relies upon information given in applications for cover. Although, ECGD saw extracts of the contract it did not see physical plans for the construction of the university. Neither ECGD nor the DTI had or has any knowledge or evidence that the university has been used for non-educational purposes.
Insolvency (Reviewer of Complaints)
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by location the reviewers of complaints appointed by each of the supervisory bodies, sponsored by his Department, indicating who is responsible for (a) appointing, (b) dismissing and (c) retiring them and on what basis; and what remuneration each receives. [37335]
Mr. Oppenheim: The information requested by the hon. Gentleman relating to four of the recognised supervisory bodies for auditors--the Institutes of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants--is the same as that set out in my reply to his question about the recognised professional bodies for insolvency practitioners, 16 July, Official Report, columns 458-59. Complaints about members of the fifth recognised supervisory body, the Association of Authorised Public accountants, are dealt with through the complaints procedures of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 198
Report, column 733, about parliamentary questions, what method would be used by his Department in collating the information requested; [37530]
- (2) pursuant to his answer of 22 March, Official Report, column, 366, about parliamentary questions, what method would be used by his Department in collating the information requested. [37531]
Mr. Lang: The examination of more than 26,000 files dating back to 1987.
Audit Inspections
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will appoint DTI inspectors to investigate auditing aspects of (a) the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, (b) Polly Peck, (c) Barings, (d) Sumitomo, (e) Levitt and (f) Ferranti. [37835]
Mr. Oppenheim: No. My Department's powers of investigation extend to companies under the Companies Act 1985, but not to partnerships. The role of auditors in BCCI, Polly Peck, Barings and Ferranti are already the subject of investigations by the professions' joint disciplinary scheme. Initial investigations into Sumitomo are in the hands of the Serious Fraud Office and any auditing aspects arising out of the SFO investigation which fall short of criminality will be referred to the relevant recognised supervisory body for it to consider and take regulatory or disciplinary action as appropriate. The SFO has previously investigated and prosecuted in the case of Roger Levitt.
Small Limited Companies
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small limited companies failed to file their annual accounts and statutory returns within the statutory prescribed periods, broken down by size of company in the last available year. [37823]
Mr. Oppenheim: The precise information requested is not available.
However, in 1995-96, 23,954 companies which filed accounts late claimed small company exemptions from the full disclosure requirements of the Companies Act. This compares with a total number of small company accounts registered of 337,000. It is not possible to say how many of those companies which failed to file accounts at all within the period might have proved eligible for the small company exemption. Information on the filing of annual returns by those same companies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Sealskin Order
Mr. Morley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to revoke the Trade Descriptions (Sealskin Goods) Information Order 1980; and if he will make a statement. [39181]
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Mr. John M. Taylor: Following two rounds of public consultation, my Department published notice, on 21 June 1996--28 June 1996 in Northern Ireland--of my intention to revoke the order. This has provided a further opportunity for representations to be made. I shall be considering very carefully all the additional responses I receive before making my final decision.
Footwear Industry
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom share of exports of footwear by the EU in 1972, 1979 and the latest available date; and if he will provide corresponding figures for Italy, France and Germany. [38156]
Mr. Oppenheim: The information requested is given in the table:
| 1972 | EU9 1979 | EU12 1994 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | n/a | 4.7 | 4.9 |
| France | n/a | 10.4 | 6.9 |
| Germany(21) | n/a | 7.9 | 9.0 |
| Italy | n/a | 71.8 | 48.4 |
Notes:
(19) Shares of EU9 in 1979 and EU12 in 1994. Data for Greece, Spain and Portugal are not available for 1979.
(20) Code 64 of the Harmonised commodity coding system.
(21) West Germany in 1979.
Source:
Eurostat Intra and Extra EU Trade.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom share of exports of footwear by the main manufacturing countries in 1972, 1979 and the latest available date; and if he will provide corresponding figures for Italy, France and Germany. [38157]
Mr. Oppenheim: The information requested is given in the table:
| 1972 | 1979 | 1994 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | n/a | 4.5 | 5.9 |
| France | n/a | 9.9 | 8.5 |
| Germany(24) | n/a | 6.7 | 11.0 |
| Italy | n/a | 69.9 | 59.1 |
Notes:
(22) Main manufacturing countries comprise UK, Belgium-Luxembourg, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, USA and Japan.
(23) Standard international trade classification (SITC) 85.
(24) West Germany in 1979.
Source:
Eurostat Intra and Extra EU Trade.
United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom share of EU imports and exports of footwear in 1972, 1979 and at the latest available date. [38170]
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 200
Mr. Oppenheim: The information requested is given in the table.
| EU9 | EU12 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1979 | 1994 | |
| EU Exports | n/a | 4.7 | 4.9 |
| EU Imports | n/a | 15.5 | 15.4 |
Notes:
(25) Shares of EU9 in 1979 and EU12 in 1994. Data for Greece, Spain and Portugal are not available for 1979.
(26) Code 64 of the Harmonised Commodity Coding System.
Source:
Eurostat Intra and Extra EU Trade.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of import penetration in footwear from (a) the rest of the world and (b) the EEC in 1972, 1979 and the latest available date; and if he will provide corresponding figures for Italy, France and Germany. [38164]
Mr. Oppenheim: United Kingdom import penetration for footwear for 1994, the latest year data are available, can be readily calculated from information published in "UK Markets AR 16" published by Taylor Nelson and available in the Library of the House. Comparable information for 1972 and 1979 is not available. Corresponding figures for Italy, France and Germany are not available.
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