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Disabled People (Grant Aid)
Mr. Richards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all bids made in the former county of Clwyd which received grant aid for the disabled. [217]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The support for people with disabilities grant scheme gave funding to projects supporting people with physical and sensory disabilities in 1994-95 and 1995-96. A list of all such bids approved for the former county of Clwyd under this scheme during these years has been placed in the Library of the House.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Compliance Cost Assessments
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those compliance cost assessments published during the latest six-month period. [1738]
Mr. Freeman:
Since April 1993, the Government have required Departments to prepare and publish compliance cost assessments with all proposed legislation presented to Parliament to assess the impact on business costs.
30 Oct 1996 : Column: 150
This includes a special test of the impact on small businesses. Since January 1996, the responsible Minister has had to certify that he has seen the compliance cost assessment and is satisfied that the regulatory proposal strikes an appropriate balance between cost and benefit.
I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing 105 CCAs published between 1 January 1996 and 30 June 1996 plus three CCAs published between 1 July 1995 and 31 December 1995 which were omitted from the previous Command Paper. Copies of the CCAs listed are available in the House Libraries. This is the fifth such Command Paper and further papers listing CCAs published in the preceding six-month period will be published at six-monthly intervals.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation his Department has had with Conservative central office concerning the co-ordination and presentation of Government policy. [905]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Lady to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) on 21 March 1996, Official Report, column 277.
Computers (Century Date Change)
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's estimate of the cost to business to enable computer systems to be millennium compliant. [451]
Mr. Ian Taylor: I have made no such estimate. The figure will be more substantial the later industry leaves its remedial action plan.
Mr. Atkinson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress report made to him in September of the joint task force referred to in his answer of 24 July 1996, Official Report, column 476, on the effect of the century date change of computer systems. [1134]
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Mr. Taylor:
The task force has made good progress towards its objective of achieving 100 per cent. awareness and commitment from main board level executives by end March 1997. The issue is receiving considerable attention from the news media but there is still considerable work to be done ensuring all firms check their systems and take the necessary action soon. The CBI and some trade associations are actively involved in alerting their members.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total budget for his Department's task force 2000; what is his Department's contribution to it; and what progress has been made to date to obtain the balance from the private sector. [450]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
Task force 2000 was set up by the private sector, not by the Department although with its encouragement. Its budget and funding are matters for them as it is for the private sector to address the date change problem from its own resources. The Department has offered initial funding of up to £170,000 as seed corn and task force directors are negotiating with private sector companies for further funds. The task force's objective is to raise awareness of the year 2000 problem, and has already received sponsorship for a London conference.
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what statutory provisions govern the objectives of sustaining a living and just level of wages. [236]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
Pay is a matter to be determined between employers and employees in light of their particular circumstances without Government intervention. Statutory wage fixing undermines competitiveness, distorts the labour market and costs jobs.
Mr. Meacher:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many coal-burning power stations are operating in (a) each European Union state, (b) the United States of America and (c) Japan; and what percentage is equipped with flue gas desulphurisation. [1011]
Mr. Page:
The power stations operating in each European Union state and in the United States of America and Japan, and the percentage that are equipped with flue gas desulphurisation units, are shown in the table.
Coal-burning Power Stations
Source:
IEA Coal Research Database (1996).
Note:
(11) A coal-fired power station comprises one or more electricity generating units.
30 Oct 1996 : Column: 152
Launch Aid
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total level of support paid to industry under the launch aid programme since its inception. [992]
Mr. Greg Knight: Under the Civil Aviation Act 1982, launch aid may be allocated to the UK aerospace industry for the design and development of civil aeronautics projects. Launch aid had been allocated to the industry under previous legislation. A total of £968.1 million was allocated between the 1961-62 and 1995-96 financial years. Earlier figures are not readily available.
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the total receipts from the launch aid programme since its inception. [993]
Mr. Knight: A total of £597.7 million was received by Government between the 1961-62 and 1995-96 financial years in repayment of launch aid for civil aeronautics projects.
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the last project supported by his Department under the launch aid programme; when this took place; and what was the level of the support. [991]
Mr. Knight: In 1995-96 Short Brothers plc of Belfast was allocated launch aid of £16.4 million towards its contribution to the Learjet 45 executive jet. This project is still current and a further £1.32 million of remains to be allocated to the company.
Human Genetics Advisory Committee
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce the membership of the Human Genetics Advisory Committee. [906]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
We will make an announcement as soon as possible when consents have been forthcoming from candidates.
30 Oct 1996 : Column: 153
Offshore Oil and Gas Installations
Ms Ruddock: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what are the dates or estimated dates (a) on which he proposes to announce the call for nominations in relation to the blocks to be offered in the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration, (b) between which he proposes to conduct the consultation for the nomination of blocks to be offered in the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration, (c) on which he proposes to announce which blocks are to be offered in the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration, and (d) on which he proposes to announce the winning bids in relation to the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration; [514]
- (2) if an environmental impact assessment will be required of applicants in relation to the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration; [515]
(3) what further rounds are planned for UK offshore oil and gas exploration licensing; and over what period he intends to conduct each of those rounds. [516]
Mr. Page: No decisions have been taken about the timing and scope of the 18th round of offshore licensing nor any subsequent rounds.
I hope that it will be possible, however, to hold a round in 1997 and further rounds at regular intervals thereafter in order to ensure that the United Kingdom continental shelf remains an attractive investment location for oil and gas companies until well into the next century.
Decisions about the need for environmental impact assessments in relation to an 18th round will take account of relevant legislation, international obligations and the advice provided to me by statutory and other advisers during the consultation process preceding the offer of blocks.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action is taken by Government Departments to ensure that the level of use and discharge of chemicals in water and in drilling muds from offshore oil and gas installations remains within agreed limits for each installation. [509]
Mr. Page:
The discharge of chemicals from offshore installations is currently regulated by a voluntary scheme. This scheme will be replaced by an internationally agreed mandatory scheme in the near future which will also regulate use of chemicals.
I refer the hon. Member to my previous replies to similar questions on 4 June 1996, Official Report, columns 307-8 and 3 July 1996, Official Report, column 458.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what regulatory action is undertaken by the Government to ensure that the cumulative effects of discharges to the environment from offshore oil and gas installations are maintained below levels which cause damage to marine wildlife and habitats. [508]
Mr. Page:
Exemptions from the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act are given to offshore installations at levels which are agreed in international fora as not likely to cause cumulative damage to marine wildlife and habitats.
30 Oct 1996 : Column: 154
I refer the hon. Member to my previous replies to similar questions on 4 June 1996, Official Report columns 307-8 and 3 July 1996, Official Report, column 458.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements are in place for Government officials to undertake field inspections to assess the quality and quantity of polluting discharges other than oil spills and produced water from offshore oil and gas installations. [510]
Mr. Page:
My officials make use of transport systems provided by the industry in order to undertake field inspections to assess the quality and quantity of polluting discharges. It is understood that this practice mirrors that undertaken in other nations.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what cumulative impacts of discharges from offshore oil and gas installations on marine wildlife and habitats are taken into account when agreeing limits for the discharge and use of chemicals for each installation. [507]
Mr. Page:
My Department is advised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department on the impacts of discharges to the marine environment. I refer the hon. Member to the replies given today by my hon. Friends, the Parliamentary Under Secretaries at MAFF and the Scottish Office to her questions on this topic.
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