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Oil Platforms
Mr. Ainger: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the viability of zero-discharge oil platforms. [10483]
Mr. Page: My Department is supporting and co-operating in the research and development which is leading towards the reduction of emissions to the marine
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environment and to the atmosphere. The concept of a zero discharge platform is very difficult to put into practice but my Department is working to encourage the adoption of such arrangements where these are possible and likely to bring a real benefit to the environment.
Arms Contracts (British Companies)
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the extent of British companies' involvement in arms contracts prohibited under UN sanctions. [10749]
Mr. Nelson: Enforcement of export controls and controls on the supply and delivery of goods to specific destinations, imposed in accordance with resolutions of the United Nations Security Council is a matter for the Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise. It is not, however, Customs' general practice to comment publicly about the existence or nature of any investigations of individuals or companies not yet accused of criminal offences, since to do so could risk prejudicing any ongoing inquiries or future criminal proceedings.
Armoured Vehicles (Indonesia)
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 December, Official Report, column 29, relating to the issue of licences to Avis for the export of armoured vehicles to Indonesia, what is the associated equipment to which he referred in his answer. [10744]
Mr. Nelson: The associated equipment to which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade referred in his answer of 9 December 1996 consists of ammunition, radio equipment, two gunnery desk top simulators, technical publications and a supply of spare parts and workshop tools. The latter equipment comprises basic components for such items as engine controls, steering, brakes, electric gearbox controls, and exhaust systems all for the support of the armoured vehicles. They would be too numerous to list.
Iraq (Trade Restrictions)
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent relaxations there have been in trade restrictions between British companies and Iraq. [10747]
Mr. Nelson: On 11 December, my Department issued an open general licence to communicate. This allows UK companies to comply with the procedures that will be employed by the United Nations Security Council Committee, established by resolution 661 (1990), to implement the arrangements set out in resolution 986 (1995). Under the licence, companies may discuss and sign contracts with a view to exporting to Iraq, medicine, health supplies, foodstuffs and materials, and supplies for essential civilian needs, as well as parts and equipment essential for the safe operation of the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline system in Iraq. However, companies will still require individual licences to export such goods.
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Energy Council
Dr. Kim Howells: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress was made towards agreeing a European directive on gas liberalisation at the EU Energy Council of Ministers meeting on 3 December, and if he will make a statement. [10823]
Mr. Page: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 9 December, Official Report, column 30 and the hon. Member for Blaneau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 11 December, Official Report, column 274.
Crown Post Office, Newcastle under Lyme
Mrs. Golding: To ask the President of the Board of Trade for how long the Crown post office has operated from the Iron Market in Newcastle under Lyme. [10503]
Mr. Page: I understand from the Post Office that a post office has operated in Iron Market, Newcastle under Lyme since 1969.
Mrs. Golding: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the turnover for (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95 and (c) 1995-96 at the Crown post office in Newcastle under Lyme. [10504]
Mr. Page: Turnover figures for individual post offices are commercially confidential.
Mrs. Golding: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many customers used the Crown post office in Newcastle under Lyme in each year since 1988. [10505]
Mr. Page: I understand from the Post Office that the annual number of transactions since 1993-94 at the Crown post office in Iron Market Newcastle under Lyme has been:
| Year | Number of transactions |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 1,480,281 |
| 1994-95 | 1,646,161 |
| 1995-96 | 1,615,557 |
| 1996-97 | (44)942,814 |
Information for earlier years is not available.
(44) To end November 1996.
Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10182]
Mr. John M. Taylor: My Department is responsible for 22 executive non-departmental public bodies, 25 advisory bodies and seven tribunals, considering the 28 industrial tribunals as one body. I regret that the information requested by the hon. Member is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Toxic Chemicals
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many United Kingdom companies
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are licensed under the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 to manufacture toxic chemicals; and how many licence applications he has refused. [10414]
Mr. Nelson: Two applications have so far been received for individual licences to produce schedule 1 chemicals in excess of 5g in 1997; licences have been issued in both cases. Any companies or individuals wishing to produce up to 5g of schedule 1 chemicals under the open general licence issued pursuant to the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 are required to submit a notification by 15 January or 14 days after the date of first production; no such notifications have been received to date.
Surveillance and Bugging Equipment
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what controls there are on the sale to the general public of surveillance and bugging equipment. [10416]
Mr. Ian Taylor: None, but the use of such equipment is subject to relevant legislation, for example governing the integrity of communications.
Newspapers
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he last met representatives from the Multiple Newsagents Association; and if he will make a statement on the matters which were discussed at that meeting; [10648]
- (2) if he will request the Director General of Fair Trading to refer newspaper distribution to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [10646]
Mr. John. M. Taylor: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 2 December 1996, Official Report, column 495.
Subsidence Claims
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those constituencies in which there are outstanding claims under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991; and how many cases there are in each constituency. [10542]
Mr. Page: This is a matter for the Coal Authority or other "responsible person" as defined by the Coal Industry Act 1994.
Faraday Partnership Scheme
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the level of financial support given by his Department to the Faraday partnership scheme announced by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; and what is the projected expenditure.[9973]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The DTI welcomes the EPSRC Faraday partnerships scheme as a contribution to wider efforts to link academia and industry, and will monitor progress. It may be possible for potential partnerships to make bids into any further rounds of the sectoral challenge.
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No allocation has been made from DTI central funds for 1997-98 because of financial constraints.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Invalidity Benefit
Mr. Rogers: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving invalidity benefit in the Rhondda benefit district; what percentage this is of the total population of working age; and what are the average percentages for (a) Wales and (b) England and Wales. [7969]
Mr. Burt: The administration of incapacity benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
| Per cent. | |
|---|---|
| Tonypandy Benefits Office | n/a |
| Wales | 8.7 |
| England and Wales | 4.3 |
The Incapacity Benefit figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the PSCS (INCAP) computer system at 31 May 1996, and exclude a small number of cases not held on this system.
Percentage population figures are calculated from the latest figures available (mid 1994) from "Population Trends" published by the Office for National Statistics, Summer 96 edition.
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