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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Science Base
17. Mr. Gunnell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received from British industry on the funding of the United Kingdom science base. [19457]
Mr. Ian Taylor: I have regular meetings with different sections of British industry to discuss its involvement with our excellent science and engineering base, the funding for which has increased by over 10 per cent. in the past decade.
Investment
18. Mr. Michael Brown: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the latest figures for the flows of inward and outward investment to and from the United Kingdom. [19458]
Mr. Lang: Inward investment into the United Kingdom amounted to £19 billion in 1995, a threefold increase on 1994. Outwards flows totalled nearly £24 billion as United Kingdom firms continued to build on their position in international markets.
23. Mr. Luff: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the relative importance of each of the factors taken into account by potential inward investors when selecting a country for investment; and if he will make a statement. [19465]
Mr. Lang:
Inward investors locate in the United Kingdom for a variety of reasons that are unique to each company. Some of the reasons most regularly given by investors include our low corporation tax, low cost of production, established enterprise culture, a skilled and adaptable work force and our established industrial infrastructure.
19 Mar 1997 : Column: 629
33. Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade which EU countries have invested more per employed person than the United Kingdom in the period since 1979. [19477]
Mr. Greg Knight:
Since 1979 business investment in the United Kingdom has accounted for a greater proportion of gross domestic product than in France, Germany and Italy.
20. Mr. McAllion:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's overall deficit on total trade in goods in the years (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [19462]
Mr. Nelson:
In each year since 1994 the deficit in trade in goods has been just over 1.5 per cent. of gross domestic product, down from 2 per cent. in 1993. Between 1974 and 1978 the deficit averaged 3 per cent. of gross domestic product.
31. Mr. McAvoy:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's overall deficit on trade in goods for the years 1993, 1994 and 1995. [19475]
Mr. Nelson:
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) earlier today.
32. Ms Rachel Squire:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's overall deficit on trade in goods in recent years. [19476]
Mr. Nelson:
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) earlier today.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the deficit in trade in goods in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [19461]
Mr. Nelson:
The deficit in trade in goods in both 1995 and 1996 was 1.7 per cent. of gross domestic product. Overall, the balance of payments current account is close to balance and at its strongest for a decade.
22. Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's balance of trade with EU countries, with special reference to heavy electrical products. [19464]
Mr. Nelson:
British exports of goods to the EU doubled between 1988 and 1995. During the same period exports of heavy electrical products rose by 116 per cent.
19 Mar 1997 : Column: 630
25. Mr. Dykes:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will commission a study into the change in the level and categories of United Kingdom-manufactured and semi-manufactured exports to other EU countries since the single market commenced. [19467]
Mr. Nelson:
Figures for these exports are already available. They show that since the single market commenced in 1993, the value of UK exports of finished manufacturers to the EU has risen by 47 per cent. and of semi-manufactures by 27 per cent.
26. Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the decision of the South West industrial development board not to award a regional selective assistance grant to Synex Ltd. in July 1995. [19469]
Mr. Greg Knight:
The role of regional industrial development boards, such as the SWIDB, is to provide independent advice on applications for RSA. The decision whether or not to award a grant rests solely with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who in the south-west is represented by officials at the Government office for the south-west. Each application for regional selective assistance is determined on its merits against the common criteria for the scheme. The project as presented to GOSW was judged not to have satisfied the criteria and therefore the GOSW properly decided in May 1995 not to award a grant to Synex. This decision was confirmed in July 1995 following an appeal by the applicant.
27. Mr. Atkins:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the main reasons cited to his Department by inward investors for locating in Britain. [19471]
Mr. Greg Knight:
I refer to the reply previously given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
Mr. Robert Banks:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the number of jobs created through inward investment by overseas companies in (a) North Yorkshire, (b) west Yorkshire and (c) the north of England during the last five years. [20684]
Mr. Knight:
We expect 11,671 new jobs to arise from inward investment projects in the north of England notified to the Invest In Britain Bureau where decisions were taken during the financial year 1995-96. These figures are a combination of returns from north-east England, north-west England and Yorkshire and the Humber.
The Yorkshire and Humberside development agency has estimated that the number of jobs created through inward investment was 80 in north Yorkshire and 1,619 in west Yorkshire.
19 Mar 1997 : Column: 631
28. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to provide further assistance to the British semi-conductor industry. [19472]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
The Government are already providing assistance to the British semi-conductor industry. It is supporting the National Microelectronics Institute under the information society initiative programme for business. The institute, a partnership between the industry and Government, aims to promote the growth of the microelectronics industry in the UK, in particular by stimulating the manufacture of semi-conductors in the UK. Another part of the information society initiative, the microelectronics in business programme, introduces UK companies to semi-conductor technology, and encourages best practice in its use in products. In addition, a number of individual semi-conductor manufacturers, and their suppliers, have received assistance in respect of new investment.
29. Mr. Eric Clarke:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the work of the Human Genetics Advisory Commission. [19473]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
The Human Genetics Advisory Commission held its first meeting on 27 February, where it discussed its work plan and agreed initial priorities. Members identified the implications of genetic testing for insurance as an immediate priority and the chairman has written to his counterpart in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to confirm the adequacy of the existing law on human cloning. The HGAC also confirmed its commitment to listening and making itself open to wider public views on the issues at stake. I refer the hon. Member to the advisory commission's press statement on 27 February and to my statements of 27 February and 10 March on the implications of the cloning of an adult sheep at the Roslin Institute. Copies of all three have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
35. Mr. Miller:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the work of the Human Genetics Advisory Commission. [19479]
Mr. Taylor:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Clarke) earlier today.
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