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Further Education
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the Government will continue to fund further education through the FEFC with the proposed reduction in funding next year. [988]
Dr. Howells: Following the Further Education Funding Council's notification of provisional funding allocations on 4 April, the Council will shortly be notifying colleges of their final funding allocations for the 1997-98 academic year.
Agency Labour
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the Government's policy in respect of the present system of colleges employing casual agency labour through (a) ELS and (b) other agencies. [989]
Dr. Howells: As from incorporation on 1 April 1993, further education colleges assumed responsibility for their own finance and organisation, including the appointment, dismissal, redundancy and conditions of service generally of their staff. As a result, any decisions on whether to employ staff through an employment agency, and if so which agency to use, are for the college concerned to make.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to review the six-bed rule for bed and breakfast accommodation. [1070]
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Mr. Tom Clarke:
While I am aware that the level at which non-domestic rates apply is a matter of concern to some tourism businesses, the policy responsibility for the six-bed rule lies with the Department of the Environment. Should there be any review of that policy, the impact on tourism would be taken into account.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the consistency of the application of the six-bed rule for bed and breakfast accommodation by valuation officers; and if he will make a statement. [1069]
Mr. Clarke:
None. It is the responsibility of Inland Revenue local Valuation Officers (VOs) to maintain local non-domestic rating lists. Guidance has been issued to all VOs concerning the rating of bed and breakfast accommodation to ensure a consistent nation-wide approach. I am aware that the level at which non-domestic rates apply is a matter of some importance to small businesses in tourism.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many civil servants at each grade within his Department were of Asian origin on 5 May. [239]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
The number of staff in my Department (excluding its Agencies) who have declared the ethnic group to which they belong as being Asian, as at 5 May, is as follows:
| Grade | Number |
|---|---|
| Asian | |
| A(L) | 1 |
| B | 1 |
| C | 3 |
| D(U) | 4 |
| D(L) | 2 |
| Total | 11 |
The 1996 Department of National Heritage Pay and Grading review made the following changes to "traditional" Civil Service grades. Grades 6 and 7 were merged to form A(U) and A(L) respectively. Grades SEO and HEO were merged to form grade B. Grade EO became C, and AO and AA were merged to form D(U) and D(L) respectively.
Concessionary Television Licences
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will introduce regulations making it easier for concessionary television licences to be obtained for pensioner tenants, other than those in warder-controlled accommodation, who are visited by officials. [82]
Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 19 May 1997]: The Government have no current plans to extend the scope of the concessionary scheme.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Late Payments
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small business organisations have made
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representations (a) supporting and (b) opposing the Government's proposals for a statutory right to interest on late payment; and if she will make a statement. [848]
Mrs. Roche:
I have had representations from two small business organisations, one of whom was in favour of legislation for a Statutory Right to Interest and the other one of whom was opposed.
It is clear that late payment continues to cause concern to small businesses. Business surveys consistently show that over 60 per cent. of small firms support the introduction of legislation for a Statutory Right to Interest. It is in direct response to these concerns that the Government will introduce the Fair Payment of Commercial Debts Bill.
Representations from small business organisations will be sought in response to the Green Paper on a statutory right to interest that we plan to publish in the summer.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to stop proposed Post Office Counters Ltd. franchise transfers, with special reference to Southport general post office. [835]
Ian McCartney:
In announcing on 16 May a comprehensive review of options for implementing the Government's election manifesto pledge to grant the Post Office greater commercial freedom, I also announced that, at my request, the Post Office had agreed to suspend its programme of converting Crown post offices to agency status--except where irreversible commitments already exist--until we are in a position to make informed decisions. The proposal to convert the Crown post office in Southport has been suspended.
Mr. Godsiff:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards small businesses. [703]
Mrs. Roche:
The Government firmly believes that small businesses form the bedrock of a successful economy and is determined to work with them to address their needs and priorities.
We are developing a range of imaginative proposals which will address the needs of the 90s and beyond. Our plans include improving the quality and effectiveness of business support; introducing the Enterprise Zone; cutting unnecessary red tape and introducing a new legal right to interest on commercial debt.
Mr. Healey:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Research Council on 14 and 15 May. [1426]
John Battle:
I represented the UK at the meeting of the EU Research Council on 14-15 May 1997 at which the European Commission's proposals for the Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP5) were the chief item for discussion. I underlined the need for FP5 to be strongly focused on Europe's economic and social challenges and deliver real
22 May 1997 : Column: 132
results. The whole programme must be focused on well defined objectives, be tightly managed and involve the users of research.
Following an exchange of views, a worthwhile measure of agreement was reached on a number of key issues relating to the shape and structure of FP5. All Member States subscribed to these except Spain, which withheld agreement because it was unable to secure acceptance that financial commitments on FP5 should be delayed. Conclusions adopted by the Presidency reflect the areas of agreement on FP5, which include the need to improve the coherence of the proposed thematic programme structure while still limiting programme numbers to a range of broadly 4-6; the need for additional 'key actions' (targeted R&D directed at specific social and economic goals) within a limit of broadly 25; commitment to keeping to the timetable for the introduction of FP5; and agreement to procedures for taking forward work on the scientific and technological content of FP5, and tackling the management questions. I consider this a very useful outcome that will give an impetus to further preparatory work before the next Council in November.
I also addressed research ministers from the EU's Central and East European Associates in the context of the "Structured Dialogue" preparing for the enlargement of the European Union. I emphasised the UK's strong support for enlargement and the valuable contribution that strengthened scientific and technological co-operation could make to prospects for accession.
The Council also approved conclusions on the European Commission's Action Plan for Innovation and received a report on the progress of negotiations on the EC/US Science and Technology Co-operation Agreement.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bottles of champagne were imported from France in each year since 1992. [1104]
Mrs. Roche:
The number of bottles of champagne the UK imports from France is not available. The volumes, in millions of litres, are given in the following table.
| Year | Million litres |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 11.1 |
| 1993 | 14.3 |
| 1994 | 17.8 |
| 1995 | 14.0 |
| 1996 | 15.5 |
Source:
HM Customs and Excise.
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