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Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Mr. Vaz: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many set off cases she has approved in the liquidation of BCCI; what is the total amount outstanding in respect of such cases; and what representations she has received on this subject. [7051]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: The application of the rules as regards mutual credits and set off, set out in Rule 4.90 of The Insolvency Rules 1986 is mandatory in any liquidation and is not subject to any form of official approval. Once an account has been taken of what is due to and from the liquidating company as a result of mutual dealings the process of set off is automatic.
Solar Energy
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans the Government have to support the solar energy industry in the United Kingdom. [7345]
Mr. Battle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke on Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 10 June 1997, Official Report, column 417.
Public Records
Mr. Baker: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the date and title of the oldest document or archival unit retained by her Department which has not been passed on to the Public Record Office for release for public inspection. [7207]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 8 July 1997]: The earliest known file, selected for the Public Record Office, but still retained in the Department under the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958 for the retention of records on grounds of continuing sensitivity, is dated 1952, title: Atomic Energy Board: minutes and papers.
The general arrangements for retaining public records are set out in Chapter 9 of the White Paper Open Government of July 1993 (Cm 2290).
9 Jul 1997 : Column: 486
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Government intends to publish its plans for the future of the Post Office; and if she will make a statement. [7651]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
It is too early yet to say when the review of the Post Office will be completed or when we will be in a position to announce our future plans.
Mr. Mike Hall:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what decisions were taken at the EU Ministerial Council on the Internal Market on 21 May; and what matters were voted upon. [7983]
Mrs. Beckett:
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 21 May.
The Council reached political agreement by qualified majority voting on proposals on the free movement of lawyers and in vitro diagnostic medical devices. A Common Position was agreed by qualified majority on a proposal on foodstuffs treated with ionising radiation.
The Council discussed the Single Market Action Plan, Legislative Simplification, Reform of Customs Transit Regime, European Company Statute, Electronic Commerce, the Green Paper on Public Procurement and, in Any Other Business, attacks on Spanish produce in France, anti-dumping duties on cotton fabric and medical device safety.
Mr. Heppell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Telecommunications Council on 27 June. [7982]
Mrs. Roche:
I represented the UK at the Telecommunications Council held in Luxembourg on 27 June.
The Council agreed a resolution on the further development of a policy for numbering in the European Community. Following European Commission presentations, the Council adopted conclusions on three Commission communications: on the further development of mobile and wireless communications in Europe (universal mobile telecommunications systems); a Commission action plan for satellite communications; and on implementation by Member States of Community legislation in the telecommunications sector. There were also lunchtime presentations by the Commission on its communication on the World Radiocommunications Conference 1997, and on its interim report on Member States' initiatives concerning illegal and harmful content on the internet.
Mr. Page:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she intends to allocate ministerial responsibility for trade associations. [2870]
Mrs. Beckett:
The Minister for science, energy and industry, John Battle MP, is responsible for policy towards trade associations.
9 Jul 1997 : Column: 487
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Defence Review will cover the Defence Postal and Courier Services of the Royal Logistic Corps; how many commissioned ranks there are in the Defence Postal and Courier Services; what is the number in each rank; and what are the corresponding figures for an average line regiment; [6768]
(3) for what reason civilian staff in the Defence Postal and Courier Services have been replaced by serving military personnel; and how many posts which fell vacant in the past two years were filled by serving military personnel instead of civilian (service retired) personnel. [6767]
Mr. Spellar:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from T. McG Brown to Mr. Bob Russell, dated 9 July 1997:
I have been asked to reply to your three Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding staffing and other matters related to the Defence Postal and Courier Service. As Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency (DPCSA) I am responsible for the management within my Agency and I am therefore providing the details you have requested.
9 Jul 1997 : Column: 488
I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Rapson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals the Government have to improve co-operation with the United Kingdom defence industry. [6463]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 June to the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) (Official Report, column 78).
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Challenger 2 tanks have been (a) ordered from the manufacturer, (b) delivered and (c) accepted for service. [6667]
Mr. Spellar:
Three hundred and eighty-six Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks have been ordered from Vickers plc. To date 36 have been delivered and these have been accepted for service.
(2) how many disciplinary cases within the Defence Postal and Courier Services have been initiated by military line management against civilian Defence couriers in each of the past 10 years; [6769]
Taking each question in turn:
1. "For what reason civilian staff in the Defence Postal and Courier Service have been replaced by serving military personnel; and how many posts which fell vacant in the past two years were filled by serving military personnel instead of civilian (service retired) personnel?"
Overall, no civilian posts falling vacant in the last two years have been filled with military personnel. It is in fact the case that a number of military posts have been filled by civilians.
2. "How many disciplinary cases within the Defence Postal and Courier Service have been initiated by military line management against civilian Defence Couriers in each of the past 10 years?"
The management of the Defence Courier Service, which is a part of DPCSA, rests with military personnel. As all disciplinary cases are initiated by line management all cases against civilian Defence Couriers have therefore been initiated by military personnel. There have been 25 cases initiated in the past 10 years. The breakdown by year, from available records, is as follows:
1987: 2
1990: 1
1991: 3
1995: 9
1996: 5
1997: 5
Records are readily available only for those presently employed or who have recently left.
3. "Will the Defence Review cover the Defence Postal and Courier Service of the Royal Logistic Corps; how many commissioned ranks there are in the Defence Postal and Courier Service; what is the number of each rank; and what are the corresponding figures for an average line regiment?"
The Review will be wide ranging and all aspects of defence will be considered in this process. In addition to issues of policy and strategy, the Review will look at how we should get the best possible output from defence resources and the contribution of our defence effort to the wider economy. As part of the MOD, the Defence Postal and Courier Service will no doubt be included in this review.
The number of commissioned ranks within the DPCSA, an average Infantry Line Regiment (which is not easy to define) and a typical RLC regiment is as follows:
DPCSA Average ILR General service regiment RLC
Brigadier 1 0 0
Colonel 2 0 0
Lt. Colonel 5 1 1
Major 9 9 8
Captain 7 11 21
Lieutenant/2nd Lt. 0 14 10
24 35 40
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