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Consumer Issues (Questionnaire)
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response has been received from the hon. Members' questionnaire on consumer issues; and if she will publish the responses. [7783]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: I have received a very encouraging response from hon. Members of all parties and I have held meetings with hon. Members, including the hon. Lady's hon. Friends, a number of whom have recorded their appreciation of this innovative exercise.
The summary of the responses is as follows:
I note the hon. Member has not listed any issues which concern her constituents and I have therefore sent her another questionnaire.
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PPARC
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the level of funding given to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in each year since 1992, in real terms. [7581]
Mr. Battle: The actual allocations to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in each year since 1994-95 were:
| Year | Actual | 1997-98 prices |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 204.629 | 221.998 |
| 1995-96 | 201.756 | 213.031 |
| 1996-97 | 208.393 | 214.124 |
| 1997-98 | 200.650 | 200.650 |
1. The figures include the cost of PPARC's International Subscriptions.
2. Real terms comparisons are based ont he latest GDP deflator.
3. Prior to 1994-95, PPARC's areas of expertise formed part of the responsibilities of the Science and Engineering Research Council. Figures for previous years are therefore unavailable.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons the budget for the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council was determined prior to her Department's spending review. [7585]
Mr. Battle: In January this year, in accordance with standard practice, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council was given a financial allocation for 1997-98 and indicative planning figures for the following two years. These allocations will be subject to the same scrutiny as any other expenditure plans within the remit of my Department's spending review.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the impact of ending the process of the compulsory competitive tendering of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's purchase of telescope delivery and instrumentation. [7584]
Mr. Battle:
The Government's decision to release the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) from the obligation of competitive tendering
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will allow PPARC to reorganise the Royal Observatories in the way which best meets their scientific requirements. PPARC is now beginning the process of securing the scientific and cost advantages in bringing elements of the Royal Observatories' work together in a single Astronomy Technology Centre.
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the sum spent on administration by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in each year since 1992, in real terms. [7582]
Mr. Battle:
The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council was established on 1 April 1994 and has expended the following sums on administration (in real terms, at 1997-98 prices):
1994-95: £5.750 million
1995-96: £5.279 million
1996-97: £4.521 million.
European Space Agency
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her Department's projected funding towards the European Space Agency for the next financial year.[7493]
Mr. Battle: £91 million (see: Trade and Industry: The Government's Expenditure Plans 1997-98 to 1999-2000). This is subject to the outcome of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, which the Chief Secretary announced to the House on 11 June, Official Report, columns 1143-57.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the sums given by her Department towards the European Space Agency for each year since 1992, in real terms. [7593]
Mr. Battle: The figures for DTI spend on European Space Agency programmes for each year since 1992 in real terms are:
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1991-92 | 86 |
| 1992-93 | 83 |
| 1993-94 | 87 |
| 1994-95 | 94 |
| 1995-96 | 96 |
| 1996-97 | 98 |
| 1997-98 | 77 |
Cash expenditure has been revised in line with Treasury's GDP deflators table, which uses 1996-97 as the base year.
Observatories
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how the closure of the Royal Greenwich Observatory will affect the contracts it has agreed for telescope supply and maintenance. [7490]
Mr. Battle:
The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) will take all necessary steps to fulfil its current obligations, including those which relate to the construction and maintenance of telescopes.
10 Jul 1997 : Column: 598
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to ensure that the full range of services offered by the Royal Greenwich Observatory to (a) astronomers and (b) industry, will remain available throughout the United Kingdom. [7491]
Mr. Battle:
Those services which are required to support the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's astronomy programme will continue to be provided by the Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh. PPARC will be discussing with a range of interested parties the options for the future of other work currently carried out at the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the sum spent on administration at (a) the Royal Greenwich Observatory and (b) the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, in each year since 1992, in real terms. [7488]
Mr. Battle:
The average salary costs to the programme of those staff undertaking finance and personnel duties at the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) and Royal Observatory Edinburgh (ROE) are as follows (in real terms, at 1997-98 prices):
| Year | RGO | ROE |
|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 0.271 | 0.266 |
| 1993-94 | 0.253 | 0.225 |
| 1994-95 | 0.219 | 0.200 |
| 1995-96 | 0.249 | 0.267 |
| 1996-97 | 0.265 | 0.256 |
Astronomy Technology Centre
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how she proposes to ensure that the United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre is accessible to all United Kingdom astronomers. [7489]
Mr. Battle: The development of the United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre and the programme of work it will undertake are matters for the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, advised by peer review and overseen by senior members of the astronomy community.
CERN
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the funding given by her Department towards CERN in each year since 1992, in real terms.[7591]
Mr. Battle: The cost to the Science Budget of the CERN subscription in each calendar year from 1992 is as follows (in real terms, at 1997-98 prices):
| Year | Sterling cost (£ million) of UK subscription |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 63.26 |
| 1993 | 60.57 |
| 1994 | 63.44 |
| 1995 | 71.09 |
| 1996 | 76.74 |
| 1997 | 60.67 |
10 Jul 1997 : Column: 599
Mr. Lansley: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the projected funding for CERN in the next financial year. [7594]
Mr. Battle: The UK contribution to CERN for 1998 in Swiss Francs will not be known until December 1997 and the cost in sterling will depend on exchange rates at the time the currency is bought. However, PPARC has made provision of £58.27 million for CERN contributions within its allocation for the 1998-99 financial year.
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