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Fire Service, Derbyshire
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide the figures for the element within the Derbyshire standard spending assessment which relates to Derbyshire Fire Service for each of the last five years. [25337]
Mr. George Howarth: The information requested is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | (14)17.067 |
| 1994-95 | (14)18.234 |
| 1995-96 | 17.592 |
| 1996-97 | 20.308 |
| 1997-98 | 21.441 |
| 1998-99 | (15)22.474 |
(14) Includes civil defence element.
(15) Provisional figure.
26 Jan 1998 : Column: 52
Lotteries
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the period of consultation on the draft Lotteries (Frequent Draws) Bill; and if he will make a statement. [24995]
Mr. George Howarth: In the light of representations, I have decided to extend the consultation by two weeks, that is until 13 February.
Prison Development Sites
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 514, if he will make available a list of the sites in the north-west assessed for possible future prison development, together with the results of those assessments. [25344]
Ms Quin:
The majority of the 81 sites involved were rejected as unsuitable at an early stage. Those which offer potential are either being pursued publicly, such as at
26 Jan 1998 : Column: 53
Winwick, or have yet to be assessed in more detail. The Prison Service does not identify possible sites for new prisons until it has reached the stage where it has decided to pursue planning clearance. At this stage, the concerned hon. Member will be informed.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 January, Official Report, column 330, if he will publish the programmes of Lady Williams when she accompanied her husband to (a) Jersey and (b) the Isle of Man at public expense. [25598]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
When Lady Williams accompanied her husband to Jersey, arrangements were made for her to visit the Islands' Crime and Drugs Strategy Unit and hold discussions on the misuse of drugs. This programme was disrupted by the party's late arrival in the Island, because of a defect in the aircraft, but arrangements were made for her to visit the Island's Police Headquarters Drugs Unit.
In the Isle of Man, Lady Williams visited Santon Primary School and the Life Education Mobile Centre and was given a presentation on their work. After a working lunch, she visited Police Headquarters/Probation Offices and then two Elderly Persons' Complexes.
China
Mr. Redwood: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new inward investments to Britain she signed during her visit to China. [23710]
Mrs. Beckett: None were under discussion.
Inward investment activities were not the principal purpose of my visit, the first visit by a cabinet minister to China since the handover of Hong Kong last June. At the invitation of the Chinese government, I chaired a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission with the Chinese Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. I also met with other senior Chinese ministers including Premier Li Peng and launched a major new initiative, "Britain in China 1998", which will raise awareness of what Britain can offer China. I was accompanied on the visit by a team of senior business people from UK power, aerospace and chemical sectors.
During my recent visit to China I also addressed audiences at inward investment seminars held in Beijing and Shanghai. Both seminars were chaired by Adair Turner of the CBI. These events, organised by the Invest in Britain Bureau (IBB) with the full support and encouragement of the Chinese government, form part of IBB's annual overseas promotional programme to promote the advantages of a UK location for manufacturing investment. The seminars in China, a new market for IBB, are a long term initiative aimed at raising awareness of the opportunities which the UK offers as an investment location as and when business in China looks to increase its investment overseas.
26 Jan 1998 : Column: 54
Mr. Page:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when her Department applied to the European Commission for permission to use NFFO--non-fossile fuel obligation--funds for clean coal technology. [23794]
Mr. Battle:
Policy on clean coal technology and new and renewable energy, including the non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO), are under review. Accordingly, no application for permission to provide state aid for clean coal technology demonstration projects using NFFO-type arrangements or otherwise has been made.
Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to assist the progress of clean coal technology; and if she will make a statement. [24965]
Mr. Battle:
We have already initiated a number of activities to support work in this important area. These include:
My Department has just completed a review of clean coal technology which examined what further support the Government should provide to research, development and demonstration. An announcement will be made about the outcome of the review once Ministers have had time to consider the review recommendations alongside those arising from the Department's wider Comprehensive Spending Review exercise.
Mr. Page:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many regulations have been abolished by her Department since 1 May; and if she will list them. [23797]
Mrs. Beckett:
Since 1 May 1997 my Department has revoked the Unichem Limited (Allotment of Shares) Order 1989. In addition we have simplified primary legislation by exempting certain types of radio equipment from licensing under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 and by removing unnecessary requirements from the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the impact of the newly agreed sulphur dioxide targets on the amount of coal burned in power stations by 2001. [23708]
Mrs. Beckett:
The Environment Agency has issued a Consultation Document setting out proposals for new sulphur dioxide targets. My Department is currently considering these.
26 Jan 1998 : Column: 55
Mr. Paice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has for Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office if the Royal Greenwich Observatory in Cambridge is closed. [24304]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 20 January 1998]: The work of the Nautical Almanac Office is carried out by the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) under contract to the Ministry of Defence. The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) has confirmed that all the current contracts held by the RGO will be honoured. PPARC is discussing the future of this work with the Ministry of Defence, and with other potential suppliers of the service to the MoD.
Mr. Paice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she proposes to take with regard to the future of the Royal Greenwich Observatory and its facilities in Cambridge. [24306]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 20 January 1998]: I have asked the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) to explore every avenue for keeping the institution of the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) alive. PPARC has declared itself satisfied that feasible options exist for a viable future for the RGO and is in the midst of detailed negotiations with interested parties over these options. These negotiations also cover the future of the current RGO staff, building and other assets.
Mr. Paice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will commission an independent assessment of the proposal made by the Royal Greenwich Observatory to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council for its continuation as a company limited by guarantee. [24305]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 20 January 1998]: At its meeting on 12 December 1997, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council concluded that given the costs, uncertainties and associated risks it could not support the proposal to establish a Company Limited by Guarantee as a vehicle for continuing some of the current functions of the Royal Greenwich Observatory and developing a commercial business of telescope design and manufacture. The decision was taken on the basis of the advice offered by PPARC's Implementation Oversight Committee, members of an Audit Group (which included members of its Audit Committee), and its independent financial advisers and does not consider that any further assessment is necessary.
establishing an industry-led task force as part of the Foresight exercise to identify the UKs research, development and demonstration requirements for the future. My Department is contributing some £50,000 to this £100,000 study by industry and universities which will be completed in the spring;
supporting a number of trade missions, seminars and workshops in key export markets for UK clean coal technology expertise and components;
both leading and providing financial support to a number of International Energy Agency initiatives to promote the development of clean coal technologies in developing countries which are expected to be the main market for these technologies over the next decade and beyond.
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