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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Greenbury Report
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Greenbury report; and if he will make a statement. [79537]
Mr. Ian McCartney: The Greenbury report made recommendations to a number of groups and organisations. Some organisations, such as the Government and the London Stock Exchange, have implemented their recommendations in full.
The Government have noted, however, that some listed companies have not yet adopted sufficient transparency in their Reports such that shareholders have access to the information they may reasonably require to enable them to assess the company's general policy on executive remuneration. The Government also wish to see clearer evidence that boards are complying with the Greenbury recommendation that they
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In addition, the Government would like to see institutional investors using their power and influence to ensure the implementation of best practice as set out in the Greenbury Code.
I have asked my officials to monitor the current round of annual general meetings for evidence of a more positive approach to the Greenbury Code from companies and institutional investors. I will consider the case for legislation to amend the Companies Act 1985 in the light of the results of this monitoring.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day since May 1997; and what percentage of them received a substantive reply on that day. [80743]
Mr. Byers:
According to our records, since May 1997, 2,510 questions for answer on a named day have been tabled to this Department, 31 per cent. of these received a substantive reply on the named day.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the public appointments for which his Department is responsible and which carry a fee or salary, indicating for each type of appointment the fee or salary band which applies. [80760]
Mr. Byers:
The publication "Public Bodies 1998", copies of which are available in the Library of the House, provides information on the levels of remuneration paid to those serving on the boards of non-departmental public bodies for which my Department is responsible. The majority of public appointments, however, are unpaid as most of those who accept a public appointment do so on a voluntary, unpaid basis.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his letter ref. POS (3) 3019/18 of 26 January, what reports she has had on scientific evidence relating to noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss. [80586]
Mr. Bayley
[holding answer 13 April 1999]: When we were elected, we were determined to be satisfied that the Department's approach to the assessment of hearing loss on war pensions was seen to be in line with current scientific understanding. We immediately ordered a review of the scientific evidence behind the Department's approach. The review was conducted by four independent hearing loss experts chaired by the Government's then Chief Medical Officer.
The report of the expert team received in March 1998 confirmed that hearing loss due to noise, such as that
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experienced in service, does not increase after one is removed from it or as subsequent age-related hearing loss is added to it. These conclusions confirmed that the Department's approach to the assessment of hearing loss under the War Pension Scheme is in line with the current scientific understanding.
The review also recommended that the matter be looked at again in one years time. The Under-Secretary, my noble Friend, Baroness Hollis of Heigham, therefore, asked the war pensions medical policy adviser to report to her by the end of February 1999 on any relevant developments. The report of this further review was placed in the Libraries of House of Commons and the House of Lords on 2 March 1999. It confirms that there is no new scientific evidence to raise a reasonable doubt that noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss progressively deteriorates once a person is removed from the source of the noise which caused it; or that the combination of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss and subsequent hearing loss due to age is not more than additive.
These are assumptions which have gained general acceptance and have formed the basis of an International Standard which has been in place for nearly 20 years and which have successfully provided the basis for medico-legal work world wide.
The conclusions of this further review again confirm that the Department's current approach to the assessment of hearing loss is in line with current scientific evidence. This in turn, means that War Disablement Pensions cannot be increased in respect of hearing loss due to ageing. They can only be paid for disablement which is due to service.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day since May 1997; and what percentage of them received a substantive reply on that day. [80727]
Mr. Timms:
Since May 1997, we have received 2,304 parliamentary questions for answer on a named day, of these, 2,090 (91 per cent.) were given a substantive answer on the day requested.
This Department aims to give a holding reply to no more than 10 per cent. of all parliamentary questions for answer on a named day. However, where, for example, detailed work has to be carried out by the Department's analytical branches or the Government's Actuary Department, a full response cannot always be provided in the time allowed.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the public appointments for which his Department is responsible and which carry a fee or salary, indicating for each type of appointment the fee or salary band which applies. [80758]
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Mr. Timms:
"Public Bodies 1998", copies of which are available in the Library of the House, provides information on the levels of remuneration paid to those serving on the boards of public bodies for which the Department is responsible. Many of these appointments are unpaid volunteers.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each of the new responsibilities which he will assume when the signed Treaty of Amsterdam takes effect and for each (a) the likely effect on departmental staffing, (b) the bodies or persons in the European Union principally concerned and (c) the relevant section of that treaty and the consolidated treaties of the European Union and European Community. [80410]
Mr. Macdonald:
The Treaty of Amsterdam will have minimal impact on the responsibilities of the Department.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day since May 1997; and what percentage of them received a substantive reply on that day. [80733]
Mr. Dewar:
The information for the period May 1997--February 1998 is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. The information for the period March 1998--March 1999 is as follows:
"should consider each year whether the circumstances are such that shareholders should be invited to approve the policy set out in their remuneration report".
| Nominated questions tabled 1 March 1998--31 March 1999 | % answered substantively on date nominated |
|---|---|
| 1,021 | 62 |
Public Appointments
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the public appointments for which his Department is responsible and which carry a fee or salary, indicating for each type of appointment the fee or salary band which applies. [80752]
Mr. Dewar:
"Public Bodies 1998"--copies of which are available in the Library of the House--provides information on the levels of remuneration paid to those
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serving on the boards of public bodies for which my Department is responsible. The majority of public appointments, however, are unpaid as most of those who accept a public appointment do so on a voluntary basis.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for allocating the Unallocated Capital Modernisation Fund moneys as set out in Table 1.4, page 16, of the Scottish Office Departmental report, CM 4215, March 1999. [80291]
Mr. Dewar:
Of the £75m unallocated from the Capital Modernisation Fund, I have decided to allocate £4.2m to the elimination of mixed sex accommodation from the NHS in Scotland, and £0.3m to the Highlands and Island Fire Board. The allocation of the balance will be for the Scottish Executive to determine.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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