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Companies
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies satisfy the Companies Act 1985 definitions of (a) small, (b) medium and (c) large companies. [82932]
Dr. Howells: The Register of Companies does not hold information on company turnover, number of employees and balance sheet totals and, without this, it is not possible to determine precisely the numbers of companies which fall into each class.
During 1997-98 annual accounts registered at Companies House for each class of company were:
Using these percentages based on the 1.2 million companies currently on the register, it could therefore be argued that there are approximately 458,000 small companies, 7,000 medium companies and 510,000 large companies within the Companies Act 1985 definition.
5 May 1999 : Column: 410
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of the business dealings of the late Robert Maxwell; what has been the cost of the investigation to date; when he expects the report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the timescale for the report's publication. [82905]
Dr. Howells:
There is no inspection into "the business dealings" of the late Robert Maxwell although inspectors were appointed on 8 June 1992 under Companies Act powers to investigate and report on the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers plc. They were asked to look, in particular, at the offers for sale of the company's shares in early 1991. The cost of the inspection to date has been £7,467,805. The inspectors have not yet reported to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. A decision on publication will be taken when the report has been received and fully considered.
Mr. Cotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many responses he has received to the consultation document, "Building Confidence in Electronic Commerce". [83019]
Mr. Wills:
I am pleased to say that we have received 246 responses to "Building Confidence in Electronic Commerce--A Consultation Document". A list of respondents--excluding those who have asked for their response to be kept confidential--has been placed in the Library of the House. The responses are currently being carefully studied and a summary will be published in due course. The Electronic Commerce Bill will be introduced into Parliament later in this session.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) the investigations currently being carried out by his Department under the Companies Acts, Financial Services Act 1986 and the Insurance Companies Acts, (b) the cost of each investigation, (c) the manner in which the costs are being apportioned and (d) the likely date of publication. [82929]
Dr. Howells:
My Department undertakes a number of confidential investigations under the Companies Act 1989, Insurance Companies Act 1982 and Financial Services Act 1986 for which there is no provision for the reports to be published. A list of current inspections which have been announced and their cost is set out in the table. The inspectors have yet to submit their reports and no decisions on publication can be taken until completion.
5 May 1999 : Column: 409
abbreviated (small) 38.2 per cent.
abbreviated (medium) 0.6 per cent.
full accounts 42.5 per cent.
others (dormant etc.) 18.7 per cent.
| Inspection | Legal inspector's fees (including VAT) | Accountant inspector's fees (including VAT) | Total cost (including VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror Group Newspapers plc | 1,677,377 | 7,097,247 | 8,774,624 |
| Queens Moat Houses plc | 1,482,686 | 3,984,421 | 5,467,107 |
| Wace UK Holdings Ltd. | -- | -- | Inspection being carried out by Departmental staff |
| Tinsley Robor plc | -- | -- | Inspection being carried out by Departmental staff |
| European Colour plc | -- | -- | Inspection being carried out by Departmental staff |
5 May 1999 : Column: 411
ACAS
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Annual report for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. [83393]
Mr. Byers: The ACAS Report for 1998 is being laid before both Houses of Parliament today. Copies are available from the Vote Office.
British Nuclear Fuels
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if British Nuclear Fuels Ltd is required to seek the (i) advice and (ii) permission of his Department before making investments in companies. [82507]
Mr. Battle: BNFL is a Public Limited Company wholly owned by the Government and subject to the Companies Acts. BNFL is run on a commercial basis, with responsibility for day to day management and operations resting with the Board of the company. BNFL's plans for major investments are discussed with my Department as they arise. These together with BNFL's overall investment strategy are formally reviewed each year in the context of the company's Corporate Plan when it is submitted to Ministers for approval.
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if British Nuclear Fuels Ltd sought the advice of his Department before investing in Pangea Resources Ltd; [82511]
- (2) if Ministers gave agreement for British Nuclear Fuels Ltd to invest in Pangea Resources Ltd. [82512]
Mr. Battle: No. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 23 March 1999, Official Report, column 140.
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office concerning British Nuclear Fuels Ltd's plan to invest in Pangea Resources Ltd prior to such investment being made. [82513]
Mr. Battle: My Department had no such discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on this matter.
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he was first informed of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd's investment in Pangea Resources Ltd; and if he will make a statement. [82510]
Mr. Battle: I was informed of BNFL's involvement in the Pangea project by my officials in September 1997.
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the companies in which British Nuclear Fuels Limited has invested. [82509]
Mr. Battle:
Details of BNFL's fixed asset and current asset investments, including its subsidiary and associated undertakings, are given in the notes to BNFL's 1998 Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
5 May 1999 : Column: 412
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the valuations assigned by the Japanese utilities to separated plutonium and mixed oxide fuel. [82468]
Mr. Battle:
None. This is a matter for the commercial judgment of the Japanese utilities concerned as owners of the plutonium.
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the impact of the miners' compensation package for lung-related diseases in Wales. [82113]
Mr. Battle:
Agreement on the handling arrangements for claims from former British Coal miners suffering from lung related diseases, in both Wales and England was announced in the High Court in Cardiff on 26 March. A contract for the delivery of a national spirometry programme has now been awarded, which will enable miners to receive fair compensation. We aim to have thirty centres, the first of which opened in Newport during April, operating throughout the coalfield communities by the Summer. Results from these testing centres will enable offers of interim payments and some full and final payments to be made later this month whilst we tender for the medical services needed to deliver the medical assessment process. I am hopeful that significant numbers of full and final settlement offers for valid claims will start flowing early in the second half of this year.
In the meantime, the Government have made payments totalling £28 million to former coal miners and widows, £6.83 million being made to claimants living in Wales.
Intelligence (External Agencies)
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to change the methods used to assess intelligence from external agencies. [71833]
Mr. Robin Cook: I would refer the hon. Member to the Government's response, which I presented to the House on 13 April (Cmnd 4325), to paragraph 21 of the second report from the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone.
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