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Written Answers
Tuesday, 4th February 1997.
UK Trade with the European Union
Lord Wyatt of Weeford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What has been the balance of trade (including invisible trade) between the United Kingdom and the other member states of the European Union for each of the years between 1990 and 1996.
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie): The UK current account balance with other member states of the European Union, between 1990 and 1995, is published in an article titled Geographic Analysis of the Current Account of the Balance of Payments in Economic Trends, October 1996, by the Office for National Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The current account balance for 1996 is not yet available.
Emergency Towing Vessel Trials: Report
Lord Teviot asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will release the report of the trials of two emergency towing vessels during the winters of 1994-95 and 1995-96.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen): Copies of the Coastguard Agency's report have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Coastal Freight: UK Tonnages
Lord Clinton-Davis asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the current volume of coastal freight carried by United Kingdom flagged ships compared with each year since 1979.
Viscount Goschen: Statistics on the volume of freight carried in United Kingdom flagged ships around the coasts of the United Kingdom and from the North Sea oil rigs to the mainland were first collected in 1985. The total tonnage of freight carried each year from 1985 to 1995 is as follows:
| Goods lifted million tonnes | |
| 1985 | 42.6 |
| 1986 | 40.7 |
| 1987 | 37.0 |
| 1988 | 49.4 |
| 1989 | 46.5 |
| 1990 | 42.8 |
| 1991 | 34.9 |
| 1992 | 36.1 |
| 1993 | 30.1 |
| 1994 | 31.1 |
| 1995 | 26.6 |
(1) Includes dry cargo carried by ferries from 1988 onwards.
Lord Clinton-Davis asked Her Majesty's Government:
Viscount Goschen: At the end of 1996, the United Kingdom merchant fleet stood at 29th in the league table of the world's merchant fleets in terms of gross tonnage and 33rd by deadweight. The position at the end of 1979 was fourth for both gross tonnage and deadweight.
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey): Relief grants are made only through reputable British and international NGOs and UN agencies and only when ODA field and HQ staff are satisfied that the need exists. In the British military sector, where projects are largely implemented by local contractors, a series of rigorous checks are carried out by SFOR and ODA to ensure that communities from all the parties in Bosnia benefit from British assistance. We consult with the local communities, other international agencies and NGOs: companies considered unsuitable are not given work. Our other infrastructure programmes in Bosnia involve procurement on a large scale from the UK, Europe and the former Yugoslavia; tenders are awarded using strict value for money criteria.
Lord Bowness asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe): I am pleased to announce that the Joint Services Command and Staff College will be at Shrivenham from September 1999. The college will be a centre of military excellence, building on the world-wide renown of its prestigious predecessors to maintain our global reputation for command and staff training.
A Serco/Laing consortium, Defence Management, has been selected as the Preferred Bidder. We shall be assisted in the academic support for the new College by Kings' College London, who are world renowned for their contribution to military studies.
The new college will be in purpose built accommodation on a greenfield site within the perimeter of the Royal Military College of Science. Subject to successful detailed negotiations, Defence Management will be awarded a contract for the provision of the accommodation, facilities management and academic support required for the new college, in June 1997. Until the permanent site is available, we shall run courses at interim sites, mainly at Bracknell.
The Staff College at Camberley has played an important and historic role for the Army. We intend to identify a fitting and appropriate military use for this historic building. I intend to report on our plans for its future occupancy before the Summer Recess.
Trades unions were consulted fully when the decision to explore the options for private financing was made. In accordance with normal procedures, they are being informed of the choice of the Preferred Bidder and will be consulted again, after a contract has been placed, about the possible transfer arrangements for civilian staff working at the interim sites.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege): Of the 4,537 adults reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as having HIV infection diagnosed before the beginning of 1987, 2,447 were not known to have died 10 years later. A further 116 are known to have died more than 10 years after their infection was diagnosed.
These data are likely to be an over-estimate of those still alive, due to under-reporting and reporting delays.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Cumberlege: For the United Kingdom, at the end of December 1996, there were 9,232 adults who had been reported to have died with AIDS, for whom both the date of AIDS diagnosis and the date of death was known. Of these, 2,099 (23 per cent.) survived more than two years after first being diagnosed with AIDS.
These data are subject to reporting delays and under-reporting.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Cumberlege: This information is not collected centrally.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Cumberlege: We are not aware of any such research funded by the Government.
Baroness Eccles of Moulton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Cumberlege: The Green Paper, Developing Partnerships in Mental Health, is published today. Copies are available from the Printed Paper Office and the Library. It reviews the progress which health and local authorities have already made in developing joint working in the delivery of mental health and social care services and looks at ways to build on this. The Green Paper considers how the current organisational framework for commissioning and providing services could be used more effectively
Lord Cochrane of Cults asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers): The primary purpose of the second amendment to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 (as amended) is to promote greater compliance by relevant landlords with their duties under those regulations to provide safe gas installations for their tenants to use. Prevention of one fatality per year as a result of the amendment is estimated to yield an annual present value benefit of around £0.8 million.
Where the United Kingdom's merchant fleet stands in the league table of the world's merchant fleets; and what was its position in 1979.
What arrangements they have in place to ensure that all government aid to Bosnia for relief and reconstruction is used for the purposes for which it is granted, and whether they are satisfied that all such aid has so far been so used.
What progress there has been on inviting industrial consortia to provide a permanent Joint Services Command and Staff College.
How many people with an HIV diagnosis have survived for 10 or more years.
How many people with an AIDS diagnosis have survived for 2 or more years.
Approximately what proportion of people who have survived 10 years or more with an HIV diagnosis are long-term takers of antiviral drugs, and what proportion have relied (a) exclusively and
(b) predominantly on complementary/alternative approaches.
What research has been undertaken to explore the link between the use of complementary/alternative therapies and long-term survival rates in people with HIV/AIDS.
When they will publish the Green Paper on mental health.
What annual reduction in fatalities they expect will result from the introduction of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/2541).
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