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Economic and Monetary Union
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to submit draft treaty texts to the
intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend submitted a document, "Economic and monetary union--beyond Stage 1 : Possible Treaty Provisions and Statute for a European Monetary Fund", to the Luxembourg presidency on 8 January. This sets out legal texts designed to amend the treaty of Rome so as to allow for the establishment of a European monetary fund managing a hard ecu in line with the proposals first put forward by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister when Chancellor. Copies have been placed in the Vote Office and the House of Commons Library.
Government Staff
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff in post in central Government departments at 1 October 1990.
Mr. Mellor : On 1 October 1990 there were 556,250 staff in post in central Government. Of those, 491,032 were non-industrials and 65,218 were classified as being in industrial work.
HEALTH
Deaf School Leavers
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that deaf school leavers are provided with communication support when being assessed under section 5 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 ;
(2) what consideration is being given to the implementation of section 3(b) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to ensure that deaf people have access to sign language interpreters and other communication support when being assessed for services by local authorities.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to monitor the implementation of section 5 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, particularly in regard to deaf school leavers.
Mr. Dorrell : The social services inspectorate has carried out an exercise to monitor the implementation of those
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sections of the Act that are in force. The results of this inspection, and of the findings of a more specific study of the implementation of sections 5 and 6, were published last year in its reports "Developing Services for Disabled People" and "Developing Services for Young People with Disabilities", copies of which are in the Library. We expect authorities to provide communication support for all clients who require it as a matter of normal good practice, and our guidance on the implementation of community care has emphasised the importance of such services. Similar guidance is to be issued to assist authorities in the implementation of the provisions of the Children Act.Sign Language Interpreters
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being undertaken by his Department to address the shortage of registered sign language interpreters for deaf patients.
Mr. Dorrell : The Department provides grant aid to the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People, which arranges courses in communication with deaf people and maintains a register of interpreters. The Department has also, for a number of years, grant-aided the British Sign Language Training Authority. The availability of sign language interpreters to deaf people seeking health care is a matter for local health service management, who are best placed to determine and provide for the local need for such a service.
Medical Research
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to take to help non-teaching hospitals that provide major service support for research by external funders.
Mr. Waldegrave : I am pleased to announce a £2 million scheme to help meet the service support costs of research in non-teaching hospitals. The scheme will give financial help to hospitals that provide service support for major levels of research activity by external funders including local and national charities and the Medical Research Council. Applications for support under the scheme will be invited for autumn 1991 and the first allocations made for April 1992. An NHS management executive letter will be issued to health authorities shortly and will give further details.
Myelograms
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what equipment currently available under the NHS is capable of determining whether or not myodil dye was used in the past ; what is the location of each scanner ; and what is its current availability for use.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 14 January 1991] : If myodil dye was used in the past for a myelogram its clearance from the body will vary from patient to patient. Normal radiographic X-ray equipment should detect any myodil still present in a patient's body.
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ENERGY
Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the chairman of National Power and PowerGen concerning a staggered sale of the share capital ; what estimates he has made of the difference in net proceeds from a 100 per cent. sale and a staggered sale ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My right hon. Friend has decided to offer for sale 60 per cent. of the share capital of National Power and PowerGen next month, subject to market conditions. The chairmen of the companies have been informed of this decision, which reflects the Government's confidence in the long-term future of the companies and the wish to maximise proceeds in time.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what resources are allocated for a campaign to encourage home insulation as part of the energy efficiency project.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The Energy Efficiency Office promotes energy efficiency measures in the domestic sector through a range of initiatives including the new home energy efficiency scheme, which came into operation on 1 January, provision of targeted information to householders, and the best practice programme. Of the total budget expected to be available to the EEO of nearly £42 million in 1991-92, some £30 million is in support of these programmes.
Electricity Cables
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will institute a feasibility study in co-operation with the electricity industry with a view to improving the overhead cable system and making it less vulnerable, particularly in rural areas, to severe snow and storm conditions. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : A joint Department-electricity supply industry panel of inquiry chaired by the Department's chief engineering inspector was set up in January 1982 to investigate the adequacy, and so on, of overhead electricity lines following the very severe snow storms in December 1981 and January 1982 which seriously affected Wales and the west of England. As a result a programme of improvements was put in hand costing over £100 million, which included the strengthening of the more vulnerable overhead lines and closer control of tree growth. The snowstorm which affected the midlands area in December 1990 was exceptional, but the East Midlands Electricity company--the worst affected--is carrying out a review of the event and the Department's engineering inspectorate is monitoring this review.
Electricity Prices
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the 12 chairs of the electricity consumer committees to discuss next year's forecast price increases for domestic consumers.
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Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The functioning of the electricity consumers' committees is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.Electricity Consumers
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has regarding the numbers of electricity consumers with average consumption slightly less than 1 MW, who have stepped up consumption just sufficiently to gain access to non-franchise purchasing terms.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The criteria for franchise customers are set out in condition 2 of the second tier supply licences issued to suppliers. This makes it clear that the relevant demand calculations must be on the basis of the average of the three highest months of maximum demand in a 12- month period under normal operating conditions. It is for the Director General of Electricity Supply to oversee the implementation of licence conditions and to determine any disputes over whether the criteria have been met.
Power Cables
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will call for a report on the problem of ice accretion on power cables and the threat it poses to security of supply.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The phenomenon of ice accumulation on overhead electric lines and other structures is well understood technically. Weather conditions and their effect on overhead electricity transmission and distribution systems, including ice accumulation and electricity supply industry design standards, were exhaustively addressed in the joint Department of Energy-industry review into the widespread storm damage in the west of Britain during the winter of 1981-82. The phenomenon is not confined to the United Kingdom and occurs in other countries, including other parts of Europe, with similar climatic conditions to our own.
The area of East Midlands Electricity was particularly badly affected last December. The company is carrying out a review of those events and the Department's engineering inspectors will be keeping closely in touch with it.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Levitt Group
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is responsible for making an announcement, and at what time he expects it to be made, concerning the safety and security of money placed by investors with the Levitt Group.
Mr. Redwood : I understand that the provisional liquidators reported to creditors on Monday 14 January.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the current position of the Levitt group and the safety of investors' moneys.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 14 January 1991] : I understand that the provisional liquidators reported to creditors on Monday 14 January.
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Auditors
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times company auditors have notified his Department of corporate fraud and irregularities.
Mr. Redwood : This information is not available in the form requested. To try to provide comprehensive information over a reasonable time period would involve disproportionate cost.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the individuals criticised in the inspectors' report on Bryanston can still carry out company audits.
Mr. Redwood : In respect of accountants, yes, except for Mr. Keith Cunningham whose membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has lapsed. The accountancy firm involved was required to pay costs of £273,000 and reprimanded under the joint disciplinary scheme.
Tottenham Hotspur plc
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what inquiries he has made into the suspension of shares of Tottenham Hotspur plc.
Mr. Redwood : The suspension of shares is a matter for the International Stock Exchange.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken or is proposing to take against Tottenham Hotspur plc for late filing of its annual accounts.
Mr. Redwood : Tottenham Hotspur plc has failed to submit accounts for the period ended 31 May 1990. The registrar has confirmed that the company has been notified of the default and appropriate action is being taken to secure compliance.
Suspension of Shares
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to propose legislation under which within six weeks of the share quotation being suspended the existing board of directors will be required to offer itself for re-election.
Mr. Redwood : No. If the shareholders of such a company wish to dismiss some or all of the directors they may requisition the convening of an extraordinary general meeting for that purpose under the provisions of section 368 of the Companies Act 1985.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will bring forward proposals for legislation to require a company whose share quotation is suspended to call an extraordinary meeting.
Mr. Redwood : No. Section 368 of the Companies Act 1985 already gives a company's shareholders the power to requisition an extraordinary general meeting if they consider one necessary.
Accounting Procedures
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he has any proposals for companies to write off purchased good will against profits rather than reserves ;
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(2) if he will propose legislation under which property companies would be prevented from capitalising the interest on their borrowings ;(3) what proposals he has for defining mergers and eliminating the anomalies arising from merger accounts.
Mr. Redwood : Issues of this sort are better dealt with through accounting standards than in the law. The matters raised are encompassed within exposure drafts issued by the Accounting Standards Committee and the responses received will be considered by the Accounting Standards Board in due course.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for requiring every public company to establish an audit committee and to specify in the annual reports any changes in accounting practice and its implications for the future.
Mr. Redwood : The Government endorse the use of audit committees, but have no plans to impose them on companies through legislation. Companies must be free to decide for themselves whether such committees are appropriate to their circumstances.
The existing requirements of SSAP2 in respect of the disclosure by companies of the accounting policies they have adopted and of SSAP6 in respect of the disclosure of the effect of prior period adjustments arising when an accounting policy is changed already cover the question of accounting policies.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with the professional accountancy bodies about the establishment of a review panel to examine the accounts of listed companies and to establish an urgent issues task force to clear up areas of anomaly and clarify accounting guidelines.
Mr. Redwood : My Department consulted the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies fully about the implementation of the Dearing report, which recommended the creation of a review panel and an urgent issues task force.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to ask the Audit Commission to lay down guidelines for the accountancy profession on the auditing of company accounts.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy that the Export Credits Guarantee Department should continue to be based in the Crown offices at Cathays, Cardiff ; and if he will list any obstacles that would need to be overcome for such a policy to be implemented in the long term.
Mr. Sainsbury : After the proposed privatisation of its insurance services group, ECGD's remaining operations will continue to be based in London and in various locations in Cardiff. It is ECGD's intention that, in respect of these remaining operations, it should retain a significant presence in Cardiff for the foreseeable future. I am not aware of any obstacles likely to prevent this. As regards the location of the insurance services group following privatisation, this would be a matter for the new management and owners.
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Company Accounts
Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to authorise a person under section 245c of the Companies Act 1985 for the purpose of making applications to court under section 245b in respect of accounts which it is alleged did not comply with the Act.
Mr. Redwood : Last week I made an order authorising the Financial Reporting Review Panel Ltd, a subsidiary of the Financial Reporting Council Ltd, for this purpose. The authorisation takes effect from 1 February. The relevant provisions of the Act apply to accounts for financial years starting on or after 23 December 1989. The review panel will be able to apply to the court for a declaration that a company's accounts did not comply with the Act and for an order requiring the directors to prepare revised accounts.
Research Council
Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Research Council on 21 December 1990.
Mr. Leigh : My noble Friend the Minister for Industry represented Her Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Council of Ministers (Research) in Brussels on 21 December.
The Council agreed common positions on three specific programmes under the third framework programme for R and D 1990-94 : "Environment, Telematics, and Marine Sciences and Technologies". It approved in principle the specific programme of life sciences and technologies for developing countries while asking the Committee of Permanent Representatives--COREPER- -to consider further the technical annex of the programme. COREPER was also asked to examine the following programmes with a view to the possible adoption of common positions early in 1991 : information technologies, communication technologies, industrial and materials technologies, and biomedicine and health.
RENAVAL Programme (Plymouth)
Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures his Department is taking as a result of the European Commission's approval of the RENAVAL programme for the Plymouth travel-to- work area.
Mr. Leigh : The RENAVAL programme enables the Department to introduce regional enterprise grants into the Plymouth travel-to-work area and this we shall do with immediate effect.
The programme is designed to support our regional policies of increasing competitiveness, encouraging innovation and business development and improving the skills of individuals.
Regional enterprise grants, up to £1 million in total, will be available to small firms employing fewer than 25 people for investment in new equipment and towards the costs of developing or improving products or processes.
I am sure that RENAVAL and the help now available under regional enterprise grants will be of enormous benefit to small businesses in the Plymouth area. It is a useful addition to the support already available under regional selective assistance and the enterprise initiative.
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The grants will be administered from our Plymouth office. Regional selective assistance continues to be available to larger firms and consultancy support continues unchanged.Life Companies
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has of the practice of life companies using policyholders' funds to acquire shares in a company to benefit the company and not the policyholders ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 14 January 1991] : Life companies have freedom to invest policyholders' funds for the benefit of the policyholders subject to the prudential regulation of my Department. Policyholders' funds must be applied with the intention of benefiting policyholders although not all investment decisions will turn out to be successful with the benefit of hindsight. The application of policyholders' funds with the intention of benefiting policyholders is a requirement of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 and failure to comply constitutes a criminal offence.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Czechoslovak Academic Links Project
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications have been received by the British Council for funding under the Czechoslovak academic links project ; and how many applications have been approved to date.
Mrs. Chalker : To date, the British Council has received 65 applications for links with Czechoslovakia under the Czechoslovak academic links project which is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the know-how fund. Of these 15, have been approved.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been made available by the Government's know-how funds for the links projects with (a) Czechoslovakia, (b) Poland and (c) Hungary in 1990-91 ; and how much has been allocated in respect of projects for each country to date.
Mrs. Chalker : The sums made available in 1990-91 under the know-how fund for the academic links projects in Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary are £150,000, £150,000 and £100,000 respectively. To date £150,000 has been allocated under the Czechoslovak scheme, £143,000 under the Polish scheme and £94,514 under the Hungarian scheme.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Middle East
Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice Her Majesty's Government are giving to British citizens in the middle east.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : As a precautionary measure against the risk of war and the possibility of civil disturbance and terrorist attack in some countries, the Foreign and
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Commonwealth Office has given the following advice to travellers and residents. The dangers to British nationals are being kept under constant review, and advice may change at any time.Iraq, Kuwait, LebanonDo not attempt to travel to these countries. Bahrain, Qatar, Riyadh, Eastern Province of Saudi ArabiaVisitors : those with business in Bahrain, Qatar and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the cities of Riyadh and Tabuk should not be deterred from making necessary visits. They should register their arrival with the nearest British diplomatic mission and should tell the mission how long they expect to stay. Tourists and others whose visits are a matter of choice should defer their visits.British Community : dependants are advised to leave these areas before the deadline of 15 January which has been set by the Security Council for the withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait. Elsewhere in Saudi Arabia ; United Arab EmiratesVisitors : those with business to conduct should not be deterred from making necessary visits. Others whose visits are a matter of choice should defer their visits.British Community : United Arab Emirates : dependants currently on leave or planning on taking leave should consider delaying their return until the situation becomes clearer.Elsewhere in Saudi Arabia : no reason for dependants to leave provided this is not contrary to employers' policy. Jordan, YemenVisitors : travellers are advised to defer visits to these countries if they can.British Community : all British nationals whose continued presence is not essential should leave until the situation becomes clearer.
Israel and the Occupied TerritoriesVisitors : Travellers are advised to defer visits if they can.British Community : British nationals should consider leaving if they have no essential reason for staying. AlgeriaVisitors : Travellers should defer their visit if they are able to do so.British Community : British dependents are advised to leave Algeria until the situation becomes clearer ; those who remain should keep a low profile and take sensible precautions against the risk of civil disturbance. Morocco, TunisiaVisitors : Travellers to Morocco and Tunisia should be aware of the risk of disturbances, particularly in cities.British Community : Should keep a low profile and take sensible precautions against the possibility of civil disturbances. SyriaVisitors : Travellers should keep in close touch with events and keep their plans under review. They should notify the British embassy in Damascus of their
arrival.British Community : Residents should maintain a low profile and avoid disturbances and public demonstrations. IranVisitors : In the light of developments in the middle east
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and the proximity of Iran to the area of possible conflict, visitors should keep their plans under review and stay in close touch with events. They should tell the British embassy in Tehran of their arrival. Travellers should consider postponing visits to south western parts of Iran.British Community : British nationals resident in the area close to the Iraqi border and the Gulf should consider moving themselves, or their dependants, to safer parts of Iran. TurkeyVisitors : There is no reason not to travel to Turkey. Travellers should be aware that the situation in the south-east of the country might be affected if there were to be hostilities in the Gulf. Visitors planning to travel to the area are advised to inform the British embassy in Ankara. Travellers should also be aware that there have been recent terrorist incidents in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Elazig, Mardin, Hakkari, Siirt and Simok.British Community : British nationals resident in south- east Turkey are being advised to keep in close touch with the British embassy. Those who are particularly worried about the situation should consider moving away for the time being.Karachi
Visitors : travellers should not be deterred from making necessary visits but should register their arrival with the deputy high commission.
British Community : no change to the advice, which is to keep a low profile and take sensible precautions against the possibility of civil disorder.
Bangladesh
Visitors : given the uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Gulf intending travellers should consider postponing their journey unless they have substantive business to undertake. Any visitors to Bangladesh should keep in close touch with the British high commission.
British Community : British citizens should continue to take special care particularly during the period 15 and 16 January. Those working for organisations with known British or American connections should also consider what additional precautions they should take both for themselves and their companies.
Kaduna
Visitors : travellers should not be deterred from making necessary visits but should inform the deputy high commission of their arrival. Overland travellers through Kano should maintain a low profile for the time being.
British Community : are advised to keep a low profile and take sensible precautions against the possibility of civil unrest. Sudan
Visitors : In the light of recent developments in Sudan travellers should visit the country only if their journey is essential.
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British Community : All British nationals resident in the Khartoum area whose continuing presence is not essential are advised to leave.Egypt, Greece, Oman, Libya, Cyprus
Visitors : no reason for travellers to change their plans in the light of recent developments.
EC Council of Ministers
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
Dr. Hampson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
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