House of Commons Hansard Debates for 9 Dec 1992

Manufacturing Plant and Development

Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance he has given for new manufacturing plant and development to (a) United Kingdom-owned companies and (b) foreign-based companies for each year since 1979.

Mr. Sainsbury : Complete information has not been recorded in the form and over the period requested. However, since 1979, the following amounts have been paid under regional selective assistance and, from November 1984, the revised regional development grant scheme, to United Kingdom and foreign-owned companies respectively towards projects involving new manufacturing plant in Great Britain :


£ million                                                                   

                   |UK-owned companies|Foreign-owned                        

                                      |companies                            

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

1979-80            |7.6               |16.1                                 

1980-81            |9.6               |5.1                                  

1981-82            |11.5              |4.6                                  

1982-83            |14.7              |10.6                                 

1983-84            |15.0              |11.1                                 

1984-85            |18.5              |12.5                                 

1985-86            |53.1              |17.2                                 

1986-87            |133.2             |19.6                                 

1987-88            |154.5             |40.0                                 

1988-89            |227.1             |58.2                                 

1989-90            |162.0             |54.0                                 

1990-91            |116.6             |41.4                                 

1991-92            |54.6              |61.4                                 

Notes:                                                                      

(1) Payments towards new manufacturing plant under the original Regional    

Development Grant scheme could only be included at disproportionate cost.   

(2) Excludes payments towards, (i) new manufacturing plant under Section 8  

of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and (ii) development.

Computer Games

Mr. French : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to make an investigation into monopolistic behaviour by computer games manufacturers.

Mr. Neil Hamilton : Investigation of anti-competitive practices or monopolistic behaviour is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading. The director general makes references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission where he considers it appropriate.

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Disabled Employees

Mr. Elletson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many (a) physically disabled and (b) sensorily disabled people are employed in his Department ; and what percentage they are of the total work force.

Mr. Eggar : On 1 July 1992, the latest date for which information is readily available, the Department (including its executive agencies and the former Department of Energy) employed the following number of disabled staff.


                     |Number of Staff with|Percentage of Total                      

                     |Disabilities<1>     |Workforce                                

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Registered           |122.5               |1.0                                      

Non Registered       |56.5                |0.5                                      

                     |---                 |--                                       

Total                |179.0               |1.5                                      

<1> Full time equivalents.

Of these, 47.5 staff (0.4 per cent. of the total workforce) were known to have a sensory disability. Separate figures for physical disability are unavailable.

The above figures cover only staff who have chosen to declare their disability.

Market Testing

Mr. Wilshire : To ask the President of the Board of Trade to which of those of his Department's activities due to be market tested by 30 September 1993, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC Acquired Rights Directive 77/189/EEC will apply.

Mr. Eggar : Whether or not the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC Acquired Rights Directive 77/189/EEC will apply to an individual case depends on the facts of that case ; and there are a number of tests to be applied. For example, it needs to be shown that an undertaking or part of an undertaking is actually being transferred. We are seeking the advice of our legal advisers on a case by case basis.

Mr. Wilshire : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a timetable showing when he plans to market test those activities listed for testing before 30 September 1993.

Mr. Eggar : It is my intention to mount market tests before September 1993 on all my Department's activities listed in Cmnd 2101. I am not publishing a timetable since detailed planning is still underway in some areas.

Microsoft Corporation

Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will (a) investigate the proposed supply and charging practices of the Microsoft Corporation for MS-DOS and (b) refer this to the Director General of Fair Trading.

Mr. Neil Hamilton : Investigation of allegedly anti-competitive or monopolistic behaviour is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading. Allegations of such practices should be referred to his office for consideration.

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Beer

Mr. Hardy : Top ask the President of the Board of Trade what account he has taken of the preparedness of the British glass-making industry for the proposed new requirements for beer measurement, in decisions on the timing of the introduction of the requirements.

Mr. Leigh [holding answer 4 December 1992] : The British Glass Manufacturers Confederation was consulted in January 1992. Following consultation the implementation date was set at 1 April 1994 allowing a gradual transition and giving glass manufacturers time to prepare for the new requirement.

Post Office

Mr. Hain : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he was consulted by Post Office Counters over its planned new reorganisation and job reduction programme as part of his review of the Post Office ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Leigh [holding answer 7 December 1992] : Internal management structure and levels of employment within Post Office Counters are operational matters for the Post Office Board. My Department was fully informed in advance about the proposed re-organisation of Post Office Counters. These operational matters do not form part of our current review of the Post Office.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

Tourism

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will make it his policy that support for regional tourist boards will not be cut as a result of the tourism review ; (2) for what reason grant in aid support for the tourism industry is to be reduced over the next three years.

Mr. Key : I refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn, Hatfield (Mr. Evans) on 13 November, Official Report, columns 997-98. I believe that the case is now much less strong for central Government funding of the promotion of tourism in England. The English Tourist Board (ETB) has done a great deal over the years to raise standards, to improve access to information, and to show the industry how their products can be developed and marketed. As the industry matures, and the regional tourist boards develop, it is appropriate for other bodies to carry on many of the ETB's central activities. That is reflected in the allocations of Exchequer grants for tourism over the next three years.

However, I also believe that central Government support for the regional tourist boards should continue. I believe that this support should be targeted much more closely than at present on areas of need where tourism might be an instrument of economic regeneration. The English Tourist Board is currently working on proposals for support to the regional tourist boards.

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage for what reason tourism has been excluded from the list of recipients of financial benefits that will be provided by the national lottery.

Mr. Key : The White Paper, "A National Lottery Raising Money for Good Causes", stated that proceeds

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from the national lottery would be distributed for the arts, sport, heritage and charities. Funds devoted to improving the heritage, arts and sports sectors will also benefit tourism.

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to re-establish the post of tourism Minister, with responsibility only for tourism, within his Department.

Mr. Key : My Department brings together for the first time a number of inter-related portfolios, all of which are important to tourism. Both my right hon. Friend and I cover the whole range of the Department's activities, including tourism itself. The industry will benefit from having two Ministers, including one at Cabinet level, whose interests are directly relevant to tourism.

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment has been made of the effect on the early summer tourist trade if the May day bank holiday were to be removed.

Mr. Key : There has been no direct assessment of this kind. However, the English Tourist Board (ETB) takes the view that the May day holiday is too close to the Easter and late spring bank holidays, and generates little extra tourism business. This view is backed by many sections of the tourism industry. The ETB considers that an autumn bank holiday would help to extend the tourist season and thereby promote greater employment opportunities.

Market Testing

Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish a timetable showing when he plans to market-test those activities listed for testing before 30 September 1993.

Mr. Brooke : My Department intends that the market-testing of those activities listed in Cmnd 2101 will be complete by 30 September 1993 and planning is well under way. Tenders are currently being invited for the provision of office services in my Department's new headquarters building. Contracts will be in place before the move. Tenders are currently being invited for building agent services for the royal parks with the intention that the managing contractor will be appointed by 1 April 1993 or shortly thereafter. The Historic Royal Palaces Agency will present a report to me on the market-testing of gardens maintenance by the end of this year.

Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage to which of those of his Department's activities due to be market-tested by 30 September 1993 the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC acquired rights directive 77/189/EEC will apply.

Mr. Brooke : My Department intends to contract out a number of its central services when it moves to its new headquarters. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations are unlikely to apply in this case as none of my Department's staff are currently engaged in providing these services. In relation to other activities due to be market- tested, my Department will seek legal advice on the relevance of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations and the EC Acquired Rights Directive 77/189/EEC on a case by case basis.

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Television Licences

Mr. Allason : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will announce the television licence fees which will take effect from 1 April 1993.

Mr. Brooke : On 14 January 1991, the then Secretary of State for the Home Department announced (Official Report, col. 377-78) that the fee increase for April 1991, which was set at 3 per cent. below the retail price index, would be followed by annual increases at RPI over the subsequent four years. The operation of this formula would, however, be reassessed in 1994.

Licence fee increases are based on the annual increase in RPI as at the preceding September, in the same way as rises in pensions and other state benefits. Application of this year's September RPI figure of 3.6 per cent. to the current unrounded fees produces new rounded totals of £83 for a colour licence and £27.50 for a monochrome licence. The necessary regulations to bring these fees into force next April will be laid before the House in due course.

Mr. Luff : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what representations he has received about the workings of the concessionary television licence scheme as it affects Severn house, Worcester ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) whether the consultations on the future structure and funding of the BBC will include an examination of the concessionary television licence scheme ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke : I have received representations about the workings of the concessionary television licence scheme as it affects Severn house, Worcester, only from the hon. Member. The concessionary scheme was the subject of long and careful scrutiny before the regulations were revised in 1988. The Government have repeatedly made it clear that they have no plans to amend or extend the regulations governing the scheme. The long-term future of the licence fee and the arrangements for paying it are issues to be considered in the debate about the renewal of the BBC's charter.

National Lottery

Mr. Kilfoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of revenue to the Treasury from the proposed national lottery.

Mr. Brooke : I refer to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Hall) on 7 December 1992 ( Official Report, column 456 ).

Mr. Kilfoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the loss of revenue to the Treasury from the pools industry when the national lottery is introduced.

Mr. Brooke : I refer to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) on 7 December 1992 ( Official Report, column 455 ).

Windsor Castle

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when English Heritage applied for access to inspect and survey rewiring and other works being carried out at Windsor castle ; and what response was given on each occasion.

Column 680

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has regarding applications by English Heritage to survey Windsor castle during the recent installations of new services ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke [holding answers 27 and 30 November 1992] : English Heritage works closely with the royal household and has carried out several inspections and surveys in the royal palaces over the past few years. English Heritage experts were not generally involved during the rewiring work at Windsor castle because it was judged that it did not involve significant disturbance to the fabric. However, they were notified on a number of occasions in the course of the work of possible disturbance to the historic fabric and were allowed access on all but one occasion.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Income Support

Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total cost would be of uprating the level of income support received by people aged 18 to 24 years to the level enjoyed by those of 25 years and over.

Mr. Burt : The estimated cost of increasing the rate of income support for 18 to 24-year-olds to that payable to those aged 25 and over is £360 million in a full year. This figure includes the consequential increases in housing benefit and community charge benefit.

Note :

The figure has been rounded to the nearest £5 million.

Source :

Modelled at 1992-93 prices and benefit levels using data drawn from the 1991 Annual Statistical Enquiry and the 1987-88-89 Family Expenditure Surveys.

Child Support Agency

Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department is spending on publicity and promotion for the Child Support Agency in 1992-93.

Mr. Burt : The new child support scheme will make a substantial change to both existing law and practice in this area, substituting an administratively-based system for the current courts system. Publicity is being aimed at a wide audience among the public, lawyers and advisers, recognising the major scale of this change. The total publicity budget for 1992-93 is £4,012,000, including TV, radio and press advertisements, leaflets and other information material, distribution of leaflets through a handling house, training presentations to legal and lay advisers, and the launch of the Child Support Agency.

Disability Living Allowance

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the letter sent to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North dated 30 October by Michael Bichard, chief executive of the Benefits Agency, relating to the resources to be made available for the urgent processing of outstanding disability living allowance from constituents in Stoke-on-Trent, North.

Mr. Burt : A copy will be placed in the Library.

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Christmas Bonus

Mr. Hanson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the current real value of the pensioners' Christmas bonus would be had it been upgraded in line with the retail prices index since the bonus introduction in 1972.

Miss Widdecombe : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on19 October 1992 at column 176.

Occupational Diseases

Mr. Booth : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the report by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on bladder and lung cancer in relation to aluminium smelting ; and if he will make a statement on this and the council's earlier reports on work-related upper limb disorders (Cm 1936) and lung cancer in relation to occupational exposure to silica (Cm 2043).

Mr. Scott : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today laid before Parliament the council's report on bladder and lung cancer in relation to aluminium smelting (Cm 2104). We have accepted the council's recommendation that bladder cancer in relation to work in aluminium smelting involving the Soderberg process be added to the list of diseases prescribed for industrial disablement benefit purposes. The council found insufficient evidence to recommend that lung cancer in association with aluminium smelting be prescribed. The Government also accept the council's recommendations in Cm 1936 and 2043 that both carpal tunnel syndrome associated with the use of hand-held vibrating tools, and lung cancer where there is accompanying evidence of silicosis in people in a prescribed list of occupations, be added to the list of prescribed diseases. Regulations will be laid to implement the above recommendations from spring 1993.

The Government will be giving further consideration to the council's recommendation that other cases of carpal tunnel syndrome should be considered for benefit on a case by case basis.

Market Testing

Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a timetable showing when he plans to market-test those activities listed for testing before 30 September 1993.

Miss Widdecombe : The timetable listed in Cm 2101 shows the main activities which the Department aims to market-test by 30 September 1993. We also aim to test printing, microfilming, travel, video production, storage and distribution, and publishing services. Planning is well under way. Each project is setting its own specific timetable for the main milestone stages within the overall programme.

Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to which of those of his Department's activities due to be market tested by 30 September 1993, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC Acquired Rights Directive 77/189/EEC will apply.

Column 682

Miss Widdecombe : Whether or not the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE) and the EC Acquired Rights Directive 77/189/EEC will apply to an individual case depends on the facts of that case ; and there are a number of tests to be applied. For example, it needs to be shown that an undertaking or part of an undertaking is actually being transferred. We are seeking the advice of our legal advisers about the relevance of TUPE on a case by case basis.

Dependency Allowance

Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to make it possible for a woman of pensionable age to claim a dependancy allowance for a man who is not.

Miss Widdecombe : It is already possible for a woman aged 60 or over to receive an increase of retirment pension for a husband who is under 65, provided she had entitlement to an increase of invalidity, sickness or unemployment benefit immediately prior to retirement. The Government will be looking at these rules in the context of their consideration of the equalisation of pension age.

Mrs. Jean Fox

Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for South Hams, dated 22 October, about Mrs. Jean Fox of 6 Mapledene close, Stoke Gabriel, South Devon.

Miss Widdecombe : I understand that Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, replied to my hon. Friend on 1 December 1992.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Officers (Legal Expenses)

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon -Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, on what dates, in what circumstances and at what cost, contributions have been made from public funds towards the legal expenses of Officers of the House of Commons since 1979.

Mr. Beith : None since September 1987. A search of records before that date could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Portrait Restoration

Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the estimated cost of restoring the damaged portrait of Lady Thatcher in 1 Parliament street ; and when he expects it to be returned to the House.

Mr. Ray Powell : The damaged portrait of Lady Thatcher has been restored without charge. I am advised that it was rehung in the 1 Parliament street building this morning.

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NORTHERN IRELAND

Fishing Industry

Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he approved the transfer of 50 tonnes of non-sector area VII hake to the Scottish Fishermen's Organisation ; how he consulted the Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation ; what are the implications for the Northern Ireland fishing industry ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley : It is not normal practice for quota swaps to be approved by Ministers. The Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation was not consulted as it was known that it did not have an allocation from which to offer the 500 tonnes of mackerel required to accommodate the needs of the mackerel handliners in the south west of England in return for hake. While the Northern Ireland industry would have benefited from an additional allocation of hake quota, the swap was approved in the overall interests of the non-sector fishery.

Newry Bypass

Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the current progress towards the completion of the Newry bypass, giving estimated start and completion dates for phases 2 and 3.

Mr. Atkins : The detailed design of stage 3 is well advanced. While the start dates will be dependant on the outcome of the current review of the Government's expenditure plans and the completion of the statutory processes, I hope to be in a position to make an early announcement.

Gamblers Anonymous

Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial assistance has been made available by (a) the Department of Health and Social Services and (b) health boards, for Gamblers Anonymous in Northern Ireland ; and what further funding arrangements are proposed.

Mr. Hanley : The Department of Health and Social Services provided grant aid of £250 to Gamblers Anonymous Belfast in the financial year 1987-88. The Department has no plans to provide further grant aid.

Column 684

The Eastern health and social services board has provided grant aid to Gamblers Anonymous Belfast as follows :


Year          |Amount paid £              

------------------------------------------

1989-90       |2,113                      

1990-91       |10,170                     

1991-92       |14,176

The Eastern board proposes to provide further grant aid of £80,250 in the current financial year.

The Northern, Southern and Western health and social services boards have not provided financial assistance to Gamblers Anonymous and have no plans to do so.

Market Testing

Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a timetable showing when he plans to market-test those activities listed for testing before 30 September 1993.

Mr. Mates : The timetable for market testing the Northern Ireland activities listed in Cmd 2101 ensures that the whole programme will be completed by 30 September 1992. The market testing process is already well underway. The precise timing of the various steps in the process will vary from test to test.

Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to which of those of his Department's activities due to be market-tested by 30 September 1993, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC Acquired Rights Directive 77/189/EEC will apply.

Mr. Mates : Whether or not the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations 1981 and the EC Acquired Rights Directive 77/189/EEC will apply to an individual case depends on the facts of that case ; and there are a number of tests to be applied. For example, it needs to be shown that an undertaking or part of an undertaking is actually being transferred. Advice will be sought from our legal advisers about the relevance of TUPE on a case by case basis.

Column 685

HEALTH

Complementary Medicine

Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many complementary medical practitioners are now receiving NHS payment via the family health services authority as full members of the primary care team ;

(2) if she will indicate the number of complementary therapists employed in (a) fund-holding general practitioner practices and (b) non-fund-holding general practitioner practices ;

(3) what steps she will take to draw doctors' and family health service authorities' attention to the new possibilities raised by the announcement of 3 December 1991 allowing doctors to delegate responsibilities to practitioners of complementary medicine provided the doctor retained clinical charge of a patient.

Mr. Sackville : This information is not held centrally. However, my hon. Friend will wish to know that it is open to all GPs to employ a wide range of staff including complementary therapists,, where appropriate, to assist them in the provision of general medical services.

General practitioners are already aware that their terms of service allow them to employ a wide range of staff including complementary therapists. Family health services authorities who have management responsibility for the GP practice staff reimbursement scheme are similarly aware. The press release to which my hon. Friend refers simply clarified the existing position. We see no need therefore to issue further guidance.

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