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Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many appointments to public bodies since April 1992 have been advertised ; and if he will list them by Department.
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Mr. Waldegrave : This information is not held centrally.
Computer Consultancies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all the computer consultancies employed by his Department and agencies, since November 1991, the tasks for which they were engaged, and the total cost to his Department.
Mr. David Davis : The cost of computer consultancy contracts awarded by the Office of Public Service and Science and its agencies since November 1991 is £818,000. This figure does not include the cost of CCTA computer consultancies. The information requested is not held centrally within CCTA in the form requested and is available only at disproportionate cost.
The consultancies and assignments for which they were engaged are as follows :
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Consultant |Assignment
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amtec Consulting |To specify and set up Communication link
Amtec Consulting |Network consultancy
Amtec Consulting |System administration support
CCTA |IT Strategy Scoping Study
Computer Answers |Database conversion and installation
CSC Europe |Tutor input (four consultancies)
Daton Systems Ltd. |Integrated Accounting, Statistical and Management Information
|System
David Best |Tutor input
Direct Technology |Automator (QA) package to test on line main frame systems (two
|consultancies)
DSS |Development of database system
Eider Computers Ltd. |Rewrite and enhance Oracle databases in MAGIC
Eider Computers |Develop new database
Eider Computers |Database design and installation
Eider Computers |Database conversion and installation
Eider Computers |Database conversion and installation
Eider Computers |Database design and installation
Gamma Secure Systems |System security profiles
Gresham |Implementation of new job Assembly automation system
ICL |Performance monitoring
ICL |Performance consultancy
ICL |Enhancement of Office Power system
ICL |IS Strategy and Networking
Ingres |Database Implementation
LBMS |Novell Netware installation for SSE
Magic Software Enterprises |Annual on-site consultancy for MAGIC software
PC Security Ltd. |Enhancements to access control software
Rollstest |Network consultancy
Sandra Skemp |Maintenance, development and modification of software (two
|consultancies)
Sapphire ASC |Setting up and implementation of Management Accounting System
|(four consultancies)
Satelcom |Installation of communication system-Megapac
Simdell |Office Automation
Specif(ix) Ltd. |Appraisal of unix-based computer system to rectify performance
|problems
Systematika |Development and maintenance of database
Touche Ross |Security/Contingency CRAM
Triad Special Systems |Database enhancements installations and support
Trident |Database conversion and installation
Triad Special Systems Ltd. |Outline User Specification for Office Services Database
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the achievements of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months ; and if he will publish the
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performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.Mr. Waldegrave : The Government continue to help small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific
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programmes of support and assistance. Work carried out by my Department over the last 12 months to assist small businesses includes :publishing the science engineering and technology White Paper "Realising Our Potential". This paper sets out how Government will be giving increased priority to smaller firms within their programmes for encouraging industrial research and development ; and will be seeking to involve companies of all sorts, including small businesses, in the new technology foresight programme ;
running two full-day conferences designed to inform businesses of the potential opportunities for competing for Government contracts under the market-testing programme. These were attended by representatives from over 400 companies, including many small businesses ;
encouraging Government Departments and agencies to assist business, including small firms, through citizens charter initiatives such as the VAT charter produced by Customs and Excise, and the Employer's charter produced by the Contributions Agency ;
helping the DTI's deregulation unit to frame a code of good practice for enforcement agencies in accordance with citizens charter principles. The code was published on 20 July ;
overseeing an efficiency scrutiny into the implementation and enforcement of EC law in the United Kingdom ; the report of the scrutiny was also published on 20 July.
Contracting Out
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all those services or functions contracted out in his Department and Agencies, since November 1991, in which the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1988 were not applied.
Mr. David Davis : Whether or not TUPE applies in any particular case will depend on the nature of the work awarded and the contractors' own proposals for carrying out that work. The services and functions contracted out since November 1991 by the Office of Public Service and Science, including its agencies, and Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Central Office of Information in which the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1988 did not apply are as follows :
Service/Function (and area) Conference and Event Management (CCTA)
Data Preparation (Chessington Computer Centre)
Distribution of College 1993-94 Prospectus (Civil Service College)
Elements of Payroll Development (Chessington Computer Centre Reprographics Unit Basildon (HMSO)
Telephonist Service for Downing Street (OPSS)
Training (Chessington Computer Centre)
Typing Services at Publications Centre (HMSO)
Research Council Chair
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration he is giving to having a research scientist as opposed to an industrialist as chairman of the one research council which will be concerned under his proposals with basic science.
Mr. Waldegrave : Although the new Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council will not be exempt from a responsibility to consider its contribution to wealth creation, I would not wish to rule out the appointment of a suitably qualified research scientist as part-time non- executive chairman of the council.
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Research Vessel Services
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much money was raised by Research Vessel Services (Barry) in commissioned research and charter income in each of the last three years ; and what is the estimated income from this source in the 1993-94 financial year.
Mr. David Davis : Research Vessels Services does not itself carry out commissioned research. Charter receipts are as follows :
Year |Charter Receipts
|(£k)
---------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |35
1991-92 |0
1992-93 |348
1993-94 |91
Notes.
1. The 1992-93 figure is provisional, as the
council's accounts for that year have not yet been
audited.
2. The 1993-94 figure is an estimated one.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Cabinet Office is responsible ; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to (a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters ; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare and interest.
Mr. David Davis [holding answer 23 July 1993] : The executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Office of Public Service and Science--which forms part of the Cabinet Office--are as follows :
Agricultural and Food Research Council
Economic and Social Research Council
Medical Research Council
Natural Emvironment Research Council
Science and Engineering Research Council
The research councils are responsible to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
(a) Neither the councils nor their members are subject to surcharge ;
(b) the councils are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner ;
(c) the councils are subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office ;
(d) the councils are not subject to open government provisions applying to local government--other than the Data Protection Act 1984--but they will come within the proposals contained within chapters 4, 5 and 6 of the open government White Paper (Command 2290) ;
(e) the councils publish performance indicators in their annual corporate plans ;
(f) all public servants are subject to the citizens charter. The research councils are encouraged to adopt charter principles. The Cabinet Office also sponsors the Chequers Trust, which is an independent trust.
(a) Neither the trust nor its members are subject to surcharge ; (
(b) the trust is not subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner ;
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(c) the trust is subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office ;(d) the trust is not subject to statutory provisions for open government ;
(e) the trust is not required to publish performance indicators ; (
(f) the trust operates on citizens charter principles.
Before any appointments are made to public bodies great care is taken to ensure that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total expenditure by all Departments on executive non-departmental public bodies for each year since 1970-71 in 1991-92 prices.
Mr. David Davis [holding answer 23 July 1993] : The following table gives details of the total Government expenditure in 1991-92 prices on executive non-departmental public bodies for the financial year 1978-79 and then each financial year since 1981-82 to 1991-92. Figures for the financial years 1970-71 to 1977-78 and 197ate cost.
Executive non-departmental public bodies
|Total government
|expenditure (in
|1991-92 prices)
|£ million
---------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |8,010
1981-82 |6,960
1982-83 |8,510
1983-84 |8,200
1984-85 |7,710
1985-86 |7,640
1986-87 |7,910
1987-88 |7,810
1988-89 |7,480
1989-90 |9,940
1990-91 |10,730
1991-92 |10,320
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many of the public bodies for which he is responsible hold meetings in public ; and if he will list them.
Mr. Sproat : My Department sponsors 44 non-departmental public bodies and has policy responsibility for five public corporations. None of their board meetings is held in public. Some bodies, however, hold conferences, open days and other kinds of meetings from time to time on matters of general interest attended by members of the public.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies is sponsored by the Department of National Heritage is responsible ; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to (a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the
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citizens charters ; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.Mr. Sproat [holding answer 23 July 1993] : My Department's executive non-departmental public bodies--NDPBs--are listed in "Public Bodies 1992", to which should be added the Geffrye museum and the Horniman museum which became executive NDPBs during the course of 1992. The functions and responsibilities of each body are specified in its founding legislation or charter.
(a) There are no surcharging arrangements.
(b) Bodies subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are listed in schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, as amended. This includes : Arts Council of Great Britain
British Film Institute
British Library Board
Crafts Council
English Tourist Board
Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (English Heritage) Museums and Galleries Commission
Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund
Registrar of Public Lending Right
Sports Council
(c) All of my Department's executive NDPBs are subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General with the exception of the national film development Fund.
(d) There are no statutory provisions on open government which apply to executive NDPBs.
(e) Performance indicators for my Department's executive NDPBs can be found in their annual reports and are summarised in the DNH annual report 1993, Cm 2211.
(f) The principles of the citizens charter apply to all the Department's executive NDPBs. All appointments to NDPBs are made in accordance with guidance provided by the Cabinet Office and the Treasury, which requires Ministers to satisfy themselves that there is no conflict of interest.
Contracting Out
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list all those services or functions contracted out in his Department and Agencies, since November 1991, in which the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were not applied.
Mr. Sproat : Whether or not the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations apply in any particular case will depend on the nature of the work awarded and the contractors' own proposals for carrying out the work.
My Department has contracted out mailroom services, minor maintenance, office cleaning, reprographics, security, central typing and secretarial cover, and the provision of computer equipment and new associated services.
The Royal Parks Agency has contracted grounds maintenance and the provision of nursery services and the Historic Royal Parks Agency has contracted out manning of vehicle entrances, ticket checking and the security control room at the Tower of London.
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Computer Consultancies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list all the computer consultancies employed by his Department and agencies, since November 1991, the tasks for which they were engaged, and the total cost to his Department.
Mr. Sproat : My Department has used the Government's centre for information systems, the CCTA, to advise on its computer requirements and future information systems strategy. It has also used Sema Group Ltd. to advise on transferring data from former parent Departments, and on various proposals for computer software. To date, the Department has spent £416,658 inclusive of VAT on computer consultancies.
The Royal Parks Agency has used KPMG to develop IT-based systems for financial monitoring, grounds maintenance monitoring and crime monitoring for the Royal Parks constabulary. It has also used Mr. Geoffrey Page, an individual consultant, to develop and commence implementation of an IT strategy. To date, it has spent £82,547 inclusive VAT on consultancies.
The Historic Royal Palaces Agency has used Ibex Systems Ltd. to develop the agency's financial system at a cost of £1,462 inclusive of VAT.
ITV Levy
Mr. Page : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how he proposes to refund any overpayments of ITV levy.
Mr. Brooke : During the current financial year it will be necessary to make payments, via the Independent Television Commission, to independent television companies that, in the accounting period to 31 December 1992, made excess payments of levy into the Consolidated Fund. Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Department of National Heritage home broadcasting vote--class XI vote 4. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £4.1 million will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.
The levy came to an end on 31 December 1992 when it was replaced by the new arrangements for Channel 3 licences laid down in the Broadcasting Act 1990.
National Lottery
Mr. Coe : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement about the benefits which may accrue to tourism as a result of the national lottery.
Mr. Sproat : I hope and expect that the tourism industry will benefit considerably as a result of funds arising from the national lottery. Fixed percentages of the net proceeds of the national lottery will be specifically allocated to areas which will enable British tourist attractions to be improved and enhanced. These allocations, amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds annually, and being additional to any spending otherwise available from the Government, will enable more capital provision to be made for both the natural and built heritage, for the arts, and for sport. For example, funds arising from the national lottery will enable further restoration, preservation and presentation of historic houses, historic sites, galleries and museums to
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be undertaken. They would also enable capital funding to be made available for visitor centres, designed to increase appropriate access to, and understanding of, our rich heritage. Again, extra funds would be available, for example, for improving existing theatres, or for building new theatres. Similarly, sports stadiums, and other sporting facilities, will be eligible to receive capital sums, which would not otherwise have been available, to improve existing sports facilities, or to add new ones.Funds from the national lottery, however, will not be used to make direct grants to hotels or restaurants on the pattern of the old grants under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. In addition to funds arising from the national lottery which are allocated to the improvement of heritage, arts and sport, funds will also be allocated to the Millennium Commission, which is a new body established by the Bill charged with funding projects which celebrate the best of the old millennium and look forward to the new one. The commission will fund a number of visionary projects which, it is hoped, will attract interest worldwide, and thus add to tourist attraction for the United Kingdom.
Mr. Brandreth : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the timetable for the process of tendering for the licence to run the national lottery.
Mr. Brooke : The National Lottery etc. Bill has now been read the Third time in another place and the only stage remaining is this House's consideration of Lords amendments. Its passage is therefore virtually completed, and I expect the National Lottery etc. Bill to receive Royal Assent in the autumn. The director general will be appointed and the invitation to tender will be issued shortly thereafter.
It is, therefore, intended that urgent work on the preparation of the invitation to tender, and on the selection process for the national lottery operator, should now be set in hand, in consultation with the regulatory adviser whom I expect to appoint shortly. Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a winter supplementary estimate for the office of the national lottery vote--class XI, vote 8--the main estimate for which was presented to Parliament on 17 June. Pending that approval and Royal Assent to the National Lottery etc. Bill, urgent expenditure estimated at £200,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund. The fact that the National Lottery etc. Bill has completed virtually all of its parliamentary stages is a material factor in the decision to seek recourse to the Contingencies Fund.
Sports Grants
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give a breakdown of grants given to individual sports by the Sports Council for the last available year.
Mr. Brooke : The Sports Council's grants to individual sports in 1992-93 were :
Sport |Total
|£
----------------------------------------------------
Angling |46,800.00
Archery |83,675.00
Association football |522,275.00
Athletics |682,212.00
Badminton |297,363.00
Ballooning |4,108.00
Baseball |22,250.00
Basketball |419,817.00
Bobsleigh |70,000.00
Bowls |161,080.00
Boxing |109,000.00
Canoeing |344,426.00
Caving |32,000.00
Cricket |802,114.00
Croquet |24,250.00
Cycling |563,924.00
Diving |12,764.00
Fencing |176,530.00
Flying |8,297.00
Gliding |50,250.00
Golf |90,075.00
Gymnastics |653,700.00
Handball |15,445.00
Hang and Para Gliding |70,000.00
Hockey |1,249,166.00
Judo |375,850.00
Karate |13,400.00
Lacrosse |160,150.00
Land Yachting |18,000.00
Lawn Tennis |518,301.00
Life-Saving |52,008.00
Luge |5,000.00
Modern Pentathlon |159,500.00
Motor Sports |27,500.00
Mountaineering |219,650.00
Multi-Sports |5,532,202.00
Movement and Dance |179,572.00
Netball |600,040.00
Orienteering |151,290.00
Outdoor Activities |188,168.00
Parachuting |93,500.00
Patanqua |18,500.00
Riding |201,000.00
Roller Hockey |18,000.00
Roller Skating |18,000.00
Rowing |445,000.00
Rugby League |322,110.00
Rugby Union |118,320.00
Sailing |513,772.00
Shooting |422,304.00
Skating |107,000.00
Skiing |372,325.00
Squash Rackets |25,880.00
Sub-Aqua |2,200.00
Surfing |23,500.00
Swimming |462,565.00
Table Tennis |501,726.00
Tenpin Bowling |9,430.00
Triathlon |62,500.00
Tug-of-War |18,875.00
Volleyball |343,828.00
Water Skiing |237,662.00
Water Sports |120,506.00
Weight Lifting |163,119.00
Wrestling |71,250.00
Rounders |12,055.00
Other, includes grants
to disability, youth,
school sports
organisations etc. |1,377,356.00
|-------
Total |20,985,435.00
Column 768
Items in Lieu of Tax
Mr. Faulds : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith) of 21 July, Official Report, column 247, concerning the two paintings by Edward Vuillard accepted in lieu of inheritance tax, what were the relevant amounts of tax satisfied in respect of each of the paintings ; and what conditions were attached, or wishes expressed, as to their destinations.
Mr. Sproat : I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
Writers in Residence
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 14 July, Official Report, column 508, if he will state the country of origin of the writers from abroad to which grants were made by the Arts Council of Great Britain under its writers in residence scheme ; and if he will indicate the place of residence of writers to whom other residency schemes have been made in the United Kingdom during the last five years.
Mr. Brooke : I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
Tourism
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on his Department's review of regulations in the tourism industry.
Mr. Sproat : I told the House on 14 June that my Department proposed to carry out an urgent and detailed inquiry into the damaging effects of regulation on the tourism industry. This was because I was extremely concerned at reports of the expensive and time-wasting consequences of many regulations, and of their harmful effects on the competitiveness of our tourism industry.
I promised that I would report to the House before the summer recess on what the inquiry had achieved by that date. This I now do. Following my announcement of an inquiry, I wrote asking for facts, examples, opinions, and proposals for change to the chairman of every regional tourist board, to scores of tourist-related trade associations, other relevant bodies, such as local authorities, and individuals such as hoteliers and restaurateurs. I also wrote personally to some 60 Members of Parliament with constituencies where tourism is a significant industry. I held meetings with the chairman of the British Tourist Authority, who is also chairman of the English tourist board, and with the chairmen of the Scottish and Wales tourist boards. I also met many delegations of those directly and personally involved in the tourism industry. I have met the chairman of the Retail and Tourism Task Force and the task force members representing the tourism industry, who have already done much work in this area as part of the deregulation initiative.
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