Written Answers
Police Rent Allowances
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make further changes to the regulations on police rent allowances in the light of the representations which they have received.
My right honourable friend has already announced substantial amendments to the original draft regulations which will be of significant benefit to officers who were serving on 31st March 1990. In the course, however, of implementing the new arrangements, the need has been identified for further changes, which will be made as soon as possible after consultation with the Police Negotiating Board. They are as follows:
Private Bill Procedure
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to reform Private Bill procedure.
The Government have been examining this whole subject following the Report of the Joint Committee on Private Bill procedure and the debates on that report held in the House, and in another place, last year. Subject to consultation, we propose to build on the thinking behind the report by establishing new procedures so that railway and light rapid transit works which at present have to be authorised by Private Bill could in future be authorised by order. The legislation would also increase the use of orders for amending and extending harbour legislation so that in future very few harbour measures would be promoted by Private Bill. These proposals would lead to a reduction of about 50 per cent. in the number of Private Bills promoted each year. It is also proposed to legislate so that the order-making procedure could be extended at a later date to other works proposals which would otherwise require a Private Bill.
The proposed procedures would involve a tiered approach so that minor matters might be dealt with locally; the majority would come within a Ministerial order-making procedure with provision for a public inquiry; while, for the most important projects, after the inquiry and Ministerial stages, the proposal would have to be approved by Parliament but without further detailed examination. We would thus reduce the volume of Private Bills significantly while ensuring that matters of genuinely national importance still came to Parliament for decision. No radical changes are planned for the separate and different system in Scotland (the private legislation procedure), which is generally satisfactory in the particular circumstances there. Together with my right honourable friends the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for the Environment, my right honourable friend the Lord President of the Council has today published a consultation paper which sets out our proposals in greater detail and invites comments on them. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The changes would involve primary legislation and, in the light of consultation, the Government will look for an early opportunity to bring this forward. The procedure for those matters which would remain to be dealt with by Private Bill will be reformed along the lines suggested by the Joint Committee and as broadly accepted by the Government in the debates on the report. The Government believe that these proposals, taken as a whole, will provide a more appropriate way of dealing with infrastructure projects in the modern age while protecting the interests of all those involved.Nature Conservation Bodies: Staffing And Obligations
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many staff will be employed by the proposed joint committee for nature conservation for the purposes of advising it of its obligation under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds; and to what extent those obligations are being met in England, Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland.
Detailed work on the staffing, structure and organisation of the Country Councils (including the joint committee) is currently being undertaken by the Government and existing agencies in consultation with the chairmen-designate. It is therefore too early to give a definitive figure for the number of staff to be employed on any particular function.
I can, however, assure the noble Lord that the UK fully meets its obligations under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds, and will continue to do so following reorganisation of the Nature Conservancy Council.Nature Conservancy Council: Consultations On Select Committee Report
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consulted members of the Nature Conservancy Council before announcing their response to the House of Lords Select Committee report on the Nature Conservancy Council.
Regular discussions with the Nature Conservancy Council have encompassed the issues dealt with in the Select Committee's report. The Government were therefore able to take account of the NCC's views in framing their response. The response accepted almost all the recommendations made by the committee. Information available to the Select Committee included detailed evidence submitted by the NCC.
Economic Convergence: European Commission Proposal, Article 3
asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the implications for UK budgetary policy and procedure of Article 3 of the EC Commission's amended proposal for a Council Decision on Economic Convergence in Stage 1 of Economic and Monetary Union (5149/90).
The amended proposal was adopted as Council Decision 90/141/EC at the meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council on 12th March 1990, as was reported to this House on 14th March [H.L. Deb., col. 1635]. The provisions of Article 3 will promote greater co-ordination of member states' economic policies through multilateral surveillance. This will encourage the continuing pursuit of sound monetary and budgetary policies throughout the Community while leaving economic policy firmly in the hands of national governments. It should have no significant effect on UK budgetary procedure.
Fraud In The Ec: Preventive Mechanisms
asked Her Majesty's Government:What mechanisms to prevent fraud are to be introduced after 1992 as a result of changes to the system of recording trade between EC countries.
In order to combat fraud after the removal of fiscal frontiers, it is proposed that there will be increased administrative co-operation in indirect tax matters between member states' tax authorities. This will allow selected EC transactions to be verified by reference to traders' records. In the UK this will take place as far as possible during the application of normal controls, which will be enhanced to take account of the increased risks in intra-Community trade.
European Economic And Monetary Union
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will be putting forward further ideas on ways of moving towards economic and monetary union in the European Community.
Copies of a speech the Chancellor of the Exchequer made yesterday to the German Industry Forum in the UK, in which he suggessted further practical steps beyond Stage 1, have been deposited in the Library of the House. These would promote convergence, low inflation and stable exchange rates by building up the Community's existing common currency, the ecu. He will be discussing these ideas further with his colleagues in the European Community in the coming weeks.
Personal Computers: Electrical Safety
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the results of the Department of Trade and Industry's investigation into the electrical safety of personal computers.
The Department of Trade and Industry is not undertaking a general investigation into the electrical safety of personal computers. However, it has received information about the electrical safety of a small number of products in the computer field which are currently in the process of investigation in the normal way by the respective local authority trading standards departments responsible for the enforcement of safety regulations in the areas where the suppliers are situated. I have asked to be kept informed of the outcome.
Northern Development Company
asked Her Majesty's Government:What grant they have paid to the Northern Development Company in each year since its formation.
Since the Northern Development Company effectively started on 1st April 1987, it has received or been offered grant from Government which, for each year, amounted to:
Year | DTI Grant | DTI Grant | DEm Grant | Total |
Inward | Core | |||
investment | Programme | |||
£ | £ | £ | £ | |
1987/88 | 908,000 | 180,000 | 30,000 | 1,118,000 |
1988/89 | 935,000 | 200,000 | 30,000 | 1,165,000 |
1989/90 | 981,000 | 200,000 | 30,000 | 1,211,000 |
1990/91 | 1,180,000 | 30,000 | 1,210,000 |