Written Answers
Tankers: Codes Of Practice
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will define the codes of practice which already exist for the design and construction of tankers for the transport of liquefied gases and which were referred to by Mr. John Dunster, Deputy Director General of the Health and Safety Executive, in a BBC programme "Nationwide" on 14th July 1978 with the words, "There are quite detailed codes, particularly those of the British Standards Institution, things of that sort which determine the design of these tankers".
The main ones are Code of Practice for Safe Handling and Transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in bulk by Road, published by the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industry Technical Association; Code of Practice (Petroleum Products), published by the Institute of Petroleum; Guidance Notes for Design and Construction of Vehicles for Conveying Inflammable, Corrosive and Toxic Liquids in the United Kingdom, published by the Chemical Industry Association, and British Standards Institution specifications No. 1500 for fusion welded pressure vessels for general purposes, No. 1515 for fusion welded pressure vessels for use in the chemical, petroleum and allied industries, and No. 5500 for unfired fusion welded pressure vessels.
Airports Policy: Advisory Body
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress is being made in setting up the advisory body on airports policy referred to on 12th June 1978 (
Official Report, cols. 1 and 2) and on 16th June 1978 (col. 800); whether they will publish the names of those appointed; what organisations and other interests will be represented in its membership; and whether that membership will include amenity interests.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade announced the setting up of the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy on 3rd August (Official Report, cols. 575–576). It held its first meeting on 20th September. Membership is by organisations, and with permission I will list them in the Official Report. The Committee will provide advice to the Government on airport policy, which will then form the basis for consultation with amenity and other interests.
Organisations represented on the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy
- Air Transport Users' Committee.
- Association of County Councils.
- Association of District Councils.
- Association of Metropolitan Authorities.
- British Airports Authority.
- British Airways.
- Civil Aviation Authority.
- Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
- Department of the Environment.
- Department of Industry.
- Department of Trade.
- Department of Transport.
- Noise Advisory Council.
- Scottish Development Department.
- Standing Conference on London and South East Regional Planning.
- Trades Union Congress.
- HM Treasury.
Developing Countries: Debt Relief
asked Her Majesty's Government:What decisions they have made to relieve developing countries of their debts, stating the nations involved and in each case the amount cancelled.
of HASTOE: The Minister for Overseas Development announced on 31st July that as part of their aid policy the Government are taking steps to remove the burden of past aid loans, through the retrospective adjustment of terms (RTA) or other equivalent measures, in respect of 17 of the poorest developing countries. These are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Egypt, the Gambia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania and Western Samoa. The total principal and interest involved to the end of the century is more than £900 million. Our calculations of the amounts involved for each developing country will have to be agreed with the respective Governments, but our present estimate is:—
| £ million | |
| Afghanistan | 1·0 |
| Bangladesh | 15·9 |
| Botswana | 15·5 |
| Egypt | 18·4 |
| Gambia | 5·4 |
| India | 576·1 |
| Indonesia | 38·6 |
| Kenya | 74·6 |
| Lesotho | 0·4 |
| Malawi | 31·3 |
| Nepal | 2·1 |
| Pakistan(1) | 100·1 |
| Sierra Leone | 9·2 |
| Sri Lanka | 25·5 |
| Sudan | 10·2 |
| Tanzania | 3·5 |
| W. Samoa | 0·2 |
| Total: | 928·0 |
| (1) The figures for total debt service due from Pakistan include £31 million of principal and accrued interest on ODA loans made to Pakistan in respect of projects located in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The transfer of responsibility for these loans to Bangladesh is being negotiated. | |
Third World Debts
asked Her Majesty's Government:Arising from the Conference on Third World Debts in which the United Kingdom participated, what are the total debts owed by the developing countries; to whom; what is the amount of interest due annually; and which Governments have cancelled or reduced debts; stating in each case the countries and the amounts involved.
Figures published by the OECD show that the total debts of the developing countries at the end of 1976 were provisionally estimated to be 206·8 billion United States dollars. A summary of those debts by category of creditors is as follows:
| Creditor | Debt outstanding (disbursed only) |
| 1. DAC countries | 127·1 |
| (a) ODA debt | 37·1 |
| (b) Total export credits | 53·5 |
| (c) Other (private) | 36·5 |
| 2. International financial markets | 33·5 |
| 3. International organizations | 23·6 |
| 4. Centrally planned economies | 9·0 |
| 5. OPEC countries | 8·3 |
| 5. Other LDCs | 3·8 |
| 7. Other and adjustments | 1·5 |
| Total | 206·8 |
Federal Republic of Germany. Cancellation of 246 million dollars owed by Mali and Upper Volta; further measures are to be taken in respect of individual "least developed" countries.
Netherlands. Cancellation of 130 million dollars debt from Bangladesh, Sudan, Tanzania and Upper Volta.
Sweden. Cancellation of about 200 million dollars due from eight "least developed" and "most seriously affected" countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Switzerland. Cancellation of approximately 101 million dollars due over 50 years from seven "least developed" and "most seriously affected" countries (including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia).
In answer to another Question by the noble Lord, I have stated what action our own Government has taken.
PERCENTAGE OF INCOME RETAINED AFTER TAX AND SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS BY A MARRIED MAN WITH 2 CHILDREN UNDER 11 AND EARNED INCOME OF:—
| ||||||||||
| £ 5,000 | £ 10,000 | £ 15,000 | £ 20,000 | £ 25,000 | ||||||
| United Kingdom | … | … | … | … | 78·5 | 71·8 | 64·3 | 56·6 | 50·3 | |
| USA | … | … | … | … | … | 89·5 | 82 (79·5) | 78 (74) | 74 (68) | 70·5 (64) |
| France | … | … | … | … | … | 95 | 90 | 86 | 82 | 80 |
| West Germany | … | … | … | … | … | 85 | 76 | 74 | 70 | 67 |
| Italy | … | … | … | … | … | 85 | 75 | 71 | 68 | 66 |
| Canada | … | … | … | … | … | 95 (92) | 86 (79) | 81 (72) | 77 (67) | 75 (63) |
| Notes:— | ||||||||||
| 1. All figures relate to income for the 1978 tax year, except: United Kingdom (1978–79), and France (1977—French tax rates are fixed in arrear). | ||||||||||
| 2. For the United Kingdom, the National Insurance contributions have been calculated on the assumption that the taxpayer is not contracted out of the new pensions scheme. | ||||||||||
| 3. The figures take account of personal allowances and reliefs, minimum expense deductions, tax, deductible social security contributions and reliefs for earned income or employment income (income is taken to be employment income where this is taxed more lightly than self-employment income). | ||||||||||
| 4. Any child benefits receivable have been set off against income tax, and the resulting net figures expressed as a percentage of gross income. The figures for the United Kingdom take account of the increase in child benefit payable from November 1978. | ||||||||||
| 5. The figures in brackets include local income taxes. The State income tax shown for the USA is at California rates (no California income tax is chargeable on the dollar equivalent of £5,000) and the Provincial income tax shown for Canada is at Ontario rates. | ||||||||||
| 6. The sterling amounts have been converted into foreign currency at the exchange rates prevailing on 4th October 1978. The exchange rate between the United Kingdom and overseas countries may not fully reflect differences in consumers' purchasing power. | ||||||||||
House resumed.
Royal Commission Prorogation: Her Majesty's Speech
(Lord Elwyn-Jones): My Lords and Members
Taxation Of Family Man: Western World Comparisons
asked Her Majesty's Government:If they will publish in the
Official Report a table showing as at the latest convenient date what percentage of his income is retained after taxation and National Insurance contributions by a married man with two dependent children under eleven in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, West Germany, Italy and Canada, with wholly earned incomes of £5,000, £10,000, £15,000, £20,000 and £25,000.
The information requested is as follows:—of the House of Commons, Her Majesty, not thinking fit to be personally present here at this time, has been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Great Seal for proroguing this present Parliament, and we are commanded to deliver to you Her Majesty's Speech in Her Majesty's own words:
" My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
"It was with great pleasure that My Husband and I received the State Visit of the President of the Socialist Republic of Romania and Madame Ceausescu in June of this year. We also look back with much pleasure on our visits to the Federal Republic of Germany and Berlin in May, and to Canada in July and August where I opened the 11 th Commonwealth Games at Edmonton.
"My Government welcomed the independence of the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu and their decision to join the Commonwealth.
"Agreement has been reached with the Government of Brunei to replace the 1959 Anglo-Brunei Agreement, as amended in 1971, by a new Treaty under which Brunei will assume its full international responsibility as a sovereign and independent State at the end of 1983.
"My Government played an active and constructive part in the work of the European Communities and in European political co-operation. There were three meetings of the European Council. An Act was passed to provide for the election of United Kingdom members of the European Assembly, and the first direct elections to the Assembly, in the United Kingdom and in other Community countries, will take place in June 1979.
"The United Kingdom has also played a full and positive part in the dialogue with the developing world and in international discussions designed to lift the world out of economic recession, notably the Summit Meeting in Bonn in July of the leaders of the seven major industrialised countries. My Government have taken action to relieve 17 of the poorest developing countries of the burden of their outstanding aid loan repayments, and have substantially increased their programme of aid directed towards the poorest countries of the Third World.
"My Government regard the achievement of a peaceful and constructive relationship with the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe as a matter of great importance for international stability. With other members of the North Atlantic Alliance they have taken a leading part in discussions relating to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, and have worked towards agreement on mutual and balanced reductions in the forces in central Europe. In the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament and elsewhere they have sought to achieve disarmament agreements which promote international security. They played a constructive part in the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament.
"At the same time, My Government recognise that it remains necessary to maintain an adequate level of defence. They have played a full part in measures designed to strengthen the North Atlantic Alliance.
"They have constantly striven to bring about a satisfactory settlement in Rhodesia, through negotiations involving all the parties.
"The United Kingdom has played a full and active part in the work of the United Nations.
"My Government have played a positive role in the search for a settlement in Namibia that will meet with international acceptance. They will continue to work for the implementation of the Proposal for a settlement drawn up by the Five Western members of the Security Council which has received the support of the international community. My Government have continued their efforts to promote a negotiated peace in the Middle East, acceptable to all the parties.
" Members of the House of Commons,
"I thank you for the provision which you have made for the honour and dignity of the Crown and for the public services.
" My Lords and Members of the House Commons,
"My Government have continued, with general support, to give high priority to the reduction of inflation. They have achieved their immediate objective of single-figure inflation, and a guideline has been announced for the growth of earnings in the current pay round. Legislation has been passed to extend statutory control of dividends for a further 12 months.
"Measures were introduced to maintain firm control of monetary conditions and to expand output and employment. A wide-ranging programme of employ- ment and training measures has been maintained in operation, designed to assist those who have suffered because of the high level of unemployment during the present recession, and to prepare for economic recovery.
"My Ministers have continued to give full support to the tripartite industrial strategy in their efforts to improve the international competitiveness of British manufacturing industry. Special attention has been given to developments in new technology and schemes of support have been introduced for microelectronics manufacture and for the application of microprocessors in industry.
"A White Paper has been issued on industrial democracy, and nationalised industries have been invited to put forward schemes for extending industrial democracy within their areas of responsibility. Employees are now represented on the boards of the Post Office and the British Steel Corporation.
"Legislation has been passed providing for the establishment of directly elected Assemblies with wide-ranging responsibilities for the domestic affairs of Scotland and Wales, while retaining the essential unity of the United Kingdom.
"In Northern Ireland the community has again demonstrated its determination to reject violence, and progress continues to be made towards stability. My Government have taken steps to stimulate discussion of a possible basis for an interim stage of devolved government. An Act has been passed to reorganise the administration of the courts. Some major industrial projects have been attracted to the Province.
"An Act has been passed to bring the United Kingdom's civil nuclear facilities within the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and to provide for compensation in respect of the early ordering of the second stage of Drax power station. My Government have announced their decision on the reactor systems which will form the basis of our continuing nuclear power programme.
"Opportunities have continued to be provided for the orderly exploration and development of our offshore oil and gas resources. My Government are concerned to ensure that, in the develop- ment of energy policy, environmental considerations are given full weight. To this end a standing Commission on Energy and the Environment has been established.
"After a full public inquiry, and debate in Parliament, outline planning permission for the construction of an oxide fuel reprocessing plant at Wind-scale was granted by means of a Special Development Order.
"Important steps have been taken to save energy in industry, commerce and the public and domestic sectors. An Act was passed to extend assistance to loft insulation for private dwellings.
"My Government have entered into a Planning Agreement with the National Coal Board on the development of the Coal Industry.
"Greater account has been taken of the needs of the consumer in the application of the Common Agricultural Policy. Negotiations have continued for the revision of the common fisheries policy and measures have been taken to conserve fish stocks.
"An Act has been passed to transfer the cost of aviation security from the exchequer to the industry, and to clarify and extend the powers of aerodrome authorities to deal with aircraft noise.
"An Act has been passed to secure the co-ordinated planning of public transport and the improvement of services to meet social needs and to reconstruct the finances of the National Freight Corporation. The aims and methods of the trunk road programme in England have been reviewed, and arrangements have been announced for widening the range of information available about trunk road proposals and for establishing the fairness of public inquiries into them.
"Provision has been made for increases in retirement and war pensions, for a substantial increase in child benefit, and for an extension of the scheme to provide help with fuel bills for those on low incomes. An Act has been passed to provide for payments from public funds to redundant workers in the shipbuilding industry.
"Legislation has been passed to provide financial help to those saving to buy their first home, and to give additional support to the work of housing associations. An Act has been passed to establish a Co-operative Development Agency to promote the principles and further the interests of the co-operative movements.
"My Government have established partnerships with selected local authorities to tackle the serious problems of inner city areas. Additional resources have been provided under the Urban Programme, and legislation has been enacted to enable selected local authorities to help local industry and commerce and to improve the environment.
"My Government have taken action to strengthen law enforcement in the community. Their decision to implement the recommendations of the Edmund-Davies Committee has laid a sound basis for increasing the strength of the Police Service.
"Legislation has been passed providing for changes in the composition of the General Medical Council and giving it new powers for the maintenance and improvement of standards of medical practice.
"Provision has been made for increased resources for the National Health Service, including the opening of new hospitals, improved community services and the expansion of medical and nursing staff.
"My Government have presented a White Paper on a single system of secondary school examinations in England and Wales to replace GCEO level and CSE and have committed themselves in principle to a statutory system of awards for those aged 16–18. They have introduced a scholarship scheme in association with industry to encourage more very able young people to seek careers in the production of the country's wealth, and have initiated a study of ways of increasing the numbers of young people who receive vocational preparation in employment.
"The Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Education of Handicapped Children has been received, and widespread consultations about it have begun. My Government have announced their broad agreement with the report of the Committee on the Management of Higher Education in the Maintained Sector.
"Legislation has been passed to reform family law in magistrates' courts so as to help the parties to a marriage and their children during a period of marital breakdown.
"Acts have been passed to reform public sector housing subsidies in Scotland and to enable Scottish courts to require offenders to undertake unpaid work for the community.
"Proposals were laid before you for legislation to reform Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911.
"An Act was passed to enable the United Kingdom to ratify without reservation the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism and so make a further contribution to international co-operation in that field.
"An Act has been passed to reform the law governing the immunity of other States and Heads of State in legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, and to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the European Convention on State Immunity.
"My Government have made further progress with the reform of the law in other fields.
" My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
"I pray that the blessings of Almighty God may attend you."
A Commission for Prorogation was read.
After which the LORD CHANCELLOR said:
"My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, by virtue of Her Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal to us and other Lords directed and now read, we do, in Her Majesty's name, and in obedience to Her Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Wednesday, the first day of November, to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday, the first day of November next ".
House rose at twelve minutes past three o'clock.
End of the Fourth Session of the Forty-Seventh Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the twenty-sixth year of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II