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Wruten Answers
ник зов Answers to. 51
26 JUN 1981
Questions
INDEX H PA
No
Ma2246 Thursday 25 June 1981
3. I
TRADE
European Community
25 JUNE 1981
REGISTRZ
Action Taken
Pas 2016
4.
Pa
· (27-
Mr. Marlow asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will analyse the reasons why the United Kingdom proportion of trade with the rest of the European Economic Community in 1980 was less than that of Greece prior to membership of the Community.
Jent
Mr. Parkinson: I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Domestic Electrical Appliances (Imports)
!
TK
Mr. Marlow asked the Secretary of State for Trade pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Northampton North on 22 June, whether the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances has in any way through delay or inefficiency caused the period for the examination of its cases against dumping of refrigerators and vacuum cleaners to be extended.
P
I
VIDA
Mr. Parkinson: I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Aircraft (Near Collisions)
Mr. Douglas-Mann asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many reports of narrowly-avoided collisions of aircraft over the Greater London area have been received by him in the last six months; and what steps he is taking to reduce the risk of collisions in future.
Mr. Eyre: Airmiss reports are made to the National Air Traffic Services, not to my Department. They inform me that, in the period 1 December 1980 to 31 May 1981, seven such incidents were reported in the London terminal control area which is much larger than the Greater London area. Four of these were judged to involve no possible risk of collision, one was assessed as having a slight risk and he remaining two are still under investigation. All airmiss eports are investigated by the joint airmiss working group of the National Air Traffic Services. Their conclusions and ecommendations are widely disseminated within the viation community in the interests of overall accident prevention.
Mr. Douglas-Mann asked the Secretary of State for Trade what reports he has received of a near collision between two aircraft over Norbury at about 9 am. on 16 une; what investigation has been carried out into such eports; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eyre: Airmiss reports are made to the National Air Traffic Services who inform me that there has been no eport of any such incident occurring over Norbury on 16
une.
08
DATE
VOL.
Сос
25.6.81
า
136-137
Written Answers
JJ Policyholders Protection Act, 1975
136
See (23)
Mr. McCrindle asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the report on the operation of the Policyholders Protection Act 1975 is to be published; and if he will make
a statement.
Mr. Eyre: The report on the review of the Policyholders Protection Act is published today. Copies of the report have been laid before Parliament. Experience of the operation of the Act has been limited: so far, only three cases have been referred to the Policyholders Protection Board.
In May 1980 the Department of Trade invited comments on the operation and effectiveness of the Act. The consensus expressed in the review was that on the basis of the three cases referred to the Policyholders Protection Board, the Act has been shown to be capable of achieving its objectives. Consumer interests, in particular, expressed their continued support for the Act. The main proposals for change related to technical aspects of the operations of the Policyholders Protection Board.
The report concludes that the Act should be retained substantially in its present form, that there is no present case for changes to be made to the scope of the Act, nor to the composition of the Board, and that the level of protection should remain at 90 per cent.
Consideration will be given to amending certain technical aspects of the scheme when a suitable opportunity occurs for insurance legislation. All United Kingdom legislation dealing with the winding-up of insurance companies will need to be reviewed when the EEC directive on the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions governing the winding-up of direct insurance undertakings, now being prepared by the Commission of the European Communities, has to be implemented.
British Broadcasting Corporation (External Services)
Mr. Dorrell asked the Lord Privy Seal what plans the Government have to improve the audibility of the BBC external services.
Mr. Ridley: The BBC's external services are a valuable national asset but they are often not easy to hear.
The Government are now determined that a major effort should be made to improve audibility. In consultation with the BBC they have drawn up a long-term programme. Some progress has already been made, notably two medium wave transmitters now in Cyprus and four short wave ones due next year. A medium wave transmitter will also come on stream then at Orfordness.
The new programme envisages existing relay stations being fed by satellite by 1985, eight modern short wave transmitters operational in the United Kingdom by 1985, and six more by 1987 and new relay stations being established to cover East Africa and the Far East. There will also be substantial plant replacement and a thorough modernisation of Bush House.
Putting this capital programme into effect at the optimum speed would require an increase in the present PESC provision for expenditure by the external services from 1983-84 onwards. The Government would be prepared to make a substantial increase in the grant-in-aid to help meet this. However, in these days of financial stringency we must look for a proportion of the extra costs
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