TNAG-0876-FCO40-1086-Development-of-social-welfare-policy-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 154

nswers

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Written Answers

20 MARCH 1979

ong Government year since 1974 the monthly average welfare benefits industrial wage for men and women, the unemployment, average monthly wage for all workers, ces, rent rebate

the average joint family income and the tirement pension

retail price index in Hong Kong for those sioners.

years taking 1974 as base 100

of these benefits nder the public al needs allow- our legislation. 1 sickness and nder considera- as to introduce ree travel

for

cretary of State nwealth Affairs ment intend to ng with death fit, supplemen- allowance and

sablement and and hardship rtially covered

scheme and and by statu- ur legislation. nefits for the provide addi- efits are under ne plans to ent grants.

etary of State wealth Affairs dividual or a g Kong Gov. one-off cash need, other ent, property

an be made e public as- ndividual or cified levels; Ewing natural enforcement efits can be abled, those sistance for *Ertain other

ry of State th Affairs if brt for each

Mr. Luard: My right hon. Friend has asked the Hong Kong Government to compile this information and will arrange for it to be published in the Official Report as soon as it is available.

i

TRADE D 42 ist v * Devolution of

Mr. Henderson asked the Secretary of State for Trade what statutory provisions require disclosure to be made separately in company accounts of donations made to the "Scotland Says No campaign.

Mr. John Smith: Section 19 of the Companies Act 1967 provides that the directors' report must include certain par- ticulars of contributions for political pur- poses, which are defined as donations or subscriptions to a political party or to activities which could reasonably be re- garded as likely to affect public support for a political party. Directors of com- panies which have made donations to this organisation will need to consider whether disclosure is necessary to comply with the statutory requirements.

Companies House (Industrial Dispute) Mr. David Mitchell asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the nature of the dispute which is disturbing the nor- mal working of Companies House; how long it has continued: how many searches per day are being held up: how many new companies per week are unable to register; and what steps he is taking to deal with the situation.

on

Mr. Clinton Davis: A small number of executive staff belonging to the Society of Civil and Public Servants and clerical the Civil and staff belonging to Public Services Association have been

since strike

23 February in furtherance of their claim for the im- plementation of the findings of the Pay Research Unit from 1 April 1979. This has prevented the Registrar from provid- ing a public search service, normally at the rate of 11,000 searches per day, and

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540

registering new companies, normally at the rate of 1,200 per week. This action is part of a programme of selective disrup- tion in a number of Government offices called by the unions concerned. Discus- sions are taking place in a national con- text in the hope of resolving the situation.

Light Aircraft (Losses)

Mr. Trotter asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many light aircraft were lost in the United Kingdom in (a) 1977 and (b) 1978; and how he accounts for the change in numbers between the two years.

Mr. Clinton Davis: The number of fatal accidents in the United Kingdom involving aircraft under 2,300 kg. was nine in 1977 and 22 in 1978. There is no ready explanation for this difference. The 1978 figure is broadly in line with the average for the previous 10 years exclud- ing 1977. However, the total number of notifiable accidents to light aircraft in the United Kingdom in 1977, and also the rate per 100,000 flying hours, are com parable with those for other years.

Hide and Skin Exports

Sir Donald Kaberry asked the Secre- tary of State for Trade what proposals he has made to the European Commission to restrict hide and skin exports and what proposals he has for the encourage- ment of a more active tanning industry in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Meacher: I have asked the EEC Commission to make a proposal for res triction of the export of raw hides and skins from the Community to third countries.

Sponsorship of the United Kingdom industry is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Stats for Industry. "

Heathrow (Fourth Terminal)

Mr. Jessel asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the cost of the inquiry into the proposal for a fourth terminal at Heathrow airport; when he expects the report of the inquiry to be published; what was the purpose of holding the in- quiry in the light of the statement by the Under-Secretary of State for Trade that the expansion of Heathrow was inevitable, Official Report, 12 March, column 19; and to what purpose the findings of the inquiry will be put.