273
Written Answers
Vol 165
17 JANUARY 1990
Written Answers
I am pleased to be able to announce further that Professor Barry Bridges, of Queen's university, Belfast; Dr. Fiona Broughton-Pipkin, of the Queen's medical centre, Nottingham; Dr. Susan Iversen, of Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories; and Professor Michael Spyer, of the Royal Free Hospital medical school, London, have also accepted appointments as members of the committee.
I should like to place on record my appreciation of the excellent way in which Professor Williams has chaired the committee since its formation following the passage of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. I am grateful to the Lord Nathan and the other new members for agreeing to serve on this committee.
PRIME MINISTER
National Trust Silver
Mr. Skinner: To ask the Prime Minister how much National Trust silver she has at Downing street; and when she intends to return the 20 pieces to Belton house, near Grantham, for the benefit of the nation.
The Prime Minister: There are 22 pieces of National Trust silver on loan to 10 Downing street from Belton house. This will be returned as and when requested by the National Trust.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
NAD
Hazardous Waste
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates representations were made, and to whom, in respect of the return of the drums of toxic waste currently in the constituency of Wentworth which are to be returned to the United States of America.
Mr. Maude: Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has been in close touch on this subject with the United States' Environment Protection Agency since July 1989, most recently on 3 January 1990. Similarly, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of the Environment have been in contact with the United States embassy in London and a representative of the embassy was invited to call on the FCO for talks on 22 December.
Hong Kong
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people emigrated from Hong Kong in each of the years from 1980 to date; and how much of these were heads of households.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 16 January 1990]: According to Hong Kong Government statistics, the estimated figures for emigration were as follows:
1987 1988
1989
Number
30,000
45,800
42,000
274
It is not possible to state how many emigrants were heads of household.
EMPLOYMENT
New Businesses
143. Mr. Tim Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new businesses were started over the past year.
Mr. Eggar: In 1988, the latest year for which figures have been published, the net increase in the number of VAT-registered businesses was 64,000, an average of just over 1,200 per week. This was the net result of 230,000 new registrations and 166,000 deregistrations.
ENERGY
Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has received details from area boards of how many non-nuclear projects have sought to be included within the non-fossil fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry: My Department has been informed of nearly 300 such applications. This is a very encouraging
response.
Renewable Energy
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the national budget in each of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries is spent on Government-funded research into renewable energy sources.
Mr. Peter Morrison: The table sets out the percentage of the national budget in each of the OECD countries spent on Government-funded research, development and demonstration into renewable energy sources in 1988, the latest year for which information is available. The information was derived from published OECD reports (Energy Policy and Programmes of IEA Countries: 1988: OECD Outlook, December 1989; and OECD Main Economic Indicators, December 1989).
Renewables expenditure as a percentage of total Government expenditure
Canada United States
Percentage
0.01
0.01
Number
1980
22,400
Japan
Austria
Belgium
0.01
0.01
0.01
1981
18,300
Germany
0.02
1982
20,300
Greece
0.02
1983
19,800
Italy
0.01
1984
22,400
Netherlands
0.02
1985
22,300
Norway
0.01
1986
19,000
Portugal
0.01
FAL
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