Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Nature Conservancy Council, published on 25th November 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if a site has yet been chosen for the relocation of the headquarters of the Nature Conservancy Council.
Mr. Macfarlane The Nature Conservancy Council has decided, with my agreement, not to pursue the matter any further for the time being and have accordingly ceased its investigations into a new headquarters.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Wetlands, published on 11th November 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the criteria for the identification of wetlands of international importance for listing under the Ramsar convention, which were prepared at the Cagliari conference on the conservation of wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat.
Mr. Macfarlane The Cagliari conference recommended that the following revised criteria be used for identification of wetlands suitable for designation:
1. Quantitive criteria for identifying wetlands of importance to waterfowl. A wetland should be considered internationally important if it:
(a) regularly supports either 10,000 ducks, geese and swans; or 10,000 coots; or 20,000 waders or
(b) regularly supports 1 per cent. of the individuals in a population of one species or sub-
(c) regularly supports 1 per cent. of the breeding pairs in a population of one species or sub-
2. General criteria for identifying wetlands of importance to plants or animals.
A wetland should be considered internationally important if it:
(a) supports an appreciable number of a rare, vulnerable or endangered species or sub-
(b) is of special value for maintaining the genetic and ecological diversity of a region because of the quality and peculiarities of its flora and fauna or
(c) is of special value as the habitat of plants or animals at a critical stage in their biological cycles or
(d) is of special value for its endemic plant or animal species or communities.
3. Criteria for assessing the value of representative or unique wetlands. A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is a particularly good example of a specific type of wetland characteristic of its region.
Mr Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name those sites which may be identified as being wetlands of international importance, using the criteria prepared at the Cagliari conference; and if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to list these sites under the Ramsar convention.
Mr. Macfarlane The criteria prepared at the Cagliari conference have not yet been formally adopted by the contracting parties. None the less, the Nature Conservancy Council has recently drawn up a preliminary list of additional sites in the United Kingdom from which further designations are being considered. Nineteen United Kingdom sites are currently designated.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Britoil, published on 10th November 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is now able to make a statement about the method of sale of shares in Britoil and the timing of the sale.
Mr. Lawson I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made earlier this afternoon.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Oil Prices, published on 9th November 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest forecast of oil prices over the period to the year 2000.
Mr. Lawson My Department has recently presented projections of United Kingdom energy prices and consumption to the Sizewell inquiry; copies have been placed in the Library of the House. These projections, which are not forecasts, are designed to assist the assessment of investment decisions against alternative scenarios for the development of the United Kingdom economy and the structure and levels of energy prices. They examine the implications of two ranges for future energy prices; the lower range assumes no further “shocks” affecting oil and other energy prices, while the higher range would be consistent with developments including one or more major oil market disturbances in the years ahead.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Health Service Commissioner, published on 12th July 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the annual report of the Health Service Commissioner for 1981-
Mr. Kenneth Clarke The Health Service Commissioner has, as in previous years, made a single annual report on the performance of his functions in England, Scotland and Wales. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Social Services, Scotland and Wales have presented the report to the House today. It will be published tomorrow and copies will be available from the Vote Office.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Small Firms Technical Inquiry Service, published on 12th July 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many organisations are used to advise small firms through the small firms technical inquiry service.
Mr. MacGregor Advice is available from engineers within the Production Engineering Research Association, which operates the service for the Department, and from 83 other organisations. These include 28 research associations, 20 universities and other higher educational establishments, 19 private consulting organisations, and 16 Government research laboratories.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Cherished Number Plates, published on 5th July 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current charge for transferring a cherished motor car number plate; and if he will reduce this sum.
Mrs. Chalker The present fee of £50 was set in 1977. Over the coming months I hope to improve the cherished number arrangements and I shall be considering what level of fee will then be appropriate.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Nature Conservancy Council, published on 5th July 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his choice of site for the relocation of the headquarters of the Nature Conservancy Council.
Mr. Macfarlane I cannot give any indication at present. As soon as any decision about the relocation of the NCC headquarters has been made I will ensure that the House is informed.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Engagements, published on 1st July 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 1 July.
The Prime Minister This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Secondhand Bonds, published on 24th June 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the present tax treatment of secondhand bonds; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Ridley Advantage has been taken of existing tax provisions to avoid income tax on the profits on certain life policies and life annuity contracts.
Sections 393 to 402 of the Taxes Act –
There has been a serious and, in recent weeks, growing exploitation of these provisions by means of the device known as secondhand bonds under which individuals have been purchasing such policies and contracts from intermediaries thereby avoiding income tax on any ultimate profits on the investment.
The Government have therefore decided to introduce legislation in next year’s Finance Bill to amend sections 394(4) and 396(2) with effect from midnight on Friday 25 June 1982. An assignment thereafter for money or money’s worth of any policy or contract –