HC Deb 23 February 1984 vol 54 cc598-600W
Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent on the upkeep and maintenance of Holyrood palace by his Department in each of the last five years; and what is the expected expenditure for the next three years.

Mr. Younger

I assumed responsibility for the maintenance of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 1 April 1980. Since then expenditure on maintenance by my Department, including an approximation of the costs of industrial staff wages, has been of the following order:

Year £
1980–81 368,000
1981–82 437,000
1982–83 519,000
1983–84 578,000

United Kingdom Exports to, less United Kingdom imports from EC countries of finished steel products
Thousand Tonnes
Belgium-Luzern-bourg Demmark France WestGermany Greece IrishRepublic Italy Netherlands
1963 -114 +80 -20 +68 +38 +69 +182 -88
1964 -176 +95 -7 -49 +39 +64 +236 -101
1965 -42 +114 +6 +40 +34 +54 +70 -75
1966 -76 +95 -14 -8 +47 +65 +73 -78
1967 -146 +77 -42 -24 +56 +71 +79 -108
1968 -130 +96 -43 -73 +31 +102 +95 -180
1969 -39 +96 -27 -22 +37 +121 +87 -426
1970 -31 +142 -10 +5 +42 +124 +19 -197
1971 -80 +79 -21 -23 +45 +104 -29 -272
1972 -246 +90 -37 -175 +55 +114 +35 -297
1973 -202 +105 +12 -410 +39 +139 +1 -302
1974 -528 +71 -86 -885 +36 +109 -101 -585
1975 -514 +44 -135 -621 +32 +82 -137 -646
1976 -308 +85 -130 -499 +31 +178 -126 -768
1977 -258 +56 -86 -534 +79 +178 -36 -488
1978 -295 +46 -126 -348 +23 +184 -78 -324
1979 -389 +28 -109 -331 +54 +279 -3 -327
1980 -505 -19 -357 -794 +41 +137 -47 -452
1981 -270 +33 -158 -537 +48 +188 -120 -387
1982 -303 +52 -218 -660 +72 +146 -143 -328

Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau compiled from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise returns.

Mr. Hickmet

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of exports of British Steel to the European Economic Community and the rest of the world, respectively, for the last complete year for which figures are available.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

In the financial year 1982–83, sales of steel by the British Steel Corporation to European Community countries was £212 million, and to other countries was £472 million.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry over what period Ministers have given consideration to the disposal or re-arrangement of the special and engineering steel interests of the British Steel Corporation; which Ministers from his Department have been involved; and at how many meetings the matter has been considered by Ministers along with representatives outside his Department.

Mr. Butcher

I understand that various plans for the rationalisation of the United Kingdom engineering steels

In 1984–85 expenditure of £601,000 is forecast. Decisions about future years have not yet been taken.